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Little Red & Big Bad #2
Red Comes Second
Red Redman moved in with his boyfriend Bad a year ago. And things have been good. Sure, Bad’s kind of a jerk sometimes, and sure, he’s crazy busy with his new business, but it’s nothing Red can’t handle. At least, it’s nothing Red can’t handle until Bad starts falling asleep practically every night and they never do the elaborate scenes that bring them together. In all the ways. He used to feel pretty damn confident in his place in Bad’s world, but over the course of their second year together, all that slips away until it feels like they’re two strangers who share a bed. It doesn’t help that Red has a crummy job he hates and a business degree Bad won’t let him use to help with the business. Red wants to be partners, to share each other’s lives, to let each other in. Sure, it started kind of porny, but now he wants to level up. While definitely keeping all the porny bits. The trouble is he has no idea what Bad wants, and Bad’s the last guy who’d ever talk about his feelings. But something’s gotta give, and if this keeps going much longer, that something is gonna be Red.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2015
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Kris Ripper
89 books402 followersKris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 27, 2024
Loved the more „hardcore“ bdsm in here (like in the first book) and I was actually really happy to have so medical play in here as well, but I enjoyed the first volume much more than this in here. Reds and Bads relationship was just idk complicated , sometimes both of them really annoyed me here. I also didn’t liked the side characters they kind of took the gun away from me.
February 14, 2023
Thank god for Hugh. And Will and Truman. But especially Hugh.
This is pretty much a blanket statement that needs no context or justification. But it is, in fact, relevant here, because Hugh plays a key role in righting the ship of Bad and Red's sputtering relationship -- a relationship stranded by a basic inability to communicate on both sides, but especially Bad's.
First things first: go read the story An Impromptu Lesson on Kris Ripper's website. This story falls chronologically between books 1 and 2, and tells the tale of Hugh and Truman meeting Red and Bad (hijinks, naturally, ensue). It is a banger and it told me more about Bad and Red's interaction and relationship than pretty much all of book 1; it also has some wonderful Hugh and Truman and Hugh-Truman-Will interaction that, per Ripper's habit of casually seeding little moments and events, recur and rebound in the canon SMU books. Go read it! I'll wait!
OK. So. Back to book 2. A year has passed: Red and Bad are still living together, Red has graduated and is working a shitty job in a pizza parlor, and Bad is opening his yoga studio -- his dream -- while still working university security full-time to pay the bills. While Red felt like Bad's partner in the planning and preparation for opening the yoga studio, once it opens he feels shunted aside, his contributions and opinions unwanted. Bad, on his side, shuts Red out in part because he doesn't want to load him down with responsibility, but mostly because (although he doesn't admit this to himself) he is afraid of letting Red fully into his life -- both emotionally and professionally -- because he has convinced himself that Red will move on and leave him stranded.
Thus: Hugh. While Red forms an immediate bond with Will -- who he meets when Red and Bad take a trip up north, spending the weekend with our triad-by-any-other-name -- Bad and Hugh develop a somewhat antagonistic, somewhat besties bond that is wonderful to read. And Hugh. Sorts. Bad's. Bullshit. OUT!!!
Thank jeebus.
Because these two sex-crazed chuckleheads are REALLY bad at communicating.
Really, really bad.
I said in my review of book 1 that I liked book 2 a lot more, but that what I disliked in book 1, I disliked way more in book 2. Basically, what I liked in book 2 was that we got actually relationshiping, not just sexing. Yes, they are relationshiping poorly for the most part. They are terrible at this shit! But they are trying and learning and forcing themselves to be more open and to meet the other person where they live. That, for me, worked much, much better.
What worked worse was that the extreme play got even more extreme -- not even so much between Red and Bad (although to some degree), but primarily between some friends that they play with (not H-W-T). I really, really found some of the interaction between Butch and Ortiz (and Ortiz's farming of Butch out) hard to take. This was both more relationship-focused and more extreme than book 1. But on the other hand -- I kind of respect being yoinked out of my comfort zone in a way that is very forthright and that isn't about fetishization. This is pushing things hard and leaving it up to the reader to decide what they want to feel about it. And fair enough, I say.
