Eli Bell is the only son of a police chief inspector and a forensic scientist. He's grown up wonky in a world that only deals with the straight and narrow -- and his new boyfriend isn't helping. Rob Hawkes is six feet of muscle, tattoos, and arrest warrants. A career criminal and a former guest of Her Majesty's Prison Service, he'd rather hit Eli's parents than sit down to dinner with them. One wrong move, and Rob could destroy Eli -- and his family -- without a second thought. But this isn't what it looks like. Rob's not in control here -- and Eli's the one to blame.

What It Looks Like

“Hello,” he murmured softly, squeezing Rob’s wrist before returning to his task. The marks from the cuffs had faded.


“For the record,” Rob mumbled, “you aren’t getting to belt me again for a good couple of months, and only on weekends. I’m exhausted.”


“I’m not surprised,” Eli said. “You were really wrung out last night.”


Rob hummed, nose buried in Eli’s neck. “You’re hard work.”


Eli chuckled. “You love it, though.”


“I do.” The raw honesty in Rob’s voice was surprising.


Eli paused. Rob’s grip loosened, and then Eli was being turned and pressed up against the counter, Rob’s nose now at the front of Eli’s throat, his lips roaming in soft, closed kisses.


Chapter 46