Alice, Jay and Henry are neighbors with benefits. This
polyamorous relationship has been working fine until a trip
to a BDSM club shattered Alice and brought back bad
memories for Jay. It's up to Henry to find a way of HEALING
THE WOUNDS or losing the two people he has come to love.
Alice is making the move to Henry's apartment, where he and
Jay live but she is very worried about this now in light of
what happened at the club. She is also unsure if she can be
the submissive that Henry needs. Jay is a sub but he had
been abused by a past master and is skittish ... not of
being
a sub but not being able to please his Dom Henry. Henry is
a mixture of dominant with old world charm, who is not as
demanding as other's in his position but wants to take care
of the needs of his subs.
HEALING THE WOUNDS is an intriguing, sexy look into the
world
of a threesome involved in BDSM. Though there are sex
scenes, and some of those might be disturbing to some
readers, I found the story more about three people who are
searching for a place together. There is love but
analytical Alice is unsure if she really believes in the
reality of that emotion. Jay did seem somewhat childlike
but having read hints of his past I realized that is his
personality ... he needs to please others and that both
Alice
and Henry give him what he needs. Henry is a sweetheart,
not cruel or heartless only wanting to be pleased, but to
love his two companions. I wasn't sure how I would feel
about this book but I did enjoy reading it and watching as
the three of them worked out how to love each other and
live a life that pleases them ... together.
I would suggest
that you read books one and two of the Neighborly
Affection
series before HEALING THE WOUNDS, though it is a stand alone
only
because the other books will give you more background.
When Alice leapt into sexual games with her neighbors
Henry
and Jay, she didn’t plan to fall in love. She sure didn’t
expect she’d be the switch between Henry’s commanding
mastery and Jay’s submissive playfulness. But now she’s
moving in with them, and she’d better figure it all out –
fast. Trouble is, she’s never been a live-in girlfriend.
The
day after a traumatic first night at a BDSM club might
not
be the best time to start. Struggling to find her place
within the lifestyle, Alice seeks equality in a
relationship
built on surrender. Learning to lean on Henry challenges
the
foundation of her self-worth. He’ll have to lean on her
in
return for their triad to find stability. But can her
stoic
dominant lover accept her as a confidante as well as a
submissive? And will their love be enough to silence
Jay’s
emotional ghosts?
Excerpt
Excerpt from Healing the Wounds (Neighborly Affection #3)
by
M.Q. Barber:
“This is the kind of shower we should have,” Jay called.
“You could fit half a dozen people in here, no problem.”
Heading toward the bathroom, Alice laughed. Sure, the
shower
was big, but not that big. Although it did boast a bench
along the marble wall and multiple showerheads at
different
levels.
Henry touched her shoulder. They hadn’t napped long. An
hour
at most. He’d sent Jay ahead to start the shower,
presumably
to have reason to praise him for completing the task
later.
“You haven’t any water-related phobias in your past I
ought
to know about, do you, my dear?”
Teasing equaled good, because it meant he wasn’t still
angry
about the omission on her contract answers. “No, Henry.”
“How are your swimming skills?”
“You wanna see my butterfly? It’s been a while, but—”
He breathed in sharply and spun her around, his hands
firm
atop her shoulders. Palms flattening against her back, he
fingered the edge of her shoulder blades in a downward
slide.
“Yes,” he rumbled. “I very much want to see you
undulating
through the water in sleek, smooth motion. To watch the
curve of your shoulders as your arms stroke forward.”
Sliding his hands to her elbows, he lifted her arms above
her head and rotated his hands to the inside of her arms.
She was ready when the push came, sweeping her arms
outward
and down in the familiar movement.
“And the flex of your muscles as you force the water
aside.”
Her arms hung at her sides, Henry’s hands circling her
wrists. He growled, a quiet declaration, and nipped at
her
neck when he stepped in for a full-body press.
Her hips rocked. Her sex pulsed. Flaccid before he’d
asked
about swimming, Henry sure as hell wasn’t soft now.
Despite the months of sex—almost a year, God, that long?—
she’d collected few insights about his arousal triggers.
He
liked to watch. And he’d hung that painting of Jay’s back
where he’d pass it every night on his way to bed. He’d
bent
her over the table the first time he’d fucked her, she in
a
backless dress. He’d flogged her with tenderness, the
suede
caressing her like an extension of his hand.
“You’re in love with my back,” she whispered.
“I’m in love with all of you, my sweet girl. But your
back
is particularly lovely.” He prodded her with his hips.
“Into
the shower with you. Quickly now. You’ve inspired me to
play
another game.”
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