Shayla Kersten         

                        Because everyone deserves a little romance...

 

 

Thirty Days

A Liquid Silver Best Seller!

Liquid Silver Books, Available Now!                           

Length - Novella

 

Biton Savakis, a 42 year old wealthy lawyer in New York City, is lost without his beloved slave of ten years. Since Erik’s death from cancer three months before, the will to continue his life as a Dom slipped away. Until now. The forlorn redhead looks as lost as Biton feels. Maybe the young man can help ease his pain, even if only for a little while. Unfortunately, the young man comes with his own emotional baggage.
 

Cavan never chose the life of a slave but he doesn’t clearly remember a time when he wasn’t one. Beaten close to death and thrown aside by his former Master, Cavan doesn’t know how to do anything else. When Biton offers him a temporary contract, Cavan doesn’t understand the meaning of his new Master’s words. All he knows is he has a new home and someone to serve. But what will happen to him when the contract ends... In thirty days...
 

 


Excerpt 1:  

Biton turned his gaze back to Antonio. “This was a set up, wasn’t it?” He let his smile soften the accusation.

Antonio shrugged. “Caught.” He reached out his hand and rested it on Biton’s shoulder. “Since you were at the club,  I knew you were beginning to look again. I just wanted to make it easier.”

“So was that’s my selection?”

Antonio laughed, his hand squeezing Biton’s shoulder before he released it. “No, there’s one more. Couldn’t offer you a blond and a brunette without throwing in a redhead! Cavan’s a little shy though.”

Biton turned to follow his friend’s line of sight. A rather forlorn looking redhead sat with his legs curled up under him in a corner of the room.

As he walked toward the young man, Biton could see the muscle tone through the open shirt. His eyes down, Cavan obviously didn’t notice Biton’s approach until he was looming over him.

“I’m sorry, Ma--,” the young man’s voice cut of sharply as he rose from the small sofa. “May I serve you?” He was taller than he appeared while seated. Maybe it was the way he made himself smaller, curled in a tight ball.

“Relax, Cavan. I just want to talk.” Biton sat down and motioned Cavan to do the same.

The young man complied but Biton could see the reluctance in his bearing. Tense and uncomfortable, Cavan sat on the edge of the sofa, his posture stiff. His knuckles were white as he held onto the leather collar.

“Is that your collar?”

“Yes, M...”

Once again, Cavan bit back the word. It wasn’t proper to call someone Master without permission. Usually the privilege wasn’t granted until an understanding was reached. But maybe he would relax a little...

“If it makes you comfortable, Cavan, you may call me Master or Sir but it is not a contract.”

“Thank you, Master.” Pale green eyes darted up and the tension hardened muscles in his back softened a little. “Contract, Master?”

“A contract... Between a Master and a slave. Didn’t your old Master have a contract with you?”

“No, Sir.”

“An agreement, then. One about your responsibilities and his.”

“My responsibility was to obey my Master in all things.”

The words sounded rote.

“What about his responsibility to care for you, see to your needs?”

“My only need was to serve my Master.”

“Do you have a job?”

Cavan’s eyes flicked between Biton and the wide leather collar, still held in a white knuckled grip. “I do now. I serve--I work in M--Mr. Casala’s house. I’m a house servant.”

Biton heard the difficulty Cavan had saying Antonio’s name without adding the title of Master. “But you didn’t before? With your old Master?”

“No, Sir. My job was to serve him.” A shudder swept down his back.

Biton glanced up to see Antonio edging closer to where he and Cavan were seated. Some questions needing asking but getting answers out of Cavan was like pulling teeth.

“Cavan, I need another drink. Scotch, straight up.”

The young man sprang like a tightly wound coil released. “Yes, Master.” Relief flooded the two words as if he were desperate to serve in any capacity.

As the young man fled on his errand, Biton crooked a finger at the hovering Antonio.

“What’s his story?” Biton asked as Antonio took Cavan’s seat.

“His last, and only, Master was Maxwell Wainwright.”

“Wainwright... the name’s familiar.”

“You probably got the emails about the incident from the Society but it was only a week or so after Erik’s death. I’m sure you weren’t paying attention. Cavan showed up at the emergency room badly beaten. His back was a bloody mess, broken arm, two fractured ribs and rectal lacerations from some kind of foreign object. He refused to press charges against his attacker. Lia called me because she recognized the name of the man paying the bills.”

