u/ZookeepergameNext967

Hello,

I am the author of work called Until You Yield on AO3. My genre perception of the work has always been a dark psychological romance however I had some readers commenting it resembled errotic horror more - and hence my post here. You may find it here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/79594166/chapters/208843611

The initial setup is rather dark romance oriented though it descends into psychological and some physical cruelty rather quickly and particularly during the captivity section.

The premise is: a power couple of London tech, running an international enterprise, married. However beneath the facade of polish and sophistication there lies a dead, abusive marriage and corporate fraud.

The female protagonist, starved for affection, engages in something extra marital (though not physically), her husband finds out and all hell breaks lose.

I would be very interested if you'd agree with the assessment of this approaching "erotic horror". Thank you to everyone giving it a go.

I am seeking expressions of interest for developmental beta read of this work. It has been previously shared in a couple of places online to good reception and people generally enjoyed it. However now that it is finished it requires a read in its entirety and any improvement suggestions will be welcomed. Please DM me if interested. Thank you.

Summary:

Isabelle ( Bells ) Hann thought she had her life perfectly mapped out: a prestigious role at a leading tech start up Larssens Ltd, an engagement to the generationally wealthy Theodore Watson, and a future built on safety over passion.

But her boss has a different vision for her life, for who she can become under him, both physically and metaphorically. And Isabelle can't deny the pull of the handsome maverick building his company through whatever means necessary - blackmail, white collar crime or less than morally sound liasons with business colleagues. His most persistent obsession - secure a contract with the global giant Yamamoto Industries - at all cost - to turbocharge Larssens Ltd to global prominence.

When he manipulates a business dinner with the Yamamoto CEO by claiming him and Isabelle are engaged (using Theo's engagement ring as a prop, naturally) Bells is drawn further into his spiral of corporate and personal machinations.

By the end of it, she'll realise it isn't only her career that's at stake. It's her entire life - professional, reputational and deeply personal.

---

PROSE excerpt

JUDE

I don’t demand brilliance - merely competence executed at some rudimentary threshold. Think one step ahead, not two steps back. Apparently, this is aspirational.

Some find me challenging. “Intense” being the polite formulation. Once - memorably -“a goddamned sociopath in Berluti.” Which is lazy on two counts: (1) I wear Ferragamo, and (2) sociopaths don’t get attached to obscenely attractive, waif waisted corporate villains.

I’m not difficult. I have standards, not personality disorders. A code - if you will. Competence merits respect. Mediocrity receives nothing - not consideration, not quarter, not the pretence of collegiality. I don’t care if you’re minority-of-the-month, legacy ballast, or someone’s trust-fund participation trophy (cough Bells) - show up with solutions and I’ll listen. Bring them consistently and I might even learn your coffee order. I am considerate like that.

And if that competence arrives wrapped in an impeccable body, I’m… amenable.

That was the case with her, not mildly.

Good morning! If my post breaks any sub rules - please let me know and I will remove it. I am the author Klar Nett currently writing three works on AO3 - the one I'm most invested in right now is called "Until You Yield" - it's available for free here: Until You Yield - Chapter 1 - KlarNettt - Original Work [Archive of Our Own]

It is a smutty dark romance that is a little different I think (but open to opinions.) My readers write me amazing comments saying this is well-written, painful at times but also very honest and raw. I have quite a few readers coming through on the platform, and I'm incredibly grateful to them. This is just me inviting you to try it and let me know what you think.

Hey! Glad this subreddit exists. I am looking to broaden the audience for my OW literary fiction dark romance (don't worry, there is still a good amount of deliciously detailed smut scenes there - they just tend to mean more than just the act.)

So "Until You Yield" is a twist on the 'enemies to lovers' and 'touch her and die' tropes. Also -- EXTREME competence kink for those who like that sort of thing.

It is about a husband and a wife. She almost cheated and he (almost?) killed the man, and now he is furious with her too - enough to track her down and lock her up then do her, and feed her and teach her 'lessons on love' until she can't take it no more. And she is terrified of him but also high key turned on at inconvenient times (this upsets him a lot...)

You might like it 🤷‍♀️ I am enjoying myself writing it SOOO MUCH.

Until You Yield on AO3 (new chapter weekly)