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Sharing our love of M/M Romance

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Parts of Us (The Game Series Book 14) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

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The Game Series, #14 • Doll Parts Sequel • MMMM • M/s • DD/lb • Hurt/Comfort • Found Family • Angst • HEA
Grab your favorite stuffie and join Cam, Lucian, KC, and Noa as they jump over life’s hurdles together with their kinky friends as support. Brat shenanigans are to be expected, starting with an Easter Egg Hunt—that has a twist—and continue until they’re off on their Caribbean cruise.

I could admit, when my boyfriend and I finally got together with our Master and Daddy Dom, I’d thought that this was it. I was going to cruise through the rest of my life high on love.

Six months later, I knew that the reality of a happily ever after was much more complex, messy, and beautiful. I learned to see it in the little things. Like in the smiles between Master and Daddy that whispered of their thirty-year-long friendship, in how my boyfriend lit up when he got a new stuffie, and in how we painted the walls of our home with all the raw emotions life brought. I saw it in the way our dynamics evolved, how we truly were four parts of a whole, and how we overcame obstacles.

We did have one obstacle we couldn’t postpone any longer. My boyfriend still hadn’t told his mother that he wasn’t dating only me. He was dating her ex-husband, the man who’d been his stepfather. We also had to convince our Master to cut down on work because he was stressing himself out, and his blood pressure was already high.

Then one night, I lost my footing when he collapsed and an ambulance drove off with him.

We couldn’t be us without him. If one was missing, we were just…parts.

____

The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

The characters in the Game Series cross over in multiple books, as we follow not only new love interests but the background friendships and dynamics of a thriving kink community. This is the second story that follows KC, Noa, Cam, and Lucian. Parts of Us is best enjoyed if you’ve read Doll Parts first.

Amazon – All Regions

Settle in everyone. This book is thick.

Obligatory you really should read at least Doll Parts first, but if you don’t, you’ll figure it out. Plus there are A LOT of characters from across this whole series and most of them make appearances. Just fyi.

Last we saw Lucian he was grabbing his chest and people were calling 911. Seriously, Cara Dee left us hanging like that. Mean. And then made us wait through other books! Super mean. But this book brings us Lucian’s recovery and with that, he kind of falls in love with his men, and they him, all over again. Swoon.

The fallout from Lucian’s health scare lead to some trust issues, Owner/slave issues, what role do I play issues and “who am I now” issues. There is a good focus on how something like that affects other people- especially those closest to you.

Noa has also run out of excuses to talk to his mother about his relationship with KC. So that’s a thing and more fallout to deal with.

We also get some flashback scenes with Lucian and KC and I LOVED them. I love the dynamic these two have so seeing where it came from was super fun.

Now here’s where I complain. A little. I think this book should be been broken into at least two. Once Lucian is on the slow road to recovery and the foursome has mostly gotten their feet back under them, everyone goes back to McLean House for fun and games. And while that did allow some more introspection by Lucian and some wise words from founders, it just didn’t feel like they should be there yet. I think they needed more alone time first. I wanted to see them make the changes in their house to make it more HOME. I wanted to see them give up the condo. I wanted to see what would drawn Lucian in as a hobby now that he wasn’t working.

That is not to say I didn’t enjoy that story line and that part of the book. I did. And trust me, I don’t think there is another author who can write such a creative “multiple partner” (yanno, the O word. The other O word) scene that makes sense and it’s not just a crazy free for all pile of bodies. It’s almost poetic in it’s fluidity.

And that brings us to the epilogue. And I am sure there is a method to her madness (I say that with love) but it wasn’t an epilogue so much as a very long beginning to the next book.

It was worth the wait, even though I hate waiting.

4 pieces of eye candy

Sweet and Kinky (It’s a Kink Thing, Book 7) by M.C. Roth: New Release Review

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FROM EXCITING AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE M.C. ROTH

Book seven in the It’s a Kink Thing series

One video will change everything.

Wherever Isthmus and Rowes go, a horde of reporters follow, as they try to catch a snippet of everyone’s favorite actors from the hit television show Gunlover. They are best friends— sharing the screen together, along with a home and hotel rooms. But one fan video changes their lives forever when it accuses them of being in a D/s relationship.

Rowes is straight, and Isthmus can’t imagine that his best friend is kinky, but his thoughts keep straying to the video. As they start to get closer and the boundaries between them fall, they try to resist the inescapable pull of kink and passion.

Amazon – All Regions

For a kink book, this one was awfully cute. Definitely had some sexy in there. But a lot of cute and sweet. Unfortunately a lot of contradictions which makes me crazy. We’ll get to that.

Izzy and Rowes co-star on a tv show. They are also BFF. Very touchy feely bff. And since Izzy is out, rumors abound. But Rowes insists, often, that he is straight. But they are tv actors who share a hotel room. And often a bed for cuddling.

With the rumors come social media posts, photos and videos. One particular video shows them that they seem to be very D/s without even knowing it. Which gets them both thinking. And worrying. Because Rowes is straight. And he has a clause in his contract that he couldn’t have sex with anyone on or related to the show. He is the only one though. Which is definitely odd, but ok. But that clause causes a lot of anxiety with Rowes.

