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

“It’s called fuckin’ weird, s’what it’s called.”


Eli laughed and kissed Rob’s hair. “Shut up. I’m feeling good, alright?” His gut twinged, and he nuzzled Rob’s scalp. “You were really honest with me yesterday about how unfair I’ve been to you, and I’m sorry, and I want to make it up to you.”


“You did fine with Mum and Jenny,” Eli continued in a quieter tone, petting Rob’s hair and examining it to allow Rob to do his distinct, I-will-not-look-you-in-the-face-when-you’re-being-mushy thing. “And I think this is going to be alright. Hence I’m being affectionate.”


“Oh shut up!” Eli groaned, exasperated, and shoved him.


Rob cackled, seizing Eli by the thighs and hefting him bodily off the counter until Eli yelped and was dumped very unceremoniously on the tiny table against the wall.


Chapter 69