Beads as a sex toy? Absolutely. They can be hotter than hot, and the three stories in this toy box prove it. First, Paulo and Preston are back in Lee Benoit's Adaptation. Paulo worries that Preston is no longer interested in topping him. He goes to Preston's best friend Tasim for advice, but can Tasim help Paulo figure out what's wrong or are Paulo and Preston on their way out?
In An Innocent Misunderstanding by S. Blaise, relative innocent Stephen lets himself into his boyfriend Ray's apartment one afternoon to find a string of rubber beads with a note reading "I'm sure you can find something to do with this." Stephen figures the beads are some sort of decoration, so when Ray comes home, they're both in for a bit of a surprise!
Finally, Syd McGinley brings us Ain't Misbehavin'. Rinnie and Tommy are living with Dr. Fell's mentor, Dr. Pol Rønne. When Tommy takes too long getting ready to go home after a drag show, he and Rinnie have to put on a show of their own for Pol using Tommy's mardi gras beads in a most unusual way.
"Adaptations" by Lee Benoit marks a return of Preston and his sub Paulo. Paulo is afraid that Preston isn't interested in being his Master anymore, when the heart of the problem is something very different. Preston's arthritis continues to worsen, making it hard for Preston to do all the things he used to do and leaving him feeling pathetic and inadequate. When Paulo buys some beads, Preston learns with a few alterations they can be put to very good use. Benoit has created two great characters that return in this story that is both touching and excitingly erotic. This story is truly fascinating in that Preston and Paulo are forced to deal with a very real situation, arthritis that is causing Preston to lose control of his hands. This in no way lessens his love for Paulo or his need to dominate, and both men are forced to come up with new ideas of ways to play together. I loved this story and can't wait to read more about these wonderfully complex characters!
In "An Innocent Misunderstanding" by S. Blaise, Stephen lets himself into his boyfriend Ray’s apartment and finds a little gift on the kitchen counter. Made of plastic, the aqua string of graduated size beads puzzles Stephen but the note from Ray says he should use his imagination to find a use for the item. Stephen thinks Ray must need help decided where to hang the decoration but finds out just how wrong he is when Ray comes home. This is a cute story with an interesting premise. Stephen could so easily become annoying with his extreme innocence but instead he’s endearing and the relationship between the men works quite well. Ray continues Stephen’s sexual education with love and adoration and it shows in their interactions. This sweet story was a joy to read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
In "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Syd McGinley, Tommy has moved in with Pol and Rinnie while he completes a costume design program. When he dawdles one night, causing both boys to be running late for their midnight curfew, Pol comes up with a special punishment for Tommy involving a new set of anal beads. There will also be a toy for both Pol and Rinnie to play with ~ Tommy. “Ain’t Misbehavin'" is a fun addition to the Dr. Fell series. Both Tommy and Rinnie have left Dr. Fell and are looking for more permanent owners. Rinnie and Pol have formed a very tight bond as Master and sub, and Tommy is sharing their space for a time. This is quite a change for Pol to go from having no boy, to having two including one that he harbors very strong feelings for. It was great to get a chance to catch up with both Tommy and Rinnie, as well as Pol. It was a bit disconcerting to try to put this in the right context since the story that comes before this one in terms of time line hasn’t yet been completed. Readers who are new to the Dr. Fell series might find that they need more background to fully appreciate the characters, but what a great excuse to start reading the series. Overall, this story is playful and naughty and a delight to read.
All three stories utilize anal beads in ways that are sexy and erotic, making for a very enjoyable read. Each has exceptional characters that draw the reader in from the very beginning. I definitely recommend this collection of stories!
Adaptations (Epiphany, #4) by Lee Benoit, 3 stars An Innocent Misunderstanding by S. Blaise, 4 stars Ain't Misbehaving (A Dr. John Fell story), 2 stars