Surprises

The Administration #2.4

by Manna Francis

Another short story from The Administration series. Toreth meets Warrick's ex wife and things get even more steamy in the bedroom.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Erotica, Short Stories, Romance

37 pages

First published May 20, 2009

About the author

I'm the author of The Administration Series, a near-future SF dystopia published by Casperian Books. You can find the series in paperback, e-book, or (partly) on line at the Mannazone website.

I've been writing original slash since 2002 — or homoerotic fiction, m/m romance, yaoi, as you prefer. Original slash is my personal term of choice because I feel it best represents my writing in terms of style and what readers can expect to find there. Individual stories may or may nor be sexually explicit.

Reviews

[Penny Well Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun to read.

I love to see Warrick and Torenth's relationship grow and evolve. We see a softer side of Warrick here, more vulnerable. Also, I admit I quite enjoyed seeing Toreth jealous, he really has no idea what to do with those feelings.

It's funny that we are getting in the short-stories and novellas of this series, exactly what I missed in Mind Fuck (book 1). I have only read a few so far, but I am enjoying them very very much, better than Mind Fuck. They show us Warrick and Toreth, their relationship, their lives and their friends. There are feelings, internal turmoils and all the emotional problems that I love so much.

I'll keep reading!



My reviews of The Administration series’ books:
Book 1: Mind Fuck - 3 Stars
Book 2: Quid Pro Quo
Book 2.1: Unlucky Break - 2 Stars
Book 2.2: Friday - 3 Stars
Book 2.3: Pancakes - 5 Stars
Book 2.4: Surprises - 4 Stars
Book 2.5: Family - 4 Stars
Book 2.6: Mirror Mirror - 4 Stars
Book 3: Games & Players - 5 Stars
Book 3.1: Game, Set - 4 Stars
Book 3.2: As Long As It Lasted - 3 Stars
Book 3.3:Fuck of the Day - 3 Stars
Book 3.4: Wine, Women and Cushions - 2 Stars
Book 3.5: Playing with Fire - 5 Stars
Book 3.6: All Work and no Play - 3 Stars
Book 3.7: Gee - 2 Stars
Book 3.8:Shopping & Fucking - 5 Stars
Book 3.9: Pool School - 3 Stars
Book 3.95: Without the Game - 4 Stars
Book 4: Control - 4 Stars
Book 4.2: Wait For It - 4 Stars
Book 4.3: Caged - 5 Stars
Book 4.4: Unaccustomed as I Am... - 3 Stars
Book 4.5: Helen - 4 Stars
Book 4.6: Shopping, No Fucking - 4 Stars
Book 4.7: Losing It - 4 Stars
Book 4.8: Coming from America
Book 5: Quis Custodiet - 3.5 Stars
Book 5.2: Gratuitous Kink - 4 Stars
Book 5.3: Then and Now - 4 Stars
Book 5.4: Friends in the Right Places - 2 Stars
Book 5.5: Smoke & Cameras - 4 Stars
Book 5.6: Sunday - 3 Stars
Book 6: First Against the Wall - 4 Stars
Book 7: For Certain Values
Book 7.1: Family Values
Book 7.2: Boy's Toys - 3 Stars
Book 7.3: Make it a Surprise
Book 7.4: Prodigal
Book 8: Blood & Circuses
Book 9: Corpora Delicti
Gratuitous Epilogue

[Baba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

YOWZA!!! What a hot little read! It's fabulous! I really love the way Ms. Francis makes me laugh. It's totally entertaining and a boatload of fun! The "relationship" between Toreth and Warrick is developing slowly but steadily. My oh my, are we a wee bit jealous and overtly possessive, my dearest Toreth?? I do enjoy it though. Well, Toreth, my advice comes for free. Get used to it! Of course Warrick is not dumb and wants to know what crawled up his ass:

"I'm going to ask once more, and then I'm going home. After that, you can call me, or come round, or not, as you like. And if you don't, I won't be back."
Not a threat, but a simple statement of intent.

Fortunately, they did work it out.

Another great aspect of The Administration series is the cast of secondary characters. Especially a few women. Cele, Sara (Toreth's admin), and Dillian (Warrick's sister)...gals you are so utterly priceless!!!

Tact didn't seem to be a requirement. In any case, ten years made it ancient history. Toreth took a sip of wine and smiled. "I'm sorry, but I still don't remember. Maybe you met my evil twin."
Warrick raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting that you're the good one?"
"I found the scar when I was licking you all over," Cele said. "Does that help?"
"Cele," Dillian said, with a warning note in her voice. Sara appeared frankly intrigued.
<…>
"Everyone's is different, you know, and yours is quite attractive. Seven inches-"
"Well, there you go, then," Toreth interrupted.
She paused, pencil raised. "What?"
"Must have been my evil twin." He grinned at her. "Far too small to be me."
Warrick closed his eyes, Dillian rolled hers, Sara yelped delightedly, and Cele's smile got bigger.
"You know why women are such poor judges of perspective?" Cele asked them all. After a suitable pause, she held her hands up, palms facing each other, about a hand's bredth apart. "Because all our lives we've been told this is eight inches."

