Status Updates From Hush (The Manse, #4)

I'm really struggling to read this one. Reading the blurb, I went in expecting a M/M dom/sub relationship.. what I didn't expect was to get 4 character who all sleep with each other. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to finish this one which is a shame because i was looking forward to it.

Oh man, rough punishment sex. Far-fucking-out!!!!

Rune reminded himself again of how much he’d scared Oliver lately, in so many ways. He understood Oliver’s impulse to pin Rune down, to chain him and overpower him and physically conquer him. Because in that moment, spread, bound and fucked, Rune had no escape. He had given himself over completely to his Master. Though he had his safe sign (...)

I'm going to slap you into next week, Rune,. I swear it:
Unlike Rune, Oliver had people who would miss him. Who counted on him. He wasn’t disposable in the same way. There was a pain in Rune’s chest every time he thought of himself as disposable, but he ignored that too, pushed it behind the wall to be ignored along with everything associated with Oliver.

Jackson held on too. He had to. It was a need from the core of his soul. He held on hard enough to bruise, breathing that kid’s scent, pressing his lips to Rune’s dark, soft hair. Keeping Rune’s slim body flush against him like he could do it forever and keep him safe like that endlessly. But there was no saving Rune, so there was no saving Oliver.

Jackson shoved harder, seeing in memory the pain in Oliver’s face from that morning, how this kid—this fucking kid—had the man Jackson loved as much as his wife in a cage. But the cage was in water and every step Rune took away from safety caused the water level to rise higher. Oliver was drowning. Doomed. Because of this fucking kid. And what the hell could Jackson do about it? Nothing.

There were a lot of boxes, which Rune had never asked to move to Oliver’s place, like he was keeping one foot out the door. It gave Oliver a pang of unease and sadness, to know Rune didn’t fully trust their relationship would last.

The hand curled behind Oliver’s neck, the fingers twining in his dark hair. Oliver entered him with a complete thrust, bottoming out hard. Rune arched, his head fallen back against Adam’s shoulder, his chest heaving. His ass was in torment—swollen from overuse, sensitive from the endless fucking and from the ginger. Sex had never felt so good or hurt so much.

Rune searched the tablet’s screen, the room—anything—for a clock, a watch. There was nothing. No way to track it. It seemed to go on forever. Oliver kept stroking him, stirring lust even as the torment grew. Rune didn’t adjust to the burn. It only compounded on itself. He was still crying; knew he would have been ashamed of the sounds he was making if he could hear them.

Holy cow, there is some intense punishment sex in this book. Lubeless, ginger, implements, bondage included. Sometimes rage-fuck sex because Rune pushes and Oliver pushes back.

Rune glimpsed Oliver, turning his head to manage it, seeing only his chest, hips, and legs. Oliver gripped Rune’s shoulder for a minute, hesitating. He thought, this is when it’ll happen. Oliver will call it off. Kick me out. But, he didn’t. He removed the wrapped hand from the bowl, feeling the joints, the bones of his fingers, the center of his hand and wrist.

“We can change plans. Make it quick and dirty. Exhaust him and let him sleep.”
“No. We stick with the plan. It’s a good one.”
He felt Adam looking at him, scrutinizing, measuring. “You still think you’re losing him.”
It was a knot in his chest, a rising panic that never quite bubbled over. Oliver avoided eye contact and watched eagerly as Rune headed out into the bedroom. “I have him tonight.”

Oliver slowly knocked his knuckles against the table. “Okay. That’s enough.”
Angry now, the cool waters of his eyes set on fire, Adam seethed, “He could be out there, right now, getting his fucking brains blown out by some pants-wetting skinhead cum-stain and you could lose him!”
Cool, collected, Oliver said, “I’m always losing him. I was losing him before I even had him.”

Ain't that the truth:
The image of that photo he’d taken earlier haunted Rune. It showed how hard Oliver was going to fight to keep Rune safe, and how willing Rune was to do what he wanted anyway, no matter the casualties it created.

Because Oliver was a good guy. He didn’t want to see the ugly shit Rune had in his face constantly, willingly. He didn’t want Rune leading monsters on a chase just to save some strangers, if it meant he could get hurt or die. And Rune didn’t know what to do with that.

The heart and its beating is such an important part of this pair:
“Fuck,” Oliver lamented, frowning. There was pain in his chest. A tightness that wouldn’t let go. His palm flattened over Rune’s heart, savoring each beat.

Rune’s quest was noble, understandable, rash, and dangerous. For someone with nothing to lose, it made sense. But Oliver was too proud to tell him he no longer existed free of ties. Because if Rune couldn’t feel it on his own, there was really nothing to say.

He didn’t know how to explain in words scribbled over paper, or shaped in the air by fingers, how terrified he was. How he needed Rune to be careful. That he couldn’t take chances like he used to.

Holy fuck, Batman. Adam and Jackson have some intensely, uh, edgy sex.

Adam’s hand pulled out of Jackson’s shirt, rubbed down to his crotch and rolled the hardened flesh there. Jackson moaned and spread, wanton and desperate. Oliver leaned down and licked into Jackson’s mouth, sucked on his lips. “Tonight, you’re his. Okay?”
“Yes, sir.” Jackson’s breath caught as Adam squeezed his cockhead. “Thank you.”

“What’s your take on Rune?”
“Mmm. He’s incredible. Afraid of nothing, you know? But he’s sweet as hell with Olly. Obedient. Most of the time,” he laughed. “He’s a fighter, though. Gets off on it. And Olly gets off on trying to tame him.”

“What the sweet fuck was all of that?” Adam asked quietly. “Gimme the short version.”
“Olly’s trying to save him. Rune’s trying to save the world. I don’t know if either of them are going to succeed before they kill themselves trying.”
“Hell of a short version.” Adam held out his glass. Jackson clinked his against it and they both drank.

Oliver went to the sink, reached for a glass. There was a hollow knocking sound. He turned, saw Rune rapping his knuckles on the granite. He pointed to the liquor cabinet. Oliver lost his mind. He flew around the island, slammed into Rune, his hands locked up around his throat, and squeezed. A wheezing gasp sounded from Rune’s pretty lips.
“The fuck is wrong with you?!” Oliver yelled right into Rune’s face.

Seriously, I could slap you, Rune:
Max didn’t want him riding. Neither would Oliver. Rune didn’t give a fuck. Thanks, man. I owe you. I’ll take good care of it.Jason’s hand clapped into his and they shook. Jason slipped him the keys, which Rune pocketed quickly. A few hours later, some information surfaced. Mark got the location of The White Lions’ clubhouse.

They hadn’t known who he really was, or what was really the matter. Sure, they knew about his injuries, but the rest had been held deliberately back. Now word was out that he was gay, and they knew what his true motive was. A lot changed for him, right away. He didn’t feel like he had to hide away in his makeshift room. The guys were talking with him via cell or with Max’s help in translating.

I need names. I need to know where to find them. I need to make sure they’re not going after other people.
Revenge? Jason asked, a glimmer in his dark eyes, craving permission to attack.
Rune didn’t say yes or no, but he gave Jason a level stare and the men around him pumped their fists, jostling each other, talking more rapidly.

“Something’s wrong.”
“It’s probably nothing. I’m probably overreacting. I—”
“You have never overreacted in your life. You’re the most level-headed, even-tempered person I’ve ever met.”
“I’m just… worried. I… I can see it in his face that he’s going to do something stupid… and I don’t know how to stop him. I don’t even know if I can.”