Tags
7 days of seduction, candlelight romance, erotic contemporary romance, erotic romance, jenna jaxon
I’m so very excited to welcome Jenna Jaxon today! Not only is she an amazing person, she writes with a beautiful, wicked style that turns everything she pens into a page turner. Whether you love historical romances or naughty erotic contemporaries, you’re in the right place … especially to learn about a little candlight lovin’. Jenna?
Jenna Jaxon: Candlelight Romance
“How do you set a romantic scene?” Ask this question and almost immediately men and women both will say, “Light some candles.” Candles have been associated with romance probably only since the advent of electric lights, yet they are the first thing people think of when you say romance. What quality does candlelight have that inspires those soft, sensual feelings in both men and women?
Candlelight encourages a sense of intimacy. A dinner with candles casts only enough light for you and your date to see each other. The rest of the world fades into the darkness and it is easier to focus only on each other, thereby creating an intimate bubble between you. Intimate distance is considered to be from contact with skin to about 18 inches–just about as far as a candle’s light will reach.
A low quality of light casts an aura of mystery over a room. Just like the light of sunrise or sunset, the uncertainty of candlelight appeals to our sense of adventure. It suggests possibilities that are blatantly not there in the harsh light of day or 100 watt bulbs. The flickering light of many candles–either in a bedroom or a bathroom–enhances your mystique and allows you the opportunity to discover all your partner’s now hidden, and therefore fascinating, nooks and crannies.
Scented candles can also bring the air of romance to a room. Certain aromas go well together–lavender, lemon and peppermint combine to relax and soothe, to put you in the mood to languish or to explore each other in a leisurely manner. If you know your partner’s preferences, you can arrange to have those scents perfuming the air, and creating the perfect atmosphere for romance.
In 7 Days of Seduction, Hunter takes advantage of the many uses of candles to give Ashley a super sensory experience on one of their colorful adventures. He fills her bedroom with tall pillar candles, creating that intimate aura that feeds romance. But he also takes advantage of another sensory encounter in the form of wax play. This sensual (though sometimes painful) form of BDSM is meant to help Ashley not only trust him, but push her boundaries just a little. It may be a bit extreme, but it is another way that candles can enhance your romantic evening at home.
Have you ever arranged a romantic evening? Did you use candles or come up with some other device to create romance?
7 Days of Seduction (Erotic Romance)
Ashley Thompson had a wild time at her party last Friday night. Maybe too wild. She wakes to find a video of her in the middle of a ménage a trois with her ex-boyfriend and a gorgeous stranger. Unable to remember anything about the night, other than the hot sex she sees on the computer screen, Ashley begins a search for Mr. Hunk. She has no luck until he unexpectedly shows up–in her shower.
Hunter Hopewell intends to introduce Ash to a variety of sexual experiences he finds fun and exciting. He proposes a week long series of “colorful” encounters designed to seduce Ashley out of her kink comfort zone.
As their week of escalating pleasure intensifies, Ashley must choose to let go of her inhibitions or risk losing the best damn lover she’s ever had.
Find it @ Amazon | New Dawning Bookfair | ARe | Bookstrand | Smashwords
Excerpt
Flickering lights in what should have been her dark bedroom sped her heart rate. Several groups of tall pillar candles around the room gave off a fresh, waxy smell. Thank goodness, there were no sweet floral scents. The light blue duvet cover turned back revealed blue striped sheets. She stood appreciating the romance of the room. Hunter moved to stand close behind her.
“I guess it will be novel to make love in a bed.” Her hushed tone seemed right for the moment.
“And other things,” Hunter whispered as he kissed her ear. “Are you ready to see what’s in that bag?”
She nodded, concerned only with his lips as he nibbled down the nape of her neck. The mystery of the bag no longer filled her with anxiety.
Once naked, they sat on the bed and he opened the satchel, laying items on the mattress beside her. A yellow taper candle, a box of matches, a black condom, a beach towel and strips of black cloth. The last item sent a quiver of apprehension through her and she picked them up.
“What are these for?” Though curious, she wasn’t afraid, even though she suspected what they were.
“Restraints.” In the wavering light, his mouth curled in a sensual smile. “I wanted to tie you to the bed tonight, Ashley.”
Her heart leaped, her stomach dropped, and her pussy clenched. Keep breathing.
“I knew you had a really kinky side. Just didn’t know when it was going to show itself.” She turned the strips over, running them through her fingers. The softness of the fabric belied their purpose. She glanced at the brass bars of her headboard. “Well, you’ve got the perfect setting for it.” Raising her gaze to his face, she nonchalantly handed the restraints over. “You want to put these on me now?”
“I’m actually thinking I’ll save them for later. Concentrate on the other goodies.” He shoved the black strips back into the bag. “Do you know what the candle’s for?”
