Ucky Love Stuff

I plan on writing a romance novel one day. Just because it would be entertaining to write, and possibly profitable to sell.

Did you know that Romance and Erotica are the best-selling genres? Funny, because you don't see any individual title on the bestseller lists. But Romances are the biggest money-makers, literarily-speaking. By a huge margin.

I wouldn't write erotica, I don't think, but I'd like to try my hand at an intelligent romance. By intelligent, I don't mean deep or literary, I mean... maybe with a slight historic bent. Something fluffy and fun and without a lot of serious research, but with enough intriguing detail to make an intelligent reader feel like they're getting enough substance to keep going.

I write about this now, but doing it is another thing entirely.

I've reached the point in my historical-fiction story, where the romantic tension between two of my characters is resolved and I find myself .... hesitant. Really worried about making it hokey, out of character, or uncomfortable.

My problem: I am writing about pioneers. They don't kiss each other until they're pretty much married. So, no kissing. But there has to be enough romantic resolution not to disappoint my reader. So how do I make it real--not jarringly different from my character's usual pattern of behavior--without making my reader feel like I"m dangling the red apple in front of them and snatching it away, cruelly denying them the passionate scene that they have been so horribly and unjustly primed for?

One more question: is this MY problem, as the author, or is it a problem with society--so used to Twilight and descriptions of people licking each others' teeth, that a caress on the face and a soft embrace is not enough?

Maybe I'm just really, really sexually repressed, and it goes back to that whole character transference thing.

But somehow I don't think so. At least, I don't think Jeff would say so. I hope not. We have had three children together, somehow.

Suggestions are welcome. What is your favorite romantic caress? Describe in detail, please, and don't sue me if I use them. (In my books. In my books.)