On Your Knees by Rina Saint

There's something about Levi's innocence and submission that drives Ethan to want to break him. But as they push into intimate territory everything goes off the rails as feelings start and outside truths may end everything.


From the blurb:

There’s something dark and twisted in Levi, underneath his innocence. That’s why I fixate on him. That’s why I ask him to pose for me—and that’s why he accepts. He senses something dark and twisted in me too, and he’s curious. He’s never explored his dark side. He’s never known that it’s allowed. But with me, in our sessions, it’s required.

But he’s so inexperienced. His body is entirely foreign to him, and he’s confused by his responses, even embarrassed. He doesn’t understand, at first, that it’s the whole point. But when I tell him to let it happen, he obeys. He’s such a good boy, and he’s been so terribly lonely. He doesn’t understand intimacy. But he wants it—he needs it.

And since God didn’t give it to him, the Devil will.

The trouble is, the deeper I dig into him, the deeper he digs into me. He’s not supposed to learn my secrets. He’s not supposed to see what I really am. No one is allowed to do that. But Levi is changing everything. He’s breaking everything. But maybe…

Maybe I want him to.

Tropes:

Artist and model
Gay awakening/first time
Obsessive and controlling MC
Touch-starved MC
D/s dynamic

*On Your Knees contains dark and potentially triggering content. A content list can be found in the ebook sample.


SNik's review:

Standalone. BDSM. D/s. Hurt/comfort. Dual POV. Heed content warnings. 

Ethan is an angry millionaire who sees a young waiter at a charity event and decides he has to have him as a model for his art. But Levi brings out more than just cruelty in Ethan and both men tumble violently into the unknown territory of a relationship where intense feelings sometimes overwhelm them. 

There is a meaningful backstory to Ethan’s behavior, but luckily Levi seems to be the right fit for both Ethan’s sadism and care. Both Ethan and Levi have difficult backgrounds and this is shared over their short time together even as they navigate their deepening relationship and outside pressures. This was unexpectedly entertaining and both of these characters were compelling (as was Ethan’s relationship with his friend/driver Patrick). Super steamy from the start, it had its dark vibes but did not go super dark (at least for me), and I actually felt like Ethan and Levi helped each other heal and be better together so it worked for me.

On Your Knees is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription