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A stuffy composer meets a flirty ballet dancer. Can these opposites make music together, or will their dreams pull them apart? This is a sweet and steamy MM romance set against the sun-soaked hills of Los Angeles.
Joshua
I should be applying for grad school. Or looking for a job. Anything to get out of my awful rut. But instead, I’m obsessing about the dancer I hooked up with at the ballet studio. Who would have thought a gig playing the piano would lead to the hottest sex of my life? Before we got down to it, I think I promised to help out on a dance concert he’s producing. I was in such a lust haze I barely remember. He’d better text soon. I wonder if he’s still interested in seeing me in a *very* unprofessional capacity.
Brandon
I can barely focus on the upcoming dance concert or my move to New York. I’m thinking about that cute pianist instead. Did I tell him I’m moving? Things happened so fast between us I can’t remember. I’ve never had an experience like that where I was totally unraveled by a stranger. If I wasn’t about to move across the country, I would definitely want to go another round. But I’m leaving, so no more hot domination games with Joshua. I’ve got to keep things professional and not fixate on the way his elegant fingers moved across my body.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back is the first book in the Ballet Boys series. Each book is a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment, I suggest starting with book one.
Title: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Authors: Cyd Sidney
Length: 35K
Series: Ballet Boys, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM, Romantic Comedy.
Tropes: Opposites attract, Grumpy/sunshine, Instalust.
Content: Dominant/submissive BDSM relationship with impact play, Sex is described explicitly, and Parental illness/death is mentioned.
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Brandon was packing his bag for their fourth rehearsal with Joshua. Three meetings and three quick goodbyes; the clock was literally ticking on his departure, and all this potential sex time with Joshua was gone with no sex in sight. It was a fucking tragedy in Brandon’s opinion, but he would just have to make peace with it. Joshua was holding firm on not socializing with them and Brandon didn’t want to push.
Tristan strolled in and started stretching on the floor. Brandon tried to cover his frustration when he greeted his roommate.
“Hey, man.”
“Hey, yourself. Listen, Brandon, we’ve got to talk.” This was news to Brandon. Everything seemed to be going well for his team of dancers.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s you.” Brandon felt a sting of anxiety tighten in his chest as Tristan continued, “You and Joshua.” Brandon was relieved that it wasn’t something serious but irritated that Tristan was bothering him with this.
“There’s no me and Joshua. How could there be something wrong?” Tristan rolled his eyes.
“You and Joshua have been doing some weird kind of avoidance dance ever since day one, and it’s painful to watch. That, and the eye fucking, and pining looks. There’s been a lot of pining and yearning. You guys need to get it together and figure out what’s happening between you. Sarah and I thought about locking you two in the closet,” Brandon let out a little gasp, “but we think you need more than a good fuck. We think you need to talk to each other, and then maybe fuck.”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Brandon’s cheeks were hot with embarrassment.
“You have made it our business. It’s everybody’s concern because you two are emoting all over the place, and it’s a real distraction.”
“Fine, I’ll talk to him.”
Sarah skipped into the room.
“Did you talk to Brandon about the sad puppy dog faces, Tris?”
“Yep.”
“Is he going to do something about it?”
“I’m right here, you guys! Fuck.” Brandon was starting to get ticked off for real. Tristan gave him an appraising look.
“He says he’s going to take care of it, but I have a feeling he’s going to try to weasel out.”
“I will not weasel out.”
“We know you won’t,” Sarah smiled sweetly, “because if you do, we’ll confront him ourselves and tell him how pouty you get every time he turns down one of our invitations.”
“You would never.”
“Don’t test us. Talk to him.” Sarah gave him a quick hug and turned to get her stuff.
You know I always want to read a book that has ballet in it. So I figured I would give it a shot. Let’s say, I’m glad it was short.
There is a story there, but it needed WAY more fleshing out. There’s very little dialogue so the book just tells me what they are doing. The book starts with Joshua sounding like a hot mess…but he isn’t. At least not for the rest of the book. He also tries being a Dom, or at least a very strong top, to Brandon and it just comes off as silly.
Joshua comes off as very meek and mild. Damaged by his previous boyfriend, yet we don’t really get a lot about that whole situation. A natural Dom he is not. More like he wants to be a Dom to take back control he lost to his previous boyfriend.
Brandon is very outgoing but immediately let’s Joshua take control sexually. When it seems like it is going to be a one off. It just didn’t hit right.
So I am going to give it a meh and be glad that it only took less than 2 hours to read.
2.5 pieces of eye candy
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My name is Cyd Sidney and I write queer, romantic tales with a lot of spice/steam/heat (let’s just call it sex). My stories are funny, surprising, and include lots of banter. I’m thrilled that you’re here and hope you’ll join me for the ride!
Catch up with Cyd:
https://twitter.com/CydSidney
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22076301.Cyd_Sidney
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