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

So yeah, Paul’s just one in a string of others that Timothy knows nothing about.


But what would he say, if he knew? What would happen between us? I can guarantee he wouldn’t be as forgiving as Joey—my brother smelled that cologne on me last night and didn’t say a word until I was sober enough to defend myself. Timothy wouldn’t do that, I know he wouldn’t. He’d pout and lock himself in the bedroom maybe, or just up and leave me, if he ever found out.


It’s not Joey you’re cheating on, my mind whispers. True, but—he’s your brother, he’s supposed to love you despite what you do. In spite of what you do. He’s not the one who gets hurt when you fuck around. He’s not the one in love with you.


Chapter 26