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One of the reasons I read paranormal historical romance is to immerse myself in a supernatural love story set in a fascinating time period. I learn more about the time and the people, while being swept away in the story with larger than life characters. I was mesmerized by the story of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, two heroic Biblical figures who, many say, had supernatural powers. I wondered how this three thousand year old state affair between two super powers became embedded in our collective consciousness. I also wondered about the impact of this epic romance on our lives today, who the descendants of these royal super heroes might be, where they lived, and what they might be doing now.

In my research, I discovered that despite the differences between and among cultures, four major religions, Judaism, Christianity, Ethiopian Coptic Christianity, and Islam, tell, retell and revere the story of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. The Hebrew Bible, Old Testament in the Christian Bible, contains the story in very short form, but repeats it in two places, in 1 Kings 10:1 through 10:13 and in in 2 Chronicles, 9:1 through 9:12, as if one telling of the event was not enough. The repetition of the same tale in two places was a way to ensure the story would be found, told and retold, even if the Books of the Bible were somehow separated from one another.

As the only foreign Queen mentioned in the Bible who appears to be considered an equal to King Solomon, this mystery woman has been claimed by no less than three countries: Arabia and Yemen, where she is call Bilqis, Balqis or Balkis, and Ethiopia, where she is known as Makeda. Her role in these stories has been interpreted by many scholars in multiple ways. The Queen of Sheba has been seen as a symbol of trade, as an example of nations converted to monotheism in polytheist world, as a warning against foreign women and their wiles, and, finally, as a romance between a powerful king and an equally powerful queen.

Many scholars who interpret the Queen of Sheba as a symbol of trade, point to the significant trade routes that ran through regions under the control of Israel. All trade routes had to be protected from bandits, or the products would never reach the marketplace. Frankincense was so valuable that men who worked in the factories were required to strip and be searched before they left for the day to ensure they took none of the product home. This lightweight incense was prized all over the world and used in religious rituals throughout the Middle Eastern region, especially at funerals. The wealthier the individual, the more frankincense was used. Israel’s territory lay between the region of production of frankincense and many destination ports. Without the protection of the King of Israel, other countries would not be able to thrive and survive. Was the Queen of Sheba merely a symbol of trade and the rest of the world showing its submission to the great and wise King Solomon?

Scholars who interpreted this story as a way of showing King Solomon’s (and Israel’s) favor in the eyes of his Lord, Yahweh, and to underscore the significance of the need for monotheism in a world of multiple gods, point to archaeological evidence of multiple gods and goddesses still present in the time of King David and King Solomon. Archaeologists have found evidence that Asherah, the female goddess, was worshipped in the first and second temples of Jerusalem, alongside Yahweh. Prophets and priests opposed to polytheism may have created the story of the Queen of Sheba’s visit and her conversion to monotheism as an example of what other nations should do.  Was the Queen of Sheba merely a prop to provide a good role model for other nations?

Some stories about the Queen of Sheba have indicated her origins were exotic and supernatural, with a mother who was a jinniyah, or genie. Other, darker stories demonize the Queen of Sheba and make her synonymous with Lilith, Adam’s first wife, who left him to become a soul-sucking demon and baby killer. In early times, the war over which god would prevail was a very real one, and priests and priestesses of gods opposing Yahweh were not well tolerated, even killed, on the road to monotheism. Foreign women became synonymous with foreign gods and evil ways. Solomon’s tolerance of his multiple wives’ religions was seen as a character flaw by the Yahwists. Were these stories about the Queen of Sheba created to serve as a horrid example of foreign customs?

Finally, the romance between two great and powerful heads of state is irresistible; many scholars offer strong support of a real love story. One of the strongest pieces of evidence is the use of the Hebrew word in the phrase “she came to him.” There are many different words the scribe could have used, however, the one selected has a sexual meaning, used only in the Hebrew Bible in sexual situations. The romantic description of the meeting and their interactions include such phrases as “she communed with him of all that was in her heart,” “she was left breathless,” and “king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty” makes the reader wonder what he gave her, since she was wealthy, too. In fact, the largesse of her gifts of state is over the top, even for a visiting dignitary. Was it, in fact, a wedding dowry? If so, why did she leave and return to her own country with her servants? What happened? Was this a love lost?

According to the Kebra Negast, the constitution and Holy Book of Ethiopia, Makeda, the Queen of Sheba from that nation, returned to her country with her servants and gifts only King Solomon could give to her:  a signet ring, a child, and a Solomonic dynasty that endured to the last Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie I. For the purposes of KISS OF THE VIRGIN QUEEN, it is this story that I followed and brought to the twenty-first century via the African Diaspora.

Come with me on this epic paranormal journey into the past and present. Here’s an excerpt from my sequel to KISS OF THE SILVER WOLF, my work in progress, KISS OF THE VIRGIN QUEEN.

Prologue

MAKEDA

AKSUM, ETHIOPIA

975 B.C.E.

Makeda clambered up the steep outcropping of rocks in pursuit of a white snake. She’d seen the creature sunning itself on a large boulder, its normally sleek shape enlarged in the center with a bulge the size of a rat, and wanted him. After a big meal, the slithering would stop and he’d be easy to catch. As soon as she caught the snake, she’d drag him down the rugged slope, and shove him in Tamrin’s face.

Stupid boy. How dare he say girls didn’t know how to catch snakes with a tone used for speaking to babies? Even though he was twelve, two years older than her, didn’t she throw a spear farther, ride her horse harder, and catch more pheasants than he did? Fish practically threw themselves on her carved bone hooks. Without a doubt, Makeda ran faster, climbed higher, fished harder and hunted better than all the other children in Aksum and many of the adults.     Hadn’t she brought down a lioness when the predator attacked a woman in Aksum? Everyone else screamed and fled, the cowards. She, a mere girl, had stood her ground and speared the big cat, saving the mother and her unborn child. Her actions had shown the men and boys she was a warrior, not just the king’s daughter.

