I began reading erotic fiction about a year ago; gay romance, bisexual romance, menage a trois romances...nothing is off limits.
But I have realized through the course of my erotic reading that I am confused by the ever popular multiple-partner romance: The storyline where it is one woman and two or more men. Together. Having sex. All at the same time.
Our heroine is usually a virgin (at least when they start!) and our heroes are beautiful, muscular, above average sized in all aspects, and rename their woman “baby” or “angel face.” Now, from my own experience, my first time was not a celestial experience. I cannot even imagine sharing that with two or more over-endowed men. Frankly, that would have sent me screaming for the hills.
Take Colters’ Woman by Maya Banks. The heroine Holly is a virgin running away from an abusive relationship. She is found by Adam Colter in a snowdrift, half dead, and he is so overwhelmed by her he practically assaults her while she is unconscious. That’s romantic. She is soon informed that he and his brothers have been waiting for her all their lives—and she is to be their one and only wife. And she accepts it all like a seasoned pro. In the end, they all fall in love and live happily ever after.
Now, I was raised believing that you have only one partner at a time. Any more than that, and you risked your phone number on the bathroom wall with a not-so-nice word underneath. I can understand that relationships vary and to each his own, but I cannot see myself being sexual among more than one person. First off, a virgin? What virgin wants her first time to be with two or more sexually experienced men who have some dominance issues? Being told that this will be the best for you while seeing an industrial size tube of KY jelly is not reassuring.
When do you sleep? Unless all your partners are 20-minute wonders, you're looking at at least an hour or more per guy. All waking up at odd times to have their wicked ways with you. That’s wonderful, unless you require eight or more hours of sleep in order to be functional the next day.
Can we say, “Move over?” Because two or more men in one bed gets crowded. Someone’s going to get smacked before the night is over. And do you ever notice the men involved are usually related to each other? I have siblings and I can honestly say I have never thought about them and sex in the same thought. Because, ugh. The stories imply there is no sexual feelings between the men, but how is that possible? They have to have some feelings or they wouldn’t want to share the same woman.
I won’t even go into the issues of stretching (you know what I’m talking about) or incontinence. Ignore it all you want, it’s still a valid concern.
What I usually find most disconcerting is the lack of romantic connection in the story lines. I never feel the love and bond they are suppose to share. It’s pure sex. You can call me “baby” twenty times a day and tell me you love me, but unless I see proof I’m not falling for it. When did having incredible sex equate love? Even in the non-sexual scenes, there is an undercurrent where even doing laundry becomes an erotic scene. Doing laundry is not erotic.
Will I stop reading these? No. But I think a warning should be issued that these are not to be taken seriously, because in real life the woman will not love each man equally, feelings get hurt, bossy men get smacked, and the woman is always stuck taking care of everyone.
Tori Benson, Smexybooks and at Twitter.
