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Touch-Starved: Gay M/M Erotic Romance
When a man finds out about his disabled coworker’s active sex life, he’s very jealous, and maybe… something else, too.
Rated E, cis M/ cis M, 15k! Arden Rice has been friends with Sebastian April for years, and it’s never occurred to him before now that April might have an active sex life — let alone a sex life he want to involve himself in.
Contains massage, touch starvation, anal sex, size difference, D/s throughout, praise + affection kink, kink for following orders, frotting with intergluteal, somnophilia, mating press, rough sex, power dynamics.
Note CWs for ableism and some mild homophobia and slutshaming, plus a CW for unnegotiated somnophilia, but the character is okay with the latter.
Rated E, cis M/ cis M, 15k! Arden Rice has been friends with Sebastian April for years, and it’s never occurred to him before now that April might have an active sex life — let alone a sex life he want to involve himself in.
Contains massage, touch starvation, anal sex, size difference, D/s throughout, praise + affection kink, kink for following orders, frotting with intergluteal, somnophilia, mating press, rough sex, power dynamics.
Note CWs for ableism and some mild homophobia and slutshaming, plus a CW for unnegotiated somnophilia, but the character is okay with the latter.
61 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2024
5 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Johannes T. Evans
67 books281 followersJohannes T. Evans is a gay trans man from the South of Wales, now living in Yorkshire, and predominantly crafts fantasy, romance, and erotic works featuring complex and layered characters, especially those who are queer and trans, and he has a particular affection for writing disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent characters like himself.
When not writing, he spends his time absorbing queer period works & history, petting cats, taking photographs of native insects, or lusting over fictional pirates and non-fictional bearish men.
He began the transition to publishing original work officially with the publication of his first novel, Heart of Stone in July of 2020.
When not writing, he spends his time absorbing queer period works & history, petting cats, taking photographs of native insects, or lusting over fictional pirates and non-fictional bearish men.
He began the transition to publishing original work officially with the publication of his first novel, Heart of Stone in July of 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 1, 2025
31 March, 2025 – Reread with Megan for Trans Rights Readathon - still a full glowing 5 stars from me!
"There's a good lad," says April coolly, and Rice's dick gives a jerk in his trousers.
Five overflowing good boy stars.
"Good boy, you sweet boy, that's it, sweetheart, just take it."
So much praise. Poor Rice is just lapping it up and soon discovers his close friend has been giving orders and appreciating him all along. Even at work.
Sometimes, he'll come over when Rice is working and stand next to his chair and he'll put the hand that's not on his cane on the back of Rice's neck.
First off, I loved this book. I don't often do gush/rave reviews, probably because I'm not good at it, my emotions and thoughts are all over the place if I'm excited. And I am very excited about this book.
It crammed in (not crammed, more like gently inserted) a bunch of kinks and tropes I like (praise, natural D/s, somnophilia, inverted tropes, size difference, begging), it had excellent dialogue (sharp, succinct), it was heartfelt, and it was erotic.
April and Rice are coworkers and friends until they are more. Watching that unfold was just pure bliss. April's dirty talk and praise were practically sex scenes on their own.
"You're so helpful, Arden," says April warmly. "It's very kind." Rice shivers.
"There you are, good boy," murmurs April.
And Rice, touch-starved, insecure, and lonely, has to stumble his way past internalized homophobia, ableist thoughts, and a bit of misogyny to get there. I didn't get the impression Rice was a malicious person, it felt like learned behavior, parroting what he thinks to be true, and luckily he says that stuff aloud, so April can respond.
"Stop using Reddit, you ingrate," says April. "Calling women girls doesn't help you, but nor does trying to project some imaginary social hierarchy onto all your relationships. You're not the alpha between us because of all your muscle."
"You been waiting to say this a while?"
April is there every step of the way, correcting, pushing back, explaining and establishing boundaries (for both of them), and being firm on what consent is. Yet somehow all of that is interwoven into the story without feeling like a lecture on how to be a decent fucking person. The conversations felt natural and familiar, I think we've all heard or said shit that is cringe-worthy at some point, unfortunately.
"I can't sit in your lap," he says. "I'm not a fucking girl."
"Neither of us are fucking girls," agrees April. "Although I fail to see what that has to do with the price of milk."
"Men don't sit in each other's laps."
"Yes, they do."
"Not men like me!"
The inverted tropes were great! The nerd/jock here had the nerd be the experienced and confident one and the jock was floundering and unsure of himself. The D/s relationship had the shorter and smaller man as the Dom and the much taller and bulkier man as the sub. And this did not go unnoticed by either of them.
"You thought you were taking pity on the nerdy guy, hm? You thought you were the alpha between us, or some nonsense like that."
He brushes past Rice in the kitchen, touches him so easily, casually. He's small, compared to Rice, so fucking little.