So some rando on the internet put together pictures and video snippets to claim they are in a D/s relationship. How do you test that out? By going to a kink club of course! (no) Well, Rowes is definitely not as straight as he thought he was. In fact, he kind of just rolls right into the sex with my bff who is a guy and also a Dominant and omg I am a submissive. And he was adamant that he was straight. Not even wondering if maybe he was a tiny bit bi. Nope. Straight as straight can be. Except no. That was one of the biggest contradictions.

I also never really knew who the star of the show was? Sometimes they say it’s Izzy. Sometimes Rowes. Sometimes a guy named Connelly and a woman named Annelise are listed as 2 of 4 co-stars. Would this bother most readers? Probably not.

Another contradiction is that at the beginning Rowes is very health conscious and monitors what he eats. In fact, one of the Dom like things Izzy does is tell him he was good today and should order extra croutons on his wrap. But their manager has a stash of high calorie snacks she gives him daily. And why do they have a manager who acts like a babysitter?

(maybe a little spoiler-ish?)
Ultimately, Izzy and Rowes get outed. By whom? Because that’s kind of big. Nope, we never know. Why was their manager, who is always totally put together a giant mess at The Big Meeting? Sigh. I have questions.

Now, if you strip away all of the mundane stuff- the D/s dynamic and scenes were HOT AF. Even if I did keep hearing in my head that Rowes wasn’t gay. But ya. Hot, inventive, and fun to read. More of that please.

Izzy had a lot more introspection about whether he really was a Dom than Rowes did about being a sub AND bi. I wish Rowe had that growth and development.

The book was fine. The story was fine. The scenes were hot. There’s a good chance I’ll forget I even read this book.

3 pieces of eye candy

Daddy Christmas by Cara Dee: Excerpt and Release Day Review

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Standalone • Holiday Romance • Age gap • Comedy • Silver Fox • Age Gap • Daddykink

The annual holiday office party is the one occasion my silver fox boss isn’t his rigid, uptight self—not to mention completely liberated of a sense of humor. For a single, magical evening, he replaces Armani with a Santa suit and grabs a couple drinks with his employees. He might even chuckle once or twice!

Through no fault of my own, I end up half-naked and embarrassingly drunk on candy cane Jell-O shots. I plant my sweet rear on his lap, call him Daddy Christmas, tell him I’ve been a good boy, and ask for a very specific gift.

So I’m pretty sure I’m about to get fired.

Amazon – All Regions

I cleared my throat to get his attention. “Mr. Abrams?”

He stopped typing on his computer and peered at me over the rim of his glasses.

“I have a delivery for you from Mr. Williams on the ground floor,” I said. “Suravi’s not here, but I can leave it on her desk if you’d prefer.”

He dismissed that and motioned for me to come forward.

I could make some serious strides on my Fitbit in his office, it was that big. At least compared to the tiny office I shared with Mya and Kim. And “office” was a stretch. Only a single single wall separated us from the cubicle area.

“It sounds like a Christmas gift, sir,” I commented as I handed him the parcels.

“It makes sounds?” He wasn’t pleased. “Then please stay here while I open it so I can decide whether to send it back with you.”

Hey. Rude. “Maybe Santa can replace it with a lump of coal.”

“Perhaps,” was his only reaction.

While he carefully tore the wrapping, I inspected his boring desk. I mean, the desk itself was nice, probably some expensive mahogany or oak thing, but he had nothing personal on it. No photos, no knickknacks. I knew he was unmarried and had no kids, but he had several nieces and nephews.

“It’s a nice rug you have here,” I offered. “I kinda wanna do cartwheels on it.” Or break-dance all over it with Kim.

He paused his unwrapping and glanced up at me. “You don’t have to fill the silence.”

“No, I know. I do that voluntarily.”

“That’s a shame,” he muttered and returned to his gift.

I suppressed a sigh and stuck my hands down into the pockets of my slacks.

The only thing that was a crying shame was this fun-sucker of a man. I could count my interactions with him on one hand—in the four years I’d been here—and they’d all required some serious aftercare to brighten my mood again.

Underneath the plain wrapping paper was a bottle of whiskey or scotch, and he held it up to read the tag strapped to its neck.

“This is a nice bourbon,” he commented. “I’m sure my uncle will enjoy it.”

“Sir?”

“It’s addressed to Clarke Abrams, my uncle.” He set the bottle aside, along with the other parcel, and I cursed to myself. “I assume this package is for him too. I’ll be at corporate tomorrow—I can deliver them to him.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Very few things embarrassed me, but this kind of mistake definitely did. My collar felt tight, and my ears started burning.

“I’m so sorry, sir. That’s my mistake,” I managed to say. “Mr. Williams told me to personally deliver it to Mr. Abrams at corporate, and I just assumed he meant you—and you’re here on Wednesdays, so… I’m sorry. This isn’t actually my job, so you don’t have to worry about this happening again. I’ll be back at my desk as soon as the servers—”

“Please, for the love of God, stop rambling.” Mr. Abrams leaned back in his seat. I swallowed uncomfortably. He observed me. “If Mr. Williams gave you the instructions, your assumption feels…foolish.”

