Friday, March 15, 2013

Gust Post D'Ann Lindun

Please Welcome D'Ann Lindun to NN! Its a pleasure to have you. And now I will turn the floor over to you. 


Do your characters practice safe sex? Or do you prefer to go with the fantasy, and have them use nothing, leaving that practical stuff off page? I have done both, but honestly, I prefer my characters to practice safe sex. It’s not a political statement or anything like that. I just think condoms brought up in the conversation can be sexy. Let me demonstrate:

From Cooper’s Redemption:

She straddled his belly. His hands went to her ribcage, slowly sinking lower until they rested on her hips. Where they remained.

A boiling, building pressure deep within her needed an escape. And only Cooper could release it. Eager for his touch, she reached for her jeans’ buttons. His hands captured hers and he threaded his fingers through hers, effectively stilling her.

Puzzled by his sudden brakes—much as she loathed to—she sat up straight and said, “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t carry condoms with me.” His voice carried a ton of regret.

“Oh. Me either. At least not in my saddlebags.” Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“There are other ways—”

“No.” Elizabeth rose. With her eyes locked on his, she and kicked off her boots. The she unsnapped her pants. Letting them fall to her feet, she stepped out of them. “If we don’t have trust between us, we don’t have anything. Would you agree with that?”

“Yeah.”

Stepping over him, she straddled him, then lowered herself, guiding his erection against her damp opening. “Would you say absolute trust is vital in any relationship?”

“Yeah.” His surprised tone deepened a bit.

Easing him inside her a fraction of an inch, she continued. “And there’s more.”

“More,” he agreed as his voice croaked a bit like a frog’s.

Holding her position, she said, “I want you to know I have complete faith in you. I always have. I do now.”

“I know.”

Satisfied with that, she took him completely inside her.


Blurb:
Elizabeth Adams is a Los Angles native who has always dreamed of living in the Rocky Mountains. She loves western movies and riding horses, and dreams of being a heroine in a western film. She gets her chance for real life adventure when her mother disappears from Salt Lick, Colorado, after going there to sell a ranch she inherited.

J.B. Cooper (just Cooper) is under suspicion for killing his neighbor, Henry Harper, over a water dispute. There is no evidence to convict him, but the shadow of doubt hovers around him. He just wants to be left in peace.

Circumstances throw Elizabeth and Cooper together when he tracks rustled cattle to her ranch … and discovers a body in the barn. Once again, he is the suspect in a suspicious death. Elizabeth is convinced Cooper had nothing to do with the murder of her cousin because to her, he’s a true western hero. Together, they search for her mother, clear Cooper’s name and fall in love along the way.



And from Rodeo Man:

“Cody, please,” she gasped. “Now.” 


Instead of giving her what she needed, he removed his fingers and climbed on the bed, raised above her. The head of his penis pressed against her. His eyes stayed locked on hers as he reached between them to guide himself into her.

She grabbed his wrist with one hand. “Wait.”

Her free hand searched for the condom she’d stashed earlier. Her fingers wrapped around the package, and she brought it out. With the hand holding his wrist, she let go and clasped his erection while she ripped open the package with her teeth. As she removed the protection, he covered her hand with his.

“No.”

“What?” Had she heard right?

“Leave it off.” He nibbled her bottom lip then spoke against it. “If you want it off, leave it.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she nodded. “Yes.” 


His hand covered hers, circling his straining penis, he guided the head into her. The pressure in her belly began to climb again, and she wrapped her calves around his legs, needing him deeper. He didn’t need urging and began to plunge into her, each time pushing a little farther. When she thought she could take him in no deeper, he pressed more.

Digging her nails into his shoulders and her teeth into his chest just above his flat brown nipple, she kept herself from screaming as he brought her to the edge of ecstasy. The tension in her broke, and she came, shuddering as intense waves flowed over and through her.

He found his own release, shaking as he, too, came.

For a long moment, they each found their breath, then he rolled off her, taking her in his arms. She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to his still-pounding heart. For just a moment, she saw Wyatt’s face in her mind’s eye, but he didn’t linger, and she felt no guilt. Cody rested next to her, and she wanted it no other way.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yes.” She raised her head and looked at him. “Are you?”

“Yes.” He tightened his arms around her.

“Cody?”

“Hmmm?”

“You…I mean…we didn’t use anything.”

“I know.” Faint humor colored his words. 


Blurb:

When Laney Ellis’ husband is killed by a bull, she is left alone to run their small cattle ranch and raise their son, Justin, on her own. One thing she is determined her son will never do is ride rodeo bulls. But that is the dream Justin holds dearest—to be exactly like his dad, the onetime Colorado State High School Rodeo Champion.

After his rodeo career peaks and begins to slide, Cody Utah opens a bull riding school. Although attracted to his next door neighbor, he steers clear. Cody has heard rumors Laney trapped her husband into marriage by getting pregnant in high school. The last thing Cody wants is children. His mother was a drunk, and he doesn’t know who his father is.

A bull's hooves turned Laney’s world to dust; bull riding gave Cody a life worth living—can they find common ground?

