Loins of battle

[Darkrhytm]

I am working on a story with POV of both the main male (Rovan) and female protagonist (Alya). Rovan is captured after a bloody battle by Alya; I do not want to fall into cliches and want to maintain the sexual tension while also maintaining their enemity. Both will be working on their own agendas while also physically and sexually compelled to the other.

Any thoughts on how to maintain the conflict? What pitfalls to avoids? What would make it fun for the reader?

 

[StillStunned]

I have a series where the protagonists start out as rivals. I added lots of male/female gaze sections to show their mutual attraction, and some interactions that show that their connection goes beyond the physical: banter, but also a shared view of the world.

But I kept them apart by keeping their animosity close to the surface, and throwing in interruptions and misunderstandings whenever they were about to give in to their feelings. I managed to drag this out over 50k words before they get their Happily Ever After.

 

[Darkrhytm]

I have a series where the protagonists start out as rivals. I added lots of male/female gaze sections to show their mutual attraction, and some interactions that show that their connection goes beyond the physical: banter, but also a shared view of the world.

But I kept them apart by keeping their animosity close to the surface, and throwing in interruptions and misunderstandings whenever they were about to give in to their feelings. I managed to drag this out over 50k words before they get their Happily Ever After.

That is wonderful and super helpful SS. I am curious to see where my writing leads since the willfulness of the characters might not lead to a happily ever after but more of an evolving animosity AND love. I think less about misunderstandings and more about their pragmatic objectives vs. hunger and physical desires.

 

[Yarglenurp]

Just have her kill his sister. Or have him kill her brother. Somewhere, a sibling dies.

Pretty hard to be lovers with the person that killed your sis or bro.