Scorching Book Reviews: LGBT Blog Hop 1-6 April

I'm really thrilled to be part of the Scorching Book Reviews LGBT Blog Hop which starts now and lasts until 6 April. There's a lot of fun and giveaways, so do be sure to visit the rest of the blog hoppers. You won't regret it!

On this post, I'm giving away a FREE e-copy of gay office romance Who Moved My Holepunch? to one lucky commenter.  Here's the blurb:

Darren Fording works as a Senior Timetabling Officer for his local college. When Max Sheldon arrives to take over as Acting Registrar, Darren finds himself consumed by lust for his new boss and making the kind of decisions he as a stuck-in-his-ways administrator has never made before.

When Darren initiates a full-on kiss during a meeting with Max, the enthusiasm of the Registrar's response takes him by surprise. Max is reluctant to pursue a relationship with an employee, but Darren is equally determined not to take no for an answer. Can he prove his worth to the man he's beginning to love and show him he's a dab hand at educational politics as well?

And here's an extract to warm up your day:

Max looked pretty darn good. Darren hadn’t seen him all day, as he’d been neck-deep in last-minute inspection preparation, whilst Max had been out sweet-talking local schools and parents. He wore a dark blue suit matched with a soft cream shirt, his jacket slung over his arm. No tie, but Darren imagined he’d taken that off for tonight. Who wore ties on a date? He’d ditched his in the drawer a couple of hours ago.

If he’d expected Max to say something, he didn’t. Instead, he simply gazed at Darren, his eyes wide and unblinking. It wasn’t the look of a man who planned a few drinks with a colleague before making his way home unaccompanied.

Darren rose to his feet, not even bothering to put his trusty holepunch in its usual position. For once, it could fend for itself.

“You’re the sexiest sight I’ve seen all day,” he said, and watched as Max’s eyelashes flickered.

“I hope so,” said Max. “Bearing in mind where you work.”

They both laughed, but then the laughter faded as they continued to look at each other.

“Take your shirt off,” Darren said, as he strolled round his desk to half-perch on the front.

“Not even a drink first, as we agreed?”

“Later. Not now.” Darren walked right up to Max and stroked one finger down his face. “I want to see your chest.”

He didn’t know where this new demanding person came from. He didn’t know why taking the lead felt so natural when it came to Max. The man was his boss, for heaven’s sake. He really shouldn’t be ordering him to strip. It certainly wouldn’t look great at his next review, but Darren couldn’t help himself. Neither was Max objecting. He nodded, as if what Darren had asked was the most logical instruction possible.

Then he stepped back, dropped his jacket onto the desk and began to unbutton his shirt.

Darren couldn’t have stopped gazing if the whole of the international catering contingent had charged in, waving a variety of freshly baked baguettes and a dozen bags of bagels. Thank goodness they didn’t because the sight of Max’s chest, slowly revealed, required all his attention. He was smooth-skinned and lightly tanned in a way that spoke of outdoor life rather than the demands of the gym. His nipples were dark, with a slight framing of hair, which Darren longed to run his fingers across.

Not yet, though, not yet.

When he’d fully unbuttoned his shirt, Max shrugged it off, not even bothering to glance backward at where it lay crumpled on the lino.

Darren smiled. “That’s nice. Very nice. I like your body. I knew I would. Thank you.”

Max opened his mouth to speak, but Darren laid one finger on his lips, feeling the soft hush of his breath against his skin.

“Please,” Darren said. “We’re not in our office roles tonight. I don’t want you to speak at the moment. I just want to admire you.”

He did so, walking around Max as he stood, panting a little and with the light from the window making his shoulder muscles gleam. Darren leant forward and puffed a hot breath over the nape of Max’s neck. A small groan and a shiver rewarded him. “I think I’ll close the blinds. I don’t want people looking in and seeing us. This is private.”

After he’d shut the blinds, Darren locked the office door. The security teams were on site and, although they’d never bothered him when he’d worked late before, he didn’t want to take any chances. It would be Max’s career as well as his own on the line here if he weren’t careful. He didn’t want that kind of guilt.

“We’re safe,” he said. “I’d love it if you took off the rest of your clothes.”

Max swallowed and closed his eyes briefly. Darren could almost see the struggle written on his face between professional pride and personal need. He stepped closer and touched his arm.

“Whatever happens,” he whispered, “it doesn’t go anywhere other than between the two of us. And it won’t affect how we are at work. I’m not that kind of a man.”

Max glanced at him, and half-smiled. “I know you’re not,” he whispered. “I know.”

The way Max looked at him almost made Darren lose control and kiss him for a second time, deeply and with feeling, but that wasn’t what he'd come here for. Whether Max had known it or not when he strolled into the office a few minutes ago, he hadn’t been searching for someone indecisive, but someone with control.

Darren hoped he could provide it. “I’m waiting,” he said.

Max licked his lips. He hunkered down and unlaced his shoes, drawing them off and placing them side-by-side next to him. Next his socks and then the trousers. He took more care of these than he had with his shirt, folding them before laying them on the floor. Finally, he stood, catching Darren’s gaze again. He could see the outline of Max’s cock through his Calvin Klein’s and the very fact of the label made him smile. Darren was happily a Marks and Spencer man himself.

“Take them off,” he said, but already Max was slipping his briefs down his legs and pushing them away.

At last, he was fully naked.

Don't forget - to be in with a chance of winning a copy, just leave a comment on this post, together with how I can get hold of you, and the winner will be chosen on 7 April. Good luck!

Sorry that I can't make my special links work, but here are the rest of the Easter Hoppers, with loads more chances to win, plus a Grand Prize!

Happy Easter!

Anne Brooke
Gay Reads UK