A L*O*N*G ENDLESS SEDUCTION ... NOT ENOUGH STORY
“This pull I feel toward my bodyguard. A pull I’ve never acted on for so many reasons. He’s the perfect distraction.”
Under-pressure hotel heiress Ivy needs a distraction and ripped bodyguard Callum is it -- if they get on the same page. This steamfest has ALL the sexy vibes and then some. It’s off the charts sexy and a character all by itself. The MCs’ willpower to tease, pull back, indulge, and then deny each other revealed amazing self-control. But, eventually I was desensitized to sustained seduction that left me hanging. Also, I’m not a fan of ménage, even as “harmless” as this one was, and I definitely need more dinner with my show. Except for a stalker mention that amounts to nothing, there wasn’t even a story of any kind. Just raw sensuality and pure, erotic sexiness: thinking about sex, fantasizing about sex, talking about sex, commiserating about sex, flirting with sex, denying sex, and FINALLY having sex. Does anyone not know how this turns out?
Blakely does seduction and erotic romance very well and usually entertains me. I’ve got 24 of her books to prove it, so it feels somewhat hypocritical saying this novella goes overboard on seduction. Finally, halfway through I’d had enough footdragging and wanted the characters to just stop stalling, making excuses not to be together, and give in to the desire. But, that would have required a storyline and not just the “physical”.
In fairness, the setup of the pair was tantalizing with dialogue, like this:
“Do you have any idea how much I want you?”
“How much?”
“So much I can’t breathe right now.”
“So breathe me in.”
And then, when they’d had enough denial:
“We are blurred lines and danger. There is absolutely a line. And I’m crossing it. I’m vaulting over it.”
Whose jets aren’t revved by talk like that? But the seduction is all about facing their desires for each other and dominant Callum setting Ivy free of control in the bedroom to indulge in her dirty fantasies. Problem is, the fantasy part was meh. Have seen it all before, so the reality of their delayed gratification wasn't as satisfying as the seductive tease. Ivy wasn't at all appealing, but I was smitten with Callum. I needed more, and got less ... even though the seduction part was the best part, it was overlong.
FYI: Crossover characters appear from One Exquisite Touch, Maybe This Time, One Time Only. Nice tie-ins.