Screwing the System - online short

by Josephine Myles

Note to readers: This is the original, only available online short story that the novel Screwing the System (Feb 2013) began as. The novel length story contains a few of the same scenes but rewritten into third person perspective, and with all the Daddy kink removed.

Dear Author,
I've been a good boy lately, but as you can guess, this was not always the case. Some of our neighbours think I live with my daddy. Well, that's what I call him sometimes. And even if he is only fifteen years my senior he looks and sometimes acts the part.

Please tell me how I came to live with my lover and how he brought love and discipline back into my life.

PS: Should I add that I love hot sex scenes and wouldn't mind some spanking (and other CD).

Photo Description: A young man lies face down on a bed, naked save for a towel low on his hips, eyes closed, an aroused look on his face.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Read the original short story here.
__________
Genre: contemporary erotic romance
Tags: gay m/m, discipline; twinks; bikers; leather; humorous; spanking; musician; daddy-play; British
Warnings: light BDSM
Word Count: 13,752

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Short Stories, Romance, LGBT, Erotica

47 pages, ebook

First published July 16, 2012

About the author

English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. She blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She's beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

***

Note to readers: I don't read reviews of my stories on here anymore, as I think they're geared for other readers, not the writers (plus I'm chicken and would rather stick my fingers in my ears going "la-la-la"). If you'd like to let me know what you thought about any of my stories, please PM me or send me an email. I'd be very happy to hear from you :)

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is hot! I normally like a little more plot with my erotica, but I won’t complain when the story grabbed me right from the first line and wouldn’t let go.

Poor Cosmo Rawlins is having trouble finding work where he can utilize his musical skills. After getting fired from his last job, he is now interviewing for a position as a “sanitary disposal operative”. One look at Alasdair Grant and Cosmo’s mind was on getting to know him better rather than getting a job.

I loved Cosmo! He was cheeky, funny and totally lovable. I liked his opinions about work, his passion for music, and his playfulness.

Alasdair is the kinky “daddy” who wants to keep his “boy” in line, but he is also reticent about sharing his past, showing brief flashes of sadness.

Though these two men are so different – rich/poor, large/small, young/older, they seemed so right together in every way. I hope they will get a full-length story.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: four very hot-and-bothered stars of five

The Book Report: Cosmo is a twenty-two year old aspiring musician. He needs, according to Society, a job. He feels that being a musician is a job, albeit one with no steady pay. So, to keep his government largesse coming in, he goes on job interviews...and to keep himself from getting employed, he uses a subtle signal of his Otherness: Wrists he's rubbed raw himself with rope. No one asks him back after he shows his signal of deviance! Well, until now....

Alasdair is a fortyish entrepreneur with a successful bathroom maintenance business. And a severely broken heart. When silly little Cosmo shows his bondage marks, Alasdair doesn't flinch so much as pounce. He shows himself as a real dom, not a poser, as he gently examines Cosmo's wounds and comments censoriously on the idiot who doesn't know how to tie his sub up.

WTF!! Cosmo, scared as hell and excited as a kid at Christmas and horny as a virgin in a porn store, takes the first steps into his adult life. He is a sub. His body demands he give himself to Alasdair and make his dom the center of his sensual world.

With sweet and romantic results. Needs meet, needs get met, fears get overcome, and happiness is spilling over...

My Review: ...for now, anyway, since these guys are a generation apart. It's one helluva gap, even when both sides are reaching out and stretching to meet each other somewhere middle-ish.

But in 13,000 words, the author brings readers directly into the world of dom/sub relations, and does so with a simplicity and an emotional honesty that's refreshing. Doms, the real ones anyway, are always making sure their subs aren't in danger of harming themselves, and aren't in emotional danger. At first, that happens a lot; then as trust and familiarity grow, the men are more and more in tune. In daily interaction, I've known more tender and loving couples in dom/sub relationships than in ordinary ones; this is clearly prefigured in this book.

So it was a pleasure to read this for me, old retired dom and intergenerational daddy that I am, on so many levels, and I can't wait to find this writer's other works! I hope, Ms. Myles, you'll come back and fill in Cosmo and Alasdair's love affair, which has such sweetness at its heart.

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot, sweet, British daddy kink. A really fun short to read. Now I want to read the full length novel--Alisdair really intrigued me!

[Elizabetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turns out Cosmo wants more from Alasdair than a job. Their first flirt is a funny, sexy take on a job interview and it all goes sweetly dom-subbing uphill from there. These are two delicious guys, one well-aged, the other firm and tender, and the sprinkling of British colloquialisms lend some bite and fragrance like a good slab of Stilton. Myles delivers in this vignette. Cut me a thick slice, I’m a fan. (this is a prequel to the novel by the same name)

[Hal Evergreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Rounded up for Goodreads, because it just hit the spot for me. There was more character development than I usually expect from a short story, and it was very hot. I really enjoy Josephine Myles's cheeky writing voice.

[Emma Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this until after I read the full length version developed from it. I think the short is superior. Granted, the Daddy stuff seems ill-placed , but this was a really good, hot, suprisingly well-fleshed-out peek at these guys.

[Steelwhisper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot damn--review will follow once I got through this and my hands out of my pants!

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute short about a musician who tries to avoid getting a job but runs up against a possible employer who may be just the man to whip Cosmo into shape and get his life on track. I loved Cosmo's kind of easy-going attitude about life and his internal dialogue when he'd think about things was quite amusing. I also liked that there was more to Alasdair than just a toppy Dom, that he had his moment of insecurity and was one of those kind but firm guys rather than the obnoxious I know what you need kinds. A really fun read.

