Cane23

Why do I get the feeling you did that on purpose?

I didn’t talk him into it - scout’s honor!

This is how I see it. Remember the moment they went separate ways - Lyn with Alexander and Brad with Luke? Brad was clearly hurt by being dismissed so easily by Lyn. That brings back the ‘golden retriever puppy’ moment from the volleyball chapter - ‘The golden retriever puppy looked at his future brother-in-law like Brad had to be the absolute shit in the universe.’ Luke had to stick with Brad, listening to his bantering and disappointment over Lyn - the guy who was always on his side, Lyn this, Lyn that… all of it piling up, culminating at the dinner. Poor puppy, fighting for attention!

The thing with Alexander is he never really hides. If anyone asked him openly about his feelings for Lyn, I believe he’d admit it - maybe even to Brad. But Alexander isn’t the type to volunteer... he prefers to let things be obvious to those sharp enough to notice. The truth is nobody (especially Lyn) has ever asked! 😉

In short - Alexander is jealous of Brad’s hold over Lyn. Luke is jealous of Lyn’s hold over Brad. And Lyn, caught in the middle, insists he and Alexander aren’t dating - while oblivious to the fact that both Alexander and Luke are watching him as though he’s the pivot point of a hidden contest. Seems that Lyn didn’t do anything wrong here. His behavior toward Brad at the table is careful, restrained, even defensive. What makes Alexander jealous isn’t a clear betrayal but the undercurrent - the way Brad touches Lyn, the way Lyn responds physically (if not verbally), and that fleeting but undeniable moment where Brad’s nearness makes Lyn’s “heart flutter.” Alexander’s jealousy here is less about the literal moment and more about what it represents. Brad can still stir a reaction in Lyn without even trying, while Alexander, despite all his control and dominance, knows he can’t erase that. Alexander has just physically and psychologically conquered Lyn in the bedroom. But Brad’s easy access, his instinctive closeness, reminds Alexander that Lyn still carries a vulnerability Brad can stir without effort. It isn’t about who Lyn is “dating” (they aren’t, as Lyn rightly says). It’s about territory, old scores, and the fear that Brad occupies a space in Lyn’s heart that Alexander cannot reach, no matter how much he dominates him physically. This last scene shifts the story from raw sex back to social performance, but the emotional intensity remains. Lyn is literally and metaphorically sore - marked by Alexander, exposed to Brad, unsettled by Luke. Alexander asserts subtle dominance but possibly reveals unexpected sincerity (“He’s unique”). Brad resurfaces with intimacy that looks suspiciously like love, cloaked in jokes and complaints. Luke acts as the dark horse, injecting menace into the triangle. In private, Lyn surrendered to Alexander; in public, he’s squeezed between Brad’s affection, Alexander’s scrutiny, and Luke’s warning. But definitive wining impression of the chapter is Lyn on Alexander's lie detector! Those words "You are not like others!" ... For Lyn, who has always been defined by rivalry, repression, and his unresolved longing for Brad, to say this means Alexander pierced through that wall. It’s both a compliment and a surrender - Lyn admits Alexander isn’t just another casual hookup or conquest. Even if Lyn doesn’t realize it, those words mark the beginning of an emotional bond. “Stop selling yourself short. It is a prize,” Alexander said, “because you’ve made me work hard for it. On the surface - Alexander is teasing, flipping Lyn’s words into banter. But underneath - he’s admitting that for him, this is a prize, not because of sexual dominance, but because he’s been pursuing Lyn (in his sly, persistent way) for years. Lyn finally letting him in, finally choosing him over Brad even for a moment, is the victory Alexander always wanted. Alexander rarely speaks about feelings directly. But when he says, “you’ve made me work hard for it”, he is indirectly acknowledging all those years of rivalry, closeness, and restrained affection.

Oh, come on - you know how that ended!

