I'm working on my 18th century historical romance where the heroine is a virgin who spent five years in a convent. She is aware that she is attracted to her husband and that she enjoys kissing and touching. It comes down to their first time together--she's a strange mix of "I want to do this because everything else we've done feels good" and "I'm Catholic--sex is only for procreation." Now I realize that modern day Catholicism doesn't actually lean that way, but apparently it used to be like that--so I'm assuming that girl who was practically raised in a convent would have that idea. Of course the hero wins her over in the end.
My question is--how descriptive should I be about the big event? My self-published novel was romantic historical fiction and when it came to sex, the actions were lyrically implied as opposed to descriptive. I was thinking that with a straight historical romance, I should be a bit more forthcoming with the sex scenes.
But are readers creeped out by virgin sex and everything that goes along with it? I personally don't like reading about blood and all that (actually I roll my eyes), but I do describe her as being uncomfortable when he enters her for the first time. Should I back off and go the lyrical route/fade to black for the first time and be more descriptive the second time around? I'm definitely not a fan of gratuitous sex so I'm not even sure if there will be a second time.
Any thoughts or advice?
My question is--how descriptive should I be about the big event? My self-published novel was romantic historical fiction and when it came to sex, the actions were lyrically implied as opposed to descriptive. I was thinking that with a straight historical romance, I should be a bit more forthcoming with the sex scenes.
But are readers creeped out by virgin sex and everything that goes along with it? I personally don't like reading about blood and all that (actually I roll my eyes), but I do describe her as being uncomfortable when he enters her for the first time. Should I back off and go the lyrical route/fade to black for the first time and be more descriptive the second time around? I'm definitely not a fan of gratuitous sex so I'm not even sure if there will be a second time.
Any thoughts or advice?