Is it Hot In Here?

So ... I had a conversation the other day with a friend about what makes an erotic story "erotic" and not just "hot" but mainstream.

I'm not entirely certain I have the answer. Of course, when you toss in stuff that clearly hits the "erotic" button like BDSM, menage (or more!), etc., that's pretty easy, but when does a story with vanilla sex cross the line from hot to erotic?

Or maybe it's not the type of sex that decides it, but the frequency or how soon it happens? Obviously in an erotic romance, there must be consummation and it should occur pretty early in the story.

I recently read a short story of about 50 pages that promised me a hot menage. Cool! I love a good menage. I started reading... and twenty-two pages in there still hadn't been ANY sex. Not really even foreplay. I think there may have been one kiss. I was completely bored (partly because the story consisted of the hero trying to convince the heroine that it was okay if she wanted a menage, that he was all for it).

So ... it is how early the sex happens?

Maybe it's the words the author uses to describe various body parts? No purple prose allowed in erotic romance... you call a spade a spade, and sometimes the cruder the word the better. Heroes don't have swords they sheath, women don't have rosebuds at the tips of their breasts.

Is that what makes a story cross the line from "hot" mainstream romance to erotic?

I'm still not entirely certain and would sure love your input!

Thoughts?

What Do YOU Think Qualifies as "Erotic Romance"?

I've been mulling something over lately because of a few comments and conversations I've seen and had. I read a review a couple of weeks ago that said something about that particular story being a "real" erotic romance which thrilled the reviewer because most of the erotic romance stories are "just" really hot sex.

I've also been challenged by my WRP editor to write a story that would qualify at "two roses" -- meaning it will include menage or bondage. Now, I'm more than cool with a good menage, and a little light bondage works for me, but mostly when I write (and read) erotic romance, I prefer one-on-one steamy sex.

I wonder -- do you, as a reader, feel somehow cheated if there isn't a little something *more* in your erotic romance? Do you think it's not really erotic if you don't have a little "tie me up, tie me down" or more than two bodies in bed?

And, what qualifies as "hot" when it comes to sex anyway? Does it need to be public, or does your heroine need to be a contortionist or should there be a touch of the voyeur? If they only do it in bed, in missionary position with one person, does it count?

What do YOU like in your erotic romance? What's the line where a spicy mainstream romance becomes erotic?

Inquiring minds want to know.