The only animals she didn’t hunt were the red, long-legged wolves. When she was five, the first time she rode out to hunt antelope with her father and spotted the creatures, a wolf surrounded by a litter of pups locked eyes with Makeda. Frozen in time, it seemed as if the female whispered to her, “Go away. Leave me to raise my babies. Spare me and when your time comes, we will do the same for you and yours.”  At last, she pulled away from the creature’s penetrating gaze and caught her father watching her, his dark brown forehead creased in a worried expression.

“Why do you look at me in that way, Baba? Is something wrong?”

He reached over and felt Makeda’s brow. “Are you not well, my daughter?”

She shook her head. “The wolf snared me with her eyes and spoke to me. Asked for mercy.”

Her father’s eyes grew as large as eggs, and he held up the palm of his right hand. “Stop. Say nothing more of this.”

“Baba, what’s wrong?” She had never seen her father afraid of anyone or anything. The supreme ruler feared nothing. Until today.

His lips thinned into a knife’s edge. “Tell no one. Do you hear me?”

Baba had never spoken to her in such a harsh tone before. Tears rose in her eyes. She dared not speak for fear of choking on her words. Makeda nodded. And they never mentioned the incident again. Now, despite the heat baking the stones beneath her feet, she shuddered at the memory. Stop thinking about the wolves. Keep going. A few more boulders to climb and she’d have the snake in her hand.

A sharp rock pricked her palm and a trickle of blood ran down her arm. Scraped, bruised, and covered in tiny cuts, her hands seldom scarred. Her father told Makeda her mother had healed the same way and her extra toe on each foot gave her special powers. “My heart, you are my little goat.”

Tamrin shouted at her from below. The wind snatched his voice and carried it into the clouds. She glanced over her shoulder and the sight took her breath away. A shrub-strewn carpet of green grass broken up with craggy hills, a wandering river, and scrubby bushes lay beneath her. This is why the Sun God rose each morning. To admire his handiwork.

“Nay! Come!” Tamrin’s shout carried to her in a gust of wind. “Soon it will be sundown.” She knew the rest. He ended everything with, “Your father will kill me and my family if I don’t bring you back safely.”

Where was all his boasting and blustering when it came to her father? Vanished like a rat in hole. She dismissed his warning with a shake of her head, pulled herself over a ledge and headed upward, closer to the sun and the snake. Lazy beast. Sitting right in front of a large cleft, the snake hissed, almost as if to say, “Come get me.”

She stood on the boulder. Two more steps and she’d pounce. One, two–just as he was within her reach he turned his head, flicked his tongue, and slipped into the cave. She followed him into the darkness, deep into the grotto, her trusty feet feeling the way. Her eyes adjusted to the gloom. Aha! Right there on a big boulder. One more step and–

A soundless explosion of light dazzled Makeda. Blinded by its brilliance, she stumbled back, her sure feet slipping, unsteady. Cool and slick, the wet rock walls did little to help her stay balanced. She blinked, shook her head, and gasped. Where the snake had been, now sat a giant. Even sitting down, the ferhenjee, this non-black stranger with skin the color of a young curly horned antelope, was twice her father’s size.

Mouth dry, heart hammering in her throat, her vision adjusted to the light. The ferhenjee had a man’s body with sparks circling his head like embers from a blazing fire. A nose of an eagle, large and strong, dominated his profile. He looked at her with eyes the same color of the sky in the morning. His stare pinned her to the rock floor. Behind him wings, too many to count, fluttered and stirred up a breeze. Her brow, once hot and sweaty, cooled.

Hands clenched into fists, her mind alternated between wanting to fight the creature, run away, or freeze in his sky colored stare. Immobility won. At last, it hit her. He must be the Sun God, angry with her for climbing this high. “I only wanted to catch the snake.”

The giant threw his head back and roared.

Released from his stare, Makeda fell to her knees and bowed her head. “Please don’t kill me, Sun God. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to anger you.”

“I’m not angry, child. I’m laughing.” He chuckled. “Don’t call me Sun God. It offends my King.”

She jerked her head up. The ferhenjee was smiling. “Who are you? Are you from the stars? Who is your king? How did you get here?” She took a deep breath, prepared to ask more questions.

“Stop.” His voice rumbled in her chest. A frown furrowed his brow.

She bowed her head again. Maybe she should flatten herself on the floor of the cave to please him.

“Don’t lie on the ground, Makeda.”

Tremors shook her body and her teeth rattled. Just like she had heard the wolf’s thoughts, he knew hers.

He sighed and a blast of air blew past her. “I am Metatron, servant of the greatest of all  gods, Yahweh. I bring a message for you.”

She peeked up through strands of curly black hair. “Me? Why me?”

“You have a grand destiny. Your son will rule a great kingdom.”

Despite her fear, the notion of being a mother tickled her gut and tore huge gulps of laughter out of her throat. He had to be blind. She wasn’t even a woman yet.

The creature stared at her. “You dare to laugh?”

The girl struggled to regain her self-control. “I’m never going to marry. I will never have children–”

The giant creature stood and his head touched the top of the cave. Her voice caught in her throat. He looked like her father had the day she heard the wolf speak, only angrier.

“Hear me, Makeda. You will become the mother of a nation of kings. Go home and prepare yourself. Learn everything you can about love, honor, and becoming a wise and just ruler, so you can teach your son and his son.”

“I’m sorry, whoever you are. I cannot rule my father’s kingdom unless I am a virgin. It is forbidden for me to marry.”

She was terrified of this messenger and his god, but rules were rules. Her own mother had disappeared when she was a baby. Wasn’t that enough evidence that the punishment for non-virgin queens was banishment?