Warrick got a little bit annoyed and Toreth had his fun. Well, Toreth didn't fancy spending the whole evening wishing he'd brought his thermal underwear.

Back to Sara's ugly cat:

Recognising she was addressing it, the cat started purring like an asthmatic generator. Toreth regarded it with deep loathing. He had a fresh set of scratches on the back of his hand to remind him exactly why he'd named the cat You Fucking Evil Bastard.

Oh, Toreth, get hold of yourself!

Great characters and a very engaging writing style make this series very enjoyable. If you haven't read The Administration series and if you're into m-m stories then I seriously advise you to give it a go! It's even for free!

[Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm falling in LOVE with them! DAH!

Toreth is SUCH a girl...it cracks me up! Buying presents, getting excited to give them. Jealousy. Flirting. Possessiveness. Giggles & hiccups. It is so freaking adorable.

And Warrick...it's so sexy how he deals w/ Toreth...and also how he allows himself to lose some of his control with him.

Something kinda grosses me out about the fact that Toreth and Cele hooked up in the past. I like(d) her. I wanted to believe that she wouldn't fall for his advances. Ha!

Only Warrick gets to own him...all the others are just fools to his charms. Losers. (Me! Me! Me!)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

”I really don’t think we should start pillaging the refreshments for immoral purposes.”

Toreth and Warrick are all dressed up and out on the town for a SimTech event with demos, speeches, and yes—all sorts of fun, revealing, sexy surprises!

The evening kicks off with a gift from Toreth. A surprise that inflicts, inspires, and promises a night of wondrously, wicked, helpless desperation, moans, whimpers, and NEED. This is Toreth at his evil torturous best!

Once again I found myself savoring every Manna Francis word, moment, touch, and gasp. I read this tale over and over becoming more and more enraptured by the banter, Toreth’s story telling skills, tuxes, grins, and new voices and characters. A big piece of Warrick’s past is introduced here with such fun. haha…Warrick came very close to blushing for goodness sakes! Surprises pulled me in and held me there with clear force and *grinning-from-ear-to-ear* pleasure. I didn’t want to leave.

Each description and word felt vivid, rich, spot on and crystal clear. I could feel and hear it all. The soft crinkle of the tissue paper as Warrick opened his gift, the gasp and intake of breath, and the beauty! I could feel the weight, hear the clink, touch the smooth hard surface, and absorb the coolness of the metal changing to warmth as his body heat wrapped around them. *sigh* Trying so hard not to spoil the surprise. :) The desire, need, weight, and meaning are present in every scene. It makes me shiver just thinking back on it all now.

Surprises is a gem of a short story. A night I will never forget. Warrick and Toreth give buffet style a whole new meaning. ;)

My favorite line…..

“The prospect of walking around with you afterwards, knowing that you’ve fucked me. That you’ve come inside me. Feeling taken.”

And I thought I loved Warrick before.

**Re-read 9/5/22**

This party has it all! Friends, co-workers, a jealous, territorial Toreth, and a “hormonally crazed” Warrick. Yup. It’s one surprise after another! From gifts to hiccup cures to delicious teasing. I loved it all. But this, THIS. Haha...Toreth riling Warrick up when he was trying to give a speech is laugh out loud hysterical.

“How the hell could the man simply stand against a pillar and suck his finger and make it look natural?”

One of my favorite nights with these two!

[Ingie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars - soon, I can say the words cute & charming about these guys

Just like some girls said, it just gets better and better.

‘Warrick looked at the box for a moment longer, and then lifted the lid. He moved aside the covering layer of packing foam, and then his eyes in the mirror went wide.

"Oh, my God," he breathed.’

This time it's a party at SimTech and the evening gets pretty loaded. Warricks's ex-wife shows up, it's kisses behind curtains, an old forgotten fling and Toreth begin to feel what it feels like to want to have somebody for himself.

... Then there is that tantalizing surprise-gift from Toreth to Warrick - still waiting at home.

These guys are amazing and I just want to read more about them. To the next one.

I LIKE - I'm in love. Again!!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Spoilers ahead***

Oh I liked this one. It's funny and angsty and so very delicious.

