Guarded Desires by Anna Stone is a workplace, erotic romance that illustrates finding yourself requires intimate trust and the ability to let go.
Bodyguard Carmen Torres is a professional. She’s disciplined, doesn’t mingle with her clients, and absolutely doesn’t mix professional and personal. Her latest job, however, tests her resolve. As the personal bodyguard to Amber Pryce, the domineering heiress and co-owner of Mistress Media, Carmen soon finds herself drawn to the woman in a way she has never felt before or since. What’s even worse, Amber catches onto her desire, and the lines of professionalism Carmen has so carefully erected may crumble when Amber offers exactly what she needs.
As the sole heir to the Pryce family fortune, Amber is accustomed to being treated like royalty. Men and women alike want her, but Amber is stern in who she associates with. More importantly, she has to be the one in control at all times. When she first meets Carmen, she notices the hardheadedness but also a desire underneath the tough exterior. A desire to be dominated. Amber is just the one to show Carmen exactly what it means to be submissive, but the job, and a relentless stalker, cuts into their romantic intentions.
Engaged in a fiery game of seduction, tensions heat up. But as Amber’s stalker closes in, their passions maybe too much of a distraction from the threat at hand, putting both their lives and their hearts at risk.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I’m used to reading books where the butch/androgynous woman is the dominant in the relationship, so it was nice to see the feminine woman be the dominant and the butch woman be the submissive.
Amber appears to be a spoiled, entitled rich princess. She understands who she is and the legacy of her family name, but she is adamant to forge her own path and not conform to the pre-conceived ideas of anyone, especially her mother. She knows as a woman, she can be perceived as being meek and powerless. So she goes to great lengths to discourage such notions. She is driven and powerful, and she carries that dominance and authority into the bedroom. When Carmen Torres unexpectedly shows up in her life, Amber sees a flicker of something in her eyes, something Amber has seen before and wants to draw out of Carmen in the most desirable way.
Carmen’s background as a former Marine gives her the appearance of being tough and protective, which she is. But she also harbors a lot of guilt over the loss of her parents and can be overprotective when it comes to her little sister. She has such a stranglehold on her life, trying to control every aspect to the point of overbearing, but she secretly longs to release some of that control. Luckily, Amber is willing to help her do that. And if they happen to find something more substantial to build in the midst of these lessons, then it may just save their lives.
Cons And Heads Up
There is BDSM involved, including whipping. Some may find this to be too intense.
The Conclusion
This was a great look into the dynamics of dominate/submissive relationships and how trust is imperative on both sides. Stone does an amazing job of illustrating Carmen’s need to surrender but also maintain control of the situation, as well as Amber’s willingness to teach and benefit from Carmen’s eagerness. Definitely a book you don’t read in the middle of a coffee house. Maybe the living room…when the kids are at school.
Excerpt from Guarded Desires by Anna Stone
Amber turned…her eyes meeting Carmen’s for the first time.
A shiver went through her. There was something in Amber’s gaze, something cool and commanding, that made her heart race. Those eyes, piercing and blue, seemed to want something from her. Those lips, ruby red, seemed to whisper something to her. Her unwavering expression, it demanded something of her…
Carmen drew in a breath, trying to settle her pulse. Why was Amber making her feel this way? She wasn’t the kind of woman to be intimidate by anyone.
But intimidated wasn’t what she was feeling.
“Torres?” Wheeler interjected. “You all right?”
Carmen snapped out of her trance, nodding. “I’m fine.”
She glanced at her boss, then back at Amber. But now, the cool fire in the woman’s eyes was gone, replaced by her earlier haughtiness.
“I’ll send some men to watch the courtyard,” Wheeler said. “And Torres here is going to be keeping an eye on you personally tonight. She’s one of our best.”
Amber looked Carmen up and down. “Torres. Do you have a first name?”
“It’s Carmen,” she said.
“Keep your eyes open, Carmen. I can’t afford to have any trouble tonight.”
Carmen nodded, her mouth suddenly too dry to form words. What was wrong with her? She should have been more annoyed about Amber’s presumptuousness than she was. She knew how to do her job. She was a professional…
Amber huffed. “I need to go prepare for the auction.”
With that, she turned and walked away, parting the crowd before her once more.
Carmen’s boss barked in her ear. “What are you gaping at her for? Follow her.”
Carmen shook her head. “Yes. Right away.”
With a nod to Wheeler, she followed in Amber’s wake.
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Series
Guarded Desires
Laid Bare
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781922685001
Publisher: Violet Ocean Press
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