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Middle Man
For months Gen has performed his duty as an amplimentor for a Sholsian bond-pair, not only amplifying the emotions each has for the other, but serving as a receptacle for the penetration neither dominant male will allow the other. Though such is seen as an admirable profession, Gen had hoped for more. He wishes for the love and affection sometimes granted to other of his fellow amplimentors by their masters.
Only when he’s kidnapped and severely injured is his wish granted and then he fears it’s too late. A spinal injury has left him paralyzed from the waist down and though his masters have professed their love to him, Gen struggles to believe it will last. Fear, despair and doubt await him, but Gen is about to learn the power of true love.
Empath, servant, sex toy. Gen fills all these roles, but not the one he longs for most… lover.
Only when he’s kidnapped and severely injured is his wish granted and then he fears it’s too late. A spinal injury has left him paralyzed from the waist down and though his masters have professed their love to him, Gen struggles to believe it will last. Fear, despair and doubt await him, but Gen is about to learn the power of true love.
Empath, servant, sex toy. Gen fills all these roles, but not the one he longs for most… lover.
57 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2010
42 people want to read
About the author
Kate Steele
74 books170 followersAs a kid, from the time I learned to read, I've treasured books. Fiction mostly, because I'm the type of person who likes to be taken on journeys of imagination. I guess it was only natural I'd try to orchestrate some of those journeys myself, and share them with others.
Writing can be fun, frustrating, and sometimes even frightening, but it sings a siren song that entices. And whether you end up in the arms of a gorgeous muse, or wreaked on the rocks of broken thought, when you feel the urge to write, you do it.
I do my writing in a turn-of-the-century house located in the midst of Indiana farm country. In addition to dogs, cats and lovebirds, my family keeps me company. When not writing, I read, am an enthusiastic grower of iris, and a fanatic fan of Japanese manga and anime.
Writing can be fun, frustrating, and sometimes even frightening, but it sings a siren song that entices. And whether you end up in the arms of a gorgeous muse, or wreaked on the rocks of broken thought, when you feel the urge to write, you do it.
I do my writing in a turn-of-the-century house located in the midst of Indiana farm country. In addition to dogs, cats and lovebirds, my family keeps me company. When not writing, I read, am an enthusiastic grower of iris, and a fanatic fan of Japanese manga and anime.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 25, 2017
Let me begin by saying that I think this is an absolutely stunning science fiction story. The world that Kate Steele has invented is interesting, with an alien culture that is very different from ours in many ways, yet has some familiar elements all the same. I loved the characters, each of whom have their own quirks. And while the blurb accurately describes the bare bones of the plot, reading the story added so much that it became a lot more as the events and developments unfold.
Gen is basically a servant, and while he is proud to be doing his job as the purely sexual part of a very loving relationship, he also wants more. Gen longs for love and affection, something that is not supposed to be part of his “service”. I really felt for him. And when disaster strikes, he still wants to come back to a situation that is less than ideal for his emotional well-being. His struggle and strength of will after the kidnapping and subsequent accident show how strong he really is.
And, without giving anything away, his two employers, Cail and Marin, are adorable. Even if they don't start out that way and it took me a while to believe what I was reading when they finally “get the message”.
If you like science fiction with a focus on relationships, a somewhat unusual story, and a nontraditional solution, you'll probably like this novella as much as I do.
Gen is basically a servant, and while he is proud to be doing his job as the purely sexual part of a very loving relationship, he also wants more. Gen longs for love and affection, something that is not supposed to be part of his “service”. I really felt for him. And when disaster strikes, he still wants to come back to a situation that is less than ideal for his emotional well-being. His struggle and strength of will after the kidnapping and subsequent accident show how strong he really is.
And, without giving anything away, his two employers, Cail and Marin, are adorable. Even if they don't start out that way and it took me a while to believe what I was reading when they finally “get the message”.
If you like science fiction with a focus on relationships, a somewhat unusual story, and a nontraditional solution, you'll probably like this novella as much as I do.
