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Matthew and Stuart have been dating for more than five months and Stuart thinks things are going well--right up until the moment Matthew suggests they try something different, the kind of different that involves bondage, spanking and leather.

Matthew's been building up to making this suggestion for weeks, dropping subtle hints and hoping Stuart won't completely freak out at the mention of kink. Now, with Matthew's desires out in the open, all he can do is hope that introducing something different will make their relationship perfect rather than destroy it completely...

Gay / Contemporary / BDSM (Light) / Series

59 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2013

64 people want to read

About the author

Kim Dare

160 books1,518 followers
Kim is a thirty-three year old bisexual submissive from Wales (UK). First published in 2008, she has since released almost 100 BDSM erotic romance titles ranging from short stories to full length novels. Having worked with a host of fantastic e-publishers, she has just moved into self publishing.

While she has occasionally ventured towards other pairings, Kim's first love is still, and probably always will be, Male/Male stories. But, no matter what the pairing, from paranormal to contemporary, and from the sweet to the intense, everything she writes will always feature three things - Kink, Love and a Happy Ending.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Serena Yates.
Author 104 books770 followers
August 12, 2013
Imagine what it's like to want something from your boyfriend that has the potential to break up a relationship that's very important to you. Something you have hidden, but would love to experience with him. Something different from vanilla sex. But no matter how many subtle, and eventually less subtle, hints you drop over the five months you've been with him, the boyfriend doesn’t seem to get it. It is much like coming out, this "coming out of the kinky closet", with some of the same emotional risks and fears attached to it, and with the same uncertainty about whether you'll be accepted or not.

That is what Matthew goes through until he finally decides he has to bring it up and talk about it. It was interesting to see the Dom's side of this "risk", to see a man who is emotionally already invested in a partnership that has, so far, not contained any kink. Matthew is scared. He wants to experiment with Stuart, he really likes the prospect of bringing some "leather" into their bedroom, but above all, he doesn’t want to scare Stuart off. He hates the idea of being seen as someone who wants to hurt the man he loves.

But that is exactly what Stuart's first association with the idea is. As soon as he mentions his bad experience with a previous lover, the problem becomes even bigger. Matthew understands this, but it takes Stuart a while to figure it out, to build new trust. The amazing thing is that Stuart still wants Matthew to tie him up (and possibly "hit" him as he first refers to it), but he is willing to try it to make Matthew happy. The fact that it will make him happy, when done right, is a surprising side-effect for him. I loved following that process, seeing how things slowly dawned on him, and following his growing self-confidence and trust.

If you like stories about BDSM that are as much about D/s in everyday life as about what the men get up to in the bedroom (or on the sofa!), if you enjoy reading about the kinky, fun side of a relationship that takes both partners into new areas of trust and fulfillment, and if you're looking for a read that is as kinky as it is sweet, then you will probably like this short story as much as I did.


NOTE: This book was provided by Amber Allure for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Profile Image for Susan Laine.
Author 88 books220 followers
November 20, 2013
4.5 stars. Matthew has been hiding his sexual proclivities from his boyfriend Stuart. At least, until now when he finally dares to confess what he would like their relationship to be like. But Stuart’s previous experience with BDSM was the absolute worst, making him unable to trust Matthew could be different. Yet Stuart finds the strength within to make a leap of faith for the man he loves.

This is a kinky quickie, yet the characterization is done with care and with spare, touching details that make these men come alive and breathe off the page. Stuart is the one we get to know better as he acknowledges his fears and tries to relearn trusting his partner. Matthew remains more of a mystery element, being more the caring teacher than a deep personality, at least when paired against Stuart’s frail humanity.

Don’t get confused though. This is a sexy tale, with a great deal of erotic scenes to appease even the hungriest of readers. The plot consists of dealing with trust issues, and the pace is swift due to the length of the story. All in all, a solid, hot quickie, well worth the read.
Profile Image for Gigi.
2,149 reviews1,066 followers
August 15, 2013
Fuck yeah baby! A perfect short story that packs enough hot sex, love and emotion to satisfy all M/M romance lovers. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Tam.
Author 21 books103 followers
August 20, 2013
This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews.

I quite enjoyed this little look at an established couple revealing more about themselves as their relationship grows. It starts with Matthew finally building up the nerve to propose some light BDSM in their relationship. However Stuarts rather casual "sure, we can do that" and then change of topic, leaves Matthew unsure what that means. A short time later he comes home a bit early and finds Stuart reacting very oddly. It then comes to light that Stuart had a boyfriend when he was really young who was in the lifestyle, although as they go along it is obvious the guy was outright abusive and it had nothing to do with the kind of things that Matthew wants to do.

I really liked Stuart a great deal. He'd been led to believe by the ex, when he was only 18, that being a good boyfriend meant letting the boyfriend take out his frustrations on him physically. He loves Matthew and figures he can "take it", if it means Matthew feels better. He's quite surprised and confused by Matthew's behaviour. He's not at all like the ex, and that makes Stuart just as nervous. In fact Matthew's attempts to take it slow exacerbate the nerves, because he keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Matthew was definitely more in control, but was not a smug dom thankfully. He does realize he's the one who is going to have to lead and get past Stuart's old hurts and twisted way of thinking about BDSM, but it's also done with a light touch. They have fun doing it, and there is some humour that doesn't make this just about Stuart's angst.

They couldn’t both panic. Stuart wasn’t saying he wanted to walk away, he was saying he was freaked out—there was a big difference between the two. Everything would be fine; one of them just had to stay calm. Matthew was apparently the only current applicant for the position.