He nodded as he remembered Lia was an emergency room nurse.

“Well, the Society warned Wainwright, threatened to exclude him and issue warnings to potential subs. A week later, right after he was released from the hospital, Cavan returned to the emergency room with a broken jaw and bloody nose. Wainwright had tossed him in the street with nothing but a pair of jeans, his collar and his new injuries. Lia stepped in and asked permission to bring him home.”

Biton’s teeth clenched in anger. No one had the right to abuse a slave. The scene was not about pain for pain’s sake. The redhead couldn’t have been more than twenty-five or twenty-six. “How long was he with Wainwright?”

“Since he was eighteen, nine years.”

So he was twenty-seven. “Was it all like that? The abuse?” Biton watched as the young man hurried toward them, drink in hand.

“I think so. Getting him to talk is difficult. I would guess Wainwright threatened him. And he’s so well trained I doubt he’d ever break his confidence.” Antonio rose as Cavan drew near. “I’ll talk to you later.” Antonio nodded to Cavan as he walked past to mingle with his other guests.

Cavan knelt to present the drink to Biton as if he were carrying something precious and rare.

Biton took the drink with one hand and patted the cushion beside him with the other. “Thank you. Sit here. You don’t have to kneel.”

“Yes, Master.” The young man moved with grace to comply but his fingers once again clutched his collar.

Biton sipped his drink silently. Cavan interested him but he was so wounded, so lost. On the other hand, maybe that’s why the young man caught his interest. Biton felt the same way without Erik.

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Excerpt 2:

Biton reached between them and slipped open the button on Cavan’s jeans. Sliding the zipper free, his hand sought the younger man’s erection only to find flaccid flesh. Cupping the loose balls, his hand encountered a cock ring, so tight as to be dangerous. The blood flow to his penis and balls would be too constricted.

If he had permanent damage, Cavan was effectively a eunuch.

Biton’s fingers fumbled for the release but couldn’t find one. “Cavan, I want this off. How does it come off?”

The body against Biton tensed. “My Master said I couldn’t take it off. Only to shave.”

Biton pulled his hand free of Cavan’s jeans. Using both hands to cup the pale freckled face, Biton forced Cavan to look him in the eyes.

A hasty decision but one made, nonetheless. “Cavan, listen to me carefully. He is not your Master anymore. This afternoon, I’ll draw up a contract between you and me outlining your responsibilities and mine.” Seeing his eyes flare with hope and joy, it nearly killed Biton to put a damper on it. “It will be a temporary one. Thirty days. During this time, you are mine. You will obey me, you will follow my rules not your old Master and you will behave as I see fit. If you don’t, you will be punished. I, on the other hand, am responsible for your safety, your health and your living conditions.” Squeezing Cavan’s face gently, Biton continued, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, Master.” Tears filled Cavan’s eyes.

“Okay, the first thing I’m ordering you to do is remove the cock ring. You will only wear one if and when I say so. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Master,” Cavan said, breathless as he pulled away from Biton. Dropping his pants without hesitation or the slightest embarrassment, Cavan fumbled with the tight strap around his penis and balls. It turned out to be stretchable, like a large rubber band.

Biton shuddered at the thought. He had read once where rams were castrated using a similar method. “Take off your shoes and finish removing your jeans. I want to examine you.”

Cavan quickly complied and stood in front of Biton in only his shirt and socks.

It would look silly if the situation wasn’t so serious.

Biton caressed the flaccid circumcised penis, pale like the rest of Cavan’s skin. Pulling the limp flesh gently first to one side and then the other, he examined the darker skin where the ring had been. Curiously, Cavan didn’t react. Looking up, Biton saw the tension in Cavan’s shoulders and neck. “Does my touching you hurt?”

“No, Master.”

“Does it excite you at all?”

“I’m not supposed to be excited. My Master said...”

Biton slid one hand around to Cavan’s ass and swatted one cheek. Excitement flowed through Biton and straight to his still hard cock. “I’m your Master now. Remember. You do as I say.” Another swat for good measure sent fire through Biton.

“Yes, Master. What should I do? How can I serve?”

Holding the still limp flesh of his new slave’s penis, Biton suckled gently on the tip. He could feel the shudder race through Cavan. Smiling as he pulled away, “I want you hard, aching and begging for my touch.”

Slowly, the soft flesh began to stiffen.

