Working undercover can be hard; after all, doing it convincingly in front of people who are just waiting for you to slip up is stressful. Yes, it is a role to play, just like when you’re an actor, but this is different. For one thing, it’s 24/7, and for another, the consequences if you do slip up are far worse than just getting a bad review from some theatre or movie critic. As this story shows though, there are other effects. The kind Alex faces when he comes out of eight months of tough undercover work that included letting himself get shot, inked, and playing a meth addict.

Alex has been “under” for so long that he is finding it hard to return to being Alex and Bruce’s husband. Leftover traces of the character he played keep interfering even when all Alex wants is to be himself again. On top of all of that, he thinks Bruce has changed now that he is a bartender at a BDSM club. Alex has to fight to return to his old self again, but he thinks it’s all worth it.

Bruce has missed Alex more than he thought possible, and he can’t wait for the two of them to reconnect. Bruce only became a weekend bartender at Chains, so he didn’t have to be alone at night, with Alex gone, but he has learned a few things by watching what goes on in the club and by talking to a few Doms. It made Bruce think a little bit of BDSM action might be just what Alex needs to get out of his head for a while, to forget all the issues and relax into being himself again. The few tentative steps they take only show there is a lot of potential for them to explore.

If you like tough men who are in need of a loving reception when finally coming home, if lovers beginning to experiment with kinky play and BDSM are your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that is as sweet as it is hot, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Resplendence Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )