Valermo Dax wants to be loved. He doesn’t fit into societal molds and he’s fine with that. If he can find a guy who adores him as-is, even better. Stripping isn’t getting him noticed by the kind of guys he wants to date—until Corey walks into the club.
Corey Blumenthal knows who he wants to see at the club—Val. Ever since they shared a biology class four years ago, he’s crushed on the sexy man sporting glitter and those sky-high heels. He finally winds up the courage to take Val home, but things don’t go as planned. A curse, shouted in anger, turns their world upside down.
Can these two men find the strength, courage, and love they always knew they had in order to save each other? Or will the curse change them forever?
Be Warned: m/m sex
Excerpt:
He leaned across the console and kissed Corey. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” He engaged the engine. “I might be shit in the sack.”
“I doubt it.” He laced his fingers with Corey’s and relaxed. “Even if you are, I’ll teach you.”
Corey sped out of the lot. “I could use a good teacher.” He chuckled. “I saw you back in biology and wanted you, but when I gathered the courage to visit the club and saw you again … I knew I had to grow some balls. I had to have you.”
“I want to be owned.” He shifted on the seat. “Even if it’s by a teaching assistant.”
“Don’t make me sound so great.” Corey snorted. “Teaching art is my passion.”
“Art?” He could see it. Corey would be sexy as hell in nothing but an apron and standing in front of a canvas painting. “Any particular period or media?”
“Ancient Greek art is my favorite period and drawing is my medium.” He stopped at the Middlesex Hotel, then turned into the lot and parked. “Val, I think I know what Mitt meant.”
“Huh?” He’d tried to forget his former boss. “Ignore him.”
“I can’t,” Corey said. “The thing about Zeus. It wasn’t idle chitchat or bullshit. He uttered a mangled version of a real curse.”
“Curse? Mitt? Then only curses that man knows are four-letter words.” No way Mitt had the intelligence or balls to use a true curse.
“I know this stuff. It’s on pottery.” Corey’s brow furrowed. “I’m serious. He cursed you.”
He fought the urge to roll his eyes, but he’d play along. “Okay, how did he curse me? I’m going to lose my money? I’m not exactly rolling in the cash. I’ll be ugly? Many guys don’t want a man who wears women’s clothing and underwear. I’ll be lonely? He wouldn’t sink that low.”
“No, It’s not about those things—not exactly.”
“Then spit it out. How’d he curse me?” He’d love to hear this.
Val got his education on the streets and just wants to be loved. Corey is a Teaching Assistant who wants Val and has since school. Surely nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong! In this fast-paced novella, Val is cursed but it is Corey who ends up in the biggest predicament.
This is the sixth book in the Celestial Mates series and I do wish I had read the others prior to reading this one. I think it would have given me more information about just what is going on. Now, to be fair, this story is understandable and I felt for Val and Corey. It’s just, for me, I would have liked more information about the characters who appear in this and who actually play a rather big role.
Saying that though, this was a very good coffee-break book because it’s a quick and easy read. If you’re looking for a short read for a lunch break, then I recommend Soft Steel.
originally posted at long and short reviews
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He doesn’t fit into societal molds and he’s fine with that. If he can find a guy who adores him as-is, even better. Stripping isn’t getting him noticed by the kind of guys he wants to date—until Corey walks into the club.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCorey Blumenthal knows who he wants to see at the club—Val. Ever since they shared a biology class four years ago, he’s crushed on the sexy man sporting glitter and those sky-high heels. He finally winds up the courage to take Val home, but things don’t go as planned. A curse, shouted in anger, turns their world upside down.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan these two men find the strength, courage, and love they always knew they had in order to save each other? Or will the curse change them forever?\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBe Warned: m\u002fm sex\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fem\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt:\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eHe leaned across the console and kissed Corey. “Thank you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Don’t thank me yet.” He engaged the engine. “I might be shit in the sack.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“I doubt it.” He laced his fingers with Corey’s and relaxed. “Even if you are, I’ll teach you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eCorey sped out of the lot. “I could use a good teacher.” He chuckled. “I saw you back in biology and wanted you, but when I gathered the courage to visit the club and saw you again … I knew I had to grow some balls. I had to have you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“I want to be owned.” He shifted on the seat. “Even if it’s by a teaching assistant.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Don’t make me sound so great.” Corey snorted. “Teaching art is my passion.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Art?” He could see it. Corey would be sexy as hell in nothing but an apron and standing in front of a canvas painting. “Any particular period or media?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Ancient Greek art is my favorite period and drawing is my medium.” He stopped at the Middlesex Hotel, then turned into the lot and parked. “Val, I think I know what Mitt meant.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Huh?” He’d tried to forget his former boss. “Ignore him.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“I can’t,” Corey said. “The thing about Zeus. It wasn’t idle chitchat or bullshit. He uttered a mangled version of a real curse.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Curse? Mitt? Then only curses that man knows are four-letter words.” No way Mitt had the intelligence or balls to use a true curse.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“I know this stuff. It’s on pottery.” Corey’s brow furrowed. “I’m serious. He cursed you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eHe fought the urge to roll his eyes, but he’d play along. “Okay, how did he curse me? I’m going to lose my money? I’m not exactly rolling in the cash. I’ll be ugly? Many guys don’t want a man who wears women’s clothing and underwear. I’ll be lonely? 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How’d he curse me?” He’d love to hear this.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“You’ll turn to stone.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e","show_backorder_message":false,"tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$3.99","value":3.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"},"default_shipping_expectation_prompt":"","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"","cart_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fcart.php","show_backorder_availability_prompt":false,"max_purchase_quantity":0,"show_quantity_on_hand":false,"show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt":false,"show_quantity_on_backorder":false,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fbrands\u002fHeat-Level-3.html"},"attributes":[],"mpn":null,"upc":null,"options":[],"related_products":[{"id":2679,"sku":"978-0-3695-0162-2","name":"Soft Alabaster by Megan Slayer","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fsoft-alabaster-by-megan-slayer\u002f","availability":"","rating":4,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Erotic ","Romantasy","Gay","Paranormal"],"summary":"Celestial Mates, 7\r\nOne man out of time and another desperate to share his life with that perfect someone. 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Corey is a Teaching Assistant who wants Val and has since school. Surely nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong! In this fast-paced novella, Val is cursed but it is Corey who ends up in the biggest predicament.\r\n\r\nThis is the sixth book in the Celestial Mates series and I do wish I had read the others prior to reading this one. I think it would have given me more information about just what is going on. Now, to be fair, this story is understandable and I felt for Val and Corey. It’s just, for me, I would have liked more information about the characters who appear in this and who actually play a rather big role.\r\n\r\nSaying that though, this was a very good coffee-break book because it’s a quick and easy read. If you’re looking for a short read for a lunch break, then I recommend Soft Steel.\r\n\r\noriginally posted at long and short reviews ","date":"16th Dec 2019"}]},"bulk_discount_rates":[],"meta_keywords":"","show_quantity_input":0,"title":"Soft Steel by Megan Slayer","gift_wrapping_available":false,"min_purchase_quantity":0,"customizations":[],"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2620\u002f2887\u002fsoftsteel1l__10777.1571179730.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Alternative (MM) Paranormal Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 21, 530\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0075-5\n\nEditor: CA Clauson\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}]}
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