5+++ utterly sensual and delicious stars!*****Review completed February 28, 2013 Meet Adrian... “Sex with a stranger. You can’t rationalize it or justify it, but you can enjoy it. And I promise you will.”“You tell yourself that, and maybe it buys you a modicum of propriety. But the truth is you don’t know me outside of what I want you to know. And still you’re here, and you desire me, and I desire you. Names don’t matter. Pleasure matters. This.” Yes, I’m going to admit it, I have a secret fetish for great escort books as well as stories that feature a younger hero and an older heroine. The Fifth Favor fits the bill perfectly. Prepare yourself to be gushed upon… Wow, what a fabulous book! I loved and devoured it! Once in a while you luck out and find a special read that will stay with you for a long time. The Fifth Favor is such a book, and I will never forget Adrian. Ever. The man seduces with a look, a touch, with his voice and his hands and…his mouth. The sound of his voice has the same enticing effect of a physical caress. Needless to say that I absolutely love Adrian. He is sexual prowess personified. *Le sigh* "(…)As for me, I simply enjoy sex, enjoy giving pleasure, especially when the woman appears to have known so little in her life.” His black gaze dropped to her lips. “The sound of her cry at climax, the astonishment, the shatter of every pretense at that instant of ecstasy…it’s nearly as satisfying to me as the experience of orgasm itself.” He waited, attention unwavering on her face. “Haven’t you ever had a man withhold his orgasm for your own pleasure, Billie? It’s a privilege to me. A test of strength and generosity and self-control. It offers its own kind of pleasure. The pleasure of giving.”“It sounds supremely difficult,” she said huskily. “A skilled lover is also a skilled listener, Ms. Cort.”Despite the fact that I pride myself on sensing a woman’s need, the occasion does arise when I have to stop and simply…ask.” Face-to-Face with FantasyBillie Cort is a journalist and writes for the magazine Illicit. It's the first time that she has to write an article about a male prostitute, a high-end prostitute who is working for a very elegant as well as expensive private club, that is. Instead of feeling thrilled though, Billie is self-conscious and when she meets Adrian, the star of Avalon, things are getting 'worse'. The man is a perfect, exotic creature. With a body to die for, Adrian is utterly handsome and sexy as all get out. Talk about intensity. The owner of Avalon, the cold-hearted and mean b@tch Azure, said to Billie:"Good luck, Ms. Cort." (…) "Enjoy yourself. Adrian has a wonderful way of sliding beneath a woman's skin. I'd be prepared for anything if I were you."Truer words have never been spoken…Adrian's seductive gaze unsettles Billie, she feels uncomfortable, however, at the same time it turns her on and the more they talk the more she feels attracted to him. Adrian, the masked enigma, is a complex and fascinating character. He switched from being a high-end prostitute to an incredibly vulnerable and private man in no time flat. It was astounding. Billie, however, would not be misled and began to unravel the intriguing man. As a matter of fact, Billie was the first woman who really touched him to his core. Billie caught him off-guard, and she put his world upside down. Their mutual attraction was fierce and intense, the sexual tension was so palpable and thick that you could cut it with a knife. Also, Billie provided the link to the “normal” life, a life he thought was lost to him. She put everything into perspective. He fell for her because she was honest, warm and real. Besides, Billie epitomized the type of woman he was not used to, a woman he could fall in love with, a woman also who was longing to have a healthy and loving relationship. But Adrian didn’t do relationships. This being said, Billie taught Adrian how to love but at the same time she terrified him immensely because he felt unworthy of her love.What I found remarkable was the fact that Adrian didn't look for cheap excuses, he took all the blame."I'm the only one who went wrong, Rosie. It's not your fault, or Mama or Papa's.Just mine. And then my refusal to see my life for what it had become--the road to hell." “It’s because you haven’t explored sexual boundaries of any sort, Billie,” he went on, “I’d venture to say you’re virginal in every aspect except the physical. Pleasure could become so familiar to you, so certain and reaffirming, if you felt safe and loved and sure about what you were doing. But you don’t feel safe when you’re giving yourself to a man, do you? It terrifies you.” “I want to show you what I do.” He slid a hand along the back of the sofa and inched toward her. “I want you to know why women pay for me.” Billie recovered just in time to flatten a palm against his chest. "Adrian, no."He paused. "I'm sorry--no?""Right. That's what I said." She swallowed and felt like a child bypassing a jar labeled Free Candy.(…)“Our track record is beginning to worry me.”The dry comment brought a reluctant smile to her lips. “You don’t hear ‘no’ very often, do you?”