All in all, a much better read than the first installment. Because Hugh (and Will and Truman) make everything better.
This is pretty much a blanket statement that needs no context or justification. But it is, in fact, relevant here, because Hugh plays a key role in righting the ship of Bad and Red's sputtering relationship -- a relationship stranded by a basic inability to communicate on both sides, but especially Bad's.
First things first: go read the story An Impromptu Lesson on Kris Ripper's website. This story falls chronologically between books 1 and 2, and tells the tale of Hugh and Truman meeting Red and Bad (hijinks, naturally, ensue). It is a banger and it told me more about Bad and Red's interaction and relationship than pretty much all of book 1; it also has some wonderful Hugh and Truman and Hugh-Truman-Will interaction that, per Ripper's habit of casually seeding little moments and events, recur and rebound in the canon SMU books. Go read it! I'll wait!
OK. So. Back to book 2. A year has passed: Red and Bad are still living together, Red has graduated and is working a shitty job in a pizza parlor, and Bad is opening his yoga studio -- his dream -- while still working university security full-time to pay the bills. While Red felt like Bad's partner in the planning and preparation for opening the yoga studio, once it opens he feels shunted aside, his contributions and opinions unwanted. Bad, on his side, shuts Red out in part because he doesn't want to load him down with responsibility, but mostly because (although he doesn't admit this to himself) he is afraid of letting Red fully into his life -- both emotionally and professionally -- because he has convinced himself that Red will move on and leave him stranded.
Thus: Hugh. While Red forms an immediate bond with Will -- who he meets when Red and Bad take a trip up north, spending the weekend with our triad-by-any-other-name -- Bad and Hugh develop a somewhat antagonistic, somewhat besties bond that is wonderful to read. And Hugh. Sorts. Bad's. Bullshit. OUT!!!
Thank jeebus.
Because these two sex-crazed chuckleheads are REALLY bad at communicating.
Really, really bad.
I said in my review of book 1 that I liked book 2 a lot more, but that what I disliked in book 1, I disliked way more in book 2. Basically, what I liked in book 2 was that we got actually relationshiping, not just sexing. Yes, they are relationshiping poorly for the most part. They are terrible at this shit! But they are trying and learning and forcing themselves to be more open and to meet the other person where they live. That, for me, worked much, much better.
What worked worse was that the extreme play got even more extreme -- not even so much between Red and Bad (although to some degree), but primarily between some friends that they play with (not H-W-T). I really, really found some of the interaction between Butch and Ortiz (and Ortiz's farming of Butch out) hard to take. This was both more relationship-focused and more extreme than book 1. But on the other hand -- I kind of respect being yoinked out of my comfort zone in a way that is very forthright and that isn't about fetishization. This is pushing things hard and leaving it up to the reader to decide what they want to feel about it. And fair enough, I say.
All in all, a much better read than the first installment. Because Hugh (and Will and Truman) make everything better.
December 25, 2023
This book was so good! I liked the first one, but this one just took things to a whole new place, and I loved it.
There is so much in this book about long(ish) term relationships and prioritizing your partner, as well as the importance of communication. I mean, yeah, it’s a super kinky book with lots of sex in it, but there’s so much more than that! I really liked how Ripper wrote Bad and Red, how they both grew so much over the course of the two books. And it says something for the writing and author when there was a particular sex-adjacent thing that Bad did right from the start of the first book that really grossed me out, but by the end of the second book I was like, happy and relieved when Bad did it? Like, yes Bad, Red needs that, please do that.
Also, there was not one, but TWO appearances from the SMU boys and l, um, wow… 🥵 I wish that Bad and Red had shown up in some of the New Years books, that would have been interesting…
Anyhoo, if you’ve read the SMU books, but not these ones yet, I highly recommend them! Though they are not for the faint of heart.