The BDSM is definitely on the light side, but they are really only getting started in exploring something new, so I wouldn't expect whips and chains right off the bat, especially given Stuart's experiences in the past. But I really enjoyed the interaction of the two who obviously care for each other, and want to make the other happy by perhaps trying something "different". Worth a read if you are in the mood for a light, slightly kinky story.
Profile Image for Sammy Goode.
628 reviews87 followers
September 14, 2013
First, Different by Kim Dare has just a tease, a mere hint of BDSM so if you are concerned it may be to intense, worry no further. Secondly, it is short--very short but oh so good! In just a few chapters, author Kim Dare manages once again to give us a rather complete view of two very interesting men and their life together. While Matthew has restrained himself, giving Stuart time to relax into their relationship, he has also been waiting for the opportunity to try out his secret passion on his boyfriend, a little bondage and kinky fun in the bedroom. What he does not know is that Stuart is not a novice to the world of BDSM. In fact, Stuart had a very intense and most disastrous introduction to this kind of kink by someone who made it clear that none of Stuart's wishes were important. Rather, it was the Dom who schooled Stuart who was to be satisfied and he left a lasting impression, and it was not a good one, by any means.

So what is so great about this little sip that warrants five stars and you spending your hard earned cash on it? Well, first off, it is a complete story. Kim Dare has an uncanny ability to plop us right down into the action and reveal her characters with such depth that you never feel cheated. Somehow, she manages to do away with exposition and build up and yet keep you invested in what is happening to her men. I never feel cheated when I read a short by her, instead I feel fully satisfied.

Also, I find the scenarios she chooses to use for her short stories utterly believable. It's as if she opens a window into the lives of her characters and invites us in to catch a glimpse of their day to day life. While I knew so little about Stuart and Matthew, nonetheless, I felt drawn to them, worried that poor Stuart could not rise above his past, concerned that Matthew would move too fast and lose Stuart's trust before it was even established.

Lastly she develops a real chemistry between her men and does it remarkably fast. There is no dawdling in a Kim Dare quickie! She forces us to leap right in to the action and stokes the heat level on her stories to keep us hooked! I thoroughly enjoyed Different by Kim Dare. Was it short? Oh most assuredly. Was it Interesting? I really thought so. Was it hot? Smoking...yes, indeed, smoking hot!
Profile Image for Thomaidha Papa.
706 reviews39 followers
September 3, 2013
3.5 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

Now this is not your average Dom/sub story. No, this isn’t even your average leather/kink story. This is a perfect start of a relationship.

Just like the blurb says Matthew has been working his courage to talk to Stuart about bring their relationship one step further. What I loved about it was the fact that these guys started dating without the kink element being noted from the beginning. They are your average vanilla guys who date and have vanilla sex.

When Matthew finally opens his mouth and mentions “different” I must admit the entire restaurant scene where it happened was brilliant. Stuart’s reaction, although odd at first) came to make all the difference. I loved Stuart, brave, brave character.

When the guys finally have their scenes, it happened quite incidentally. Stuart’s behavior gives Matthew all he needs to know that if he doesn’t show Stuart that he’s different indeed from his past experience, he’ll never have a chance with Stuart again. But thing is that both Matthew and Stuart are too deep in their relationship to let it crash and burn, so both make the effort, both meet halfway there. And the result is lovely.

I’ve always thought Kim Dare had a nice pen, but the more she writes the better she gets. Both scenes involved in the story were fantastic. The emotions conveyed were done so brilliantly. I loved Stuart’s anxiety, his fear and how he tried not to let that overwhelm him. I loved Matthew’s patience, his care and determination. In the end, even as the sexual intensity was fantastic, I love the way how their love showed in this story, how great the blend love and kink was and well, the spanking scene was perhaps the most perfect one I’ve read so far.

Recommended? Oh Hell yeah!

Thommie
Profile Image for Dionne.
Author 1 book14 followers
December 25, 2014
I think that this was one of the few Kim Dare books that I just couldn't connect with the main characters. The writing was great, as usual, but I couldn't seem to get involved in how the characters were interacting with each other. Knowing Stuart's past experiences, I can understand his reluctance to try certain things with Matthew but the scenes between the two MCs felt really rushed and impersonal. Reading this made me want to go back and reread Temporary Mark, another Kim Dare story that had a MC that had bad experiences with BDSM but, unlike this story, I was very emotionally invested in whether or not the two MCs could resolve their differences together. I feel almost guilty that I didn't enjoy this story that much considering how much I love the author's stories and how she has become an auto buy author for me.
Profile Image for Sue bowdley.
1,449 reviews
February 19, 2014
i really enjoyed this even if it was too short....it was written really well x
Profile Image for Theresa.
3,573 reviews
August 10, 2017
Didn't feel it. Unbelievable that after 5 months Matthew would bring up his need/desire for kink. Even more implausible that Matthew would continue to date Stuart even if he wanted stay vanilla. These guys basically had to start their relationship all over and they were very awkward and uncomfortable with each other. Their uneasiness bled into their BDSM scenes and it just wasn't sexy.
Profile Image for Nic.
Author 44 books369 followers
June 2, 2014
I liked the uniqueness of the situation. Two men in an established relationship where one needs to work up the courage to find out whether the other is open to 'doing something different one night'? And no, Matthew wasn't talking about taking Stuart out to try some sushi! :)

"I do enjoy a little bit of leather now and again," he admitted.
Casual enough? Too casual? Clear enough to make himself understood? Too likely to make Stuart run for the vanilla flavoured hills?

This is very light BDSM as Matthew shows Stuart what he wants out of their relationship and shows him that he is not like Stuart's ex.

3.5 stars - it was nice to see the lighter side and focus on the difficulty of broaching a potential delicate topic!

For m/m romance reviews and more check out Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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