It's all fun and games until your friend with benefits decides to move across the country… And you realize you desperately wish to come along.
Everyone knows Javier and Edie are friends and former labmates. No one knows they also sleep together, but never discuss feelings or the future. That is, until Edie announces she is moving for a dream job and the news knocks Javi’s world off its axis. Why does the thought of Edie’s leaving gut him? And how does a man who's only had casual hookups bring up emotions with a woman who never shares her heart?
Excerpt:
“What do you mean you got a job in LA?”
“I’ve been interviewing over the past few months… And I accepted a job offer from UCLA.”
I try to swallow, but my mouth has gone dry. I need a glass of water. A gallon. An ocean.
“I’m moving in the fall,” she says as her eyes scan my face, searching for something. I don’t know what.
“You’re moving in the fall,” I croak out a robotic response. My heart slams against my ribcage.
“Well, probably in July or August to start setting up my lab, but yeah.”
All I can think of is: I thought we had more time.
I take in the slope of her temple, the curve of her cheek. Edie gets squirmy with too much eye contact outside of fucking, but right now her gaze is fixed on my face.
We don’t talk … because it’s Edie and me. We talk to other people, and sometimes to each other about other people, but to each other, when we’re alone, we just don’t. We never share what we want or what we need or what we feel. That’s how it’s always been. And now it’s too late to try and change things because Edie’s moving to LA, and I will stay in Boston, working for David as a staff scientist in the same lab where we all got our PhDs, stuck and alone, because everyone else has left.
She lifts a hand to my face. Her fingertips move up the bridge of my nose, down the arch of my eyebrow, around the shell of my ear. She brushes my jaw with her knuckles.
I roll to the side so I can properly face her. I grab her by the hip and press her pelvis to mine. I want to talk to her about LA. About everything. There is so much to talk about … but we don’t. And I don’t know how I would even start. What I would say. What I would do if she said something that hurts.
She moves her hand down my body, tracing my neck and shoulder, my pecs and abs. Then she slides it into my sweats, grabs my cock, and pumps it a few times. Her hands are small and soft, and her grip is perfect, like everything she does. I want to close my eyes and enjoy the sensation, but I don’t want to break the connection. I thrust into her hand, my breath deepening as she maintains the rhythm, our eyes locked.
Her lips part, cheeks flushing. I tug at her shorts, and she shifts to help me push them off her hips.
This is the fourth book I've read written by Fiona Embers; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
This is the second book in the Chemically Bonded Series; it is a stand-alone short story. The story is about Edie & Javi; they are best friends with benefits but never talked about anything more but then she gets a job offer cross country & decides to move.
4/5
A refreshing romance between two intelligent, career-focused adults
Written by Suserla on 23rd Jun 2026
This was an enjoyable academic romance that felt a little different from many others I've read.
The main characters are both adults with established careers who happen to be studying together. Rather than focusing on young students finding their way, the story follows people who already have professional lives, responsibilities, and long-term goals. One of the characters is still active in academia and working toward building her own laboratory, which added an interesting dimension to the story.
What stood out most to me was how the characters approached life and relationships. Both are highly analytical and scientifically minded. They tend to think things through carefully rather than acting purely on emotion, which gave the romance a different feel from the more impulsive relationships often found in the genre.
I enjoyed watching their connection develop as they balanced their ambitions, intellectual interests, and growing feelings for each other. Their interactions felt believable, and their shared interests provided a solid foundation for the relationship.
Overall, this was an interesting and refreshing romance with mature characters, an academic setting, and a relationship built as much on mutual respect and intellectual compatibility as on attraction. Readers who enjoy intelligent, character-driven romances may find a lot to appreciate here.
5/5
Key
Written by Zenzen on 23rd Jun 2026
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship, it is also the key to actually starting a relationship. This book is a good reminder to anyone out there just say what you want even if you are afraid.
4/5
Close to the Chest
Written by ChrisL on 23rd Jun 2026
This is a lunch read. This is Javi and Edie’s story. They have been lab friends since school, but what no one knows is the they are friends with benefits. What will happen when when they are a a conference with friends and she tells him she got a job?
5/5
Book 2 of the series
Written by Andrea R on 23rd Jun 2026
This was definitely my favorite (so far). It was a super great story that was in the short length read. Loved the chemistry and how their story unfolded but also that we did get to revisit a vit from book 1--great overall book.
4/5
Friends with benefits romance
Written by itsthejo on 23rd Jun 2026
Book 2 of Chemically Bonded
'And how does a man who's only had casual hookups bring up emotions with a woman who never shares her heart?'
The characters were well developed. Plot was intriguing. World building was solidly. All in all a very good read. Recommend.
Grab a copy!
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The story is about Edie & Javi; they are best friends with benefits but never talked about anything more but then she gets a job offer cross country & decides to move.","date":"23rd Jun 2026"},{"name":"Suserla","rating":"4","title":"A refreshing romance between two intelligent, career-focused adults","text":"This was an enjoyable academic romance that felt a little different from many others I've read.\r\n\r\nThe main characters are both adults with established careers who happen to be studying together. Rather than focusing on young students finding their way, the story follows people who already have professional lives, responsibilities, and long-term goals. One of the characters is still active in academia and working toward building her own laboratory, which added an interesting dimension to the story.\r\n\r\nWhat stood out most to me was how the characters approached life and relationships. Both are highly analytical and scientifically minded. 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This book is a good reminder to anyone out there just say what you want even if you are afraid.","date":"23rd Jun 2026"},{"name":"ChrisL","rating":"4","title":"Close to the Chest","text":"This is a lunch read. This is Javi and Edie’s story. They have been lab friends since school, but what no one knows is the they are friends with benefits. What will happen when when they are a a conference with friends and she tells him she got a job? ","date":"23rd Jun 2026"},{"name":"Andrea R","rating":"5","title":"Book 2 of the series","text":"This was definitely my favorite (so far). It was a super great story that was in the short length read. Loved the chemistry and how their story unfolded but also that we did get to revisit a vit from book 1--great overall book.","date":"23rd Jun 2026"},{"name":"itsthejo","rating":"4","title":" Friends with benefits romance","text":"Book 2 of Chemically Bonded\r\n\r\n'And how does a man who's only had casual hookups bring up emotions with a woman who never shares her heart?'\r\n\r\nThe characters were well developed. Plot was intriguing. World building was solidly. All in all a very good read. Recommend. \r\n\r\nGrab a copy!","date":"23rd Jun 2026"}]},"bulk_discount_rates":[],"meta_keywords":"","show_quantity_input":0,"title":"Close to the Chest by Fiona Embers","gift_wrapping_available":false,"min_purchase_quantity":0,"customizations":[],"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3623\u002f3909\u002fclosechest1l__88247.1780541090.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 15, 600\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-1458-5\n\nEditor: Jessica Leonie\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}]}
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