Saturday Snippet!

 

This Saturday Snippet features Impacted! Now available in Kindle Unlimited for the first time. 

The first book in the Bay Area Professionals Series has been re-edited and re-covered for this third edition. 

Check out this excerpt.

Robin Kennedy sat on a stone bench in Union Square, taking sips of his iced coffee while people watching. It was his first day of work and he was anxious. A decaf might have been a better idea to help unwind, but he couldn’t get going without his daily infusion of caffeine. He hoped to have his nerves in check by the time seven thirty rolled around.

The last time he’d been here was for his job interview, and even though all had gone well and he was offered the position, Robin was still apprehensive. Working on patient volunteers in school was nothing compared to a paying customer who would be judging him from the minute they sat down in his chair.

It was no secret the majority of dental hygienists were women. Even in a progressive state like California and, more importantly, San Francisco, women in this profession outnumbered men fifty to one. There were several reasons for the discouraging statistics, and most of them were unfounded. Men were supposedly too rough or lacked empathy, and large fingers couldn’t possibly fit comfortably in a child’s mouth. And then there were those who viewed male hygienists as dental school dropouts, automatically shoving them into the failure category. Robin knew the excuses were ridiculous, but he was also aware a male hygienist would be judged differently, and the slightest problem might be his undoing.

As far as dentistry was concerned, Robin had considered the profession, but he didn’t have the kind of money necessary to make the dream come true. Student loans were always an option, but putting himself in hock for the rest of his life went against his very nature. After weighing the pros and cons, he’d decided the two-year hygiene program at Diablo Valley College was more suited to his needs. The bartending gig in San Ramon had been the lifesaver he required to get through the program, and it took some of the pressure off his mother, who’d been working double shifts as a nurse to make ends meet.

Robin had been a good student, in the top 10 percent of his class, and enjoyed the interaction between himself, his teachers, and his fellow classmates. He was meticulous and thorough, borderline anal about certain things, and an excellent teacher. Instructing patients on proper oral hygiene, especially the ones who presented with years of accumulated plaque, required tact. He didn’t want to insult them, but keeping quiet wasn’t an option either. With a combination of humor and finesse, he managed to get the message across, and most people responded gratefully.

Robin took another sip of his coffee, wishing he had an energy bar. He’d already spent too much on his move, and he was down to dregs, due to the deposit and first month’s rent. It would be two more weeks before he got paid, so he was watching every cent. Self-supporting for years, Robin knew how lucky he was to have found this job. Working for a successful periodontist in practice for thirty years was a huge break, considering he was a guy and fresh out of school. Dr. Morris had been pleasant but admitted he’d never hired a male hygienist before. He was concerned his associate wasn’t around to weigh in on the decision, but he went ahead and hired Robin with the understanding he was on a three-month probation.

It was a huge relief until Robin laid eyes on the Promise Keeper plaque hanging on the wall beside the doctor’s diploma from the University of California. The right wing, conservative Christian organization of men, professing to walk in Christ’s shoes, was dedicated to building strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values. Members were committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity. They were rabidly homophobic. If Robin even hinted he was gay, the offer would be immediately withdrawn.

Now he wondered if he was a little crazy for taking this job. Living in San Francisco had been a dream since he was a kid growing up in the East Bay, and he didn’t want to hide his orientation in this city, of all places. But he had to be realistic. A good job took precedence over anything else. There would be time enough to find a gay-friendly dental practice once he had a year of solid experience under his belt. More importantly, if it ever got out that he was a man who enjoyed kinky sex, there wouldn’t be any wiggle room—he’d be fired on the spot.

Robin knew his sexual preferences were different from an early age. It wasn’t something he’d grown into—it was imbedded in his genes, as much a part of him as his red hair and freckles. He’d trolled BDSM sites on the web for months to learn as much as possible before actually stepping foot in a club. Robin was an acknowledged Dom with a sadistic streak at odds with his normally caring personality. In the light of day, Robin didn’t enjoy inflicting pain, but he was altogether different when it came to sex. He craved the power exchange as much as he enjoyed the physical release. Finding the right submissive, one who was willing to take it all for one perfect moment when pain coalesced with ecstasy, was high on his bucket list. He’d come close several times, but there was always a reason to part ways instead of making it a permanent arrangement. Robin was a good Dom, albeit a young one, having been in the scene for only a few years. For financial reasons, he stuck to private sessions. One day he’d be able to afford the exclusive clubs, with their top-shelf booze, high membership fees, and the custom-made leather gear, but not in the immediate future.

He usually brought his men home, or he went over to their place. Fortunately, he had an unusually understanding mother who accepted his orientation and never mentioned the box of goodies he kept in his bedroom closet. Denise had complete access but respected his privacy and worked most nights. She’d raised him as a single mom, often joking she was a victim of a drive-by fucking. The jerk who’d impregnated her hadn’t stuck around long enough to realize he’d left a souvenir. She insisted on having the baby, though, determined to give her child the love and support she’d never had.

Abandoned at a young age, Denise had been raised in shelters. An astute volunteer had realized there was an intelligent, caring person underneath the layers of street smarts and filth, and somehow managed to clean her up and get her into the foster system. She had struggled for years but eventually come away with a nursing degree.

Robin glanced at his watch and realized he had ten minutes to get to the office. He threw his empty cup into the trash can and hiked over a couple of streets, crossing through Union Square, Post Street, and finally arriving in front of the famous art deco building on Sutter Street. The edifice had been around since 1929 and was home to hundreds of medical and dental professionals. Only the best and brightest paid the astronomical rent at 450 Sutter.

Robin observed the uniformed doorman, strategically positioned to greet newcomers and help them into elevators while answering questions. The building directory was in a prominent place, but most patients preferred to ask for directions, and the doorman invariably beamed his reply. He held the elevator door for Robin, who pressed number sixteen and waited as the mirrored box zoomed upward.

When Robin entered the dental office through the back door, as he’d been instructed during the interview, he went straight to the staff room. He shrugged off his jacket, hung it up, and stashed his backpack on the floor at the back of the closet. He wore navy blue scrubs today, the new set his mother insisted he buy to bring out the color of his eyes and complement his copper curls. Bracing his shoulders, he took a deep breath and walked into Dr. Morris’s office for the morning huddle. The first person he saw was his fuck boy holding a cup of coffee. He was in a white lab coat with the name Scott Gregory embroidered on its left pocket.

They stared at each other, openmouthed. Here was the living embodiment of the man he’d been fantasizing about for days. A vivid image of the blond handcuffed to his car door—begging to be fucked, his thick cock bobbing—leaped into Robin’s head. It was so clear he could feel the hot flesh underneath his palm as he slapped the raised ass. It made the blood rush to his cheeks and other parts of his body.

Get your copy of Impacted! for $3.99 or read for free with your KU subscription. Book 2 in the series, Bonds of Love, will release toward the middle of March. Keep an eye on this blog for more updates.