RUSH by Maya Banks: A Review

Rush Maya Banks Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking... When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires. Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires. As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected. Mia & Gabe ~ they've known each other for years, through Mia's older brother, Jace.  Gabe has always doted on Mia like her older brother & their other best friend, Ash, but the feelings Mia has had for Gabe for years are anything BUT brotherly...but she's finally decided it's time to grow up and move on.  At 24 she knows he'll never see her as anything but his best friends' sister...   Gabe has wanted Mia for YEARS ~ but not only is she his best friends' little sister who Jace dotes on, but Gabe dwells in a dark sexual world...and he's 14 years older than Mia.  He's resisted drawing her into his world ~ a world that consists of sexual contracts, dark & dirty sex, and no emotional involvement ~ but when he sees her looking so incredibly sexy at their newest hotel opening, he can no longer resist.  He has to have her...so he lays it all out there for her, and leaves it up to Mia.   Possible SPOILERS ahead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Maya has long been master of erotica/romantica.  She was one of the first authors I ever read that wrote this level of steam ~ and Rush totally delivers edgy, pushing the envelope, smoking hot sex.  And I thought Gabe was totally hot ~ until he just pissed me OFF.  Mia is a not only 14 years younger, she's a lifetime behind Gabe in sexual & emotion experience...and Gabe is supposed to love her, while not on a romantic level, on a friendship/familial level.  I totally saw the writing on the wall with Gabe ~ it was like he couldn't stop himself from screwing up royally with Mia.  Only, it was in such a devastating way, I had a hard time forgiving him, I'll admit.  Another thing Maya is good is twisting your guts up into knots...she did it here.  And I couldn't stop myself wanting Gabe to have to do some serious groveling...I've seen where a few people DNF'd Rush.     I HAD to finish, because I DID want Mia & Gabe to get their HEA, I just wanted him to grovel...and to truly realize what he'd betrayed in Mia. What he HAD in Mia.  I really liked Mia as a heroine...she laid out there what worked for her, what didn't, and she was quick to speak up when she was pissed, even when she thought she might be crossing the line of their agreement...      I won't say what happened...I WILL say I was pretty pleased ~ and that OMG, I cannot WAIT for Fever and Burn!