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College Fun and Gays #6
Cold Hands
“Hot-Hands” and Casper have been dating for a month, but their relationship is about as smooth as shattered glass. It doesn't help that Hot-Hands is racked with guilt over his high school bullying of Casper, or that Casper darts away whenever his boyfriend gets a little too frisky.
Desperate to hang onto Casper, Hot-Hands tries to earn back the trust he destroyed years ago, so they can face their disastrous past and have a chance at a happy future.
Cold Hands focuses on high school bullying for being gay. This is the sequel to Hot Hands and contains big spoilers if read first. Hot Hands is free of charge.
Desperate to hang onto Casper, Hot-Hands tries to earn back the trust he destroyed years ago, so they can face their disastrous past and have a chance at a happy future.
Cold Hands focuses on high school bullying for being gay. This is the sequel to Hot Hands and contains big spoilers if read first. Hot Hands is free of charge.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2013
1 person is currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Erica Pike
20 books279 followersIf you're interested in my books, you might want to join my Goodreads group: Gay Romance by Erica Pike.
I haven't been writing since I was in diapers, nor have I been an avid reader since I learned my ABC's. I have, however, always been a daydreamer spinning tales after tales. After having exhausted every possible scenario of man-woman love, I started weaving stories of men who love men. I know! So much hotter. This time I wrote it all down.
I live in Iceland with my adorable little twin boys, and I'm happy with what I have. I often say that my real name sounds like Klingon to foreigners so I don’t even bother revealing it.
I've been writing for several years, or ever since reading became an obsession.
I haven't been writing since I was in diapers, nor have I been an avid reader since I learned my ABC's. I have, however, always been a daydreamer spinning tales after tales. After having exhausted every possible scenario of man-woman love, I started weaving stories of men who love men. I know! So much hotter. This time I wrote it all down.
I live in Iceland with my adorable little twin boys, and I'm happy with what I have. I often say that my real name sounds like Klingon to foreigners so I don’t even bother revealing it.
I've been writing for several years, or ever since reading became an obsession.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 2, 2015
"I have read a 400+ MM books,and I cried only once until now...I don't how you got me so invested in Cass and Jamie in a handful of pages,but the scene in Cold Hands where Jamie breaks down and cry...well,you broke me down too. Believe me,I thought I should stop reading romance books all together 'cause it's been so long since I felt anything reading them...And then I read Cold Hands."
This is what I said to Ms Erica Pike after I read this book...I think my opinion on this book is pretty clear.
Strongly recommended to everyone...and not just this book (and Hot Hands of course),but the whole series! I love short stories,and this collection here is probably one of the best out there,at least when it comes to MM romance.
This is what I said to Ms Erica Pike after I read this book...I think my opinion on this book is pretty clear.
Strongly recommended to everyone...and not just this book (and Hot Hands of course),but the whole series! I love short stories,and this collection here is probably one of the best out there,at least when it comes to MM romance.
September 21, 2013
Great follow up to Hot Hands. It lacks the humour that drew me into the prequel but that's understandable because we're in Jaime's head and not Casper's and Jaime has a lot of previous faults to atone for. There's quite a bit of angst in this one but I really enjoyed how things played out. I'd like to see where these guys are in a few years hopefully we'll see another "Hands" story down the line.
May 2, 2016
I love good groveling books. And this one.. Omg, I loved it! I re-read this. As usual, I'm upping the rating. (Originally 4 stars)
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Ridiculously romantic.
Yet, I loved it.
Oh man, I'm such a sap.
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Ridiculously romantic.
Yet, I loved it.
Oh man, I'm such a sap.
May 25, 2021
Cold Hands
By Erica Pike
Jaime and Casper are now boyfriends, but Casper is still leery of Jaime and afraid at times. Can Jaime convince Casper that he does love him and wants to be with him? Most of all can he convince Casper just how sorry he is for all the times he bullied him in high school?
It was sweet to see how hard Jaime worked to make sure Casper knows he doesn't have to be afraid anymore. I liked this book almost as much as the first one, but not quite.
This time the book was in Jaime's POV.
