From the first appearance of the hero in the heroine's life, something about him needs to affect her in a way that no other man ever has. Despite the hero's special qualities and the connection between the two main characters that need to be established on time, you should try not to settle their love for each other early in the story. The realization of their love for each other should happen as the story progresses. In this article, we discuss six sure ways to portray that special something in the hero that tells the heroine and your readers he is special.

Special Appearance

Give him good looks. Sure, this approach is cliched, but it works all the time. To develop chemistry in real life, as in fiction, partners need to find each other attractive. Their relationship may begin on the wrong foot, with both of them at each other's throats. But amid the initial bad blood, she can't help but notice or even get distracted by how gorgeous he is. An instance of the heroine reacting so viscerally to the hero is a big hint that they are meant to be.

Special Traits

Give him good morals, make him smart and emotionally intelligent. He needs to be the heroine's knight in shining armor with the nobility of character that the status requires. She needs to see him as an embodiment of the virtues she wants in a man -- honest, respectful and kind, despite the flaws of his past or present. He is not half-witted but a brilliant young man with his wits above his ego. Finally, he needs to have control over his emotions, a reliable and faithful suitor. Your reader needs to be sure that he is worthy of your heroine's love, and his love for her is strong, enduring and long-lasting.

Special Emotional Conflict

Give your hero, like your heroine, some emotional problems that propel him and lead to the issues keeping him away from the heroine. Just like your heroine, your hero is not the picture of perfection. So, give him room for improvement and character development, making his side of the story more compelling. He needs flaws and insecurities that create the perfect conflict for your narrative.

Special yet Equal

Make him equal to the heroine. Whatever circumstances they find themselves in, none of them should dominate or be dominated by the other. She should not be more powerful and smart so that he appears weak or stupid in comparison. Nor should he carry an air of superiority, demeaning and undermining her strengths. If such were to be the case, then their prospect of happily ever after is slim, as no one wants to spend the rest of their lives in such a position. But the opposite is the case if you make them equals. Your readers will believe in their potential as a happy couple who are equally yoked and can carry the problems of life together.

Special Teammate

Good couples complement each other's strengths, and your fictional romantic couple shouldn't be an exception. In the challenges you put before them as a duo, each of them should be able to bring something unique to the table. If he is the muscle, she can be the brain of their operation. This way, both of them are in the limelight without one outshining the other; they are a team and not each other's competition.

Special Softer Side

Give your hero a soft side. Despite how tough he may seem, expose his soft side to the heroine. He could be a stoic general who doesn't display any sign of emotional weakness before his army and leads them with an iron fist. But at the news of his mother's death, your heroine sees him with a hint of sadness cracking through his hard blue eyes as he tries to fight back tears. And at that moment, she thaws and never again sees him as a ruthless general, no matter how hard she tries.

Special Sense of Humor

Laughter is sexy. So, give your hero a good sense of humor. He should be able to make the heroine laugh, as that is a good sign for their future together. His ability to lighten her mood on a dark night or break the awkwardness in a weird situation is what their relationship needs to grow stronger. The humor in your romance narrative should be character-driven and appropriate for their age and circumstance.