No, not melodramatic at all - I even had to google the medical condition, and in the end, it’s rarely just one cause... it’s usually a whole web of them. A proud military father wanted a clone of himself. Instead, this man of discipline got a son who lives for fun. As you say - Max's carefree life almost feels like a mission to irritate his father. And yet, he’s such an extraordinary human being: loyal, brave, a true savior of lives. It’s heartbreaking that his father can’t see those accomplishments. I wouldn’t be surprised if fate twisted things so that his son, the doctor, ends up saving the colonel’s life one day. The same goes for Roman - yes, he’s made mistakes, but when it truly mattered, he chose right. He stayed with the dying boy, surrendered to the police, and changed his life. Doesn’t that mean something? Are we really expecting perfection from people who’ve never stumbled?

So, basically, the “military” twin was absorbed in the womb by the “medical” twin (at least from the Colonel’s perspective). Then Sam appears - damaged in his own way, carrying that military outlook and later career—and becomes the perfect substitute for the lost twin. It’s strange how the mind can justify neglecting one’s own child while adopting another. Oh, @JJQuinn, wouldn’t it have been simpler to just write it like a telenovela? ¡Oh Dios mío, mi hijo, mi hijo! Of course - you never do simple!

This is the main impression of their communication: it’s how two adults should talk - no bullshit, no euphemisms, no political correctness, no tiptoeing around the truth. Direct, honest, and unflinching. It shouldn’t be surprising; these two have been through a lot, seen a lot, and they don’t have time to waste on false politeness. In a way, their openness mirrors the dynamic between Ban and Sam. When Max was with Sam, he was the one always in charge, setting the rules. Now, with Roman, it’s Roman who takes the lead, pushing hard enough to corner Max. The contrast highlights how shifting roles and direct confrontation can reveal different layers of power and intimacy. The way Roman says “you’re already there” - that’s the pinnacle of seduction. It’s not sappy or sentimental; it’s raw, manly, possessive, and carries this sense of victory. And I just love how he calls him papi - it adds that extra layer of intimacy and dominance. There’s nothing traditionally “romantic” in how they talk, yet their dialogue screams romance constantly. Every line is tension, desire, and control all wrapped together. Once again @JJQuinn, you’ve given us amazing dialogue and internal thoughts from your characters. It makes me wonder - do you ever write dull or shallow characters? The ones we’ve met are far too clever, not always using their intelligence for their own benefit, but brilliantly sharp, nonetheless.

It’s not that there’s one explicit moment where Lyn asks himself that exact question - it’s more his general way of being with anyone, not just Alexander. He tends to overthink, to get swallowed up by his insecurities, always worrying about how others see him, what they think, how he looks in their eyes. With Alexander, though, there’s an added layer: Alexander enjoys the challenge Lyn brings. Lyn is one of the rare people (maybe the only one) who’s brutally honest with him. As a wealthy, good-looking guy, Alexander is surrounded by flatterers, but Lyn - even though he often depends on Alexander’s financial help - never really sucks up to him. That honesty cuts through the noise, and Alexander appreciates it.

This chapter mirrors so many past scenes, almost like the story is folding back on itself. There is antique bookshop scene reversal... Earlier, Alexander bought Lyn a book. Now Lyn buys one for Alexander - but not just any book. It’s proof that he saw, remembered, understood Alexander deeply. This isn’t just a gift, it’s recognition. Bracelet parallel... When Lyn bought bracelets for both Brad and Alexander, Brad immediately asked, “Did you buy it for him too?” Here, when Lyn gives Alexander the book, Alexander’s first instinct is, “Does Brad know about this?” The symmetry is striking - but the motives differ. Brad’s question came from wanting to police the triangle and keep its balance. Alexander’s feels more about guarding intimacy, wanting something private and unshared between himself and Lyn. The kiss contrast... The earlier kiss with Brad was awkward, ugly, almost humiliating. Here, the kiss with Alexander is quick, shy, and playful - yet gentle, charged with warmth, even possibility. Neither Brad nor Alexander seems to “care for each other’s feelings” directly. Instead, they both use Lyn as the pivot - Brad to maintain the triangle’s dynamic, Alexander to carve out a secret closeness. Lyn, caught between, can’t yet see the weight of these small gestures.

Hehe, now you’re slipping right into Lyn’s head and his way of thinking. That’s exactly how he frames it - always through his own insecurities, asking himself “what could Alexander possibly see in me?” But that’s the problem of one - we only see it through Lyn’s POV. What we do know is that Alexander is unusually insightful. He doesn’t get fooled by walls or masks the way Brad does. He sees through them - and that’s probably why he keeps Lyn close, even when Lyn himself can’t imagine why.

He doesn’t think Lyn is “emotionally” smart at all. When Alexander says “You’re smart, Lynton. Figure it out,” it’s not a compliment - it’s a provocation. He’s poking at Lyn’s blind spot, the fact that Lyn can analyze everything intellectually but still fails to see what’s right in front of him when it comes to feelings.

I totally get what you’re saying about Brad – his words often do sound like slick salesman talk, and it’s hard to find anything solid behind the mask. But maybe that’s the point... on the surface (his conscious self) he’s this easygoing, manipulative charmer who uses Lyn’s feelings to keep control of the dynamic. Yet if we pay attention to his non-verbal side, there’s another layer peeking through. The longer-than-usual hugs, the looks at Lyn (sometimes with admiration, sometimes almost hunger), the touches that go beyond “bro banter” – all of that suggests his subconscious leaks things he would never openly admit. In that sense, Brad and Lyn are mirrors. Lyn hides behind intellectual language, Brad hides behind casual bullshit, but both are equally unreadable until you look at what slips through in silence. I can’t help but see both of them caught in this conscious vs. unconscious battle - Lyn clings to his infatuation with Brad almost like a bad habit he can’t quit, while unconsciously he shows his real emotions for Alexander. Brad, meanwhile, projects the reckless, charming friend, but in those unguarded moments, it feels like something deeper is pressing through. That’s why I wonder if Brad might turn out to be the true tragic figure here – the one who only realizes too late what he really felt.

Lyn would be a Sleeping Beauty lost in a hundred-year dream, and Alexander the prince who braves the thorns to reach him!

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who thought that was such a sweet kiss!

@Laura S. Fox delivers a delightful shifter romance wrapped in a hilarious comedy of errors. Ryder, a wolf shifter and pack alpha, guided by his pack’s clairvoyant prophecy, heads to the city convinced that Theodore Pembroke, a powerful city tycoon, is his fated mate. But nothing goes as expected. Instead, Ryder literally runs into Danny - an ordinary “average Joe” - and sparks fly with an attraction that defies the usual rules between shifters and humans. The story brims with love, loyalty, and action, introducing us to a cast of unforgettable characters: loyal friends, a talkative clairvoyant, and yes - even the surprising power of a single toaster.

Well, let's see how good clairvoyant I am! 1) What was Cassandra? A witch? An evil spirit? And why did she hate wolfshifters? Witch! Because she is a witch! 2) Why, how and when did she curse Ryder's pack? And why didn't she kill them immediately like she did to Theo's pack? Because she's witch, with dark magic, long time ago. We don't know it was immediately! 3) Why did she kill Theo's pack? Because she's witch! 4) Why did she send Ryder to Theo? She could have simply waited for the effects of the curse. She sent them to kill each other! Why to wait when she could enjoy two alphas fighting?! 5) What would have happened to Ryder's pack if he shouldn't have broken the curse? The same what happened to Theo's pack! 6) What happened to Theo, Jack and Vince after their arrival to Pinemoor and before Ryder found them with Cassandra? They confronted the witch, she frozen them! 7) What is a healer? A human with a special gift? A fae? Other? A special species, a human like with healing abilities! 8)Who was the old wolfshifter that revealed to Vince's parents their son's gift? And how did he know about him? Very old and wise shifter! Had a good clairvoyant! 9) what was the mysterious weapon that could kill an alpha, and how did Theo get it? Kryptonite...oh, shit, not the same story!!! 10) What was the foul smelling incense and why did Theo use it, even if it was dangerous also to him, to the point that he had to leave it in the shop? Incense sticks! Because he believes at that moment Ryder is sent to kill him and, living in the city, he probably got used to different smells! 11) Will Danny become a wolfshifter too, after the bonding? No (pay attention ) 12) If not, is a healer's life as long as a wolfshifter's one? He'll live as long as his mate! 🙂

Yes, the bracelet really does work like an anchor for Lyn - even if it’s mostly unconscious. He isn’t fully aware yet how important this symbol is, not just as proof of Alexander’s love (which he still struggles to grasp), but as a quiet sign of constancy, devotion, and loyalty that has endured over the years. What makes it so powerful is that while Lyn keeps fighting Alexander in his head, the bracelet betrays that Alexander has already, in a way, 'won' simply by being steadfast.

Thanks. What happened is just the beginning. Lyn and Alexander’s dynamic is going to take some time to figure out. Lyn needs to understand Alexander, deal with his own feelings, and learn how to relate to him. The story moves slow in terms of emotions, but with the wedding only eight days away, everything is actually speeding up. Tension is building, and things are about to get intense fast.

Brad tends to gloss over the past, remember only what’s convenient, and float through life obliviously. But the fact that he remembers Lyn not swimming means that moment cut through his usual haze. It must have been emotionally vivid - maybe because he associated Lyn’s vulnerability with danger, responsibility, or his own role as protector. Even if he doesn’t consciously process it, the memory lingers. The scene works almost like a psychological flashpoint... Brad unconsciously reaffirms the old dynamic (him as carefree protector, Lyn as the vulnerable one), while Lyn is painfully aware of how much that intimacy still shakes him. When Alexander mocks Luke about being “first in something,” Lyn’s instinctive reaction isn’t to join in the banter but to defend Luke by pointing out his gaming success. We see that empathy is rooted in his own wounds - Lyn has spent his whole life oscillating between real humiliation and perceived slights. Because of that, he has a heightened sensitivity to situations where someone is made the butt of a joke. He can’t stand to witness it, even in playful form, because it strikes too close to his own scars. There are projection and identification - whether Luke actually feels humiliated is irrelevant. What matters is that Lyn projects his own past humiliations onto Luke and responds as though it’s happening to himself. It shows how unresolved Lyn’s own sense of inadequacy really is. This also quietly underscores the difference between him and Alexander. Alexander thrives on mocking, provoking, and humiliating - sometimes as a power play, sometimes as entertainment. Lyn, in contrast, finds the act almost unbearable because it resonates with his deepest insecurities. This deepens their push-pull dynamic... Alexander weaponizes humiliation, Lyn resists it. Finally, Lyn isn’t just being kind - he’s defending the boy he once was, the one who felt overlooked and mocked. But then, this contradicts his communication with Alexander. On one hand, Lyn reflexively defends Luke, refusing to let him be mocked because humiliation is intolerable to him. He sees the good, or at least tries to highlight it, in almost everyone. But with Alexander, he does the opposite - he attacks, he labels him a “demon,” he resists giving him the benefit of the doubt. Lyn can afford to be gentle with Luke (or Brad), because they don’t feel threatening to him. Alexander, however, unsettles him at a much deeper level—Alexander exposes Lyn’s flaws, mirrors his fears, and provokes his suppressed desires. It’s safer for Lyn to cast Alexander as “the demon” than to admit he might also be his equal, or worse, someone he’s drawn to. Ironically, Alexander doesn’t resent this treatment. In fact, he values Lyn’s bluntness. Where others might flatter or avoid confrontation, Lyn calls him out directly. By admitting, in so many words, that Alexander enjoys humiliating people, Lyn names the thing others might only whisper about. That’s why Alexander seems almost amused or appreciative. Lyn dares to speak the truth of him, even if framed negatively. Oh Luke... He really does come across as a shallow mirror of Brad - charming, playful, but with little depth. His surprise at Lyn’s defense... the fact that Luke is taken aback when Lyn highlights his gaming skills shows how rarely anyone takes him seriously. Even if it’s “not so impressive,” Lyn treats it as something worthy, which is unusual for Luke. That moment of being “seen” matters more than he’d admit. His quick retreat to jokes... but instead of sitting with that recognition, Luke immediately undermines it by slipping back into crude humor (the “dick size” banter). It’s a protective move - turning vulnerability into a joke before anyone can mock him for it. By proposing a contest in the one domain where he knows he’s “big,” Luke reveals how little else he can rely on to establish his worth. It’s not an achievement, but an accident of birth, and that hollowness makes him more Brad’s twin than Lyn’s peer. Again, we see Lyn's insecurities over his own body. The story never states Lyn is “small.” What actually happens is that he’s constantly comparing himself to others, and the men around him (Brad, Luke, Alexander) are written as unusually well-endowed or physically confident. Lyn feels out of proportion by contrast, which triggers his insecurities. Lyn has been humiliated so many times (sometimes real, sometimes only in his own perception) that he anticipates it everywhere. Even when no one is mocking him, he projects the possibility of being “less than” onto himself. He happens to be surrounded by outliers. If you’re always next to guys who are above average, it distorts how you see yourself. Lyn doesn’t measure against reality, but against an exceptional group. The irony is others never actually say he’s inadequate. On the contrary, Alexander sees him as bold, Brad leans on his intelligence, even Luke is surprised and flattered when Lyn notices his worth. The problem is Lyn’s self-image, not how others perceive him. Why so? – Because Lyn carries the scars of rejection and invisibility from his past. Even when he’s objectively “enough,” he can’t accept it - he translates every comparison into a reminder of not belonging. And Lyn...being Lyn again. Sitting there convinced he’s the only one having dirty thoughts is peak obliviousness. The poor guy not only underestimates the heat in the air, but he’s also basically running on a broken gaydar. Brad’s offer to ‘hold him,’ Alexander’s stare, Luke’s juvenile size-jokes… the signals couldn’t be louder. Yet Lyn still frames himself as the lone tortured soul while everyone else is just as distracted by naked skin. Classic misalignment - he thinks he’s hiding desire, when in fact he’s the only one who hasn’t noticed everyone else’s. The final sequence transforms the chapter from playful homoerotic teasing into an overt power-play of possession and submission. Alexander exposes Lyn’s vulnerability, exploits his shame, and establishes sexual dominance... but in doing so, he also reveals jealousy and a need for exclusivity that borders on intimacy. Lyn, meanwhile, discovers that Alexander’s cruelty doesn’t diminish his desire; it sharpens it, binding him tighter. The cum-on-face ending denies closure while paradoxically deepening their connection - leaving Lyn with a sense that what he just experienced wasn’t “just sex,” but the beginning of something far more dangerous and consuming.

Too bad there’s no brain mass measuring contest - now that would be interesting. But no, we’re stuck with the old “whose is bigger” nonsense. What are they, sixteen? Luke’s basically Brad’s clone at this point. Brats, the both of them. 🤪

@long1jo @CasualWanderer82, I believe it all comes down to one important rule they both agreed on - always tell the truth. And Blake finally followed through: "I can't do it," he said finally. "I...can't be who you're askin'. Of course, that doesn't mean he won't become one. Sometimes, we don't realize how much we value something until we lose it. Jackson has learned that lesson - now it's Blake's turn.

What begins as a snowy storm adventure quickly unravels into a gripping mystery of attempted murder - and ultimately blossoms into an extraordinary intergalactic love story. Another masterpiece from @Mikiesboy, absolutely worth your time!

Gays not into reading sex scenes? That’s practically heresy - what are we supposed to do, skip to the plot? 🤣😂