“I can’t remember the last time.” Sometimes the foreplay with all its sexual tension and chemistry is so stunning that this whole process is even better than the sexual act itself. Don’t get me wrong. Their first “real” lovemaking was breathlessly beautiful, however, their make-out sessions, which I enjoyed tremendously, were incredibly lascivious and lush with emotion; they left me wanting more…and more. This story oozes sensuality and temptation as all get out, it’s simply mind-boggling. In fact, the author writes chemistry with an irresistible force, you can’t evade it and you can’t help but fall for Adrian and Billie. It was so sublime I thought I might combust and I was happy to tag along when they embarked upon a very enticing journey into sexual oblivion. Well, it goes without saying that The Fifth Favor provides one of the best build-up I’ve ever read, and I believe that every woman needs a man like Adrian in her life. No, scratch that. There is only one Adrian and I claim him. He is mine and I do not like to share. “I won’t have sex with you.”“It’s not required.” A somnolent mask dropped over his features as he caught the top button of her blouse between two fingers and unfastened it. “I can touch you right here on this sofa, in a million different ways. Taste you. Take you to heaven and back again. I’m offering you the ultimate research for your article, Billie. You can say you don’t want what I have to give, but I’ll know you’re lying.” They kissed, long and ravenous and angry. Catching her hand, he folded it against his chest, where his own heart beat a quickened, steady rhythm. Instantly the kiss softened, became languid, a little contrite, laced with lingering desire.“If you write about us, he said breathlessly, resting his forehead against hers, “you’ll owe me.”“A favor for a favor?” She kissed him again, her lips clinging to his. No one had ever tasted as good as this man.“I share the blame. This is what you truly wanted to hear from me, and I admit it. I’m nothing. I have nothing of value to give you. No heart, not an ounce of love in me. It’s all been fucked away.”“Shut up,” she whispered, leaning her head back against the hard brick rather than look at him. “Shut up, Adrian. You’re a liar.” Adrian's best (view spoiler)[friend went flying. Tragic. (hide spoiler)]
♥♥♥ 4 SENSUAL STARS ♥♥♥ "A favor for a favor."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Pleasure for pleasure. Truth for truth. Injury for injury. Equally given, equally received." Billie Cort is a reporter for a magazine called Illicit. She is working on an article about expensive male prostitues, and in order to do that she must do some research. She is told to go to Avalon, a high-end private club where she is to interview the best of the best, Adrian. The attraction is immediate once she lays eyes on him, and it seems like Adrian is also feeling it too. Adrian. *sigh* What can I say about Adrian? He was über swoony, sexy, and charming. I have never shivered so much in my life just from reading what Adrian said and did to Billie. He was one hell of a seducer and I found myself falling under his spell. "She wasn't the kind of woman who could give away sex without giving away her heart, and he liked that in her, that vulnerability....Maybe, at the very bottom of it, he knew a whore - even a high-priced one - didn't deserve a woman like Billie. She was reality, gritty and truthful and tangible. He... he was a phantom born out of... imagination." "Looking at Billie, touching her, tasting her, had filled him with a wanting fiercer than any he’d known. For the first time, he was faced with something he couldn’t truly have, because of what he’d become.” He was intrigued by the innocence that he saw in Billie and at first all he wants is to give her a taste of what he can do. He is so closed off though, that he lets no one know the real him. Billie has the power to make him lower his defences and view his vulnerabilty. Soon, he starts to fall for her because she accepts and sees him as he is, the person, not the escort persona he plays. He starts seeing the things he could have had in his life, but might no longer be able to have. He feels like like he is no longer worthy of anything good, like love, especially from a woman so wonderful as Billie. In another time, another place, he could have loved this woman. He could have deserved her love.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~“Your eyes are a dead giveaway. You’re starving, Billie. For love. For sex. For attention. Who denied you all these things?” Billie wants to understand Adrian more. She wants to find out who he is. She is the first woman to ever say no to Adrian. She isn't a one night stand kind of woman but resisting Adrian proves hard for her. When everything he does drives her hormones into chaos. All she wants is for him to accept that he has feelings for her as well. And to also see the wonderful things she sees in him.I really enjoyed every moment of this book. The teasing, the seduction, all of it had me not wanting to put this book down. Adrian was so sexy and yummy and normal, definitely not your typical severely broken male main character. Still, he was not perfect. Billie, may have been innocent in some ways but she sure knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to voice it and go after it. “What are you doing to me?” he groaned against her lips, his voice feverish and hoarse. “Whatever it is, don’t stop. Don’t ever stop touching me. Don’t ever stop loving me…”“I can’t stop,” she replied, her words shaken as she clutched his hair and stared up into his eyes. “I don’t know how.” I loved seeing these characters help each other learn more of themselves. The whole book was full of a good dose of steam. The only thing I felt lacking in this book was the ending. There was a HEA but it was a bit rushed and it really left me wanting more, so I was disappointed. I would have liked there to have been an epilogue or something. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read.
What do You think about The Fifth Favor (2004)?