There is so much in this book about long(ish) term relationships and prioritizing your partner, as well as the importance of communication. I mean, yeah, it’s a super kinky book with lots of sex in it, but there’s so much more than that! I really liked how Ripper wrote Bad and Red, how they both grew so much over the course of the two books. And it says something for the writing and author when there was a particular sex-adjacent thing that Bad did right from the start of the first book that really grossed me out, but by the end of the second book I was like, happy and relieved when Bad did it? Like, yes Bad, Red needs that, please do that.
Also, there was not one, but TWO appearances from the SMU boys and l, um, wow… 🥵 I wish that Bad and Red had shown up in some of the New Years books, that would have been interesting…
Anyhoo, if you’ve read the SMU books, but not these ones yet, I highly recommend them! Though they are not for the faint of heart.
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July 18, 2022It's a Ripper book. :) And Hugh, Will, and Truman are in it. The BDSM is not light at all, so if that's not your thing...
September 14, 2019
So I got my younger colleague into reading the SMU, and after reading all of the main Will/Hugh/Truman books she immediately dove into these two (I think partly because I told her I had found the first book difficult to read). Anyway, her enthusiasm about book two convinced me to push past the very intense first scene and I’m so glad I did. The thing is, Kris Ripper’s writing is so good. Zir sex and kink scenes are always both hot and smart, and even if something is too much for me with zir books I can still enjoy it. If that makes sense. In any case, I loved following Red and Bad’s journey and especially all the bits with Hugh and Will and Truman. I love Will and Hugh LOTS but I admit to Truman being my most favorite of favorites. And the scenes with all five of them were a delight omg.
December 9, 2020
I really struggled with this one, even though it's an excellent relationship arc by the end. But these two go through a very serious rough patch and combining that with kinks that are barely in my comfort zone plus non-monogamy really tied my stomach up in knots! (I get way too invested in my MCs :)
And seriously: If non-monogamy bothers you at all, stay away from this one. It's rarely an issue for me, but
And seriously: If non-monogamy bothers you at all, stay away from this one. It's rarely an issue for me, but
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January 10, 2024The limit of books I would read featuring Hugh/Truman/Will does not exist. They are such endlessly fascinating characters.
As for the main characters here, Red and Bad, I guess I ended up feeling like they just couldn’t live up to the cameo? Ripper writes in the acknowledgements that the book is “really just one long kinky porn love letter” and…that about sums it up. It’s Ripper—it’s obviously good, it’s obviously hot, I obviously read it in one sitting, but I don’t think it’s one that I’ll revisit.
As for the main characters here, Red and Bad, I guess I ended up feeling like they just couldn’t live up to the cameo? Ripper writes in the acknowledgements that the book is “really just one long kinky porn love letter” and…that about sums it up. It’s Ripper—it’s obviously good, it’s obviously hot, I obviously read it in one sitting, but I don’t think it’s one that I’ll revisit.
June 16, 2018
I like these two guys quite a lot, considering their kinks are so very not mine at all. And then, that final chapter, when Hugh, Truman and Will visit.
Wow.
Wow.
Read
January 14, 2024I’m still not convinced about their relationship. Red deserves better than Bad and neither of them did enough to show they were going to work on communicating better (or at all!). I did at least thoroughly enjoy the appearances from Hugh, Truman, and Will!
Characters: Bad/Charles is a 31 year old gay white college security guard, yoga studio owner, and Dom. Red is a 22 year old gay white pizza place employee and submissive. This is set in California.