“I must be a virgin queen. I was born to rule. It is my destiny.”

Sparks flew off him and the room blazed with the light of day. He grew larger and larger, filling up the space with his glow. One of his wings brushed her cheek, soft as the fuzz of a baby bird.

“You are young and foolish. You will grown and learn. Above all else, you must seek wisdom. That is your destiny.”

 

PS: If you are interested in reading more about the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, here are some books for you.

Budge, W. (Translator). (2007). The Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings). Lexington, KY: Silk Pagoda.

Clapp, N. (2001). Sheba: Through the Desert in Search of the Legendary Queen. New York, NY: First Mariner Books.

Coogan, M.D., Brettler, M.Z., Newsom, C.A.,  & Perkins, P. (Eds.). (2001). 1 Kings 10:1-13 in The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, p. 508-509.

Coogan, M.D., Brettler, M.Z., Newsom, C.A.,  & Perkins, P. (Eds.). (2001). 2 Chronicles 9:1-12 in The New Oxford Annotated Bible. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, p. 630-631.

Fraser, A. (2004). The Warrior Queens. New York, NY: Anchor Books.

Grossfeld, B. (1991). The Two Targums of Esther. Translated with Apparatus and Notes. The Aramaic Bible, Vol. 18. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press.

Razwy, S.A.A. (Ed.) & Ali, A. Y. (Translator).  (2009). The Qur’an Translation. Elmhurst, NY: Tahrike Tarsile.

If you’ve been reading my posts here on Sexy Romance Stories, you know I have an insatiable curiosity about all things Biblical. So when a dear friend recommended THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN by Elizabeth Cunningham, I promptly bought it in February, 2011, looked at the beautiful cover of this 620 page book and told myself to get back to work. Now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it.  Then again, perhaps things really do happen for a reason. But I digress.

WARNING: If you are offended by feminist interpretations of the Bible, do not read on.

Elizabeth Cunningham, descendant of nine (9) generations of Episcopal priests, knows whereof she speaks in all things biblical. My impression of this author is that she literally ate, drank, slept and breathed Bible stories from birth—no from conception. And, rather than hew to the party line, so to speak, she listened for the voice of the women in these tales and found them missing. In THE PASSION OF MARY MAGDALEN, Ms. Cunningham gave Mary Magdalen and the other two Marys of the New Testament, not only voices, but brains, bodies, spirituality and backstories.

This is the second in the Maeve Chronicles, but you do not have to read the books in order. The author provides an excellent summary of the first book in a non-intrusive manner. She gives the reader enough information to understand where we are as the story begins and weaves in more later. I never felt lost reading the story. I felt as if I was firmly anchored in Mary’s point of view throughout the book, in large part because of the author’s skillful use of the first person.

We know from the New Testament that Mary Magdalen was a prostitute; what we don’t know is where she came from, why she was in that occupation, and what her relationship was to Yeshua, aka Jesus. The first half of this book tells us about Mary’s life as a prostitute and takes place in Rome. Born a Celt named Maeve, she escaped certain death in her home country, only to be captured by a tribe intent on using her as a breeding vessel. She escapes again, only to be drugged by the sea captain. The book opens with her in an open air market in Rome where her captor is extolling her wares. Stripped, poked and prodded in the public setting, she maintains her Celtic backbone and lives up to her bright red hair by cursing the man in three different languages. Amused by her antics and intrigued by her body and brain, the brothel owner and madam knows a good value when she sees one and buys Maeve.

Maeve becomes a craftsman at her trade, taking pride in her work as a whore. Sought after by generals, senators and wealthy land holders, she becomes a favorite of the patrons and the other women in the brothel. The only problem is she isn’t just a worker bee; she’s also a priestess of Isis and strange, supernatural things happen around her at inexplicable times. It is a bawdy, fun, gripping read and the details of daily life in 1^st Century Rome are seamlessly woven in without becoming a history lecture. I felt as if I was there at the feasts and in the Temple of Isis. Throughout it all, Maeve never forgets the young man she fell in love with in her home country: Esus.

The second half of the book takes place in Jerusalem, Israel, where Maeve has taken up residence after a series of misadventures in Rome and being bought, sold and finally released into the wild. Setting up a Temple of Isis in a Jewish country occupied by Romans is not an easy affair. While she has financial backing from Joseph of Arimathea, support from some of her fellow whores from the Roman brothel, and a flair for finding hidden sacred springs, she still has to stay under the radar of the religious and Roman dictators. True to her profession and her calling, her temple is offers healing and sexual services, for men and barren women. Between cleaning up an old estate and vineyards, she visits the Temple searching for any sign, any word of Esus. Here the author excels in providing the reader with insights into the people of the day, including the larger than life figures in the New Testament. She also gives us a window into the era’s religious practices, including animal sacrifices, and gives us an idea of how power can corrupt all, even those who claim to act on behalf of Yahweh. Everyone has an agenda in Jerusalem, and the only ones in charge with swords and spears are the Romans.

I won’t spoil the story for you, let me just say that if you want to see, smell, taste, hear and touch that era from the eyes of a very important woman in our collective history, I highly recommend this book.

In my novella, An Inn Decent Proposal, which appears in my anthology, KILLER KISSES, the heroine, a gourmet chef who wants her own kitchen, and hero, an ambitious hotelier, have an opportunity to bid on a rundown inn and restore it to its previous glory. Along the rock-strewn way to achieving this goal, they discover they need to make some changes in themselves, too, in order to achieve their happily ever after.

After a frenzied year of work and leisure activities, including over-scheduled vacations, exhaustion can take its toll. In addition to our overbooked lives, many of us are working at taking care of both children and parents–but not ourselves.  Even if your parents are independent and your children are grown, it is easy to fall into patterns of caregiving that are unhealthy.

