I Is For Intimacy

Jennifer talks about showing affection between characters...

Romance novels are not all about sex. Sure, many romances have sex scenes, but plenty others don’t. Yet, it’s still possible to show affection between characters. Intimate moments can be as simple as grasping a hand, caressing a cheek or exchanging a look. Here’s one from my WIP:

They walked the rocky beach, waves on their right, cliffs on their left and seagulls overhead. This time, the salty briny smell combined with Simon’s scent and her lungs expanded, her breathing slowed and she became hyper aware of him next to her. His legs made longer strides than hers and after they’d gone a few feet, he shortened his to better match hers.

She appreciated the consideration, but it only made her more aware of his muscular thighs bunching next to her. Their hands brushed as they walked and tingles shot up her arm. It was an accident, wasn’t it? He stepped away slightly, as if to prevent it from happening again, but a few strides later with the uneven ground, they moved closer and his hand brushed hers again. This time, he didn’t move away and she listened to his breath hitch at the contact.

Nervous laughter bubbled in her chest. This was silly. They’d held hands before. Granted, he’d been covering hers when they were hammering, but still. It wasn’t the first time their hands had touched. So why was this so different? She remembered the sensations she’d felt when he’d covered hers on the roof—warmth and roughness and safety. Okay, maybe this wasn’t any different. She bumped her hand against his again, on purpose this time, just to feel his skin against hers. His skin wasn’t smooth like hers, and his texture, unique to him, fascinated her. A moment later, he did the same.

Was that accidental too? She snuck a glance at his profile. Although his hair blocked his face, she’d swear she saw a ghost of a smile hovering, like they shared a private joke. Her belly warmed and the air between their knuckles, where they almost touched, crackled with electricity.

The next time their fingers touched, she pressed hers against his and they walked to the curve of the shore connected, yet not.

Many, but not all, of my books have sex scenes. And those scenes fit within the context of the story. But sometimes, it is the scene that shows true intimacy without the sex that conveys the most feeling.