Dual Hostilities

Duality #0.5

by Kate Hawthorne

Two men. One weekend. No limits...

My name is Foster Golden and I'm looking for a man with a strong hand and a shitty moral compass. I wasn't expecting to ring in the new year with Sage, a man I already know and hate, but I think he might be able to give me exactly the kind of pain I'm looking for.

Please review the content warning at the start of the story for any potential triggers. This story has BDSM themes and content.
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This book is the prequel that can standalone, but has no HEA. Foster and Sage's story is continued in Dual Destruction, Duality #1

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Novella, Gay, Erotica

57 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

With over two dozen published romances to her name, Kate Hawthorne has built a recognizable brand around telling emotional stories that pack a figurative (and sometimes literal) punch.

Existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate spends her days dreaming up angsty stories full of heat, kink, and heart. Kate now lives in Louisville, where she writes romance, reads romance, and hides from the humidity.

Visit her website at http://www.katehawthornebooks.com

Reviews

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

me while reading this:



also me after finishing the book:


i knew what to expect going in, but the way some people have a preference of physical pain for pleasure is something i'll never understand bc it's just not for me personally (hey, to each their own though) but this was entertaining regardless and Golden/Sage's dynamic had me by the throat. 😌 i love how Golden prefers being submissive in the bedroom yet him and Sage could literally kill one another outside of it. i'm excited to see how their relationship will come to be/develop in the full length novel. 👀

(thank you, Candy, for bringing this to my attention. 🤪)

[Drusilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's intense and very brutal. Foster and Sage know what they want and everything is pre-arranged ...

“And what are you interested in?” Kevin asks. 
“Everything.”
“And what are you limits?”
“No mutilation.” I clear my throat. 😳

Foster is a difficult character and although you're in his head all the time, it's hard to fully understand him. I am absolutely fascinated ...

I’m tired of jacking off, and I’m equally tired of denying myself the right to jack off. I’ve battered my own nipples until they’ve bled, gagged myself, tied myself up, done as much as I can to hold me over, but none of it comes close to what I really need. 🥺

We learn next to nothing about Sage, but thats not the point of these opening credits. I made the mistake of starting the series with book 1. It's important to start with this one 0.5. The weekend they spend together is extremely important.
But not to be misunderstood, their weekend is filled with sex, sweat, blood and other bodily fluids. This is not about getting to know each other or even romance.
Foster gets what he needs, but also a bit more, and I'm very excited to see how the characters develop.

Wetness trickles out of my ass, hot and sticky against my thighs, and I’m vaguely aware of the fact Sage has come inside of me. It doesn’t matter, though, none of it matters. 
I’m lost.
I’m gone.
I’m ruined.
This was perfect and it was torture, and my life isn’t ever going to be the same again. 🫣

[Mug · Rating 3 out of 5]

ngl i was expecting a lot more intensity considering the fact that the only limit was no mutilation…..and this is me saying that knowing there was an e-stim sound!😭😭 ig i wish the writing was more immersive bc reading what should be intense bdsm scenes shouldn’t feel like skimming.

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ‘’I own you’’ stars

Me after reading this:


“I promise you, Foster Golden, you’ll look back on this and jack off over how good I made you feel, over how good I fucking hurt you.”

Brief summary:Foster puts on a BDSM event, where he sells his body in hopes that someone will use him, like he wants to he used. Sage is the man that buys him and proceeds to do exactly what Foster asked for.

It’s always challenging for me to find a BDSM book that I enjoy. There is always way too much angst and not enough BDSM for my preference or the BDSM is too light for me and I find myself wanting more.

This was the perfect mix of everything for me. And it was so fucking hot. God did I love the sex scenes and all of the BDSM elements, they all worked so damn well for me.

I also really enjoyed the set up for this story and I also really liked the small bits we saw of Foster and Sage. They seem like characters I could really love.

I’m so excited to read the full length novel that comes after this because I really love the set up for these two guy’s story.

[Peppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

„You look lost,” a voice behind me says(…)
“I’m not,” I answer, straightening to my full height and looking down at him. He licks his lips, and even in the meager light, I can make out the pink of his tongue and the fullness of his lower lip.
“Did you want to be?” 
Yes.
Yes.“

THIS was one of the most intense,dark,emotional charged,biting hot, hard core kink book I have ever read!!!
Parts of this story might be quite shocking if you don’t understand BDSM, kinks and fetishes. And this one here was especially hard core it’s not sure some spanking and restating. But this novella definitely had me in its grip from the beginning to the end and I devoured every page.

