Title: Surrender
Author: K Piet
Length: 8,900 words
Publisher: Storm Moon Press
Genre: m/m BDSM contemporary
Rating: B+
Blurb:
For over 250 years, the use of the tarot for divination has been a mainstay of mystical and occult practices. The themes and forces represented by the cards are said to govern our lives and our destinies. Whether you believe that or not, the story of the cards is nevertheless the story of our lives — the accomplishments and the pitfalls, the path from soaring joy to crushing defeat and back again.
Aaron is a dominant soul stuck in an ivory Tower. His inexperience with the submissive side of the Scene prompts a fellow top named Travis to offer Aaron a chance to see what he’s been missing. When Aaron agrees, the experience threatens to knock down Aaron’s entire house of cards. And he’s not entirely sure he minds.
Review:
Don’t let the blurb fool you, this story isn’t about the occult but rather a sexy sweet story of overworked PA Aaron who has been invited to a fetish club by an acquaintance. Whilst there he meets Dom Travis. Aaron is also a Dom but in the interests of finding out the effect a new toy has on a sub, he agrees to a try out with Travis and gets much more than he bargained for.
I really enjoyed this short story which manages to cram in a quite a lot of personal information about our narrator, Aaron, as well as a short BDSM scene and some romantic sex too. Aaron’s determination to stay in charge is a reflection of his job where he has to be on top of all the details, and I liked the way the story slowly changed things around for Aaron so that it was in the losing of control where he gained the most benefit. The story is very much about the balance of power and part of its appeal for me is in seeing the shifting power of the two men.
Another thing I liked was that Travis was a kind and compassionate man. He sees a need in Aaron and gives him the opportunity to try something new whilst always being respectful to Aaron’s feelings. He’s no smug Dom who thinks he knows everything, just a good, insightful Dom who knows when its time to stand back and relinquish control. This led to perhaps my only real niggle: The story ends with a HFN for the men, but I did worry whether it was going to be possible for them to wholly fulfil the needs of the other in the long term.
However, that was only a minor niggle in a well written BDSM story which managed to successfully combine a couple of realistic ‘scenes’ with the sexual and emotional tension which comes with the start of a new relationship. I’d really like more from these characters, especially if I’m going to be completely convinced that they’ll go the distance, but I’m not sure whether anything is planned for them. I’d still recommend this story for those who like BDSM and are looking for a short with a couple of well rounded and interesting characters.
Just bought this one too – thanks for yet another good read tip! 🙂
Anne
xxx
You’re welcome, Anne. Have fun reading this :).
Sounds like a good one. I’ll have to give it a go. No smug doms, so that’s a bonus. 🙂
It was definitely a bonus, Tam. There are far too many smug Doms in M/m BDSM books :).
I ran and read it. (Love this no work thing I have going on today. LOL) I am definitely wondering if there can be a long term relationship for them, but I’d be curious to see how they work it out if the author felt so inclined to write it. 🙂
It’s possible they would be able to work out an agreement if they bring in a third. Now that’s a very good idea :)!
Oh, I like the way you think. 🙂
Hmmm..I prefer HEA to HFN but this does sound good…
It is good, Patti. I’m hoping for a sequel :).
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