This novella, MY CONTROL, in Lisa Renee Jones' Inside
Out
series is told from Mark's point of view. The Master
Undone, My Hunger, and My Control, in the words of the
author, fill in the gaps of Mark's life while Chris and
Sara are in San Francisco and Paris. My Control is very
short- it took me about 15 minutes to read. It's so fun to
have the multiple points of view, such as this, from the
many different characters to flesh out the story! This
novella is not a standalone short story; it needs to be
read in conjunction with the rest of the series. It takes
place in the time period between Mark's ex-lover Ava's
arrest for killing Rebecca and her bail hearing.
Mark is the manager of Allure art gallery and also a BDSM
Master. He owns a BDSM club in San Fransisco. When his
prior sub Rebecca is murdered by a prior lover, Mark is
utterly shaken. He's also feeling left adrift by the
sudden revelation of his mother's breast cancer diagnosis
and her hospitalization and fight for her life. Mark is
unsure about his role as a Master, feeling it led to
Rebecca's death.
Crystal is the manager of Mark's mother's gallery, Riptide,
in New York. Mark wants a physical relationship with her,
but Crystal has no interest in playing the role of sub, for
Mark or anyone else. Mark has always been in absolute
control of his world, including his sex life. But his much-
vaunted control is slipping quickly as Rebecca's murder
investigation continues and as his family is faltering.
As Mark's world slowly implodes around him, he decides that
for Crystal's safety, he needs to push her away. The only
way he knows to successfully do that is to try to force her
to accept him as her Master.
There is a lot of information and a lot of growth packed
into this very short story. The mystery is slowly being
teased out, and Jones dexterously gives us little hints of
what is going on without revealing anything too quickly.
The build up of this erotic suspense series is amazing.
MY CONTROL is powerful and moving, and fans of
the Inside Out series will not want to miss it!
From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, an
e-short that continues Mark and Crystal’s unexpected love
story in the Inside Out series—told from Mark’s dark,
controlling perspective.
I have lost who I used to be, letting guilt and heartache
define who I am, letting darkness control me. Only one woman
has seen what no one else has seen in me: the man I do not
wish to exist. His lack of control led to tragedy, and I
cannot allow that to happen again. But even as she offers
ease, she challenges me like no woman ever has—and my hunger
for her has driven me to the edge of sanity. But no more.
She is about to find out that the Master has returned…