For Real

## Novel by Alexis Hall

***For Real*** is the third book in the *Spires* series, written by British author Alexis Hall. It was first published on 1 June 2015 by Riptide Publishing. The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Laurie Dalziel and Toby Finch, where they pursue a relationship with each other that goes beyond sexual. It includes the recipe, "Toby's Kinky Lemon Meringue".

The audiobook was released on 30 November 2015, narrated by Paul Berton and John Hartley through Audible Studios.

## Synopsis

Laurence Dalziel is worn down and washed up, and for him, the BDSM scene is all played out. Six years on from his last relationship, he's pushing forty and tired of going through the motions of submission.

Then he meets Toby Finch. Nineteen years old. Fearless, fierce, and vulnerable. Everything Laurie can't remember being.

Toby doesn't know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. But he knows, with all the certainty of youth, that he wants Laurie. He wants him on his knees. He wants to make him hurt, he wants to make him beg, he wants to make him fall in love.

The problem is, while Laurie will surrender his body, he won't surrender his heart. Because Toby is too young, too intense, too easy to hurt. And what they have—no matter how right it feels—can't last. It can't mean anything.

It can't be real.

## Background

### Content guidance

* Sexual content
* Age gap (37/19)
* Heavy kink
* Grandparent in a hospice
* Death of a grandparent (happens off page)
* Grief
* Talk about the London 7/7 terror attack
* Parental neglect

## Critical reception

*Publishers Weekly* wrote, "Full of poetry and honesty, Laurie and Toby's journey together makes each victory feel earned."

## Plot

Laurence "Laurie" Dalziel visits the BDSM club Pervocracy in East London with his friends, Sam and Grace. He ends up approaching 19-year-old Tobermory "Toby" Finch, who's interested in being a dom. At first Laurence believes Toby to be inexperienced sexually, given the age, though is intrigued. They go to Laurence's home at Addison Avenue, where Laurence kneels in the living room while Toby masturbates in front of him. Afterwards, Laurence tells Toby to call a taxi and to leave, fearful for any feelings developing. Once Laurie makes it into bed, the doorbell rings. At first Toby is furious as they tried to get home, though it rained and transport was unavailable; he then notices that Laurence was crying. They end up sleeping together in the same bed. The next morning, Toby makes breakfast. They proceed to have sex.

Days later, Toby visits and admits that he finds it impossible to forget Laurie. They arrange to continue their relationship, with Toby visiting at least once a week. Laurie expresses his dilemma to his friends, where he's concerned about their age difference and Toby being emotionally open that can lead to hurt down the line because of him. When Laurie and Toby next meet up, Toby says they cannot "go on like this", wanting more than just sex, and says he loves Laurie.

When Laurie is invited to a college dinner in Oxford by Dr. Jasper Leigh, Toby is brought along as his plus one. Twelve days later, with no word from Toby, Laurie is distraught, realizing they have no way to contact each other. Toby shows up at his door and explains that his grandfather died; he adds of always having to be the one to initiate things, while everything is always on Laurie's terms. Laurie gives him the spare house key and they converse before heading together to bed.

When Toby heads out for work at Greasy Joe's, he feels overwhelmed with the orders and breaks down. Laurie visits, worried from that morning, and helps to appease customers and clean the dishes. Toby reveals that he did study at university, but didn't like studying law two terms in and dropped out. They end up having an argument, where he accuses Laurie of wanting to leave.

Eventually Laurie ends up visiting Toby's mother, who has no clue of her son's whereabouts. Coal offers him to stay and wait. Toby returns home and finds Laurie in his bedroom. Laurie apologizes, says "I love you", and wants a relationship. A couple days later Toby quits his job at Joe's. He ends up job hunting, where he finds success at the eleventh restaurant, being hired.

## Characters

* Laurence Jennings "Laurie" Dalziel – 37 years old; doctor consultant with London's Air Ambulance; heterochromatic eyes; a sub who is hurt from a previous relationship and is afraid to open his heart to someone
* Tobermory "Toby" Finch – 19 years old; has curly dark hair and blue eyes; works as a cook (formerly kitchen porter) at Greasy Joe's; his mother is a famous artist; wants to own a restaurant someday
* Sam – Laurie's friend
* Grace – Laurie's friend; blonde/brown hair
* Robert – Laurence's former partner; tall with blue eyes
* Joe – owner of Greasy Joe's
* Hairy – former cook at Joe's who broke his leg
* Amy – a friend of Grace
* Angel – they/them; a friend of Grace
* Dominic – a guy who Laurie's slept with on/off; plays the alto saxophone
* Daryl Hanlen – Grace's first kiss; was 18 while Grace was 15
* Ethan Kelly – Sam's first kiss in Grade 3
* Jaspar Leigh – professor in Oxford;
* Sheridan Hunter "Sherry" Fitzroy III – American man
* Edwin Tully (unnamed) – quiet librarian
* Marius Chankseliani (mentioned) – ex of Edwin
* Harrison Whitwell – American lawyer
* Noah – Robert's partner
* Ruby – waiter at Greasy Joe's
* Melissa Lake – Toby's boss at a restaurant

## Editions

AudiobookFrench editionGerman editionItalian edition
## References

1. ↑ "*For Real*". *Publishers Weekly*. 27 April 2015.

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