Not only do we become spread too thin, but also we begin to stop enjoying things we once loved to do. When having sex becomes just another chore on your to do list, you need to take serious stock of your life. Sex is one of the great gifts of being alive at any age. Taking control of your time and life can re-energize your bedroom activities. My gift to you on the cusp of planning back-to-school, back to work, back to the hamster wheel, is to share this with you in the hopes that you will begin to take better care of yourselves, too.

SEVEN STEPS TO MAKING HEALTHY CHANGES

Step One: Admit that you have needs, too. We cannot be Wonder Woman all the time. If you crash, you can’t help anyone. Accept the idea that you need to take care of yourself. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will be useless to your dependents. It is not shameful to take care of yourself. You have needs, too. One of them is a healthy sex life.

Step Two: Write down what you need, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Get thee to a doctor. Get your regular checkups. Inform your personal physician if you are a caregiver when you go for medical appointments and inform your doctor of any special stress or issues you are facing. Ask what you can do to improve your sex life.

Step Three: Write down what you will do about getting your needs met. Henriette Klauser says, “When you care enough to write down your goals, stand back.” Writing your goals down makes them tangible and your subconscious continues to work on them, even when you forget about them. Make a contract with yourself to change unhealthy behaviors and to start new healthy ones. When you write your goals down, they are more likely to happen. Set goals and stick to them. Tell your family and friends what you are doing–and ask for their help. “I have a quit date for smoking. I need your help.” Or, “I want to get more exercise. Could you please come over and watch Mom so I can get out for a thirty minute walk?” Quitting smoking, eating healthy, getting exercise improve not only how you feel, but how you feel about your attractiveness. It also revs up your sex drive.  

Step Four: ASK FOR HELP. People may think you WANT to do it all. Allow others to help you. We can be our own worst enemies when it comes to asking for help. We feel as if we ought to be able to do it all, that it’s shameful to ask for help. If a friend or neighbor volunteers and says, “If there’s anything I can do, let me know,” say, “Yes, I would love it if…” and you fill in the blank. Of course, you should be reasonable in your requests. It is okay to ask for help, too. The worst thing that will happen is someone will say no. More likely, they will say yes. Perhaps you have trouble letting go of control? Delegating not easy for you? Maybe family and friends want to help, but are waiting for you to ask them. ASK!

Step Five: Take action. Do what you say you will do for yourself. Don’t keep putting it off. Let go of non-priority tasks and take on activities that make you healthy, physically and emotionally. Have a date night. Spend time with your partner and make it pleasurable. Go to dinner, watch a romantic movie, light candles, take a shower or bubble bath together. Turn on the mood music and get out those special massage oils.  Make an appointment for you and your lover and keep it. Do NOT fill up that space with something else. Put it on your Google calendar with lots of reminders.

Step Six: Write about how you feel about your actions. Journaling has been found to be an effective tool for stress reduction. Keep a diary to record and track your emotional status. Sometimes we try to tell ourselves everything is okay, when it really isn’t. Denying your feelings of loss, sadness, loneliness, or being overwhelmed does not make them go away. When you put something in writing, it forces you to acknowledge your feelings and can motivate you to do something to improve the situation.

Step Seven: Start OVER again with Step One. Over time this will become natural, but right now, it will feel awkward.

What tips do you have for taking care of yourself and your sex life?

While you think about your answer, here’s an excerpt from An Inn Decent Proposal, which appears in my anthology, KILLER KISSES

 “Now do you admit that my cooking makes men weak at the knees?”

He crawled to her chair, reached up and pulled her face down to his and slanted his mouth over hers. “Yes,” he breathed. “You have made my knees—and other parts of my body weak.” He pressed his lips against hers and she responded, opening her mouth. She tasted like pomegranates. He wanted more of her flavors. Now.

He ran a hand down her neck and found a hardened nub awaiting his touch through the thin lace. He lowered his head to her breast and sucked at the cloth, pulling her into his mouth until she moaned. Then he moved to the other breast, but pulled the blouse down, exposing a claret-colored nipple the size of a silver dollar. He licked and sucked at that large, lovely rosebud until she clutched at his hair.

“Stop.” She panted. “We still have dessert.”

“You’re my dessert.”

“I’m not too fat for you?”

He looked up into her eyes, his tongue longing to return to sucking on that big bud. “Skinny women don’t turn me on. I love your curves, your hips, your big beautiful ass, your full, delicious breasts, and your sweet, succulent nipples. I want to explore every inch of your luscious lovely thighs, right up to your—”

She pushed away from him, stood and took his hand. He tried to pull her back but she shook her head, smiled, and dragged him down a hallway. Illuminated only by candles, her bedroom contained a queen-sized bed, large pillows, and red satin sheets. A cooking cart with a chafing dish stood ready to serve.

She turned to him. “Get undressed.”

As he ripped his shirt and pants off, she released her hair from her ponytail and peeled out of her lace top and slinky pants. She wore no underwear. He swept his gaze over her large breasts, full hips and the red triangle of hair he wanted to sample next. He stood at complete attention, pointing straight at her. He reached for Genie, grazed a breast, and she shoved him back onto the bed. “Lie down.”

He complied, shivers running up and down his spine.

Hair draping across her face, she stood over him and drizzled warm chocolate sauce on his chest, belly button, hips, and erection. Then she dropped dollops of whipped cream in swirls along the same pattern.

“Just so you know, this is all homemade.”

Bending her head over her work, she quickly licked from his neck down to his belly button, and then in a slow, deliberate pace, continued downward. He groaned and grew harder and thicker with each lick.

He grabbed Genie and pulled her onto the bed. “I’m hungry, too.”

