Cane23

This is the moment when readers can see what's actually going on, and it has nothing to do with Ben and Sam... or their feelings! Of course, we can see it, but Roman and Max don't want to see it. So, they invent some more rules as two grownup toddlers, caught in dominance game! Oh, breaking those rules, wrapped in your amazing humor @JJQuinn, and 'just enough' dose of irony, is going to be enormous fun reading! Cannot wait!

This chapter, volleyball scene particularly, has made me think that there is parallel between Lyn's mother and Brad with long-term effect they had on Lyn's psyche. Brad, like Lyn’s mother, represents the kind of emotionally unsafe space that leaves Lyn diminished, not because of direct harm, but because of consistent invalidation through comparison, carelessness, and ambiguity. To heal, Lyn must eventually realize that longing is not love, and that proximity to someone dazzling doesn’t make you more real...it can make you disappear. We can say that Brad’s friendship was never truly good for Lyn, not in terms of Lyn’s emotional health or self-worth. While Brad may offer “friendship,” what Lyn gets is a constant, unspoken reminder that he is “not enough” - not masculine enough, not easygoing enough, not desirable enough. Lyn ends up chasing proximity to Brad in the hope of worth, rather than feeling worthy within the friendship. Then, there's a volleyball scene, that is not about volleyball at all. It’s a quiet war for ownership, desire, and history - played with smiles, sweat, and almost-touches. Everyone's playing a different game: Alexander is winning the real war - effortlessly, amused, and in control; Brad is losing, and lashing out, unable to admit he (maybe) wants Lyn; Lyn is torn, shamed by victory, desperate to manage impressions, caught between longing for Brad and being seen by Alexander and Luke, a pawn, a placeholder, clueless to the currents swirling around him. Brad picks Luke as his partner. It’s a typical move - choosing another “golden boy” with zero explanation, but Lyn doesn’t flinch. He accepts it with quiet grace, as if he’s finally detached from the need for Brad’s validation. Lyn, now paired with Alexander, enters a new kind of dynamic. With Alexander, it’s not just strategy - it’s chemistry. There’s equality, sensual banter, and mutual recognition. Brad becomes the watcher. He sees Lyn thriving without him, and he hates it...even if he doesn’t know why. That reversal exposes something Brad has never admitted to himself - that he depended on Lyn's attention as much as Lyn depended on his (shocking, right? 😱)! There are two very interesting things in the first part of the chapter - at the moment of Lyn and Alexander shared intimacy. And stop thinking about Brad, while you’re poking my ass with your cock. The real genius of the line is that - it’s delivered like a joke, but it isn’t. And Alexander isn’t sarcastic or bitter. He doesn’t make it about Brad. He doesn’t lash out, what Alexander is really doing is issuing an invitation: I know Brad is in your head, but I’m here. You’re close to me, so be here! That’s intimate, vulnerable and that’s a quiet act of love, disguised as a dirty quip. Yes, finally, I think it is love! The second thing is: “You really look good like this,” - this is a pivotal moment. It’s not about Lyn’s appearance, or the sex. It’s about the rare glimpse Alexander catches of Lyn without his armor. This moment plants a seed for a bigger emotional shift - Lyn wants to believe this is just a fling, a post-divorce rebound. But Alexander is looking at him like someone who never really stopped seeing him. This line could become the first crack in the wall Lyn’s spent a decade building. *** So, guys, good to have my laptop finally! 🙂 Needless to say, volleyball scene is my third favorite now! And I'm so glad they won... 💪

I suppose Danny will have to heal somebody to prove he's not 'just' ordinary human! I love the tension and cannot wait next Sunday!

Maybe mother-in-law has such a dangerous weapon in her kitchen?! 🤔

Funny but, no way: Alexander chuckled. “You and your vivid imagination, Lynton. I wouldn’t let others stare at your naked ass, though. As much as shock value has its perks, your nudity is off-limits for anyone else.” And surgeon means it, seriouselly!

I just hope that, till the end of the story, Lyn will be able to see himself through Alexander's eyes! 🤞

He does...until he doesn't...and then it's going to be what @Calvin says!

Chris, you're the worst!!!! 🤣😂🤣 But what a nice farewell you came up with!

For sure he did but, not out of malice, more out of ignorance and habit!

Yes, wake up might be quite dramatic! I'm sure that the guys who will leave the resort are not going to be the same guys who came! 😉

Yes, bunch of guys, choosing plot over sex - outrageous!

Absolutely agree! In some of the previous chapters I was comparing Dumas' characters to @Laura S. Fox's characters. Closest to d'Artagnan is, actually, Lyn. Does introducing Luke as d'Artagnan undeline Brad's literature ignorance or there's some hidden meaning in it?! If Luke is Lyn's "replacement", why is he so much Brad like?!

Sunscreen, swim shirt, avoiding the peak uv hours but still...my forehead is red as traffic light!

No tan for gingers, only skin burn!!! 😭 Remember the moment of reunion when Alexander call Brad out about (not)reading... And all the homeworks and projects Lyn did for him... 🤪

There's no point having a church once they win the war! Maybe some reformed church to worship Cian, with services as performance for the masses!

There's been a subtle role reversal in volleyball scene. Have you noticed that Lyn didn't show his usual jealosy when Brad announced he will play with Luke?! But then, Brad reacts as a child whose toy has been taken from him! Btw, his choice of words is something I have to think about for my analyses... There's many interesting things in this chapter to think about... Luke, colledge Brad 'clone'. What kind of mirror he is going to be for Lyn?! Lyn and Alexander - fantastically synchronized...the way they complement each other make me think - did they play together before?! Than, there's Brad insecurity we see for the first time... It is not a chess match...Why chess - because it is the game of the intelligent and, Alexander and Lyn are the smart ones (unlike Brad). Very competitive too... Greetings from Aegean Sea guys, two more days and going back home.

When it comes to @Robert Hugill, you know there's gonna be naked buts and underweare fetish!

That's how I saw it too. I think it is brave to touch this topic. Authors' mission is not just to entartain readers, it is ok to push borders, shake us or even makes us uncomfortable! After all, this is something that nobody should be comfortable with! Finally, I've read some serious violence and abuse stories here at GA. Comparing to them this story is not exception.

Third reading which means this story is definetely my favorite SA competition story this year. As I've already said - I like good reunion stories and I like second chances too. Maybe because they are so rare in real life. This story looks finished but I would like to read some nice Epilog!

Thanx, not sure we're staying at the same places but, if we cross the roads, I'll send your greetings!

Greetings from the Aegean Sea!

I've got impression that aliens were digging deeper in subconscious to get the picture... But, it would be interesting to know, how would somebody else see us! 😁

Too bad Kieran and Thalion are in some sort of magic induced coma! I can immagine situation where Rory and Garran, covered with blod, mud and sweat are arriving to rescue their lovers...only to find them enjoy some massage and spa treatment, surrounded by food, drink, flowes and music from harph!

Almost done. I have to go back to 'war story' as my 'vacation mode' brain cannot handle two war stories at once!

Great - Rory, the badass king! One villain down - finally! Thalion - a diva...that's surprise (or maybe not )!