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

As my mother passes the rolls, she announces, “It’s so good to have both you boys home again.”


Joey and I exchange a quick glance—what do you say to that? Through a mouthful of potatoes, he tells her, “It’s great to have youback, Mom. If only for the cooking.”


“I guess now that I’m all better,” she starts, “you’ll be heading back.”


The pointed look she gives me says that’s directed my way. “I have to get back to the office,” I mutter, picking at my beans. “I told you that.”


“What about Thanksgiving?” she asks, her voice bright as if she’s switching the subject. She isn’t. “That’s only a few weeks away. Why don’t you and your friend come on up for that? We’d love to have you. What’s his name again?”


Chapter 39