By Erica Pike
Jaime and Casper are now boyfriends, but Casper is still leery of Jaime and afraid at times. Can Jaime convince Casper that he does love him and wants to be with him? Most of all can he convince Casper just how sorry he is for all the times he bullied him in high school?
It was sweet to see how hard Jaime worked to make sure Casper knows he doesn't have to be afraid anymore. I liked this book almost as much as the first one, but not quite.
This time the book was in Jaime's POV.
August 3, 2013
I had trouble believing Casper would be so willing to forgive Hot Hands. Then, wanting to have a relationship with the guy who tormented him and held him down so someone else could punch him... uhm, no. I would have needed a full length book in order to have been very slowly brought around to believing that.
July 23, 2013
I'm not too fond of "bullied boy dates bully when they meet again in the future" trope. But this was well done. It didn't brush the issues under the carpet. Casper didn't suddenly forgive Jamie just because Jamie's now gay and a nice guy. The relationship is a work in progress and I like that.
October 2, 2015
4.25 'SO awesome to see Casper and Jamie again' stars.
For a HEA freak who is quite happy to have a minimal amount of angst this was so real and believable. It wasn't smooth sailing but it wouldnt be would it. Love them and would love to see more of them.
For a HEA freak who is quite happy to have a minimal amount of angst this was so real and believable. It wasn't smooth sailing but it wouldnt be would it. Love them and would love to see more of them.
August 2, 2013
4 stars
I love 'enemies to lovers'...I want more of these two!! I would have loved a full length book :)
Thanks Erica.
I love 'enemies to lovers'...I want more of these two!! I would have loved a full length book :)
Thanks Erica.
April 6, 2022
I love this! I feel sad for Casper because of all that he has been through being bullied all those years by Jamie and trust me, I do not tolerate bullying. After all, I've been there (not being abusive physically.)
January 22, 2025
I had my doubts about this pair in the first story, but this one is a fantastic follow up!
August 11, 2013
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
Hot Hands was by far my favorite story in Erica Pike's College Fun and Gay series, so you can imagine my excitement when she said that she was writing a sequel. Cold Hands is almost as much of an antithesis to that first story as it's title. Hot Hands introduces us to Casper -- a college student who was brutally bullied, more like abused, in high school for being gay -- and his ex-bully and middle school crush Jaime. Casper shows up to college and is surprised and devastated to learn that one of the ring leaders of the guys who tormented him is not only there but also in some of his classes. He does everything he can to avoid Jaime, but doesn't know that a lot of Jaime's bullying stemmed from his own awakening homosexual feelings towards Cass. His physical and emotional abuse for most of his teen years have really impacted him. He's shy and doesn't understand why he's still attracted to one of the men who abused him, which also messes with his head. His attachments soon turn to another man, however, a man he starts to call "Hot-Hands" because of the way the man's hands draw him out and make him feel sexy and interesting whenever he's accosted by this same hard-breathing man in the dark. It's a serious case of having a secret admirer, but Casper has his suspicions and soon finds them proven wrong. All that time, Casper had inadvertently been giving himself up to the man who caused him so much pain and now he's more confused than ever.
Cold Hands resumes this story from Jaime's point of view, which is a serious change in how we understand the story. Cass is a thinker who constantly analyzes his feelings and thoughts, but because of their unique relationship he knows very little about what Jaime really thinks and Jaime's motives. The change in point of view starts this sequel off on a different foot. We immediately see that Jaime has real regret about the way he treated Cass in the past and that his feelings now are genuine, and also that he's a different man now. He understands himself and has grow up in the two years they spend apart. Now, he's out of the closet and over the shame that he grew up with from a conservative family and town. Still, Cass doesn't know that. He's still confused about Jaime's motives and his own. How can he trust himself and his feelings if he's seriously considering having a relationship with his abuser?
The real difference between the first story and the second isn't the point of view, but in the focus of their relationship. If you look at these stories together as one, then this story is the payoff. The first was the setup, the background and the premise -- the meetings in the dark with Casper's "secret admirer" and the subsequent reveal of his real identity -- but, Cold Hands is the meat and bones of their relationship. This story carries on to peel back the layers and find out if these guys have a solid base to build any relationship upon and how they go about doing that. The change in point of view facilitates that because by nature of their relationship as abuser/victim, Jaime automatically sees the bigger picture than Cass. Casper is still mired in confusion about his feelings and dealing with understanding Jaime and his actions and in evidence of how that abuse affected him, he's battling his own self-esteem.
