I know these posts are about Heated Rivalry but I find myself relating to Berries and Greed and my own experiences and image of s3x in terms of that. It is in general, in this world, based in violence and dominance of the penetrator.
Berries and Greed is also based in that similar kind of world in that the way Demigurus s3x is regularly a fight for dominance between both parties and can get incredibly aggressive competitively and boisterous.
But this book and Beryl & Greidās relationship rejects that and makes something so completely different and beautiful and gentle and intimate.
(Beryl)āI noticed while I was watching the p/rn that it all seemed really aggressive between demiurgus. Like they were all constantly fighting for dominance. For the upper hand in the situation.ā
She was watching me carefully.
(Greid) I shook my head immediately. āNo. No way. Iām not, um, at all dominant. Agma hated it.ā I grimaced, hunching my shoulders. āSorry for bringing her up again.ā
āNo, itās totally fine. Of course sheās going to come up. Donāt worry, Greid.ā
āOkay.ā I swallowed thickly, keeping my head lowered. āIt wasnāt only her, anyway. All the women Iāve been with, they never liked when I would just submit. They wanted a fight. They wanted me to try and overpower them as much as they were trying to overpower me. Demiurgus sex isā¦ yeah, aggressive, like you said. And Iām justā¦ not.ā
But Beryl and Greidās relationships break the norms in this not only in terms of that he is submissive and she is the dominant one (domme) but also because of the inability to do any penetration due to Berylās vaginismus (which Lily does excellent representation of) and incompatible equipment. Although there is pegging it is still not a violent battle for dominance and dominance in this book isnāt a term used to just have tight-fist power over someone. It is gentle whilst being firm and caring and loving. Iāve not ever really seen that represented anywhere (except this book) itās always hands on throats (usually mdom/fsub concept books) or whips (fdom/msub books) with other books. Also finding other fdom/msub books is a nightmare and theyāre usually only in the erotica category but youāll find mdom/fsub in every book on the shelves :/
I know it just seems like a silly monster romance but to me itās everything, and itās healing for what Iāve been through in my life showing me there could be a path where it isnāt a constant battle for dominance (although Iām sure itāll be hard to find a partner like that) before this I had really resigned myself to not ever being able to be physical with someone ever again because of so much trauma and fear.
I just felt a need to highlight how so much s3x is based in violence (even the sweet romantasy books with the princes who give her gentle kisses on the nose are grabbing her throat during s3x following the usual societal norms ) and itās so unnecessary.
But with the beauty of queer books, monster romances, the breaking of societal ānormsā shows there can be a different way.
I just think everyone should experience this book and its sweetness and the change up of dynamics bc itās life changing.