Biton licked the head, teasing the slit with the tip of his tongue. Another hard swat brought a moan from above and further evidence Cavan’s cock didn’t have permanent damage.

Biton licked and nipped around the swelling crown. His fingers found the silky shaven texture of Cavan’s balls irresistible. Rolling the slowly tightening sacs, Biton swallowed the rising cock, enjoying the feel of the erection hardening in his mouth.

“Master...” The word came out as a whimper, the first audible sign of Cavan’s enjoyment.

Biton pulled away long enough to speak. “What, Cavan? What do you want?”

“To serve you,” he moaned.

After one last taste of the hard flesh, Biton stood up. Pulling Cavan close, he kissed him hard, teeth clashing and tongue driving deep into his mouth.

The sudden move unbalanced the younger man. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around Biton to keep from falling. Their bodies met with brute force, hard cocks pressed tight between them.

Not wanting to relinquish Cavan’s mouth, Biton moved them slowly toward the playroom. As he pushed the door open and manhandled Cavan through it, Biton’s passion faltered briefly. Since Erik died, Biton rarely came in here. The memories were too painful.

The desperate hands clutching the back of his shirt quickly brought his mind back to the present.

Aching for relief, Biton moved Cavan to the nearest piece of equipment, a large leather sling. Pushing Cavan into it, still dressed in only his shirt and socks, Biton quickly secured his wrists and ankles in the shackles.

Bending over his now captive slave, Biton kissed him hard as his fingers tore at the buttons of Cavan’s shirt. Fumbling in his desire, he straightened up, grabbed both sides of the shirt and yanked. Buttons flew exposing the pale freckled chest.

Rapid breath and clenched fists were the only signs, beyond the rigid cock, of Cavan’s arousal. No moans, no pleas, no sounds. Wainwright must have required silence. Biton did not.

“Talk to me, Cavan. Tell me what you’re feeling.” Biton pinched a tiny nipple, a gentle nip. “Does this feel good?”

“Yes, Master.”

A small moan escaped with the words and made Biton smile.

“Listen to me carefully, Cavan. I am your new Master. With the exception of obedience, all the rules Wainwright had are gone. You will learn my ways. Understand?” Biton tweaked the hardening nipple again, this time with a little more pressure.

“Yes, Master.”

“One of my rules, unless I tell you to be silent, I want to hear you when we play. I want to hear your moans, your cries. How can I know what I’m doing is good for you if you don’t tell me?”

“Yes, Master.” This time the moan exhaled was louder.

Taking Cavan’s swollen, leaking cock in his hand and stroking slowly, Biton leaned over until his lips almost touched Cavan’s ear. “I want you to feel pleasure in the pain,” he whispered.

“Yes... Master...”

Reaching with his other hand, Biton pinched a now tight nipple hard. “Tell me what you feel.”

“G--good--Master. Good...”

The stammered word made Biton smile. He already decided to stick with pinches and openhanded blows. Until Cavan was retrained, anything rougher could be dangerous. Cavan might not tell him to stop if things went too far.

With a final twisting stroke to the leaking cock, Biton walked over to the toy chest. Small implements of pain, clamps, floggers and the like, were stored in the drawers of a tall dresser. Condoms and various lubes were stashed there as well. Grabbing lube and a condom, Biton eyed some of the nipple clamps. A pair of loose ones maybe? The kind he used as warm up for tighter ones. Snagging the clamps, he turned back to Cavan.

Tear filled pale green eyes watched him.

“What’s wrong, Cavan?” Biton strode quickly back to the sling bound slave. Depositing his goodies on the leather beside Cavan, Biton stroked the bright red hair. “Talk to me.”

“My--my cock, Master. Hurts.”

Kissing the tears mixed with sweat sliding down Cavan’s face, Biton whispered, “When was the last time you were allowed to come?”

“Not allowed...”

“You are now.” A flare of anger engulfed Biton. Sometimes Biton had denied Erik but only to draw out the pleasure. Not allowing him to come at all was unthinkable. How could Wainwright deny his slave something so basic? The scene wasn’t about torture for the sake of torture. It was about pain for pleasure in like-minded people, the pleasure of inflicting it and the pleasure of receiving. Biton wondered if Cavan really enjoyed pain or if he was just conditioned to it.

