Rough Justice by KyAnn Waters
Ellora's Cave
Contemporary
Short Story, M/F, M/F/M, ménage, light bondage
Review by Poppy

♥ ♥ ♥

I'll be honest.  When I chose this book for review, I expected your "usual" ménage with lots of hot sex, but not so much romance or emotion.  And, I absolutely got the "hot sex" part right (just reading this book gave me an aerobic workout if you judge from my pounding heart!), but this book packs a doozy of an emotional punch as well.

When Roxanne runs out of gas on the side of the road, and can't reach her best friend with benefits, Jay, she calls the police for help.  When Ivan Soto, sexy alpha male, shows up to offer roadside assistance, Roxanne has no idea that all her fantasies are about to be fulfilled.  Off duty, Ivan gives her a ride home, with every intention of giving her even more once they get there.  Little do they know, Jay has gotten her message and decides to make sure she's okay.  When he pulls up to her house and sees the sheriff's car, he knows exactly what's going on, and decides he wants in on the fun.

Jay is a hoot.  He's funny, easy-going, sexy and he loves Roxanne but he has dreams that just don't allow him to make long term commitment plans.  When he walks in on Ivan and Roxanne, he's more than ready to join in, but Ivan isn't so sure he's into sharing.  In fact, he goes as far as getting ready to walk -- not only is he jealous and doesn't want to share Roxanne, he wants nothing to do with another naked man at all. 

KyAnn Waters handles Ivan's discomfort believably and with a great deal of humor.  I loved the awkwardness, and the way all three of them dealt with their needs and their emotions.  Even after they have one hell of a good time, and everyone is more than satisfied sexually, Ivan is still not thrilled with the choice, and he leaves.  Roxanne is devastated, but allows him to make his own decisions.

Jay, though is having none of that.  He confronts Ivan and they have a man-to-man talk.  I enjoyed every last minute of these two and their guy talk.  I have never read a story with a ménage where one of the parties is so incredibly uncomfortable with the idea.  Watching Ivan slowly understand that he could love Roxanne, and she him, and they could still include Jay and it wasn't wrong, nor did it make Ivan any less of a man ... just, wow.

This story was so well written, and I enjoyed every word.  I would have liked it to be a little longer, but only because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these three yet, not because of any deficiency in the plot.  Ms. Waters very happily brings this group of people together in a loving, sexy, rough-and-tumble, romantic way.   This book is a must-read, and then a must-read again!