Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Satin Sheets
SERIES: Kink Awakenings
AUTHOR: Charley Descoteaux
PUBLISHER: CeeTwo Publishing
LENGTH: 153 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2021
BLURB:
How do you know if you’re kinky?
Wes Roberts always thought his need for adventure was only a desire to see the world. After starting a job at a private kink club it becomes obvious he’s not as vanilla as he thought. Less surprising is his attraction to the tall flirty redhead he meets his first night.
Eoin McBride, former Army brat and self-described drifter, relies on his kink and the club that’s become his home. Eoin is stunned when the lovely younger man returns his interest. But that’s nothing compared to how he feels when Wes approaches him for guidance in the exploration of his new-found interest in bondage.
If Eoin can stick around he just might be the perfect man to help Wes discover his kink, and maybe even find the love they both crave.
Warnings: This book contains on-page depictions of PTSD, descriptions of injuries sustained while in the military, legal drug use, off-page death (minor character) and the scattering of ashes without a permit.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the second book in this series, and as such there are some spoilers for the first book. This in no way detracts from this story which can easily be read as a standalone.
Wes has spent the last year recovering from injuries he suffered in a war zone. He’s scarred and dealing with both chronic pain and PTSD. He’s returned to Portland with the help of Amy, the woman who was like a big sister to him growing up. He’s lost his best friend and he’s struggling to figure out what his next steps should be. In the military he wasn’t exactly out and what difference does it make anyway, since he literally has no desire at this point. But Amy is part owner of a kink club and she thinks a few nights a week working the front desk with be good for Wes and given him some social contact and something else to focus on. What neither of them count on is that Wes might find a lot of answers to what it is that he really needs.
Eoin is a substance abuse counselor who has been a rolling stone for his whole adult life basically. When things get to be too much or things go sideways, he moves on. He’s been in Portland for nearly two years now and he’s been starting to think maybe it’s time for him to move on again. But he’s just gotten comfortable at the kink club he’s a member of. He doesn’t scene a lot, but he’s found some good friends and he feels comfortable. He’s intrigued by the new young man at the front desk. He’s surprised that Wes seems to take a interest in him since he’s definitely older and he detects that Wes is dealing with something pretty intense.
Wes decides to do some research after a particularly painful day. Amy has had him relax with a heated blanket over a restraining bench and he feels some sort of arousal for the first time in forever. He guesses it has something to do with feeling safe while under the weighted blanket. When he approaches Eoin about maybe talking with him about the subject, Eoin agrees. But then things go a bit sideways with a scene and Eoin gets a bit spooked – and feels guilty even though it was his scene partner who royally screwed up. But eventually Wes get a bit more bold and he and Eoin end up back at his apartment and start to explore his questions and his desires.
As Wes and Eoin are growing closer, things conspire to cause a rift between them. But Wes does no want to lose Eoin when he finally has found what he thinks he needs to see a future for himself that might just include some happiness – not something he thought he’d ever find. Once again, Wes takes the initiative and boy is he glad he did. Eoin has tried to be strong and a lot of things to a lot of people, but he could actually use some support too. And Wes really does want to be that for him. Both men have to let down their walls enough to let the other in, but it’s so good when they do 🙂
I really liked this story set in the same world at Silken Bonds, the first book in this series, particularly the kink club, Curious Sustenance. Wes is such a sympathetic character – a young man who has had his world ripped out from under him with a catastrophic injury that has left him with some permanent injury and pain. He’s dealing with survivor’s guilt, PTSD and is a bit lost. He really has no idea what he wants or needs. Eoin is a guy who is running – but mostly from himself. He is definitely best with keeping parts of himself under wraps. His MO when things get tough is to take off. But for once he doesn’t really want to do that – even though he does feel like the walls are closing in on him a bit. But he also is happy with his friends at the club and he hates the thought of again establishing himself in a new place. In a way, these men save each other. Eoin needs to be needed – not in a bad way, but in a way that makes him know he’s helping. Wes needs someone who will support him but not see him as weak because of his scars and his PTSD. Luckily it turns out that they are able to work their way past the initial stumbles and forge a relationship based on communication and trust. They need to be so vulnerable with each other in order to make it work.
One of the other nice things about this book was revisiting the main couple from the first book, Ross and Miles, and see them happy. There are other familiar characters too, especially Amy, Ross’s BFF, and Parker, one of the other club owners. I really hope that there are more stories from this club, because I think both Amy and Josh, the fourth owner, need to find their happily ever afters too 🙂 I can’t wait to see what happens next for these folks. Recommended.
RATING: 
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