LETO ARMITAGE: TRAPPED IN THE STACKS

Description

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Trapped in the Stacks is the fantasy we’ve all had about a boss or a colleague, brought to steamy life. You’ll never look at your local librarian the same way again…

The Director of the John Waverly Memorial Library has been all work and no play for years now. Sometimes he can’t help but wonder how that kid who used to play in a punk band and drink pot tea could turn into this silver-bearded beacon of respectability and restraint. He may not look like he used to anymore, but there’s one person who keeps reminding him that he’s still the same red-blooded man on the inside. His 29-year-old HR Manager.

Mika likes a man with a beard and a dad bod, and she’s had her eyes set on the boss since the day of her job interview seven years ago. She knows he appreciates her for more than her work, and she tries her best to flirt with him to see his reaction. He’s always seemed pleased when she wears a skirt or flashes her legs, but sadly, their working relationship has never been anything but professional.

When they have to close down all operations due to a rapidly incoming snowstorm, Mika stays behind to give the boss a helping hand. They only have two hours to get everything sorted and head home before the storm hits, but as they lock up the secure storage room in the basement they find themselves trapped down there. Forced to spend the night in the library, they soon find more to pass the time than reading. It’s cold outside, but it’s about to get hot in the stacks. And the office. And on the circulation desk…

CONTENT WARNING: This is a 6,065-word adult fantasy that features and mentions a breeding kink, BDSM, an open relationship, exhibitionism, a 20s/40s age gap, and a couple being snowed in at work overnight. All characters are consenting adults. 

Reviews

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A short, contemporary erotic boss/employee romance – with a side of kink. ★★★★★ 5/5

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Trapped in the Stacks is the fantasy we’ve all had about a boss or a colleague, brought to steamy life. You’ll never look at your local librarian the same way again… ★★★★★ 5/5

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A steamy work romance with believable characters whose imperfections make them more desirable, just like real life, if real life was as rude as this! Maybe it is, in secret! ★★★★★ 5/5

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At first, I thought Trapped in the Stacks was going to be a typical coworkers-turned-lovers story, but it ended up being a unique twist on the trope. I loved how the author explores the characters’ power dynamic throughout. The main character and his love interest have a ton of personality, making them interesting before they ever take off their clothes. And once they do? Let’s just say if you enjoy D/S with a side of exhibition and breeding kinks, you’re going to love this story. ★★★★★ 5/5

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Leto Armitage builds tension and a sense of urgency in the narrative from the first page while simultaneously crafting the same sense between the characters. With excellent pacing and narrative, this reader can’t wait to read more of this author’s work in the future. ★★★★★ 5/5

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Snowed in at the public library, the head librarian and his human resources manager find more to pass the time than reading. It’s cold outside, but it’s about to get hot in the stacks. And the office. And on the issues desk. Trapped in the Stacks is the fantasy we’ve all had about a colleague, brought to steamy life. You’ll never look at your local librarian the same way again… ★★★★★ 5/5

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Smart, sexy, and a side of a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting for more. An excellent short. Looking forward to more of what Armitage has to offer. ★★★★★ 5/5

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A simple premise, but had fun twists and turns to make it a wonderfully scandalous adventure. Very curious to read more and see what comes next. ★★★★★ 5/5

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Excerpt

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“Thanks for the heads up, have a good day.”

I stared out the third-floor window at the city starting to get covered by a blanket of snow as I hung up my phone. In my late forties with a beard gone to silver and a figure that wasn’t jogging anymore, I looked the part of the respectable library director in my brown suit. I often wondered how the kid who played in a punk band and drank pot tea ended up here. It didn’t matter right now though.

The phone call had been the city manager. The schools were about to announce early closing, and the city didn’t have enough salt for the roads, so it was going to be bedlam out there. The snow was coming in faster and thicker than anyone expected. Within two hours tops the roads would be undrivable. That was all the excuse I needed. I took a certain adolescent joy in picking the phone back up and hitting the combination of buttons necessary to access the library’s overhead public address system.

“Attention, please. Due to inclement weather, the library will be closing in thirty minutes, at 2 PM. Please take your materials to the front desk to check out. Staff, initiate closing for today and all day tomorrow.”

At this point, I knew the staff would leap into action. Little motivates people like being able to get the hell out of work. That included me. In less than five minutes I saw the administration hallway start to empty. Finance was gone first, followed by IT. My circulation manager was off today so no one was directly managing the checking in and out of books. It was mostly part-timers, most of whom would need to grab a bus. Grabbing my suit jacket I walked down the hall and saw that my HR manager, was still in her office, shutting down her computer.

“Mika?”

“Yes?”

“Remember your circ training?” I had made everyone do basic training on things like checking books out.

“I think so.”

“Come on then, let’s take over and let the part-timers beat it.”

“Yes, sir.”

She had a soft voice, that by itself might make you think she was younger than her 29 years, but no one could doubt Mika was a woman when she stood up. I gave up not trying to look a long time ago and, thank goodness, she never seemed to mind. Sometimes when she wore skirts I could swear she crossed her legs just where I could see them and I did like to look. Mika filled out everything well. She was short and busty with hips made for grabbing hold of, pale skin and long black hair. Her work clothes didn’t hide her curves no matter how loose she kept them. And some days, like today, she wore pants that hugged her voluptuous ass.

Mostly she was as conservative as her dress. She was sharp, professional, sympathetic to those with problems, and meticulous in keeping up with the Byzantine human resources regulations. She was a pleasure to work with and if I had to do something like manage the circulation desk, I’d rather do it with her, than some of the staff who seemed to go into public service because they wanted everyone else to be as miserable as they were.

In the elevator on the way down Mika looked at me. “Nice of you to let the part-timers head out.”

I didn’t know what to say. “I figured they don’t get paid enough for the stress.”

She smiled at me. “Still, it’s nice. Letting your beard grow out?”

I ran my fingers through the silver strands. “Just haven’t trimmed it lately.”

Her smile turned into a grin. “Looks good long.” It was nice to know a younger woman wanted to flirt with me even if I was her boss.

“Really?” I ran my fingers through it. “I don’t look like an old hippie who wandered into the wrong closet?”

She grinned. “I was thinking you’re more Scott Ian.”

I grinned back. “Guitarist? Anthrax?” She nodded. “Wow, good taste.”

She bowed lightly. “Thank you.”

“I don’t think anyone is mistaking me for a skinny rock guitarist.”

She tapped a long fingernail against her lips and looked me up and down. “A few extra pounds isn’t a big deal. Dad bods are in, didn’t you know that?”

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ABOUT LETO ARMITAGE

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