A dish in each hand, he drew wild patterns with chocolate sauce and whipped cream across her lush curves. After eying his handiwork, he licked his lips. “I think I’ll start with these two delicious mounds topped with these bright, red cherries. Then, I’ll follow the chocolate trail down to here.”

He slid a chocolate covered finger into her moist folds, sliding across her center, flicking her until she wriggled and arched her hips upward. He smiled, withdrew his finger and licked it. “Delicious.”

Between gritted teeth, she gasped. “Tease.”

“Look who’s talking. You’ve been driving me wild all evening.” Jim licked his way down the chocolate path. The pool of sweet brown liquid in her navel and below required extra attention to detail, and he lapped up every drop, first licking lazy circles on her soft thighs. She grabbed his head and pushed him to her silky triangle. His tongue probed her saucy folds, then nibbled at her hard nub until she moaned, screamed his name, and clutched his hair.

“I want you inside me.”

He crawled on his elbows, maintaining skin contact with each upward movement. He looked deep into her eyes and slid inside her. She rose to meet him at every stroke, urged him onward, and let him know with her touches exactly what she wanted: harder, deeper, stronger thrusts. She shuddered and screamed his name, he couldn’t hold on any longer. He came with a shout and fell on top of her.

She looked him in the eye. “Ready for the cheese course?”

In celebration of Leia Shaw and Carrie Ann Ryan‘s new paranormal romance releases in June and July, we’re participating in an angel and demon themed blog hop! (Click here to go to Leia and Carrie’s blog).
Leia’s book, Destiny Bewitched, features a sexy as hell (pun intended) demon named Geo, and Carrie’s, Dust of My Wings, hero is an angel named Shade.

We were asked to let readers know which we’d rather have to…uh…cuddle up with at night – angels or demons? And what are our favorite angel or demon books? Since we have four authors on this blog, each of us has a different opinion and a different book. Here’s what the Sexy Romance Stories authors had to say. We’re giving away a Sexy Romance Story ebook to one lucky commenter! (Good all over the world!)

Jennifer Lynne: Do I prefer an angel or a demon? Hmm, if we’re talking about real life then I vote for an angel, but when it comes to fiction and the most delectable romance hero a woman could wish for, then my vote almost always goes to the demon lover! There’s just something about a bad boy that really gets to me – maybe it’s the possibility of redemption through the love of a good woman. Maybe it’s the promise – or delicious threat – of violence just at the edge of all that passion. Whatever it is, I love reading about bad boy heroes, and most of the time I like writing about them, too. My heroes usually have a dark side. While I haven’t created an actual demon or angel as yet, I do have a Greek god or three on offer! My Gods of Love series that began with menage a trois erotic romance, Platinum Passion, continues with the just-released transsexual romance, Aphrodite Calling. This erotic novella features Himeros, an ancient Greek god of sexual desire who knows exactly how to answer the call of need in every mortal who asks. Here’s a brief snippet that illustrates the complex light/dark aspect of his nature:

“We do have a couple of onlookers.”

His soft words, murmured into her hair, had her thighs tightening involuntarily around him as the burning excitement grew. Who was watching? And what show did they want to see? Straight sex between a man and a woman, or sex between two people who both had a penis?

Are you wondering if I really had the op? If there aren’t actually two hard dicks here right now, hidden by my skirt, sliding up and down against each other and dampening my panties with all that leaking pre-cum?

Too bad.

A sudden flare of anger ignited inside of her toward the peeping Toms, whoever they were, and she dug one of her heels into the crease of his ass, rubbing it up and down with just enough pressure to elicit a moan of protest from Himeros.

She stopped. “Sorry.”

“Ah, but I enjoy the lick of pain, Gina.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roz Lee: Whether or not you believe actual angels and demons live among us, the concept is familiar. Demons are bad and angels are good. Demons influence us in dangerous way, and angels come along to guide us on a better path. Demons are destructive, and angels help us heal.

We’re all familiar with the sayings, the devil made me do it, and there was an angel on my shoulder. Most people don’t believe those in a literal sense, but refer to the battle of wills going on inside us on a daily basis. Sometimes it’s as simple as deciding to tell the cashier she gave you too much back in change or smiling at your good fortune and keeping your mouth shut. Other times, it’s deeper, darker.

In my current work in progress, Jason’s inner demons have served him well, giving him the drive and determination to overcome the odds and build a successful career in major league baseball. But on a personal level, those very same demons that make him such a good baseball player, manifest themselves through sexual needs Jason has long denied. With another failed relationship behind him, Jason is forced to confront his dark desires before they destroy him.

What does Jason need here? An angel, of course! He finds one in Carrie, a woman who understands and accepts his dark side. She brings light to the dark corners of Jason’s life, and through her he finds a way to express himself in a constructive way. She’s the angel he needs to balance the demon inside him. Their relationship isn’t without conflict, but with the help of his angel, Jason will finally put some demons to rest.

Look for Jason’s story, the second book in the Mustangs Baseball series, later this year. Here’s a snippet –

Jason took a few moments to get his head screwed on right as he watched his new sub through the glass. She’d followed his instructions to the letter. Wearing white lace panties and bra, she looked like an angel, minus the wings. He’d have to reward her before he took her to task for disobeying him the night before.

After tonight’s game, nothing would please him more than to give this angel an orgasm she’d never forget, then sink his cock into her heavenly heat. But that wasn’t going to happen. No orgasm for her, and the one he had planned for himself would be fun, but nowhere near as satisfying as he’d hoped. He reminded himself that he was in this to build a lasting relationship, and in the grand scheme of things, one more day wasn’t much to set the right tone.

