Equals

3.75
This is a story about the compromises we make in order to make relationships work. Russ and Stephen meet at work and due to a spilled coffee and a sprained ankle end up spending time together allowing the mutual attraction they feel come to the fore.

Stephen is almost twenty years Russ' senior and also financially successful whereas Russ is 29 and still struggling with student debt and getting a foothold in his chosen profession. They work in the same company, though in different departments, and had been eyeing one another before the ankle incident.

I liked that their issues as a couple didn't rise due to age difference, if anything that was one of the main turn-ons for both men, but from Russ's struggle to let Stephen take care of him financially and his at times overbearing protectiveness. Russ did have valid concerns and his desire for financial independence made him an admirable person but sometimes he did over do it. I could totally see Stephen's POV wanting to use his financial means to make life more comfortable for the man he loves. That is one of the things that I liked most about this story: there wasn't the usual “will they or won't they” dance. The attraction, sex and subsequent falling in love all happened without contrived drama. The issues come from negotiations we all have to transact in a relationship to make it work in a meaningful way.

I'm looking forward to the next installments and watching these two merge their lives and pave a new path as a couple. My rating isn't higher because at times I felt like there was more tell than show and the conversations were perhaps a little more didactic than actual faltering conversations that people have.

** For those interested the sex scenes are more steam than explicit but to my mind still quite satisfying. **