Review: Out of The Ashes by Ari McKay

Out Of The Ashes (Asheville Arcana, #1) ( Dreamspun Beyond, #1) by Ari McKay
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 220pgs

3.5 Pants Off

Blurb: Asheville Arcana

In their differences, they’ll find strength—and love.

Alpha werewolf Eli Hammond returns from a fishing trip to discover a nasty surprise—five members of his pack murdered and the rest missing. He needs help locating and rescuing his pack mates, but the supernatural council in Asheville, North Carolina, turns him away.

Except for one man.

As they work together, Eli is stunned—and not especially thrilled—to discover half-elf Arden Gilmarin is his destined mate. But as Arden and his friends struggle to help Eli in his quest, Eli surrenders to the demands of his body—and his heart. They’ll need to bond together, because the forces opposing them are stronger and more sinister than anyone predicted. The evil has its sights set on Arden, and if Eli wants to save his mate and the people he is entrusted with protecting, he’s in for the fight of his life.

Review

 OUT OF THE FRYING PAN & INTO THE FIRE

I’ve now moved on to the Dreamspun Beyond series and I am really looking forward to what this entire imprint has to offer. Out of the Ashes was a cute read, and I am looking forward to reading the other books.  

Alpha Werewolf Eli Hammond has come back home only to find some of his pack mates dead and all the others missing. He can’t quite explain as to why it happened but he does know the neighbouring pack had something to do with the deaths and his missing friends. Instead of rushing in and trying to avenge and rescue,  Eli realizes he will need the help of the supernatural council. When his concern falls on deaf ears, Elie realizes he’s going have to get things done on his own, until the beautiful half elf Arden offers up his help and expertise. What Eli never anticipated was finding his mate through all the hardship and while at anytime it would be something to celebrate, Eli knows a mate has no place in his life especially one that isn’t a wolf. 

Arden is unusually drawn to the Alpha Wolf Eli and before he knows it he’s offering his help an getting caught up into something that is more sinister than pack rivalry. When Arden finds out that Eli is his mate he’s hurt that the man doesn’t seem to want to honour a bond that is as old as time. While he’s willing to to put in his all, Eli keeps him at arms length but Arden realizes he’s willing do anything to keep his very reluctant mate safe. Because demons are on the horizon and they are out to destroy some things. 

First, I really liked the world building. I love all things fantasy and with a bit of fairytale element and this book had it. Think of any lore creature, and this book had it in drones. It was just so fantastical and I really enjoyed the world.  

Secondly, Eli and Arden worked for me. While there was nothing so amazing about them, they have presence and their story kept me entertained. They were fun and with their friends it offered up a great eclectic mix of characters that could be a delight for many readers. 

Thirdly, the weakest part of the story, is the overall plot. Demons should strike fear and all that but if anything all of it was very comical made even more so by the dismissal by the supernatural council of something so dire. Like demons were out there possessing people and shit and everyone was just out there coasting. From what I’m gathering this will be a series within the Dreamspun Beyond series, and I am really looking forward to how it will progress. This world has got me hook, line, and sinker.  

Overall, an entertaining read and a great start to DP line. Looking forward to finding out more about these demons because right now they skills is surely lacking. So ready to revisit the world Ari McKay created. 

Review: Nasu by Jet Lupin

Nasu by Jet lupin
Amazon
Novel: 273pgs

4 Pants Off

Blurb: Dinner, drinks, and dancing sounds like a fun night out, but not to Phil. His ideal way to spend a Friday evening is on the couch with his dog and some take out. When he finds himself away from home on his first night out in months, he gets more than he bargained for in the attention of a handsome stranger. He doesn’t usually entertain these kinds of pickups, but when he winds up saying yes instead of his usual no, he ends up with more than the guy’s phone number.

Breaking a long hiatus with a night on the town was what Shige thought he needed, but he wound up with so much more. He’s attracted to the one guy in the club who looked like he doesn’t want to be there, he can’t leave him alone. He wants more from their encounter than what he usually gets. But will fate, and his dangerous secret, let someone like him, have what even he won’t admit he craves?

