Review: His Rules Anthology by Various Authors

'Time Out' by Sean Michael

Val and Chaz broke up after Chaz safeworded unnecessarily during a scene. Can they find a way to come back together?

A few months ago, Chaz safeworded during a scene, just because he was feeling neglected and bitchy. Val was understandably upset that his sub lied, and the two of them split up. Now it’s months later and Val is miserable to be around, so his friend sends him to his private lake house to vacation and get over himself. At least, that’s what Val thinks is happening. In reality, Chaz has also been lured to the lake house and is waiting there so they can hopefully get back together.

Despite his shock at finding Chaz at the lake house, Val decides to do a scene. Will it be the last scene they share or will they find a way to move past what happened?

'Strict Consequences' by Morticia Knight

One proposition, one night. Could it be the beginning of a forever after for a Master and sub?

Garson teaches poetry and literature at the local college, but what he does on his own time is much different. His need for pain and dominance is strong, but his fear of letting go is stronger. He won’t let any Dom touch him sexually, and his other hard limits are even more extreme. But lately, his one hour a week sessions haven’t been satisfying him anywhere near enough.

Jarvis finds the bookish and reserved Garson captivating. His love of extreme pain is thrilling. But there’s also a hedonistic wanton hiding beneath the surface of the detached sub, and Jarvis aches to be the one who sets him free. After waiting for a year to crack Garson’s carefully controlled surface, Jarvis conceives of a plan.

Garson knows he shouldn’t give in to Jarvis’ proposition that they spend an evening getting to know each other, but the reward of unlimited time in Jarvis’ dungeon is much too tempting. Or is it actually Jarvis who’s the most tempting thing of all?

'Tagging Mackenzie' by L. M. Somerton

Achieving a Dom’s undivided attention can have unpredictable consequences.

Steele Denton's business doing custom paint jobs for fast bikes is booming. He's in demand and has a reputation for being a perfectionist. Tattooed and intimidating, Steele is also in demand as a Dom at his local BDSM club, Chain of Thorns. He requires perfect submission from any sub he deigns to play with.

Mackenzie Soames is desperate for Steele to notice him, but might as well be invisible. He has no idea how to get invited into the VIP members’ area that Steele rarely strays from, so he concocts a plan to get Steele's attention. Kenzie is a talented graffiti artist with a secret identity, known only by his tag, a pair of handcuffs. He spray-paints a BDSM scene on a wall at the side of Steele's workshop, hoping Steele will see the security footage and track him down. However, Steele is working late and catches him in the act.

Steele recognises Kenzie from the club and demands twenty-four hours of sexual slavery as penance for the graffiti. Kenzie has no choice but to agree and soon discovers that being Steele's sub will either make him or break him.

'Bad Idea' by Lily Harlem

Bad ideas can sometimes be the best!

Roughneck Riders are not an MC club you mess with, least of all their rough and tough gang leader Heavy. But Heavy has a secret that has to be kept, no matter what—his heart belongs to a man. It shouldn’t. He’s supposed to be into women, like the other guys in the club. Junk is just too cute to resist, though. Add in his delectable body, his sweet submission and his willingness to accept Heavy’s sadism, and the couple are a perfect match.

Junk’s a probie, proving his worth to the club and demonstrating his mechanical know-how. He’s lived on the edge for a long time, flitting from one place to the next. But now that he’s settling in as a Roughneck, life is looking up. Not least because he’s in love—soul-eating, cock-thickening obsessive love. He can’t tell anyone about his desire for Heavy, but what he can do is push his lover’s buttons, all day, in full view of everyone, until he’s damned sure the night will bring a whole host of sinful delights and wicked punishments that will leave him marked, bruised and most of all, wholly satisfied.

'Safeword' by Samantha Cayto

A dangerous game turns into unexpected pleasure…

Carter’s dream of running from his abusive family into the arms of the perfect Dom has been shattered. Virtually enslaved by a vicious arms dealer, he has to submit to any man his master gives him to.

Undercover agent Damien Crow is close to putting away the arms dealer he’s been hunting for years. All he has to do to gain the man’s trust is ‘play’ with the pretty boy with the frightened eyes and alluring corset piercing down his back. Being straight and not a practicing Dom, he has doubts he can pull off the effort. One look at his playmate changes his mind. The stakes are high, and he must put on a good show.

At first, Carter assumes Damien is just another brutal Dom to survive. But the big, brooding man reignites his passion and gives him something Carter hasn’t had in years—a safeword. It might be his last chance to enjoy being a sub and he embraces the role no matter what the consequences.

'Earning His Leathers' by S. Dora

Call him old-fashioned, but Connor believes a man should earn his leathers.

