Logan Barnes is a beta and an omega rights worker. When his offices are attacked, his friend and coworker, Chad Brand, sends a bodyguard from his mate's company to protect him. The bodyguard is cocky, brash and every inch the alpha, and Logan is reluctantly charmed.
Merchant knows that he's not a good person. He's made a career out of intimidation, blackmail and murder, and if Logan knew the truth about him he'd run screaming in the other direction. But Merchant doesn't care. Logan is everything he never knew he wanted in a mate, and he'll be damned if he lets the man of his dreams get away...
(This 55,000 word novel features characters from the Omega series, but can be read as a standalone. It contains adult themes, including rough sex, spanking, knotting, and bondage. The story has a HEA ending and no cliff hanger)
***
“Why don’t you come sit here?” Merchant asks. He unzips his coat and scoots back on the wide rock, pulling Logan to his feet and firmly, yet gently, manhandles him into position between his legs. Logan can hardly breathe as Merchant wraps his jacket around them both, putting his arms around Logan’s waist.
He can feel Merchant’s breath on the back of his ear, warm and moist, making him shudder. Merchant’s hands are holding him just beneath his waist, gloved fingertips reaching underneath the hem of his shirt and landing on bare skin.
“You like that?” Merchant asks. He sounds gruff, his chest rumbling against Logan’s back.
“Yeah,” Logan says with a hitched intake of breath. Merchant’s hands are pushed flat against his stomach now, rubbing the skin between his shirt and jeans with gentle circular motions. The fact that Merchant hasn’t taken his gloves off just seems to make it hotter.
“Do you feel how hard I am?” Merchant whispers with a slight grind of his hips. Logan closes his eyes, because yes. Yes he does feel that. He can feel Merchant’s bulge pressing into his lower back, thick and hard and uncompromising, and he’s never wanted anything more.
Not able to bring himself to speak, he nods.
“Say it?” Merchant demands. He’s using his alpha voice, the words reaching into an instinctual part of Logan that’s wired to obey.
“I feel it. I want it,” he says, letting himself go limp and boneless as he relaxes back into Merchant’s arms. The alpha makes a strangled sound, almost like a whine, and before he knows it Logan feels teeth scraping over his neck.
“Fuck,” he whispers. Teeth mean that Merchant wants to bite him, and biting is serious...
Hello, my name is D.J. Heart. I write erotic gay fiction, usually with a bdsm twist, featuring dominant gay men and the twinks who love them. I hope you all enjoy my stories!
My mailing list (used only to notify you of new releases) can be found at: eepurl.com/bkJ9l5
If anyone has any questions, comments or just wants to say hi, I can be found on tumblr at: djheart-books.tumblr.com
Or you could send me a message at: d.j.heart@writeme.com
I read this as a standalone. Thank goodness, It didn't confuse me. It was hot and I had a great time. When it comes to alpha males, I guess I'm easy to please. As long as he's not an a**hole.
A shortish, smutty work with enough of a plot and characters to pump up the Alpha/beta heat by a notch or two. Best for fans of the author's previous Omega serial, the following Omega series, and those who like scene-focused Dominant (but consensual) Alpha/Beta/Omega knotting.
The dom-sub interplay of the characters, the way the relationship actually grows between Logan and Merchant (to the extent allowed in a story like this), and, of course, the so-hot-it-makes-your-eyeballs-sweat sex is all extremely satisfying, making for a fun and steamy read. Not to mention, I like that the author has created a fuller picture for what were initially just supporting characters in the previous Evan's Alphas books.
On the other hand... I'm not quite sure I particularly like the author's version of the Omegaverse. While it supports the BDSM play found in all three books (so far? I'm thinking there's scope for more), Heart's interpretation of Alpha and Omega, and even Beta, behavior is very much more animalistic than even in those novels where actual animals (shifters, werebeasts, whatever you wish to call them) are featured. It's quite violent and not a little bit disturbing, especially the casual way the society Heart built accepts that violence. It's not that I'm squeamish - believe me, all the true crime shows I watch would quickly convince you otherwise - it's just not an interpretation of the Omegaverse setup I particularly care for.
I was wondering who would be able to capture Merchant's heart. After watching him act as Peter's ruthless right-hand man in the previous books in this series, I thought that love might not be in the cards for him. Logan, however, was used to standing up for himself after years of fighting for omega rights. When he ran into trouble and Merchant was assigned to protect him, the attraction was instant. I can't get enough of D.J. Heart's alphas. They are so dominant, protective and hot AF.
