(With apologies to my Alpha Geek hubby…Of course, you, honey, are all I need…along with a book or two or three to read.)
I love the all-out Alpha male protagonist in romance novels (which includes the Beta that turns Alpha when a woman he desires shows up). As an introvert with a full-time job and a home and family to care for, I often find modern life emotionally exhausting and physically draining. So, the idea of coming home to curl up with some strong, virile man interested in seducing me into sinful, fictional passion that helps me escape traffic jams, grocery store lines and the paperwork I lugged home to work on after hours…well, frankly, it appeals.
Alpha males come in a variety of flavors. Alpha Warriors (i.e. soldiers, sheriffs, firefighters) or Alpha Leaders (i.e. tycoons, kings, pirate captains) all have their own appeal, which is why they tend to dominate the genre. But the variety I love best are the Alpha Geeks. Whether you consider super smart people geeks, nerds, techies, or dorks, this class of alphas is special for a variety of compelling reasons.
His Brain: The obvious reason is that he’s really smart. Like…smart enough to find the best nonviolent solution to any complication life throws his way. He’s a master fixer. And while he may be pushed to violence (eventually) to protect his woman from some outside threat, more often he solves problems using his vast intellect. Because he is successfully fixing problems throughout the story without the use of force, when he reaches the problem that can’t be solved intellectually and resorts to force to protect his woman—it’s amazing—we get both character development and a plot twist. Out comes the He-Man who’s been prowling underneath all those superior brain cells. It’s unpredictable, suspenseful, and the resulting satisfaction makes my brain and my body tingle with that glowing he’s-so-wonderful feeling.
His Nature: The Alpha Geek doesn’t necessarily think of himself as an Alpha, which can sometimes come across as unattractively vain. Aside from his unwavering confidence in his brain to solve problems (developed through dedicated study and academic accomplishments), he rarely considers himself superior to other humans. He is a man who simply tries to solve problems. His controlling, dominating nature is the result of his belief and understanding that he knows best because he’s thought of or tried every other option. This creates some of the most authentic relationship conflicts that can occur in fiction (and in real life) between the hero and heroine. The guy honestly is trying to be good and helpful and make the heroine happy, and is sincerely baffled when she doesn’t want him to fix her problems, or that he’s not fixing them in quite the way she wishes. While other Alphas simply take charge physically (through violent or sexual persuasion), the Alpha Geek first and foremost tries to solve the problem intellectually, which often leads to conflicts with the more emotionally-savvy heroine. Watching the hero struggle to actually understand a woman’s reasoning (yes, folks, she can reason quite capably too) is heady. I mean, seriously, a guy who wants to understand his woman? When he “gets it,” the connection between the hero and heroine is forever strengthened and deepened.
His Passion: The Alpha Geek is inherently a passionate person. Even if he isn’t initially sure about the value of human interpersonal relationships and the rules that govern them, this guy knows how to care deeply about something. Whether it’s maxing out in World of Warcraft, or memorizing the title and plot of every Star Trek episode, or calculating the trajectory path required to send an object to the planet Mars, this guy is seriously persistent about accomplishing his goals. He’s competitive to the nth degree. He’s not trying to beat the competition; he’s creating it. When that single-minded, laser-beam focus turns towards a receptive, attractive woman, watch out. That woman is going to feel so desired. Never mind the potential consequences of applying his ardor to succeed in the bedroom (more on the sex in a minute).
His Sincerity: Feign interest in something he finds boring? Ha! This is one of the reasons he has no woman yet and few friends in the first place. Do not ask him whether your new pair of plaid stretch pants make your ass look huge unless you want the unvarnished truth. Ill-equipped to navigate social settings like parties and dinners where small talk is the norm, the Alpha Geek says what he thinks when he thinks it. So shake off the melodrama of game-playing and pretending to feel or think something you don’t. He won’t. The honesty that develops between the Alpha Geek and his heroine leads to refreshing dialogue and authentic connection. If he says he loves it when she bites his nipple, he means it. No second-guessing on her part. And when he says he loves her, the heroine can trust he means that too.
His Independence: The Alpha Geek doesn’t need to spend time with other people bonding over beer in bars, getting into brawls at sporting events, or disappearing in the woods for long weekends hunting or camping with his buddies. He’s an introvert through and through. His favorite way to spend time is alone or with one other person: his woman. Crowds, new people (and therefore other women) are stresses he happily passes up for the chance to cuddle on the couch and watch another episode of Stargate Universe. The heroine is destined to becomes more than his lover, she’s destined to become his best (and probably only close) friend. Though this worrisome tendency towards agoraphobia can lead to arguments when the woman wants to go out socially on occasion, most shrewd females manage this aspect of the relationship with the appropriate syllogism: Women like to be taken out socially. Good lovers like to make their women happy. Therefore, good lovers take their women out socially. The Alpha Geek is committed to being the best boyfriend/husband ever. Alpha Geeks are as willing to make sacrifices for their heroines as any other Alpha. As long as the heroine’s argument can be presented as logical.
His Adhesiveness: The Alpha Geek, being somewhat socially awkward, has had fewer successful relationships, so when he gets a woman all his own, he’s seriously thrilled. Not just happy. Not just pleasantly complacent. Not she’ll-do-until-someone-prettier-taller-blonder-younger comes along. He’s proud. Sometimes, ecstatically proud. He has a woman living with him; he’s having regular, consensual sex without the need to go out; and sometimes, his heroine even cooks his favorite meals for him. (Don’t worry about housework. Most Alpha Geeks are well paid and can splurge for a maid service). For the Alpha Geek, to be able to come home from an intense day at work solving the mysteries of science or rewriting the NSA website protection software to a soft, cuddly woman who takes the edge off his stress with a little bedroom play time or a stirred-not-shaken cocktail? This is a special form of heaven on Earth for him. He’s had doubts of ever finding and winning his own woman, so he rarely takes her for granted.
His Imagination: Finally, let’s speak directly of the most important aspect of why the Alpha Geek stands apart from the other Alphas. Two words: bedroom play. Consider the old saying about sex being 90% mental and 10% physical? Better imaginations = more imaginative sex. Combine the Alpha Geek’s competitive nature, his perfectionist tendencies, and his interest in developing hypotheses, setting up and running experiments, and then diligently testing for success, with the act of having sex, and any heroine lucky enough to snag an Alpha Geek’s heart can look forward to years of creative bedtime. The resulting lovemaking scenes can be unusual or unexpected, much to the heroine’s (and the reader’s) delight. And frankly, though we’re talking fictional relationships here, these scenes can be highly instructional and inspiring in a useful nonfiction way after we finish the book. We might even want to read those scenes out loud for one’s own personal alpha geek.
Check out some of Selene’s favorite romances that feature Alpha Geeks on her Geeky-Hero-Books shelf on GoodReads.
Contemporary Romances: The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden; Only Yours by Susan Mallery, The Geek Job by Eve Langlais
Historical Romances: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley; It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas; Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long
Paranormal Romance: The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
Email me any suggestions for hot romances with geeky heroes. I’m always looking for a new favorite story. selenegracesilver@gmail.com