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Chellesie B. Dancer: Some people are mostly angels, and others are pure demons, but in my upcoming erotic novella “Restless,” free-spirited Cassie has both competing in her head. She’s had the same devoted husband for seven years.  They’ve lived in the same lovely house for six.  And she’s had the same practical career even longer. At thirty years old, Cassie is restless–there’s a hot wind blowing through her that just won’t be satisfied. Then her husband loses his job, his confidence, and his libido. Her inner demon grows stronger and Cassie indulges in some risky flirtations, but her inner angel keeps her mindful of her beloved husband. When a dark enigmatic stranger moves into their home, the devil inside makes her body burn for him. Can she stay cool-headed and loyal, or will she let the fire engulf her? Can her husband accept that his angel is equal parts devil? What happens if she gives in to both?

“You like to watch me, don’t you?”
Taken aback, he just nodded his head. This was the perfect opportunity to try her plan.
“Do you ever…imagine…that it’s you I’m with?”
Long pause. His shoulders were clenched so tight his neck disappeared.
She mentally kicked herself for going too far, but knew enough to keep her mouth shut.
“I don’t mess with married women.”
BINGO!  He was attracted to her and he’d practically admitted it. “Of course not, and I wouldn’t cheat on my husband…”
His shoulders relaxed, and he took a breath.
“Not even with a tempting hunk like you.” She lowered her eyelids seductively as she smiled.

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Sharon Buchbinder: Women, especially strong women, struggle with how they are perceived by men. At times woman are demons, at other times angels. One of the earliest known she demons identified in Sumerian and Kabbalistic Judaism is the seductress and succubus, Lilith. The first wife of Adam, Lilith was his equal in every way. She had no desire to be bossed around by him, so she left Adam and Eden for more interesting company, male demons who hung out around the Red Sea. Apparently, the demons wrote on cave walls, “For a good time, call Lilith!” She coupled with them all and bore hordes of demon babies.

The flip side of the coin is the maternal, angelic being, also from the Kabbalistic literature, the Matronit. This powerful female figure was considered God’s wife. When Israel was threatened, she became a warrior goddess, one capable of riding blazing chariots and destroying armies to defend her chosen ones. But when the second Temple was destroyed, the Matronit grieved and left God to go off on her own until her nation repented and was restored to glory. In the interim, Lilith gives solace to God, because after all, he is a male with needs.

When I wrote Desire and Deception, I wanted to have a strong villainess, a man-eating woman, who also had a side the reader could empathize with. Isabel Ramirez is haunted by her duality–she is Lilith to some and the Matronit to others. She struggles with this duality until she finds a man who loves sees the angel hiding behind the demon within her. Here’s a snippet from DESIRE AND DECEPTION that depicts Isabel’s conflict between seductress and mother.

A hard slap landed on her ass with a cracking sound.

About fucking time he got it right. “Yes! Give me ten like that!” The noise of slaps blended with the scent of her arousal and his grunts with each smack. He rubbed his erection between her legs, touching her wet lips, pressing them apart. She shook her head and panted. “Not yet.” At last when the stinging crescendo hit the right peak, she shouted, “Now, Sean, now!”

He plunged deep inside her.

Her breath came in ragged bursts. “Harder.”

Sean complied with faster, deeper thrusts. Her thighs banged against the desk with each push. She pulled his hands around to her breasts, and placed them on her rigid nipples. “Pinch me.”

He twisted her nipples and thrust harder. She screamed, Sean groaned, shuddered, and fell against her back and hugged her close to him.

Isabel pushed him away. “Get off me.” She handed him a wad of tissues. “Clean me up, and make it snappy. I have to get home before my husband decides to fuck the nanny.”

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We hope you enjoyed our snippets. Now tell us a bit about your preference: Angel or Demon?

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The new trend in women's shopping.

I know, we’re all sick of hearing about that 50 something book, but a recent article in the NY Post caught my attention. It seems the book is stimulating – the economy, that is. Well, of course it is, you say. Millions of women paying thirty bucks or so for the trilogy, that’s bound to have an impact. Well…uhm…that’s not the impact (pun intended) I’m talking about. I’m thinking more along the lines of hardware.

Yep. Hardware. Those very same women are trekking into their local hardware stores and stocking up on things you don’t normally see women buying. Things like rope. Hardware stores in New York City report a sharp increase in sales of soft cotton ‘clothesline’ rope, as well as 12-gauge non-braided nylon rope. When was the last time you used a clothesline? Seems a lot of women are going back to hanging their wash out to dry, or something else is going on. I vote for the something else.

Among the BDSM world, one popular hardware superstore is known as Dom Depot for obvious reasons. So, this got me to thinking. What exactly can you find at your local hardware store, and how can you put those things to use?

Some things are obvious – rope, tape, chain, zip ties, roles of Velcro, and my, don’t those sawhorses look interesting…

For those handy sorts with a mind to save a few dollars, you can build your own dungeon furniture with plans available for free on the internet. Here’s one site I found, Foxy Furniture. I like the idea of dungeon furniture hiding in plain sight. Invite me over, and you bet I’ll be eyeing that new ottoman with a critical eye! There’s even a book available on the subject – The Better Built Bondage Book.

How about some handcuffs sturdier than the novelty kind? For these, you won’t have to set foot in law enforcement supply or a bondage shop. Made from a roll of Velcro from the hardware store, they’ll only set you back few dollars.

Need/want some spreader bars? Why buy the expensive ones when you can make them yourself? This one looks sturdy, but I agree with one commenter, the dimensions seem off. Want something less involved? How about this wooden spreader bar? Another chat site lent this information I found useful. Use one of those pool noodles, cut to size to cover the metal or wooden bar for comfort. At a few dollars, this is less expensive than the pipe wrap sold at the hardware store, and thicker too.

By far, the most complete site I found is this one – Sartan’s BDSM Workshop – where you can find instructions for building all kinds of kinky stuff from basic woodworking to more complicated leather, metal and electrical items. Warning – this is a big site. Finish reading this before you hop over there, or you might forget to come back!