Review

Nasu Good Night Out

This is why I love reading, this is why I love reading in the m/m genre. Sometimes you just come across little gems by unknown authors and fall in love. Nasu even with all the editing and grammatical issues still delivered a wonderful paranormal story that had me transfixed. 

Phil is a nurse in need of some serious time off, but work distracts him from how very alone his life is but it will give him time to spend with his dog Hugo. When his close friend decides it time he gets a little r&r with a night out on the town. Clubs aren’t Phil’s thing but maybe a little drinking and partying will make him feel alive. While at the club he catches the attention of a very handsome stranger named Shige and for the first time in a long time Phil feels drawn to someone. Their attraction is instantaneous all that’s left is to seal deal. 

Well there a forces at work that Phil can’t comprehend. Shige while beautiful seems dangerous and strange occurrences keep interrupting whenever they get together. To Phil’s surprise he finds himself packed up and living at Shige's very beautiful home. His staff is weird, Shige himself is very weird, and maybe Phil has finally drunk the Kool-Aid because like them he’s starting to believe they might actually be vampires. Now he’s caught up in a world where others will hurt him to to get to Shige and he doesn’t know what is real anymore. 

First of all, really enjoyed reading this. There was never a moment where I wanted to stop, the characters are engaging and the world exciting. I fear though, not everyone will be forgiving as me for all the grammar stuff. I was so invested in the story I started to look past it. Phil and Shige are really engaging characters, and at times very sexy but I can’t quite tell you how sexy because shit always be interrupting them. It was super frustrating that two dudes couldn’t just get their love on.  

A series of complications continue that keep both Shige and Phil from ever achieving a more meaningful relationship. Phil spends most of his time wary, fearful, and lustful for Shige and Shige can’t quite accept that he might want more from Phil than just sex or blood. They are a complicated bunch but they both need something from each other. Being with Shige brings enemies and Phil is going to have to trust that Shige and his band of men in black are in it to protect him, and vampires- well that’s something to get use to. 

What a truly enjoyable story this was and with two POC characters its already a effin win. Cue the vamps, that are really authentic, nothing sparkly about their shit. I really can’t say there is even anything sexy about being a vamp in this book, it showed the harsh side of their reality and no romanticism about their lifestyle. Shige is powerful, other vamps hate that and they would stop at nothing to destroy him. Phil has his own little uniqueness and he is both a distraction and help to Shige, did I mention it was complicated? 

The total WTF-ry happened close to the end their and like Phil I thought I hit my head or was high or something. This surprise came out of nowhere and I’m wondering if I like it or if it completely destroyed the story (my bag is still open on that). 

Overall, a very nice read and I’m willing to read more from Jet Lupin. Even with all the editing stuff I had to keep reading and my hope is that this book gets really nice overhaul because it has the makeup to be something amazing. The book ended on HFN vibe, and I really want to see how Phil and Shige’s relationship could progress. There was nothing romantic about their involvement after awhile and feel like they deserve something good, and a nice long talk.  

Nasu- many meanings for this one but I’ll go with “unclean or negative” it just fits. 

Review: To Touch You by Cardeno C.

to touch you (Mates #4) by Cardeno C.
The Romance Authors
Novel: 260pgs

3 Pants Off

Blurb:  “His name is Salvatore Rossi. He’s a vampire. And he’s my true mate.”

By not relying on anyone except himself, Salvatore Rossi escaped a dead-end existence and reached the height of corporate success. But just when he has everything he always wanted, fate throws Salvatore a challenge he can’t solve alone and a young wolf shifter comes to his rescue.

Since childhood, Yoram Smith’s family was certain he would grow to become Alpha and save their beloved pack from its slow demise. When the time comes for a new leader, Yoram is forced to juggle his duty to care for a splintering pack with his duty to care for an absent mate, and his own strength suffers.

