September 24th, 2008 | by Kate Pearce |
by Kate Pearce
So last week I was wittering away on another blog about introducing m/m elements to erotic romance novels and how everyone is doing it. I also mentioned my book “Antonia’s Bargain” as my jumping off point toward finding exactly the kind of hero I wanted to write about-not the classic Alpha male or the Beta, but a man struggling to come to terms with his unique sexuality in a time period when being different could mean severe punishment or death.
In Antonia’s Bargain we first met Peter Howard, a man who enjoys sex and spent seven years in a Turkish brothel along with his best friend Lord Valentin Sokorvsky. Peter’s not your usual hero. He’s in love with Valentin, has been addicted to opium and is bored by both his sexual reputation and the variety of sexual pleasures available to him. In Simply Sexual, we see him having to come to terms with Valentin falling in love with a woman and now being considered an occasional diversion in their marriage bed.
Simply Sinful changes narrators and allows us to see Peter’s side of the story and we soon realize (hopefully) that Val has got him all wrong. Peter’s not weak and during the book he’ll prove it as he has to face a personal crisis relating to his very identity, and delve into the deep currents of an established marriage he is invited into.
I loved writing this book. Peter was so different to the average romance hero and the couple he interacts with, James and Abigail Beecham develop in surprising ways as well. When I sent the proposal to my editor I asked him if it was okay if there was no woman in the first three chapters. Surprisingly, he was fine with that and I went on from there.
Here’s a little piece from the beginning of the book:
Peter remained standing by the door and took out his pocket watch. “I believe you requested an hour of my time. Don’t waste it.”
Lord Beecham smiled and strolled toward him. He wore a black coat and brown waistcoat which enhanced his good looks. A diamond glinted in the crisp white folds of his intricately folded cravat.
“Can I get you a glass of brandy, or even better, persuade you to sit down?”
“No, I prefer to stand.” Inwardly, Peter grimaced at his choice of words. He sounded like a bad actor in a melodrama. “What do you want from me?”
Lord Beecham stopped in front of him. His brown eyes level with Peter’s.
“Don’t you know?”
“It seems you find the situation highly amusing, but I would ask you once again. You won your bet. What do you want?”
Beau Beecham smiled. “I want your cock in my mouth.”
Before he could stop himself, Peter pivoted and slammed the other man up against the door. He wrapped a hand around Lord Beecham’s throat.
“Do you think I am some kind of male harlot or Molly to be bought for your perverted pleasure?”
Lord Beecham coughed and tried to clear his throat. “No.”
Peter pressed harder. “I will not become a figure of fun for you and your obnoxious cronies. If this is how you choose to win a bet, tell me how much you stand to lose and I will willingly pay up for you.”
Lord Beecham held his gaze, his brown eyes steady. “There is no bet. Only the one you lost. If you are a gentleman, you will honor my request. I want my mouth around your cock. I want to suck you until you come.”
Peter stared right back at him, already aware from their close proximity that Lord Beecham’s cock was erect and rubbed against his own which was rapidly filling out too.
He tightened his grip on the other man’s throat. “I will honor your request. But if I hear one word about this in the clubs, if my reputation is damaged by your gossiping tongue, I will find you and make you sorry you ever lived.”
He stepped back against the wall and ripped at the buttons of his breeches. Lord Beecham exhaled and sank to his knees. Good lord, the man was eager. Peter looked down at the thick wet crown of his cock which already thrust through the confines of his under things. He tensed as Lord Beecham shoved the fine linen away to expose him in all his glory.
With agonizing slowness, Lord Beecham simply stared at him. Peter shuddered as Lord Beecham’s tongue emerged and licked a drop of pre-come from the crown.
“Get on with it, damn you.”
Look Ma! No girls!
I originally intended to write this book as a true menage a trois, but the further I got into the story, the more each individual characters sexual tastes changed, and by the end, things came out very differently. You’ll have to read the book to find out what I mean 
I don’t plot, I don’t keep notes and I only write down a page of where I think I’m going to end up about two-thirds of the way through the book so trust me, the ending is sometimes as much a surprise to me as it is to anyone else.
Today was a good day because not only did I get a box full of books from Kensington to lick, which is always a thrill, but I found an early review from Romantic Times for Simply Sinful which gave it 4 stars and said:
Pearce provides an interesting twist to the standard “love lessons” plot in this story where both the husband and wife receive erotic training from a master. With historical detail, strong character development, a slight mystery, caring relationships and smoking hot sex, there is something for everyone. The action includes threesomes, M/M and sex toys, as well as light bondage and discipline.
Summary: Abby and James were forced to wed at a young age, but have lived apart for most of their 16-year marriage. Wanting a child, Abby wants James back into her bedroom, but both have troubling memories of their prior relations. Enter Peter Howard, who spent a number of years as a slave in a Turkish brothel. Peter is attracted to the couple and believes he can tutor them in the numerous ways to enjoy passion. These intense encounters result in a happy ending — just not what everyone expected. (Aphrodisia, Nov., 304 pp., $13.95)
The best thing, is that Kensington offered me a contract to write two more in the ‘Simply’ series. #3 Simply Shameless is already written and due out May 09 and I’m currently writing the fourth, as yet unnamed, which will be out Nov 09.I suspect Valentin and Peter will be turning up in these books whether I want them to or not. Sometimes I love being a writer.
Here’s a link to Amazon UK and US, just in case I’ve inspired you to go and pre-order.
I can’t think of a question to ask you all-perhaps you’d like to ask me one?
Kate x
That’s a hot excerpt, Kate. I love that you push the boundaries. And you do it so well
by Shelli Stevens · September 24th, 2008 at 2:04 pmWow, Kate, now I’m intrigued! It seems that your books focus on a central couple and even if there are other parties, they’re in more supporting roles. Will your other Simply titles continue in that pattern? Thanks for letting readers explore outside their comfort zones through your books!
by Fedora · September 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pmI read the back blurb that Peter’s story would involve a marriage couple. I am not really exciting about it. I think it would be about a very bad husband and his innocent wife. I think Peter deserve better.
How I am wrong!!!
After reading your post, now I really want to read this book.
by May · September 25th, 2008 at 10:05 amHi Fedora!
Yes, that’s how it works, I tend to have one couple who are the most important-I think that’s because I still write romance novels even though they are on the edge of that genre
and yes, all the Simply books are going to be that way-I think-although I never quite know how things are going to come out sometimes!
The next one is about Madame Helene who owns the pleasure house and then it will be Anthony Sokorvsky. So some characters you already know will still play a part in the story. I like the continuity and the opportunity to explore what the pleasure house brings out of these people.
by Kate Pearce · September 25th, 2008 at 12:26 pmOh May, there is nothing simple about this relationship at all
I wanted to write a book about a married couple who love each other enough to want the other person to be happy-(and this is set in a time when divorce was almost impossible). What happens to Peter, and to the other two people is life-changing, but I think they all end up with their own happy-ever-afters
by Kate Pearce · September 25th, 2008 at 12:29 pmKate
I LOVE THIS EXCERPT and I will devour the book once it is in my greedy hands – mwahhahahahahaha
by Joyfully Reviewed · September 26th, 2008 at 12:54 am