Spiked

Soul Mates #3.6

by Mychael Black, Willa Okati, Jourdan Lane

Tattoos. Piercings. Implants. If body modification is your thing, then Spiked is right up your alley. From the everyday guy to the cyberworld of a huge futuristic corporation, Spiked explores all the ways men change their bodies, and love each other's bodies, too. In "Tattoo You" by Willa Okati, Jacob Lee goes to get a tattoo to please his lover Donathan. Will it mean a new beginning for both of them? "Possession", by Jourdan Lane features Lucian and Saaban, from the Soul Mates series. What they do might just surprise the whole coven. Laney Cairo's "Marginalia" pits cutter Bailey and his new love Quint against the government and the big corporations. Will they be able to save Quint? Finally, in "Beneath the Mask", by Mychael Black, Lance thinks he's interviewing powerful vampire Triarius, but Triarius has other plans. Will Lance survive the night? Explore a world of skin and ink, of metal and mayhem, where art is not hidden away in museums, but displayed in the gritty underworld of Spiked!

Genres: M M Romance, Anthologies, Vampires, Erotica, Paranormal, Gay, Supernatural

Nook

First published January 9, 2008

About the author

Formerly known as Kay Derwydd

Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

***This anthology contains the following stories: Tattoo You by Willa Okati ,Possession by Jourdan Lane, Marginalia by Laney Cairo and Beneath the Mask by Mychael Black***

*This review is for Possession only*

Possession is the fifth book in the Soul Mates series and is told through Sabaan's POV. As the book starts Sabaan is enjoying some quite time by the mansion's pool when Lucien shows up. Things between them have been getting better lately so Sabaan is happy to sit and talk with Lucien. However, when things go too far between them Sabaan is surprised and deeply hurt at the treatment he receives from Lucien.

Later on Lucien shows up at Sabaan's house with apologies for his behavior and a very surprising offer. Sabaan makes a decision that will deeply affect not only them but Nikolas and Peter as well. The actions that Sabaan and Lucien take will continue to be a big theme as the series goes on.

There's a lot going on in this book and at 82 pages it's both satisfying and yet not enough. We see for the first time that Lucien and Peter's relationship is not as happy as it once was and the bond between Lucien and Sabaan will in fact strain it further. Also tested will be Nikolas and Sabaan's own relationship as Nikolas has problems dealing with Lucien's mark of possession on Sabaan.

This book is definitely not a stand alone, in my opinion to really enjoy the book it should be read as part of the series. There's a lot of personal and relationship issues between Lucien, Peter, Nikolas and Sabaan that needs background information to be really enjoyed fully. That said, it was another great book by Jourdan Lane in her wonderful, action-packed and sexy Soul Mates series.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stories featuring tattoos, piercings and implants.

Tattoo You: Willa Okati. A sweet romance where Jacob is determined to overcome his fear of needles and get a tattoo for his lover Donathan. Likeable characters and an enjoyable story. 4/5.

Possession: Jourdan Lane. This focuses on Lucien and Saaban from the 'Soul Mates' series - having not read any of the series I found the story a bit confusing; too many references to past events that I'm assuming are in previous books. I liked Saaban, but Lucien was a little annoying. And the relationships between Lucien, Peter, Saaban and Nikolas were confusing - guessing the previous books might clarify this. I didn't enjoy it enough to want to read the rest of the series however. 3/5

Marginalia: Laney Cairo. I loved this story - the futuristic world and tech were fascinating, especially details like the water rationing and the different mods. Bailey and Quint worked well as characters - I especially liked Quint. I'm hoping the author has written more in this setting or about these characters! 5/5

Beneath the Mask: Mychael Black. An interesting vampire romance - I enjoyed reading about Lance and Triarius. The characters evolve throughout the story - worth reading. 4/5

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marginalia was the best

[Indigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Marginalia
⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the rest

