Spooning
Posted By Christa on May 27, 2009
This is my debut post and I sort of feel like a debutante. It is a gala event, the first rite of passage for my author-self. We will uncork the bubbly and cheer my deflowering when Bound By Deception is released. Until then, I thought I would discuss a perplexing notion that became apparent to me as I perused a majority of romance stories. It’s the post-coital spooning embrace that is often employed by the hero, after he has thoroughly taken his woman. I am not immune to the use of this romantic cuddle and have used it in my own work. I believe it is beautiful to read about a hero holding his heroine close to his heart, after they have shared in the most intimate of experiences. However, I simply do not see this as a comfortable position in which to remain for the duration of sleep.
Look at how he is wrapped around her. Every single breath he takes is going to feather right over her ear. Most heroes are big and brawny. I have a big and brawny husband and, as much as I like the hold-me close moment, the way his arm drapes over my torso gets old quick. It is dead weight and, dang, having that heavy bunch of bone and muscle crossed over me makes it increasingly hard to inhale. Breathing is apparently important, so why do so many heroines fall asleep like that? Do they not need oxygen? Perhaps this is why some of them are TSTL (To stupid to live): air deprivation at night.
An alternative which might work, but still keeps the couple close, is a “reverse spoon,” where the heroine is cuddled up against her hero’s back
She is spooning him. It is a nice, comfy place to drift off into dream land. Because he is a strong, dominant man he shouldn’t let a little thing like her exhalation every two seconds keep him from sleep either.
Another variation of the spoon is a crazy sleep-embrace that I find particularly unlikely for a couple to maintain during an entire night.
Here, the hero has asserted ownership of his woman. Or, in a paranormal, he has claimed his mate. With most women in romance-land being petite, nubile, and sometimes even fragile, I can not fathom how she would be able to remain unmoving in this position. His chest alone would feel like a boulder, pressing her breasts into the mattress and pinning her in place. Now, if this was being used in a pre-intercourse exchange, it might be effective as a restraint method. (And a bit sensual too, if one could imagine how he might skim his lips over the expanse of her back, pressing kisses along her spine, and moving downward…) However, I believe that within a few moments after their mind blowing sex, she would have the sudden urge to sit up in order to dislodge the pressure of his chin atop her shoulder.
In another modification of “spooning”, the man could use the close proximity and sidle nice and close to her on his side.
The possessive hold of his arm across her belly would not be as uncomfortable as the “basic spoon” position. Also, the fact that she is on her back and facing up, means no annoying exhalations tickling her face. This “alternative spoon” is highly effectual after a long night of loving. She gives in to the sated bliss and drifts off into an exhausted sleep, while he still has the opportunity to hold her. It is possible to remain in this position for a longer period of time. And when the hero is feeling amorous again, all he needs to do is pull her near and begin his next seduction.
So, the question is, what pose conveys a cherishing embrace, is comfortable enough for the lovers, and makes sense within a romantic story? I believe there are many variants that authors could use to show readers closeness between the hero and heroine during sleep. When a heroine cuddles up next to her man, nestled in the crook of his arm with her cheek on his chest, it is a plausible way to fall asleep, especially if the heroine is lulled by repetitive noise.
If he has pushed her body to the brink during their sexual escapades, his rhythmic heart beat might not be an issue for her. It is still romantic and sensual, and could be used in lieu of the “basic spoon” position.
One other means of cuddling that a hero and his woman could end up in is an “almost spoon.”
With their heads nearly touching and no space between them, this is still intimate yet comfortable. There are no wafting exhalations to ruffle hair or skitter over bare flesh, and no weighty limbs to constrict breathing.
I want to consider realism within a story. A true accounting of what happens after a romp. Most heroes have exerted themselves until they are spent. With their final climax, they are ready for a nice rejuvenating rest. The sheets are askew, the pillows scattered, and the couple is rapidly falling asleep. Who has time to straighten the comforter, scoot up into the popular embrace, and drift off into slumber-land? I challenge romance authors to show what is more likely to happen. Messy hair, rumpled sheets, pillows on the floor with the lovers sprawled, entangled, replete and touching intimately. Not necessarily spooning either, but perhaps in an alternative embrace that is comfortable for both of them.
What sleep positions do you find implausible? Or do you like your romance couple to fall asleep entwined in the “basic spoon”? Reading is all about suspending reality. Could it be that fictional lovers float off into slumber, mindless of the discomfort? Am I the only one who enjoys a few minutes of spooning, and then tells hubby to give me some space and move his arm so I can breathe?
I am going to think about this, while I finish the final manuscript of the second book in my vampire series. Don’t be surprised if that one has messy sheets and sprawled out lovers, because I am going to take my own challenge.
Christa
cross posted to Silver Expression Blog at Liquid Silver Books. Go there, and reply on my debut blog post as author Christa Paige: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/blog/
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