Arrrgh!!!

I've been thinking about how romance writers use words. It interests me how they take words that are not commonly associated with sex and imbue them with a sensual patina. I was reading a book by Linda Howard called "Kill and Tell." The setting is New Orleans, so you already have heat, and humidity, and a languid sensuality overlaying everything. She used the word "heavy" repeatedly in one chapter. She described the main male charachter, Marc, as being heavily muscled. Karen hears his slow, heavy, heartbeat as she rests her head on his chest. She experiences that melting, warming, heavy, sense of ripeness in response to Marc's lovemaking. And, she welcomes his heavy weight pressing her into the bed.

"Heavy" isn't a word you often see in romance novels, unless it's used to describe male anatomy, so it's interesting to see how the repeated use of a common word ups the ante in the scene.

"Writhing" is another word that's being used more frequently. When I was younger, you might read that someone "writhed in pain." Or, snakes writhed. Now, women writhe in pleasure, seeking an elusive climax. IT's a really great word. Can't you just see her arching and twisting....her hair spread over the bed....eyes gone blind with need??

But, I have to say, kiwi is the most unusual word that I've read that brings sex to mind. Until recently, I rather thought it could be said to have male attributes. I mean....it's sorta the right size and shape...and hairy! I highly reccomend that you visit Speedbump to read what he has to say about kiwis. You'll never think of them in quite the same light again.