Connor Lee is very much into both men and BDSM. He already knows he’s a dominant within the game of sex and power. He just wants to become a damn good master. When he gets the opportunity to become part of an exclusive group of men who share his philosophy, he’s willing to submit to their rites of passage.

His appointed tutor isn’t Connor’s cup of double espresso by any stretch of his imagination. Stone Carver is dark, tall, muscled and he has the face of a man who has seen one fight too many. Stone notices Connor’s hesitation and sends him away to find someone to have fun with and return when he has made up his mind.

Connor meets Jesse, who is everything he has ever dreamed of, and he wants nothing more than to stay with the sweet—potential—submissive. He decides, however, to meet the challenge of submitting to Sir Stone and promises to return to Jesse after he has earned his leathers.

During one long day of pain, pleasure and a smidgeon of humiliation, Sir Stone teaches Connor more than he had bargained for. But has he learned enough to be the Dominant Jesse deserves?

1. 'Time Out' by Sean Michael - 4.5 Hearts

'Those beautiful eyes were still the loveliest he’d ever seen. Ever.'

Sean Michael never disappoints, I love his erotica. Admittedly you know what you're getting, Masters are always going to think 'mine' but my goodness these stories always get me hot and bothered.

A friend believes that Val and Chas should rekindle their relationship and he tricks them both to be in the same place at the same time. When they meet, the sparks fly and the chemistry between them is intense. These guys need to work out if they should reconcile but in the meantime they get down to playing hard and heavy.

2.'Strict Consequences' by Morticia Knight 4.5 Hearts

'Dark wavy hair, heavily lashed brown eyes, pale skin, lean but fit body, Clark Kent glasses and an unashamed pain slut—it all added up to Garson Harrisburg, Jarvis’ own personal wet dream.'

Wow, this was fabulous, Garson is a prickly guy who has very strict boundaries, he has been playing with Master Jarvis for months. Jarvis believes it is time to move the relationship further, but he must tread carefully to woo Garson.

I thought the story was beautiful, full of emotion and insight as tightly wound Garson begins to consider whether he could allow himself to bend some of his own self-imposed rules and play with Jarvis outside the club. The story shares Garson's private thoughts as he spends an evening entirely out of his comfort zone.

3.'Tagging Mackenzie' by L. M. Somerton - 4.5 Hearts

'Bravery under cover of darkness became a whole different thing in the cold light of day.'

This was so much fun, an exciting story of two artists who discover some inventive things to do with heavy machinery. Kenzie is caught by Steele and agrees to be his submissive for twenty-four hours, however both the guys discover that they fit each other's kinks very well and the arrangement they have might be extended.

4.'Bad Idea' by Lily Harlem - 4 Hearts

'But I had to be true to myself. The sight of a broad male chest, roped muscles and the scent of testosterone-infused sweat was what yanked my chain, always had and always would.'

Hot guys in leather and motor bikes, that already ticks a lot of my boxes. I loved how these guys sparked off each other, what I liked a little less was that they kept their relationship secret, one star knocked off for that.

This is a gritty piece in which the boys are members of a homophobic motorcycle club and they need to keep their relationship under wraps. Junk has been trying to get Heavy's attention he succeeds and earns himself a punishment at his master's hands.

Told in the first person by both protagonists this cleverly portrays the simmering attraction between them and the paranoia of knowing their lives are in danger if their liaison is discovered the tension builds throughout the day and when they finally meet up the sex is blistering.

5.'Safeword' by Samantha Cayto - 4.5 Hearts

“I don’t play without a safeword,”he continued. “Call it my personal quirk.”

This packed a big punch for a short story and I loved it. The story reminded me of Lisa Henry's The Island, but that's one of my favourite books ever. Safeword shines on its own and although the setting may have been similar, the protagonists handle the nail biting situation in a fashion that was uniquely their own.



6.'Earning His Leathers' by S. Dora - 3 Hearts

'Earning your leathers, in its many variations, was becoming a thing of the past, deeply hidden in gay history. But he couldn’t be the only one who wanted to be worthy of his leathers, could he?'

I loved the concept of this but the first time around it felt a little rushed. When I re-read it, I discovered that I savoured this story even more the second time around.

It is early days, but Connor believes he may have found his perfect partner in Jesse. First Connor wants to feel like he deserves him and the title of Master. Luckily help may be on hand when Connor receives an invitation to be considered as a member of an exclusive club that can help him master (see what I did there?) the skills of BDSM with like minded people.

I can happily recommend this great collection of half a dozen short stories they are all a super, and full of variety - a wonderful cocktail of kink. Cheers!

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