I LIVE TO SERVE
The second story in the Crescent City Kings was as good, if maybe not better than the first, and I loved it. Each story will read well as a stand-alone. I will admit this story is an emotional roller coaster ride with the various characters. My heart breaks for Phoebe and all she has lost, the memories, the regrets, and the horror and fear she has endured, and now, trying to move forward in life. The story has a great cast of characters, plenty of interaction, and emotions. This will be the story of Phoebe MacKenzie and Graham Layton.
“I am safe. No one will ever harm me again. I’ve taken all the necessary precautions.”
The story is mystery, suspense, danger, flash-backs, and includes a second chance romance. Phoebe has moved back to Louisana, to Thibodaux Parish, and has purchased Riverland Plantation that she plans to turn into Riverland Bed and Breakfast. She has moved into the caretaker cottage and lives there, along with her German Shepherd, Daisy. She works at Bayou Sin as a waitress, and with the inheritance from her grandfather, she purchased the plantation and now with plans in place, it is time to start the renovation. With the recommendation from Dante, she will contact, Layton Construction and what a surprise to discover that G. C. Layton is none other than Graham, her old high school crush from twenty years ago.
As Graham and his crew work on the remodel, he is still drawn to Phoebe but can tell she is as skittish as a cornered rabbit. It will take time and patience to gain her trust, but when strange things start to happen, he knows he has to protect her. In high school, there was a four year age difference, but now, that doesn’t matter and his heart is in the game. The more he learns about her life, the more he wants to protect her. But she has been hurt, not just emotionally, but physically, and he must be careful with her. Graham is a dominant, part-owner of Club Underworld, and he doesn’t think he can ever do ‘vanilla’ again, but will Phoebe explore his lifestyle of BDSM and power exchange?
“When a woman gives herself fully, surrenders her body, her pleasure to the right man, it is a gift. One to be treasured. I’m not vanilla, Phoebe. I enjoy sex that pushes conventional boundaries. And I am willing to give you time to learn. I realize that Dominance and submission might not be for you. All I’m asking is that you try.”
The story is a beautiful exploration into freely giving up control, learning to trust, knowing that your partner wants you to feel pleasure beyond anything you have ever known. This won’t be easy for Phoebe, and Graham doesn’t push her, giving her the freedom to know that she can use her safeword, that she is really the one in control. For her, sex has never been pleasant, with an abusive husband, she doesn’t know if she can surrender to Graham, or to enjoy sex—but he is going to prove to her that she can with him.
The scenes are emotional and erotic as Phoebe surrenders her control to Graham and learns the beauty of trust and, for the first time in her life, experiences orgasmic bliss—repeatedly. They set their guidelines and he respects her need for control in her everyday work life and that in the bedroom she will submit. What happens when danger makes him take control to protect her—can she grant him that during this trying time or has he broken his promise to her? Who is terrorizing Phoebe? Has Rob come to finish what he started? Or is there a new threat?
I love the chemistry between Graham and Phoebe and how protective he is with her, but he also praises the strengths he sees in her. When she trusts him to try a few scenes, relinquishing control and soars with pleasure, it is a power trip for both of them. At his house, she is the one to push him to try and explore more—she would have never done that a month before, but with his support and guidance, she has found freedom.
“I would like to think we had to go our separate ways and experience what we did so that we would recognize just how special this is between us. We were given a second chance when many don’t even get the first.” –Phoebe
“I don’t think that forever will be long enough with you. But It’s a start.” --Graham