Josh Keller never thought he’d host a wedding reception—his kink club is a place where he tends bar and chains willing men to the padded wall in his private room. He also never thought he’d see the love of his life again. When both happen on the same day his life will never be the same.
Pax Dupont never stopped loving Josh, not when they fought and broke up and not during the fifteen years they spent a thousand miles apart. Coming face-to-face with the man he left behind is a surprise, but learning Josh is part owner of the club intrigues Pax enough to share his own love of silk, lace, and domination.
Will Josh and Pax put past hurts behind them and admit their feelings still run hot, or will Pax’s attempts to dominate Josh break them up for good?
Warnings: This book contains a brief scene of violence and a hero in peril, mentions of past abuse of a child, grief over the death of siblings, a man who loves the feel of silk and lace, and one who thought he understood his own kinky nature.
Pax shot him a look over his shoulder. That look was full of heat and promise as much as the question of what the hell did Josh have running around in his head.
Josh stood behind him as he flipped through the folders in the box and rested both hands on Pax’s shoulders. Leaning close, he whispered in Pax’s ear, “What can I do to help?”
Pax’s exhale seemed to go on forever. As he sighed, he also relaxed under Josh’s hands and leaned back so their bodies touched—Pax’s back against Josh’s chest. The same way they’d slept when they were teenagers after a long night of making out. Among other things.
“Fuck, Josh, I really have work I need to do.”
“I’m not trying to stop you.” Josh moved one hand to circle Pax’s waist and pull him closer. Gently, but leaving no room for doubt that he wanted Pax, that the anger and hurt and resentments of their past were just that: of the past.
Pax dropped his head back onto Josh’s shoulder. “I shouldn’t have left so fast. I thought…”
“You thought what?”
“That you were just being kind, and that this—” Pax turned so his lips brushed against Josh’s ear. “—was all in the past.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t…Fuck, Pax, I still feel it. All of it.” Josh wrapped his other arm around Pax’s chest and held him tight. Pax shivered in his embrace, his ass pressed tightly against Josh’s growing cock. Josh knew he couldn’t say any more—he’d already said too much, even if Pax hadn’t been on the clock. It was way too soon to be making any grand pronouncements, even if he would mean every word.
Josh made a soft squeaking sound when Pax took him by the wrist and moved his hand to rest on Pax’s waistband. Josh’s thumb slid into Pax’s slacks and against something silky.
“I’d love to take you right here—” Josh dragged his thumb across Pax’s stomach, loving the contrast between his firm body and the surprising silkiness of whatever he was wearing. “—but someone could walk in any minute.” Pax groaned and leaned back harder against Josh, pressing Josh’s hand tight against his abs as he did. Josh thought Pax’s knees might have weakened at the thought of someone walking in and catching them together and filed that knowledge away for when he could make good use of it.
Charley Descoteaux is the author of the Buchanan House Love Stories. Book One is a USA Today Must-Read Romance.
Charley has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they’ve agreed to let her sleep once in a while. Charley has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through a single day without stories.
Charley also writes under the pen name Charli Coty. Under that name you’ll find LGBTQIA+ fiction that’s a little different but always has a happy ending.
Title: Twice Tempted Author: Jeaniene Frost Series: Night Prince #2 Genre: Paranormal Romance
Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges…
Leila’s psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn’t sure what the future holds. If that weren’t enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she’s also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won’t admit that he loves her.
Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity…
Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.
Leila and Vlad’s relationship is far from perfect. In fact, the book starts out with quite a row and Leila walking away – with Maximus on her heals for protection. She returns to the carnival circuit to find her old friend and partner, Marty. But what she thought was a return to her old life, is no such thing. Marty appears to have moved on with a new partner, and she flounders trying to figure out what to do next.
Unfortunately, that seems to be Leila running for her life with Maximus at her side. This makes things a little uncomfortable since he has a crush on Leila, and she never seems sure of what his motives really are. How much would he be willing to say and do just to turn her away from the idea of returning to Vlad?
In the long run, Vlad and Leila find themselves up against a new enemy and will need to rely on each other to get things taken care of. But if Vlad wants to get Leila back, he’s going to have to make some major changes, both emotionally and in the location of his bathroom.
This book did hit a little bit of the book 2 hump that seems to plague so many second-in-series. It felt a lot more like a transition between book one and book three than a complete story unto itself. The cliffhanger ending really added to that impression as well. Getting ready for book 3 was an exciting trip though, and it looks like there’s only more excitement to come.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” a deep voice slurred from somewhere near the door. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
“I’m going home, Silas,” I said, fighting back the tears that were threatening to run down my face as I tried to fit too many textbooks into my backpack.
“Like fuck you are,” he said, making his way toward me.
I stood to my full height and looked at him. My heart dropped at seeing him this way. “Silas, you’re drunk.” I could smell the marijuana coming off of him in waves. “And probably high. You should call it a night.”
I didn’t know why I was trying to give him advice. I should have told him to go fuck himself and be done with it.
“I’ll call it a night if you call it one with me,” he drawled, moving in closer to me.
“Get away from me, Silas,” I said, trying to feign confidence but he just laughed.
“You don’t want that, Sky. I saw the way you looked at me. The way you looked at her. You wanted that to be you, hm?”
I didn’t think his comment warranted a response. Either that or I was too choked up to say something back. I picked up my backpack and tried to lift it onto my shoulders, but even in his inebriated state he was quick. The bag tumbled to the floor as he pushed it away and I felt my back press into the wall behind me.
“Admit it, Sky. You. Want. Me.” He was so close to me now. His lips were ghosting against my neck and his hand was pressing against my hip.
I hated this.
I hated him.
I hated the way he made me feel.
And I hated the way he smelled like someone else’s perfume.
“I can smell her on you,” I seethed at him through grit teeth.
He pulled back, lifting his face so that his eyes were even with mine. His fingers moved up, making me shiver on their ascent before pinching my chin. I grimaced as I wondered whether it was the hand that had, minutes before, been knuckle deep in another woman’s cunt.
“You wish it were you, don’t you?” he drawled.
“No,” I bit back, but I was a fucking liar. Truth was, I wanted Silas. I wanted him bad. And I wanted him all to myself. I didn’t want to share him. Not with some bimbo. Not with anyone. I loved the way him and I had developed our study routine. I loved that out of everyone in his life, except for maybe his mother, I knew him the best. He had hot edges and a frozen center, but at least I knew all the secrets he kept hidden there were for me and me alone. But I didn’t know how to say any of this. Worse than that, I didn’t know how to admit any of this. I hated and wanted him at the same time. He said I was a contradiction but that was only because he tore me in two.
Writer of all things untamed, romantic and free, Ivy Wild never planned on becoming a romance novelist. In fact, she hated romance as a kid and was quite proud of that fact. Basically, life is weird.
Married to her own alpha hero, she currently lives in various places of the world at various times thanks to his military career.