She shook her head.
“Watch.” He grabbed it and lit it from one of the pillars then waited a minute for the wax to collect around the flame. Ash watched, fascinated as he held his hand out, palm down, and dripped the hot wax onto the back of his hand. He didn’t flinch, but his eyes grew round briefly.
Her stomach flipped suddenly. “You want to drip wax on my hand?”
“On your body.”
Her sharp intake of breath sounded loud in the quiet room. Almost louder than the hammering of her heart. The game had gotten much more real in the past thirty seconds.
Find it @ Amazon | New Dawning Bookfair | ARe | Bookstrand | Smashwords
Jenna Jaxon
Jenna Jaxon is a multi-published author of historical and contemporary romance. She is currently finishing revisions to Betrothal, the first book in the Time Enough to Love series. Her Georgian novel, Only Scandal Will Do, the first in a series of five interconnecting novels, was released in July 2012. Work on the second book of the series, Only Marriage Will Do, has begun. Her third full-length novel, As Long As You’re Mine, set in Victorian London and Richmond, Virginia is currently out to an agent.
Jenna has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. When not reading or writing, she indulges her passion for the theatre, working with local theatres as a director. She often feels she is directing her characters on their own private stage.
She has equated her writing to an addiction to chocolate because once she starts she just can’t stop.
Learn more @ Blog | Facebook | Twitter: @Jenna_Jaxon
I can’t say I have ever tried to set a romantic scene with candles, but I do have them on the porch in the summer a lot, and it’s lovely.
That’s another wonderful idea. Wish I had a porch now. Thanks for stopping by, D’Ann. 🙂
Oh, man. I need a screened porch so I can sit out there by candlelight. (Bugs are horrid here.) Great idea!
Nice one Jenna 🙂 When I was out breaking up with a boyfriend, a candle dropped wax on me and I barely flinched. The bf was very impressed and I could just see the direction his thoughts took him on LOL. Great post. I love the light of candles, always have one burning in my living room.
Oh, sounds like he and Hunter have something in common. 🙂 Candlelight is very relaxing also. We light candles in the living room as well. Thanks for visiting, Cait.
Oh, WOW. Way to make him want what he can’t have, LOL!
Great post. I love candles, too, and remember some very romantic evenings by candle light. Enticing excerpt
Thanks, Karen!
That sounds so romantic. Clearly there were no children there fighting over who got to blow out the candles, LOL!
I hate to admit this, but my favorite thing about candlelight it’s more flattering. I like to hide a little. ;c) I’m also a Yankee Candle candle freak. I have about 40 of them. LOVE scented candles. (The food ones are especially romantic, LOL!)
You’re right, Sarah. Candlelight hides all kinds of things. 🙂 I didn’t know they had food candles. Like sugar cookies, you mean? Not broccoli, I hope. 🙂
OMG, girl, what are you missing?! My favorites are macintosh, granny smith, creamscicle, melon and cucumber, chocolate chip cookie, apple cider … oh, and maple syrup. My kids woke up yelling “pancakes! mom made pancakes!” and nope. Just the candle. Buahaahah! (I actually make pancakes all the time so don’t feel bad for them). I really do have dozens. None are broccoli, though. LOL.
I’m blown away by this terrific post. Thanks Jenna and to you Sarah for inviting her.
Vanilla scented candles are my faves. Jenna, your ideas are just what a writer needs to enhance a scene.
About the excerpt: I want to shout, “NO. Don’t do it. This isn’t what love is all about.” But I’m not young and adventurous, a virgin when I married at twenty, so life has changed and your heroine is fictional after all.
Dynamite writing and again, thanks to both of you for this post.
Thanks so much, Charmaine. Well, Ashley isn’t quite into the candle thing, and Hunter doesn’t press her. They do find other interesting things to do, however, that are still quite adventuresome. 🙂
Good to see you, Charmaine! Vanilla candles are awesome. Sooo soothing! And girl, you need to try something naughty! Maybe not getting fried by candle wax, LOL, but somethin’! :c)
For years I had one room in my house that was lit by candles only. Very romantic. Great post, I tweeted.
Thank you, Ella. That sounds like a fantastic idea, a room lit only by candles. An idea to tuck away for when the girls are out of the house. 🙂
Wow, that would be awesome! When we build our new house the master bedroom will have its own fireplace. I can’t wait to see the room by firelight. *swoon* Thanks for visiting and tweeting!
Love candles..not only do they make a romantic evening (or day), the scents add another touch of intimacy. Nice post!!
Thanks for coming by, Christine! The scents of the candles do turn the ordinary into extraordinary, don’t they? I may have to make a run to hallmark tonight!
Scent is SO amazing. And with candlelight, omg, you can totally forget where you are! (Especially handy when there are endless piles of laundry lurking, lol).