I'm so glad that Erica decided to continue their story because I think that it is only in retrospect that this story feels as if it completed the first. Cold Hands makes the whole story better by giving us a chance to see them work through the consequences of their actions in the first story, and that in turn gives them the HEA they deserve. This also shows in the sex in both stories. So much of the first story takes place while Casper thinks "Hot-Hands" is someone else entirely that a lot of those scenes were exploratory, sexy and hot in a situational way, playing on the mysterious suitor with a dirty and exhibitionist twist. I read that story as a really good piece of erotica with an engaging plot. This story moves their physical relationship into a place of intimacy, so much so that it's often too difficult for Casper to really handle.
I definitely recommend these stories to all of you, though you absolutely have to read Hot Hands first. Well done Erica and thank you for writing this story so I could spend more time with Cass and Jaime!
Hot Hands was by far my favorite story in Erica Pike's College Fun and Gay series, so you can imagine my excitement when she said that she was writing a sequel. Cold Hands is almost as much of an antithesis to that first story as it's title. Hot Hands introduces us to Casper -- a college student who was brutally bullied, more like abused, in high school for being gay -- and his ex-bully and middle school crush Jaime. Casper shows up to college and is surprised and devastated to learn that one of the ring leaders of the guys who tormented him is not only there but also in some of his classes. He does everything he can to avoid Jaime, but doesn't know that a lot of Jaime's bullying stemmed from his own awakening homosexual feelings towards Cass. His physical and emotional abuse for most of his teen years have really impacted him. He's shy and doesn't understand why he's still attracted to one of the men who abused him, which also messes with his head. His attachments soon turn to another man, however, a man he starts to call "Hot-Hands" because of the way the man's hands draw him out and make him feel sexy and interesting whenever he's accosted by this same hard-breathing man in the dark. It's a serious case of having a secret admirer, but Casper has his suspicions and soon finds them proven wrong. All that time, Casper had inadvertently been giving himself up to the man who caused him so much pain and now he's more confused than ever.
Cold Hands resumes this story from Jaime's point of view, which is a serious change in how we understand the story. Cass is a thinker who constantly analyzes his feelings and thoughts, but because of their unique relationship he knows very little about what Jaime really thinks and Jaime's motives. The change in point of view starts this sequel off on a different foot. We immediately see that Jaime has real regret about the way he treated Cass in the past and that his feelings now are genuine, and also that he's a different man now. He understands himself and has grow up in the two years they spend apart. Now, he's out of the closet and over the shame that he grew up with from a conservative family and town. Still, Cass doesn't know that. He's still confused about Jaime's motives and his own. How can he trust himself and his feelings if he's seriously considering having a relationship with his abuser?
The real difference between the first story and the second isn't the point of view, but in the focus of their relationship. If you look at these stories together as one, then this story is the payoff. The first was the setup, the background and the premise -- the meetings in the dark with Casper's "secret admirer" and the subsequent reveal of his real identity -- but, Cold Hands is the meat and bones of their relationship. This story carries on to peel back the layers and find out if these guys have a solid base to build any relationship upon and how they go about doing that. The change in point of view facilitates that because by nature of their relationship as abuser/victim, Jaime automatically sees the bigger picture than Cass. Casper is still mired in confusion about his feelings and dealing with understanding Jaime and his actions and in evidence of how that abuse affected him, he's battling his own self-esteem.
I'm so glad that Erica decided to continue their story because I think that it is only in retrospect that this story feels as if it completed the first. Cold Hands makes the whole story better by giving us a chance to see them work through the consequences of their actions in the first story, and that in turn gives them the HEA they deserve. This also shows in the sex in both stories. So much of the first story takes place while Casper thinks "Hot-Hands" is someone else entirely that a lot of those scenes were exploratory, sexy and hot in a situational way, playing on the mysterious suitor with a dirty and exhibitionist twist. I read that story as a really good piece of erotica with an engaging plot. This story moves their physical relationship into a place of intimacy, so much so that it's often too difficult for Casper to really handle.
