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

“Look at us,” he murmured. “The transman and the criminal, and I’m the one doing the comforting. Nothing’s what it seems, eh?”


Rob cracked a tiny smile, and Eli kissed him again before uncuffing one arm and massaging the hand as he lowered it to the pillows.


“I’ll get us a blanket,” he murmured, “and we can curl up and cuddle for a little while, and I can really get the message through to you about being exactly what I need, yeah?”


Rob nodded again, but when Eli returned and covered him with a thick fleece blanket stolen from the sofa, he lifted his freed arm and beckoned with the fingers. Eli had to slide half under him to cuddle, but when Rob settled his weight firmly on Eli’s chest and let out a bone-shattering sigh, Eli didn’t dare to complain or change the arrangement.


He kissed Rob’s hair, smoothed a hand down his back, and began to whisper again.


Chapter 76