Being turned into a vampire didn’t alter Salvatore’s life philosophy: if you don’t rely on anyone, nobody can let you down. But when the boy who saved his life becomes a man who needs his help, the icy vampire must find his humanity. 

Review

NO TOUCHING AT ALL

All the ways this book could have been great..it started great, progressed like it was going to get epic and then it left me so utterly disappointed. Like actual tears disappointed, and the soul crushing realization that greatness will never be achieved. 

I love shifter books about destined mates, and I have been really enjoying C.C’s books in the “Mates” series. So “To Touch You” had me at hello. Yoram Smith knows his mate as soon as his little eyes land on  him. He knows he needs to keep this man close and alive regardless of the adults around him being all grumpy about it. But getting Salvatore to understand what being a mate means will be the hardest thing Yoram will ever do, regardless of all the things he’s seen and become Yoram remains an after thought to the man who has his heart. 

First of all, I was feeling this. I thought I was getting something along the lines of “Until Forever Comes” that sexy vamp/shifter good good. I got nothing for 70% of the book, and don’t get me wrong the story was good but Salvatore pissed me off something fierce. I found him so ungrateful and overall a gigantic Ahole, he rubbed me the wrong way. Like someone does something amazing for you for years, and this dude doesn’t even drop a “thank you” in person, over email or text. It most definitely irked me.  

Then bada bing bada boom they’re in bed and love and I just wasn’t buying it. Like I get where Yoram is coming from, but that Salvatore needed to be raked over the coals for a bit. He got his nourishment just a bit too easy for my liking. Apart for my complete disdain for the accidental vampire this story was just a sweet read. Some off side pack conflict added a bit of extra dressing but this was a “missing mate” type drama,  “To Touch You” was a bad touch for me. 

Review: Book #1 Wake Me Up Inside
Review: Book #2 Until Forever Comes 

Rating: Book #3 3 Pants Off

Review: Until Forever Comes by Cardeno C.

Until Forever Comes (Mates #2) by Cardeno C.
Novel: 60,702
Amazon, ARe

4 Pants Off

Blurb

A sensitive wolf shifter and a vicious vampire challenge history, greed, and the very fabric of their beings in order to stay together until forever comes.  

 Plagued by pain and weakness all his life, Ethan Abbatt is a wolf shifter who can’t shift. Hoping to find an honorable death by joining his pack mates in a vampire attack, Ethan instead learns two things: draining his blood releases his pain and his wolf, and he has a true mate—a vampire named Miguel.   

Over four centuries old, strong, powerful, and vicious, Miguel Rodriguez walks through life as a shadow, without happiness or affection. When a young shifter tells Miguel they're true mates, destined to be together, Miguel sends him away. But Ethan is persistent and being with him comes so naturally that Miguel can't resist for long. Their challenge is staying alive so they can be together until forever comes. 

 

Review

The second book in the Mates Series and I was all types of excited to read this. Who doesn't love a Vampire/Shifter pairing? Wasn't as angst-ridden as I was hoping but it was an enjoyable read overall.  

Ethan is a shifter that can't shift. He is ostracized from his pack and just really wants to fit in and be accepted. His body is always in pain waiting for a shift that will never happen, leaving Ethan longing to be a wolf, to becoming a man. He has his family, but he knows that will never be enough, and some way; somehow he has to finally shift. When the opportunity to finally do something with his pack mates finally arrives, Ethan jumps at the chance to be a part of it. Without questioning the dangerous position he will be in, Ethan goes after vampires with his pack mates knowing he most likely will die but the opportunity to prove himself as a man and wolf strong.   

The encounter with the vamps is a bust. They get their ass handed to them, and Etan is about to die. With blood dripping from his neck, his legs weak and his breath shallow Ethan realizes this was a damn bad idea. When it looks like their leader is about to put him out of his misery, Ethan's reaction is one of shock; he finds himself aroused to black haired vamp they call Miguel. Like he's full dick hard turned on, and the Vamp is giving him feels. Not the ones he should have for a bloodsucker but the kind where he wants to crawl into his skin and just live. There was never a sweeter way to die. And before Ethan can question his feeling there's nothing but sweet release and then blackness.  