Even the workshop challenged can do many of these projects, but I caution you, be mindful of safety – always. If you don’t know what you’re doing, then you could injure yourself or your partner.

Besides, other businesses in addition to hardware stores are reporting an increase in sales – mainly businesses selling riding crops, neckties and sex toys. If you aren’t into building your own, then I recommend shopping with any number of reputable retailers who will be happy for your business. Either way, DIY, or purchasing retail, your contribution to this new trend might just accomplish what the politicians haven’t been able to do – stimulate the economy.

Jezebel.

Why is it that this name is often associated with the following epithets: whore, slut, evil, harlot, seductress, scheming, manipulative, and murderess? How many of us have actually read that portion of the Hebrew Bible closely? I hadn’t until recently when I picked up Alice Ogden Bellis’ book, Helpmates, Harlots and Heroes: Women’s Stories in the Hebrew Bible.  Bellis’ book is an eye-opening, feminist review of women’s stories in the Hebrew Bible. The author employs the latest critical thinking in feminist literature while simultaneously reminding the reader of the realities of women’s lives in that era, as well as the fact that men wrote the bible.

Warning: If you are offended by feminist interpretations of biblical tales, don’t read the rest of this post.

Here’s the real deal about Jezebel: she was Queen of Israel and came from a different kingdom. She was an outsider, a daughter of the King of the Sidonians.  An independent and strong woman, she brought her religion with her to the marriage. She worshipped Asherah (the goddess found in many cultures of that time) and Baal, the son of Asherah.  Elijah, the prophet, told everyone to abandon their idols for Yahweh. At the time, Yahweh was a new concept, an invisible god, competing with a lot of other visible gods and goddesses.* Elijah called upon Yahweh to destroy the false prophets. This was in no small part because Queen Jezebel had already knocked off a bunch of Elijah’s followers. These were not forgiving people, nor were these accepting times. The power struggle between Queen Jezebel and Elijah was a fight to the death.

1 Kings 18:19 Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel unto mount  Carmel, and the prophets  of Baal four hundred  and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s  table.  (The Blue Letter Bible http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Ki&c=18&t=KJV#19)

Only the prophets of Baal were destroyed–none of the “prophets of the groves,” i.e., the goddess, Asherah. Elijah declared himself and Yahweh the winner.  But, Jezebel  was one tough cookie. You had to be to survive in those times. When she saw her husband, King Ahab, was depressed because he couldn’t  buy some land from two men, she arranged to have the men killed via the council of elders’ decree. (Some experts suggest she was not behind this move, that it was King Ahab’s action). Her husband got the vineyards and lands.  Years later, after King Ahab dies, the son of one of the men she had killed for his vineyards became the new ruler. Elijah backed the new king. When Jezebel realized she was about to die, she put on her make-up and fine clothing, looked out the window at the mob below and spoke to them defiantly.  Three eunuchs grabbed her, threw her to her death, and then she was trampled by a horse. When someone called for a decent burial, all they could find was her skull and a few bones. Elijah wanted this woman and her influence completely erased. He said to let the dogs feast on her. He also said:

1 Kings 9:37 And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; [so] that they shall not say, This [is] Jezebel. (The Blue Letter Bible http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=2Ki&c=9&t=KJV#30)

Elijah clearly did not want a martyr’s grave.

The early kings did not acquire their thrones and kingdoms by being nice. They took things by force and grew alliances through marriage, which is one of the reasons Jezebel was married off to King Ahab. She was the daughter of a powerful ruler. She was also a pawn in a biblical game of thrones. Yes, Jezebel was scheming, manipulative, and possibly murderous, because her husband’s throne was at stake. There is no evidence that she was a harlot, whore, slut or seductress. Was she evil? Were her actions any different from the men of the times? Or was she deemed evil because she was a woman? Take a moment to reflect on how King David sent Uriah to the front to be killed after Bathsheba became pregnant. Yet, David is still held up as a role model and Jezebel as a terrible example. In a patriarchy, women are not supposed to think, have power, or do anything except have male babies and obey their husbands. Have times really changed that much?

As I listened to the sound bites and followed the Rush Limbaugh/Sandra Fluke controversy , it occurred to me that many of the same epithets used against Queen Jezebel were used against a modern woman, a learned woman, a law student. When all else fails, it seems, some men will call a woman a slut. So, what do you think of Jezebel? Horrible warning or good example of a strong woman living in tough times?

(* Raphael Patai, biblical scholar and author of The Hebrew Goddess writes about the archaeological support for the idea that Asherah and Yahweh were a divine couple who lived a peaceful and loving co-existence in the Temple of Solomon. But that’s another post for another time.)

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PS: When I wrote DESIRE AND DECEPTION , I purposely chose the name Isabel for one of my heroines because of its similarity in sound to Jezebel. Here’s a link to the sexy book trailer for this erotic read.

From my childhood through my young adulthood, my mother wore the mask of the “Perfect Mother, Girl Scout Troop Leader, and Sunday School Teacher.” But her behavior when at home, away from the scrutiny of other adults, was anything but perfect. One of the first short stories for which I won an honorable mention from Spinetingler Magazine (yes, horror!) was called Goody Two Shoes. It was my first public foray into exploring the roles women play and the masks women wear.

My full length erotic romantic suspense novel, Desire and Deception, explores these same themes. Similar in heat levels to noir movies like Body Heat and The Postman Always Rings Twice, my story differs from these notable examples because it ends on an upbeat note. In Desire and Deception, polar opposites sex siren Isabel (Izzy) Ramirez and goody-two-shoes Sarah Wright-Rosen become fast friends and seem destined to be BFFs until Izzy’s terrible secret is unearthed–literally and figuratively. Convinced she is unworthy of redemption, because she believes she cannot be anything but the “bad girl,” Izzy goes down a take no prisoners’ path, halted only by her younger lover, Sean Richards.

