Review ~ Bared to You

Bared to You

By Sylvia Day

4 of 5 STARS

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

Bared to You is a wonderful yet volatile erotica that highlights the relationship of Eva and Gideon.  Eva has recently moved to New York from San Diego with her friend Cary.  Starting her new job, she has a run in with a very tall, sexy and domineering man that has left her speechless.  Only the first of many unusual encounters leading up to naughty proposals and negotiations.  

I jerked to a halt, my gaze riveted to the man who was even more striking than I'd remembered.  I had never seen hair that purely black.  It was glossy and slightly long, the ends drifting over his collar.  That sexy length was the crowning touch of bad-boy allure over the successful businessman, like whipped cream topping on a hot-fudge brownie sundae.  As my mother would say, only rogues and raiders had hair like that.

This is one crazy relationship.  Gideon is intense and demanding while Eva is bold yet wanting to run at the first signs of a problem.  They are both emotionally scarred people, fighting for some sense of normalcy in life.  They are dynamite together.  Really, it's explosive the sexual chemistry between these two.  I love that Eva is no shrinking violet coming across as extremely bold at times. 

"One day soon," I repeated against his lips, "I'm going to kneel beneath this desk and suck you off.  Maybe while you're on the phone playing with your millions like Monopoly. You, Mr.Cross, will pass Go and collect your two hundred dollars."

They clearly have their work cut out for them to make this relationship work but soon they just can't stay away from each other.

"Too much?"  I asked hoarsley. 

"Yes."  He set the box down and rounded the desk.  "Too damn much.  I can't sit still, I can't concentrate.  I can't get you out of my head.  I'm fucking restless, and I never am when I'm at work.  I'm too busy.  But you have me under siege."

A side character that I was growing to like was Cary.  He's Eva's bisexual model roommate and best friend. Those two have history together and are very supportive of each other.  I am really curious to see what happens in Deeper In You with his character.

There aren't too many funny moments in this book as it's not a lighthearted romance, but this upcoming quote had me laughing.  We see a different side to Gideon when all 3 of them are hanging out at Eva's and it's not something we see often.

He cracked his fortune with a flourish, and then scowled.  "What the fuck?" 

I leaned forward.  "What's it say?" 

"Confucius say," Gideon ad-libbed, "man with hand in pocket feel cocky all day."

This book was a page turner for sure.  It's beautifully written, highly erotic, a volatile and emotional thrill ride.    I enjoyed it greatly.  It was easy a 5 star book but I had to knock a star off at the end for the pace.  I can only handle so much pain and angst, constant hurdles thrown at them.  I hope the happiness that is due them will come sooner rather than later because they truly belong together.  The sequel, Deeper in You, will be released October 2nd  from Penguin Group.

ARC provided from Natgalley courtesy Penguin Group.