 From what you already know; the vampire is Ethan's Mate. Which is crazy right, cuz he's a vampire and a dude. Ethan deals with all this quite easily along with shifting for the very first time. The crazy unusual comes with Ethan and his blood and the fact that he seems to produce too much of it (that's all you're getting from me). He has no reservations about leaving his pack and who can blame him he was treated as an outcast. He’s finally found his home with Miguel, and though the vampire is hardly thinking of forever Ethan knows that the mate bond cannot be denied.   

Throw in a little bit of plot with Miguel’s “coven” and it keeps the book from being a fluff fest. While I would have given anything to get a little POV from Miguel, I feel like I know the kind of man he is. Ethan is young, naïve, and sweet. He had this stereotypical small town boy mindset that was sometimes annoying, but it worked for his character. Together they're a little sweet and sometimes sexy. I feel like I liked this one only because it was vamp/shifter story. There were too many things that were glossed over, and the ending was very anticlimactic.   

Overall, a sweet read with some sexy points. I felt like this could have been a great story, but too much about it felt very safe.  


Review: Book #1 Wake Me Up Inside 

Review: Lineage by Angela Fiddler

Reviewed by SinChan
Lineage (Master of the Lines #1) by Angela Fiddler
Self-Published
Novella: 157pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Love didn’t just kick you when it were down; it staked you out and turned you into a vampire. Not that Vision was bitter. His ex-lover taught him nothing lasts forever, while his ex-master taught him to submit and the fine art of not resisting silk restraints. In exchange, Vision let both of them keep their heads. He considered it a fair trade-off.

Now Vision is a master, but still finds himself wanting to be on his knees.

Enter Hanz. He’s just a driver, but he knows what Vision wants and how to make it sting the way Vision likes most.

Vision won’t be fooled again. Sure, Hanz is sweet. The respect feels genuine, and, what’s worse, he honestly seems to love Vision. Older, wiser masters counsel Vision against Hanz. And, of course, they’re right. Hanz does have something to hide.And, as if on cue, along comes Vision’s ex-lover, the cause of and solution to being kicked, staked, and vamped. Vision is caught again, and this time not with ropes and silk. Now if he can only keep his neck and his heart intact…

Review
Steven (Seraph) and Vic (Vision) lived on the streets together as prostitutes when Gabriel found them and turned them into vampires. Now Gabriel is low on power and influence, he uses Seraph to force Vision to submit. However, Vision is now a leader in the vampire world, having control of two ley lines. He has status, prestige, and extra power from the ley lines. He just needs to cement Hanz's position in the vampire world and by his side and prevent other vampires from stealing his lines.

The story is told by alternating the present time with Vision and Hanz and the past before he came to power. There is so many years difference between the past and present that Vic and Vision are like two different people. It's a little disorienting when the perspective switched after each short passage.

 

Vision's relationship with Hanz is unclear at first but Hanz is a critical player later in the story. Vision wants to be dominated by Hanz even though he is the superior one. This juxtaposition is intriguing and adds more problems for Vision. He is also the youngest vampire in the council but inherited two elder ley lines. He has a lot to prove and it's fascinating to see how he became so powerful.

This story is filled with fascinating vampire politics and world building. Men and women seems to use the ley lines differently and this causes a difference in how power is divided between the sexes. The story keeps me on my toes with shows of Vision's power in public, his submissive side in private with Hanz, and his past. Vision is a fascinating character and he keeps me turning the pages to figure out who he is.


Overall, this story has a good set of intriguing characters in a fascinating world. Even though the shifting time frames could be tiresome, it was a fast read for me. I would recommend this story for vampire fans.