Toreth is just so cute (don't tell him I said that) and adorable (or that) I could just eat him up (yeah, you can tell him that) I love seeing him all jealous, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Loved the surprises, ALL of them, especially the kinky ones. The introduction of Mellisa (or Lissa - stupid name)was a bit unnerving, especially since Toreth is present. Whenever someone new is introduced to Toreth my anxiety spikes and I feel scary apprehension that he's about to go off and shag them.
I'm even starting to feel nervous about Sara, ack paranoid much?

I didn't love the revelation regarding Cele and Toreth which I could have gone without knowing, thank you very much! I thought more of Cele actually. See, this is just me being all possessive and jealous and I just can't help myself.

[LenaRibka · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,8 stars

Steamy, hot, funny, sweet and very enjoyable!

JOY and PLEASURE pure!!!!

I liked the comment Warrick gave Toreth

"It may come as something of a shock to you, but it is possible to be acquainted with people-including attractive people-without sleeping with them. Or even wanting to do so. Technically, it's called 'friendship'.

The next one!!!

[Lisa Arbitrary - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~~

These stories are developing a nice rhythm. I like Toreth, which is not reasonable. I like Warrick, which is very reasonable. I love Toreth/Warrick!

I found myself relaxing into their relationship with fleeting moments of fluttery panic based on Toreth's discomfort. The glimpses of his dawning yet unacknowledged awareness are brilliant. These moments are so quick that they catch you slightly off guard and make the reading spontaneous and fun.

Very enjoyable.

~~~

Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:


http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this time, we take yet another baby step towards a commitment of some sort between the two MC's. We get the pleasure of meeting Warrick's ex wife, Lissa (which is the most annoying way of shortening Melissa that I've ever heard), and as a result of that, we get a jealous side from Toreth. Mmm, makes me feel all tingly ;)

Continuing onto the next story, I feel like I'm just waiting for the cards to come crashing down on my happy little parade. Its nerve wracking! That's probably the reason I completely forgot today that I have a life, and that I should probably be doing something else right now. Or maybe it's just that Francis can write a damn hot sex scene.

Fuck the dishes! More Tor and Warrick!

[Lenore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Handcuffs anyone?

[Julio Genao · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful take on the classic drawing room comedy.

Except with manacles and fucking.

[Kynthos-the-Archer (Kyn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

After six hours of foreplay with an interrupted fuck and minutes of adolescent groping, both Toreth and Warrick has finally moved their relationship from occasional fuck-buddy to something a little more solid. Although the hypocritical bad boy Toreth is still far from settling down with a singular person, at least now with Warrick's careful calculated nudges, they are heading towards a true relationship.

I love how Warrick's casual words could make Toreth all fired up...

Toreth: "How do you feel about mayonnaise?"

Warrick:  "Absolutely not. I am not spending the rest of the evening smelling of egg."

Toreth: "You can always have a wash."

Warrick:  "True, but that removes half the attraction of the idea."

Toreth: "Which is?"

Warrick:  "The prospect of walking around with you afterwards, knowing that you've fucked me. That you've come inside me. Feeling taken." He shrugged, managing to sound almost matter-of-fact.

(...) Toreth swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.

Also love how Toreth plays with Warrick's kink on being bound while he was roughly taken. That guy knows how to turn up the heat where Warrick's concern. Warrick was an excitable quivering mess whenever Toreth mentally and physically tops him.

This unlikely pair sure have the longest slow burn romance going-on. I am getting anxious to hear the word 'exclusive' by now.

[Trix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this little chapter definitely had plenty of those. Suprises I mean.

It was so endearing to see Toreth flustered and agitated, trying to find the perfect present for Warrick and make sure their relationship isn't over (not that Toreth would ever be caught calling what they have a 'relationship'). And I especially like how much Toreth enjoys playing Dom for Warrick. He really is perfect in that regard for Keir.

Another surprise was the little background story of Keir and his ex-wife. I'm inclined to side with Dilli, probably because of an instinctual dislike for anyone coming between Warrick and Toreth. However, this shed more light on Keir's personality and character traits and I like him even more for them.

The ending left me with a glowy happy feeling! Seeing Warrick work his way around asking Toreth to be his date on the next social dinner for SimTech. I'm simply enchanted by these games and tricks each one does to keep the other close, while not stepping on their panic triggers.

I only wish the side fucks would dwindle. Warrick might accept it now but he may not in the future. I definitely wouldn't. And Toreth already displayed his jealousy (which made for fascinating reading).

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

RE-READ 2020
Gahhhh! I can't stop...it's such a delight...again.


Nothing beats a good surprise.
Toreth chicks out again, afraid of his 'love shadow' that he is desperately running from.
Trying to convince himself (because he's not fooling anybody else) that Warrick is nothing more than a 'regular fuck'.
Shocking himself with such a thoughtful gift, hell shocking Warrick too.
Cele has something up her sleeve, not sure what? But something...
She & Dillian are quite the team. Go team, Warrick.
Melissa- what a bitch! Hope we see little of her in the future.
My only question is- what color do you think the curtains will be? ;)

[MaDoReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilloso Toreth ❤️

[Irina Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm starting to get used to these stories' outstanding quality.
That's not good. I'm being spoiled.

Self-control, submission, possession, domination, jealousy, mind games and, of course, denial - all of the most mindfucking parts of Toreth and Warrick's relationship plus one more glimpse of Warrick's mysterious mind distilled in a sexy, amusing and twisted variation of the drawing room comedy, to use Julio's perfectly apt analogy.
Needless to say, it was fucking fantastic.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This one is my favorite so far. Toreth meets Warrick's ex wife and I love that Toreth gets all possessive and jealous. At the same time, I hate that Toreth is so hypocritical because he can't/won't give up fucking around. At least they're inching something that resembles a relationship.

Sorry for all the spoiler tags. I know it's a lot more than others have put in their reviews but I'm trying to be careful.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how with each of these instalment we're finally getting to see that Toreth actually has feelings and emotions.....like a normal human being! Getting excited about buying Warrick gifts, then the hiccups....OMG.....so freaking sweet!

[monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

pure joy and pleasure

#teamWarrick

[Joana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I fucking love Warrick and damn I love him and Toreth together. I loveee their moments together and I love seeing their relationship evolving. I had fun reading this one.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short about Toreth, coming to terms with feelings of jealousy.. (Hell yeah!!) He doesnt want Warrick to have sex with anyone but him in the SIM.. But of course he cant just say that to W, so he just stops calling for 4 days, and doesnt take W's calls either.. Such a baby! ;) But of course, W, knows somethings up, so he confronts Toreth, where he finally tells him..

Later, Toreth feels like buying a gift for Warrick.. And with help from Sara, ends up choosing a pair of linked cuffs and a metal collar, which of course brings Warrick in heat when he opens the gift.. Sadly for him, Toreth made him open it, 2 secs. before they have to be at a galla at the SIM, so they are both very much in the mood, for the next 6 hours, before they are back in T's flat..

Loved this short!! And I just love, love, loveeeee Toreth more and more!

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sociopath Toreth and the masochist Warrick continue to "surprise" me. Toreth sees that Warrick is insinuating himself into the very fabric of his being and seems to be helpless in stopping it--even though he is extremely aware of each escalation. Toreth THINKS he is in control and Warrick THINKS Toreth is in control but it's actually Warrick's subconscious that is truly in control. Fascinating to see this all play out. Love all the ancillary characters as well. They play their roles superbly as well as change things up and keeps the MCs on their toes.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is my body, my representation in the world, controlled by my mind. I can make it do what I want. What I tell it to do. This is my body.

Only it wasn’t. I was Toreth’s, willing and desperate and aching to be taken. Thinking about it, about bolts in the wall and blindfolds and Toreth fucking him in chains, blanked out the noise around him, leaving him scrambling for words when the next group approached."

[Frau Sorge (Yuki) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me laugh. And I love them more and more.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! This short story had me grinning widely at first, but in the end it left me considerably breathless. What a perfect combination of very amusing, witty writing as well as steaming hot mind games and sex! I truly thought that this was a wonderful read with quite a few extremely intense scenes with the male couple (sorry, Toreth, for the "couple" expression). And the couple in question is fast and straightforward becoming one of my favorite couples ever.

Thank you, Manna Francis and Oh God. Yes, please. Please. I want more...

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loads of insight into Toreth's thinking and his relationship with Warrick. His behavior is pretty amusing and I love how he protests too much about his feelings.

I am jumping around these short stories and meant to read Pancakes first since it seems to be the one everyone recommends you read after the first novel but I think that it's making me want to read more about these characters than less!

[La*La · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read on December 16, 2014.
Re-read on July 9, 2015.

Another positively delightful novella in the Administration series. If you're reading this series - you absolutely can't skip these stories - they are crucial for the romance storyline!

This one hit all my happy buttons - sweet, funny, sexy..and jealous Toreth is adorable..and hot! **be still my heart!**

Loving this series.

[Victoria Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwwwww Toreth is changing along with his feelings and he's doing "boyfriend" things like buying presents!

I'm happy he's showing us his emotions (even if he can't understand them) by feeling possesive over Warrick - it's about time!

And Warrick...he's got it going on and knows how to deal with Toreth to keep him coming back for MORE

Loving these guys and their disfunctional ways :)

[♥Xeni♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd Read: Oct 24, 2013

---

1st Read: Sep 22, 2010

This one has a lot of bdsm in it, and 6 hours of foreplay. Well worth enjoying.

[Boycop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed a lot when reading this.
Of the short ones, this is so far the funniest. The dialogue is so sharp.