For her part, having been raised by an alcoholic in a “you’re-only-good-if-you-enable-me” paradigm, Sarah discovers shades of gray in her formerly black and white world. She also learns the powers of forgiveness and love can transform not only how she sees the world, but also her own self-image. In the end, Izzy becomes more like “good girl” Sarah–and Sarah becomes more like her “bad girl” friend. Izzy is the larger than life embodiment of all that is forbidden to “good girls.” Izzy embraces her sexuality and desires, takes control of her life and the men in it, and pleases herself. Sarah is “everywoman;” she works hard, plays by the rules, collaborates and facilitates consensus. She believes she can only be “good” one way, i.e., by constantly trying to please others.

This binary, yes/no reasoning is faulty, but I believe many women struggle with this duality in our lives. The question is not to be or not to be, but who are we supposed to be versus who do we want to be? Our role models may or may not be good ones, depending on how healthy our parents’ upbringing was. If you come from a dysfunctional household, one with crime spoken daily, can you break out of that mold? Or are you ever going to be able to explode from those constraints? Likewise, if your home appeared to be the epitome of perfection to the outside world, but was hell behind closed doors, can you ever overcome the damages of a self-righteous hypocrite?  Izzy and Sarah discover their true selves through the redemptive power of love and realize that they can be what they want to be, in spite of their pasts.

In writing Desire and Deception, I wanted to tell a sexy suspenseful tale about smart, powerful women and the men who love them. I wrote about society’s expectations of what a woman should be versus what a woman wants to be. And since the standing advice to writers is to “write what you know,” I then placed these characters into the setting I knew well, the rigidly hierarchical academic world where tenure and promotion are the duo brass rings. With Isabel and Sarah chattering at me the entire time, Desire and Deception is a story that practically wrote itself.

I am fascinated by powerful women. By making her the pampered princess, daughter of a Mexican crime boss, I was able to make her a modern day woman warrior who lives by her own rules. In her non-fiction book, The Warrior Queens, Antonia Fraser analyzes the lives of real women who led in times of war. Fraser looks at the historical data, legends and myths surrounding these women through a modern lens. She gives a list of adjectives and categories that men create for these astonishing, strong females, one of which is the lustful “Voracity Syndrome,” aka the “Man Eater.” Izzy is the archetypal Man Eater: smart, sexy, sassy, funny and deadly. Female and male readers can live vicariously through Isabel because she embodies all the things women are told not to do. Don’t be too smart. Don’t be too aggressive. Don’t put your desires ahead of other people’s wants and needs. Don’t talk back. Don’t enjoy sex. Don’t be in charge in the bedroom. Don’t be in control of your life. In other words: DON’T BE EMPOWERED. I made Isabel over-the-top on all of these traits and more, because she had to be strong to endure her early life and to lead her troops.

Like Meadow Soprano, Izzy grew up with all the privileges of being the mob boss’s daughter.  She was given the best of everything: nannies, schools, clothes, cars, horse-riding lessons, whatever her parents thought would make her more cultured. She was also given the worst of everything: horrible role models, a Machiavellian world view, and a very dark childhood secret that no child should ever have to carry with her. Because of this complex background, she becomes a female warrior in her own right. Where others would collapse, she survives and thrives. She is a flawed heroine–with redeeming qualities and compelling reasons for her behaviors.

Here is an example of Isabel’s empowered behavior:

After swinging by the daycare center, Isabel headed to the grocery store with the three kids. Ramon pushed a grocery cart, and the girls ran up and down the aisles shrieking. Enamored with all things chocolate, the twins stood in the middle of the candy aisle, yanked bags off the shelves and tossed them into the basket. Serious-faced, Ramon placed boxes of kid tested, mother approved cereal on top of the candy. Sometimes that boy looked like an undertaker. Isabel shook her head, pushed another cart with the adult purchases, and ignored the pointed stares of the other shoppers.

An elderly woman approached her with a dour expression. “Young lady,” she shook her finger at Isabel, “Don’t you know how harmful all that sugar is for children?”

Isabel gave the crone her favorite look reserved for morons and meddlers. “Old lady, don’t you know how harmful it is to interfere with a child’s self-expression? Who wants to grow up and be an uptight rectal sphincter like you?” She laughed out loud at the woman’s face, an excellent impression of a fish gasping for breath. “Dictionaries, aisle ten.” Isabel turned on her heel and continued shopping.

The woman sputtered behind her. “Why you cheeky–”

Isabel flipped the bird in the air and kept walking. She arrived at the checkout and turned to Ramon. “Pick out three boxes of cereal and one bag of candy. Ditch the cart in the produce section.” Now on their third lap around the store, Sherry and Ruby appeared to be slowing down. “Get your sisters. We’re outta here. I have to make another stop.”

I bet every mother who reads this has been there. Your kid(s) are rambunctious, but not really evil, you’re minding your own business and some busy body decides to give you a lecture about child-rearing. Can you honestly say you never wanted to respond that way and give the meddler the finger? And I love the scene from the perspective of the character’s growth. Izzy has had a nanny for her brood for quite some time. Now she’s forced into taking care of them and is becoming more attached to them and more protective of them. She has a maternal side to her that she never expected. She grows and continues to grow. In her own weird way, Izzy is protective of her brood and is working on being a good mother.

Looking back in your lives, have you seen yourself in either of these roles: people-pleaser or empowered woman? How do you think you were encouraged (or programmed) for these roles? Do you think erotica helps to empower women? Or do you think empowered women read and write erotica? Which came first? The chicken or the egg?  What do you think is the best way we can help ourselves and other women to become empowered?