Friday 15 July 2011

Challenge No. 10 - "Surrender" - Romantic Friday Writers.

If you're here looking for Shelly's poetry blogfest, it's the post below!

Romantic Friday Writers set a new themed challenge every week, and romance writers who love to stretch their writing muscles take up the challenge for a Friday post. Sometimes the cameos presented by members of RFW are real tear-jerkers, sometimes light-hearted, at other times dark and dangerous!  
What might their offerings contain this week - sensual sweet, slightly steamy or scary sexy? As you can see from the image, this Friday's theme is Surrender.  
You don't have to be a member to participate, but it would be nice if you decide to join with us on the good ship Romancer. 



I've chosen a snippet from my English Civil War epic for today's theme Surrender. 
It's a tad steamy, or not: as maybe the case for some. After all, what one person thinks of as a tad erotic another will think of as pure smut. ;)

Brief: Anna Lady Maitcliffe, and Morton Lord Gantry have recent been engaged in a pleasurable if sexy romp within a woodland glade: post swim in pool beneath waterfall.  



Morton suddenly disturbed her daydream. ‘Anna, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
       She tilted her head sideways, taking in the profile of his face, his slumber like pose all too innocent, replied, ‘I cannot be sure that I am ready for marriage.’ 
       He slid his arm from around her, and sat up straight, one knee instantly drawn up to rest his arm upon it. ‘What nonsense is this now, Anna?’ He turned to look down at her, his eyes searching hers, demanding explanation. ‘What possible reason is there to suggest yourself unready for marriage?’
       She propped herself up on one elbow and toyed with a blade of grass: eyes quickly downcast to avoid his questioning gaze.  Having never felt so liberated as today, she gloried in her own nakedness and tore the blade of grass free from its root and reached out to drag it across Morton’s thigh, and thence to her own thigh. She savoured the sensuality as she stroked her skin with the blade of grass, quite aware his eyes fallen to rest on her tantalising gesture. Amused by his sudden interest, she dragged the green strand upward and across her furry mound.  
       ‘Anna, as much as it excites me to witness your teasing ploy you have not explained why you are against becoming my wife.’
       ‘Must you make consideration of marriage, such a tiresome business’ she challenged, well aware how frustrating and infuriating her reluctant stance must sound to him.
       ‘You were wont to wed my father soon enough, and that alone confirms you are not too young to be wed,’ he said, strong grip suddenly applied to her hand, which he promptly edged closer to her delta, the blade of grass teasing the senses.  ‘You say you love me, and therefore I cannot see where objection to becoming my wife fits with our present state of undress.’
       She laughed, looked him in the eye, and said, ‘Unhand me your lordship, I feel you take too many liberties with my person. I will not surrender so easily this time.’
       ‘Too many liberties, eh?’ he said, his tone commanding.  He roared with laughter, caught up her hand in his and rapidly engaged her freehand and forced both above her head in one vicelike grip, her body trapped beneath him. ‘You feel I take too many liberties, then let me take another.’

400 words!

To see entries by other participants, go here.

16 comments:

dolorah said...

Hmm, I see more surrender to sex than surrender to marriage in this.

But, Morton seems committed to winning her hand, and does not seem to mind that she had first persued his father first for marriage.

And she does seem to be resolved to the affair with Morton. He is dreamy, and sensually well developed. I'm imagining the eye-candy now . .

....dhole

Kiru Taye said...

Oooh... a fiesty heroine, just the way I like them. She's not going to surrender too easily to marriage but Morton seems equal to the task.

Cheers,
Kiru

The Poet said...

‘Unhand me your lordship, I feel you take too many liberties with my person. I will not surrender so easily this time.’...I love that line. Naked play fights are not such a bad thing either (lol).

Interesting that she was ready to marry the father, but not the son.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Donna and Kiru,

Ah yes, Anna has a mind of her own but Morton has her heart and he knows how to play her like a fiddle!

Andy: betrothal to the father had more to do with avoidance of marriage to one of his young officers, a Cavalier rake. At the time her reckless endearments to a man twice her age served its purpose. ;)

best
F

Unknown said...

I am intrigued! Particularly by the part about his father. Hmmmm, there's an interesting story there.

Marsha A. Moore said...

She seems outwardly more willing to surrender to her passions than commitments, but I think Morton knows better. He may be in control, but she's going to make it interesting and difficult for him.

Paula Martin said...

Hmm, she surrendered to sex - but not to marriage? Or is she just toying with him? Intriguing!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Ruth, Marsha & Paula,

Thanks for stopping by to comment.

Yep, intrigue and more intrigue abounds in this novel, and there's a fly in the ointment yet to show up! ;)

best
F
F

Li said...

Yay! A heroine who isn't pathetically grateful for a marriage proposal and is comfortable with her body. Well done, and you stayed in the 400 words but completed the scene!

Beverly Diehl said...

I second what @li said! Love a woman who enjoys being nekkid ;-) and the bit with the grass blade was exquisite.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Li and Bev,

Yes, well, women in the 17th century were often not as wimpy as we might think. It was, after all, a time of mistresses in high places! Women with minds of their own, and some real-life heroines amongst their ranks. ;)

best
F

J.L. Campbell said...

Pretty sensual stuff from you this week, Francine. I gotta agree that this makes a change for the usual female suspects, who swoon at the drop of a hat. This one is comfortable in all her female glory.

THE SARCASM GODDESS said...

Steamy indeed! What a tease she is! Loved it!

Francine Howarth said...

Hi J.L. & S.G,

Yep, hidden depths to this little minx! ;)

best
F

Anonymous said...

Straight in to the action. I hope she enjoys surrendering to his liberties with her body ;O)

Francine Howarth said...

Hi Madeleine,

Oh she does, and he gets his own back. He threatens to leave her there in state of undress! She needs his help to lace her bodice... ;)

best
F