Dominance, Threatened

Business, Casual #1

by Ajay Daniel

Vincent Bernardi

Caiden Augustus, CEO of Augustus Imports and one of my older brother's best friends, needs a bodyguard. The narcissistic womanizer of a man is being targeted by an unknown enemy, and as the best my company has to offer, I find myself being forced to guard him 24/7. My peaceful weekends, movie nights with friends, and trips back home to Italy never felt like they needed anything more - anyone more - but, somehow, this idiot is invading my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined.

This is bad. Very, very bad.

He's my client, my brother's best friend, and, worst of all, straight as the New York skyscraper with his name on it. I can't let myself fall for him.

Caiden Augustus

V. Stronzo. Little Bernardi. My best friend's younger brother.

It takes me being poisoned for my best friend to offer his security to protect me, and it takes me being shot for him to assign his number one guy, aka his younger brother, to watch me day and night. I'm forced to live with him, work with him in my office, and let him see every side of me I try to keep hidden, all while not even knowing his actual name. In doing so, I uncover a side of him I never thought existed, as well as a part of myself I thought was buried in my past.

It's wrong - God, it is so wrong - so why the hell does he feel so right?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Gay

459 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2022

About the author

Ajay enjoys writing romance stories (with a sprinkle of steam, smutt, spice, or whatever word tickles your fancy) where the main characters fall in love. Sometimes the main characters are opposite genders, and sometimes they're the same. Sometimes there are two, and sometimes there are more. Ajay doesn't discriminate because, between consenting adults, love is love. It doesn't need a fancy definition or strict guidelines of what should and shouldn't be, and who is anyone to judge? When the characters appear and offer their story, taking over the author's thoughts be it day, night, during the work day, driving, or trying to accomplish chores around the house . . . Well, Ajay is just going to write it for them.

Reviews

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You love him."
"I think I do."
"You have not known him very long."
"I've known him for years."
"You know what I mean."
I hold her gaze. "And you know what I mean."

this was fucking amazing. giving it 3 stars? could never be me. could not be me. this is the second book that made genuinely swoon. i mean the characters were kinda... hot and cold but do i care? no. did it hurt? yes! the first one was aj sherwood's style of love (which is also a 5 stars read, duh). 2 males - one is a ceo/boss of a company and the other is the best bodyguard for his security gig - exuding alpha energy so there was pretty much a dilemma on who bows to whom. there was a power struggle obviously. caiden's and vincenzo's dominace threatened each others out. but still i just love them. the sex may be lacking in numbers but the sexual tension is off the roof. i was practically a dog with a bone throughout the story. excited for book 2! groveling is expected for sure. hoping for phoenix's story too! these italian men are fucking insane.

sharing some swoony scenes that got me don't worry there was a ton *wink* *wink*

when v found out caiden's collection of ties

To my surprise, he blushes adorably. I'm not sure if those reddened cheeks are due to the fact that he got so drunk or because I brought up his overabundance of ties. Either way, I decide here and now that I need to make him blush more often.

when v figured out caiden's ocd so he has to kiss him 3 times so he can put him at ease

"I need three," I whisper, almost pleading.
"In a row. I-I know it isn't convenient but this dumb OCD I have-"
I'm cut off as V presses his surprisingly soft lips to mine before pulling back.
One.
He repeats.
Two.
And again.
Three.

[A ! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I just say, I absolutely love Enzo and Cay so much??

Like they were so perfect together, and I usually hate fluffy shit between characters, but I adored it with them😭🫶🏽

Anyway, as much as I loved the story, near the end, I did start to skim a lot.😭

Whatever, it was still good, lol.

Also this was like my favourite part of the book:

“You’re smoking now?” I ask.
“Reminds me of you.” He says, pausing
with widened eyes as if he didn’t mean to say
that out loud.
Too late, baby.
“It tastes like kissing you,” he confesses.
And that’s how we end up parked on the
side of the road, kissing until our lips are
swollen once again and the cigarette has
burned itself out between his fingers.”

LITERALLY WAS SUCH A PERFECT MOMENT😭😭

But of course, all good things must come to an end, and we apparently can’t have nice things in the world, because soon after, there’s a miscommunication and we get a cliffhanger…

Am I going to read the second book?

Fuck no.

Why?

Because I heard there was a particular scene that I’m not into reading about, and now I physically nor mentally can make myself pick up the second book😞

I’m imagining in my head that they talk shit through before going back to the US, take down the stalker person, and skip off into the sunset, living happily ever after😍🫶🏽

[Noah Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, best friend's brother romance with the two unlikeliest of men. Each main character develops more and more throughout the book in a way that serves to better themselves apart and together. The plot is built in well with the growing romance, and the steamy scenes are a happy bonus. The writing absolutely pulls you in and I couldn't put it down. My only complaint would be that I want more! I love Caiden and Vincent

[blurry_books✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book has everything in it. So I am just going to let myself believe that on the next book Cayden and Vinz have their happily ever after ☺️ ( I am too chicken out to read the 2nd book after reading the reviews). But trust me this first book is such a gem! The plot is interesting, and the ✨️tension✨️ uuuu it's sizzling

[Lisa Brick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely LOATHE cliffhangers…

That is the main reason for my 3 star rating. The other reason is I couldn’t seem to connect to the characters. Caidan is a colossal dick and I’m not sure I like him at all. Will I read book 2? Eh…maybe.

[Kwaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the grammatical errors, missing words, dropped plot lines, and other inconsistencies that a competent proofreader should have found I still found the book enjoyable enough to finish and move on to the next one. Hopefully, it will be better.

[Mica Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 solid stars

Wow this was a length to my liking. There was enough story to dive deep into the world and honestly I enjoyed the relation ship building as much as the action parts.

I could have read on and on and on!

[Apple Days · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one day and loved it! The writing style is *chef's kiss* and I loved getting to know the characters! Ready for the next one!!

[♑ Daniela Pepes ♑ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eu te amo pequeno Bernardi e você merece o muuuuundo! ❤️

[lei · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s something with the writing that just didn’t work for me… Vincenzo was so big headed and not in a « I’m confident way » more in a « I’m an asshole way ».

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤

[Tash · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 16%

Just not feeling it

[Laurie]

DNF 50%
It's probably me, but the characters were FLAT.

[Sampoorna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the story had potential but it led to nowhere into the book. and cliffhanger was absolute stupid. I hope book 2 is better