Getting two characters on stage and creating sexual tension IMMEDIATELY is tricky. In Tempted by Trouble it requires some jockeying.
Juggling dialogue, character arc, tension, and the storyline.
WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING came into play. The first scene featuring Carolina and Matt had this some killer story line played out.
Part One: How to Craft The Sexy Scene. Spark to Flame
In Tempted by Trouble, I knew this was
going to be a hot ride. I wanted the sexual tension to be tight and immediate. With
a romance, especially erotic romance, there’s a necessary set up that launches the
love story yet the hero and heroine must be properly positioned, so to speak.
In Tempted the name says it all. The
parking lot scene(s) provide Carolina and Matt the necessary tools to spark
their interest heating each other’s desire. Tempting yet are they held apart.
What happened and why?
Carolina
arrives at the church delivering her cousin, Cynthia “Sam” Cainwright to her
wedding. They’ve been out all night and Carolina needs a few moments alone. I
wanted to introduce the “villain” so
I had him appear, briefly setting the heroine on pins and needles. This
interlude is the has a domino effect in making Carolina question her own
sexuality which is part of her arc. With this conflict in play, a vacuum occurs,
or character “want/need.”
In the opening
scene, I had to place Matt in “charged” proximity but not so close he’d be
available to the heroine. Actually I had to do something tricky so to keep
Carolina and Matt apart. A compromising position that would be both off-putting
and alluring. Difficult. As the writer, I needed to let Carolina see Matt
within a context that served as his own interview.
Sexually provocative. But that moment could get away from me if Carolina
decided to drive off and never get a glimpse of Matt.
I had to employ
another conflict: voila, the fender bender.
This becomes their first moment on stage. Highly important so I have them
engaged with a sassy exchange. We have
the hero and heroine meet in less than stellar circumstance. The hero remains cool,
collected, and a bit arrogant after being caught red-handed. Carolina likes
what she sees, yet knows this type of bad boy spells trouble. Oh, but the type
of trouble she likes…but can’t have. Who amongst us hasn’t wanted something we
know might be sensation but is unsuitable.
For Carolina, it’s Bad Boy Man Candy or
sex-in-suit.
So, here they
are standing toe-to-toe on the wrong foot, but they don’t know really who the
other is…or at least haven’t connected the dots yet (employer-employee). All
the hero and heroine know is they’re highly attracted to each other. The spark to the flame.
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