How come Rice feels like he's the tiny one? Why is now the smallest he's ever felt?
I have to talk about the somnophilia scene. This is my favorite kink and I sure as fuck wasn't expecting a detailed, lengthy intergluteal somnophilia scene. I have a doc full of over 80 somno books, and this is easily in my top 5, top 3? Amazing.
April is still snoring, and Rice slowly grips at the waistband of his trousers, his thumbs sliding underneath it. (That's all you're getting, go buy the book!)
Rice wasn't just touch-starved, has no one loved this man? Given him a hug or told him he's gorgeous or appreciated him for anything? That was a bit heartbreaking, to be perfectly honest.
"So responsive,” murmurs April. "You really are gorgeous, aren't you?"
So much touching going on in this book and a lot of it was nonsexual touching that was overstimulating for Rice.
"Touch-drunk," he repeats. "Not a clinical term, I grant you," says April. "You're not used to being touched, and suddenly I'm touching you all over."
And tit-worshipping! Admiring, twisting, biting...
"They bounce when you pace too vigorously, and in those little thirst traps you post I've always felt your nipples just call out to be bitten and sucked on. Mouthwatering."
"What the fuck," he whispers.
There's even some humor in there! This is a kitchen sink novella, even at 51 pages. Ridiculous.
"Toppers are for ice cream and mattresses, sweetheart..." (Poor clueless Rice.)
"Let's walk before we can run, shall we?"
"What would you know about running?”
“I've seen it on TV.”
And a cat!
God, it's weird to be horny over the way a guy talks to his cat, right? (No, no it is not.)
I'm cutting myself off here, my highlights are plentiful. Just one more, to convince you to go buy this book:
"Like it? Don't like it?"
"Like it," whispers Rice. "I like it, I like it."
I stand by my original blubbering attempt of a review:
Intergluteal somnophilia!!
Now that I got the most important part out of the way:
This gem is 99¢ on Smashwords and Amazon, and Kobo+.
I highly recommend grabbing it if you enjoy touch-starved MCs, praise kink, affection, D/s that just happens naturally in everyday life, size difference, begging, edging, I could go on and on. Holy shit. RTC.
My tags are often spoilery, so don't read below here if you want to be surprised.
Tags: Novella, coworkers, close friends, size difference, over 6ft/under 5'5 (165cm), praise and appreciation kink, asthma rep, disability rep (leg, uses a cane), D/s, smaller Dom/larger sub, consent clarifications, back rubs/scratches, head scratches, shower intimacy, washing/shampooing, lap-sitting, pet cat (December), snuggling/cuddling, touch-starved, power dynamics, rough sex, first time (very inexperienced virgin), coming untouched (in clothing), massages, intergluteal somnophilia, just the tip please?, begging and pleading, feeling embarrassed/humiliated (lite), following orders, CWs for ableism, mild misogyny, homophobia & slut-shaming (acknowledged with pushback), somnophilia without permission (acknowledged, discussed, accepted), MC Names: Arden (Rice) & Sebastian (April) (surnames used mainly)
"Oh, you like that, don't you?" asks April, as if he doesn't know. "Good, good."
"There's a good lad," says April coolly, and Rice's dick gives a jerk in his trousers.
Five overflowing good boy stars.
"Good boy, you sweet boy, that's it, sweetheart, just take it."
So much praise. Poor Rice is just lapping it up and soon discovers his close friend has been giving orders and appreciating him all along. Even at work.
Sometimes, he'll come over when Rice is working and stand next to his chair and he'll put the hand that's not on his cane on the back of Rice's neck.
First off, I loved this book. I don't often do gush/rave reviews, probably because I'm not good at it, my emotions and thoughts are all over the place if I'm excited. And I am very excited about this book.
It crammed in (not crammed, more like gently inserted) a bunch of kinks and tropes I like (praise, natural D/s, somnophilia, inverted tropes, size difference, begging), it had excellent dialogue (sharp, succinct), it was heartfelt, and it was erotic.
April and Rice are coworkers and friends until they are more. Watching that unfold was just pure bliss. April's dirty talk and praise were practically sex scenes on their own.
"You're so helpful, Arden," says April warmly. "It's very kind." Rice shivers.
"There you are, good boy," murmurs April.
And Rice, touch-starved, insecure, and lonely, has to stumble his way past internalized homophobia, ableist thoughts, and a bit of misogyny to get there. I didn't get the impression Rice was a malicious person, it felt like learned behavior, parroting what he thinks to be true, and luckily he says that stuff aloud, so April can respond.
"Stop using Reddit, you ingrate," says April. "Calling women girls doesn't help you, but nor does trying to project some imaginary social hierarchy onto all your relationships. You're not the alpha between us because of all your muscle."
