About Bent
by Sean Michael
391 pages / 123500 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-434-2, 1-60370-434-5
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, paperback
Marcus knows Jim is his minutes after meeting the snarly, jumpy ex-professor at the local bookstore. He thinks Jim is a natural submissive, someone who needs order and discipline in his life to help with Jim's anxiety and bad health habits. So Marcus decides to pursue Jim relentlessly, because even if Jim's mouth is saying no, his body is saying yes.
There's a lot more to Jim than meets the eye, and Marcus will have to be careful. Jim knows what it means to lose everything, knows what it's like to be without friends or family. Jim feels broken, and knowing that he likes the kinds of weird things Marcus wants to do to him only makes him scared that he's losing his mind.
Their chemistry is so real, so genuine, that Jim lets Marcus wear him down, lets Marcus take control. Eventually, his trust grows, allowing them to enter into the BDSM lifestyle together, learning about each other every day, with every scene. Jim is still uncertain sometimes, though, and he thinks Marcus might just want him because he's cracked. Can this top and bottom pair find a way to understand their wants and needs, and make a life that works for them alone?
Review
Syd McGinley, author of the Lost and Found Chaser series, writes: Laid
back top Marcus is having a relaxed Saturday morning -- a treat of a
shave and buff, coffee, a bookstore visit -- and anticipating the
whipping he has booked for that evening. His pleasant morning is
interrupted by a rude, over-caffeinated ball of tension. Marcus
instantly diagnoses Jim as in need of a damn good spanking.
Seems like a promising start to a satisfying tale of dom meets boy,
spanks some sense into him, and all is well, right?
Right, but…
Sean takes the story up a notch just where some D/s stories might wind
down. Jim Upton isn’t just a spoiled, bratty bottom, he’s a man with
plenty of good reasons to be angry at the world. Marcus is sure he can
help him -- if only Jim will let him. Marcus and Jim have more to give
us than just scorching sex, sizzling spankings, and sweet surrenders. At
over 400 pages, this is a totally satisfying read, but I still wanted
more. Luckily, there’s unfinished business for Marcus to help Jim
through, and plenty of teasers about where a sequel might go. There
better had be a sequel. I need more!
If you’re a Sean Michael fan, you don’t need telling twice – go get the
book. If you’re not a Sean Michael fan, I’m assuming you just plain
haven’t read any before, so buy the book, and join the club.
Sample
Marcus checked out his shave and buff in the mirror, his head bald as a newborn baby's. He could do the job himself, and often did, but on a Saturday morning Marcus liked to indulge himself. A little lie in, coffee and something sticky at the cafe, and a close shave of his head, followed by the bookstore.
The little thing who'd shaved him brought the hand mirror out and held it behind him so he could get the overall view. "Is it satisfactory, sir?" Flaming all over the place and cute as hell. It was too bad one look at Marcus’ playroom would have the boy fainting and then running for the hills.
"More than, thank you."
He left the wee thing a nice tip and headed off up Brighton Avenue toward Roomful of Books. It wasn't as big as the Borders, but it had an amazing fiction selection and a surprisingly interesting alternative lifestyle section. And they didn't mind how long you browsed.
The sun was shining brightly, his belly was full of beignets, and he had an appointment in the evening for a whipping. Marcus did love the weekend.
The little bell sounded as he opened the door to the bookstore, and he gave Juniper a "hello" and a wave before wandering toward the mystery section. He was in the mood for a whodunit.
He barely missed the skinny man who was wandering, thumbing through a book and muttering under his breath. Marcus murmured an "excuse me", gave the fellow a smile, and found himself at the mysteries.
A few moments later, the man came behind him, dragging Juniper along, snarling. "Look. I don't know what kind of moron organizes these books, but these are clearly mis-categorized."
"I... I'm sorry, Dr. Upton. I."
"Don't call me that." Someone was pissed. "It doesn't take a fucking rocket scientist to keep the science fiction and the mysteries separated."
Marcus raised an eyebrow and looked down on the man. He had the advantage of height and muscles and he used it to come to Juniper's defense. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to be courteous, either."
"Indeed. Fortunately, the last time I gave a shit whether a muscle-bound asshole found me courteous I was, oh, fifteen or so and scared of my tennis coach. Now, I don't believe I was speaking to you."
"Someone needs to put you over their knee and spank you until you cry." Not only was he deadly serious, he would happily offer to do it himself.