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It Takes Two
Dear Author,
Photo Description:
Two men dance bare-footed on a chequered marble floor. They are dressed in dark trousers, white shirts and wear braces. The taller man has his hand placed lightly on the other man’s back. Their heads almost meet but their bodies are tantalisingly just apart, as if they don’t want to be too close.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
I have been living in stolen moments. It’s been weeks since the first time he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor, my father’s expectations and the ledgers of our failing family restaurant forgotten. After everyone leaves for the night, he’s been teaching me how to dance. It was a lark at first, a welcome distraction from, well… everything. Lately though, something is different. We move as one being now. The feel of him, my hand pressed on the small of his back, the heat of his face inches away from mine… it’s all I think about, having him in my arms. I count the hours, the minutes till I can brush my fingers over his shoulders and feel his breath on my chin. Does he feel the same way?This could be historical or contemporary— wherever the picture takes you. I hope there is an HEA for these two, and I am dying to know what happens when they finally kiss! Oh, and if it works for a tango lesson or two to devolve into sexy times (clothes torn off/open and cum splattered all over the marble floor), I won’t protest.
Photo Description:
Two men dance bare-footed on a chequered marble floor. They are dressed in dark trousers, white shirts and wear braces. The taller man has his hand placed lightly on the other man’s back. Their heads almost meet but their bodies are tantalisingly just apart, as if they don’t want to be too close.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
55 pages, ebook
First published June 15, 2014
52 people want to read
About the author
Alexa Milne
30 books37 followersOriginally from South Wales, Alexa has lived for over thirty years in the North West of England. Now retired, after a long career in teaching, she devotes her time to her obsessions.
Alexa began writing when her favourite character was killed in her favourite show. After producing a lot of fanfiction she ventured into original writing.
She is currently owned by a mad cat and spends her time writing about the men in her head, watching her favourite television programmes and usually crying over her favourite football team.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 17, 2014
Accessible but rather undeveloped GFY; easy read but not a standout; tentative HFN.
I knew there was infidelity in this book because there's a tag that says so, but there was nothing gray about the cheating here. It's blatant actually and really put a damper on the whole story for me.
Lucca lies to both his fiancée, whom he's about to marry, and Tony, the guy who's been teaching him to dance and with whom he's become obsessed.
Most of the dance lessons take place off page. Lucca flips between wanting to marry his fiancée and wanting to be with Tony like some people try on going-out outfits.
And everything was resolved too easily. I appreciate the jilted bride not being a bitch, but Lucca's fiancée was too understanding to be believable.
Plus, there was nothing between Lucca and Tony but the physical, so I had serious doubts they could make it work.
The writing was fine, but the dialogue was hella awkward. Meh.
I knew there was infidelity in this book because there's a tag that says so, but there was nothing gray about the cheating here. It's blatant actually and really put a damper on the whole story for me.
Lucca lies to both his fiancée, whom he's about to marry, and Tony, the guy who's been teaching him to dance and with whom he's become obsessed.
Most of the dance lessons take place off page. Lucca flips between wanting to marry his fiancée and wanting to be with Tony like some people try on going-out outfits.
And everything was resolved too easily. I appreciate the jilted bride not being a bitch, but Lucca's fiancée was too understanding to be believable.
Plus, there was nothing between Lucca and Tony but the physical, so I had serious doubts they could make it work.
The writing was fine, but the dialogue was hella awkward. Meh.
June 26, 2015
I liked the picture and skipped the tags or 'Infidelity' would have kept me away. It's well written so smooth reading but didn't quite work for me - I don't like lies and cheating.
Really liked that the fiancée came across as a nice woman not the usual evil harlot cop-out though, I'm giving the story an extra star for that alone.
Unfortunately this story is still very much about cheating. While I could accept indecision with how the engagement came about and Lucca's burgeoning attraction to Tony, I couldn't like Lucca. He lies to both of them and however attracted he might feel to Tony he doesn't try to get to know him and totally disregards his feelings. In fact he lies knowing it will hurt Tony, because..
The dancing had great potential but was underplayed happening largely off-page.
Didn't buy into the HEA either. Got a strong impression that Lucca'd have gone through with the marriage if Savvy hadn't given him a nice neat reason to end things and choose Tony. Instead of thinking he was struggling to find himself I found Lucca to be a spineless user looking for the easiest path.
Really liked that the fiancée came across as a nice woman not the usual evil harlot cop-out though, I'm giving the story an extra star for that alone.
Unfortunately this story is still very much about cheating. While I could accept indecision with how the engagement came about and Lucca's burgeoning attraction to Tony, I couldn't like Lucca. He lies to both of them and however attracted he might feel to Tony he doesn't try to get to know him and totally disregards his feelings. In fact he lies knowing it will hurt Tony, because..
The dancing had great potential but was underplayed happening largely off-page.
Didn't buy into the HEA either. Got a strong impression that Lucca'd have gone through with the marriage if Savvy hadn't given him a nice neat reason to end things and choose Tony. Instead of thinking he was struggling to find himself I found Lucca to be a spineless user looking for the easiest path.
July 22, 2014
Stiff prose. Speech-y dialogue.
Want to read
June 29, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
Love the pic!
June 15, 2014
A well written contemporary story set in England and narrated by Lucca, who in the run up to his wedding to Savannah is being taught to dance by Tony, a waiter at his father's restaurant. As they dance Lucca realises that he's attracted to Tony, and that his marriage to Savannah is one born out of friendship and convenience. The story unfolds as they all try and untangle themselves from current relationships and reform into others. I really enjoyed this one - though I know some readers will be put off by the infidelity involved. Bonus points to the author for keeping the characters balanced and not turning Savannah into a harpy!