"You been waiting to say this a while?"
April is there every step of the way, correcting, pushing back, explaining and establishing boundaries (for both of them), and being firm on what consent is. Yet somehow all of that is interwoven into the story without feeling like a lecture on how to be a decent fucking person. The conversations felt natural and familiar, I think we've all heard or said shit that is cringe-worthy at some point, unfortunately.
"I can't sit in your lap," he says. "I'm not a fucking girl."
"Neither of us are fucking girls," agrees April. "Although I fail to see what that has to do with the price of milk."
"Men don't sit in each other's laps."
"Yes, they do."
"Not men like me!"
The inverted tropes were great! The nerd/jock here had the nerd be the experienced and confident one and the jock was floundering and unsure of himself. The D/s relationship had the shorter and smaller man as the Dom and the much taller and bulkier man as the sub. And this did not go unnoticed by either of them.
"You thought you were taking pity on the nerdy guy, hm? You thought you were the alpha between us, or some nonsense like that."
He brushes past Rice in the kitchen, touches him so easily, casually. He's small, compared to Rice, so fucking little.
How come Rice feels like he's the tiny one? Why is now the smallest he's ever felt?
I have to talk about the somnophilia scene. This is my favorite kink and I sure as fuck wasn't expecting a detailed, lengthy intergluteal somnophilia scene. I have a doc full of over 80 somno books, and this is easily in my top 5, top 3? Amazing.
April is still snoring, and Rice slowly grips at the waistband of his trousers, his thumbs sliding underneath it. (That's all you're getting, go buy the book!)
Rice wasn't just touch-starved, has no one loved this man? Given him a hug or told him he's gorgeous or appreciated him for anything? That was a bit heartbreaking, to be perfectly honest.
"So responsive,” murmurs April. "You really are gorgeous, aren't you?"
So much touching going on in this book and a lot of it was nonsexual touching that was overstimulating for Rice.
"Touch-drunk," he repeats. "Not a clinical term, I grant you," says April. "You're not used to being touched, and suddenly I'm touching you all over."
And tit-worshipping! Admiring, twisting, biting...
"They bounce when you pace too vigorously, and in those little thirst traps you post I've always felt your nipples just call out to be bitten and sucked on. Mouthwatering."
"What the fuck," he whispers.
There's even some humor in there! This is a kitchen sink novella, even at 51 pages. Ridiculous.
"Toppers are for ice cream and mattresses, sweetheart..." (Poor clueless Rice.)
"Let's walk before we can run, shall we?"
"What would you know about running?”
“I've seen it on TV.”
And a cat!
God, it's weird to be horny over the way a guy talks to his cat, right? (No, no it is not.)
I'm cutting myself off here, my highlights are plentiful. Just one more, to convince you to go buy this book:
"Like it? Don't like it?"
"Like it," whispers Rice. "I like it, I like it."
I stand by my original blubbering attempt of a review:
Intergluteal somnophilia!!
Now that I got the most important part out of the way:
This gem is 99¢ on Smashwords and Amazon, and Kobo+.
I highly recommend grabbing it if you enjoy touch-starved MCs, praise kink, affection, D/s that just happens naturally in everyday life, size difference, begging, edging, I could go on and on. Holy shit. RTC.
My tags are often spoilery, so don't read below here if you want to be surprised.
Tags: Novella, coworkers, close friends, size difference, over 6ft/under 5'5 (165cm), praise and appreciation kink, asthma rep, disability rep (leg, uses a cane), D/s, smaller Dom/larger sub, consent clarifications, back rubs/scratches, head scratches, shower intimacy, washing/shampooing, lap-sitting, pet cat (December), snuggling/cuddling, touch-starved, power dynamics, rough sex, first time (very inexperienced virgin), coming untouched (in clothing), massages, intergluteal somnophilia, just the tip please?, begging and pleading, feeling embarrassed/humiliated (lite), following orders, CWs for ableism, mild misogyny, homophobia & slut-shaming (acknowledged with pushback), somnophilia without permission (acknowledged, discussed, accepted), MC Names: Arden (Rice) & Sebastian (April) (surnames used mainly)
"Oh, you like that, don't you?" asks April, as if he doesn't know. "Good, good."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
Brilliant. Instant favourite.
How is this a novella of only 52 pages, yet so.... perfect??
The story is told in single pov, third person present tense (Arden Rice).
Arden Rice is at the beginning of the story an asshole with prejudices. Lots of prejudices.
Realising that Sebastian April, Rice's coworker and friend, a man who is smaller, geeky, asthmatic and uses a cane, has a fulfilling, adventurous and promiscuous sex life, while Rice...does not, is a shock to Rice and his prejudices.
And right from the start April has his measure, and takes him down a notch, again and again.
It was glorious.
