Writing Tension When Two Characters Know They Shouldn’t

 

They know better.

They know the rules.

And yet, they still can’t stay away.

That’s what makes off-limits romance so damn addicting. The tension isn’t just about attraction—it’s about restraint. It’s the almosts that build the ache, the stolen glances that linger too long, the accidental touches that burn more than they should.

So how do you write that kind of tension—the kind that makes readers hold their breath?

🔥 Give them history. Their connection should feel deep, even if it’s always been platonic—until it isn’t.

🔥 Make them fight it. Attraction is easy. Denial? That’s where the tension lives.

🔥 Stolen moments > big confessions. A touch that lingers, a hand grazing bare skin, a single glance that says everything.

🔥 Let the tension snap. When they finally break? It should feel inevitable.

Tension isn’t just about what they say—it’s about what they don’t.

👀 What’s your favorite moment in an off-limits romance when the tension finally snaps?