…if you know what I mean
Do I use euphemism? Maybe. Not exactly. Or perhaps it’s euphemism by omission.
I’m the first one to admit that I don’t use a lot of words common in erotic fiction, especially those that describe male and female body parts. Anyone reading my stories looking for words like cock, pussy, prick, snatch, and fuck are going to end up disappointed.
I have nothing against these words per se. Words are words and different authors need different ones for their stories. I’ve read plenty of stories with those words and I’m not offended or turned off or anything else. It’s just not the way I write.
My erotica is romantic in nature, and I find that the usual words as cited above tend to be too crude for what I want. Again — nothing wrong with the words themselves. It may be an odd comparison, but much as some horror writers imply what’s happening off page instead of spelling it out, I hope that by not giving a microscopic description of a sex scene, the readers can take what they want from it. I gather it works, as many readers have told me my scenes are effective.
“More,” he said again, and this time moved his hands to slide her slacks off. Lani was gasping as he dragged his fingers along her legs, teasing her by slowing down as he moved closer to her center. She wanted for him to touch her, or to be able to touch him, but he had her half-pinned with her body and seemed content to have her there.
“Dom, please,” she whispered, amazed she could even form a word. He teased her a few moments more until she couldn’t stand it and grabbed his wrist to move his hand up. They both groaned as he touched her, she in relief and he at the heat. She released his hand as he slid his fingers into the wetness, stroking and thrusting to drive her to a peak.
“Let me,” he heard her say. He was so lost in the feel and scent of her that he hadn’t heard her the first time. “Please, let me touch you.” Her hands wandered along his sides and over his back and he hissed out a breath.
Dom shook his head, brushing his lips against hers. “Next time,” he promised, pressing his lips to hers, and then to her neck and shoulder. “Go on,” he said, “I’ve got you.” He whispered more to her and was rewarded when she cried out and shook beneath him. His hand moved steadily, keeping her on the edge until she tumbled over. At last he stopped and held her, letting her calm down.
(from Nothing Gets Through)
I’m a romantic at heart, and I suppose that’s where this comes from. I think, to me, it’s the chemistry between characters that helps make a scene erotic. Sure, a scene between two people who just a want quickie with no strings can be well written and arousing, but to me, something will be missing. Since I concentrate more on the emotion and less on the physical in my scenes, I find I don’t need or use a lot of description of body parts. I think that’s consistent for me as well, given how fuzzy and vague my descriptions of people and places tend to be anyway.
So I suppose what I’m doing is not exactly euphemism (which brings to mind phrases like “her soft petals enveloped his hard stalk” — or am I straying into metaphor territory?). I’m not sure if there’s a term. I’m leaving hints, I’m strongly implying — whatever works. Because isn’t the mind the best erogenous zone anyway?