4 Pants Off

 

Review & Giveaway: Forever Fearless by Jeff Erno

Forever Fearless (Forever Vampire #2) by Jeff Erno
Ai Press
Novel: 215pgs
3.75 Pants Off

Blurb:
The Forever Vampire saga continues…
In the aftermath of unspeakable slaughter, Robbie and Colt have escaped to the wilds of Alaska to face their immortal future. Things aren't so certain for their mortal enemies, Dylan and Issa, Matarian soldiers sworn to hunt them down and slaughter them.

Dylan is poised to begin his first vampire hunt and wants Issa as his partner, but Issa is far more concerned with finding his brother and tracking down the blond boy who nearly died on the battlefield. The entire cast from book one reunites in this thrilling continuation of their story, joined by a host of new faces--friends and foes--whose lives somehow weave together as they cross paths in their efforts to battle evil and attain their own happiness. Humans, Shifters, Daywalkers, and Purebloods confront each other with the guidance of three enigmatic sisters--one a Maenad, one a necromancer, and the other a human witch. Plot twists and surprises mark the paths of these diverse characters, forever fearless in their quest to cling to all they hold dear.

Review
I really liked the first book in this series, so I was very much excited for the second book cus the ending of the first book ripped my heart and I was like all the nopes. While the first book was so exciting and kept me engrossed the second dragged in a few parts and with a lot of characters getting some page time, this one really didn’t hit on my feels level.

This second book picks up right where the first left off, with Brendan and Richard dead and an all out war between vamps, wolves, and human seems imminent.  Robbie and Colt have to begin anew and Robbie a fresh new vampire, things are both good and bad. Colt has lost his father Richard and now he has to navigate life without his supports in place. Yet, having Robbie with him is making eternal life so much easier.

For others, their life is all about danger. Dylan and Issa are vampire hunters but with what Issa has seen he’s wondering if they aren’t just killing innocents. All he’s know about vampires being evil and soulless has been crushed because he’s see the love and caring they have for each other and there is just no way could things that are evil could love. He has to reconsider everything, and run from a Master vamp who is hell bent on making him a slave.

Throw in other POVs and just a train ride of events, and you have really nice adventure vampire story. While it does feel very all over the place, the characters are likeable and if you’re are a fan of the first then you most defi would want to read this one. Honestly, while I was expecting more I still liked the story and I am very much intrigued for a third book.

Overall, Forever Fearless is a fun read with young and interesting characters. I think a little tightening of the storyline would have done this book good, and filler characters could have been done without. Yet, I still liked and am looking forward to the third book (if there is a third book?). I say this every time, but I am such a fan of Jeff Erno I have yet to seriously dislike any of his books.

Review: Book #1 Forever Young

DarienMoya

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Giveaway

• Leave a Comment along with email
• Must be 18yrs or older
• Winner has 48hrs to reply or another will be chosen
• Contest runs until April 26th 11:59pm EST

Review: Of Last Resort by Megan Derr

Of Last Resort (Princes of Blood #1) by Megan Derr
Less Than 3 Press
Novel: 235pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
In a kingdom ravaged by the beasts and terrors of an ancient war, the only hope against them is the army of mixed-blood beings known as the King's Legion: dragoons, shadowmarch, sorcerers, titans … and the Princes of the Blood, nigh-invincible warriors of fearsome magic and strength, their only weakness a need for pure human blood.

When his brother runs away, Raffé agrees to undergo the Blooding, but he is a pale imitation of his strong, capable brother. No one expects him to survive and become a Prince, merely to die to save the rest of his family and preserve honor.

But runaways and weaklings are the least of the kingdom’s concerns when an ancient evil returns with new tricks, and their only hope lies with knowledge long lost and a fierce bond forged in darkness …

Review
Megan Derr has done it again. This author writes M/M fantasy like no other; her world building is incredible and always leaves me anticipating for more. I want more all the time, and I want it now.

