This is a story about a man who is in control of every aspect of his life—until he realizes that the price he pays for his independence may just be too high. Hunter Wolf is that man, a highly paid and well-known escort who loves his job and the benefits it brings. When he runs into Grant, an elementary school teacher who remembers Hunter from when he tutored him in high school, the emotional wall Hunter has erected to protect himself and the deep secrets he carries, begins to crumble. What follows is an emotional roller coaster as both men try to deal with the effects Hunter’s job and his need not to be vulnerable have on the relationship they want. Nothing comes easy to these two, and Andrew Grey did an amazing job portraying the issues, thoughts, and emotions of two men who want more than friendship, but don’t know if the price they have to pay is worth it.

Hunter oozes sexiness, dominates any gathering if he wants to, and is top dog in every way. But he also lives a double life. Like many sex workers, he shows one part of him when he is at work, and keeps his deeper emotions to himself. He has two reasons to do this. One is the secret he carries that has made him never want to be vulnerable again, and the other is that he needs to keep part of himself locked away or he won’t be able to do his job and remain emotionally whole. He takes escorting seriously, and it is much more for him than selling his body. He truly wants to help his clients in whatever way they need him. But when he meets Grant again, something happens. At first he fights it: “Hunter was in control of his life, his emotions, and his body. He could do what he pleased with all of them and he was fucking happy, dammit.” But the writing is on the wall. Hunter has to learn to be honest with himself on a deeper level, which is tough, but his feelings for Grant make it almost impossible to do his job, so whatever he decides will have significant consequences.

Grant is an amazing guy. He has been treated badly by his alcoholic parents, and still takes care of his aging father. He is also paying for the debt his messed-up sister has amassed, and he doesn’t exactly have a lot of money as a teacher. But he is not willing to let that stop him from being happy. Hunter intrigues him on a purely physical level at first. When Hunter takes him to dinner to thank him for helping him out in high school, the evening is truly special, and Grant sees a glimpse of the “real” Hunter, the part nobody else normally sees. Grant is intrigued and despite some misgivings, he agrees to giving a relationship a try. As Grant begins to fall for Hunter, dealing with his profession becomes more and more difficult, to the point where it is utterly painful. Grant has to make a choice as well, one that is as emotionally difficult as Hunter’s.

If you like character-driven stories about men with deep emotional scars, if you’re fascinated by the different ways men use to deal with their past and the consequences they face, and if you’re looking for a read that is as emotionally raw and demanding as it is sweet and touching, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It made my heart bleed for Hunter and Grant, but it was well worth the effort!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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