by Treva Harte
Allard mumbled something through the pizza, about how dare Vaughan have the bloody nerve to ask for him to be quiet.
Vaughan waved the hanky, and said, “You were the one to specify no conversation, Allard. I’m just going along for the ride.” The hanky fell fluttering to the table beside the pizza.
“I hope the ride’s worth it,” Allard murmured, through more cheese-and-anchovy topping. Actually, he was beginning to get distinctly interested. The cheese-anchovy-and-caffeine mix was beginning to invigorate points south, as well as cheer him up mentally.
“You’ll have to decide that,” Vaughan breathed intimately, and stroked him delicately between the legs, not precisely on or precisely away from any of the parts of his anatomy that might be presumed to take an interest.
Allard moaned through a mouthful of pizza.
“Good,” said Vaughan, patting Allard’s crotch lightly. “I can manage to contain myself for long enough for you to refuel; don’t know about you.”
Allard passed him the gag. “I’ve been fantasising about this for weeks,” he told Vaughan, unable to stop himself smiling as the ambiguity winged neatly home.
“Before I put that on,” Vaughan said, “I’d better help you with the pizza so we can get started quicker.”
Allard mumbled a polite ‘go ahead’ noise through his third slice, and watched Vaughan bite happily into his first. He liked a man with an appetite.
Soon, there was nothing left but a round mark on the box.
Vaughan licked the grease off his fingers.
“It’s traditional to lick one’s own fingers, Vaughan,” Allard murmured, for form’s sake.
“Oh. Do mine need licking clean, then?” Vaughan murmured, and got up to trail them over Allard’s face.
“No,” said Allard, licking and sucking happily. “Which is a good thing, as you’ve still got to put that gag on.”
“Can’t it wait until we get to the bedroom ‑‑ and, incidentally, your room or mine?”
“Your room, Vaughan. You can get the grease on your sheets. And, incidentally, I quite like the idea of leading you through the corridors gagged.”
~ * ~
* * * * *
What people are saying about
The Syndicate: Volume 1
The Syndicate 1 is an absolutely excellent futuristic story of lust becoming love, and of two people willing to drop their protective barriers to love openly and unselfishly. By the way, it is the story of two men. All segments of this book are dynamic and connect the book in a very interesting manner. I regretted that it had to end, and am so glad I got to review The Syndicate 1. I am looking forward to the next volume in this series.
-- Anya Khan, Karen Find Out About New Books and Coffee Time Romance
The first thought that came to my mind after finishing The Syndicate: Volume 1 was ‘a rollicking romp through space’. The crewmembers of the syndicate ship ‘Mary Sue’ all have their own unique personality quirks. Add to this a cynical sysadmin and you have a wickedly good read. Allard, the sysadmin, does not believe in long term commitments, but Vaughan, the ship’s captain is determined to change his view. Vaughan is laid back and relaxed; Allard is abrasive and generally thinks he is superior to the world. And how Vaughan enjoys taking him down a peg or two, whether by tying him up during sex or just delivering pizza, a gag and the promise of hot sex. Sexual innuendos litter every conversation. Add to that a shipmate who’s a sneaky voyeur, various toys and some mild bondage and you have sexual encounters all over the ship.
Add to this the engrossing story and the little hook at the end that makes you reach for the next book at once. Maybe it’s the techno geek in me that made me devour every word. I prefer to think that it’s because of the good characterization, witty dialog and engaging story. I’m off to haunt the Loose Id website to wait for Syndicate Volume 2.
-- Michelle Naumann, Just Erotic Romance Reviews
Jules Jones and Alex Woodgrave write a hot story in The Syndicate: Volume 1. Amusing characters, humor, and delicious sex are all present. For a very interesting change of pace, try The Syndicate: Volume 1.
-- Sinclair Reid, Romance Reviews Today