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December 28, 2010As often when I read a novella by Kate Steele, the story, and the development of the characters, is way better than expectations. I shouldn’t be surprised, I think I have never found a story by Kate Steele that I didn’t like, and she is also one of the first gay paranormal authors I read, it’s probably that I don’t weight so much the novellas in general, and sometime that is a big mistake.
In a futuristic, post-apocalypse future, Gen is an amplimentor, something a little more than an in-house manservant, but not so much. Other than taking care for the home, and all the related chores, Gen is also a “facilitator” for his masters sexual activities; in a world where only the strongest has survived, most of the men are dominant Alpha males, and they don’t like to bottom, not even for a partner they love. And so Marin and Cail hired Gen, and they treat him well, during sex they of course are searching for their own satisfaction, but they don’t forget that also Gen is a man, and like that, he needs his own release. But after sex, Gen feels his masters retreat in their own relationship, where they love each other and Gen is nothing else than an expensive sex toy, they need to take care of him, but they don’t love him.
Gen has conflicting feelings; he knows that in his profession love is not mandatory, but he knows of others amplimentor who found it in the relationship with their masters, and he would like the same. Probably if they had time, this evolution of the relationship would have come naturally, but an unluckily accident force all of them to re-think and re-build the interactions in their family. I’m not hiding that this part of the story moved me, it was simple but well planned, and the author did a lot to convey the sci-fiction feeling of the story without intruding too much in the romance. Even if this is for sure a futuristic setting, the romance is old fashioned, maybe a proof for the author that everything can change, but not love.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/12...
In a futuristic, post-apocalypse future, Gen is an amplimentor, something a little more than an in-house manservant, but not so much. Other than taking care for the home, and all the related chores, Gen is also a “facilitator” for his masters sexual activities; in a world where only the strongest has survived, most of the men are dominant Alpha males, and they don’t like to bottom, not even for a partner they love. And so Marin and Cail hired Gen, and they treat him well, during sex they of course are searching for their own satisfaction, but they don’t forget that also Gen is a man, and like that, he needs his own release. But after sex, Gen feels his masters retreat in their own relationship, where they love each other and Gen is nothing else than an expensive sex toy, they need to take care of him, but they don’t love him.
Gen has conflicting feelings; he knows that in his profession love is not mandatory, but he knows of others amplimentor who found it in the relationship with their masters, and he would like the same. Probably if they had time, this evolution of the relationship would have come naturally, but an unluckily accident force all of them to re-think and re-build the interactions in their family. I’m not hiding that this part of the story moved me, it was simple but well planned, and the author did a lot to convey the sci-fiction feeling of the story without intruding too much in the romance. Even if this is for sure a futuristic setting, the romance is old fashioned, maybe a proof for the author that everything can change, but not love.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/12...
March 20, 2011
3.5 stars
This is a story revolving around an established, mated, successful pair of men that are too alpha to allow either to be penetrated during sex. This mentality also makes it difficult, if not impossible, to speak of true emotions, such as love.
Rather than continue their relationship in such a limited manner they reach out to an amplimentor to help them bridge the gap. Most amplimentors are trained for just this job skill. Emotions are not required, however, in the best groups, it does develop.
Gen wishes heartily for such a bond but so far, after several months of group sex, does not feel that he will ever be a true part of the relationship.
Through conspiracy and tragedy, Marin and Cail must face their fears and ideas about the weakness of love. Can they break through Gen’s denial and convince him of their true love and devotion or will Gen slip away in anonymity to heal his body and his heart alone?
Like I said, the book is short. In fact, it’s too short for such a plot. Marin and Cail are not fleshed out enough which makes them harder to understand. Likewise it makes them difficult to like. Their change of heart seems rushed and needed a better explanation for many of the decisions and actions they take. Gen’s devotion to them is hard to understand as well. He seems like more of a glorified housekeeper with benefits. Most of his time is spent in reflection of his job while out with his friends. He is not actually interacting with Cail and Marin too often throughout the story.