Grabbing the lube, Biton moved around the sling and between Cavan’s legs. After lubing the fingers of his left hand, Biton reached for the swollen cock with his right. “You’ll come for me.” Bending his face to the angry red flesh, Biton suckled the tip as his lubed finger sought Cavan’s puckered hole. “Come for me now, Cavan. I want to taste you.”

Working his finger in the tight passage as his mouth sucked the head of the hot cock, Biton tasted a gush of pre-come. His thumb pressed against the perineum as his finger searched for Cavan’s prostate. Biton’s other hand held the base of his cock, his fingers massaging the tight balls. His mouth releasing the hot flesh, Biton whispered. “Now, Cavan. Let me taste you.”

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Reviews!

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Romance Junkies

Blue Ribbon Rating: 4.5

Reviewer: Natasha

Excerpt of Review:

THIRTY DAYS caught my attention on the coming soon page at Liquid Silver Books and I am glad that it did. Shayla Kersten has woven a truly loving tale of surrender and trust. My heart ached for Biton’s despair at having lost his lover and his turmoil when he realizes he craves another. I loved how he was given another chance for love with Cavan. As a Dom, Biton is the perfect person to heal Cavan’s pain and he does that tenfold. Cavan, while wounded and oftentimes scared, was truly a lost soul. However, his ability to love and be loved warmed my heart.

THIRTY DAYS is the first book written by Shayla Kersten and I am happy to say that she wrote an extremely poignant tale of love and survival. While some readers may not enjoy the homoerotic tones, I relished every written word. THIRTY DAYS has found its way into my heart and onto my keeper shelf and there it will remain for a long time!

Read the whole review


A Reader's Review

From the Silver Expression Blog

Reader: Carly

What Carly said:

I got your book at 9:00 last night. I peeked in to “just read a few pages” and I read it STRAIGHT THROUGH. (And I have to get up at 5 in the morning.)

What can I say? I was enthralled–I mourned with Biton, I was just as angry as he was about what happened to Cavan, and I hoped and prayed page by page that Biton and Cavan would find the comfort and peace that they both needed.

This book wasn’t “about” BDSM, it wasn’t even “about” M/M. It was about love, and pain, and holding on to the hope that your life can get better no matter what.

I look forward to your next book–you’ve become an “autobuy”.

See her post!


 

Joyfully Reviewed

Reviewer: Nannette

Excerpt of Review:

In Thirty Days Cavan struggles with the pain of his extremely abusive past, but Biton's patience and tenderness bring Cavan to a safe haven where he finds love and acceptance for the first time in his life. I was very moved reading this dramatic and heart wrenching story. Cavan is such a poor tortured soul. It's not easy to read what he goes through. Thirty Days is a very intense story. The emotions and images it conjures are powerful. Biton and Cavan have a wonderful, loving future ahead of them and I would love to read more about them.

Read the whole review


A Reader's Review

From Shayla's Blog

Reader: Teddie

What Teddie said:

I loved it! For a gay BDSM story written by a woman you got it right!

Loved it and the story in my opinion is right up there with John Preston's work like the clissic Mr. Benson.

Hope to read more from you along this line. There are not many authors willing to explore realistic gay BDSM in such detail.

See his whole post!


Just Erotic Romances

Rating: 4 Stars

Heat Level: O

Reviewer: Marcy Arbitman

Review:

Thirty Days was a fascinating story about the effects of abuse on a life. Biton's deceased slave was the love of his life and he misses Erik dreadfully. Once he agrees to help Cavan, he feels stuck. Cavan is desperate to be Biton's slave because he has never known anything else. The primary and secondary characters are well-described and feel very true to life. There was an startling twist later on in the book that I felt added additional interest. For those who object, it is necessary to add that there is quite a bit of erotic male/male sex and also hard-core BDSM activity. I found that this book flows well and I was unwilling to stop reading until I had finished.

This review is archived on the JERR Yahoo Group Newsletter #93.


Just Erotic Romances

Rating: 4 Stars

Heat Level: O

Reviewer: Amber Taylor

Review:

Successful attorney Biton Savakis missed Erik terribly. Biton was Master to very willing slave Erik and they lived a happy life together...that is until Erik got sick. After Erik's death, Biton was devastated and alone, feeling completely out of control of his life. Contemplating retiring he finally drags himself out of the house to a place he and Erik used to go. Once there he runs into an old friend who invites him over for a small play party on Friday night. Not sure if he should or could do it, Biton accepts the invitation. But unbeknownst to him, it’s a set up. Once there, he is introduced to a couple of nice young men; slaves. Only Cavan sticks out. There was something about the pale-green-eyed redhead that caught Biton's attention. Maybe its time to crawl out of his shell and find out just what it is.