July 27, 2014
Yes it is a book about someone who is cheating on the person he is supposed to marry. Yes he is in parts of that story a jerk and he is hurting ppl around him. But most of all Lucca is lying to himself and he is hurting himself. It's a journey to his true being and the journey isn't easy but it felt real for me. He was struggling with himself and at some points I really wanted to smack him. But there are also parts in his story that made me want to hold him and help him. If you don't like stories where cheating is happening then you might want to skip it. But you will miss s man's late journey to his own truth. Also I need to point out that I really liked the style of the writer. HFN story
July 11, 2014
This was OK, but I found it hard to like.
There were a couple of stylistic issues that really put me off - quite often the person speaking changes mid paragraph and that was really confusing. Also the dialog came across as a bit wooden.
I didn't mind the cheating story line, but was a bit more than I could stomach and I found it hard to like Lucca at all after than incident.
There were a couple of stylistic issues that really put me off - quite often the person speaking changes mid paragraph and that was really confusing. Also the dialog came across as a bit wooden.
I didn't mind the cheating story line, but was a bit more than I could stomach and I found it hard to like Lucca at all after than incident.
June 17, 2014
I really enjoyed this! I loved the characters, all of them, flaws and all! And I'm glad that Savannah was such a level headed female character, that's always a big plus for me, thanks for a great story!
July 3, 2014
Yay Alexa! Love what you did with my prompt!
Cheers,
Penny
Cheers,
Penny
June 22, 2014
I felt that the writing was ok but slightly overwrought. Some of emotional issues felt real enough but it was a tad melodramatic.
I think the problem, for me, was that there wasn't enough show of the background to make me invest a bit more of the current situations. Lucca said he felt strongly for Tony but many of it was from his confused perspective.
While I think the complications, the confusions, and how the events played out were realistic... The weak foundation made the matters even more difficult.
I sympathized with how much of a bind Lucca found himself in. His actions read like what I think a man would do in that situation.
The author did a good job of working out the happy solutions for all parties but overall it felt a bit much somehow... Maybe because, for me, the emotion ran pretty high through out the story with not quite enough show of how it all started... Plus both MCs didn't get quite enough back stories for me to understand their current motivations...
I think it was a good debut attempt by the author.
I think the problem, for me, was that there wasn't enough show of the background to make me invest a bit more of the current situations. Lucca said he felt strongly for Tony but many of it was from his confused perspective.
While I think the complications, the confusions, and how the events played out were realistic... The weak foundation made the matters even more difficult.
I sympathized with how much of a bind Lucca found himself in. His actions read like what I think a man would do in that situation.
The author did a good job of working out the happy solutions for all parties but overall it felt a bit much somehow... Maybe because, for me, the emotion ran pretty high through out the story with not quite enough show of how it all started... Plus both MCs didn't get quite enough back stories for me to understand their current motivations...
I think it was a good debut attempt by the author.
August 22, 2016
While the beginning of this story was quite good, with Lucca needing to decide if he wanted to "walk the easy path" and marry the woman he and everyone thought he should, about 2/3 in, it took a nosedive into territory I have a personal issue with. As a result, it lost all of its appeal for me.
Lucca is about to marry a woman he has known for ten years, when he meets and gets to know Tony, one of the waiters in his father's soon-to-be-sold restaurant. Suddenly Tony questions his sexuality as well as his life's plan. Tony makes it clear that Lucca will have to chose before they go any further. Now, I get that this is tough for Lucca. I understand that he is afraid of telling his fiancee, of disappointing her. So far, the story sets up a basic conflict really well and could have become a wonderful testament to Lucca growing and changing - if he had only found his courage.
Instead he lies to Tony and things do downhill from there. Even the fact that it all works out in the end was not enough for me to get back to liking Lucca - or this story. If you don't mind lying and cheating out of cowardice, then you might like this story. It's got some very passionate dancing scenes as well as some hot bedroom activities.
Lucca is about to marry a woman he has known for ten years, when he meets and gets to know Tony, one of the waiters in his father's soon-to-be-sold restaurant. Suddenly Tony questions his sexuality as well as his life's plan. Tony makes it clear that Lucca will have to chose before they go any further. Now, I get that this is tough for Lucca. I understand that he is afraid of telling his fiancee, of disappointing her. So far, the story sets up a basic conflict really well and could have become a wonderful testament to Lucca growing and changing - if he had only found his courage.
Instead he lies to Tony and things do downhill from there. Even the fact that it all works out in the end was not enough for me to get back to liking Lucca - or this story. If you don't mind lying and cheating out of cowardice, then you might like this story. It's got some very passionate dancing scenes as well as some hot bedroom activities.
July 23, 2016
Crap. I totally missed the tags on this one.
Even once I realized there was cheating it did finish it, just detached.
I love GFY, but I wanted to see Luca's struggle with his sexuality.
I wanted to watch him come to terms with it. I really wanted that fantastic mind blowing first time.
Even once I realized there was cheating it did finish it, just detached.
I love GFY, but I wanted to see Luca's struggle with his sexuality.
I wanted to watch him come to terms with it. I really wanted that fantastic mind blowing first time.
April 2, 2016
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
event-stories-unread
September 22, 2014[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
Want to read
June 21, 2014STORY INFO:
Genre: contemporary
Tags: infidelity, angst, dancing, friendship, accountant, bartender/waiter, student, wedding
Word Count: 22,358
Genre: contemporary
Tags: infidelity, angst, dancing, friendship, accountant, bartender/waiter, student, wedding
Word Count: 22,358
January 6, 2016
2.5 stars
August 12, 2016
3.5 stars
Oh, the stupidity... otherwise a cute story.
Oh, the stupidity... otherwise a cute story.
August 25, 2014
2.5 stars. Not for me.
August 27, 2014
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews