MacGreg

Thanks for your comments on this one, Graeme. Neither of these guys are used to being called out on their bullshit, and now they've each received a dose of it, for better or for worse. The pull towards each other remains, despite it.

Ben's been floundering for a long time, as you can probably guess. On the outside, he's one person. On the inside, he's another. The dissonance of it is making him a little crazy. Thanks for continuing to read and comment, Graeme, I really appreciate it. - Mac

Great writing. So much emotion in so few paragraphs. I felt the cold, the void, the warmth and softness of the sweater that represented their life together. Sad and beautiful.

Glad to hear it, tim. :-)

Cold and barren bunkhouse... or warm and cozy bed with Travis...? Hmmm. ;-)

Thanks, Graeme. Much more to come for Ben and Travis and characters you have yet to meet. I hope you'll continue on. Cheers - Mac

It's a hazy memory, but certain aspects are clear to Ben. Like the taste of Travis' lips, as you pointed out. I'm glad that you caught the implication of their waking up in separate places. Keeps the mystery going, for both of them. Thanks for reading, Graeme!

I never thanked you for your comment, dughlas. I appreciate you reading and following along. Cheers - Mac

Characters with minor parts - yes, yes, that is so true. Every character has some role to play. Thanks again for reading and commenting, Graeme. I'm glad you're liking it so far.

Hi Graeme, thank you so much for reading and taking a moment to comment. You're right that Ben is secretly miserable but unsure as to why. More will unfold about him as the front he puts up starts to crumble. Thanks again. Cheers - Mac

It's such an interesting premise: porn stars portraying real aspects of themselves in a porn film. Where does the fiction end and the reality begin for them? The dynamic between these two continues to get interesting. No doubt when they do get together, both on and off camera, it's going to be steaming hot.

Fantastic piece of writing, Val. Superbly crafted. I had to ruminate on your questions for a little while, though, before constructing a response. Mainly, because it hits too close to home (no pun intended...) but also because it's a very tough subject to discuss, in my opinion. I am hesitant to accept that Dana and Ivan could have a successful relationship, because there would simply be too many triggers, and they couldn't possibly avoid every single trigger forever. Despite the counseling (which is certainly a major help) they would each have to be constantly cognizant of their own actions and words, as well as their reactions to what is being said and done by the other. It would be very challenging to be in a relationship where you're both analyzing it and discussing it with your respective counselors. I don't know, I just see a lot of red flags. Especially with Dana knowing that Ivan was so relentlessly cruel to Kenny that he was driven to suicide. A relationship between them sounds nice in theory - but the risks are high. Forming a friendship first would definitely be the better way to go. Maybe ONLY a friendship would be best. Again, really great story, Val. You are a great writer. Cheers - Mac

Many of us have been through some shit in our lives - and you are brave to share personal experiences for all of us to read. It's fiction - yet clearly not. I will admit I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading it; anxious about it, knowing that it's semi-autobiographical. The D/s aspect of the story was in such stark contrast to life with Charlie. Although both parts of Lev's story involved experiences of physical pain, the emotional portion of those relationships are what matter the most. Charlie may have beat him to unconsciousness, but Jon came to his rescue. In a way, Lev also came to Jon's rescue. I think this is my favorite of yours, tim. Thaks for sharing it. Cheers - Mac

Only two chapters, and several lifetimes of events occurred. Wow. I had a feeling it wasn't going to have a happy ending. I would like to have known more about William and the war and the parts of the story that didn't get filled in, but as a short story, I think you did well illustrating what you could and bringing it all to a close. I'm just sorry they died, of course... It seemed unfair for William to make a suicide pack when Tristan wasn't ready to go. Selfish of him. But, he was the lord, and Tristan the shepherd/servant, so even though they were in love and on more of an even playing field as time went on, William still possessed the strong-hand in the relationship and made the final decision. Overall great story, tim. I commend your ability to create rich characters and span so much time in a mere two chapters. Cheers - Mac

"I hope that poor bastard has steel balls" - great line! Made me chuckle. Good for Carly. Sounds like all she needed was to release her hold on Jared and find someone who desires to be with a woman and therefore desires to be with her. As it should be. I was very touched in this chapter by how Craig's and Jared's new business partnership got underway so well. Their meeting with Alan was seamless and successful, which added an additional level of success to their personal partnership. With some of the anxieties behind them now, they can relax together, have fun, and also explore this new construction/design business venture with a positive outlook. Although they're bound to run into some snags along the way (that's life) It sounds like they are well on their way to doing great things together. I was glad to hear that Alan has such faith in them. And all of Craig's hard work on renovating the house - wow! He's a handyman all by himself. The two of them really do make a great pair.

First Jared awakes with fear flooding him from a bad dream where he thought he'd lost Craig, and then Craig is flooded with fear in the truck at the thought of Jared falling from a high beam and dying. They each have such strong emotions for the other. It's very evident that, although they feel tight as a couple right now, there are still uncertainties they each are dealing with. In this life, nothing is a given, including life itself. I'm glad that they were able to talk together and express anxieties. That's what is most important here for them - open communication. Without it, it's all just a bunch of false hopes. Another great chapter, Gary. I'm slow in the reading but eager to continue!

Thanks, Larry, you're right about Ben kind of being in his own way. The path is beginning to clear a little now, though. Maybe it will clear for Travis, too. I appreciate your comments!

Thank you, Rob! That really means a lot! Cheers - Mac

Ha! Yes, he did just begin to grow a pair. He's come to the crossroads and now must decide which path to take. Really, he already knows, but the challenges ahead feel no less daunting. Maybe... just maybe... he won't have to travel it alone... Thanks again for sharing your thoughts about it, Gary. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Although it would have been nice for Audra (and Bryan) to show Ben immediate empathy and support, you're right - they're still trying to process it. Typically, Audra and Ben have always been close, so there's hope there. And Bryan is his best friend... Thanks for your insights, Defiance. You always have something thoughtful to share. Cheers - Mac

Hey Jeff, thanks for your comments. It was a pretty somber chapter. But there's still a road ahead for Ben, filled with opportunities. I appreciate your readership. It means a lot.

Obviously, my mind read the "to" in that sentence, too, because I didn't catch it, even though I'd reviewed the chapter a dozen times. Good thing for another set of eyes. Glad you liked this chapter, Lisa, and thanks for the great comments. The fitness center scene was meant to discombobulate everyone, including Ben, including myself as the writer. Seems to have equally affected everyone. It was an important turning point for Ben. Cheers - Mac

Gary, I'm going to take your unsettled-ness as a compliment. :-) I'm not one to wrap things up nice and neat and pretty; you pointing it out is actually gratifying. It means I'm doing what I set out to accomplish. But all is not lost between these two characters... You're right, Ben's not used to be denied much of anything, and Travis is up to his eyeballs in angst and fear, but despite the rocky road, there is always hope. Thanks for your feedback, my friend.

Sorry this made you sad, Mike. I won't say it wasn't my intention to stir up emotion, but I hope it won't deter you from continuing to follow the story. Cheers - Mac

So much transpired in this one chapter, I felt like I'd been swept through the ages right along with Tristan. I admire your ability to do that! You immediately set the timeframe, the landscape, the character dynamics, just within the first few paragraphs. Young Tristan was a valuable member of the court, even as a child, and Sir William recognized that and appreciated his loyalty. Obviously, he appreciated other aspects about him as well. It's fortunate that Tristan held similar feelings for him as he grew older or else the outcome of this chapter might have been a little different. Great writing, as always, tim. Looking forward to reading Chapter 2 and seeing where this goes.