Romancing the Words
By Tim Smith
I have an ongoing argument with a writer friend over the use
of language in erotic romance. We’re both male authors of contemporary straight
romance but we approach the job differently. I like to treat my readers to
steamy sensuality and extensive foreplay; he prefers to throw in every
four-letter word he can think of and get it over with in one or two paragraphs.
There are a few words I don’t like to use when writing sex
scenes. One is the “F” bomb because I think some writers overuse it for shock
value and it doesn’t really add anything to a realistic romantic encounter. I
say that because not many women have used that word with me during sex unless
it was followed by “off” or “you.” Another is a term used to describe part of
the female anatomy (begins with “c,” rhymes with “hunt”) because I’ve heard
from readers who said it offended them. I conducted a survey on a few chat
boards to see how people felt about this, and the results indicated that a
majority of women find it offensive. I’m in this game to win readers, not lose
them.
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Here’s where it gets tricky – how do I depict a hot sexual
encounter without wallowing in the gutter or resorting to purple prose? It
forces me to be ultra creative, coming up with euphemisms that make my point
without being crude. This is an example from my bestselling interracial
romantic thriller Memories Die Last:
Nick stood and approached Felicia. He pulled her close and
ravenously kissed her, his tongue challenging hers to a passionate duel. She
rubbed his shoulders and back then moved down to slip her hands under the
elastic waist of his shorts, kneading his butt. Nick moved his hands to caress
her firm breasts then ran his palms along her torso. Her perfume and natural
scent acted like an instant aphrodisiac, turning him into an animal. Felicia
put her arms around his shoulders, hoisted herself up and wrapped her long legs
around his waist, bringing her groin in contact with the bulge forming in his
shorts. Nick kissed her more deeply, probing her mouth while she did the same
to him. He moved his hands down to her firm ass and rocked against her, getting
harder the longer they dry humped.
Nick carried Felicia into the bedroom and gently deposited
her on the bed. He slipped off his shorts and lied next to her to resume his
kissing and fondling. Felicia placed both hands on either side of his face,
pulled his lips to hers and rammed her tongue into his mouth. Nick’s hand went
to her breast to pinch and tweak her nipple until it was as firm as a gumdrop.
Felicia moved one of her hands to his groin, grabbed him then squeezed and
stroked him into complete hardness. Nick’s hand snaked along her belly to her
crotch. He slid his fingers along her lips, making her wetter then slipped two
of them inside her. Felicia’s breathing rate picked up the longer he played
with her and she stroked him faster.
Nick slithered along her body and planted his face between
her legs. He hungrily devoured her, savoring her taste. Felicia pressed her
groin against his active tongue and lips, moaning her approval at what he was
doing to her. Nick massaged her with his tongue and lips until Felicia gave out
a loud moan and climaxed. He continued licking her after she came, enjoying her
musky taste.
Nick got on his knees and assumed his position between her
legs. She pulled her legs up toward her torso, grabbed his erection and
forcefully guided him in. He made a long slow thrust until his entire length
was imbedded inside her. Felicia closed her eyes and gasped while Nick thrust
his hips.
“You fill me up,” she breathlessly murmured then began
rocking against him.
*
* * *
Another book I wrote a few years ago, Anywhere the Heart
Goes, presented a different scenario. I was looking for a unique angle so I
made the heroine a well-schooled pupil of the Kama Sutra. This created a wealth
of possibilities. Here’s one of the scenes between the leads, Rachel and Sam:
Rachel disappeared into the bedroom while Sam selected some
CDs, settling on Tony Bennett, Errol Garner and Dean Martin. He returned to the dining room, took off his
blazer and draped it over the back of a chair, wondering what Rachel was
preparing. His stomach fluttered slightly in anticipation. He took another sip of wine as Rachel
sauntered down the hallway toward him, having changed into a short red satin
robe that came to the top of her thighs.
She locked her eyes onto his, giving him a smoldering gaze and a look
that broadcast the words “I want you.”