This series has become my guilty pleasure..they're not perfect by any means..this one being my least favourite, but they are very hot an steamy. I have to say that the world building in this series is rather odd, in that all I feel I know is it seems to be a world of alphas, betas and omegas. But there's no mention of a shifter element so I'm unsure of the full structure of this world. And that brings me to my biggest bug bare with this series..the description..or lack of. Because I don't feel I got enough information about what people looked like, setting a scene or really in depth emotions and plot. It's all a bit shallow..especially when you get to the third book and its still the same...I get the intensity of the sex and mating which is high on the erotic scale..but there needed to be more besides that. I was really looking forward to this one, after meeting Logan in the previous story. I was intrigued why he was rather skittish with Chad in the last book..thought maybe there was going to be a story behind it to make him more interesting.. but unfortunately this isn't developed and he falls all lustful in a matter of pages and in a matter of days they are mated...it's really that dull and simple. I wanted to see more conflict from Logan and more development between them. I wanted to see Marchent have to work for it..but despite it saying this was around 200pages..I am not sure I believe this. There were blank pages in between viewpoints and the whole thing was rushed and not as exciting as I'd hoped. It also didn't help my liking of this book when one of the things that turns me off in M/M genre is when a guy cums on his lovers face..does absolutely nothing for me and yet this happens twice..once on their first real sexual encounter. I also am not a fan of the whole shoving Logan off him in the middle of the sexual act, so he stumbles and doesn't know what's happening..it's like the alpha doesn't care and the guy on the floor is left humiliated..this goes against the concept I do love in these books..in terms of the alpha desiring to protect and care for their mate. But those are personal opinion and I understand that's not the same for everyone. I was disappointed when there is really nothing resolved when Logan discovers what Marchent really does..it was a fantastic build up and emotional scene but then nothing happens to resolve it and I'm supposed to believe that Logan just smiles and says it's all ok!? It didn't sit well with me at all and wasn't believable.
This is the 2nd DJ Hart story I've read. I fell for the Tank Security guy's and girls in my first book and can't get enough of them now. The quirky sense of humor he has is great, in the books I've gotten so far it and the characters are amazing. Merchant has been my favorite, his self confidence and pushing buttons of the people he likes and doesn't like - I've caught myself laughing or smiling through out the story. His character development moving him to being a fun and sensitive guy.-but still a Alpha. Love the UberAlpha mentality and macho violent attitudes. (I'm not into mushy, soft romances)
Absolute favorite of the series. Merchant has been my favorite through these and through chad's stories and I'm so glad I got to see more of him in his own book.
Pretty part for the course with heart as far as the writing, grammar, plot lines, etc. Very hot sex scenes. Very interesting story. Very enjoyable overall. Wish there was more though. I can't get enough merchant in my life.
I'm just starting to read books in this genre. So this series was a good start. I liked the storyline and I'm still trying to get used to some of the lingo. I preferred Evan more than I did Logan. I think this should have been a standalone book.
I think I may liked this one just a smidge more than the previous two books. There was more room for humor, the editing was tighter (though still not what it ought to be). I do feel that the last 20% or so was rushed. That could have been better.
Omega rights activist Logan a beta falls in last with the very opposite kind of man when they're put together following a bomb blast at his office. Merchant is an alpha who thinks the ends justify the means. Plenty of knot action and a reasonable storyline.
This is my favorite author this book has the right amount of kinky sex and lots of love and dominance this book is not for the faint of heart. It a must read be prepared to get very hot and plan for take of as you will not be able to put this book drown anytime soon.
I'll call this a 4.7 rounded up for three small reasons: 1) I have personal issues with present tense, 2) The writing was mostly very good, but sometimes it didn't quite do it for me. 3) Even though the plot was interesting, creative and had highstakes, it sometimes managed to bore me. Not really sure why, I just didn't always feel the suspense. I actually skimmed the first little bit because it just started with Logan doing paperwork and eating lunch at his desk and I was like, 'nope, no time for that.'
Okay, now that that's out of the way Holy Hell the sex was hot. Merchent is one of the sexiest alpha characters I've read and I loved how sweet Logan was. He was a great Beta character. I found the personification of their ranks to be perfect. I liked reading about the way they clashed and came together, and dayyyyam when they got down. Aspects like scents and that type of thing were really well well described in a way that they added something very hot to the story. It was the first I've read from this author, but I will definitely be reading more!
So close, yet so far... Overall, I loved Merchant and Logan. I probably would have given 4 stars to this story if it wasn't for the ending. The final chapter (not the epilogue) was the worst of the worst. It didn't wrap up anything, and actually made things worse in my opinion. Yes, I'll continue to read more by this author because I'm a total addict, but maybe next time I'll just skip the last chapter.
Love this series! I really liked the characters in this book with Merchant being the surprisingly caring dominant Alpha and Logan being the strong submissive Beta. I like books like this one where we have a D/s component, but it still stay's consensual and for the benefit of both partners pleasure. Flashes of previous character's. Can't wait for whatever comes next!!
I think I like this book more than the previous two. The author had been adding more plot to his books, and taking better care of grammatical mistakes. I enjoyed both MCs and their relationship. And it was nice to see a continuation of events and characters.
This was such a great book I loved it from the first page Logan and merchant was smoking hot together every scene with merchant was a pleasure to read this badass alpha protecting his mate