Syncopation
Series: Twisted Wishes #1
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date (Ebook): April 9, 2018
Length (Print & Ebook): 104,000 words or ~295 pages
Subgenre: contemporary romance; m/m romance
Includes: Rockstars, BDSM, Angst, Pansexual/bisexual, Aromantic
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Synopsis:
There’s no resisting the thrum of temptation in this male/male rock-star romance from genre-favorite author Anna Zabo!
Twisted Wishes front man Ray Van Zeller is in one hell of a tight spot. After a heated confrontation with his bandmate goes viral, Ray is hit with a PR nightmare the fledgling band so doesn’t need. But his problems only multiply when they snag a talented new drummer—insufferably sexy Zavier Demos, the high school crush Ray barely survived.
Zavier’s kept a casual eye on Twisted Wishes for years, and lately, he likes what he sees. What he doesn’t like is how out of control Ray seems—something Zavier’s aching to correct after their first pulse-pounding encounter. If Ray’s up for the challenge.
Despite the prospect of a glorious sexual encore, Ray is reluctant to trust Zavier with his band—or his heart. And Zavier has always had big dreams; this gig was supposed to be temporary. But touring together has opened their eyes to new passions and new possibilities, making them rethink their commitments, both to the band and to each other.
Exclusive Excerpt
Once his arms were free, Ray wrapped them around Zavier’s neck. “Thank you.” It was a whisper of words. “You have no idea.”
Zavier rubbed his back. He knew, probably more than Ray realized. “Your ass is going to hurt tomorrow.”
“Don’t care. Will remind me of you.”
Admittedly, he enjoyed the hell out of that thought—Ray aching and cursing, then remembering Zavier’s hands and cock. “Good.”
A chuckle from Ray.
“I need to get up,” Zavier said. “Lose the condom.”
Ray muttered something but relaxed, so Zavier shifted him over and poured him onto the leather cushions, grateful there was enough space to lay him out. Zavier stood and pulled off the rubber. In the adjoining tiny bathroom, he wrapped it in tissues and stuffed it in the trash.
When he stepped back into the lounge, Ray wiggled on the couch and winced. “Fuck, you’re brutal.”
“That was hardly brutal.” A little spanking and some fucking? He shook his head and chuckled. “But the real question is…did you enjoy it?”
Ray stilled. “Yes.” So much emotion was balled up into that one word. Ray reached for him…
…and Zavier went. Because after was just as important as before and during. Maybe more so. He lay down and wrapped himself around Ray, spooning against his back.
Ray settled in, relaxing against him. “I loved it,” he said. “Is that weird?”
“Not one bit.”
Ray trembled, the night catching up with him. The adrenaline slipping away. “You won’t use it against me, will you?”
“Never.” Zavier stroked his hair.
“Because I know I’m not—I’m not—” He gave a helpless grunt.
Oh, Ray. You’re far more than you believe. “Do you trust me?” Zavier whispered the question against Ray’s neck, and he shivered in Zavier’s arms, his body still trembling from orgasm, pleasure, and exhaustion.
“Yes.” Same answer as before. “God, yes. After tonight, I’ll never not trust you, Zav.”
He kissed the back of Ray’s neck. “Good. Because I want to tell you something. It’s not speculation, it’s not belief or opinion, it’s goddamned fact. You’re an astounding musician. And you work fucking hard. You love the fans.”
There was a catch to Ray’s breathing.
“Twisted Wishes…this band you’ve allowed me to join, to be a part of…is something so brilliant, I don’t know why the whole world isn’t falling at your feet, where it belongs.”
Ray huffed a laugh. “Now that’s an opinion.”
Zavier nipped the skin on his neck. “Hush. I’m not blowing smoke up your ass.”
“Just plowing your cock there.” Laughter and joy.
Yeah, he had, and he would again. As often as Ray liked and their schedule allowed. “Listen, Ray.”
He settled down and melted against Zavier.
“Carl’s gonna come at you again. Bastard like that can’t help it. He’ll look for that opening and jam in the blade, and it’s gonna hurt. And when it does, I want you to remember this moment, right now, with me.”
“Okay…” A whisper of breath warmed Zavier’s arm.
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be in this world, no job I’d rather have than in your band as your drummer. It’s a fucking honor to be here.”
Ray shook, then gulped a breath and something close to a sob burst out of him. “You…you…” Then he was crying. Silently, but unmistakably.
Good. If there was anyone who deserved to be cracked apart by truth and joy, it was Ray Van Zeller.
They stayed like that for a while, until Ray murmured and turned. “We gotta be close to wherever they’re stopping by now.”
Probably. Zavier gave Ray’s neck one more kiss, then let him go. They both rose.
For the amount of pleasure they’d had, there was surprisingly little debris. A condom wrapper. The bottle of lube. The length of sports tape he’d used to tie Ray up. Clothes. There were a few drops of lube or maybe semen on the leather, but that would wipe up easily.
“Why don’t you crawl into your bunk? I’ll clean up.”
“You sure?” Ray’s voice was still full of weight, with a touch of slurring. Either exhaustion or subspace. Didn’t matter, really.
Zavier hooked his arm in Ray’s. “Yeah. Let’s get you to bed.” Didn’t take much coaxing to clean the spunk off Ray or get him in his sweats. Ray even drank a bottle of water for him.
“I like this.” Ray slipped into the upper bunk.
“Being fucked?” He pulled the privacy curtain closed until just Ray’s head and shoulders were visible.
A sleepy, happy chuckle. “That too. So good.”
If that wasn’t it… “What do you like, Ray?”
Those whiskey-gold eyes looked up at him. “You taking care of me.”
Words as warm as Ray’s gaze, and they cascaded through Zavier, heating him in a way sex never did. This was joy—taking care of Ray, easing his burdens.
He leaned over and kissed Ray on the forehead. “It was my pleasure.”
Ray closed his eyes and murmured something Zavier didn’t catch—then fell asleep. He turned off the light in the bunk and carefully pulled the curtain the rest of the way shut.
5 of 5 Stars
While I can’t completely empathize, I definitely get where Zavier is coming from – I don’t like hearts, flowers and sappy sentiments (just ask my husband) – but I AM a huge sucker for the sappy, happily-ever-after (where no one gets hurt) romance story. So, I was a little nervous about where the ‘relationship’ between Zavier and Ray might go. If you’re like me in that respect and hesitant to read this book, DON’T WORRY! Zavier may be aro but he is not emotionless. He and Ray have a fiery passion that you feel to your toes. They have a sexual and emotional chemistry that is OFF.THE.CHARTS. They are the perfect balance for each other, partners in every way. When one struggles with control, the other helps calm the storm.
The band’s story is perfectly woven within Ray and Zavier’s relationship story. Not unbelievable or far-fetched or ‘too perfect’. There are struggles and growing pains as well as successes and amazing experiences. I’m a percussion girl and I love that Zavier is classically trained but fits right in with the band. Ray is no less brilliant as he ‘sees’ the music and until now has been a largely overlooked musical prodigy in his own right. The other two members of the band are wonderfully strong. Seeing them become a solid unit, supporting each other is an amazing journey.
This is absolutely a MUST READ and I will anxiously await the next book in the series!
About Anna Zabo:
Anna Zabo writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. As a child they were heartily disappointed to discover that they couldn’t grow up to be what they wanted (a boy, a cat, a dragon), so they settled on being themself whenever possible, which may be a combination of a boy, a cat, and a dragon. Or perhaps a girl, a knight, and a writer. Depends on whom you ask. They do have a penchant for colorful ties and may be hording a small collection of cufflinks.They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
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