Colin Dobson is a hemophiliac who has found a “cure” in his lover Rowland’s bite. Rowland is a vampire and has made Colin his thrall. In order to protect Colin when Rowland is not around he takes Colin to be tattooed with protective symbols. For a man who has spent his life avoiding needles and anything that could make him bleed this is going to be an experience that will force him to face his fears and both men will have to face the depth of their feelings.

A very erotic interlude that takes us back into the exciting lives of Rowland and Colin whom we met in Enthralled, Colin has developed emotionally since we last met with him as has Rowland. Laura Baumbach has given us an alpha male in Rowland. A man who presents a stoic face to the world and is strong and muscular, underneath we catch glimmers of what his true feelings are. Colin is deeply in love with Rowland but is still struggling with his own insecurities and what it means that he can love a “creature” that doesn’t breathe. He is forced to face his own preconceived notions of what it is that makes a person a person and not a creature. Breathing is an enjoyable little short story but to fully savor all the nuances of the plot Enthralledshould be read first.

Reviewed by: Hayley