Here a brief summery:
Forster decided to put on a BDSM event more clearly a slave auction, where Doms can buy a submissive for an agreed period. Forster sells his body in hopes someone will use him and put him in place like he wants to be. Sage, the man he had a brief encounter before the auction, buys him for the agreed three days.And is determined to give Forster exactly what he needs.

„Wetness trickles out of my ass, hot and sticky against my thighs, and I’m vaguely aware of the fact Sage has come inside of me. It doesn’t matter, though, none of it matters. 
I’m lost. 
I’m gone. 
I’m ruined.
This was perfect and it was torture, and my life isn’t ever going to be the same again.“

Forster and Sages dynamic was really really intense, rough and almost animalistic. I loved how bratty Forster was and how determined to make make it really hard for Sage, he fought against him in hope Sage would succeed to put him in place and make him reach the state of full bliss by submitting to someone.

“Shut up now, Golden, and be a good fuck toy.”
“You’re putting in a lot of work to get me off considering that’s all I am.”

Sage on the other hand is a bit of mystery we don’t know much about him or what exactly goes on in his head. But he definitely knew how to take Forster apart, how to sneak into the others mind and bring him pleasure beyond his imaginations.
Sage needed this whole encounter just like Forster needed it, and even if their play was so rough and you had the feeling the hate each other, they didn’t.

In the end I can only say that I feel blessed that I found this book. Especially since it’s challenging for me to find a BDSM book which satisfies my preferences.
Most of the books I’ve read before don’t have enough BDSM elements in it or are too light for my taste , but here in this book I got the full blow!
Can’t wait to read the other books in this series🖤

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 2024 - 4 stars

I'm getting jaded because the BDSM here, while still intense, didn't hit nearly as hard as the first time I read it. That said, I like this as an intro and definitely felt their connection and their reluctance to indulge it.

March 2023 - 4 stars

An intense BDSM erotica intro to the Dual Destruction novel.

CW: consensual-non-consent. dubious consent, gun play
Sexual content: I mean, it's erotica so YES. Anal sex (strict top/bottom), blowjob, rimming, felching.
Kink: BDSM - what I would consider intense but obviously this is subjective (incl. exhibitionism/voyeurism, bondage, CNC, asphyxiation, impact play, sounding, e-stim, gun play)

Foster Golden wants to be used, and he's decided to take 3 weeks off work so he can auction himself to the highest bidder for 3 days, and have time to recover. And boy is he going to need it once Sage is through with him.

Golden's only hard limit is mutilation (JFC) and Sage really lets loose deciding to punish one of his three holes on each day they have together. Yes, three, that's right - sounding + e-stim must be...a lot.

Note that while they engage in some pretty intense play, Sage checks in with Golden, who is always able to use his safeword - and does so when things get too much for him emotionally.

“I said enough.”
“Is it, though? Golden.” He steps closer and brackets his hands around my waist. “You don’t need to leave.”
“Are you trying to talk me back from the ledge?” A bird flies out of one of the trees, a flurry of snowflakes exploding into the sky in its wake.
“I’m just saying… I think if it really was enough, you wouldn’t still be here.”
He’s right. Fucking bastard. It wasn’t enough.

While this is mostly an erotic BDSM story which you could read as a standalone, it is the intro to Dual Destruction and we get hints at the characters' psyches which absolutely made me want to read on.

You can read this for free through Prolific Works, thanks to author Kate Hawthorne.

[Ky · Rating 4 out of 5]

* 4 stars *


(Original review got deleted so I'll write one again in the hopes that it stays up this time...)

Sage and Foster spend a weekend together as the prize of a charity auction. They don't have a very good first encounter but it was enough for both of them to be intrigued.

So, the weekend starts and it's obvious from really early on that they're compatible in a lot of ways. What follows is an intense couple of days that leave Foster confused.

This is like a prequel or a long prologue to a novel that's going to be released in a few days, but it was also okay as a stopping point for the two of them. The ending heavily hints that there's more to come, but if you choose to stop there that's okay too. For me though, I want to get the rest of their story because these characters have a lot more to give, there are so many layers to them and the "Dual Hostilities" short only gave us a glimpse.

So, just try this and you won't miss. If you love the characters, great! There's a full book coming your way! If you don't like them that much, you'll have read a short story and spent a nice afternoon. Win-win!



~Note: I can't end this review without adding a warning. These characters are fully into the BDSM life, they play heavy and they play for real. Everything happening is consensual and sane (I'm not so sure about the safe) and even though Foster's limits are pushed at times, he knows that he always has the option and the power to stop whatever is going on. Just proceed with caution but if you're uncomfortable with even the slightest hint of a S/M dynamic maybe it's best to sit this one out. If this sound like something you'll like then,
Have fun!

