As erotic romance authors, my husband and I love writing ménage and polyamory stories because they offer so many options for sizzling sex scenes. We craft sexual encounters on the page that appeal to both of us in hopes they’ll appeal to the fantasies of other men and women, as well.

But what happens when these hot erotic fantasies run headlong into real-life obstacles? What does polyamory look like when it happens to ordinary people? That’s the challenge we set ourselves in “Three: A Love Story,” our contribution to the Boxed Set All You Need is Love.

Three lives—but how many loves? Two bisexual women deeply in love with each other also enjoy dating men and even arranging an occasional three-way. What if one of these women starts to fall in love with a man?

You might think there are only three main characters, but since it’s Five on Friday, I’m going to introduce you to five of them.

1. Jamie (Jams) Ellsworth is the bubbly optimistic instigator who gets everything started. An RN studying to become a Physician’s Assistant, she shares a Tucson apartment with her lover, Susan, and from time to time they share it (and other delights) with a man one or the other of them has dated. Maybe Jamie shouldn’t rock the boat. But now that she’s starting to fall in love with Mason, what choice does she have? Her dilemma is typical of the way so many polyamory relationships get started, when someone in love with one person discovers she loves two people.

2. Laid-back English professor Susan Kingman, a native of the Tucson area, loves its well-maintained bike trails and plentiful scenic hikes. In love with Jamie, she’s always enjoyed their fun three-way encounters, but now Jamie’s talking about three-way love. How is that even possible? To Susan’s relief, they start their adventure with an early afternoon hike, affording them the attached view looking across Tucson to Mt. Lemmon.

3. Physical therapist Mason Johnson has been dating Jamie several months and is starting to think she may be the one. But she comes with complications. He’s open to her ongoing relationship with Susan, which she’s never hidden. But what is she thinking, wanting to add Susan to their bedroom—and beyond that, to a future long-term relationship? At every step of the way, he faces wrenching choices.

4. Sheba is Mason’s boxer. Dog lovers ourselves, we’ve often written dogs into our stories, and we thought it was time to memorialize Sheba, our pet boxer in the 90s who died at the age of six from boxer cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease then common in the breed. If you’ve never owned a boxer, Sheba’s antics may surprise you. Our Sheba never played “fetch” – she played “keep away.” After catching a Frisbee, she’d canter in a proud circle showing off her success. And boxer hugs? That behavior is what earned the breed the name “boxer,” and often other breeds don’t know what to do when a boxer greets them that way. We think maybe Mason’s Sheba will help him sort out his dilemma, as ours did so often for us.

5. Mason’s house. Yes, it turns out his house is a major character as well. Situated in the Catalina foothills on the north end of Tucson, it’s a mid-size three bedroom with a large fenced-in yard where Sheba can run. He’s owned it for several years, and he’s remodeled the upstairs to create a spacious, inviting master bedroom with a king bed, a comfy sitting area, and a large en-suite bathroom. Wherever this promising three-way relationship goes, he knows his house is large enough to handle it.

EXCERPT

Jamie tilted her head to the side as Susan curled back in next to her. “So what do you think of Mason?”
“Ah, Mason. He’s the source of your stewing. Is he starting to wear on you? How long has it been—three months? Four months?”
“He’s not wearing on me. And it’s nearly five months.” Jamie paused to wet her lips. “You didn’t answer my question. What do you think of him? What do you really think of him?”
Susan flinched. “Well, I haven’t thought a lot about him, though I must say he has stayed around longer than any guy in recent memory.” Susan sighed. “Okay, to be honest. I think he seems like a very nice guy. When he’s over here, it’s because he’s come to see you, so I don’t really spend a lot of time with him. I’ve cooked a few dinners for you guys, but most of time he comes, you go out, you come back, and you carry on like two wildcats. I’m surprised the neighbors haven’t complained. And he’s usually gone before I’m up in the morning. And lately you’ve been spending much more time at his house than at our apartment…for your love nest activities, that is. I must say that’s easier on me. I get more sleep, and I don’t have to imagine what you and he are doing to each other.”
“That’s it?”
“What else do you want me to say? I’m an English professor, not a social worker. He doesn’t seem abusive. He’s easy to look at. He doesn’t…” Susan paused. “Uh oh. If he’s not wearing on you and yet you’re stewing about him…” She arched an eyebrow. “Jams, maybe you’d better tell me what’s really on your mind.”
Jamie didn’t miss the sudden flash of anxiety that crossed Susan’s face.

All You Need is Love
A Limited Edition Romance Collection

Romance Collections is proud to present these thirteen stories of love that knows no boundaries. Like rivers flowing through the canvas of earth, these stories will run deep, touch softly and leave you breathless.

No matter who it is with, passion is magnificent, desires are bold, and love is beautiful.

Novellas by Tamsin Baker, Jess Buffett,‎ Kristine Cayne,‎ Adriana Kraft,‎ Cate Farren,‎ Valerie Ullmer,‎ Kai Tyler,‎ Lexi Thorne,‎ Izzy Szyn,‎ Aeryn Jaden, Dana Kenzi, Celia Fay, and Dani Gray

BUY LINKS

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078PZR8HY
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/all-you-need-is-love-27
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/all-you-need-is-love/id1330261438?mt=11
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-you-need-is-love-tamsin-baker/1127753593?ean=2940154950586

About Adriana Kraft

Winner of the 2014 Bisexual Book Award for erotic fiction, author Adriana Kraft is a married couple writing Sizzling Romantic Suspense and Erotic Romance for Two, Three, or More. Whether readers open our romantic suspense or our erotic romance, they can expect characters they care about, hot sex scenes, and a compelling story. Our suspense stories deliver one man, one woman, danger and intrigue. Our erotic romance is edgier and nearly always includes ménage or polyamory, sometimes with two women and a man, sometimes with two (or more) couples.
Together we have published more than forty romance novels and novellas to outstanding reviews. We love hearing from readers at [email protected], and here is our website: When It’s Time to Heat Things Up http://adrianakraft.com

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