Trapped

by Kenzie Cade

Dear Author,
“That’s me. The one in the hat. Why did I think this weekend away would be such a good idea? Ten of us, all sleeping in one cabin in the middle of winter, freezing our balls off. I must have been crazy, especially as I had to go and wake up [guy on bed] after he drank enough to sink a battleship last night. He was like a man possessed. And now I can’t stop staring at his mouth. What’s wrong with me? I’m not gay, he’s not gay. It’s fucking ridiculous. What am I gonna do?”

Photo Description:
Two men in a cabin room. One is lying on the bed with the other leaning over him. The man lying on the bed is resting with a smile on his face. The other is looking down with a happy smile, seemingly staring at the first man’s lips.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Gay For You, Romance, Short Stories, Gay

77 pages, ebook

First published June 29, 2015

About the author

Kenzie Cade was born and raised in the South where she spends her days in the sometimes stressful field of private medicine observing interesting people and committing them to memory for later use. When she isn’t reading, experimenting with recipes, or being distracted by social media, Kenzie spends time with her family, friends, and the Pomeranian/long-haired Chihuahua mix who likes to keep her company while she writes. As a young girl, Kenzie dreamed of princesses and their white knights. As an adult (or sort of adult), she dreams of princes and their proverbial white knights, which she attributes to fellow Arkansan S.E. Hinton and her novel The Outsiders. Writing to keep the fictional voices at bay, Kenzie enjoys the journeys her characters travel to find their happy endings, and she loves the challenge of writing a great love story.

Contact Kenzie at kenziecade.author@gmail.com. You can also find her online at her blog: http://kenziecade.wordpress.com; on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kenziecade.author; and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/thekenziecade.

Reviews

[Meep]

Thanks to the author for participating and offering this freebie

DNF - It's not bad, it just did nothing for me.

I like the intro scene and it seemed promising until I realised who the main couple were! Moyer seemed so immature he didn't appeal. They didn't come across as friends, let alone best friends for four years.

It's not what I was expecting from the prompt. The couple's retreat idea threw me, the order to attend completely bizarre; then add a perky receptionist and a 'cute' older couple and I didn't want to follow where this was going. I'm likely jaded from having read the scenario several times, but instead of being amused I was wondering why and if the job was worth it!
Then boom tongues in each other mouths (one is straight) and jealousy.

Also short chapters with alternating pov rarely endears me, but that's a personal niggle.

[Portia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories like this are why I look forward to the MM Romance Group all year.

Drew and Gavin are an awesome couple and their romance was beautiful. What's not to love about two Alpha type guys taking a chance on love...in unexpected quarters.

Loved it.

[♥️Victoria ♥️ ♥️love books♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 I am not gay stars!!!



I liked this plot 2 guys working together in a special unit for 4 years ones straight ones bi without telling his partner. Partner things he is straight but he is actually in love with his straight partner and then one mission goes wrong and they lose the trust between them and then.... wait for it..... their boss force them to go on a couples retreat and then ....... sparks fly

"He was my air, my freedom"

[Heather C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story and the MCs were HOT! Just felt there was too much drama crammed into such a short story and the resolution was too easy.

3.5 stars

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I had to think about this story for a few days before rating. Two days later and I realize mostly it was unmemorable. Like when I came back and noticed I still hadn’t reviewed/star rated it I couldn’t remember which one it was. That obviously says a lot. But now that I’ve reread the blurb and looked at the prompt I just found it…not sexy. I didn’t particularly care for the set up. Two “not gay” cops get sent to a couples retreat to work out their “relationship” problems after one was shot recently. There was all this side family drama, drama with a lady at the retreat, guilt by the partner for feeling like he let his partner down while also harboring a secret crush/attraction to him. I just kept thinking 1. If this is a couples retreat for people trying to save/work on their marriages how is it fair to them for these two to be working out a job issue and 2. Is this really the way police forces use tax payer dollars? By sending partners to couples retreats. How about you just reassign those two.

[Finnegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is not bad, it was an interesting take on the prompt. I am personally not a fan of GFY trope unless it is done exceptionally well. And this isn't. Gavin's change of feelings towards Drew was unrealistic and I never felt the chemistry.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Thanks for this story. I really enjoy friends to lovers, so this was a fun rwad for me.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars I was caught by the description for this story in the M/M Romance Group's 'Love is an Open Road' event. Not to mention the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I was intrigued by the concept of two men, Gavin and Drew, best friends and work partners in a security firm, having a recent rough spot bad enough that their boss sent them to couples counseling. And, not just counseling, but a retreat for eight days. Who knew what could come of that?

Gavin is not gay. What he is is a pessimistic, gruff, grumpy a-hole with serious daddy issues. Or, to be more specific, his dad has issues with him which causes a lot of stress. Drew isn't gay. He is bisexual, although he's never shared this with Gavin. They have been a team, for four years, a partnership that's one of the best in their company until five months ago. Naples happened five months ago, and nothing has ever been the same.

Gavin is insanely uncomfortable with the idea of people thinking he and Drew are a couple. He loves him, he's his best friend, but every time he tries to explain to any of the other couples that they aren't one, the people just roll their eyes and say "sure you aren't". Gavin is confused and feeling just a little pissed. One bad nightmare from Drew, and an inadvertent kiss that Gavin responds to (holy homophobe, Batman!), and there's going to be some serious truth coming out (snort) at this retreat.

"I’d never in all of my life been attracted to a man, so that couldn’t be it. As my best friend, Drew and I spent countless hours together. Why now? Why when I looked at him did I feel like I would vibrate out of my skin if I wasn’t near him?"

Kenzie, my friend, you write wonderfully! The flow, the syntax, everything just meshes beautifully and I'm so proud of you. I loved this story. Gavin and Drew were real and honest characters and it was so easy to care about them. It's a gay-for-you trope, but one the author did so incredibly well. She actually addressed the issues in a no-holds-barred manner, making the entire storyline so much more realistic. Granted, there was some predictability toward the end, and a quick resolution, however this is a short story so I expected no less.

Excellent job, Kenzie. I thought it was wonderful!

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice short story, friends became lover. And both MCs were "NOT GAY" (well, at least at their own term).

Gavin was an asshole, womanizer and made Drew miserable for four years. As for Drew, he never had a courage to tell or show Gavin his feeling.
Complicated? Of course.
And as much as I liked the story and Gavin and Drew relationship, I always hate when a bitch (a woman, yeah, woman !) being a center of the MC's problem, and that woman was not even worth it.
I want to give more star to this story, but I couldn't stop made myself grunting every time that woman appeared. And I think Gavin was an idiot and stubborn, and I really love to slap him if I could.
And as for Drew, well, you can have better man, you know.
But I hope whatever Gavin hide in the black velvet box, all worth it for Drew to wait for him.
I bet Gavin will be forever crawling on his feet for Drew :)
But anyway....I didn't hate it, I enjoyed this book, but what I really enjoyed was mostly Drew.
Gavin, not so much.

[Dawn Sister · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a simply lovely story. I loved the relationship between the MC's it was pretty electric and very apparent they were in some sort of bond beyond just friendship from the very beginning. They are partners, and partners trust each other with their lives. I could quite believe it, even when they were arguing like fish wives.
I loved that they were sent off to a couple's retreat in order to sort out their bickering, what a hoot. The result was inevitable, but it didn't get clichéd, maybe until the almost end, but even then it was all pretty believable and well choreographed. The ending surprised me with its dose of reality, and that there is a happy ending, but still some issues, because life isn't a fairy tale.
All in all this was a great story.

[AnnaBirmingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Thank you soooo much for writing this, Kenzie. Gavin and Drew were adorable and I LOVED the couples retreat you sent them on. I would never have thought of that but it totally worked. Such fun :)

I know that I'll just have to go back and re-read it again soon.

Massive thanks for giving these boys their story.
Anna x

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - I really liked this story. Nice interpretation of the photo and the story letter. Thank you Kenzie Cade for donating your story, your time and your talent.

[SJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t very good, but I think it could have been. Some of the writing felt cliche, some of the characters, too. It seemed like there was always someone around the MCs or someplace they had to be. An outdoor rescue, a conniving wife, and now a serious car wreck for an MC. I guess the other MC will finally confront his feelings or tell people about his feelings for his work partner. I’m not sticking around. I don’t feel anything for these guys. They are not sexy or hot. Also, there were no descriptions of them, besides mentions of eye color and one being shorter than the other. It only takes a few lines to draw a word picture for the reader to see. Who writes a story and doesn’t describe the main characters?

