College is supposed to be a time of exploring new things, learning about yourself and having a good time doing it. For Max Henley, it was the hardest time of his life. During his sophomore year, his best friend and lover, Nick, was killed in a car wreck. A car Max had been driving.
Now two years later Max has thrown himself into his studies. Side-lined from football due to an injury sustained during the wreck, Max's entire focus is on academics. Well, that and his Professor Alec Demakis.
The problem is, whenever Max thinks about his Professor, the guilt over Nick's death returns. Can Max ever forgive himself enough to love again?
This book is best read in sequence as part of a series
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General Release Date: 23rd July 2007
Side-Lined
After changing into an obscenely tight pair of low slung jeans and white T-shirt, Max called for a cab. The twenty-minute cab ride almost caused him to chicken out. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what was at the end of this journey.
The cab pulled up in front of, what appeared to be, some kind of leather bar. With new resolve, Max paid the driver and got out. Opening the door, he was immediately hit with the smell of sweat and men. The bouncer sitting on a stool just inside the door looked him up and down.
“Haven’t seen you in here before, sweet thing.”
“I’m new,” he mumbled as he walked away. The tables in the large, dark room appeared to be full, so Max headed toward the bar. Finding an open stool, Max gave the bartender a slight wave to get his attention. “Tequila, please.”
The man nodded and poured him a shot. “Here ya go, pretty man.”
Max closed his eyes on the endearment. Nick had called him that all the time. Everyone had always remarked about how pretty he was. It was one of the reasons he’d worked so hard at weight training. He didn’t want to be thought of as pretty, men weren’t pretty.
Turning around on his stool, Max looked toward the dance floor. The song was fast yet seductive and the dancing reflected that. Watching the sweaty bodies pressed together in various gyrations, Max felt his cock begin to take notice. As he watched the dancers move, a strong back caught his eye. He lowered his gaze to include the perfectly muscled leather-clad ass. “Oh fuck me,” he whispered to himself.
Evidently, getting out was long overdue. Max finished his drink and slowly walked toward the dance floor. He waited until the song was over before tapping the large man on the shoulder. “Would you care to dance?” Max asked timidly over the sound of the crowd.
When the hunk turned around, Max’s legs began to buckle. He felt himself sinking to the floor, but was unable to do anything about it. A strong arm quickly reached around his torso and held him up. “Alec?”
Turning completely away from his previous dance partner, Alec wrapped his other arm around Max. “What are you doing here?”
He looked up into the midnight black of Alec’s eyes. “I-I found a matchbook that belonged to Nick. I needed to know.” Max looked around at the leather-clad crowd. Grown men were kneeling at the feet of other men, some with dog collars on. It was obvious this was some sort of D/s bar, but it didn’t make sense to him. He looked back up to Alec. “Did... you know Nick?”
Taking a deep breath, Alec shook his head. “If you’re asking if I ever fucked him the answer is no. If you’re asking whether he came here often, the answer is yes.”
Max tried to step back, out of Alec’s arms. “Why?” He shook his head as Alec continued to hold him. “Why would he come here without telling me?”
“I have my own thoughts on that, but it’s not something I’m willing to discuss with you right now. Later, when you’ve calmed down, we’ll talk.” As the music continued around them, people started bumping into them.
Alec held Max a little closer and began to move his hips. “Dance with me.”
Max was too numb to refuse at that point. He let Alec pull him even closer as he slipped a long leathered thigh between his legs. The first brush of his cock against Alec’s leg sent jolts of pleasure racing through Max’s body. He couldn’t help but to moan.
Pulling Max down even harder on his leg, Alec bent to whisper in his ear. “I’ve dreamt of having you in this position. I want you.”
When Max moaned and looked up at him, Alec seized his lips in an all out assault, sliding his tongue deeply into Max’s mouth. Still kissing, Max let his body take control of his mind as he ground himself against Alec.
When a strong hand covered his erection, Max thought he’d lose it. He broke the kiss, “Stop, I’m gonna shoot in my jeans.”
“Come home with me,” Alec whispered against his lips as he continued to massage Max’s cock.
An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. While writing her first novel, Branded by Gold, Carol fell in love with the M/M genre. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. With well over one hundred releases, one thing is certain, Carol loves to keep busy writing sexy cowboys, shifters, bodyguards, vampires and everything in between. Although series books are her passion, Carol enjoys penning the occasional stand-alone title.
As founder and President of GRL Retreat, Inc., Carol helps organize the annual GayRomLit Retreat. Now in its sixth year, GayRomLit is an annual retreat that brings together the people who create and celebrate LGBT romance for a one-of-a-kind, must-attend gathering of dynamic, informal, and diverse fun.
Carol loves to hear from her readers. You can take a look at her Website and follow her on Facebook. She also has a Website dedicated to her Cattle Valley Series.
Reviewed by Elka Priest
Alex and Max have a great relationship that touches on power issues {D/s} in a nonthreatening way. Alex was introduced in Ms Lynne's first story of this series called Coach as the son of the main charactor...
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Reviewed by Two Lips Reviews
Side-Lined is yet another wonderful tale by Carol Lynne...I found the love scenes in Side-Lined particularly well done and enjoyed every minute of this tale...Ms. Lynne is at the top of her game with...
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