Feature Image Credit: @lucien.lost

Steamy erotic romance anthologies are a great way to explore different genres (like paranormal or historical) and sexual orientations—and of course, it helps keep us all a little more open-minded!  The erotica category covers all kinds of books, including both nonfiction and erotic fiction where sex is described explicitly on the page. It can be romantic sex, fantasy or taboo. Some books chronicle sex lives while others center around a plot. But erotica anthologies all have the same goal: to entertain, rev your engine, and let you dip your toe into the luscious world of erotica literature.

Little Birds: Erotica by Anais Nin

These 13 erotic short stories by the acclaimed author of Henry and June explore the nature of desire, taboo and female sensuality. Following her first book of erotic short fiction, Delta of Venus, Anaïs Nin continues to illuminate the many guises of human sexuality in Little Birds. From the beach towns of Normandy to the streets of New Orleans, these thirteen vignettes introduce us to a covetous French painter, a sleepless wanderer of the night, a guitar-playing gypsy, and a host of others who yearn for and dive into the turbulent depths of romantic experience.

Just for Him by Talia Hibbert

The boss. The ex-con. The sports star. Three wealthy heroes face the defiant heroines who’ll bring them to their knees. Enjoy three steamy and suspenseful stories set against the grit and glamour of the United Kingdom. This boxed set includes Bad for the Boss, Undone by the Ex-Con, and Sweet on the Greek.

Hot & Bothered by Elle Kennedy

These three sizzling-hot stories centers around Navy SEALS. In “Heat of the Moment”,  Shelby has lusted over swoon-worthy Garrett, but she can’t figure out why he’s not interested…until she overhears him saying she’s too vanilla for his taste. When a heat wave sends the sexy Navy SEAL into her bakery, she can finally show him exactly what he’s missing. In “Heat of Passion”, after a hot fling with a SEAL, the last thing she expects is to run into her gorgeous one-night stand weeks later, and to discover that Carson wants the one thing she doesn’t: more. And in “Heat of the Storm”, Will has waited fifteen years for the storm that sends Mackenzie into his arms. He’s the one man not scared of her psychic gift, and their one night of passion is enough to convince this tenacious SEAL that they are much, much more than friends.

Hot in Handcuffs by Sylvia Day, Shayla Black, Shiloh Walker

Three novellas of erotic disobedience: Meet the FBI agent determined to save a virginal professor’s life–and claim her… a sexy female fire inspector with a desire that burns like a blast furnace… and a Texas cop with a psychic gift that tells her exactly what some men want. Three never-before-published novellas that’ll teach readers the futility of resisting arrest.

Men Out of Uniform by Sylvia Day, Maya Banks, Karin Tabke

In this searingly sexy anthology, #1 New York Times best-selling authors Sylvia Day, Maya Banks, and national bestselling author Karin Tabke present three stories of men in uniform—unzipped. They may enforce the rules, but when men in uniform are off duty and under the covers, they’re experts at breaking them. After all, the hottest thing about a man in uniform is imagining him out of it…

Best Black Women’s Erotica, ed. by Blanche Richardson

This anthology showcases the hottest, most arousing, and most surprising erotic literature by African-American women writers. Representing a wide range of styles and voices, these 25 stories offer a steamy assortment of fiction from popular authors such as Valerie Wilson Wesley, Bertise Berry, Tananarive Due, Diane McKinney-Whetstone, Vernise Berry and Julie Hare among others.

Cherished by Maya Banks, Lauren Dane

These two novellas cross the boundaries of desire: In Exiled by Maya Banks, virginal Talia is introduced to a world of forbidden pleasure on an island where the prince’s every whim is fulfilled, and her fantasies are rendered in exquisite detail. But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, Talia returns home, heartbroken—until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs. In Sway by Lauren Dane, established, wealthy, older Levi Warner meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies.

Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Melanie George, Jaid Black

In this sexy erotica anthology, three hot authors reel you in with sizzling novellas about alpha heroes who will do anything to get the women they want — even kidnap them! Best-selling author Sherrilyn Kenyon presents “‘Captivated’ by You,” the second sexy story in her series featuring the Bureau of American Defense. Best-selling romance author Melanie George offers “Promise Me Forever,” the story of Savannah Harper, who has finally put her breakup with pro-football player Donovan Jerricho behind her. But when Tristan comes home to Mississippi on the eve of Savannah’s wedding, he still wants her. And from Jaid Black comes “Hunter’s Right,” the fantastical story of Corporal Ronda Tipton of the U.S. Army, whose chopper goes down in the Arctic Circle. The only survivor of the crash, Ronda happens upon a hidden civilization of Vikings — where she must face the bridal auction block.

Nerve Endings: The New Trans Erotic, ed. by Tobi Hill-Meyer

Here are thirty stories that offer revolutionary erotic fantasies by trans people, about trans people, and for trans people at the crossroads of history, biology, anxiety, and love: A trans woman watches her sleeping lover and contemplates the moment of his departure.  A trans boy has a Craigslist hookup with a queen embarked on detransition. A bodiless AI announces its gender, takes a lover, and works to revolutionize the world. This is a smart, sexy anthology celebrating transgender sexualities from a first-person perspective.