When Jesse Reid needs emergency surgery, he calls his neighbor to come pick him up instead of one of his many family members. As the youngest of nine, Jesse is used to feeling like a leftover, and he doesn’t need their coddling.<br><br>Holden McRae is a big, beautiful man, everything Jesse wants. But Holden has made it clear he doesn’t want Jesse as a submissive.<br><br>Under the influence of Holden’s care, Jesse becomes bolder and makes Holden see what he’s been missing. The two men’s interests line up, and the attraction that has always been there is something they can finally act on. As Jesse heals, he shares parts of his life with Holden, and Holden helps him see he’s so much more than #9. Their love might not be the most conventional, but maybe it’s exactly what both men need.

Forever Nine

“You look like you have a million questions.” Holden’s voice, laced with amusement, sent a thrum of awareness through my body.


“Yes, I suppose I do.” I tried to sound calm and reasonable, but Holden’s smirk grew wider. I shook my head and let out a small chuckle. Then gave him my best stern look. The only thing that accomplished was turning Holden’s smirk into an all-out grin. I sighed. “I don’t know whereto start. Or even if I should.”


Holden considered this for a moment, then leaned a little closer, resting his forearm on my legs. “Would you like me to start?”


His grin grew. “All right, then. You know I’m a Dom. You say you want to learn to be submissive.”


I bristled at his word choice. “I amsubmissive. I want to learn to submit. To you.”


Holden sucked in a deep breath through his nose, and being this close, I saw the flash of arousal across his features. But he schooled it quickly, and nodded.


“Fair enough. And you’ve never done that before?”


Chapter 10