On His Knees

3.5This was an interesting intro to a new couple, though I don't know that they could be categorized as such at the beginning or at the end of this. Hunter Dane is a kind of “super cop” wink at the name who also happens to be a gorgeous nude model and habitué of an exclusive BDSM club. Aren't they all? The story takes place on a night when Hunter comes to the club looking for oblivion or absolution after a particularly nasty case. He chooses to submit to Camden/Cam “... a Norse sex god, a gentle soul and an Alpha male.” or “a Norse god in the guise of an unpretentious youth” No this is not a shifter story. That's how Cam is described in the book. He's a winter Olympic medalist and apparently Dom extraordinaire. Hunter has avoided him because of Cam's demand of absolute submission which extends to no safe words. I'm not a stickler for “rules” and in fact prefer BDSM books that don't rely on scenes but, if taken seriously, this gave me some pause.Maybe I'm being a bore but I don't trust the life wisdom of a 24? year old skater boi to figure out someone's deep existential agony over the horrors of human nature, particularly when said blond Norse god doesn't know the other person AT ALL. Second problem: “But sex wasn't the point, tonight. It was just a tool for subjugation, the first phase of stripping off the layers inside which, Hunter Dane dwelt in isolation and pain.” Sex as subjugation? Uh ... I think I'll pass on that. As I said before, aside from seeing Hunter at the club Cam knows nothing about him, not even his sexual orientation and yet proceeds to have anal sex with him even though Hunter says no. The author tries to patch this up later by explaining how Cam didn't come, thus getting no sexual gratification. You see he was only doing it for Hunter's emotional benefit. Sure. Whatevs. A load of BS. Again if these two knew each other and this type of thing was their jam I'd be front row center with the popcorn. Doms are always a hard sell for me and I can't say I loved Cam even with his puppy dog act the morning after or Hunter feeling all happy and light.Having said all my complaints I still think I'll go for a second helping of these two kooks in [b:Matchstick Men 35439195 Matchstick Men (A Hunter Dane Investigation #2) Adira August https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497519546s/35439195.jpg 56821213] because I was sufficiently intrigued by Hunter. Whatever craziness they get up to once they DO know each other will be okay in my book.Overall I enjoyed the narrative voice and choices.ps. where are all these secret BDSM clubs and god like specimens who belong to them?