Why Are Menages So HOT? (Caliente!)

Caliente Blog Hop

A little while ago, I was asked a very interesting question: why is it that menage is so popular in romance, while menages (that is, committed menage relationships) in real life are still relatively rare?  I haven’t done any studies on the subject, nor have I read any, but I have some guesses about why that might be.

For me, the allure of a menage relationship in a romance novel is the idea of not just one hot alpha male taking care of your every need, but two…sometimes three, four…hot alpha males taking care of the woman’s every need.  This is all a fantasy, of course.  In a novel, the downside of such a relationship can be played down–or the troubles can all be worked out by the end of the book.  Jealousy might exist but it’s conquered in the end.  The men might be overbearing but they learn to give their woman space.  Everyone lives happily ever after.

So that’s why I think we like reading about menage relationships.  But why don’t we want to live them?  I’m going to start with the big one…to live in such a relationship in our current Western society isn’t easy.  It’s expected that we’ll be monogamous, so anyone going against that grain is going to face some difficulties (at best).  Added to which, all of those things that are great in a novel (like, multiple men catering to your every need) are not necessarily so great in real life (like, multiple men never leaving you alone!).  Those issues that are resolved by the end of the novel may or may not get resolved in real life.  There is no “The End” where everything gets wrapped up neatly with a bow.

So that’s what I think.  But you’re probably wondering where the HOT is in this Caliente Blog Hop.  For that, please see this excerpt from one of my menage romances for an example of just why we love menage so much. And after you’ve read the excerpt, check out the two giveaways below that!

Excerpt from The Alpha’s Secret

Liam stopped abruptly and rapped on a door. “It’s us.”

Several agonizingly long seconds later, Bridget opened the door. She looked a little wide-eyed.

“You sure you want to do this?” Liam said.

Gavin wanted to strangle him. No, he knew they had to ask, but she’d better not say no.

“Yes.” She stepped toward them. “But this doesn’t mean anything. I mean, don’t think just because I’m sleeping with you that means you can control me.”

Gavin pushed into the room, Liam behind him. The door slammed shut. “Of course this means something. It means we’re committing to love each other. Love and respect and take care of each other. That’s what it means.” He slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her against him. “Which hand was it?”

“What?”

Gavin grabbed her right wrist and lifted her hand to his face. The sweet scent of her sex still clung to her fingers. He moaned then slid one finger into his mouth tasting the faint echo of her nectar.

“You told him?” Bridget said.

Liam rounded her and slid his arms around her from the back. “Of course I told him. If you had any idea how much it turns us on, you’d understand.” He nibbled at her neck.

Her finger popped out of Gavin’s mouth. He gazed into her eyes. “I want the real thing. Now.”

***

Bridget held back a shiver. Wasn’t that just like an alpha, demanding even in the middle of sex? Worse, his demands turned her on. A little.

Oh, hell, fine. They turned her on a lot.

But she couldn’t just give in. “What about what I want?”

Liam’s hands slid up her body to cup her breasts. “That’s what we’re here for. To give you what you want.” He squeezed her nipples. “Tell us what you want.”

Her pulse beat harder at the feel of his hands on her breasts. “That’s a good start.”

Gavin cupped her cheeks. “What’s your favorite thing?”

She bit her lip.

“Tell us what you want,” Liam said.

“Oral,” she said quickly.

Leaning in so close his lips nearly brushed hers, Gavin said, “Giving or receiving?”

It would probably make her sound selfish, but she might as well be honest. “Receiving.”

Gavin stepped forward, pushing all three of them toward the bed. “I want to taste you. Now.”

“Help me take her clothes off.” Liam pulled her shirt over her head and dropped it on the floor as they continued in the direction of the bed.

With fumbling fingers, Gavin worked on the button of her pants. “Can I rip them off?” he growled.

“No.” Bridget pushed his hands away and opened it herself, right around the same time her bra suddenly loosened. Liam must have gotten it undone.

Gavin pushed her pants over her hips. They slipped down her legs to pool at her ankles. Then he paused, his gaze downward.

“What?” Bridget said.

Liam pushed the bra down her arms and she suddenly realized they were both still clothed while she stood only in her panties.

“They’re cute,” Gavin said. “You like cute lingerie?”

They were cute—a pale, pale pink with a little bright pink bow right in the front. “Yeah. So?”

“Makes me want to eat you up,” Gavin said.

She felt a sudden surge of confidence. “I thought you were going to do that anyway.”

His eyes rose to hers, his lips lifting into a smile. “You’re right. Take them off. I wouldn’t want to rip them.”

Bridget pushed them down her legs. “Too cute?”

“Too cute.” Gavin skimmed his hands up her sides.

Her mate liked cute lingerie. She’d have to remember that.

AS360

Werewolves mate in threesomes in this world where packs operate just under the surface of everyday life. Private investigators Gavin and Liam find their mate, Bridget, while on a case. But in spite of the mating lust riding all three of them, Bridget resists the urge. Something stronger than the mating lust keeps her from committing. Meanwhile, Gavin and Liam discover treachery in her past. Can they unravel the clues to both mysteries so all three of them can come together at last?

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12 Comments

  1. Trix says:

    I like reading menage best when all parties involved are equally hot for each other (and m/m/f or m/m/m helps, too)!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

  2. Renee B says:

    I just got both The Alpha’s Secret and Protecting the Pack. Couldn’t wait for a contest. LOL. I really like menage’s as long as there is a HEA at the end. 🙂
    Commenting for the grand prize since I have your prize already. Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
    reneebennett35 (at) yahoo (dot) com

  3. Meghan Stith says:

    That’s a good question: Maybe because they’re kind of forbidden?
    mestith at gmail dot com

  4. susan platt says:

    ménage in real life would probably have many problems due to society’s intolerance to anything not “normal”. I love to read about ménage and alphas!

    susanmplatt AT Hotmail DOT com

  5. laura says:

    Maybe its a secret fantasy that someone has. I love to read about ménage relationships. Probably because its a different relationship between people.
    lauratroxelatyahoodotcom

  6. Tabitha Conall says:

    Thanks for your comments, everyone! And thank you for buying my books, Renee!! I hope you like them. 🙂 I sure enjoyed writing them.

  7. Vanessa N. says:

    I love reading menages because of the connection between the people in the relationship.

    mythic021@gmail.com

  8. Jeannie Platt says:

    I have to say menages are great in Erotic romances because of that aspect… They are Erotic, they are about giving and taking, they make the people in them come closer together in most aspects… Real life couldn’t handle that to much drama in todays world… Makes me think how the Greeks did it lol. Thanks for being part of the hop

    j.m.platt83@gmail.com

  9. bn100 says:

    because they’re different
    bn100candg at hotmail dot

  10. Shadow says:

    Sounds like an awesome story! Love shifters! Thanks for sharing and for the awesome giveaway!
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

  11. Veronica says:

    Really liked this post. It’s definitely weird how something so popular in fiction, hasn’t really popularly translated to reality. But at least we can still read about it!

  12. Beckey says:

    Thanks for sharing the interesting and great excerpt… and I really enjoyed the post

    BeckeyWhiteATgmailDOTcom

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