USING THE SENSES TO CREATE A ROMANTIC MOOD
© Ruth D. Kerce

Your action is heart-pounding, your dialogue snappy, your introspection soul-revealing. So why are your love scenes flat and uninspiring? A romantic scene should include as many of the senses as possible to create a sensual or sexy mood that will hold a reader's attention. To see how the five senses can make a scene come alive, let's look at examples from both the hero and heroine's point of view using sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste.

SIGHT - from the hero's point of view:
She stepped out of the bedroom dressed in a skimpy black outfit that barely held in her ample breasts. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. The spiked, red heels she wore displayed her long legs to perfection, and his mind reeled from fantasies of those legs wrapped around, squeezing him tightly.

SIGHT - from the heroine's point of view:
She had to force herself not to stare. Instead, she studied him from beneath lowered lashes. How could a man in a simple business suit look so sexy? He didn't wear it simply, but like it was tailor-made for him. She didn't know where his jacket was. That was all right. She enjoyed the view of his open collar, displaying tanned skin beneath, his sleeves rolled up to right below the elbows. His creased pants hugged his thighs just enough to hint at what lay hidden from her view.

SMELL - from the hero's point of view:
Her perfume mingled with her own unique scent. It wasn't overpowering, like some women's, but tantalizing, wafting around him like a soft mist. He wanted to hold her close and inhale its essence--and hers.

SMELL - from the heroine's point of view:
The scent she'd come to associate with him drifted across the room. He was near. Her body responded to the woodsy fragrance, and she grew hot with desire. The need to be surrounded by his unique aroma made her turn and seek him out.

TOUCH - from the hero's point of view:
He had to touch her. He remembered the feel of her skin too much not to. Soft and cool, like satin. Silky enough to make any man beg for more. His fingertips trailed down her body, seeking intimate contact with her warm, moist core.

TOUCH - from the heroine's point of view:
Her fingers grazed the hard muscles of his bare chest. She loved the contained strength he possessed. His skin was always warm when she touched him, and she wondered if it was his natural state or if she was the cause. A tantalizing thought.

HEARING - from the hero's point of view:
When she spoke, the world stopped. Nothing else penetrated but the sweet sound of her voice--passionate enough to bring his body alert, tender enough to send him to his knees.

HEARING - from the heroine's point of view:
The deep, sexy timbre of his voice--slightly scratchy, like he always needed to clear his throat--caused her body to tremble with anticipation. He slowly pulled down his zipper, and she grew weak at the grating sound.

TASTE - from the hero's point of view:
His lips trailed down her body, and the spicy taste of her sent him over the edge into the depths of desire. He wanted to savor every inch of her, to explore the different flavors hidden in secret places. He felt like a starving man, finally feasting on the most delicious of oral delights.

TASTE - from the heroine's point of view:
She longed for one more kiss from him. He tasted of brandy, mint, and something unique that made her want him with a desperation she'd never felt for another man. Her tongue swept over her bottom lip, and she swore his taste lingered there.

These are simple examples of how you can incorporate the senses into your scenes. By using each of the senses, you will paint a more vivid picture. Your desire is to draw in the reader, to make their senses come alive with your descriptions. Make the reader feel as if he/she is in the scene and experiencing the same sensations as your hero or heroine. Do this and you'll have your readers coming back for more.