Klockwerk Kraken, Book Two
by
Pages: 75
Pages: 75
Pages: 75
When his memories begin endangering his happily-ever after on Celos, Jimenez is forced to choose between forgetting his lover Teo, or accepting the sometimes painful gifts of Spindrift.
Scars and a tattoo may be the only physical reminders from his years as a slave, but when Jimenez suffers a setback in his medical treatment, the only option is a therapy that will wipe away all his memories of the past including his time with Teo. Teo, torn between supporting his lover's decisions and the good intentions of his family, sets out to teach Jimenez about Spindrift Gifts and how memories are celebrated on Celos even when they are painful. Can Teo and Jimenez weather the storm to find their happily-ever-after on Celos?
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Publisher: MLR Press
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Genres:
Setting: Planet Celos
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Setting: Planet Celos
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
“Is it a memory box?”
Teo set it on the table with a clack. “Same principle. It's our Spindrift gift for the rev. We each put a memory in one to add to the family collection. And then at the gala they all glow on the lighted tree.”
“Tree? Do you grow trees on Celos?”
Teo chuckled. “Not really. It's a light-painted representation of a tree, like one of those from old Earth. It's a family tree. Each branch holds the most important memories for the rev from that branch of the family.”
“A shared memory?” Jimenez ran a finger along the smooth top of the tiny cube. It blushed a delicate pink at his touch.
“No. It's personal, a gift, a painful or a pleasant one. One you share because it hurts, and you smooth the edges by giving it away, or one of your favorites you want others to experience. But you give one from the past rev.”
READ MORETheir conversation grew hushed. Teo attempted to lighten the mood. He grabbed the leftover paper from his package and folded it into the shape of a little boat.
“I've been trying to think of one that would be suitable for family viewing.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Jimenez glared at him. “That's not the all we've done this rev.”
He picked up the cube and activated it. Teo stared transfixed as Jimenez pulled it close to his mouth and breathed a puff of air over it, his fingers whitening at the tips as he remembered.
Teo wondered which memory put that serene smile on his lover’s face, smoothing the furrows lining his brow. Was it onboard his ship in the Nothing? Or maybe one with Teo on Switchpoint?
“What did you record? Can I see it?” He whispered, unwilling to break the spell of Jimenez's memory.
Jimenez opened his eyes, and his fingers clutched the small cube. But he smiled at it like it held a secret.
“I'm not sure this is one to give away. Do you have extra cubes?”
COLLAPSEJimenez is going to break your heart a little bit. So much has happened to this guy, and its heart wrenching to see him going through so much more. I just wanted this guy to finally catch a break. For things to go right for him. In the end, they do, and this worked because it felt like it was finally the right time for him to get his HEA. I was relieved and happy with the way this ended, and it was so fitting for the story. Jimenez finally got what he deserved, and I couldn’t be happier about it. This character is one that has a special place in my heart, which may make me slightly biased, but I was thrilled with the ending and the resolution to the conflict.
And Teo? As before, I just adored the crap out of him. He’s so focused on Jimenez, his love, his entwine. It’s really beautiful to see. And his thoughts and emotions are written so well that I felt them right along with him. I was right there with him for every step of his story, hurting and ecstatic when he was.