I definitely recommend these stories to all of you, though you absolutely have to read Hot Hands first. Well done Erica and thank you for writing this story so I could spend more time with Cass and Jaime!
April 8, 2021
Warning: Spoilers for Hot Hands! This is the sixth entry in the College Fun and Gays series and is directly linked to the first book – Hot Hands. As stated in the blurb, if you read this one first it is a huge spoiler for Hot Hands because here we know who Hot Hands really is. This is an “afterwards” story, as HH (as I will call him to avoid spoiling!) and Casper try to make it work. It is very, very difficult. The things that Casper endured in school, much of which was due to either HH or his friends, was horrific. At one point, as this terrible list of bullying is coming to light, I couldn’t help thinking – WHY does Casper stay? Yes, I know he had a crush but his life was made miserable and beyond by this man and people like him, to the point that at 16 he tried to kill himself, twice.
Casper has been put through hell and come out even stronger. He is in college, has friends and is moving forward. Until HH that is. Now he’s trying to reconcile who HH is now with how he was then. When he feels unsafe, you can’t help but feel for him. He kisses HH, his kind-of boyfriend, only in public. He won’t go to either of their rooms together and he is immediately frozen when HH does something inadvertently that makes Casper feel threatened. It’s a lot to overcome. Casper has regained something those bullies took from him in school – his confidence. But that confidence disappears when HH is around.
HH also does stupid things here – he continually calls Casper “Cass”, which was what he went by in middle and high school and is associated with bad times and taunting. It was here I wondered- why is Casper staying with this guy? He can’t even remember to call him the right name?
You have to give it to HH, however. He knows what he wants and that is Casper. He is remorseful and just wants to find a way to get Casper to trust him. Uphill road there.
This is a good bullies-to-lovers story because it definitely doesn’t gloss over how much the bullying affected those involved. There is no simple “I’m sorry” and it’s sunshine and roses. Casper has a difficult time getting past it but Casper is a strong man.
Casper has been put through hell and come out even stronger. He is in college, has friends and is moving forward. Until HH that is. Now he’s trying to reconcile who HH is now with how he was then. When he feels unsafe, you can’t help but feel for him. He kisses HH, his kind-of boyfriend, only in public. He won’t go to either of their rooms together and he is immediately frozen when HH does something inadvertently that makes Casper feel threatened. It’s a lot to overcome. Casper has regained something those bullies took from him in school – his confidence. But that confidence disappears when HH is around.
HH also does stupid things here – he continually calls Casper “Cass”, which was what he went by in middle and high school and is associated with bad times and taunting. It was here I wondered- why is Casper staying with this guy? He can’t even remember to call him the right name?
You have to give it to HH, however. He knows what he wants and that is Casper. He is remorseful and just wants to find a way to get Casper to trust him. Uphill road there.
This is a good bullies-to-lovers story because it definitely doesn’t gloss over how much the bullying affected those involved. There is no simple “I’m sorry” and it’s sunshine and roses. Casper has a difficult time getting past it but Casper is a strong man.
December 30, 2013
Read this book after you read Hot Hands. This story doesn't have quite the sense of whimsy that Hot Hands has but it is a great follow-up.
Jamie and Cas are trying to make a relationship work. Their history keeps getting in their way. I enjoyed the struggle. Cas can't help running from Jamie whenever he feels overwhelmed or pressured. Jamie can't help but to be overwhelming because he wants Cas so bad. I loved learning that Cas had worked with a counselor to help him deal with the teasing he dealt with in junior high and high school. I liked learning more about Jamie and how he figured out he was gay. The one thing that troubled me was that the men never discussed getting counseling together. They talked to each other a lot but a counselor could really help guide them into some conversations that might damage their very tentative love. In the end, I was just so happy that they had moved past their past together and into a future together.
I would recommend this story to anyone who likes m/m stories, short stories, stories about people overcoming difficult pasts and stories containing hard headed boyfriends.