I loved their dynamics right from the start, before they even started to touch.
I loved the touches, the praising, obviously A LOT, too.
Loved that the big muscly guy Rice was starved for touch and for April's praise. And how April cherished making Rice feel good.
The novella is also available on Smashwords.
A few quotes.
April looks... pissed.
“I didn’t mean — ” “Mmm, didn’t mean anything by it, yes, you said,” said April. “It’s not my fault you can’t satisfy a woman, Rice, don’t blame my cane.”
“Hey! I didn’t — ”
“Go away, would you? I’ve got actual work to do, and a man grows bored of attending to your ego.”
...
“Calling women girls doesn’t help you, but nor does trying to project some imaginary social hierarchy onto all your relationships. You’re not the alpha between us because of all your muscle.”
“You been waiting to say this a while?”
...
He squeezes the front of April’s leg, shoving his face hard into the meat of his thigh.
“Oh, you like that, don’t you?” asks April, as if he doesn’t know. “Good, good.”
He starts alternating between that, rubbing down his back, his shoulders, pushing and directly massaging him, and then the scramming motions, pressure and slight digging from his nails that make Rice breathless and keep eking sounds out of him.
“So responsive,” murmurs April. “You really are gorgeous, aren’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“No, I don’t think I will. Sublime body this is, with that handsome face and all, but here, look at you, coming to pieces over this touch."
...
“Oh, you’re perfect,” April murmurs, pressing his fingers into the surprisingly sensitive skin over his ears, behind them, and then pushes down his neck, making him moan with his hips stuttering up into his palm. “That’s it, there you are. Good man, just like that.”
....
“Like it? Don’t like it?”
“Like it,” whispers Rice. “I like it, I like it.”
How is this a novella of only 52 pages, yet so.... perfect??
The story is told in single pov, third person present tense (Arden Rice).
Arden Rice is at the beginning of the story an asshole with prejudices. Lots of prejudices.
Realising that Sebastian April, Rice's coworker and friend, a man who is smaller, geeky, asthmatic and uses a cane, has a fulfilling, adventurous and promiscuous sex life, while Rice...does not, is a shock to Rice and his prejudices.
And right from the start April has his measure, and takes him down a notch, again and again.
It was glorious.
I loved their dynamics right from the start, before they even started to touch.
I loved the touches, the praising, obviously A LOT, too.
Loved that the big muscly guy Rice was starved for touch and for April's praise. And how April cherished making Rice feel good.
The novella is also available on Smashwords.
A few quotes.
April looks... pissed.
“I didn’t mean — ” “Mmm, didn’t mean anything by it, yes, you said,” said April. “It’s not my fault you can’t satisfy a woman, Rice, don’t blame my cane.”
“Hey! I didn’t — ”
“Go away, would you? I’ve got actual work to do, and a man grows bored of attending to your ego.”
...
“Calling women girls doesn’t help you, but nor does trying to project some imaginary social hierarchy onto all your relationships. You’re not the alpha between us because of all your muscle.”
“You been waiting to say this a while?”
...
He squeezes the front of April’s leg, shoving his face hard into the meat of his thigh.
“Oh, you like that, don’t you?” asks April, as if he doesn’t know. “Good, good.”
He starts alternating between that, rubbing down his back, his shoulders, pushing and directly massaging him, and then the scramming motions, pressure and slight digging from his nails that make Rice breathless and keep eking sounds out of him.
“So responsive,” murmurs April. “You really are gorgeous, aren’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“No, I don’t think I will. Sublime body this is, with that handsome face and all, but here, look at you, coming to pieces over this touch."
...
“Oh, you’re perfect,” April murmurs, pressing his fingers into the surprisingly sensitive skin over his ears, behind them, and then pushes down his neck, making him moan with his hips stuttering up into his palm. “That’s it, there you are. Good man, just like that.”
....
“Like it? Don’t like it?”
“Like it,” whispers Rice. “I like it, I like it.”
August 12, 2025
I think I'm a grumpy bitch today. I didn't like the book at all unfortunately.
I really liked April and how he puts Rice in his place and how he treats Rice as a whole. Very thoughtful and loving, even though he didn't deserve it. For that and for the fact that the book is very well written, I give it three stars and also for the wonderful cover - finally a cover that wraps up a smutty story in a dignified way and still relates to the content.
But I hate Rice as a character who is just an ignorant unsympathetic asshole. I mean, of course I read the blurb and expected Rice to be such a jerk, but I don't like it when one of the main characters doesn't grow on me at all.
And what I really didn't like were the confusing names. Both characters are almost always referred to by their surnames and then the first names pop up here and there and they really confused me. Sorry, but that's something I didn't like at all.
The praise kink is very well done and the sexual interactions are quite good. If you leave out the dialog and inner monologues .... but then there would hardly be anything left.
