 Counterpoint, Twisted Wishes #2 |
Release Date: September 24, 2018
Publisher: Carina Press
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Book Synopsis: Twisted Wishes lead guitarist Dominic “Domino” Bradley is an animal onstage. But behind his tight leather pants and skull-crusher boots lies a different man entirely, one who needs his stage persona not only to perform, but to have the anonymity he craves. A self-imposed exile makes it impossible to get close to anyone outside the band, so he’s forced to get his sexual fix through a few hot nights with a stranger.
When computer programmer Adrian Doran meets Dominic, he’s drawn to the other man’s quiet voice and shy smile. But after a few dirty, demanding nights exploring Dominic’s need to be dominated, Adrian wants more than a casual distraction. He has no idea he’s fallen for Domino Grinder—the outlandish, larger-than-life rock god. Dominic is reluctant to trust Adrian with his true identity. But when the truth is revealed prematurely, Dominic is forced to reevaluate both his need for Adrian and everything he believes about himself. |
Genre: m/m contemporary rockstar romance (with a bit of kink)
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Quirks and Warnings: Contains D/s and bondage. Also discusses anxiety and depicts a panic attack.
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Tropes and Themes: Secret identity. Geeks in love. hurt/comfort. Finding yourself behind the mask you wear for others.
Excerpt #1:
When Dominic had suggested going to the Met this weekend, Adrian’d been a little disappointed, since he wanted more than just looking at art. He’d wanted a glimpse behind some of those walls Dominic threw up.
Then Dominic had said the magic words: “There’s a tour today where they’re bringing out some of the stringed instruments for a demo, including a seventeenth century guitar.” His eyes had shone with excitement and delight. “I’ve heard recordings—there’s even stuff on the website—but to experience that in person?”
Adrian recognized the shiver of delight, and that had cinched it. He could touch Dominic like that—he wanted to know what else did. And this was music-related, something Dominic tended to push away.
As it happened, the galleries that housed the Met’s musical instrument collection had apparently been undergoing some major renovations over the last couple of years and they were finally in the process of being reopened. As part of that, there’d been some special tours, including performances with instruments from their extensive collection.
Normally, this was the type of thing Adrian would have passed up—tours were tourist traps or designed for school groups—but the way Dominic’s face lit up each time he thought of hearing some instrument from a couple hundred years ago played live…
Yes, he’d seen Dominic in the throes of passion, but that didn’t nearly measure up to the intense need in every fiber of Dominic’s frame. The man was a musician, indeed. He might not talk about his career or his band for whatever reason, but this—this Dominic was willing to share, so Adrian followed, and gladly.
He also adored the feel of Dominic’s hand in his and how utterly unashamed Dominic was to hold his. For someone who could be so shy at times, Dominic was utterly free about expressing his sexuality. Though sometimes, when he looked at Adrian, there was still that haunting sadness or worry. Less and less, though.
They were dating.
And Adrian was grateful for that. He’d rather have Dominic’s smiles and sexy little glances, and not have to worry about whether this was a very long casual thing. Plus, he wanted more, too. More throaty cries, more cuffs and rope, more lazy talks after sex, more of Dominic paging through books and snuggling next to him to read poetry.
As they walked through the Met’s Great Hall, Adrian had that quickening of breath he got whenever he visited a museum. This one topped his list. The Met had art and history—and he was here holding the hand of Dominic Bradley, with his flushed cheeks and a smile Adrian wanted to kiss forever.
This moment, right here, was giddy and full. The seed of deep love. Tantalizing. But calm and sweet. It took everything Adrian had not to get his hopes up yet.
They’d seen each other every weekend since that first one, and a few weeknights, too. More and more, Adrian learned about Dominic, and his childhood in New Jersey. He’d gotten a degree in history with a minor in music from Montclair State University, which explained his familiarity with New York City.
In return, Adrian shared pieces of his own life, beyond the tangled mess of his return to New York. Pieces of his childhood in Brooklyn. His parents’ reaction to his interest in more than just women. His running with his neighborhood crew until college in Buffalo. How hard it’d been to move to a place where he’d needed to learn to drive and own a car. And hadn’t that blown Dominic’s mind, that Adrian hadn’t bothered to get his license until well after he turned eighteen.
Being at the university had also been less diverse in many ways.
Adrian glanced around as they stood in line to get entrance tickets. Not so true here. Many different skin tones. So many languages. Sure, some were tourists, but not everyone. It felt more like home than anywhere else had. And people had the gall to say New Yorkers lived in a bubble?
“Are you staying?” The question came unbidden to Adrian’s lips. “Here in New York? For good?”
There was a hint of confusion in Dominic’s face as he replied, “Yeah. I bought a house here. I mean, I’m gonna travel some.” He got that faraway look again. “Sometimes the band—” He shrugged, and the brilliant smile returned. “This is my home. I love it here.”
That was one of the other things Dominic never touched on—how a guitarist for this band he was in could afford to buy a place in Brooklyn. But Adrian let the thought slide away. Dominic would tell him in time, would open those doors to whatever it was he wasn’t sharing. After all, Adrian had said that was fine, that some secrets could be kept.