Raffe isn't beautiful, he isn’t extraordinary, he isn't gifted he’s the looked over mouse in his family. He's talented with number but no one seems blown away with his gifts. His family has found him a match and his life should most likely be pleasant but uneventful. That is until his brother runs out on a important commitment and Raffe has to step up and take his place though his courage could end up taking his life. Raffe is to go through the blooding and become a Prince of Blood, fierce warriors who protect the kingdom and Raffe has most certainly bitten off more than he can chew. His brother would have been oerfect because he had the training but Raffe knows ye will most likely perish and never become a Prince because after-all he is of no importance and certainly of no strength.

Raffe is convinced he will not live through the blooding, and since it will be his last night alive he wants to something that will make his last night the sweetest. Too bad his fiancé is a prude and leaves him high dry. Just when Raffe feels forsaken a sexy stranger offers him his night, and what a glorious night of lovemaking it was. If he is meant to leave the world then he will have treasured memory of the very first person who have ever made him feel wanted, treasured, and in some way loved. When Raffe survives the blooding no one is more surprised than him, because now he is recognized as powerful and he stands with the great.

He takes to his skills like duck to water and while he does have moments of doubt he feels powerful and for the first time he has a family that take notice of him people who finally see him. All thats missing is his sexy lover who gave him a night never to forget and Raffe longs for his touch once again. Yet, his love life had to wait because a terribly enemy is upon on them and everyone is in danger. While new to his skills, Raffe has to serve as if he were a veteran and act like he knows what he's doing. What he might not be able to deal with the losses and a task so great that it will break him and his demon heart.

Once again, with most Megan Derr book there is a lot that his happening and so many great characters fill the pages. I could literally write pages to review this book but I'll keep it simple. There is love and loss, dragons, zombies, angels, sexy time, and shockers. I applaud the skills it takes to weave such a book and skills it take to keep all that in line. While there is a lot of world building it never felt like too much and it was always entertaining. In my head I can just picture the grandeur of the fight scenes and just beautiful colours it would all make.

I really liked all the characters and Raffe's secret lover was surprise I was like "wait now" never saw that coming. I like that they are vampire like but not really vampire like if that makes sense. The princes drink blood and so on but I think they're a little cooler than vamps :D. I shed a few tears, I was shocked out of mind by the twist there, and I thought I pegged the bad guy but I was way off.

Overall, Of Last Resort is an epic fantasy at its best filled with so much awesome and colour it’s hard not to fall in love. A fan of Megan Derr will love this book and fans of fantasy books that consumes you. You remove the sexy time and this book is just as great, romance or no romance it’s all out entertainment. I am looking forward to more in this series and I can't even wait...

SideNote- I wonder if anyone won the bet about Raffe's secret lover. I'm pretty sure they all were wrong, right?

5 Pants Off

DarienMoya

Excerpt, Review, & Giveaway: Holding on to Hope by Sid Love

Blurb:
BLURB: Bradley Parker has waited twenty years for Mr. Right, and on Valentine’s Day, he finally finds him. It’s love at first sight, and Brad even loses his virginity to the man of his dreams. But when he wakes up the next morning unable to remember anything—even what the man looked like—his best friend, Leslie, is convinced he imagined the whole thing. Brad knows he didn’t make up the best night of his life, but he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as he struggles to recall the details of his perfect man. His search may lead him to parts of New York City he never dreamed existed and a war being waged in the shadows.





BUY LINK:http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4633



Review
I have mixed feelings about Holding on to Hope. In one hand I found certain parts very enjoyable and in the other hand I was equally annoyed by most of it. It could all come down to the unique way in the storytelling, my feels are misplaced.

Bradley Cooper has just met the man of his dreams and lost his virginity on the most romantic night of the year. The only problem is that he can't really remember the details and the name of the guy but he knows he was beautiful. If it wasn't for the constant ache in his ass it could all just wind down to the tale of a drunken man getting caught in his fantasies. With his best-friend Leslie at his side they're going to find this mystery man but finding this man isn't the outcome they expected and maybe they should have left it at a night to forget.

