Evan ‘Zen’ Zenas is the top agent at The Agency and is known for his brusque demeanor. He’s also known to be tough on trainees. Those who find themselves under his tutelage usually don’t last long. When he’s assigned a new assistant, Seth Trivos, Zen’s faced with questions about his past he’s not too keen on answering.
Seth Trivos knew Evan once upon a time, loved him even, but when Evan disappeared, he unknowingly broke Seth’s heart. Now, he’s in Evan’s world as the newest recruit at The Agency, and he’s looking for answers.
Will Zen chase away another new assistant because he doesn’t want to open up about a past encounter or will being forced on a case together make him face the demons he’s been trying to hide from?
Be Warned: m/m sex
Zen is a forty year old, ex-Marine who is a highly regarded field agent at The Agency. This particular business investigates all things paranormal, and supernatural, i.e. UFO sightings, hauntings, shifters, etc. Basically, right up my alley and I'd totally work there. His latest assistant field agent turns out to be Seth, the nephew of an ex-boyfriend, and high up at The Agency. Uh. Oh.
Seth has never gotten over his desire for Zen, but he took this job partially to deal with information his uncle gave him, and to get over his crush. Unbeknownst to Seth, Zen had not been immune to him all those years ago, but Seth had been a minor, and when Zen's relationship with the uncle ended, so did his time spent with Seth. But, when Seth discovered why Zen disappeared from his life, and the reason he started working at The Agency, a lot of things become clear.
I enjoyed this short story, although Zen's memories of his alien abduction were just way too predictable for me. Because of its length I think the author missed out on some more character development, although the next book involves the same characters, so perhaps I'll get more.
Zen threw his arms around him in a tight hold and claimed his mouth with wild abandon. Seth’s head reeled. He couldn’t believe he and Zen were kissing. Granted, it wasn’t anything like the soft moments and slow love making he’d imagined over the years, but he’d take what he could get at the moment.
Zen moved his hands up and down Seth’s back. The heated touch under his jacket and over his shirt seared his skin in a delightful way. Zen’s lips pressed upon his almost too violently. He swept his tongue out, forcing Seth to open his mouth.
Seth adored the taste of him, salty and spicy, and his scent of leather and earth as well.
God, for so long he’d waited to have Zen in his arms, his body close. Zen’s lips trailed down his neck. Seth reached up and cupped the back of Zen’s head. Zen pulled at his shirt, tugging it from the confines of his pants without breaking the kiss. In the process of kissing him, somehow Zen was able to unbutton and unzip both their pants and free their cocks out of the openings.
Desire rushed through Seth, clawing at his insides. Zen clutched at him like a drowning man scrambling for purchase on any floating thing to save him from the watery depths. Hands traveled over his shoulders, up his shirt, feeling all the nuances of his chest and back down to his rock-hard cock. The man held their dicks against each other, and Seth sucked in a long stream of air. The feel of their two satiny lengths rubbing together was a heady sensation.
Zen turned their bodies and laid them down. He stretched over Seth. Seth loved feeling the weight and heat of Zen’s strong body atop his. Still, Zen continued to kiss him, and he continued to surrender to the demand of Zen’s mouth.