She held out her hand. “Come with me,” she softly commanded.
Sam took her hand and followed her to the bedroom, which was
lit by three strategically-placed candles, all emitting the scent of
mandarin. The bed had been turned down,
revealing white satin sheets. Rachel
took hold of Sam’s shirt, pulling it from his waist. He slid it over his head while she unbuckled
his belt, followed by his pants. Sam
kicked off his shoes, stepped out of his pants and briefs and dropped his shirt
on the floor. Rachel untied the sash to
her robe, letting it flow open and stepped closer. She pulled his face down
toward hers to kiss him, moving in so close that her breasts made full contact
with his chest. Sam felt himself
involuntarily respond, his hardness rubbing against Rachel’s pubic area. Rachel
pressed her mouth against his like his tongue was the vermouth to complement
her gin.
He placed his hands under the robe, running them along her
smooth back. Rachel put her hands on his
upper arms and gently pushed them down so that his hands rested on her butt
while she continued kissing him. Sam fondled her firmness, enjoying the
feeling. She moved her hips against his, alternately making contact with his
hard-on while grinding her ass into his hands. He let Rachel take
charge, getting more into her slow seduction.
After several minutes, she pulled away, took his hand and led him to the
bed, where he stretched out waiting for Rachel to join him.
She stood next to the bed, the flickering candlelight
highlighting her features as she maintained steady eye contact. Her hazel eyes
were still glowing softly while a trace of a smile stayed on her lips. Rachel
shrugged off her robe, letting it fall to the floor, and then she picked up a
bottle of massage oil from the nightstand, pouring a small amount into her
palm. She leaned over and began massaging Sam’s shoulders, rubbing the oil on
him in a circular motion. He inhaled the fragrance but didn’t recognize
it. “What is that?” he softly inquired.
“Patchouli,” Rachel replied while kneading his upper arms. “It increases
arousal.”
Sam closed his eyes as his breathing shifted into a relaxing
steady cadence, enjoying her touch. Rachel applied a little more oil to her
palm before moving to his pecs, steadily moving her hands down his torso,
relaxation overtaking his body like the soothing waters of a Jacuzzi. Sam felt himself responding, even though
Rachel didn’t touch his groin. She kneaded his thigh muscles, and his legs went
limp. After a few minutes, she stopped her massage, knelt on the bed beside Sam
and lowered her head over his chest. Rachel let her long hair barely touch his
chest and stomach, then rhythmically moved her head from side to side, slowly,
her hair tickling his skin as she moved downward along his body. Sam felt a sense of anticipation building
within. The fragrances of the candle and oil combined with Rachel’s sensual
touching techniques hit him like a freight train, derailing all control. He gasped as he felt Rachel’s mouth envelop
him, not taking him completely in but concentrating her lips on the tip,
working him as though she were sucking the juice from a piece of fruit. The longer she continued, the harder Sam’s
pulse beat. His level of arousal increased with each move of her lips,
long-dormant senses being awakened.
“You’re making me crazy,” he softly moaned.
Rachel chuckled wickedly. “That’s the idea - make you crazy so it’s the best ever.”
“It’s working.”
*
* * *
I’m put off by the opinion some people offer that erotic
romance or erotica is merely “porn with a plot.” There’s a lot more to it than
that and if it’s done correctly, it shows the most natural evolution in a
relationship between two people. I don’t really care for gratuitous sex scenes
when I read a book, though. That makes me think the author ran out of ideas and
said “I don’t know what to have these people do next, so let’s throw in some
hot sex!”
And that’s porn with a plot.
Author bio:
Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author whose
books range from romantic intrigue to contemporary erotic romance. He is also a
freelance photographer. When he isn’t pursuing those two passions he can often
be found in The Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking
out the perfect Mojito. More information about his work can be found at his
website, www.timsmithauthor.com.
His books are available for purchase at www.extasybooks.com
and www.amazon.com.
