Tropes: friends to lovers, amnesia, secret relationship, omega-verse
Feels: 3.5/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: knotting, dirty talk, toys, sex in public places, somnophilia, marking
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: shame around designations
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: No
Other person drama: Anthony and Michael have sex while Anthony was in a rut triggered by poison. Anthony doesn't remember what happened and they resume being friends. Michael sleeps with a Omega for hire during his next rut. It's not mentioned whether Anthony sleeps with anyone else before they get together a few weeks later. Once they get together that second time, neither are with anyone else after. But other potential suitors cause moments of jealousy.
4 stars
Anthony and Michael are good friends. They are both Alphas. Michael was actually courting one of Anthony's Brothers a few years ago, and that's how they met. The brother married someone else - Michael was never with him. During an off planet trip, Anthony goes into a rut due to a poison and Michael saves him by letting him fuck him. When they return, Michael is suffering odd symptoms, he's craving things an Omega would crave. He tries to distance himself from Anthony, but Anthony won't have that, he confronts Michael and Michael reveals what happened between them. There had always been affection between them, but now there's a sexual attraction. They end up f****** all the time. Michael sees a doctor and he's told if he doesn't stay away from anthony, his body will change permanently to either a beta or Omega designation. Spoiler, they cannot keep it in their pants, they are feral for each other.
This was a good book. It's exactly what you would expect from this author, it's extremely high heat, they are feral for each other, they are possessive over each other and can't stop thinking about each other. And there's also a he's it for me dynamic, a tenderness, snuggling, a deep love.
The only thing I really disliked was that Michael slept with someone else after being with anthony. That's never romantic in a romance novel.
Some notable moments:
"He resented having to hide their relationship, resented calling it mere friendship, resented having no public claim on Michael. He wanted to have one. He wanted everyone to know he was the alpha who made Michael wail on his knot. He wanted to see his mark on Michael’s pretty neck. He wanted everyone to know who Michael belonged to. The mere thought of Michael marrying an omega or beta and pretending to be their mate made something ugly and vicious twist Anthony’s stomach in knots. No. He wouldn’t allow it. “Marry me.”"
"Michael’s dark eyes met his, and Anthony had to dig his fingernails into his palm to stop himself from reaching out and running his hands all over him—scent-marking him from head to toe. Fuck, he felt like he’d gladly whip his cock out and piss all over him right there if Michael allowed him to."
"“You’re worried about gossip now? You jerked me off on a public balcony.” Michael groaned out a laugh. “Don’t remind me. You’re a terrible influence. I can’t believe we didn’t get caught.” “If we got caught, there would have been no need to wait at all.” Michael laughed. “Gods, you’re impossible! I can’t believe I love you.” Silence fell over the line. “You love me?” Anthony said in a strange tone of voice."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.