What’s your favourite sex scene?
by Elise Windmill on Thursday 27 October, 2011, 10:30 AM
Sex scenes carry a whooole lot of significance in romance. Your characters are at their most physically and emotionally exposed, it’s one of the biggest turning points in their relationship, and for many readers, it’s also the payoff for the excruciating build-up of sexual tension. In the hands of a master, they’re sexy, thrilling and powerful. When they don’t work, however, they’re guaranteed to be the most cringetastic and/ or boring scenes you’ve ever read - proper yawn central.
Unsurprisingly, therefore, Romance HQ has very strong feelings about their favourite sex scenes! As fellow romance experts, we’re pretty sure you do too. So, let’s open the debate – help us compile the definitive selection of fantastic fictional sex scenes!
To get the ball rolling, here’s the Romance HQ editor’s Top Five …
- Atonement – it’s utterly incredible! Completely compelled by the mesmerising chemistry in both, but also find the behind the scenes tit-bits for both fascinating. The director literally scripted every movement, every breath, every second of the scene, all down to when she slips her foot out of the shoe…
- McDreamy/Meredith at the end of Grey’s Anatomy Series 2 when he just slips off her knickers in the exam room. Shouldn’t be sexy at all – but is electrifying!
- Four Weddings and a Funeral, when Hugh Grant is forced to overhear Bernard and Lydia going at it hammer and tongs on their wedding day. The first time I watched it, it made me want to cry with embarrassment (aged 13, with both parents in attendance) – every time since, it’s had me crying with laughter.
- Out of Sight - the music, George and J-Lo at their sexiest…ah-mazing.
- Brokeback Mountain - the repression, tension and unleashed passion in this love scene made for compelling viewing. Its emotional intensity is only matched by the moment when Heath vomits in the road, having left Jake behind… Doesn’t hurt that they’re both pretty hot too…!
Here are our faves – now over to you guys. What steamy scenes have you wishing more than ever that you really could trade places with the heroine?!
Comments (9) | Tell us what you think
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Mary Anne Lewis
Friday 28 October, 2011, 8:20 AM
S.J. --
I have to give another vote to that Scene in "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena." To clarify -- this is a scene where a gladiator is forced to have sex with a slave -- who is the wife of another slave, who is the first slave's friend. Like S.J. said, the two are forced to have sex in front of other people against their wills but it is quite apparent that the two connect in a way that is greater than physical and are almost horrified by it.
Even for someone like me -- who would no doubt be considered a prude by just about everyone in this contest and company -- I must say the scene was tastefully done and almost defied the ancient Roman practice of gratuitous sex anywhere you find it. In other words -- humanity and compassion in a sea of sex.
If you haven't seen the series, check it out. It's on Netflix.
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Cat Inbody
Friday 28 October, 2011, 4:58 AM
When Angus MacDonald kicks the door shut behind him and goes back to the bed because he has "something to prove" to Gwendolyn (Julianne MacLean, Claimed by the Highlander), I sat up and took notes.
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Lisa Scullard
Friday 28 October, 2011, 3:46 AM
Lady Chatterley's Lover (the book) by DH Lawrence, written (and then self-published by Lawrence) in 1926. The whole book alludes to sex, not just the pages other people read in the middle. All other sex scenes are derivative ;)
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