Sam is a naïve young man who arrives in Hollywood to escape his brutal father. When the older, sophisticated Aaron rescues him, Sam discovers what it means to fully surrender himself to another.
Eighteen year-old Sam Cunningham is used to living with lots of secrets. He’s had to hide his true nature his entire life or else incur the wrath of his strict and abusive father. When he’s faced with a horrible ultimatum, he flees to Hollywood where he hopes he can escape the fate his father has planned for him.
Aaron Rubenstein is a wealthy and sophisticated man who loses himself in painting portraits of bound men to help stave off his loneliness and despair. Unable to find a lasting connection with anyone, he’s had to resort to paying lovers not only for their affections, but to be allowed to indulge in his darker passions. Aaron’s only respite is his nights at the Hampton Road sadomasochism club where he’s a respected Dominant.
Naïve and inexperienced in the ways men can please one another, Sam takes a job at a bathhouse where he first glimpses a beautiful older man. Aaron notices the sweet towel boy watching him with interest every time he patronizes the Temple of Eros bathhouse. A traumatic incident for the innocent towel boy triggers Aaron’s protective tendencies and he’s compelled to rescue the gentle Sam from the clutches of the Temple’s manager.
They embark on a journey together that teaches them both things about themselves that they never knew. As their bond deepens and Sam is trained for his first night at the Hampton Road Club, an unknown danger lurks. Will Sam’s father find him and destroy both men’s chance for true happiness together? Or will Aaron protect his boy and keep him for always?
Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of branding.
Buy Links:
Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/hesitant-heart
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hesitant-Heart-Hampton-Road-Club-ebook/dp/B00ORUOTD8/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415160726&sr=1-7&keywords=morticia+knight
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hesitant-Heart-Hampton-Road-Club-ebook/dp/B00ORUOTD8/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415160797&sr=1-3&keywords=morticia+knight
To follow
what madness I might be getting into, check out my blog here: www.morticiaknight.blogspot.com
Also
on Facebook and Twitter: @morticiaknight
* * * * * *
The boy
stirred again, and this time his lids fluttered open. He appeared confused then
frightened as he peered up at Aaron. There was an immediate tension in his
body.
“Ah, you’re
back with us.” Aaron smiled in reassurance. “Can you sit up?”
The only
response Aaron received was a continued stare from the large doe-like eyes of
the obviously terrified towel boy. His beautiful aquamarine eyes…
“Come on now.
Saul’s gone to get some help…”
Aaron frowned
as the young man trembled and shook his head, still seemingly unable to speak.
His head lolled to the side and Aaron feared he might pass out once more. It
had to be the heat of the room. Aaron pressed his hand lightly to his chest.
“Breathe.
You’ll make yourself faint again. How can I find out your name if you do that?”
A whoosh of
air came from the boy and he gulped in more. He exhaled forcefully again and in
and out until his breathing became regular.
“There we
are, much better. Let’s get you out of this dreadful heat.”
Aaron rose
gracefully to his feet, dragging his charge along with him. He resisted and
Aaron paused. It would have been no effort to force the boy to go where Aaron
wanted, but he had no interest in doing that. There was obviously something
that the young man was very upset about and Aaron was determined to find out
what it was without frightening him any further.
“S-sir, wait.
I need to get you a towel to cover yourself.”
This is what’s bothering him?
It seemed
unlikely, but Aaron was willing to tread carefully with him until he calmed
down some more.
“I’m sure all
the patrons of this purportedly elegant bathhouse have seen one or two danglers
in their time, so don’t fret upon my account.”
Aaron had his
arm around the skinny little thing and once again advanced them toward the door
of the steam room.
“Are…are you
taking me to a private room?”
The trembling
and tension increased and a realization slammed into Aaron. The boy was a
terrible actor and his purity was genuine. Aaron stopped and angled the young
man’s body to face him, holding one shoulder to keep him there. Grasping his
chin gently and raising it, Aaron waited until the boy’s eyes met his own.
“Is that what
you think? That I want to pay you for your sexual favors?”
Watching in
dismay as he nodded, his lip quivering, Aaron wondered if any jury would really
mind all that much if Aaron strung up the bathhouse manager. The act would have to be a service to society,
after all.
“That’s not
going to happen, understand? You’re not going to do anything you don’t want to
do and I’m not going to molest you in any way. But I must insist we leave this
room. The temperature is beginning to get to me as well.”
The door
opened and Saul entered along with the hostile looking manager. Aaron bent down
to whisper in the young man’s ear.
“Trust me.”
Incredibly,
the boy completely relaxed and moved closer to his side. The manager gave the
towel boy a quick glare before turning to Aaron.
“Mr
Rubenstein, I do apologize. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Get away from Mr
Rubenstein. You’re fired.”
Aaron felt
the boy buckle and Aaron clutched him tightly to his body so that he wouldn’t
collapse again.
“Such a
shame. And here I was looking forward to his company this afternoon.”
The manager
arched his eyebrows and straightened up. “Oh, beg pardon. Of course.” He lifted
the corners of his mouth into a gruesome fake grin. “Whatever pleases you,
sir.”
“Excellent.
Right now it would please me to escape the suffocating heat of this room.”
The manager
gestured for them to go ahead and as he passed Saul, he noted the narrowing of
his eyes. Saul knew him well enough to know that Aaron never hired the young
boys at the bathhouse. Once they’d exited, Aaron turned to the manager, his arm
still loosely draped around the towel boy’s shoulder.
“I would like
the nicest room you have, along with some seltzer water. Is there any fruit
available? I’m wrung dry.”
“Absolutely, Mr
Rubenstein. Will Mr Liebowitz be joining you both?”
“Not today,
I’m afraid. I want this delectable creature all to myself.” Aaron regarded Saul
and gave him a wink, the action hidden from the manager’s view. “Another time,
perhaps?”
Saul snorted
then seemed to regain his composure. “Ah, well. I suppose I’m being given the
bum’s rush then, eh?” Saul gestured to the towel wrapped around his hips. “If
you will all excuse me, I do believe I’ll change into some grander duds and be
on my way.”
Aaron
acknowledged Saul again then turned back to the detestable manager.
“Lead the way. I’m quite anxious to enjoy my afternoon.”
No comments:
Post a Comment