Excerpt #2: (NSFW)
Fingers traced his chin and caressed his lips. “Fucking hell, babe,” Adrian murmured.
Dom knew from experience that this wasn’t the end of the night. He didn’t expect Adrian to drop down to his knees, though, to take Dom’s face between his hands and kiss him like he was the only man in existence.
But that’s what Adrian did, and Dom moaned into him, every nerve on fire.
Adrian wiped away the wetness on Dom’s face. “I love tasting me on your tongue.”
“Fuck my face more often, then.” His words were whispered and hoarse.
A deep rumble of amusement and a pat on the cheek. “We’ve only had two nights.”
Felt like so much more. Everything with Adrian was hot and fast, and yet somehow so slow and perfect, too. Like now, when Adrian pulled him up from the floor and took him to the bed.
Adrian unclasped the cuffs from each other. “Lie down on your back. I’m going to tie you to the headboard for a little while. See what you think of that.”
Dom exhaled, a strange heat running through his body that had nothing to do with the ache of his cock. “Yeah, okay.”
Adrian took each arm and swung it up, murmuring how Dom should move, how he needed to position his body. Gentle voice, gentle touch. He was still in all his clothing, too.
“Wanna see you naked,” Dom said. Everything was heady and light again.
Adrian smiled and touched his face. “Do you?”
“Yeah. I mean, if you want? ’Cause I guess I’m not supposed to demand anything, am I?”
He couldn’t even name the emotions that flickered over Adrian’s features, but there was such a weight to them, and in his gravelly voice. “You, Dominic, can always ask me for anything you wish.”
What he wished. He wanted everything. This moment. Wednesday. Whatever happened tomorrow. He wanted the band and Domino. He wanted Adrian to make the world go away so only Dom existed. Dom and Adrian.
“I’m in way over my head.”
“Shh.” Adrian’s brow furrowed. “So am I.”
Dom closed his eyes. Oh fucking hell. He was gonna fall in love with Adrian. After two damn dates. That wasn’t safe and it wasn’t fair at all.
A touch on his arm had Dom opening his eyes again. “You’ll miss the show,” Adrian said, and pulled off his tie.
He stripped the rest of his clothing off, watching Dom the entire time. Soon that amazing body was exposed once more, in every mouthwatering detail. It was everything Dom remembered, and so much more. “You’re fucking hot.”
“Why thank you.” Adrian got his quirky, wicked grin and picked up a bundle of rope. “And as a reward, I’m going to tie you up. If it’s too much, tell me and I’ll cut you free.”
“It’s not gonna be too much.”
Adrian shook his head. “You don’t know that yet.”
But he did. Because ropes didn’t scare him. The thought of being bound only made his blood hot and his mind relax. What terrified him was the looming future, his guitar, and how much he’d have to give up to have everything he wanted.
Adrian tied his right wrist first, stretching his arm in the process, and it felt so damn good he arched his back. “Fuck, babe, you do like this, don’t you?”
Dom met Adrian’s stare. “Yeah it’s…” He huffed out a breath. “It’s like soaring.” Or being onstage. The thrill, the heat and charge, and the utter security. “I’m safe.” He relaxed into the bed. “I’m safe here.”
Adrian stroked his arms. “Makes me want to tie your legs down, too.”
Oh hell, that sent a bolt of lightning down his body. “Yeah, please.”
“Not tonight. Partly to tease you—because I love that—but mostly because I think you can hold yourself still for me.”
A different heat flowed and settled in his balls and dick. The cuffs might calm him, but a hit of Adrian’s command sent lust racing into every part. “Fuck.”
For that he got a smirk, and Adrian stroked himself a few times. “Not quite there yet. But I bet once you’re tied down and listening to me… I will be.”
“I’m listening.”
Fingers danced up his left arm, and that too was tied to the headboard. Same warm touch swept over Dom’s lips. “You’re talking, not listening.”
He couldn’t resist opening his mouth and sucking those fingers in. Adrian hissed, then grunted. “Your mouth is always trouble.”
Author Bio:
Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
Anna uses they/them pronouns and prefers Mx. Zabo as an honorific.
http://eepurl.com/1QCZ9 (newsletter)
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Counterpoint by Anna ZaboMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is my first book in the series, and I assure you, this one can read as a stand alone, with a little spoiler from the previous book (if you don't mind spoilers that is).
When you falling in lust with a nerdy guy but he's not really that nerdy guy you fall for, would you feel cheated on?
That's what Adrian felt when he found out who Dom really is.
It was interesting in the beginning, how Adrian approaching Dominic and all of a sudden, he didn't want a hookup and wanted more, because Dom is so much more than a hookup.
But I felt like, I don't know, something's missing from their relationship. Lust chemistry, sure.
But not a stronger chemistry I was looking for.
Dom and Adrian and their kinky relationship sure is hot and steamy. But I think, I'm too old for this kind of 'too much sex', while I usually love reading about sex. Or it was, too much sex. I felt like, this could be shorter if only...
You can blame me for not too satisfied with this. But it was an okay read, I guess. Not my favorite, but bearable. I didn't love it, didn't hate it either.
It was okay. And maybe, this is the book you are looking for. Ignore my review, read the five stars instead :)
View all my reviews
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