Sidney Halston | Writing a Hero Who Doesn't Like to Speak

Although all of the novels in the Worth the Fight series are meant to stand alone, they have a lot of character cross-over. Cain, the hero of my upcoming release, LAID OUT, has been making cameos in all the books since the release of AGAINST THE CAGE, book number one of the series, and my readers have grown to love his quiet broody character. So, when I sat down to write LAID OUT I had to find a way to make a character who didn’t speak much...well, speak. Let me just say, it was not easy.

Cain is different from my other heroes. Even though he is also a strong alpha male, he has been through a lot in his life and unlike my other outspoken heroes, he keeps everything bottled up inside. However, when he does speak it is from the heart and it’s usually very insightful. Even though at first glance he may look like the strongest alpha at the MMA Academy, he’s probably the softest. All those emotions have been bottled up for so long that once they come out, they will break the readers’ (and heroine’s) heart.

To counter the quietness of Cain, Violet, the heroine is extremely chatty and kind of awkward. She tends to talk even more when she’s nervous, and of course Cain’s quietness makes her nervous. So, there are times she can’t seem to shut- up. When writing a character such as Cain, his actions have to be bold. He has to ‘speak’ through his actions. Cain can’t seem to accept that loving Violet is okay. It is not that he feels unworthy of her love, it is that he feels it is forbidden for him to love her. Without giving away too much of the story, loving her would be a betrayal.

In this scene, one of my favorite, Violet is super frustrated with Cain. They’ve always been friends but he’s been distant and moody lately. They’re at a bar and she’s sort of on a date and has had a few too many drinks. Here is a great example of Cain being bold without too many words.

Exclusive excerpt from LAID OUT

She leaned closer. “I get it. You’re like this man of mystery. You grunt or nod and scowl at me from across the room instead of using actual words. Super cool, right? Wrong! It’s annoying. You do have a tongue in there, so you should probably use it,” she said mockingly, the alcohol giving her bravado. She reached forward and touched his lips with her thumb, forgetting there was whipped cream on it. “Open up. Is there a tongue in there, or did you swallow it?” she said playfully.

Just as she was about to pull her hand away, Cain grabbed her thumb gently with his teeth without thinking about it. Violet was so shocked she couldn’t move.

In the middle of the Pier, with JL, Travis, and Sam in the booth next to them, Cain gently bit down on Violet’s thumb and then sucked as his tongue played with the pad of her thumb, his heated gaze never leaving hers. He repeated the sensual assault on her finger until every last bit of whipped cream was gone and her mouth was open in disbelief.

He pulled her finger out of his mouth with a pop, then licked the inside of her wrist and kissed it. He leaned in, his voice husky. “Trust me. I have a tongue.”

Before this scene they’d never kissed or showed any indication that there was anything sexual toward each other. But this gesture changed things between them.

So, if you like your heroes a lot quiet and a little conflicted, and your heroines full of sass, grab yourself a copy LAID OUT.

About Sidney Halston

Sidney Halston lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in South Florida with her husband and children.

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About LAID OUT

Perfect for fans of Katy Evans and Sarah Castille, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction.

As an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true— but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.