Thirty Days is an exceptionally well written story about a young man trying to understand and deal with the effects of abuse in his life. If you have experienced abuse in your life, this book might not be for you. On the other hand, it might just be what you need. With some graphic descriptions of a horribly helpless life, Ms. Kersten has told a sweetly romantic tale that makes you want Cavan to rise above it and be happy, with Biton just the one to help him along.

The backdrop of the story is BDSM. However, Ms. Kersten goes to great lengths to separate the sometimes seemingly harsh lifestyle of BDSM with abusive behaviors, stressing the point that both partners be willing and able to give their consent. And she succeeds admirably. The characters are very well drawn and as the story unfolds, you are unable to put it down as details of Cavan's life are revealed. The sex scenes are sensual, arousing but also carefully thought out for the unusual situation and the care needed. The BDSM scenes are intense but again careful for the situation. Many people misinterpret the BDSM lifestyle as abusive.

Kudos to Ms. Kersten to show us in detail the difference and what a loving consensual BDSM relationship can be like.

This review is archived on the JERR Yahoo Group Newsletter #93.


Fallen Angel Review

Rating: 5 Angels

Reviewer: Teresa

Excerpt of Review:

Cavan is a lost soul who was very lucky to find someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to help him heal. Biton seems lost when he loses his loved one, but by helping Cavan, he finds someone to care for. Biton and Cavan seem like two lost individuals until they come together to find what each is lacking. Thanks go to Ms. Kersten for such an inspiring book.

Read the whole review


Love Romances & More

Rating: 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Danny

Excerpt of Review:

This reviewer can just congratulate Ms. Kersten to such a powerful and terrific debut book. THIRTY DAYS is a captivating and very emotional story that will bring tears to your eyes. Cavan and Biton are two tortured and wounded souls that find healing in each other. The emotions between are flaring high between them and the whole story is very intense. There are certain scenes that are not suitable for faint-hearted readers, especially those when Cavan is speaking about his former life and what he had to endure as well as the BDSM scenes.

You definitely want to keep an eye on this author, because she has a wonderful talent for emotional stories.

This reviewer can highly recommend THIRTY DAYS to all fans of M/M and BDSM stories. It is a real keeper and hopefully there will be a sequel because you will want to get them to know even better and to see how Cavan copes with his new life and Master.

Read the whole review


Two Lips Reviews

Rating: 4.5 Kisses

Reviewer: Cat

Excerpt of Review:

Shayla Kersten delivers an intense character-driven read that explores the BDSM lifestyle. Cavan’s character was sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes inspirational. Biton’s pain and the way he faces his new life drew me into their tale. The bond between them is lovingly crafted. Ms. Kersten has a very talented pen when it comes to creating characters that the reader cares about. Thirty Days is terrific!

Read the whole review


 

The Romance Studio

Rating: 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Julia

Excerpt of Review:

I thought this was a wonderful story that really made me think about what a relationship was between submissives and dominants. Cavan was so desperately and systematically abused with his previous master that it was sometimes hard to read. Through all that, the author was able to convey the feelings that Biton had for him even though Biton was also a dominant, and how much he cared about what happened to Cavan. I thought that the struggle that Biton had controlling his needs and giving Cavan as much space as he could was touching. I liked how the author showed that Cavan was so abused, he didn’t understand what his master was doing, and it caused some problems. This is a touching story that isn’t for the faint at heart because of some of the material it covers and the BDSM involved.

Read the whole review


The Naughty Bits

Rating: Grade A

Reviewer: Teddy Pig

Excerpt of Review:

WOW! I am impressed you took this story on and kept such a tight focus in making it all understandable when I would have run far and fast in the exact opposite direction without a single clue of how to sell this particular brand of hurt and comfort in a BDSM context. This is the kind of stuff that could so easily get someone (like me) into trouble for making the slightest brain dead plot decision but you pulled it off very very well. You had my undivided attention from the first sentence while I watched you walk this tight rope and you never once lost my interest.

Grade A and I will keep watching for more genius from you.

Read the whole review

See Teddy Pig's 2007 Top 12 at The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!


 

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