Ten years ago, Maxwell you-can-just-call-me Clark thought he would spend his life as a military man. But his world turned into a nightmare when a suicide bomber destroyed Clark's career. It's been a long road to recovery, but now Clark finally has peace. His bar, Glow, is the place to be in the city of New Amsterdam; Lucian Gray, the son of the mayor, employs Clark as a confidential information man; and Clark’s side venture as part-owner of a BDSM club is quite the profitable release. Clark’s life is a good one, so long as no one gets too close.<br><br>Then a man walks into Glow who will forever change Clark’s rules and reality. Thinking Professor Daniel Germain is just another handsome face ripe for Clark’s kind of good time, Clark puts on his smoothest moves. When the professor turns him down, Clark goes on the hunt, and what he discovers shows him that even the deepest wounds can be healed by submitting to love.

Hearts Under Fire

And I want to take him so badly, too. I’m responding to his need, even when he denies it with every tease.


I’m going to do what I always do. Listen. Watch. See the way in.


Daniel gave Lucian a bow. “I’m glad it’s easy for you to see. Thank you.”


“You are very welcome,” Lucian intoned, arms crossing. “We’d be delighted if you became a member. Thanks to Clark’s sponsorship and enthusiastic research, I know you’d fit in here. Thrive, if you chose.”


Lucian seemed to consider, eyes flickering back to Clark, who remained stonily quiet, trying to keep his mind blank. Very blank. First-snowfall-in-the-meadows blank.


“Clark can fill you in on anything you wish to know, I’m sure.”


“He’s been very helpful,” Daniel said politely, taking a step nearer Clark. “I still need to look more closely at what’s available, but with such support, it’s easy to think of joining.”


Chapter 24