Well, unfortunately I feel like never reading again ... I think this was a day I should erase from my memory.
I really liked April and how he puts Rice in his place and how he treats Rice as a whole. Very thoughtful and loving, even though he didn't deserve it. For that and for the fact that the book is very well written, I give it three stars and also for the wonderful cover - finally a cover that wraps up a smutty story in a dignified way and still relates to the content.
But I hate Rice as a character who is just an ignorant unsympathetic asshole. I mean, of course I read the blurb and expected Rice to be such a jerk, but I don't like it when one of the main characters doesn't grow on me at all.
And what I really didn't like were the confusing names. Both characters are almost always referred to by their surnames and then the first names pop up here and there and they really confused me. Sorry, but that's something I didn't like at all.
The praise kink is very well done and the sexual interactions are quite good. If you leave out the dialog and inner monologues .... but then there would hardly be anything left.
Well, unfortunately I feel like never reading again ... I think this was a day I should erase from my memory.
September 16, 2024
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
Aww, this was way too short. I wanted so much more of Arden and Sebastian.
The praise in this was everything — the touching, the casual affection, the good boy, you’re perfect.
I enjoyed the light domination, Sebastian’s gentle but commanding tone, Arden just enjoying being touched.
I’m just a greedy goblin, so I wanted more. More of the hot sex, more of a backstory on the characters, more more more.
I am super intrigued by this author now though, and the writing was simple yet effective.
Overall a super quick read, but packed with great tropes and yummy kinks.
Huge shoutout to Smutty Sully and their wonderfully detailed review, for not only finding this gem but also gifting me a copy. You’re the best babe 💘
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Coworkers/friends to lovers
- Queer awakening
- Touch starved MC
- Disability rep
- Ableism
- Mild homophobia
- Size difference (smaller top)
- Light D/s dynamic
- Strict top/bottom (on page)
- Somnophilia 🔥
- Intergluteal frotting
- Coming untouched
“You’re simply a dream—a wet dream, at that.”
Aww, this was way too short. I wanted so much more of Arden and Sebastian.
The praise in this was everything — the touching, the casual affection, the good boy, you’re perfect.
I enjoyed the light domination, Sebastian’s gentle but commanding tone, Arden just enjoying being touched.
I’m just a greedy goblin, so I wanted more. More of the hot sex, more of a backstory on the characters, more more more.
I am super intrigued by this author now though, and the writing was simple yet effective.
Overall a super quick read, but packed with great tropes and yummy kinks.
Huge shoutout to Smutty Sully and their wonderfully detailed review, for not only finding this gem but also gifting me a copy. You’re the best babe 💘
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Coworkers/friends to lovers
- Queer awakening
- Touch starved MC
- Disability rep
- Ableism
- Mild homophobia
- Size difference (smaller top)
- Light D/s dynamic
- Strict top/bottom (on page)
- Somnophilia 🔥
- Intergluteal frotting
- Coming untouched
September 16, 2024
Yes to everything about this novella.
September 5, 2024
Gosh I just finished this so I might not have all the right words yet but I loved this so much.
Arden isn’t the most lovable MC at first, he’s got a bit of internalised homophobia and ableism. He can’t understand how his disabled co-worker Sebastian is so sexually active. Arden really likes Sebastian, he tells himself it’s not that way, and he knows Sebastian’s attractive. But Sebastian uses a cane, and he’s asthmatic, and Arden’s repressed mind just can’t figure it out! He makes the mistake of telling this to Sebastian, who then goes on to graciously show Arden just how he does it.
I loved the disability rep in this and I loved Sebastian so much. I want to read more and more about him. Arden goes from being unlikable at start to showing some promise by the end. 60 pages isn’t a lot of time for character growth but Johannes T. Evans does a good job in such a short amount of time.
This ends sort of open, sort of HFN. I would love to read more about these two.
Arden isn’t the most lovable MC at first, he’s got a bit of internalised homophobia and ableism. He can’t understand how his disabled co-worker Sebastian is so sexually active. Arden really likes Sebastian, he tells himself it’s not that way, and he knows Sebastian’s attractive. But Sebastian uses a cane, and he’s asthmatic, and Arden’s repressed mind just can’t figure it out! He makes the mistake of telling this to Sebastian, who then goes on to graciously show Arden just how he does it.
I loved the disability rep in this and I loved Sebastian so much. I want to read more and more about him. Arden goes from being unlikable at start to showing some promise by the end. 60 pages isn’t a lot of time for character growth but Johannes T. Evans does a good job in such a short amount of time.
This ends sort of open, sort of HFN. I would love to read more about these two.
August 23, 2025
4,3⭐️
Oh this was pretty awesome.
One of the MC felt like a stupid ass in the beginning but the short story overall is really great. And hot.
