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

Gaze everywhere and nowhere, Clark thought about Daniel and Brian, about trust and hope and how crazy it was that the things a person wanted were often so buried as to be painful when excavated from the ruins of self-denial. He remembered some of the times he’d bottomed, about the way he’d refuse to move if asked to face down. He knew it was silly, but Clark had never been comfortable with his back to anyone. It was something ingrained, something alive and deep.


Always keep your back to a wall and your eyes on the exit, son.


Clark ran his hand through his hair and put his father’s voice away. This wasn’t dangerous. This wasn’t stupid or silly. This was just Daniel. And Clark. And the couch.


Slowly, Clark walked over to Daniel, stopping within arm’s reach. He looked at the dark eyes in silent question.


Chapter 63