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.


Andrew and Gavin are partners on the police force, but their relationship took a turn after a bust went wrong and Gavin was shot. When their boss realizes that the distance between them is affecting their work, he orders them to go on a couple’s retreat in order to resolve their differences. Gavin is up in arms about it because he’s not gay and he doesn’t like what “couples” implies; however, Andrew is also his best friend, so he agrees to go and make an effort. What Gavin doesn’t know is that Andrew is bisexual and has a thing for him. Their time at the retreat helps them to get past their differences and also brings them together.

I really loved this story. I usually don’t care for books with cops and law enforcement themes, but most of this story was outside the realm of their work. Also, this wasn’t the type of gay for you story where the straight guy gradually realizes he’s hot for his friend. Instead Andrew is very bold. The whole situation was complicated further since Gavin had no idea that Andrew even liked guys. However, when they came together, the passion between the two was hot and left me wanting more. I recommend this story to anyone who loves erotic gay for you romance.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. This story was okay, but it just seemed like it didn't stay true to the prompt. The biggest issue I had though was that some steamy, almost-moments were requested, but there weren't any. Being in that cabin and being forced to stay in the same bed could have had so many almost-moments, but instead, they kissed right away and there wasn't any real sexual tension beforehand. Also, it just seemed like it was way too easy. They kissed, then they were together, then Gavin's dad just apologizes and everything is fixed in the blink of an eye. Basically, I probably would have liked this story more if I hadn't read the prompt and had a certain idea of what it was going to be in my head.

[Julesmarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Knowing that they're not police officers, but work for a private security firm makes the whole premise make a lot more sense. Especially given the clues at the end that their boss suspected their feelings and wanted to encourage them to finally talk to each other about them.

But the characters were just so unlikeable that I couldn't enjoy this at all. They're supposed to be former-soldier-tough-guys, but they sure seem to spend a lot of time pouting. Or stomping away in a tantrum.

[Morgan Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the cover makes it seem like the two MCs are stuck in a cabin together – they really aren’t. Gavin and Drew are real life partners – at work. Their boss sends them to a couples retreat to help them get over their “issues” when one of them almost gets the other killed on the job.

Together they go through the excercises – designed for romantic couples – and nobody believes them when they say they aren’t romantically involved. And then they become romantically involved.

It’s a very sweet, short story about two best friends who become lovers.

[Tony R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****5 big guilty pleasure stars!*****

Loved it! I will definitely start seeking out Kenzie Cade when finding and purchasing new material to read!

I loved the story! It was a little too insta-love and there was a lot of drama, but come on... what do you expect with 77 pages!?

I would have loved this to of been a longer book - maybe a prequel giving me that 4 years of slow burn that I desire!

[Melissa F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was chock-full of so many of my favorite things...partners-and-friends-to-lovers, GYF, hurt/comfort of both the emotional and physical variety, terrific side characters...just, everything. I had only a couple tiny niggling complaints about the end, and nothing that detracted from the rest of what was a really wonderful story. :D

[Dre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me, and I'm happy to say I greatly enjoyed this story. The MCs had good chemistry and their change from friends to lovers and their struggles while doing so seemed believable. After reading this, I'm even more excited for this author's novel Prickly Business, which was co-written with a fave author of mine Piper Vaughn!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good friend so-to-lover, gay-for-you story, but it felt slightly manipulative. It was well written and fun to read. What I didn't like was the convenient misunderstanding that sent one partner fleeing, and the convenient event of that pulled them together. Also, the sudden change in personality of a couple people was hard to swallow.

[Bookbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy and tender. Really good story.

[J. Johanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a hot gay for you book. This was the first LOR story I've read, but I'm inspired to read more.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, emotional, gay-for-you story.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when the tough guy falls hard.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Really enjoyed this one :)

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars rounded up.

[Omega696 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this one. Mostly I wanted to hit both MC over their heads and make them talk. Then again the invasive questions from the doctor and other couples in the hut were getting on my nerves. A little too much drama for such a short story.