house

Is Marriage Still Sexy?

December 14, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

When I finished Mistress Of The House and submitted it to my beta reader, she had some thoughts on this particular novel that she didn’t have on the others. Well, of course she’d have different feelings for this piece of work, because it (and I would venture to say Master Of The House too) focuses on marriage as the goal. Actually, the reader finds out quickly that Thelma Starnsby has marriage on the brain.

So what? You may ask; and that’s all well and good. But here is what my beta reader thought: she had a difficult time with the values Thelma had, though she made it clear that she accepted Thelma’s values as real to her, the character. However, the reader indicated that she never went into relationships with marriage as the goal, and that she thought this concept was rather strange to her, something she couldn’t quite grasp.

Many would add that women may be less inclined in this modern day age to consider marriage as strongly as they did years ago, especially the time in which the House books take place. In the 1920s and 1930s, usually a woman’s chance for any kind of security in life hinged on a good marriage. For all you women out there, you might say a prayer today that you’re even allowed to have a bad day at the office. Why? Because in the 1920s and 2930s, employers refused to hire women for open positions in their company or business.

So what’s a good gal to do? Thelma’s motto would be, “If you got it, flaunt it.” And that’s just what she did. She decided to make her lessons at The House pay off in dividends, by using her amorous skills in landing the man of her dreams. As it also happened, the man of her dreams truly had been dreaming of someone like Thelma. He just didn’t realize it until she opened his eyes to the truth, to his own carnal desires.

If you read Mistress Of The House, please, all you modern ladies, don’t be so quick to judge Thelma as too outdated. She knew what she wanted and she went after it, using everything in her arsenal. Because of the times she lived in, choices were limited compared to what they are today.

So what about all of you ladies out there? Do you still value marriage as something you wish to pursue in your life? Do you think marriage as a goal for women is outdated? Are more women marrying or staying single? Do Thelma’s values seem foreign to you today?

Mistress Of The House Is Published!

October 31, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

Another House Tale Book is birthed and ready to be enjoyed by readers! As someone told me, this is the best of them all! I have to admit, I’m pretty proud of it, if I say so myself. Thelma has just returned from her treatment at The House, and she’s primed and ready to practice what she’s learned on her darling Harry, the main squeeze in her life. Little does he suspect what she’s up to, but in the meantime, he’s enjoying the royal, sexy treatment Thelma begins to lavish on him. If you read Pleasure House, you’ll remember Thelma’s conversation with Rose, and how she managed to get Harry to propose. But no major details were given, so if you want the full scoop, read Mistress Of The House, and learn how a woman took charge of her life–and her man!

Slinky, Erotic Moves: Burlesque At Its Best

July 21, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

Like in most of the House books, dancing is involved, and Master Of The House is no exception. If you haven’t read this book, the newest release in the House Tales From The Archives collection, just know that Wille takes Louise to a private, erotic art show, and the two characters are in for a real treat at the end: a live risqué burlesque act, where sensual belly dancing meets The Full Monty.

When creating this scene, I had to get an idea of what belly dancing looked like, and consider if I even wanted this style of dancing in the scene. When I viewed some videos, I found exactly what I was wanting. Now, belly dancing doesn’t require the dancer to “take it all off,” but the moves are smooth, titillating, and beautiful, really. And the costumes, I must say, are gorgeous, much like you might see in ballroom dance gowns. The fabric is flowing, bejeweled, colorful, and allows the body to move freely.

As I watched talented dancers, I came to appreciate the ways they undulated their bodies, shimmied their hips, and how they could makes those breasts pop up and down. I won’t even begin to think I could do any of that at my age, but I can sure use those moves to create a fun scene in a novel.

But in this erotic romance story, I couldn’t resist having my dancer take it all off at the end–just quick–right before the lights go off, leaving the audience staring, open-mouthed. The viewers in my scene got more of an eyeful than viewers who saw the Broadway version of The Full Monty, but as you know, “poetic license” allows me to do this and not get sued. I’ve included a video of Alla Kushnir on Ukraine’s Got Talent. I hope you enjoy the true beauty of the dance and moves as much as I did.

And I hope it entices you to purchase a copy of Master Of The House so you can see what happens after Willie and Louise leave the art show.

Inspiration For Burlesque Scene

The Name Game: Crazy, Fun Asylum Dancing

June 2, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

If you’ve read the works I’ve been creating, the scenes either take place in an asylum, or the character is leaving the asylum to return home. Though I try to hint at the time period without coming right out and saying it, the stories are set anywhere in the 1920’s and 1930’s, a time where anyone could be dumped off at the local “crazy house” and left there to stay–forever until death did they part.

You’d think when Asylum came on, I’d have watched that show like a hawk. But like I’ve said in other posts, I didn’t faithfully watch American Horror Story: Asylum, though I did catch a few episodes. If you read Pleasure House and Dance of Desire, you’ll notice that I include dancing as part of my work. When I present Master Of The House, you’ll still read scenes with dancing.

Why this intrigue with dance? Because it’s not only fun to watch, it’s fun to do. Dancing has been around since the creation of time, used in ritual and ceremony, including the ceremony of wooing someone of the opposite sex. Dancing is healthy, but it’s also sexy, alluring, and guaranteed to get the lust boiling, if performed a certain way.

