Petty Officer Wes Lowe has a smart mouth, a take-charge attitude and an uncanny ability for making things go boom. The life of an enlisted man isn't always enough to satisfy him, but one wild, no-questions-asked weekend with his online love comes close. When a transfer order comes in, Wes feels ready and centered. He'll make a good impression on his new SEAL team and keep his growing feelings for Dustin on the down low.
But as they log more time online and some very real emotions surface, Dustin and Wes struggle to pretend they're just a harmless fling. And when his commander introduces Dustin to his team's newest member, they're in for the shock of a lifetime…and a crushing disappointment: their difference in ranks means even a friendship without sexual contact could end their navy careers for good.
With their hearts on the line, Dustin and Wes may not survive their next mission, let alone find a way toward a future together.
Comment: This is the fourth installment in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert. There are several novellas in between all the full length books, but I will probably skip them.
In this book, Dustin is a lieutenant who has seen most of his close friends pair up and become happy with someone, while he remains single. He has registered at an app made for military men and he has struck an online friendship with some benefits with someone and now that person wants to meet in person. He meets Wes at a museum and they have as much chemistry in real life as they do online and a night together seems to be perfection. However, they soon realize they have a huge problem because what they thought would be a simple hook up that might lead into something stronger becomes a night mare when they find each other face to face at work, as Wes is arriving to become part of Dustin's team, meaning they can't ever be a couple as they were dreaming of... is there any hope for them?
I liked this story way better than the last one because it has more interesting dynamics. I do like this "forbidden" romance vibe and I feel the author did it quite well, portraying the difficulties, both legal and emotional, of wanting to be with someone who isn't suitable. I'd still change a few details for my personal taste, but this story felt way more convincing than what I imagined.
The fact the two men are part of the same team is a huge factor and sexual orientation apart, it's understandable why people who work together in such an environment aren't suitable for it, considering all the aspects, the legal and the emotional but also everything related to HR and hierarchies. I don't know much about military rules (apart from what I've seen in movies and books) but I can understand the legalities of such things. There are jobs/settings where this would not matter, but here I see why it does.
Thus, Dustin and Wes are placed at a terrible position, of wanting to develop a connection which one doesn't find easily with anyone else but which would cause them problems at several levels. Still, the emotional connection is there and although they try to avoid it, ignore it, it isn't that simple to just turn off feelings and emotions, especially after months of getting to know one another online and after a real life encounter. I think the author did a good job giving evidence of how much of a struggle this was for them, at the same time things weren't easy to avoid and they did give in to their feelings at times, even for something as simple as accepting a phone call.
Of course this gets more poignant because we know how they feel about each other before they acknowledge it verbally. I think the dynamics of the romance were captivating to see because it wasn't superficial and they had to work for things to work out. While they work together and try to do the right thing, there's always this notion of how perfect the other person is and I did like how we got to get this impression as the story developed.
I think an element that contributed for this was the fact Dustin had not shared he is bisexual and he felt he let time drag to do so and now it would feel odd to say something, but his feelings for Wes aren't something he can/wants to ignore. I think his emotional journey into personal acceptance and identity was well done and I "suffered" along him while he had his inner debates. What I wasn't as fond of was the light D/s vibe he and Wes have. I could totally do without this and yes, it's unfair but that's on my personal preference;I dislike stories with this content.
Wes was as complex, in a way, as Dustin, more so because he is enlisted and his sister has heart issues and everything at the same time messes up with his head. However, he knows Dustin is the perfect person for him and to also have to pretend it isn't so only adds up to his emotional state. Again, I think their interactions and conversations on why they should or not be together were quite on point, and when a decision is made, which can affect their possible future, I was eager to see what would happen.
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