Fredrick Holloway is a dealer in French antiques in Milwaukee. A favored client contracts him to purchase a painting at an auction as a way to keep the buyer’s anonymity. She’d been a rival of the deceased woman whose estate in on the block. While there, Fredrick notices a sexy man is also interested in the same piece of art. Fredrick, an experienced buyer, takes a strategic position and ends up winning the piece at a great discount to his client. Feeling high on the experience, diminutive Fredrick goes out on the town, and manages to meet his auction adversary, Duncan, in the same leather-type bar. Fredrick makes it clear that coming home with him will require some level of submission, and Duncan’s down for it.
They have a great night, more so than Duncan could have dreamed. He’s a wealthy man, but his youth was marked by distant parents and a parade of nannies and boarding schools. He desires a partner who is compassionate and passionate; Fredrick seems to fit the bill. He’s also curious about the purchaser of the painting, as the subject was Duncan’s great-grandmother. His family wanted the painting for their gallery, and his inquiries to Fredrick lead to some intrigue, but not much. Both men handle the situation with respect and dignity, which leads Duncan to seek Fredrick out again. And again.
For a novella, this is a meaty read, and that’s not just a pun about the sexytimes. We get to see Duncan and Fredrick build a rapport and that leads to a relationship that is built on mutual respect. They are a sweet odd couple, and I found the flipped power dynamic interesting and fun. This is a novella that was published in originally in 2012, and recently republished. If you’re looking for the slow burn romance Andrew Grey is typically known for, you won’t find it here. Quick and dirty, with a sweet side that charmed me.