Content notes: disordered eating/overeating (secondary character), risk-taking behavior (secondary character forgoes condoms and put his address out on the internet for strangers to have sex with him on a livestream), depression and concern of suicidal ideation (secondary character), sex with a secondary character (technically not infidelity but Red kept it a secret from Bad), ageism (countered), misogyny (not countered), lesphobia (not countered), skipping meals, weight loss, recent death of yoga student’s husband, past death of secondary character’s family, past professional ethics violation (employee-student relationship), on page sex, D/s, orgy, partner sharing, menage, CBT, somnophilia, doctor play, degradation play, rough sex, anal fisting, sounding, bondage and predicament bondage, impact play, pain play, fluid exchange, orgasm control, erotic wrestling, sex tape, mask, blindfold, rimming, glass bottle as anal toy, sex toys, Daddy kink (secondary characters), water sports (secondary characters), alcohol, inebriation, marijuana (secondary character), STD stigma, anti-fat bias, diet culture, casual ableism, penis size insults (“little”), gendered pejoratives, ableist language
Characters: Bad/Charles is a 31 year old gay white college security guard, yoga studio owner, and Dom. Red is a 22 year old gay white pizza place employee and submissive. This is set in California.
Content notes: disordered eating/overeating (secondary character), risk-taking behavior (secondary character forgoes condoms and put his address out on the internet for strangers to have sex with him on a livestream), depression and concern of suicidal ideation (secondary character), sex with a secondary character (technically not infidelity but Red kept it a secret from Bad), ageism (countered), misogyny (not countered), lesphobia (not countered), skipping meals, weight loss, recent death of yoga student’s husband, past death of secondary character’s family, past professional ethics violation (employee-student relationship), on page sex, D/s, orgy, partner sharing, menage, CBT, somnophilia, doctor play, degradation play, rough sex, anal fisting, sounding, bondage and predicament bondage, impact play, pain play, fluid exchange, orgasm control, erotic wrestling, sex tape, mask, blindfold, rimming, glass bottle as anal toy, sex toys, Daddy kink (secondary characters), water sports (secondary characters), alcohol, inebriation, marijuana (secondary character), STD stigma, anti-fat bias, diet culture, casual ableism, penis size insults (“little”), gendered pejoratives, ableist language
July 14, 2023
As the ad copy says: Bad and Red live together now, and they're also falling apart, because Bad works all. the. time. and Red feels closed out of his life apart from sex. Bad is crap at even recognizing his own emotions, never mind articulating them, so thank goodness Hugh from the Scientific Method books, and Bad's yoga mentor, Iris, are around to knock him upside the head a time or fifty.
The group sex (Bad, Red, Will, Truman, and Hugh!) is *chef's kiss*, of course.
Kris Ripper in general gives me food for thought about sexual jealousy. I have a well-worn rant about how sex is as important and complicated a human interaction as any other, and as worthy of a writer's attention; Kris Ripper's books are a case in point, because reading about how zir protagonists treat fidelity -- what fidelity means to them, which is not "never bang other people" -- encourages me to think through some of my own assumptions about what it means for people to belong to each other. Explicit sex is one of the means by which KR explores that idea, and in the second Red&Bad book there's a moment between Hugh and Truman that says it all.
KR's books are on sale at Smashwords till the end of July 2023 (this series appears as "Bad Comes First" and "Red Comes Second").
The group sex (Bad, Red, Will, Truman, and Hugh!) is *chef's kiss*, of course.
Kris Ripper in general gives me food for thought about sexual jealousy. I have a well-worn rant about how sex is as important and complicated a human interaction as any other, and as worthy of a writer's attention; Kris Ripper's books are a case in point, because reading about how zir protagonists treat fidelity -- what fidelity means to them, which is not "never bang other people" -- encourages me to think through some of my own assumptions about what it means for people to belong to each other. Explicit sex is one of the means by which KR explores that idea, and in the second Red&Bad book there's a moment between Hugh and Truman that says it all.
KR's books are on sale at Smashwords till the end of July 2023 (this series appears as "Bad Comes First" and "Red Comes Second").
January 21, 2025
I loved this continuation of Red and Bad's story. Their relationship is struggling. Both of them are working a lot, so their time spent together is cut short. Bad is completely focused on opening his new yoga studio and Red is feeling neglected, so much so that he seeks companionship elsewhere.
Luckily they both have friends that are trying to get them to see that they're losing each other. Iris is awesome and so is Sue and Polly. But the very best friends they have are Will, Truman and Hugh. I definitely recommend reading at least the first couple of books in the Scientific Method series (starting with Catalysts) before reading this book to get the full enjoyment of when Red and Bad spend time with the threesome. So hot and sexy.
