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Category: Erotica/Gay-Lesbian Erotica/Erotic Romance
Description: As the owner and CEO of his own company, Robert Bauer has spent the past fifteen years building his business into a multi-million-dollar corporation. It's taken all his time and energy, which hasn't left much room for a personal life, especially a love life. That's fine with Robert because he doesn't believe in the "L word" anyway. Lately, however, every time he goes to his favorite bar, he can't keep his eyes and thoughts off Jesse McIntyre, the gorgeous bartender with the soulful blue eyes. Even though Robert's not looking for a relationship, and tries to shake the attraction, he can't get the younger man out of his system. There's just one problem...he believes Jesse's straight. Jesse's been on the run from his old life for the past two and a half years. Even though he slings drinks at a gay bar, he has a hard and fast rule about never hooking up with customers. He's been down that road before, and though his physical wounds have healed, the emotional ones aren't so easy to forget. He lets his customers assume he's straight because it makes it easier to keep his distance. That is, until the businessman with the sexy smile starts coming into the bar. Jesse's drawn to Robert, even though he knows there's no way a wealthy, powerful man like that would ever be interested in a tattooed, college drop-out bad boy like him. But even if Robert weren't his opposite, it wouldn't matter anyway, because Jesse's determined not to break his rules for anyone. When fate throws them together, and they find themselves alone for a weekend, the passion that has silently simmered for months ignites a firestorm that leaves them both shaken. Will it be enough, though, to convince Robert, who's sworn to never fall in love, that he might be pushing away the best thing that's ever happened to him? Or to force Jesse to face his fears once and for all and learn to trust his heart? NOTE: Don't miss the sequel, Satisfaction! Genres: Gay / Contemporary / Series
eBook Publisher: Amber Quill Press, 2008
eBookwise Release Date: July 2009

99 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [202 KB]
Words: 42990
Reading time: 122-171 min.

"4 NYMPHS!...M. L. Rhodes knows how to create some heat, and dress it up in a plot that grabs your attention...PASSION contains dashes of humor, drama, and mind-blowing orgasmic-inducing lovemaking scenes sure to curl toes. I'm looking forward to reading more from this talented author in the near future."--Scandalous Minx, Literary Nymphs Reviews

"5 STARS!...Both the physical and emotional scenery in this book were delineated with skill by M.L. Rhodes. I felt like I was seeing through Robert's eyes. Written clearly and intensely, PASSION had me hooked right from the cover (that cover model has the hottest eyes!) to the very end, and I highly recommend it."--Carole, Rainbow Reviews

"5 STARS!...As usual M.L. Rhodes gives her readers a wonderful study of human emotions and how people deal with the hand that life has dealt them. Both men are complex characters...A great job by M.L. Rhodes! What I love about this author is her characters who always turn out to be different than what I imagined at first. She lures me into stories that appear to be simple and run of the mill and then I realize what a gift she offers readers by giving us skillfully drawn characters that make her stories come alive...I highly recommend PASSION and not just for all the passion in the book, but for the depth of feelings experienced by these vulnerable characters."--Wave, Reviews By Jessewave

"5 HEARTS!...M.L. Rhodes has crafted an excellent romance between two men whose past has kept them alone for too long...Ms. Rhodes fine tunes this story throughout so that the characters seem to drive the story to a conclusion that feels right. This is one of those books that's hard to put down as we hope these two sexy men will work things out."--Dee Dailey, The Romance Studio

"5 ANGELS!...Ms. Rhodes has written a story about second chances, trust, and a love that may just stand the test of time. The characters of Jesse and Robert draw the readers into the story with their unique personalities...Together, their love brings the reader from ecstasy to heartbreak. Thanks go to Ms. Rhodes for a great read."--Teresa, Fallen Angel Reviews

"Let's go see what BJ's Pub has to offer tonight," he murmured, smiling, his step light in spite of the several inches of snow already covering the ground and continuing to fall around him.

When he pushed his way through the heavy door into the warm brass-and-wood-filled pub, he was immediately hit with the scents of beer and popcorn and lemon-oil soap.

Robert shook the snow off his head and stomped his feet. As he'd presumed from the number of cars outside, it was a quiet night at the pub, but about half the tables and maybe half the bar were filled with customers, a trio of men played pool at one of the tables in the rear of the room, and a few couples swayed on the dance floor to a rock ballad.

Though BJ's was LGBT owned and catered to the gay and lesbian crowd, the town had a pretty wide liberal streak, and because the beer and drinks were good and the food was decent, a handful of straight customers were regulars as well. Still, the intention of the place was a gathering spot for gay men and women who could be open about who they were and connect with like-minded and like-oriented people. Robert had discovered BJ's about eight or nine months ago--he wasn't sure how he'd missed it before then--and it was now his favorite bar because it was a little more upscale than a lot of other joints, yet not at all snobby. And it was a far more relaxing and pleasant experience to come here than to deal with the raucous and randy bacchanalias and sex fests that took place at other gay clubs. BJ's was sort of like the friendly neighborhood queer Cheers.

As Robert took in the sights of the pub at a glance, he was struck again by how damned good he felt. Energized, yet relaxed. Ready for ... well, whatever adventure might await him.

He peeled off his coat and noticed a couple of younger men and one guy about his age or a little older with a nice bod and graying hair already eyeing him, measuring him up as a potential hook-up. He eyed them back and smiled, letting it be known he was in the market tonight.

Oh, yeah. He felt certain it was going to be a good night, and all that warm-fuzzy home and hearth, love and romance BS of earlier this evening would fade away as soon as he had his arms around a hard, hot body. This was the way his life was meant to be. This was what it was all about.

And then, like steel drawn inevitably to a magnet, his gaze fell on the one person in all the world who could, and did, cause everything else to fade away.

Robert's pulse pounded. His breathing came out in slow huffs. And his groin tightened in an ache that was one part lust and two parts agony for what it could never, ever have.

Jesse McIntyre.

The pub's buff, bearded, blue-eyed, extremely hot, extremely fuckable, and extremely straight and way off-limits bartender.