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

“Hey,” he says when he sees that I’m awake.


I want to hide beneath my covers, close my eyes again, pretend I’m still asleep. What happened last night, between us? How far did we go?


I don’t remember. And where do we go from here?


After an awkward silence, I realize I can’t hide any longer, if I ever could. I suspect he’s known all along how I feel for him—he was the one who kissed me. Taking a deep breath, I let it out in a shuddery sigh. “Hey yourself.”


Joey fists the covers under his chin and gives me a slight smile. “You’re still a great kisser.”


He laughs. “I learned from the best.”


Chapter 45