It’s an interesting idea but it really needed double the pages to make it compelling.
This is a story revolving around an established, mated, successful pair of men that are too alpha to allow either to be penetrated during sex. This mentality also makes it difficult, if not impossible, to speak of true emotions, such as love.
Rather than continue their relationship in such a limited manner they reach out to an amplimentor to help them bridge the gap. Most amplimentors are trained for just this job skill. Emotions are not required, however, in the best groups, it does develop.
Gen wishes heartily for such a bond but so far, after several months of group sex, does not feel that he will ever be a true part of the relationship.
Through conspiracy and tragedy, Marin and Cail must face their fears and ideas about the weakness of love. Can they break through Gen’s denial and convince him of their true love and devotion or will Gen slip away in anonymity to heal his body and his heart alone?
Like I said, the book is short. In fact, it’s too short for such a plot. Marin and Cail are not fleshed out enough which makes them harder to understand. Likewise it makes them difficult to like. Their change of heart seems rushed and needed a better explanation for many of the decisions and actions they take. Gen’s devotion to them is hard to understand as well. He seems like more of a glorified housekeeper with benefits. Most of his time is spent in reflection of his job while out with his friends. He is not actually interacting with Cail and Marin too often throughout the story.
It’s an interesting idea but it really needed double the pages to make it compelling.
October 28, 2010
Gen is am amplimentor for two dominants, Marin and Cail. Gen's purpose is amplify the emotions that Marin and Cail feel for each other and serve as the bottom boy since neither dominant will yield. Secretly Gen had hoped that his masters would one day come to love him but after six months in their service he realizes that it may never happen. Gen fights the growing depression and tries to find a way that he can serve his master and be happy at the same time because he has already falling in love with them. Then Gen is kidnapped and left for dead outside the protection of the city walls. When Gen wakes up in the hospital paralyzed, Marin and Cail profess their love for Gen. Is it too late?
This short story painted a wonderful picture of a world and culture changed by natural events. I couldn't help but to fall in love with Gen and my heart ached for him as he walked through each trial. Excellent story!
This short story painted a wonderful picture of a world and culture changed by natural events. I couldn't help but to fall in love with Gen and my heart ached for him as he walked through each trial. Excellent story!
August 21, 2012
2 and a half stars
June 30, 2012
Not normally a fan of sci-fi, I liked this story and found the world it was set in interesting.
My only complaint is I wish I had seen the feelings the 2 masters were developing for Gen before his injury.
Even if Gen didn't see it or believe it, it would have helped me to see how they felt about him, either the conversations they had had about him, or maybe stuff they did for him.
I saw it after the accident very clearly but I would have liked some in e day to day actions before.
My only complaint is I wish I had seen the feelings the 2 masters were developing for Gen before his injury.
Even if Gen didn't see it or believe it, it would have helped me to see how they felt about him, either the conversations they had had about him, or maybe stuff they did for him.
I saw it after the accident very clearly but I would have liked some in e day to day actions before.
December 6, 2011
This was a very interesting sci-fi story. I liked the world that Kate built and I found the characters to be well-defined and authentic. I could feel Gen's pain at feeling unloved and broken. His desire to be loved by his masters was palpable throughout. There seems to be a lot of potential here and I hope that there might be more stories from this world.
April 13, 2012
This was a very sweet story who wants to be more than a servant to his masters. He has fallen in love with both of them and dreams of his feelings being reciprocated. After Gen survives a terrible ordeal the three men are forced to re-evaluate their relationship and decide what is important to them all.
August 21, 2010
cute story with a 3some. hope there will be more story about this planet and its inhabitants.
November 23, 2010
Very heart wrenching and touching story.
September 8, 2016
A pretty interesting premise, but it could have taken more time to flush out the story and still only been a little bit longer. Everything was a little rushed for me.
April 21, 2012
A cute little story, I wish it was longer and more time was spent on showing their developing relationship.
April 18, 2011
А какое чудесное у этой книги было превью!.. Тьху.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews