Parts of Us

Cozy, welcoming and gently warm, each story creates the feeling of coming home. This is one of the series with the most impressive, broad cast of main characters. And while the focus of each book is on a different trio/quad, the other characters don't just fade into the background or make sporadic cameos. Nope! This is such a uniquely shaped found family that their lives are practically intertwined and connected on a deeply spiritual level. They are more than friends, united by the specifics of their D/s lifestyle. Every joy, success, failure, struggle, burden, doubt resonates throughout the community. The stories are all interconnected, but the last one is about some of the characters I love the most so I was really happy for the peek into the inner sanctum of the relationships between KC, Lucian, Cam and Noah. And what I discovered completely floored me. Their love and care for each other were so masterfully described on page that the readers could feel it deep down to the marrow of their bones. And I felt it, experienced it, and kept it as one of my favorite memories. When Lucian ‘s passionate workaholic tendencies, lead him to a hospital stay, this scare rocked the whole foundation of his little family of 4. Because not only did he endangered himself and completely overlooked his own health and needs, but his choices reflected badly on the life of the people depending on him, believing in him, relying on his strength and better judgement. Boundaries were blurred, promises were broken, but we also got to see how the magnitude of what happened and the way Lucian handled the situation, reflected first on his master-slave 24/7 dynamic with Cam and on the relationships with the other 2 most important people in his life - KC and Noah.
Besides the crisis we witnessed happening in the story, there was also beautifully described reflection of KC and Lucian's friendship through the years that naturally, fluidly morphed into so much more. Lucian's hospital stint brought to the front line, the feelings they both harboured for each other for years, but suppressed in fear that could irrevocably change their dynamic in unknown direction. And once again I admired the strength they had to face the internal doubts, wrangle the niggling fears and finally, finally admit the truth in front of each other - the ship has sailed and their friendship has long ago bloomed and changed into love - deep, undeniable and hard to contain in a friendly box, love.
Parts of us is a spot on name for this story : parts of us are afraid, parts of us have doubts, parts of us are in pain, parts of us secretly crave love and affection, but as long as there is a friend or lover to catch the pieces before they are scattered or shattered, we will be good. Everyone needs a safe landing or a harbour to escape a storm. Lucian and KC were all of these places for each for as long as they could remember in all their formative years. It was a natural continuation to confess the love and embrace it. And even better - they each had one more special person to share it with and the balance in their quad was perfectly formed.
As always in Cara Dee's books, there is a huge bonus that makes the emotional impact of every story, even more intense. It's the kinks galore of course: exhibitionism, Voyeurism, sharing, water sports, doll play and so much more. With all the sadists, masochists, Littles and slaves in a tight knitted community without kink shaming, where every desire is welcome to be explored, while boundaries are always respected, there is so much fun to have.