The year is 1883. Eduard van De Lier is a Dutchman overseeing a spice plantation on the island of Java, in the South Pacific. His obsessive attraction to dark-skinned men is just one of his many secrets. His wife Marien knows of his indiscretions, but as she's content with their Colonial lifestyle, she stays silent. Until a former lover of Eduard's shows up in their parlor with thoughts of blackmail. Reza was a crewman on the ship that brought the van De Liers to Java. During the passage, Eduard spent many a night in the younger man's arms. Two years have passed, and the last person Eduard expects to find in his drawing room is Reza, a letter in hand that could destroy the life he and Marien lead. Seeing him again ignites Eduard's lust for his first dark lover. He hopes to retrieve the letter, either through seduction or subterfuge, and the longer Reza eludes him, the more his desire grows. But they're on shaky ground, and before things can heat up between them, their world explodes -- literally -- when the unstable island of Krakatoa erupts.

All Shook Up

Finally, as we’re crossing the drawbridge onto the island, Joey says softly, “Brian, I’m sorry.”


“Obviously things aren’t great between you guys,” Joey continues, “or you wouldn’t be out with someone else.”


With a laugh, I add, “Someone who wears Old Spice at that.” Even if he wasa decent lay.


I get a smile from him, which makes me feel better. “You want to talk about it?”


My answer is in my frown. Joey nods as if he thought as much, then reaches over the gear shaft to pat my leg. “Well when you do.”


I want to catch his hand in both of mine, hold onto it tight, but I don’t move and eventually he pulls it back. We drive the rest of the way home without speaking, the air between us not exactly comfortable but easing up.


Chapter 25