If It Fornicates

by L.A. Witt and Aleksandr Voinov

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Satisfaction.

After the delightfully engrossing If It Flies, where Spencer and Nick just stole my breath away, this second half of their story is fulfilling. I love meeting new characters and discovering them, but there is something more fundamentally pleasurable in reading about how a relationship works rather than just the easy how a relationship starts. All the hard stuff happens after the initial glow dissipates. 

We spend a lot of time understanding Nick's conflict between loving Spencer and his work. While Voinov and Witt could have taken the obvious lovers' squabbling and ultimatums, they chose a more interesting one. The fears and desires were very real and watching Nick work it through was far more engaging than tantrums and spitting matches.

Add in the ratcheting up of the heat and intensity as Nick and Spencer's relationship deepens and they expose more of themselves to each other and this is one smeltering, yes...it could liquify metal, hot--HOT read. Again, the dynamics and language are subtle and beautiful between these two as they forge ahead. 

Maybe some readers want the uncomplicated story that leaves you with a sense of optimism, but never really had to test the strength of the characters' commitment or fortitude in the long haul. I do like them, but I hold onto stories like this. Life's messy and HEAs are earned, not given as door prizes.

Favorite quote:

Of course they were dating, and Spencer had never judged him for being what he was, but his unflinching acceptance that people ought to just get used to seeing them together was . . . unexpected.