Carson’s never relied on anyone, but thanks to a car accident and his occupation, he starts to struggle with more than bouts of anxiety when another man wants a piece of his action.
‘One man’s love is another man’s strength.’
A twenty-year veteran of the police force, Carson Mackenzie has worked hard to carve his niche in a demanding environment where stress is the operative word. Thanks to his occupation, he’s never relied on anyone, not even his husband Stephen until he’s involved in a severe car accident while on duty one night. His recovery isn’t smooth; reoccurring nightmares of the crash play havoc with his mental health and he starts to experience a new kind of stress—something he’s never dealt with, anxiety.
Adding to his problems, Dudley Kramer corners him in a restaurant, a shady art dealer who almost ruined his marriage and career once before. Arrogant and self-serving, Dudley wants sex and he’ll do whatever it takes. Too ashamed to ask for help, he tries to handle the situation alone but quickly discovers the art dealer won’t take no for an answer.
Excerpt
Rapping a knuckle on the office door, I poked my head inside the room. “Can I come in?”
He removed a pair of dark-rimmed reading glasses that made him look like a professor, folded his arms and placed them atop a magazine on the desk. “Of course, hon.”
Moving the other chair from the corner, I sat in front of him and bent forward, elbows on my knees. “It won’t take long.”
“That’s fine, I was only reading the financial column.” He rubbed his face and leaned back with a yawn, tilting the chair. “The economy’s going for a shitter, so it was boring as hell. What’s up?”
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“I don’t know if I can handle all this honesty—I almost miss the old, stoic you.” He chuckled, then after a moment exhaled a sigh. “I was only teasing, hon, go ahead.”
“I’m sorry. It hasn’t been easy for me either. I’m not used to discussing work…never wanted to bring it home.”
“Gotcha. Don’t worry.” He reached over and gave my shoulder a gentle smack. “Start talking.”
“It’s about Dudley…he’s been accused of more serious crimes.”
“Okay,” he said slowly, studying my overall expression. “I can’t get a read off you this time. What type of crimes are you talking about?”
“Illegal drugs and rape. Several men lodged complaints. Each had been given a date-rape drug and was sexually assaulted in the art gallery…under the guise of art showings.”
Stephen rested his head on a tight fist and searched my eyes. “Those are pretty serious accusations—not that I’m surprised. The guy was kind of strange in college.”
“When you first introduced him to me, you said he was an okay guy…?”
“No, hon,” he contradicted politely. “What I’d actually said was he’d never done anything wrong in college that I knew of. Anyway, what does all this have to do with you?”
“Not long ago, Staff Sergeant Leland asked me to participate in an entrapment case against Dudley—”
“Because we’d experienced a similar incident at the art gallery, and because Dudley is attracted to you, you’d be the perfect bait.”
I wasn’t surprised he understood; Stephen is highly intelligent. “Yes,” I replied quietly, squeezing my hands together. “That’s why I’ve been out of sorts. It caused a lot of added stress.”
“Undue stress. Well, I trust you told Leland to blow it out his ass.”
“After what happened at the grocery store, yes.”
He rubbed a finger on his lower lip and said with mild indifference, “What goes around comes around and Dudley the Asshole Kramer will get his. But, at least not through you.”
“No thanks, I’ve had my fill.”
Rising from the chair, he stretched. “I’m heading to work.” And brushed past me.
“That’s it…?” I followed him so closely I nearly tripped in to him.
“I won’t be long.”
“Not that, Stephen. I’ve got a shift myself.” I gestured back to the office. “I just poured my heart out, and no kiss. Surely that qualified as a kiss moment.”
Stephen spun around, grabbed my shirt and yanked me close, his intense gaze searching mine until my cheeks got hot. “Right, well, maybe you need more than a kiss,” he insisted brazenly and my stomach fluttered. “Maybe you need sex.”
I wanted to say yes, shout it out, and then I finally found a little courage and said meekly, “Maybe I do.”
He paused with his mouth an inch from mine; his brows furrowed. “Are you teasing me?”