[Trix · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty vanilla. I was expecting something more angsty and heavy.

Sure, there was the spanking scene. But I didn't feel it very intensely since both men broke character to assure each other they were fine with playing the game. And I was a little distracted by Alasdair's softness when I was expecting someone butch.

Cosmo was a laugh. I liked his sassiness and general attitude in life. Pretty optimistic and confident in his talent and charm.

Not a lot of character or plot development (with this being so short) but the little that was added, it made for a pleasant read.

[Heidi Belleau]

Thoroughly enjoyable. Funny, heartwarming, with great characters and a really distinct voice. If you're a fan of daddy kink, age-gaps, and spanking, this is definitely worth a read. One of the best stories I've read in LiAW.

[Kim Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aw. I loved this. Cosmos is adorable - cheeky but sensitive - and Alastair is a hot Daddy Dom with that little bit of vulnerability that makes you go awww... Seriously sexy and funny and sweet. Perfectly put together with Josephine Myles' quick and quirky Brit-speak I love so much.

[Cole Riann · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Another totally endearing outspoken Myles character! I liked these guys together a lot and I'm really excited about reading more of their story :)

[Bookbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! LOVED it! Ms. Myles' characters always have such unique voices; I literally hear the dialogue in my head!

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for a very hot free online-short!

I really enjoyed reading Screwing the System - we are having an age-gap here and we are getting some daddy-kink. If these are elements you don't want to read about in your m/m books, then this definitly isn't for you. But I enjoy both themes from time to time and I think that Josephine Myles did a really nice job with this one.

It's free, it's hot, it's kinky - I would say: Go for it!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

M/M Romance Group, Love is Always Write event.

This was good. I always have a bit of a hard time relating to aloof characters when I don't get to see their perspectives. But even though this was a fairly simple story, I feel like they were able to explan Alasdaire through a sad song and a little recap from Freddy, which is pretty impressive. I could definitely relate to Cosmo not being able to hold back the snippy commentary, and that made it feel lighter BDSM-wise despite all the "yes, Daddy"s.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

It IS cheeky fun and Cosmo is an entertaining bratty sub. BUT, I still cringe with the word "Daddy" (even if it's the story prompt and I KNOW I will read it), cannot be comfortable with it. And oh, I think Alasdair still owes Cosmo explanation on his 'disappearance' and 'off-contact' for that three weeks.

[Anke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story.

[Jyanx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering I dislike large age gaps, D/S, and the use of the word Daddy during sex (ditto any other sort of parental references) I actually enjoyed this story.

[DeeNeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a short story this was rich in characters and heart, and hot sex. Loved it!

[The_Paperback_Peruser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh! It wasn't as good as I expected. Not to mention, ridiculous at times.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very enjoyable. I really liked the British idioms and phrases, very authentic. The MCs came off as real, with depth and feels for both of them, even with a one person POV. The D/b was low key and that was nice, too. Excellent heat!

[Bettye Kanady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Ms. Josephine tells a story. The story begins with a young man named Cosmo (although we don't know his name until the next paragraph), explains that there is "an art to failing a job interview, and he has it down to a T." That intrigued me from the get-go. I had to read more about this, I was thinking I was going to be reading "Ferris Buhler's Day Off Employment Style" but I wasn't. Cosmo had a very good reason, according to him, to try and sabotage the interview! He was a musician; he worked hard at his music and needed to be able to work on it as sporadically as the "moment" hit him. He didn't want a "regular" job that wouldn't make use of his musical talent. He was sent, by his "Jobcentre advisor", to explore the opportunity of being a "sanitary disposal operative." At this point, I was all for Cosmo doing anything and everything to get out of the interview too! It sounded very unpleasant; I understand you do what you have to do, but... Anyway, it's Cosmo's turn to head into the office, and he's immediately checking out the man across the desk. And, he's thinking that maybe he wants the job, no matter what it is, as long as he can get close to Alasdair Grant. Well, he was told quite frankly that Mr. Grant did not do personal with his employees. Guess what Cosmo did then? I bet you'll never guess. I didn't! This story was an eye opener for me, but well worth my newly found education.

[Cerulean]

I'm leaving this unrated because I didn't finish it, but not due to the writing. The Daddy kink is just really not something I want to read about and I just couldn't make myself finish it. But that is all due to me, not the author. Josephine Myles is one of my favourite authors, and from the small amount of this story I did read, the writing is at her usual high standard; funny, engaging and ever so slightly irreverent. I had already fallen for her characters, but I just couldn't get past the Daddy thing.

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! Myles is a really great author - and I have very much enjoyed reading her books because I always feel like I am wherever the book is - the dialect and words chosen perfect for the story. Here Cosmo and Alasdair are perfect for each other - and everything just flows wonderfully. I cannot wait to read the expanded version with a bunch more story!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hooked me from the opening sentence. A lovely 'set-up' scene in the interview, great dialogue that flowed smoothly and with realism, fabulously interesting and believeable characters. Certainly one to re-read!

[Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this free short before starting on the novel it inspired ... I'm seriously looking forward to the rest of the story now! ... I hope the removal of the Daddy kink doesn't alter the story too much because the characters were lovely.

[Sadonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars! Really enjoyed this short about Alasdair and Cosmo. Hot and sweet but not sappy. Can't wait to read more about them and their journey together.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - Cute story. Thank you Josephine Myles, for donating your story, time and talent.

[Melanie~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the interactions of the main characters. I liked Alisdair taking Cosmo in hand and to task. Nice plot for a short story.

[Izzah Zulaikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!