By Louisa Bacio
Working with two flexible
characters has its advantages. Both Isabella and Raul from A Dance with Death, my latest
1Night Stand, come from the world of dance, and I had a blast choreographing
their sex scenes.
The poor duo barely makes
it into the bed – and that’s only to sleep. Some writers complain about writing
sex scenes: been there, done that. Really, though, it’s the characters that
infuse the story with life.
In A Dance with Death, Isabella
and Raul clash on the surface. She’s a ballerina, whose artistic training
shines on the stage. He’s a hip-hop video choreographer – all flash.
Neither is happy with
their lives. She’s at a crossroads, and unsure of where to go from here, and
he’s hit a creative block. The first 1Night Stand A Date with Death began more with the female character.
For Dance, Raul stood out.
He spoke to me. The opening scene came quickly … and I wanted him to find his
happiness. The question was who would fuel his passion, and act as a complementary
contrast to give him the needed kick in the ass.
Although the story is set
in the contemporary world, an element of paranormal runs throughout. There are
little hints here and there of a darker alternative if this date does not work
out. At odds, they can’t understand why they were matched. The two share a
past, and must come to grips with their differences in order to have a future.
The dynamic between them
explodes immediately, and it’s a good thing both have plenty of stamina.
She’s a classic…
After recovering from an
injury and uncertain of her future in the world of dance, ballerina Isabella
treats herself to a dating service–some frolicking between the sheets before
she decides what to do with the rest of her life is just the jeté her
heart and mind needs.
He’s a bit more
modern…
A successful music video
choreographer, Raul is constantly surrounded by gorgeous dancers. But his life
lacks a vitality and depth he needs to fuel his creative passion. He turns to a
1Night Stand to discover inspiration.
A dance between
life and death…
When an accident threatens
to cancel the evening of romance, Isabella and Raul will have to dance to a new
beat. Can a dance with death change fate?
Excerpt:
If Raul had met Isabella before that moment, he would have
remembered her. She moved with the gait of a lifelong dancer. Elegant. No
wonder ballerinas were described with terminology such as a gazelle. He worked with pop
stars and modern artists so often, he’d forgotten the beauty of the more simple
pleasures. Isabella seemed to shun simple.
She embodied grace, refined and fragile.
Where had that thought come from? Despite being in dance—way back
in the day—and working as a choreographer and producer, Raul’s image of himself
was tilted, off-centered. He lacked agility—an ogre, a brute who would break
the porcelain figurine the minute he got her between the sheets. His hard-on
raged at the thought of her lithe body stripped bare, wriggling beneath him.
Oh, he’d have to go slowly and gently, but she’d scream his name before the
night ended. He could use the little ego boost and extracurricular activity.
She watched him, and he grew tired of the stalemate. Time slipped
away, too precious to waste on the monotony of hard feelings.
“You need to loosen up.”
She opened her mouth, a line creased her forehead, and he moved,
kissing her.
Full lips. His arm slipped around her waist and held her firm
against him. She squirmed in his embrace, but soon her lips became more pliant,
she leaned into his body, and let out a soft moan.
“That’s more like it,” he said, releasing her. “We need to spend
more time kissing than arguing. Deal?”
Louisa Bacio
Bio:
A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine
living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance
enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length
novels.
Bacio shares
her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and
a multitude pet craziness: two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters,
rabbits, hermit crabs and rolly pollies. In her other life, she teaches college
classes in English, journalism and popular culture.
