I've just finished my final draft for my Urban fantasy m/m romance novel. My final chapter is an erotic scene, with the final paragraph being the following: ----- "...The last thing he was aware of were warm, protective arms wrapping around him, pulling him closer against the hard body of one of the most powerful men in the world; A vampire who had killed him and made him his slave, yet he had never felt so safe and well looked after before in his life. I could get used to this. .." --------- Most people who read the whole thing liked it, but then someone came back to me that her professional editor had told her never to end a novel with a sex scene. She didn't remember why not, but it worried me. Did anyone else ever hear of this? Is it true? And if so, why? Thnx in advance!
Seems fine to me! It's tender and warm and the MC feels comfort, and as long as he deserves that comfort after a hard fought battle and some reasonable sacrifice and personal growth, I say box it up and ship it!
I don't see why that would be bad. It seems like the end of the MCs character arc, where he'd accept his new life as a vamp's slave/lover. That's not a bad place to end a romance story, if their relationship is the focus of the story and this sex scene is supposed to be the culmination of the whole thing.
I think you could cut a lot of it and trust that the readers will pick up on the subtext. --------- Warm arms wrapped around him and pulled him close, yet he had never felt so safe. He could get used to this... --------- Or whatever. I think what you have is good.
I've read lots of romances that end with a final sex scene. It can really seal the HEA/HFN deal if there's an emotional component added in, which it seems like you have.
When you said "sex scene" I was waiting for a lot more than "protective arms wrapping around him". Which would be fine. It's fine as it is too.
I think that will be quite enough, thank you. Go take a cold shower @Rosa and wash your mouth out with soap.
Just a note: the only thing guaranteed about a "professional editor" is that they'll take money to mark up your book. Some are, of course, actual experts with substantial experience in the genre you are writing, but don't bet the rent on that without a little research. Touching on genre: it may influence the answer to your question. It may be that ending with a sex scene is forbidden in Harlequin romances, but perfectly acceptable in urban fantasy. I have no clue, I'm not very familiar with either of those genres. And it may depend on whether the sex scene is the climax (groan) of the story, or makes more sense in the denouement.
I think it is fine as it is, but I would not call it a sex scene. Maybe after-sex cuddles, or even just basic cuddles. It is far too tame to be a graphic scene in any sense, just a sweet little romantic moment to end on. Mind you that Rom is not a genre I am all that familiar with as a reader or writer, so IDK what the rules are on the matter. Jim's heart raced with the exhilaration and he was breathing hard. It was the most beautiful experience he had ever had in his entire life for a man at his age. Pulling the key from the ignition, he lit a cigarette and looked at the salesman in the passenger seat with a glazed look of pure pleasure in his eyes. "Wow," he said to the other letting out a thick cloud through his nose, and a smirk on his lips.
