On hold...
I was so excited for this after reading the third book. But for some reason, I just felt wary all of a sudden after reading the first chapter. Maybe it's my anxiety? Who knows? 🤷♀️
So, the paranoid in me did a few skimmings, and idk what to feel about the stuff I read. But if I'm being honest, thankful and not at the same time. Thankful, because my gut feel was right and not, because it ruined the whole book in my eyes. 🥲
For context, they've known each other for more than a year already (I think), and their daughters are BFFs. So they met all the time, but she was more civil (distant at times) toward him. She's also friends with his ex-wife; hence, she's not really that close to him.
Anyway, Gage's a billionaire who owns five sex clubs! Yup, one isn't enough, so why not have five, right? 🤧 I'm really not a fan of these establishments being added in a story. It's just an ick and big no for me. But hey, that's just my preference. If you're cool with that as part of your books, then you do you. To each their own, respectfully.
Then I found out Amelia had been with one man ALL HER LIFE, her ex-husband, and she's only 28. But she had been divorced for a year. And of course, that would also mean a year of celibacy. Am I surprised? Not really. Disappointed? Freaking definitely. Because, whyyyy??? 🤧
Having only ever been with one man, I don’t consider myself experienced when it comes to sex. Not really. And well, I’ve established I’m out of my depth when it comes to flirting these days. Especially with a man like Gage who embodies sex like it’s built into his DNA.
And Gage— take a guess? You know what? I take it back, don't waste your time. I think his clubs were more than enough to speak for him. Anywaaay, my point is, he gave me the freaking ick!!! Because, whyyy? Ugh. How did we go from a green flag to whatever this guy's flag is? 🤧
Oh, but don't fret, he hadn't had sex in three months before her. Sooo, congrats??? This scene was at the 70% mark.
“I wouldn’t say I’m into kink the way most people mean it. I don’t walk into a bedroom with a checklist or a lifestyle label. What I am is curious. I like to learn what makes someone tick. What lights them up. What makes them feel wanted. Safe. Unhinged, if that’s what they need.”
“If a woman needs control taken from her, I’ll take it. If she wants to be worshipped, I’ll make her feel it. If she likes pain, I’m not her guy. That’s a hard limit for me. I won’t hurt someone to turn them on. But if you ask me what does it for me? It’s watching. That’s always been my thing. Watching someone unravel because of what I’m doing to them, or what they’re doing for me. Knowing I’ve read them right, figured them out, or that I’m the only one who sees them that way . . . that’s the part that fucks with my head, in the best way.”
“Okay. So, you’ve explored. A lot.”
“Yes.”
“And been with a lot of women.”
“Yes.”
“Sometimes more than one at a time.”
He nods.
“And you do that at your clubs?”
“I have. Not so much anymore, though.”
“Why not?”
“I guess . . . I didn’t want that kind of sex anymore. The kind with no emotional connection. Which was all I wanted after my divorce. I just wanted the pleasure, and I found that at the clubs. But it’s the emotional connection that’s my biggest turn on, so I stopped chasing something that wasn’t doing it for me anymore.” He pauses. “I stopped going to the clubs about four months ago. And I hadn’t had sex for three months before you.”
I can't, I really just can't. There's something happening in my stomach and I don't think it's the getting butterflies type. It's obviously the opposite of that, whatever that is. That being said, and I know I'm being a bit dramatic atp, so I'm going to take a pause. My interest has taken a deep dive, and I don't see it returning anytime soon.
To say I'm disappointed would be a freaking understatement. I've been waiting for this since I finished the third book. I ate all the freaking crumbs given about them, only to have this dynamic??? Nope, nope, nope. 😭😭
Book info: based on my skimming
- Both single parents
- Their exes are in this book, not sure if there's OWD, but there's obviously a OMD from her ex. 🤷♀️
PS. Don't let my review stop you from reading this. Maybe it'll work for you, and you're the intended reader for this one. Maybe this is your cup of tea, and you'd have a great time with this story. It's just not for me atm, so I'm out.