[Alastair · Rating 5 out of 5]

M/M romance (that's a bit of a stretch but romance is different for each person)

Definitely read this before dual destruction, it helps a hell of a lot. Can be gotten for free (https://www.katehawthornebooks.com/po...)

Not sure why it wasn't just added to the beginning of Dual Destruction but okay.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this is in the middle of catholic school

[Read For Your Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, it's decided, BDSM or hardcore BDSM *is that a thing?* is definitely not my jam (not yucking someone's yum) but this was definitely interesting. And by interesting, I mean funny, hilarious. Idk why I found myself laughing throughout the play.

But I really liked the writing style and that's why I didn't just drop it, I'm invested in Sage's and Foster's relationship, I just don't know if I can handle a full length book of this.

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd actually read this before. I'm now moving book 1 up my tbr

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY FREAKING CRAP!!! This was one hell of a fantastic, intense, dark, five alarm flaming hot, powerful, hard core kinky, emotionally charged, and totally awesome tale!! It had me hooked from beginning to end, and I can't wait to get my greedy hands on the full-length book.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

[Sheila M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foster Golden is the silent business partner with Rich and Ronan, and Foster comes up with an idea to plan a consensual slave auction at a local BDSM club with the proceeds to benefit a charily that helps homeless LGBT kids find housing and jobs. Foster’s regular job is mysterious, and he can’t tell his closest friends what he does. The story alludes that his job is a government contract job that involves guns and kills and that he must be available at all times. The reality is that Foster wants this charity event so he can auction himself off. Foster is a masochistic submissive without limits and is looking for a sadistic dom that is like minded. He seems to find that in Sage Rosetti, who is more of a mystery than Foster is.

Some parts of the story might be shocking if you do not understand BDSM, kinks and fetishes. If you don’t, skip this book rather than give it a negative review because you do not understand it. This book is the prequel to Book 1 of the Duality series and follows the relationship of Foster and Sage. Dual Hostilities is an intense and dark story, with vividly detained scenes, and interesting and complex characters. I recommend this book, but also caution readers to check the trigger warnings. I like the world the author created and look forward to reading more books in the series.

[Caia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote:
Bruises don’t scare me. Cuts, knots, knives, needles…none of that makes me cringe.
I like to play on the edge and tumble over it.
-----
This was so good!

The kinks were exactly right up my ally.
I'm a sucker for sadomasochism and a story which promises "no limits" and GIVES you NO LIMITS is everything for me.

Foster is quite the intriguing character:
Quote:

I’m tired of jacking off, and I’m equally tired of denying myself the right to jack off. I’ve battered my own nipples until they’ve bled, gagged myself, tied myself up, done as much as I can to hold me over, but none of it comes close to what I really need.

-----
and I'm a goner for Sage!

Quote: You’re mine for the next three days.
I hope you’re ready.
And I hope you’re ready to fight me.
I like to earn my rewards, so don’t let me down.

-----

I can't wait to see how Foster and Sage's story will go on in Dual Destruction!

I would definitely rec this for ppl who love to read the promised kinks, it's blissfully intense

--freebie on prolific--

Kinks/Content Warnings:
Consenting slave auction
Dubious consent
Consensual non-consent
Gun play
E-stim
Sounding
Breath play

Safewords

[Any Length · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. So these days I don't award 5 stars easily. But this book had me in its grip. So there is pretty rough BDSM in this, gun play, breath play, e-stim, sounding, flogging, blood, etc. And if you want to call Golden a sub, he is not an easy one. The Dom has to fight him to submit. So this gets handsy.
The scenes are amazing and contain a lot of imagination and I really felt I was in there, living the happenings with these guys. It was so tangible, so real.
The feelings these guys are getting from their interactions are amazingly described. And I am not just talking about what their bodies are feeling. There is more going on inside their heads and I am certainly hooked. I want to know more about these two guys.
I couldn't put this book down and have procured the next one in the series already.

[WY_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dual Hostilities is a searing read in rather unexpected ways. Foster Golden is a man with few limits. In fact, his day job has numbed him to the painful and disturbing in such a way that he has difficulty finding someone who can make him feel. Sage Rosetti is up for the challenge despite Golden's dislike of him, and perhaps because of that dislike. The ensuing play scenes are shocking but consensual. The feelings they stirred in the men are also shocking, and the men must determine just what lines they're willing to cross. This book is fast and intense, and has the ability to blow your mind (and maybe your gut) wide open if you let it.

