Poor Firebird, it’s often lost in the shadow of my other, more controversial ballet-themed book, Mercy, even though Firebird has its own charms. Firebird is a very sweet romance, and it was the first book I wrote that was based on the romance of collaboration. (Cirque du Minuit was another one.) There’s something about working together with another person to create a work of art that is just sexy to the core.
Ballet, too, lends itself to eroticism and especially BDSM. Me and my reader Maryara (waves wildly) were talking about this dance/BDSM connection last week. Dancing with another person is always power exchange. Add the sadistic and masochistic elements of what they put their bodies through, and the discipline required to be successful, and the book practically writes itself. I have started on a third ballet-themed book tentatively called Waking Kiss. So far it’s more Mercy than Firebird, but we’ll see how it all pans out.
One thing I love about Firebird is the way Jackson and Prosper try to keep things professional in the beginning when there’s such a strong undercurrent of desire underneath. For today, I immediately went to this scene that takes place during their first practice together as dancer and choreographer.
She moved to the center of the room. It was called the small rehearsal room, but it wasn’t small, only not as large as the larger rehearsal hall where the company took class and where entire ballets were rehearsed in front of the mirror. This room was only mirrored on one side. He turned her toward it.
“So you know the basic story of Firebird?”
“Yes, pretty much. The prince finds her in a garden, dances with her—”
“Captures her.”
Prosper fell silent.
“He captures her and refuses to release her unless she agrees to return when he asks.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “A very practical monarch.”
“Yes, practical, but also selfish. And driven to subdue a creature both weaker and more powerful than himself.”
He watched as a blush crept across the back of her neck. My God, she was so close he could smell her, fresh soap and faint perfume.
“But you’re not dancing the prince,” he said, collecting himself. “And really, his story doesn’t concern you. After you tell him the secret of how to defeat Kostchei and rescue his princess, you fly away, and he’s left with his safe, proper wife.”
“Mmm.”
“But I think he remembers the Firebird his whole life. Do you know why?”
She turned her head, the blush spreading across her cheeks. “Why?”
“Because she was the only creature of her kind he’d ever seen in his life.”
She drew in a soft breath. He was going to lick her in a moment, all the way from her nape up to her staid ballerina bun. Focus. Show her what to do, instead of staring at her neck and imagining a collar there.
I love, love, love tension between characters at the start of a romance! If you haven’t read Firebird, check it out. It’s not hardcore kink but there are some very sexy BDSM scenes, and tons of delicious tension and drama. Firebird was a finalist for the Golden Crown award a few years back, and that was also very cool. Click the book cover below to read the blurb and find buy links.
It’s hard to choose which of your fictional couples I like best. But Jackson and Prosper are definitely at the top of MY list!
I love Firebird its one of favorite books that I go to. For me its up there with Mercy and Comfort Object. I love the story of Prosper and Jackson. For me the hottest scene is when Prosper goes to meet Jackson not knowing its him she meeting and they end up at the dance studio. Steamy fun and as a reader felt it all, the confusion of Prosper, Jackson’s intent to have her.
I love Jackson and Prosper. I still think the scene where he smacks her when she’s rehearsing might be the hottest in the book. Just amazing!
Firebird is my favorite of your books and right near the top of my favorite romances in general. It doesn’t hurt that Jackson is a total hottie either!
Many thanks to all of you. 🙂
It’s funny but when I started Firebird I was really worried because I read in a how-to romance book that certain careers were off-limits for romance heroes. They were things like janitor, insurance salesman, and DANCER. I personally believe you can make any man sexy, no matter how awful his job is, but I was kinda worried about having an ex-dancer/choreographer be the sexy hero of the book.
I turned out loving Jackson though. There is something about a guy who knows how to use his body. I mean, look at Channing Tatum in Magic Mike!!! 😉
I liked the scene where they first meet at the coffee shop after communicating anonymously online. I don’t think you can write a bad story. I have yet to read anything of yours that I haven’t liked. Waking Kiss sounds delightful. 🙂
Thanks Monique! I hope everyone likes Waking Kiss. I’m only about 6 chapters in so I’m not sure how it will all pan out but I think it’s good so far…
OMG. How did I miss the mention of Waking Kiss? A Dancer and the hero more like my Man Matthew who in real life would have a restraining order on me. Can not wait to read Waking Kiss. I have a four day weekend and I will do some re- reading of Mercy and Firebird yet again and Comfort Object too.
I think you will definitely like the guy in Waking Kiss. Very Matthew vibe, but different. He is kinda the type of guy that someone would take out a restraining order against, HAHAHAHAHAH. But in a hot kind of way. 🙂
Nothing wrong with a determined man with a goal of getting the woman he wants
Oh. I do believe dance is the perfect background for a BDSM romance *gushes*. “Firebird” is more introspective and smothier than “Mercy”, I don’t know how to explain how I feel about it, maybe it’s like Prosper’s classical dance to Lucy’s contemporary(?) style, diferent movements, but both so pretty and passionated.
Besides Prosper and Jackson, I love Blake too – once I read a review of Firebird that dished him and I was very close of typing a very angry answer haha, but I decided for not lose my chill about BDSM books reviews a long time ago…
Well, i’m not sure of my favorite scene but I do like when Jackson is reharsing with a recovering and naked Prosper,it’s hawt!
Aw, Blake was a good guy. If he was not a dancer I would write a vanilla book about him, lol.
Oh boy, I hope when he retires he doens’t become a janitor or he’ll never get a girl hahaha
HAHAHAHA! I know it!!
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OH, that’s cool! I love it!!!
😉 love your books !