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this short story best of all the books and short stories in the series, so far. I’ve found that Sabaan, Simon, and Nikolas to not only be three of the best, but also three of the most interesting characters in the entire series. I’m sold that Jourdan Lane should write a new series with demons and angels, and a spin-off series about Sabaan and Lucien, and Simon and Cyril.
Possession takes place during the same time frame of Soul Mates: Sacrifice, and is told from Sabaan’s point of view. We get to see another side to Sabaan that we didn’t in the novel. Surprisingly, it’s a very human side.
Sabaan hopes that things were different between him and Nikolas, and that Nikolas would see what he wants. For years now, Sabaan has wanted and loved Nikolas; however Nikolas has not shown any interest in Sabaan, other than that of just a friend. Or, is Sabaan missing or misreading the signals that Nikolas is giving him?
Because Nikolas is at the mansion more and with Peter too, there is the history that Sabaan and Lucien share, that makes for Sabaan being at the mansion difficult. Lucien has despised Sabaan for what he did to him. Sabaan being an incubus demon and Lucien being an incubus vampire overpowered Lucien and got him high on lust to the point where he wasn’t able to say no to Sabaan. Then, he blew his mind when he fracked him. (WOW!)
Sabaan has agreed to Lucien’s offer. He’ll leave his concrete home of forty years, and live with the coven in the mansion. Sabaan will be Lucien’s servant. The longer they are together under the same roof, the stronger the bond between master and servant will be. “Like two halves of a whole.”
So that there will be no question of Sabaan, Lucien makes a tattoo appointment with Death. Lucien marks Sabaan so everyone who sees him will know they are bonded, and what Sabaan says is the same as being told the same from Lucien. Sabaan will have respect from every member of the coven, and will not have to keep himself disguised as a human in order to keep from clearing out a room.
Once presented to the coven, will what’s left between Sabaan and Nikolas be destroyed by jealousy, or will what Simon says prove to be true?

[Tara]

3/28/10- Possession by Jourdan Lane

This a story from the Soul Mates Series and I think if you don't read it, you will likely be lost come the next book. This story takes place Sabaan's point of view. He is an incubus demon we meet for the first time in the 2nd book and he has continued to be in all the books since, and clearly he is a complex character. This story start with his and Lucien both waiting outside while the men they love are having sex with each other. I know, I know open relationships blah, blah blah, but it makes me feel awful, because clearly this situation is not okay. And by the end there seems to be a resolution, but really, I still don't feel good about it. I don't mind menage relationship in stories, ones where all the people are together, and open and with each other and that's what makes them happy. I think what keeps bothering me is that I don't get that sense from any of these characters. It's like there are 2 couples and member of each couple is in love with exactly one person, their partner and everyone else is just something to play with. While the second member of each couple is in love with each other and their own partners... and it just feels uneven. And that makes me anxious like someone is going to get VERY hurt at some point. Not to mention every book Peter thinks he's in love with someone new! (I'm a little over Peter)

[Felicia (Ferishia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology had two authors I was familiar with, and two new-to-me authors. It was a mixture of contemporary,sci-fi, and PNR. I enjoyed all of the stories, but I think I liked Beneath the Mask by Mychael Black the most.

Willa Okai is a new to me author. Her story Tattoo You is a very sweet but sexy contemporary read.

I love Jourdan Lane's Soul Mate series, and her story Possession is a short from that series. I look forward to reading more stories from this series soon.

Laney Cairo is a new-to-me author. Her story Marginalia was a little strange to me at first, until I figured out that it's a futuristic/sci-fi story. That did not stop me from enjoying Bailey and Quint.

I have read one other book from Mychael Black, The Prince's Angel, and I really liked that book. I was eager to read his story. I was not disappointed. His vampire story was my favorite of the four, since I'm a big PNR fan. It's hot and sexy and just a little bit twisted and unexpected.

I loved the variety and plan to check out more from each of this authors. Highly recommended read.

[Cindyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to admit it right out of the gate...I only picked this up for the short Soul Mate story. This is some of Sabaan's story and it was awesome. Loved it!!!

[Nene · Rating 5 out of 5]

**review just for the Jourdan Lane story**

I haven't read the others yet, but will come back to them at some point after I finish the Soul Mates series.

[Marianne Boutet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating for Jourdan Lane's "Possession"