Straight As An Arrow

Games People Play

by Sean Michael

Committed couple Hunter and Kyle have been together a long time. They love each other very much, but they're apart a lot, and there are very few surprises left in the bedroom anymore. Or are there?When business trips lead Hunter to some eye-opening time on the internet, he discovers a side to himself that he never knew existed. The kinky things he learns make him want Kyle all the more, make him want to go home and play all sorts of naughty games. He feels compelled to tell Kyle about it, even if he's embarrassed, wanting to be honest. Will their relationship survive his revelation? Or will Kyle be disgusted by this new side of him?

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Romance, Gay, Contemporary

95 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2010

About the author

Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Reviews

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

The focus of this book is the tentative and slow discovery of some kinky submission/domination elements in an established relationship.

Hunter travels a lot and Kyle works from home, so the exploration starts via a chat room. I liked how careful they both were of each other, how the submission elements were introduced on top of the deep love between both men. While this is not an exciting or tension filled book with lots of plot, it has some very hot sex scenes.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"An entertaining story about a couple discovering hidden depths in each other after being together for a long time. Sean Michael never fails to deliver hot sex scenes and interesting characters and although the storyline is fairly predictable overall I enjoyed reading this book."


Complete review posted at Rainbow Reviews

[Elisa Rolle]

After more or less 5 of these stories in the Games People Play maybe I have finally understood the leitmotiv of this series: ordinary men who want to play in the safety of their relationship… yes, I know, I’m slow sometime.

Like in this story, Hunter and Kyle are in a long-term relationship, living together and being pretty much happy and lucky; high-executive job for Hunter, personal shopper for the wealthy and rich Kyle, their life is almost perfect if not for the long weeks Hunter has to spend out of town.

Hunter knows that he has something special with Kyle, the man is doting on him like the most perfect of the househusband, always ready to understand and cuddle him when he comes home tired and moody. But when he is out of time, Hunter is all alone with himself, and basically he is not able to take care of himself like Kyle does. For how much big independent boy Hunter is, when he is alone he seems to loose his balance, and his balance is Kyle.

So one night, with the agreement of Kyle, more with his suggestion to do that, Hunter is online browsing for porn to unwind and instead he enters a BDSM chat room. Hunter is pretty much a vanilla man, sex for him is two men, a bed and nothing else, but in the chat room Hunter understands that he likes to be ordered around. Nothing really odd, just “do this, do that” stuff; it’s classic with this high-power business men, when they are finally out of the office they don’t really want to continue being the one in charge.

And basically, even if Kyle was not really topping him at home, he was in any other meaning of the word taking the charge of their relationship: Hunter was letting him taking all the decisions; he was obeying his orders even if Kyle was not saying them aloud.

I like the turn the story took since I love Hunter and Kyle as a couple; they are the perfect example of how a couple can find the solution to their little trouble inside the safe wall of their home, without letting anything from outside interfere. Straight as an Arrow is at the same time sweet and naughty, and if you want an enjoyable and light novella, this one is a good example.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YUCRK4/?...

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hunter travels a lot for work and kills time with on-line porn. One night he discovers a D/s chatroom and has an encounter with Sir T. He's freaked out and when it happens a few times he confesses he's going to tell his partner Kyle because he feels it's like cheating. When he confesses, Kyle also has a confession to make. How convenient. Kyle is thrilled his vanilla lover might want to try some kink but Kyle is totally freaked out by the idea but eventually comes around. To be honest I find the coincidence of your lover being an on-line mystery man a bit too pat. I think it would be more honest if it was with a stranger which allowed them to explore something new. I know, I know, less romantic, then there is no question of "cheating" but the odds are slim I'd say of finding your man amongst the billion on-line entities. I also find SM books seem to have very similar narrative style or the way people talk. Many of them "sound" the same, just different names/occupations. It was a typical SM read but with slightly more plot than some.

[Librarian Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically, it's the Pina Colada song, only with a BDSM chat room. (for those of you young uns too chronologically-challenged to recognize the reference to a fine old schlocky pop song, go look it up on YouTube) I found it charming and sweet and a bit naughty, and would have gone for four stars because I liked the characters...but the reveal comes way too soon, before any real tension builds up. And then it's all "but I had no idea you were fantasizing about the D/s fun & games" and a race to see who can find the kinkiest thing these mostly vanilla guys can deal with.

Otherwise, very cute plot setup, well done on incorporating the feel of a "risky" chat with a stranger, that isn't *techically* cheating, but still feels too naughty to be innocent fun. And how do you discuss that with a partner without making it sound like they aren't enough for you. Good fun read, low to no angst. Good brain scrubber when you've finished an angstapalooza and don't want to go to bed with all that pain in your brain. This will brighten your outlook and give you a chuckle or two.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good kinky m/m romance about a guy who travels a lot for his job. He's in a long-term relationship, but starts to surf D/s chat sites while he's away from home. Typical Sean Michael fare, although one of the major aspects of this book was so implausible that it definitely detracted. (All that eye rolling I had to do, you know.)

[CB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Michael always writes good kink stories and this is no exception. For a short story, the reader gets to know the characters, experience their first forays into bdsm and watch them have lots and lots of sex. What's not to love...?

[Tailtiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,7*

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[My Dichotomy Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful loving and committed couple Hunter and Kyle discover a new site to each other.

Gorgeous feel good love story, hot sex and no angst.