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Abigail needs to write a paper that will make people sit up and take notice to get past university cut-backs. Deciding that one on BDSM will fit the brief, she decides to enter the Dark Haven club and study the people that play there. Once entering the building she is faced with the reality of the high fees and takes a receptionist job to play there for free. Little did she know that the receptionist at Dark Haven also can be called on to do demonstrations. She also didn’t realise that she would be so easy to spot as a fake Domme and made to show her true colours as a submissive.
Since his late wife died, Xavier has been content to play around and not commit himself to any one sub. Then he meets his new receptionist and watches as she fights against her obviously submissive nature whilst in a demo scene with him. He is intrigued, especially if she is as green as he suspects she is. She is a challenge and one he accepts willingly, but what will it take to get her to let go? The path is rocky for our D/s couple, but there is much fun along the way. With all the time and effort Xavier takes to break through her defences, it’s clear that he won’t be unaffected himself. But will these feelings be strong enough to get past the betrayal he feels when he finds the real reason she is in his club?
Well, I wanted Xavier’s book and I was certainly happy with the story he got. I was surprised to find that he was such a sweetie but it was good surprise…not a bad one at all J I loved him in the Dark Haven shorts…I love him more now.
Xavier and Abigail were a fabulous couple to read about. Both have some emotional baggage and, at least for the first quarter, Abigail is still in love with another man and utilising her play time to gain the skills she needs to be in a relationship with him (FYI his name is Nathan and he is a douche… Xavier is fighting the most one sided battle ever). It was hard to see Xavier getting so invested and knowing she just wanted someone else. By the end, there was no way that I could imagine them not being together after the amount of emotional baggage they each dig through to make this work. Xavier practically strips her to the bone to try to make her submit to him but in doing so he exposes parts of himself that he’s kept well hidden. It’s emotional healing through BDSM and I loved every second.
There are some fabulous moments in this book. We meet my favourite Doms again in this book as the men from the Mountains series appear (Jake *swoon*). The Paint-ball hunting game at their lodge was one of the best scenes of the book for me and it reminded me a little of the Capture Gardens scenes (another one of my favourite of Cherise’s ideas :D). I laughed like a child when the brown paint ball represented an anal sex prize for the Dom who shot the submissive with it 😀 I also loved the Pirate scene…..
There were scenes in this book that I didn’t like as much. The punishment scene was a tough one to read. I know it wasn’t supposed to be fun for any of us, but I hate the use of the fucking machine as a punishment…. orgasms should always be fun in my eyes J There were also the scenes with Abigail’s bitch of a sister to contend with. That woman is VILE.
Overall, this was not the book I expected for Xavier; it was better. With a widower who doesn’t want another submissive and a woman who wants another man, this was never going to be an easy road. Through bondage and a seriously hot game of paintball, they manage to see that some opportunities you have to grab whatever the consequences. I wouldn’t mind my own Xavier…..
I just bought this I can't wait to read it.