Quotes:
The way he walked - back straight, head held high - one would never have guessed that he was outed by his best friend at twelve in a cafeteria full of kids who laughed and called him a fag. loc 10%
...I wrote sexual things about him on locker and bathroom doors. The school did nothing. Boys will be boys; he'll just have to fight back; they're just playing around like kids do. And here Cass is, saying he forgives me. How? loc 75% (This passage really struck me. When my children were teased in school, I heard the phrase kids will be kids too often. No kid should be teased!)
book received from author
Jamie and Cas are trying to make a relationship work. Their history keeps getting in their way. I enjoyed the struggle. Cas can't help running from Jamie whenever he feels overwhelmed or pressured. Jamie can't help but to be overwhelming because he wants Cas so bad. I loved learning that Cas had worked with a counselor to help him deal with the teasing he dealt with in junior high and high school. I liked learning more about Jamie and how he figured out he was gay. The one thing that troubled me was that the men never discussed getting counseling together. They talked to each other a lot but a counselor could really help guide them into some conversations that might damage their very tentative love. In the end, I was just so happy that they had moved past their past together and into a future together.
I would recommend this story to anyone who likes m/m stories, short stories, stories about people overcoming difficult pasts and stories containing hard headed boyfriends.
Quotes:
The way he walked - back straight, head held high - one would never have guessed that he was outed by his best friend at twelve in a cafeteria full of kids who laughed and called him a fag. loc 10%
...I wrote sexual things about him on locker and bathroom doors. The school did nothing. Boys will be boys; he'll just have to fight back; they're just playing around like kids do. And here Cass is, saying he forgives me. How? loc 75% (This passage really struck me. When my children were teased in school, I heard the phrase kids will be kids too often. No kid should be teased!)
book received from author
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December 26, 2015So love this story!!! I want more!!!
I loved "Hot Hands" and "Cold Hands." While the bullying Casper went through was so hard to imagine, I am so glad their love prevailed!!! Would love to see a third book on Casper and Jaime...Forever Hands...hmmm. I am going to imagine this love was the forever kind of love!!! Finale HEA for life for them please!!!!
I loved "Hot Hands" and "Cold Hands." While the bullying Casper went through was so hard to imagine, I am so glad their love prevailed!!! Would love to see a third book on Casper and Jaime...Forever Hands...hmmm. I am going to imagine this love was the forever kind of love!!! Finale HEA for life for them please!!!!
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November 2, 2021I read this one after reading hot hands and the first one was erotic and almost poetic. The whole idea of mistery and being of mercy was kind of hot. This one a little bit more disappointing, the escense of the first book dissappears completely and it ends up as a regular porly writing young adult novel.
November 23, 2013
While Casper is still trying to come to terms with past abuse and currently feelings he gets a big surprise. It turns out repentant bullies have to deal with their own feelings of guilt and need forgiveness too.
August 28, 2016
Yup. I totally read these books out of order.
Casper and Jamie. ::sigh::
These just aren't long enough. I want more.
This book was of forgiveness. I'm happy they had their HEA.
The banter at the light fair was just too cute!
Casper and Jamie. ::sigh::
These just aren't long enough. I want more.
This book was of forgiveness. I'm happy they had their HEA.
The banter at the light fair was just too cute!
January 6, 2014
I enjoyed seeing Jaime's growth and the lengths he went to make Casper feel more at ease, he kept trying so hard and was just so excited about the idea of being with Casper, that he went overboard most times and scared Casper. So he'd try to rein it in and try all over again.
November 22, 2014
Finally, I got what I want from this enemy to lovers couple.
Really a relieved to know that Jaime was not as bad as he is.
Liked this one and I enjoyed reading it.
Nice story for one lazy Sunday.
August 2, 2020
3.5 stars
July 19, 2013
I loved Hot Hands and Cold Hands. Both were really cute and sweet stories. I really wish we would have gotten a full story for Jaime and Casper.
April 8, 2015
Seeing how it is on the other side of perception was interesting. Much better conclusion to these two and just what the doctor ordered with Jamie letting himself be taken .
August 22, 2015
I have to say, I liked the first book better. But it was interesting to see the story in Jaime's perspective.
August 2, 2014
Too short. Definitely need a full length book of Casper and Jamie.
July 5, 2015
2.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews