I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books in this series which follows Derrick, who is a handyman and starts off as a shy, loner. He meets Gavin, an accountant whom he falls for. You can read my reviews for the first two books here and here. I recommend reading this series in order.

Ice clinked in a pair of glasses, floating in the golden-brown liquid, as he toed open the door to the bathroom. He smiled at the sight of Gavin reclining in the tub, eyes drifting shut.

“Want a drink?”

“Sounds perfect.” Gavin smiled lazily, cracking one eye to peer at Derrick. He looked much more peaceful and balanced than he had when he’d come home that evening. He reached a hand out of the sparse bubbles for his glass and gave a sensual moan as he took the first sip. “Oh, this is just what I needed.”

“Good.” Derrick drank the dark amber liquor in his own glass, closing his eyes as the smooth, smoky flavor washed over his tongue. When its heat hit his stomach, he took their glasses and set them on the counter. “Sit up. Tilt your head back.”

Obediently, Gavin moved, and Derrick knelt beside him next to the tub. He dropped a kiss to Gavin’s foam-flecked shoulder before he took a cup of water and poured it over Gavin’s head, wetting his hair. The shampoo Gavin used came from a salon and had a fruity, botanical scent to it instead of the harsh chemical odor of the shampoo Derrick normally bought at the grocery store. Like the French-press coffee to which Gavin had introduced him, Derrick had acquired a preference for it. He worked the shampoo into a lather, massaging Gavin’s scalp with slow circles, replacing the scent of stale tobacco and hair gel with something vaguely spicy and pear-like.

“Mm. Oh, Lord, that feels nice.” Gavin practically purred under Derrick’s kneading hands, letting his head loll as though the muscles in his neck had clocked out for the day.

“Good.” Derrick smiled, rinsing Gavin’s hair. He offered Gavin another drink of whiskey before lathering the loofah Gavin had also introduced to his bathroom routine and then began to work on Gavin’s back. “Just relax.”

“Kind of hard not to.” Gavin swayed a little, his head falling forward. “Your hands are magic. You know this, right?”

Derrick chuckled, ignoring the warmth that rose on his cheeks. “Glad you think so.” Derrick hummed softly, one of the songs he’d played and sung for Gavin after Thanksgiving for the first time. He liked having Gavin enraptured under his ministrations. He might not have Gavin’s natural affinity for dominance, but there was power and control here, as well, in this calm solicitude. Gavin was nearly putty in his hands and Derrick found he liked that just fine.

He laid aside the loofah and rinsed Gavin’s back before catching Gavin’s jaw in his sudsy hands and kissing him deeply. Gavin tasted like whiskey, and he smelled like pears and cinnamon as Derrick’s tongue delved into his mouth. His groan vibrated beneath Derrick’s lips as he hooked a hand around the back of Gavin’s neck and drew him harder into the kiss.

“Relax,” Derrick whispered, shifting to slide his arm behind Gavin’s back, supporting him. “Lean on me. Let me take care of you.”

“Yes,” Gavin moaned softly, reclining against Derrick’s arm. Heedless of the water and suds spotting his shirt, Derrick slid his other hand down the front of Gavin’s body, reaching under the water to grab his semi-erect cock. “Oh, God…”

“You like my hands, right?” Derrick murmured, nipping Gavin’s wet ear. Gavin’s only response was another moan as Derrick’s caresses grew more purposeful.

He took his time with it, drew it out, savored Gavin’s groans and pleas and whispered encouragements. His own arousal didn’t even matter. What mattered were Gavin’s moans, the enraptured look on his face, the desperate shifting of his body as he chased Derrick’s caresses, begging for more.

What mattered was the way Gavin went rigid with a soft, strangled cry, pulsing in Derrick’s hand, and the way he slumped afterward, hiding his face in Derrick’s neck as he caught his breath.

Derrick held him, murmuring soothing nonsense and breathing the botanical scent of his hair.

“I love you,” Gavin whispered when he was able to speak again. “I don’t know what I’d do if I hadn’t met you.”

“That’s not anything we ever have to worry about.” Derrick kissed Gavin’s damp temple. Warmth blossomed in his chest. For all that he had been all right waiting for Gavin to make that declaration, it was marvelous to hear. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. Come on. Let’s get you out of there before you shrivel up.”

He felt contented as he helped Gavin dry off and slip naked into bed. His erection abated while he tended Gavin, taking uncomplicated pleasure in simply making him comfortable. By the time he’d locked up the house and returned to the bedroom, Gavin was half-asleep. He hummed quietly as he nestled his butt against Derrick groin.

“Did you want―” His words were softly slurred, as if he lacked the energy even to move his lips.

“Not tonight.” Derrick tightened his arms around Gavin, kissing the back of his shoulder. “Just rest now. We’ll have time for that tomorrow. All the time in the world.”

A sleepy, indistinct murmur was Gavin’s only response.

Inertia – Goodreads l Kindle l Nook l Smashwords

Acceleration – Goodreads l Kindle l Nook l Smashwords

Velocity – Goodreads l Kindle l Nook l Smashwords