What they find out is a world filled with vampires and their offspring’s and mind control, Brad and Leslie are about to be caught up in fight between a father and son. Seems Brad mystery man has some secrets and there is a price when it comes to learning the truth.

First off, the story is told from Leslie's perspective (it’s neat) but it really made me enjoy the story less. Like all I'm getting is her feelings and impressions of the other characters so I wasn't 100% invested in it all. Like Brad trying to find Ronan was interesting enough but after the whole Dhampire thing it sort of fizzled for me. I just wish there was another villain with a different plot line and just something else because for me it was missing something.

Overall, a likable story with interesting characters but with everything coming from Leslie's POV, I feel like I didn't get to know the boys very well. A good choice if you're looking for something sweet and a nice little love story.

3 Pants Off

DarienMoya

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Excerpt

“Okay, remember how I said it is huge?” Brad finally spoke, and Leslie nodded her head to let him know she was all ears. “Well, it is. Last night, something happened, something unimaginable… beyond any of my wildest dreams. I never thought….”

“Brad.” Leslie yawned. “To the point, please. I don’t have all day.”

“Okay, all right! What happened is….” He paused, plastering a big grin on his face. She tried very hard not to roll her eyes, letting him tell her at his own pace. “Last night, my dear, I finally got laid!”

When he broke the news to her, Leslie’s subsequent yawn was cut short by the initial shock she went through. Her body jerked forward, now fully awakened. There wasn’t any amount of caffeine that would have made her feel as lively as she felt at that moment.

This was definitely huge, and not just for Brad. Over the years, Leslie had constantly tried and consequently failed in hooking him up with several guys. Bradley Joseph Parker had the arrogance of a drag queen, she thought. He was too picky when it came to dating and relationships; never wishing to settle for anything less. He dreamt of a guy whose mere presence would take his breath away, who would be so handsome that every girl and every gay guy in the world would yearn to have him in their lives. “Such a guy would only belong to me, holding my hand in a roomful of envious people,” he would say with a smirk. “I would look around and say to them ‘Suck it up, bitches! He is mine!’”

Brad had wasted years with these stupid fantasies, and he had remained a virgin. So Leslie never thought the day would come when Brad’s whining would ever end.

But it had. And Leslie thought she would faint, even with the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

“Wha—?” She became aware of the fact that she had left her mouth hanging open for too long and shut it immediately. A smile crept across her lips, getting bigger by the second, and it turned into a cheek-hurting grin. “Oh my God! Shut up. Seriously?” She quickly sat up, hopping on the bed to cross her legs.

“Very seriously, Les.” Brad’s cute face beamed with wonder and excitement. Leslie couldn’t blame him. She remembered the day she had had sex for the first time, and even though it was a while back, she couldn’t forget the bliss she’d felt after finally losing her virginity or the hunger she felt for getting some more. Leslie was ready to bet that Brad was experiencing similar whirls of emotions in him.

“Last night, on Valentine’s Day…?” she asked.

Brad gave a nod. “On Valentine’s Day.”

“That’s so funny.” Leslie laughed out loud. Even though Valentine’s Day never meant anything to her, something this huge happening to her best friend did force her to consider it a special day. “Okay, you have to tell me everything, dude! Don’t leave out a single detail. I don’t care if it’s too much information. I just have to know. How long has this been going on between you two?”

Brad laughed. “Not too long. I just met him yesterday.”

“And you slept with him already?” Leslie’s mind was drawing up the picture of the perfect guy in her imagination, a guy who had managed to entice someone like Brad in such a short time. She was sure he would be down-to-earth, with an impeccably charming personality. “Way to go! I won’t deny it; I like the spontaneous Brad. Who is this guy, by the way? Do I know him?”

“No, you don’t.” His smile wavered a bit.

“Well, what’s his name?”

Leslie watched him hesitate for a moment. “I… don’t know.”

It took her by surprise.

“I think my devilish side just had a mind-blowing orgasm. You not only have sex with a guy for the first time, but you are also telling me it was simply a one-night stand?” She put her hand over her heart and mockingly said, “Mama Les is so proud of her boy!”

