On Writing Romance_ How to Craft a Novel That Sells - Leigh Michaels [80]
Her fingers twitched as if it was all she could do to stop herself from grabbing them back. He finished one lens, moved on to the next, taking his time about it so that he could get a good look at her eyes.
He hadn't been mistaken about them. Grey and green intermingled in a bewitching combination beneath a curtain of dark lashes that were all hers. No magic mascara to lengthen or curl them, they'd be soft to the touch, silk to his lips, he thought. And he wanted to touch. ...
He restrained himself. ... More exciting than the most blatant of invitations, this veiled promise of hidden fire tugged at something deep inside him.
Or was it simply a mask to hide her true purpose?
If Rich weren't hesitating to get closer because he found Ginny trying to break into his desk, Fielding's scene would be flat—because they're pretty obviously attracted to each other.
In this passage from Nicola Cornick's historical novella The Season for Suitors, her hero is ostensibly teaching the heroine how to avoid being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous man:
The path was narrow here and wended its way through thick shrubbery. Even in winter the trees and bushes grew dark and close overhead, enclosing them in a private world. It was a little disconcerting to discover just how alone they were in this frosty, frozen wilderness.
[The Duke of] Fleet was smiling gently. "Take this as a free piece of advice, Miss Davencourt," he said. "Always pay attention to your surroundings. The aim of the rake will always be to separate you from company so that he may compromise you."
He put up a hand and touched one gloved finger lightly to her cheek. Her gaze flew to his as the featherlight touch burned like a brand.
"And once he has you to himself," the duke continued softly, "a rake will waste no time in kissing you, Miss Davencourt."
For what seemed an age they stared into each other's eyes. Clara's heart twisted with longing and regret. ... Her body ached for him with a sudden, fierce fire. His presence engulfed her. She felt shaky, hot with longing. She raised her hand and brushed his away. Her fingers were not quite steady.
"Your point is well made, your grace." Her voice was husky and she cleared her throat. "I shall guard against that possibility."
Notice that the only touch is his gloved finger to her cheek; there's not even skin-to-skin contact. Cornick has used the rules of society—which at the time forbade an unmarried woman to be alone with a man—to build sexual tension. If the Duke had gone ahead and kissed Clara, much of the tension in the scene would evaporate, because we'd no longer have to wonder what that kiss would be like and wait for it to happen.
In her erotic contemporary novella Out of Control, Rachelle Chase uses a great deal more touching, but the sexual tension is increased because of what the couple doesn't do:
He chuckled. There was no humor in the sound. "If I let you leave, Ms. Thomas, you'll talk yourself out of it before you reach the lobby."
If he let her leave? Tingles skipped up her arms at the forcefulness of that statement. His warm breath bounced off her lips, enticing her, drawing her closer. A slight tilt of her head and she would be able to taste him, just as she'd fantasized about doing.
One tiny movement.
Unwillingly, her eyelids lowered, her head tilted, and her lips brushed ... his cheek.
Her eyes flew open.
His tongue flickered against her earlobe.
"Did you want me to kiss you, Ms. Thomas," he whispered huskily into her ear. "Like this?" he asked, letting his lips nibble and his tongue swirl their way down her neck.
Astrid shivered, a moan escaping her.
"Was that a yes?" he rasped, his mouth moving across her collarbone and up her throat.
What was happening to her? "Oh ..."
He suckled her chin. "Say it."
Kiss me.
She wouldn't say it.
His tongue moved up, tracing her lower lip. "Say it," he said hoarsely.
She struggled to free her hands.
His grip tightened.
Kiss me.
If she didn't get away from him, she was going to say it. She was going to arch toward him,