Dirty Sex?
In the proposal for my current project for Grand Central Publishing I have a scene planned in which the hero calls the heroine and instructs her to go into the nearest public restroom and masturbate while on the phone with him. The book takes place in San Francisco and when her phone rings she’s walking home from the post office. The nearest restaurant is a Chinese place. Good food, but a bit of a dive, as many of the best places in the City are known to be.
However, she goes inside and does it because she has to. It doesn’t matter the place smells like old fish and the restroom is also the storage room for the cleaning supplies. She walks right down the carpeted hallway, goes into the restroom, closes the door, leans back up against it, lifts her skirt and does her thing.
When I spoke with my editor about my proposal, I don’t think she was too hot on this scene. I think she wanted me to make it a lot less dirty. I can understand why. Dirty bathroom sex may not be sexy to a lot of people. But it is to me.
You see, I love the crude part of sex. Not all the time, but sometimes. Showing the less clean part of sex is what makes it real to me. I’ve had sex in a public bathroom. No, it wasn’t a gross place, but it wasn’t the Ritz, either. There were paper towels in the trash bin. There was a wilted plant. The sink had water in it from someone else washing her hands. I don’t know why, but those are the details I like to write about.
What about you? Do you like it dirty?
February 21st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
First I should precede this with “Hi, I’m Shelli, I write vanilla.”
So hmm. I have to think about this a bit. What you described doesn’t really gross me out too much. I mean if she were sitting on the toilet or laying on the floor, I might gag a bit. But standing up against the door? Eh, no biggie.
I’d probably get a heck of lot more grossed out if they were to go at on the bedspread of a hotel. Now that’s unsanitary!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
OMG, Shell. Those bedspreads are NASTY!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Give it to me dirty, especially in D/s!
(Although I’m with Shelli — don’t make her roll around on the floor or sit in the urinal or anything. Not in a public restroom, anyway.) Having her do that in less-than-sterile surroundings is a better and more thrilling test of her submissiveness, IMO.
I cannot WAIT to read this book, Lil. Get out of here and go finish it!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I’ve got to say, not really.
I like my comfort, both writing and real life. So in a kitchen, or the character’s bathroom, but a public restroom isn’t a big turn on.
I guess you could say I prefer my filth in my mind rather than on my skin.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I can’t even pee in a public restroom half the time.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
One thing about that level of description is that it does play into the “forbidden” perceptions about sex.
I think the level of description would have to be supported by the need for it to establish context and setting. I mean, the idea of rolling around on a beach just totally turns me off…all that grit in unfriendly territory.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I can’t even pee in a public restroom half the time — Gwen!!!
That was funny.
Ok the idea of this scene doesn’t bother me. Yes as long as she’s not on a urinal or the floor or whatever, it’s all good. I don’t mind gritty sex. This is fantasy after all. Hee hee.
And yes I agree. No hotel bedspreads!
Gross! I watch 20/20, I know what’s on those things!
February 21st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
well I can’t really do anything but agree with you Ms Feisty can I? I like a bit of the realism of sex to creep in…the noises, the dripping, the smell…okay, got to go and write that scene with them cleaning the bike and the bucket of dirty water.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Nope, give me the back of a luxury limousine. I’ll wash a dirty car like that woman in Cool Hand Luke. Yeah, I’ll roll on the ground outside, dirt and grass and grit — and do it up against a tree…but, a bathroom in a dive, the man would have to be the hottest man ever created, and be doing it to me.
Yep, that’s my thing. But I think your heroine should get to be as dirty as she wants.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Um. I’m not quite that “earthy” if it has potential cochroach residents it’s pretty much a no-go for me. *shudder*
February 21st, 2008 at 6:45 pm
A good sized percentage of my college sexual encounters took place (standing) in bathrooms (or the halls outside them) in bars. I was such a predator.
Hell, yeah, I like it dirty.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:31 pm
ya know, I never did the public restroom thing… but I’m not necessarily against it. I’ve done the dressing room thing…
I like the sex to be realistic… it’s not always a bathtub surrounded by candles, or a rose petal strewn white comforter…
so, I’m fine with the dirty deed…
February 21st, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I agree with Lynn. Beach sex is gross.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:22 pm
As long as it isn’t on the freakin’ toilet, I would imagine any of you women could write a good scene despite the location…Just have hand sanitizer available. And why is it that the hotel industry somehow managed to pull one over on the Dept of Health or whoever it is that regulates their crap? How can they not change ALL the linens. I mean how many of us have hit the bed without taking the time to pull down the blankets? So freakin’ disgusting. Like I want my naked ass where someone else’s has been.
I think I just puked a little!
February 21st, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Seriously, Jammie, you think they’d have SOME kind of inspection or health code on it. Which reminds me of that glasses video. OMG I’m going to find it now.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Lill, me loves you!
I love scenes that stretch my comfort level so I say BRING IT ON, BABY!!!