Oh this was pretty awesome.
One of the MC felt like a stupid ass in the beginning but the short story overall is really great. And hot.
January 15, 2025
4.50⭐️
YES. A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!!🥵🥵
AWESOME DISABILITY REP! AWESOME DISABILITY REP!! AWESOME DISABILITY REP!!!
For a more coherent review, read Ash's review here because thanks to her I discovered this author and I AM HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!🥰🥰
YES. A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!!🥵🥵
AWESOME DISABILITY REP! AWESOME DISABILITY REP!! AWESOME DISABILITY REP!!!
For a more coherent review, read Ash's review here because thanks to her I discovered this author and I AM HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE!!🥰🥰
September 14, 2024
I’m not usually a fan of short stories or novellas. I tend to avoid picking them up because I feel like they lack the character depth I prefer. The plots can be hit or miss or the sex overwhelms the rest of it. It’s just personal preference.
I picked up Touch Starved at a friend’s insistence (they even gifted it) and I read it immediately. And I am so glad I did.
For 65k words, this story packs a serious punch. The characters are well developed and have distinct personalities. There’s even character growth. In 65,000 words!
The disability representation was handled beautifully, in my opinion. The ableism and homophobia was also handled amazingly. There was pushback against it, there was learning, and a character growth and betterment.
April has charisma and a confidence that immediately draws you in and makes you love him. Rice is immature, but, again, he grows and becomes a richer character by the end. The progression of the sexual relationship feels organic and not rushed (again, in only 65k words).
I genuinely loved this story. I will absolutely be checking out more from this author. I highly, highly recommend!
I picked up Touch Starved at a friend’s insistence (they even gifted it) and I read it immediately. And I am so glad I did.
For 65k words, this story packs a serious punch. The characters are well developed and have distinct personalities. There’s even character growth. In 65,000 words!
The disability representation was handled beautifully, in my opinion. The ableism and homophobia was also handled amazingly. There was pushback against it, there was learning, and a character growth and betterment.
April has charisma and a confidence that immediately draws you in and makes you love him. Rice is immature, but, again, he grows and becomes a richer character by the end. The progression of the sexual relationship feels organic and not rushed (again, in only 65k words).
I genuinely loved this story. I will absolutely be checking out more from this author. I highly, highly recommend!
January 30, 2025
PWP and i was here for it
October 25, 2024
Short and sweet, this is a perfect little novella about a repressed, touch-starved "lad" and his sexually-liberated coworker who educates him on the concept of intimacy and touch. It's got a lot of heart, and doesn't hold back on the criticism of toxic masculinity, ableism and slut-shaming either!
September 19, 2024
A gorgeous story of friendship and love. Arden Rice and Sebastian April have known each other for years, Sebastian, slightly disabled and rather slim, is a borderline slut, he loves sex, with either sex and one or many persons involved, Arden, on the other hand, is a huge muscled hunk with a soft heart, he's not quite a virgin but rather uneducated in the art of love and only been with women. Sebastian is a dominant, sometimes funny, sometimes hurtful with his words. But they are friends, and friends help each other, right? So here beings the lessons in sex with men, it's touching, funny, sexy and your heart goes out to sweet sweet Arden. A beautiful read, worthy of more than five stars.
February 13, 2025
i see how this could work for some people but for me this book was insufferable (i literally never DNF novellas but i just could not do it my dudes)
april was a pretentious dick, rice is ignorant and lowkey annoying as shit, the writing style was not my vibe and idk why but the fact that the MCs were only referred to by their surnames drove me crazy sorry besties
april was a pretentious dick, rice is ignorant and lowkey annoying as shit, the writing style was not my vibe and idk why but the fact that the MCs were only referred to by their surnames drove me crazy sorry besties
October 23, 2024
Wonderful! It has that jenesaisquoi that I’ve only read in novels by British, Australian and New Zealand authors. A mix of humour, vocabulary and just so dry!
Loved it, loved December, loved all the good boys, sweethearts and caretaking, just the pure honesty in feelings and exchanges.
NSFW infos
Two coworkers who are friends
Size difference
Virgin x playboy
Playboy (needs a cane)
Somno intracrural
Fucking until crying
Orgasm denial
Look at You
Loved it, loved December, loved all the good boys, sweethearts and caretaking, just the pure honesty in feelings and exchanges.
NSFW infos
Two coworkers who are friends
Size difference
Virgin x playboy
Playboy (needs a cane)
Somno intracrural
Fucking until crying
Orgasm denial
Look at You
October 27, 2024
Short and smutty and lovely! Would love it as a full length story to see where these 2 end up.
November 5, 2024
3.5 rounded up
March 13, 2025
4.5 stars. I love novellas and shorties that do exactly the right amount of everything. This one was almost perfect for me. MC with a disability done well and in an interesting way.