“But Les,” he knitted his eyebrows together as he stood up and came over to sit by her side. He took hold of Leslie’s hand, and she felt his grip tightening when he said, “It wasn’t a one-night stand. Definitely not, uh-uh.” He shook his head, and she immediately wondered if he was trying to convince her or himself. “It was special to me, and I could tell it was special for him too. Why else would he go to extremes to make that night an unforgettable memory? He lit up hundreds of scented candles in the room for me, and there were rose petals all over the bed where we did it.” Leslie didn’t miss the blush forming on his face again as he spoke. “There was champagne, sweet music, and he was a perfect gentleman. He kept asking me if I was sure about this.”

“WOW! Sounds utterly cheesy to me….” Leslie said, although she was quite impressed by all of it and maybe a bit jealous too.

Brad let go of her hand and sighed. “It was damn romantic.”

Leslie moved her gaze around the dorm room, scrutinizing it. “I am guessing it wasn’t here you did it then?” She inquired, turning to face him and watched him slowly crossing his legs like she had.

“No, he took me to his place.” Brad had his mouth open to probably add something more, but he stopped abruptly, scrunched his nose up, and glanced at her with some doubt. “I think it was his place… I don’t know. Where else would he take me?”

Leslie noticed uncertainty, even when he shrugged. What Brad was saying didn’t make any sense to her. “The champagne! Did you have too much of it?”

He frowned. “God, no! Why would I want to give him the impression I’m an idiotic drunkard on our first meeting?”

Of course she didn’t believe him. “Right, says the one who’d put Britney Spears to shame with his underage drinking. Seriously, dude, I’ve had to pick you up in a drunken state from God knows how many parties by now. So don’t shit me by saying you didn’t have any amount of alcohol in you last night.”

Brad reddened and carefully said, “I may have had a little bit of alcohol.”

Typical. Leslie rolled her eyes. “Weren’t you at Ian’s party last night?” She tried to keep her face straight as she asked. The party he had gone to was for all the single men and ladies from their college. Leslie knew exactly how that turned out every year by the end of the night.

He gave a nod in reply.

“Well, maybe you did it at his place?”

“No, it can’t be because we were partying at a nightclub last night.”

“Since when do nightclubs allow in a bunch of twenty year-olds?” she asked, certain they must have been stopped at the door for IDs. She couldn’t say about the others, but Brad’s cute baby face did give away his age.

“They don’t, but Ian somehow knew a few guys working at this nightclub that we went to, so we were able to sneak in.” He grinned.

Leslie suddenly wished she could have joined them. “Lucky you!” Now she couldn’t wait for May to arrive; that was when she turned twenty-one. She had been planning it in her mind forever. “So you met this mysterious guy in that club?”

“Yes, I think so.” Brad chewed on his lower lip.

“Well, what did he say to you? What did he look like?”

Brad turned sorrowful. “If I only knew….” He hung his head down and began to pull on his hair. “Fuck, Les!” He yelled, then looked up, scowling at her. “I can’t seem to remember any of it. The only thing that has managed to stay stuck in my memory is the mind-blowing sex that I had with him. I even remember all the positions we did it in, and God, that guy has the stamina of a wild lion, I tell you.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sid Love grew up in one of busiest cities in the world, Mumbai, listening to the excerpts of Indian epics from his father every night. While it served as an inspiration back in time, he has always had an ambitious mind. In 2007, when he had just turned sixteen, he decided that he would make his lifelong dream come true—to become a well-known, respected author some day.

Ask him and he would refuse to accept that he is obsessed with books. Or movies. Or TV shows. Addicted may even be the right word. He is a die-hard fan of Jane Austen’s romance novels and loves to reread them time and again.

You can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sid.love.16?ref=tn_tnmn or tweet him anytime: https://twitter.com/FatefulMercy, or simply e-mail him at sidlovethewriter@live.in.


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