Author Bio:


Falling in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, D’Ann Lindun never thought about writing one until many years later when she took a how-to class at her local college. She was hooked! She began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to her because there's just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. D’Ann’s particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because she draws inspiration from the area where she lives, Western Colorado, her husband of twenty-nine years and their daughter. Composites of their small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, nine ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in her stories!


16 comments:

Nikki said...

I think it depends on the story, and the situation. Both of my stories, there are safe sex scenes, but there is one in Baby Stetson that there isn't...but it worked for the story, and that scene. But, yes, most times my characters practice safe sex. It's what was etched into my brain, so I pass it along.

Great post!

Cait OSullivan said...

I'm just battling with incorporating the whole condom putting on thing at the moment. I like my characters to practise safe sex, all the time. I don't care if she's taking an oral contraceptive, I think they should still use condoms (unless of course they're up for getting pregnant and they both know that neither of them have any ick/ life threatning diseases). I think we have a duty to show condoms being used...now if only our books were sold in Africa -- perhaps we could actually make a difference. Great post.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Real life--condoms. Romance fiction--
contemporary romance characters should be responsible too. But with romantic suspense where the hero and heroine are in life and death situations it's a forgivable oversight.

Jenna said...

In my historicals its more problematical. Condoms or "French letters" were available, but men often didn't use them and certainly not with their wives. But in my last erotic work, 7 Days of Seduction, the hero makes a big show of wearing colorful condoms--it was one of his ways to have colorful sex. So I try to accommodate the safe sex mantra and encourage it even.

Sophia Ryan said...

Great topic! My latest book, *She Likes It Irish*, has the H/H always using condoms in the beginning. In one scene, though, where she wants him so bad she actually forgets it, he pulls back from her at the last moment to roll on a condom. Lust heating her words, she tells him: "Tomorrow, we're getting tested so we can do away with these (expletive) condoms." He chuckles and says, "I'm clean, darlin', but I'll do whatever you want." Author Megan Hart has a wonderful moment in *Deeper* with the heroine putting the condom on her guy, something along the lines of how it made her even hotter knowing that she was putting the condom on him so she could have sex with him. That it was a deliberate choice between them and not just something that happened. I love your sex scenes, D'Ann! HOT! HOT! HOT! Sophia

Unknown said...

I prefer to write about safe sex. At least include the conversation. I learned about sex as a girl. My parents were extremely uncomfortable with the subject so it was my first source. I remember that when I think of other girls perhaps learning about intimacy from our books and I want them to know that this is not only a very natural part of the conversation, it's the best way they can protect and respect themselves so they aren't unprepared. It costs me nothing to write it, but perhaps it saves some unknown girl anguish and desperation because she didn't know how to broach the subject in advance.

Unknown said...

Aaack! I meant, I learned about sex from romance as a girl. Yikes. Almost sounds terrible the way that came out.

christine warner said...

Wonderful post and your scenes were terrific. I think your characters practicing safe sex depends on the story. Sometimes it fits, sometimes it's okay to leave it out. It all depends. For the most part, my characters practice safe sex....but there are exceptions *wink*

Anonymous said...

There really was no safe sex in the early 19th century. They did have an early form of condoms, called French letters, made of sheep's gut, but they had to be soaked for a few hours before use, and one would never use one with a wife or even a mistress.

Anonymous said...

WOW!! Steamy. I don't have a problem with reading either or, so long as the situation calls for whichever.

I think I'd take issue if the scene wasn't with hero & heroine though. Like prior to and hero/heroine has a fling. Would want them to have safe sex then. Ya know?

Bobbi

Anonymous said...

Great post! For me it depends on the story and the situation my characters are in, but I definitely go with safe sex if possible :) Congrats on the release, D'Ann!!!

D'Ann said...

Thank you so much, everyone, for dropping by!

Marianne Stephens said...

Safe sex in romances - gives H/H more of a responsible trait.

Unknown said...

My characters all practice safe sex too. I agree with Tara, I learned a lot about sex from romanace novels and if I can add a sexy element to using condoms then maybe I can influence my readers to do so.

But then again it depends on the situation. In my paranormals there's no need for condoms since vampires can't create life. And in Gambling On A Secret there was no need to after that first time. But all of my other stories has condoms in them.

Loved the excerpts, D'Ann. I just bought Cooper's Redemption and can't wait to read it.

Liza O'Connor said...

I think it is a valid addition to romance stories for today, because sadly, that's where many girls learn about sex from. (along with stuff on the internet) The main reason for condoms is to protect from STD's. Birth control is better protected with the pill. For young people, both protections are needed. Generally, I think it's better if adults in novels practice safe sex. However, in certain situations, by not practicing safe sex, you can be just as educational by showing what could happen if you don't. (baby makes three) So like most things in life, it depends upon the scene the author has created as to whether its appropriate.

Sheri Fredricks said...

Since I write mythological romance, which is complete fantasy, I haven't had to deal with this issue. But...I do have a more contemporary type in the works and this post, along with all the wonderful comments, really made an impression on me.

Thank you ladies for all your insight and wisdom. Thank you to D'Ann for posting this subject. And a big THANK YOU for Tabitha for having D'Ann on :)