Sooooo hot omg, but also so satisfying in every other way. And it made me like praise kink?! I’ve never been into that before but it worked so well here. I love April 😍
Sooooo hot omg, but also so satisfying in every other way. And it made me like praise kink?! I’ve never been into that before but it worked so well here. I love April 😍
June 6, 2025
good god that was hot
December 15, 2024
I'm struggling with finding the right word for this story - sweet is not it, and neither is bitter, and it's not quite both or a mix of them. There was some bitterness, some sweetness, some ignorance and care and tenderness, but also a biting satisfaction.
It's not a romance, but it's also not entirely unromantic, and a very unique dynamic between the two main characters.
It's not a romance, but it's also not entirely unromantic, and a very unique dynamic between the two main characters.
August 31, 2025
the writing is chef’s kiss 🤌
i really love discovering new authors that really get my fancy. might be too early to say this, but i think i’m a fan! 🫶
the only downside to this is the length cuz i want more!!
i really love discovering new authors that really get my fancy. might be too early to say this, but i think i’m a fan! 🫶
the only downside to this is the length cuz i want more!!
March 30, 2025
PLEASE. I ATE UP EVERY SINGLE WORD.
January 10, 2025
Short stories are usually hit-and-miss for me, but this one was perfect.
Jock vs nerd stories where the little guy has the upper hand are rare, but it turns out that Rice has been April's good boy all along. There are quite a few surprises along the way, and it's just so fucking sweet.
Here, April (who is pan) points out that Rice liking tits doesn't prove anything:
Jock vs nerd stories where the little guy has the upper hand are rare, but it turns out that Rice has been April's good boy all along. There are quite a few surprises along the way, and it's just so fucking sweet.
Here, April (who is pan) points out that Rice liking tits doesn't prove anything:
“Tits are splendid,” says April in an unbothered, idle tone, tilting his head to one side. “Of course, men can have quite nice ones.” He looks at Rice’s chest, at the swell of his pecs under his jumper. “I’ve always thought yours had a luscious quality to them,” he says, tone still conversational as if Rice’s knees don’t feel weak. “They bounce when you pace too vigorously, and in those little thirst traps you post I’ve always felt your nipples just call out to be bitten and sucked on. Mouthwatering.”
February 13, 2025
Oh, this was gooood good. Rice is an asshole but we’ll forgive him for now. Lots of good things packed into a tiny novella. The praise? Yes please. Subverting expectations about people with visible disabilities? Helllll yes. Do I believe these two will have a HEA? Who knows honestly, but this was hot.
May 6, 2025
Would have been two stars, but any book using "pussy" derogatorily automatically loses a star because it is 20 bloody 25 and we do not need to be like that.
I got this amongst a few other books in a giveaway thing and came to it completely unaware of the plot or any details, which was interesting. It suffers from the curse of the novella--namely, that what we're given is a scene but what's supporting the scene is all off-stage. We meet Rice and April, whom the narrative only calls by these last names because bros, I guess, and they're coworkers but also friends? I truly didn't understand the depth of their relationship because it seemed like it got way deeper about a third of the way in without explanation--not for the sex bit but as they started talking about "we've been friends this long." Really? Friends? You go out drinking together? Yet haven't had any of the conversations you're now having? How?
So I didn't believe the foundation of them together, but I did appreciate April's almost absurdly Dom self. This edged right up next to being a caricature as April pets Rice into being the subbiest sub, but Evans manages not to tip over that line. Unfortunately, that delightful little transformation doesn't quite save Rice as a character; I don't care if he gets a good dicking down because he's a 2D asshat and there's no sense of change there. Some of that may be, again, the length of the time we as readers spend with him; regardless, Rice is an unlikable character because he really only ever talks to be misogynistic, ableist, or homophobic. There's nothing else there to his character--except wanting to get down with April, but that's not exactly a whole character. I was infinitely bored with Rice because there was nothing there but sex and hate.
I do dearly love December, the cat, and how much of a personality he got.
An interesting little snippet that is starved for room to grow. I'm curious to see what else Evans has, at least.
I got this amongst a few other books in a giveaway thing and came to it completely unaware of the plot or any details, which was interesting. It suffers from the curse of the novella--namely, that what we're given is a scene but what's supporting the scene is all off-stage. We meet Rice and April, whom the narrative only calls by these last names because bros, I guess, and they're coworkers but also friends? I truly didn't understand the depth of their relationship because it seemed like it got way deeper about a third of the way in without explanation--not for the sex bit but as they started talking about "we've been friends this long." Really? Friends? You go out drinking together? Yet haven't had any of the conversations you're now having? How?
