Title: Bookended
Author: Heidi Belleau
Length: 32 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m/m contemporary romance
Rating: B-
Blurb:
Ad exec Fletcher Williams has the ideal personal assistant. Julian is hardworking, totally in tune with his boss’s needs, capable of enviable attention to detail… and completely willing to apply all those skills to their mutually gratifying sexual relationship. Fletcher doesn’t realize the extent to which he’s wrapped around Julian’s finger—until Julian invites Ogden, a bi-curious young artist they meet in a bookshop, to come home with them. After adding Ogden to their sex life, will Fletcher and Julian be able to return to business as usual?
Review:
On the face of it, this story seems like a plain old piece of menage erotica. A hot and steamy sex scene between an established couple and a guy they pick up at a book shop. Well, yes, it is that but I was far more interested in the way that the author shows the relationship dynamics between Julian and Fletcher.
The story begins with a couple at a bookshop. We are told that they are lovers but also that Fletcher is older and Julian’s boss. You would expect then that Fetcher would be the more dominant of the couple and he is, sort of. It’s not long before we are shown how much Julian is actually in charge of the relationship, and how much Fletcher defers to his younger lover. This was done in a subtle fashion – the shared glances, the way that Julian manipulates the situation so that they get to take Ogden home. Julian is the one who notices the covert glances that Ogden is sending their way, the one who takes the initiative and calls him over. For me this was what set this story above mere erotica. I love stories which deal with relationship dynamics and the ebb and flow of desire within that. This story did not disappoint in that regard.
I also liked how the dynamics in the sex scene worked almost at a counterpoint to the emotional dynamics. Fletcher is more dominant in the sex scene, although still driven by Julian’s desires. The sex, as you may expect, is pretty hot, but I did feel that Ogden was second fiddle. When the scene was over I got the impression that he’d been used by Julian, and despite the fact he’d obviously had a good time with the couple, it still left a slightly sour note. Perhaps if I’d had some of the scene from Ogden’s point of view then that might have helped. Instead he comes across as almost shadowy when next to the main couple.
That niggle wasn’t enough to put me off the story, which ends with a promise of more, rather than any definite happy ending. It would be interesting to see whether this author produces a longer work with these three men – or even just Julian and Fletcher. It’s not necessary to have more, but I would read it if another story came along.