“No.” I swallowed and my pulse rose with the anticipation.
“What about work?”
“I’ve got fifteen minutes before I have to leave.”
He gave me a kiss and grinned. “Oh, I could definitely rock your world in fifteen minutes, trust me, Mr. Stud Muffin Cop.”
My cock stood at attention as he dragged me to the other end of the house, pushed me onto our bed, kicked the door shut and loosened his tie.
Professional Reviews
5 Stars
The interaction between Carson who is a police officer and his entrepreneurial husband Stephen was an intense and emotional read. Carson was in a bad accident and is on sick leave at home trying to recover. He battles with PTSD while trying to keep his marriage going. Stephen is a bit neurotic and has a hard time copying with Carson's mood swings. I haven't read the first two books in this series (which I realized after the fact), but it doesn't matter because Carson's Story holds it own. I'd like to learn more about Stephen so I'm going to get the other two.
Smashwords
5 Stars
Police Officer Carson MacKenzie is a complicated man out on workman’s comp, suffering physical and emotional problems from an automobile accident. He has always been a man of strength but seldom expresses his feelings, keeping them bottled up inside. He suffers from migraines, shortness of breath and tightness in his chest when dealing with stress since the accident until he explodes in anger, rage and tears. I kept hoping he would try to reveal his feelings and problems to his husband Stephen. Their relationship becomes more and more strained while he tries to steer clear of involvement with his sister’s and parents marital problems. And when he keeps being plagued by the stalker, Dudley, he comes close to a nervous breakdown. The interpersonal relationships are real.to life and kept me turning the pages. I found myself compassionate and identifying with every aspect of Carson and the situations he faced. After 20 years of police work, he must decide on a new profession. He has difficulty relinquishing the role of the man of strength and dominance with Stephen until he realizes his husband may leave him which would devastate Carson. You will find yourself cheering on Carson and Stephen as their relationship evolves with more depth and greater love.The sexual scenes are written with sensitivity and originality. Any dog lover will find yourself loving the dogs Carson fosters then adopts. I give Carson’s Story five stars. I loved this book and fell in love with the hero as he overcomes all the life changing challenges he confronts.
Amazon.com
5 Stars
A Story of Hope and Promise, Love, Change and Acceptance.....While this book is the third in this series, it is a tremendous stand-alone read. Well crafted, articulate descriptions and nearly palpable tension are the mainstream threads that weave this multi-faceted and emotionally layered story together. Carson, a twenty year veteran on the RCMP force is involved in a vehicular crash while on duty that leaves him physically and mentally traumatized. After recovering from his physical injuries, he struggles with the PTSD flashbacks that paralyze his mental recovery. Questioning everything in his life, his history, his motivations, his love and marriage to his long time love and husband, Carson’s life is thrown into turmoil. His painful struggles have a near disastrous effect on his marriage to the man with him he has pledged his devotion.
This would be enough of a storyline for most authors but not so for Blak Rayne. She adds a further layer of pressure in the form of a drug dealing low-life who has long been trying to get Carson into his bed, one way or another. Carson, cleared to return to work, is completely stressed over returning to work. This pressure magnetizes Carson’s struggle and throws his marriage into a downward spiral, adding yet more stress to every aspect of Carson’s life and his ability to cope.
This is a wonderful story of human nature and the evolution of our lives and commitments. While it is the story of a married gay man struggling through the shards of a devastating automobile accident and traumatic recovery, it reflects the humanity of everyone’s life struggles. We all try to deal effectively with the surprises and challenges life deals us.
In the end, it is the strength and resilience of the people that we love—often in spite of ourselves—that help us survive our personal, emotional and physical life-fights. The importance of being honest and vulnerable, truly vulnerable, factors significantly in Carson’s recovery and long-term happiness. No matter the genesis of his struggle, or ours, it is often the simplest decision, the softest thing that unwittingly changes the course of our life. That comes to Carson when he needs it most.
This is a story of hope and promise, love and change. A story embracing struggle to evolution. It is the survival not of the fittest, but of the loved that this story tells. And I loved it.
Amazon.com
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