Disclaimer: I received a promotional copy for free and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a preview into the next book. I didn’t know what to expect. I liked it. Foster Thomas Golden is a sub that likes to get hurt…only limit is mutilation. Anything else goes. He meets Gage at a scene club and they get into a fight where Foster leaves him in an ally hurt. Foster is having an event at said club where subs will be bought by doms for how ever much time they choose all for charity. Foster gets bought by Gage for 3 days. 3 days, 3 holes. Foster is enjoying it too much and wants to end it early but Gage convinces him to stay. It ends with Gage leaving Foster a note saying I own you. It ends there. This is a prologue to next book.

[Kristy Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! Beyond retelling the blurb or saying “I gave it 4 stars so what are you waiting for??” All I can say is whoa 😳🫣 This story is intense and beyond 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️ but also very deeply felt. Foster is looking for his forever but his kink needs are special. Finding a man who is not afraid of his limits, or lack thereof, has been challenging. So when Sage wins Foster at auction he isn’t sure what to think. Will Sage be able to give him what he craves, needs?

This is the prequel to Dual Destruction. If extreme kink is not a trigger for you or too much for you…then take my advice and read this book!

[Lauralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smoking hot and slightly twisted short story!
Foster's needs are specific and hard to meet: He wants to be made to submit while fighting it every step of the way and gets turned on by danger and pain. So he lets himself be sold off by a charity slave auction at a bdsm club...
This is a prelude to a full book as it turns out both MCs have mysterious jobs that require them to be armed at all times and will probably clash spectacularly when they meet again after their steamy weekend in a remote cabin in the woods comes to an end. I'm game!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of the Winter Wonderland giveaway and it was definitely a standout for me.

The tension between these two men very intense and there is so much mystery surrounding them both; it's almost more of a hate story than a love story. The BDSM elements get pretty extreme (there's not really anything on Foster's list of things he doesn't do. Like, pretty much nothing).

There's a lot left unanswered, so I'm extremely excited for the full length follow up entitled Dual Destruction.

[Haylee Wireman · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALRIGHT. What in the actual what did I just read?! I have to admit that for the first 15 pages I was like, I have no idea what is going on but this sounds great so I’ll hang around for the ride. But by the end I’m immediately one clicking the next book because I have to know what is happening. This is an incredibly well written BDSM book. There is no class, there is no fluff, it’s raw and dirty and down right delicious and I’m officially hooked!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foster and Sage spend a very intense weekend together at a remote cabin. Foster has made it very clear that he likes pain and he likes rough sex, and Sage delivers. Both men leave the cabin satisfied and wanting more. I have already started Dual Destruction to see where their story goes from here.

[Jenny (Nyxie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this first! This is a required prequel to the Duality Book 1. I started Book 1 without it, got about 44% through and just coulnd't believe there wasn't a prequel. And, lo and behold, there is a prequel. This is available on the author's website as a free download as of 8/2023.

CW - kinks abound. CNC, estim, sounding, caging, breath play, intense pain play. Consensual but not negotiated in detail.

[Tessa Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this story with the winter wonderland giveaway. This was by far one of my favorites I read. I don’t want to give any spoilers but it has one of the hottest scenes I’ve read in a long time. Foster and Sage have a hate/hate relationship and its so captivating. This story was a short and I just wanted more and was very excited to find out she was continuing the story. Must read!!!!

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short prequel story.
Short in length, short on plot, short on character background details. Clearly just setting things up for the main series.
The interaction between MCs is consensual but unapologetically brutal though neither one is particularly likeable.
Yet, somehow I’m intrigued enough to consider checking out the next book.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah. This one soooo isn’t your basic run of the mill, 50 shades BS. This isn’t a talk a big talk, give the world’s lightest spanking and then get on with vanilla stuff. Nope. Not at all. It’s rough, and violent. This is NOT for beginners and has truly some of the most sadistically F’d up stuff I’ve ever read.

And I couldn’t stop reading it! Onto the next torture book.

[Amber Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so good. It's hard finding authors who can handle kink without either making it some kind of taboo to be ashamed of, or making it full of consent violations. Kate Hawthorne is nailing it with these two! I can't wait to read more about them!

[Michi · Rating 5 out of 5]

No limits for an entire weekend.
Morally gray characters.
So much kink.

A great start to a full story that is coming soon. I loved this introduction to these two and am eagerly waiting for the next book.

[Sara]

I wanted to read this before Dual Destruction to get a taste of what to expect and it’s both too dark and over the top for my tastes. Sometimes less is more. :) But I could see how this could appeal as well. Just not for me.