I was worried that this book would be all drama and would be missing the dirty, kinky scenes from the first book. That was definitely not the case. Hot, hot, hot!
Read January 20, 2025
Luckily they both have friends that are trying to get them to see that they're losing each other. Iris is awesome and so is Sue and Polly. But the very best friends they have are Will, Truman and Hugh. I definitely recommend reading at least the first couple of books in the Scientific Method series (starting with Catalysts) before reading this book to get the full enjoyment of when Red and Bad spend time with the threesome. So hot and sexy.
I was worried that this book would be all drama and would be missing the dirty, kinky scenes from the first book. That was definitely not the case. Hot, hot, hot!
Read January 20, 2025
April 11, 2024
I didn’t particularly enjoy myself reading this book. It wasn’t bad, but as a totally subjective opinion it just wasn’t for me.
The reasons?
I didn’t connect to the characters and didn’t really like Bad tbh. I didn’t “get” him, he didn’t feel well rounded and/or authentic to me and I especially couldn’t connect him and Yoga. While not all Yogis need to be stereotypical Yogis of course, he just didn’t seem to me like a person who lives and breathes Yoga to an extend he wanted to open his own studio. But oh well. Maybe that’s just me.
The sex… mostly still felt more “gross dirty” than “sexy dirty” to me. So. While not bad, just not my cup of tea. Again.
I mostly finished the book because of all things Hugh. I liked to see this side of him, though I didn’t really get (again) why Bad and Red got to be the ones that tickled it out of him.
The reasons?
I didn’t connect to the characters and didn’t really like Bad tbh. I didn’t “get” him, he didn’t feel well rounded and/or authentic to me and I especially couldn’t connect him and Yoga. While not all Yogis need to be stereotypical Yogis of course, he just didn’t seem to me like a person who lives and breathes Yoga to an extend he wanted to open his own studio. But oh well. Maybe that’s just me.
The sex… mostly still felt more “gross dirty” than “sexy dirty” to me. So. While not bad, just not my cup of tea. Again.
I mostly finished the book because of all things Hugh. I liked to see this side of him, though I didn’t really get (again) why Bad and Red got to be the ones that tickled it out of him.
August 9, 2019
I’ve read both these books separately so my review of Bad is entered under Bad Comes First. I loved them both. I’ve run out of words to say how much I love this author’s stuff. Bad & Red are so kinky, and their story is so intense, just mind blowing.
July 5, 2021
Hardcore loved this installment, but certainly not for the fainthearted. Wished I'd read it earlier than towards the end of my SMU adventure but never to mind, that's just as a recommendation for others because it's my only regret. Red & Will giggling together is adorable ❤️
March 6, 2024
Rounding up to 4 for the occasional presence of my beloveds—Will, Hugh, Truman—and that finally Bad faces up to what he’ll lose if he doesn’t make quality time for Red. Some of their activities still not my cup of tea, but the emotions carried me through.
May 20, 2020
Growth for Bad
Loved the extra time with Truman, Will & High in this book. And even tho you see it coming I appreciated the growth of Bads character & Reds.
Loved the extra time with Truman, Will & High in this book. And even tho you see it coming I appreciated the growth of Bads character & Reds.
June 4, 2023
I am living in a Kris Ripper world, and I am a KR girl. Really these 2 books are companions and with a SMU overlap I am helpless.
March 13, 2017
This was actually something I thought about for Bad Comes First, but I think goes for much of Ripper's writings, is how consent is there, even when it seems Bad is a bully who only takes what he wants. It's not always expressed, but it's shown in subtle ways. I'm not sure I appreciated it enough the first time I read theses stories.
So, lots of kink, but also relationship struggles.
Also, this book has Hugh Reynolds, js.
So, lots of kink, but also relationship struggles.
Also, this book has Hugh Reynolds, js.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews