Each day for the month of June, I’ve been featuring an LGBTQ book on my social media – Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, and MeWe. Some are my own, some are from other authors I’ve enjoyed; you can catch them all (to date) on my Instagram profile. Today’s is one of my polyamory stories.
Can love last forever? That’s what Jamie believes in the polyamory novella Three: A Love Story. Jamie is deeply in love with Susan. She trusts Susan’s love for her, and she doesn’t expect it ever to fade.
But if you spend any time poking around in polyamory blogs and websites (and we do; research, you know!), you’ll discover that many people who end up in some type of polyamory arrangement didn’t start out as polyamory advocates and go looking for someone. They experienced polyamory as something that just happened. They were in love with one person, and they began to experience feelings for an additional person. Rather than deny those feelings or simply bail on the person they already loved, they opened up about those feelings in what had been their primary relationship, and together they moved on to explore what might be both right and possible for them.
I’m sure lots of relationships fall apart at this point in the process. Probably another significant number re-examine their relationship as a duo and re-commit to it. Most likely few of either of these groups are sharing their stories in the polyamory social media, and I’ve never seen any research on what the actual numbers might be.
But this precise point is where we chose to set our story. Jamie and Susan, both bisexual but committed to love each other, have continued to date men from time to time. Their relationships with men have been casual and have often led to casual sex, sometimes even casual three-way sex. We’re not sure they considered themselves to be swingers, but they probably wouldn’t have flinched at the label. In this regard, they are already more open to the potential of expanding their relationship than many couples might be. As our story opens, Jamie is starting to have more than casual feelings for the current man in her life.
Three-way committed relationships don’t simply emerge full-blown and move smoothly towards that happily-ever-after forever. We wanted to explore the tugs and pulls of each protagonist as the balance shifts and the pitfalls emerge. Who has the most to lose? What does each of them fear, and who is the most afraid? How do they go about the process of opening up these feelings and sorting them out? What do they still hide from each other? And of course, ultimately, can it work?
We’ve written a romance. You already know it has a happy ending. We still believe that’s possible, and we do know a few friends who are, at least for the moment, making something similar work for them. We hope you’ll join our characters for what proves to be a bumpy ride on the way to a unique Happily Ever After.
BLURB
Three lives—but how many loves?
Committed lovers for three years, Jamie and Susan are good together. Jamie knows she wants Susan in her life forever. But what if that’s not enough?
Both bi, the two have continued dating men occasionally, and now Jamie’s falling in love with Mason. Can she love two persons? Will her love for either one wrench the other one out of her life?
Jamie’s convinced a long-term three-way relationship is the answer, but none of the players is prepared for what’s coming. Two-way relationships are hard enough—is a three-way even possible? And if so, what must each of them give up to create 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 shut your door and make love. 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.
Detour Ahead (Riders Up, Book Four)
Bio— Madison Michael is living her dream as a romance writer. Born and raised in Chicago, she covered the four corners of the U.S, before returning to her roots, friends, family and the best pizza anywhere.
A few weeks back I shared a photo of the last horse we owned – a half arabian, half saddlebred foal, nuzzling his mother not long after his birth. Here’s another photo of him, age 10, coming across the field to greet my husband.