From dancing in the buff to sparkling, flowing costumes, a dancer can express an array of emotions to happiness to sadness, to “come hither if you dare.” In Asylum, the creators added in the dance scene with Jessica Lange performing “The Name Game”–which she performed herself, if you hadn’t guessed already. I love this scene, not only because it’s dancing, but I like the way the creators of Asylum showed the craziness of the human mind, and how we all can free associate in an instant, with only a few words spoken or the vision of an item as a small hint to get the mind rolling in all kinds of directions. I’ve included a link to that Name Game scene performed by Jessica Lange. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Name Game: Asylum: American Horror Story

Dance Of Desire Is Published!

February 1, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

Dance of Desire Is Published!!

Dance of Desire

Oh, I’m so excited about this one! This latest work is the first from my new series: House Tales From The Archives. These stories will feature characters (actual or mentioned) from the first novel, Pleasure House. In this particular story, Daren, the sexy, red-headed attendant finds Serena, an admit from the other side of The House, dancing alone in a clearing one night. Smitten by her beauty, he continues to go to the clearing hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

When he sees her do something rather unusual one night, he vows to have her with him on his naughty side of The House. During an afternoon outing, Serena’s questioning of Daren make him fear the worst: Is she falling in love with him?

He soon discovers, however, that she really has her heart set on someone else in the community. A crafty teacher, Daren provides her only one opportunity to win the love of her heart, or else remain a resident at The House, forever abandoned by her family and society.

Can she do it? When she’s put to the test, her resolve nearly crumbles, endangering her only hope for freedom and to the one she loves.

An Erotic Cross Over

September 22, 2012 by scarletdarkwood

The video below, by Jose Castelo Branco, gave me the inspiration for the cross dresser scene in Pleasure House. Rose has never encountered crossdressers before and the admits and attendants on this floor give her a real treat. Click the link to watch from where the ideas came!

Inspiration For Pleasure House

. . . At the back of the room, others gathered around a large dining table filled with silver trays of food and crystal goblets of fine drink. A sparkling, elegant chandelier hung from above. In the front right corner of the room stood a large, decorative screen covered with scenes of lovers engaged in various carnal acts. In the front left corner of the room sat the musicians, all playing an assortment of drums, flutes, and other unidentified tinkling items, while men in tight loin cloths danced in time to the music, swinging their hips and waving their arms, stepping left and right in a lively rhythmic pattern. A sheen of perspiration illuminated their facial features, showing off glittering eyes and luscious lips painted with bright cosmetics.

“Come, you dance with us.”

. . . Rose found the dance patterns easy, picked up her pace with more enthusiasm as her confidence increased, and surrendered to the partnership. The music pounded in her ears, and after several minutes, the rhythm and movement of the dance intoxicated her. Her partner took her hand in his and pulled her a few steps to the right, then pushed her a few steps to the left. He raised his hand, and Rose took the liberty of performing a dainty, little twirl—right into the arms of the lady in red.

“Oh, I’m so . . . !” Rose locked onto a pair of bright eyes, their piercing glint soulful and penetrating. She studied the face before her, the well-formed nose, and the strong, square jaw line which curved down to a nice, rounded chin. Like many of the others in the room, certain facial features bore evidence of the skillful application of cosmetics. Both hands, though neatly manicured, exuded a certain force between their widths, but she marveled most at the strength of the arms wrapped around her waist. Within their embrace, she became overwhelmed by an intense energy, a radiating heat that threatened to suffocate her, and the scent of bergamot and myrrh made her swoon. Rose gave a small cry of surprise as the figure scooped her up and, with quick, graceful steps, moved toward the opposite corner of the room. Once situated behind the privacy of the screen, Rose found herself placed on a large, soft cushion. The lady in red loomed over her as if to consume her very being.

A surge of panic set in, and Rose writhed to get away from the stronghold of muscular thighs locked in position on either side of her hips, held fast by the weight over her.

“Please, let me . . . !”

“Sh-h-h, silencio. Quiet, please, amor. No need to be afraid.”

The soft, sultry voice made Rose stop and blink her eyes in amazement. “You’re—“

“I am Ramón. And yes, I am . . .”

“. . . A man!” But you’re so beautiful . . .” She stared, unable to remove her eyes, his beauty taking her breath away.

“Thank you, amor. You are most kind, but I think you are the beautiful one, la hermosa.” Rose’s heart quickened; the hard bulge between his thighs pressed harder against her sex.

Without thinking, Rose reached up and moved her finger across the fabric of Ramón’s gown, her brows knit together, perplexed. “You . . . you like women . . . even though you wear . . . ?”

“I adore not only women, but everything associated with female beauty. I love silky fabric against my skin, the touch of cold metal and sparkling gems around my neck. With cosmetics, I can transform myself and be one as beautiful as yourself, even if only for just a moment in time. In this way, I honor and pay tribute to the power and beauty and strength of the woman.”

Rose pondered his words in silence. Meanwhile, from the chestnut-colored depths of Ramón’s eyes, a quiet hunger surged. In lusty anticipation, he licked his lips with a glossy tongue and peered into Rose’s face. “Allow me to immerse myself in your beauty, taste your divine sweetness.” Rose shifted under his weight, aroused by his declarations and eloquent request. The hidden place between her thighs responded with an outpouring of hot, thick moisture, and she tried in vain to open herself up to this strange person who wielded power over her. Ramón’s thighs held her fast.

“You’re allowed,” Rose said. With a serene smile, she reached behind her neck, untied the straps of her dress, and threw her arms behind her head. . . .