To me, the most exciting moment in erotic fiction is not the big explosion in the middle or the torrent of passion at the end. It’s the first crack at the beginning – the special moment when the heroine lets her guard down just enough to let the hero know she’s not a perfectly sculpted ice princess after all. And it’s the same moment that the tall, strong, iron-clad hero reveals his first glimmer of inner warmth as well.
How does the heroine let down her guard? Maybe she admits she was wrong about the hero – like after they’ve encountered the real villain for the first time. But usually it’s not with words, just a gesture. Her body language shifts just a little, from confrontation to acceptance. And the hero picks up on that and provides firm but subtle male reassurance.
Let’s try this out using a typical scene from a hot genre:
CAROL STORM’S UNTITLED URBAN FANTASY
“I didn’t know Fangs was a vampire club,” Polly stammered. As they staggered out into the alley, Mike Bitewell threw his brawny arm over her shoulders, and for a moment she relaxed, leaning into his male strength.
“I used to be one of those guys,” he told her, his voice gruff.
Notice how the heroine is the one who appears vulnerable, yet the hero feels the need to confide in her. He’s protecting her with his greater strength and knowledge, yet when she signals trust he responds by revealing a weakness of his own. A good first crack leads to hotter fireworks every time!
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CAROL STORM'S latest release is GLORY AND THE CLEVER CAT, available now at Noble Romance. Come and visit Carol at her blog, THE STORM REPORT.
www.carol63storm.blogspot.com
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3 comments:
Carol, good point. I always think of it as making a connection.
Based on the title of this post I was expecting discussion of a different sort of crack.... Just kidding. Love your work, Carol.
Really good post, that moment of vulnerability is hot!
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