So I didn't believe the foundation of them together, but I did appreciate April's almost absurdly Dom self. This edged right up next to being a caricature as April pets Rice into being the subbiest sub, but Evans manages not to tip over that line. Unfortunately, that delightful little transformation doesn't quite save Rice as a character; I don't care if he gets a good dicking down because he's a 2D asshat and there's no sense of change there. Some of that may be, again, the length of the time we as readers spend with him; regardless, Rice is an unlikable character because he really only ever talks to be misogynistic, ableist, or homophobic. There's nothing else there to his character--except wanting to get down with April, but that's not exactly a whole character. I was infinitely bored with Rice because there was nothing there but sex and hate.
I do dearly love December, the cat, and how much of a personality he got.
An interesting little snippet that is starved for room to grow. I'm curious to see what else Evans has, at least.
May 13, 2025
3.75 - liked it a fair amount
This novella follows coworkers and friends Arden Rice and Sebastian April. Arden's an awkward, repressed himbo, and April is a disabled, bisexual sex god (not literally, but in a manner of speaking). Arden knows of his exploits a little, but the more he finds out, the more jealous he becomes. April invites him over for some non-sexual touch since Arden is touch-starved, and Arden has all kinds of feelings from it.
There's a lot of reasons why I liked this book. I like a overly masculine MC bottoming, with a more twink-like MC topping, and this book had that.
I liked the way April talked to Rice; it was like he was talking down, like to a child, but without really being or feeling condescending. It more just reflected on Rice's lack of experience and April's abundance of it.
I liked how the praising was done. It was done alongside the talking down to Rice; but gentle, and not really judgmental. It was praising without a lot of the cringe that I associate with praising in smut. For example, regular praise in smut would be like, "You're such a good boy taking my c*ck." How April would say it in this book is more of, "There's a good boy. You like that? I imagine you do." It's probably the first time EVER where I've read praise and I liked it.
I liked the diversity in experience, with April being ultra experienced, and Rice being a virgin. I liked that April was calm and dominant without being demanding, and that Rice was desperate and submissive without being annoying.
I wish the book was longer, and that the pacing was significantly slower. There wasn't really any tension, and I would have liked that in the book for sure.
Overall, I liked this novella a fair amount, and would recommend for people who like gay awakenings, non-sexual touch, and masculine guys being bottoms.
This novella follows coworkers and friends Arden Rice and Sebastian April. Arden's an awkward, repressed himbo, and April is a disabled, bisexual sex god (not literally, but in a manner of speaking). Arden knows of his exploits a little, but the more he finds out, the more jealous he becomes. April invites him over for some non-sexual touch since Arden is touch-starved, and Arden has all kinds of feelings from it.
There's a lot of reasons why I liked this book. I like a overly masculine MC bottoming, with a more twink-like MC topping, and this book had that.
I liked the way April talked to Rice; it was like he was talking down, like to a child, but without really being or feeling condescending. It more just reflected on Rice's lack of experience and April's abundance of it.
I liked how the praising was done. It was done alongside the talking down to Rice; but gentle, and not really judgmental. It was praising without a lot of the cringe that I associate with praising in smut. For example, regular praise in smut would be like, "You're such a good boy taking my c*ck." How April would say it in this book is more of, "There's a good boy. You like that? I imagine you do." It's probably the first time EVER where I've read praise and I liked it.
I liked the diversity in experience, with April being ultra experienced, and Rice being a virgin. I liked that April was calm and dominant without being demanding, and that Rice was desperate and submissive without being annoying.
I wish the book was longer, and that the pacing was significantly slower. There wasn't really any tension, and I would have liked that in the book for sure.
Overall, I liked this novella a fair amount, and would recommend for people who like gay awakenings, non-sexual touch, and masculine guys being bottoms.
October 15, 2024
I do love a good touch-starved character, and Arden was that. The praise and just generally skinship was nice too.
There were a few typos, not enough to make it difficult to read, but enough that I noticed.
I also, as someone not great with names, disliked how it jumped between Arden and Rice for Arden Rice. Can we stick with one or the other? Plus it seemed kinda weird for it to be from Arden’s POV (3rd person), but using his surname.
First try with Johannes T. Evans, but definitely will try more.
There were a few typos, not enough to make it difficult to read, but enough that I noticed.
I also, as someone not great with names, disliked how it jumped between Arden and Rice for Arden Rice. Can we stick with one or the other? Plus it seemed kinda weird for it to be from Arden’s POV (3rd person), but using his surname.
First try with Johannes T. Evans, but definitely will try more.
April 27, 2025
Took me a week to finish this 60 pages book. Lmaooo it wasnt bad but I couldnt wait to finish it. It was a bit boring sometimes but the author did such a good work with the description. I love how I could understand Rice and his thoughts process. It’s a cute story that goes above stereotypes. April was such a good character
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