by
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
Extreme photographer Lysander Brock is accustomed to challenging places and situations but nothing can prepare him for the journey that his dominant lover, Kyle Dawson, takes him on.
A commission to photograph the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes becomes the cover for a dangerous mission to expose a terrorist group. Brock and Lysander must negotiate treacherous terrain, a hazardous climb and unexplored caves to achieve their goal.
When Lysander is captured and tortured, he has no expectations of rescue. He understands that his life comes second to the mission but Kyle has no intention of leaving his beautiful, submissive lover in the hands of a madman. Kyle can deal with the intense pressure of fighting lethal enemies but the guilt of pushing Lysander into a life he never asked for is much harder to accept.
Lysander and Kyle journey together into a life of adventure, dominance and submission, and an uncertain future.
Publisher's Note: This book was previously released in two parts as part of the What's his Passion? collection at Pride Publishing. It has been revised and reedited for re-release.
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Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 4
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 18-25
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Alpha Character, Enemies to Lovers
Word Count: 75396
Setting: UK, Colombia
Languages Available: English
“You need your head read, young man. You treat photography like an extreme sport.”
“And your bedside manner needs some work, Doc.” Brock winced and gritted his teeth as another needle punctured his flesh.
“Would you rather I patted your head and gave you a sugar lump?”
“Is that what you did in the army?” Brock often thought that his doctor forgot he was now dealing with delicate civilians.
“Most squaddies would run away screaming at the sight of a needle if it didn’t mean disciplinary action. I often wish the same principles could be applied to my patients here.”
Brock squirmed. “I don’t remember vaccinations ever being this painful.”
The doctor grinned. “Probably because you never had to have six at the same time before. Okay, that was the last one. You can pull your trousers up.”
He peeled off his gloves and threw the used syringe into a special bin that his nurse held out for him.
READ MORE“You may experience some flu-like symptoms over the next twenty-four hours, and you’ll probably get some bruising, but if you feel any worse than that, give me a call. When are you traveling?”
“Ten days time.” Brock smiled and got to his feet. “Then I’ll be out there for four weeks.”
“Well, good luck. Stay safe. Bring me back another picture for the wall in reception.”
Brock pulled the consulting room door closed behind him but still overheard the doctor as he said, “Colombia! I don’t know whether he’s brave, stupid or just too young to know any better!”
Brock waited for the nurse to respond, but nothing happened.
“Linda! Quit mooning over him and get the room ready for the next patient.”
“But he’s so gorgeous, Doc. I could definitely be tempted to get unprofessional with him!”
Brock winced. Not in this lifetime.
The doctor chuckled mischievously. “Forget it! He’s more likely to go for me than you.”
There was a groan. “Oh, for goodness sake, why are all the pretty ones either married or gay? That is a serious loss to womankind.”
Brock shook his head, stepped quietly away from the door and headed for the exit. Outside the surgery, the weather was doing its best impression of a tropical monsoon, though without the heat. The rain beat down onto pavements already awash after days of continuous downpours. In the distance, thunder rumbled ominously and the sky had a threatening purple hue that spoke of more rain to come.
Brock looked up just as lightning split the sky. The rain got even harder. Stoically he turned up the collar of his waterproof coat and grimaced at the trickle of cold water that immediately slid down his neck. In seconds, his hair was soaked and plastered to his head. Brock hunched his shoulders and lengthened his stride toward home. It wasn’t strictly his home. He was just house-sitting while his brother, sister-in-law and two young nephews spent their annual fortnight’s holiday on one of the Balearic Islands—he couldn’t remember which one.
Brock spent such a lot of time traveling on photographic assignments that he’d never bothered to get his own place. When he was in England, he spent the time with his brother’s family or returned to his mum and dad’s rambling old place in Northumberland. Their house was so big, and they were both so busy with various pet projects and charities, that he could probably have lived there full time without them even noticing his presence. Brock smiled to himself at the thought—he was very fond of his eccentric parents.
Brock soon arrived at the edge of the new estate where his brother’s house sat on a decent-sized plot, halfway down a tree-lined avenue. Despite the miserable weather, he felt uncomfortably warm and was glad to make it to the sanctuary of the front hall, where a small puddle gathered around his feet as he stripped off dripping outdoor clothes and boots. Feeling progressively worse, he met his own piercing blue eyes in the hall mirror and grimaced. His skin looked clammy and his hands shook a little.
COLLAPSEon Crystal's Many Reviews:This book was HOT and full of power struggles. It was basically the start to something bigger. The author did not try to force a HEA or even a HFN in such a short story. She introduces the men, the attraction, and the basic plot and then leaves it to be finished later. Or at least I hope it will be finished later. It was a good start to something that promises to be enjoyable.
This story was one that kept me on the edge of my seat! I was so into it that I didn’t want it to end in the slightest! I enjoyed the mystery and suspense that was kept up throughout the whole book, it was done to the perfect degree for me personally because it kept things going, yet it didn’t overtake everything that was happening between Lysander and Kyle.