Loved! Loved, loved, loved this book. The Fifth Favor is as heartwarming as it is blood boiling. I adored Adrian, he was so smooth, charismatic, gorgeous, and knew what he was doing when it came to a woman. I liked Billie's soft heart and her strength. I was impressed with Billie for her ability to be with Adrian without feeling self-conscious and jealous. I also admired her for looking past what Adrian chose to do with his life and saw the person he truly was underneath the false, perfect persona that he portrayed. "For a man whose life encompassed the raw, emotionless aspect of base human urges, he was unequivocally inclined toward gentleness." I also liked how there wasn't anything traumatic that happened to cause him to become a male escort, just a decision he made. This book had some hot moments that left me tingly. It had the drama that I crave. The Fifth Favor also had sweet spots that made me melt. ""You're everything to me," he murmured, nuzzling his nose against the sensitive skin behind her ear. "Making love to you won't be enough, Billie. I want more. I want everything."" ""This is my bed," he said, his voice low and strangely hollow. "You're the only woman I want here-" he guided her hand to his heart "-and here."" I felt a lot of emotions while reading The Fifth Favor and that is what makes a great book for me, something that makes me feel intensely. I would definitely recommend this one! Thanks Rosalinda for the recommendation!
—Mistress
This is an intriguing story told with the perfect blend of erotic excitement and innocence—a hard feat to accomplish, and it’s done here with class. fab·u·lous /ˈfabyələs/Adjective1.tExtraordinary, amazingly good; wonderful.I truly enjoyed the tugging of both characters emotions here and loved the element of mystery, which helped propel this story into something deeper. 33-year old Billie Cort is a brunette, green-eyed Journalist for Illicit; a well-known women’s magazine. She is set out to do an expose on Washington D.C.’s hottest and *renowned* gigolo known simply as “Adrian.” Personally, Billie is coming off a broken-engagement of a five-year relationship. What she doesn't expect to find is an attraction to man so *untouchable* on so many levels.Adrian is 28-years old and happens to be the *top* companion at Avalon, a den of iniquity that caters to the rich and most privileged women. He is regarded as a "consummate lover, so renown for his sexual skill.” Adrian has been doing the deed at Avalon for 8-years garnering a minimum of $1,000 an hour for his expertise. But being employed by the owner, Azure, he has also sacrificed his personal life—and therefore guards his privacy fiercely. Adrian is willing to help out the reporter’s quest for so-called work details… but he never thought Billie would get under his well-tanned and muscled skin. When it comes to Billie, Adrian is a virgin for emotions. “I have nothing of value to give you. No heart, not an ounce of love in me. It’s all been f*--*ed away.” -Adrian ....She was falling. Seduced. Unequivocally spellbound..“What I offer is a worthless currency in your world.” -BillieBut during the course of the interview… tragedy strikes Adrian's best friend Luke (Lucien) who also works at Avalon. They have been friends since college, but an act of despair on Luke’s part leaves a dark hole Adrian can’t get over & creates a dramatic turn of events involving everyone.Overall, this is a captivating tale filled with some memorable heartfelt moments. I especially loved the ending, but wish an epilogue of sorts was included.
—SanO
Wow! This book was at times extremely intense for me. I have to say that I am not use to waiting until almost the end for the couple to "get it on"; but was pleasantly surprised when they finally took the plunge. I guess the saying, "All good things come to those who wait," really is true! The story begins with a reporter named, Billie who shows up at The Avalon; a private club where a woman's every desire can be met, she is directed to one of the top male companions for an interview. When Adrian and Billie meet, there is instant attracton between both of them. You would think that they would just jump into a torrid love affair and fall in love, and that would be the end of the story. So much happens with these two before either one of them allows themselves to let go and feel their true emotions for one another. This story is about the "dance" that these two play, and at times it is sexy, heartwarming, frustrating, and tormenting. It broke my heart to watch these two deny themselves their hearts desires all because they didn't feel good enough for the other. At one point Adrian even states: "I'm nothing, I have nothing of value to give you. No heart, not an ounce of love in me. It's all been f**ked away."Well, talk about make my heart bleed when I read that. To think that he devalued himself so much, that he felt so undeserving of love was so sad. All of the women who pay to have this gorgeous specimen of a man, have no idea that at his core he feels like a piece of garbage who has no right to a decent life. For me, I had so much empathy for Adrian, yes, he chose this life for himself but at eighteen that kind of life seems like the ultimate dream.Then we have Billie, who Adrian was drawn to for the simple reason that she had an innocence about her that Adrian was not use to seeing anymore. He saw a woman who was starved for love, sex, and attention, and was to afraid to reach out and grab it for herself. So, these two somewhat broken souls find one another, and ride the bumpy train towards a possible happiness that they don't realize at the time they want. What a journey this ride is! There are many detours along the way, and a few people that add to the conficts that arise. Will love finally conquer all? Or will the fear that Adrian and Billie feel get in the way of their HEA?I truly enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to checking out other works by Shelby Reed. I love a story that takes you on a journey, and the destination takes awhile to get there.
—Jen
