Series: Owned 05
Author: Anitra Lynn McLeod
Genre: Science Fiction, Futuristic
Length: Novella (123pgs)
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand (13th July 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate – Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Lust was only the spark…
Keenan Hastings thought delivering the envelopes for the Eoean lottery would spare him from being selected. He was wrong. When he finds himself on an auction block being pawed by horny aliens, he feels he deserves his fate.
Oco Mig Nuhull’s unique gift—the ability to read sentient creatures by touching them—has made him wealthy but also isolated. He’s unable to experience the depth of physical love because he can’t touch without reading his lover. Bored with his lonely existence, he goes to the auction to see a rare and much talked about Earthling. When he touches Keenan and finds his ability blocked, Oco must have him.
Despite Keenan and Oco’s instant, powerful, and mutual connection, their struggle to be together is thwarted at every turn. Lust may have sparked a far deeper bond, but how will they battle against the lust of Keenan’s true owner?
Purchase Link: http://www.bookstrand.com/bound-by-lust
Review: This story is part of a series and although it can be read as a standalone is best read in order. Keenan has been delivering the letters for the Eoean lottery for years and is one day shy of being ineligible for the lottery when he receives his own letter in his paycheck. Finding himself being pawed by horny scary aliens has him terrified and there is nothing he can do about it. Oco has made his wealth by being able to read others minds by touching them, it makes relationships and lovers impossible, and he is lonely. Visiting an auction has him making a rare find a being he can touch without reading them, he has to have the rare creature for his own, but he has fierce competition. Keenan and Oco have an instant attraction between them and no matter how much they want to be together they have the problem and they face fierce opposition.
This is a great addition to the Owned series where the human and alien have to fight and negotiate their way to a successful conclusion. Keenan is a great character who has had his own lonely life, working, as a letter deliverer doesn’t make him any friends. When he meets Oco, it isn’t in the best situation but getting to know him has him wishing that he could stay with Oco. Oco is intrigued by the human and is delighted to discover he can touch him, when Oco loses out to someone else he takes matters into his own hands and it isn’t long before Oco discovers soul resonance with Keenan.
I really enjoyed this story and was interested to see how working for lottery affected Keenan; the poor man didn’t have much of a life and longed for a relationship like the one his neighbors had. Oco is in much the same position; he’s alone because of his abilities and in Keenan finds someone he can relax with. Together they are especially hot and fit together perfectly, they only have to find a way to stay together. This is a well-written story that veers off from the D/s that we saw in Owned 1 & 3 to a more equal sexual experience without the dominance or submission coming to the fore.
I recommend this to those that love science fiction, hot sex, saving someone from a fate worse than death, escaping loneliness, finding true love in unexpected places and a great ending.