“Yep. Well aware. It’s been a long week.” Fuck, let me get out of here, please.

“It’s Wednesday.”

“So people keep telling me.” I gestured to the packages. “May I have them back? I need to go downtown before your uncle leaves for the day.”

“He won’t get them, regardless.” He checked his watch. “He leaves right after the breakfast meeting on the days my aunt gets dialysis.”

That was…sweet, I supposed. Clarke Abrams was in his seventies, if I wasn’t mistaken. It probably wouldn’t be that many years before he handed over the corporation to two of his sons and the nephew in front of me.

I suddenly had an idea. “You’re going to corporate tomorrow.”

“As I mentioned.”

 “And you live in Santa Monica, right?”

His forehead creased. “I do.”

“So you’re passing Culver City on the way,” I said. “We can carpool. Pick me up outside the office tomorrow, and that way, I can follow Mr. Williams’s order and deliver the packages to Mr. Abrams myself. What do you say?”

“I was unaware that you were capable of following orders.”

“Hey.” I put my hands on my hips, getting a tad irritated. I knew I’d fucked up. How long did I have to suffer? “You’ve never complained about my work before. Please cut me some slack.”

He frowned at me. He was good at that. “I don’t even know who you are, what your name is, or what it is that you do here.”

“My name is Parker Jacobson, and I’m a mildly insulted graphic designer,” I replied. “I designed your business cards, among other things.”

Such as this year’s gift to the employees from corporate.

“I see.” He leaned forward and picked up one of his business cards from the little holder. “Well, Parker Jacobson, it’s not normal behavior to ask your boss for a ride.”

My ears felt hot again. The man made me feel like Bambi on ice, which I’d already thought was my default setting in life. I usually tumbled around and hoped for the best. And I knew I wasn’t always normal. Most people had a little voice in the back of their head that let them know what was okay to say out loud. Well, that voice fell out and died when my mom dropped me as a baby.

“Excuse me for trying to save the planet,” I fibbed. “We’re in a global climate crisis, you know.”

He snorted at that, and for a fraction of a second, I swore I spotted a smile. I took that as a huge win.

Then he pushed the packages my way again. “Be downstairs at seven thirty on the dot, and if you speak excessively in the car, you’ll walk the rest of the way.”

“Thank you so much, sir.” I grinned and hurriedly scooped up the packages again. “I’ll have the bottle rewrapped. I’m looking forward to my walk. See you tomorrow.”

Gotta love a Christmas brat and a Christmas Daddy…

I loved the dynamic between Parker and Wyatt. Parker is goofy and silly but also takes his job seriously but is all about being a bratty brat. Especially with Wyatt. Who everyone thinks is a grouchy curmudgeon, which kind of he is. Until Parker changes him. Then Wyatt turns into a pile of goo with cartoon heart eyes.

But don’t you worry, he embraces the Daddy role in the bedroom no problem. And out of the bedroom without the sex. He and Parker are like 2 pieces of a puzzle and just meld together perfectly.

This whirlwind romance is a great read. Even though it is short the characters are well developed, the story doesn’t seem rushed AND we get a character cameo appearance. A Cara Dee specialty.

The *only* thing that didn’t jibe was that Parker and his 2 work mates seemed to be tech support at the beginning but then were graphic design. Tiny detail.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. 

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. 

Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write. 

Find Cara on social media here: https://www.caradeewrites.com/cdwlandingpage

Hide With Me (The Game Series Book 13) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

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𝐃𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤 • 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐱 • 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 & 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐲 • 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 • 𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐩 • 𝐃/𝐬 • 𝐌𝐌𝐌 • 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Don’t mind the sweet scent of waffles. That’s just little Gael breaking the resolves of two protective Daddies, one shy yet sinful bite at a time.

It’s no coincidence Gael Grimes is in Professor Aavik’s class. He’s had a crush on the professor since he first spotted the man in the kink community they’re both part of. According to Gael, Professor Aavik is just super dreamy! Distinguished, charismatic—a total silver fox. But when Gael’s ex-boyfriend ignores the restraining order against him and tries to reach out, another man steps out of the shadows, and Gael is suddenly at a loss for words and can’t describe the intense attraction.

Private investigator Joshua “Santiago” Jones has been keeping an eye on Gael for a while as a favor to a friend. Under different circumstances, he would’ve loved to get closer to Gael. The boy’s cuter than words, definitely on the Little spectrum, funny, smart…but this is work. The only reason Santiago has to get close now is to protect Gael from his stalker ex-boyfriend.
–
The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

Oh I’ve been waiting for this book! I am a big fan of Cara Dee so I will read all of the books as they come out. But I was craving a new love story. New characters, new loves, new dynamics and boundaries and limits and roles. And I got them.

We knew Dean. As Walker’s step brother he has shown up before. Most notably when Walker and Macklin were figuring their relationship out. Also entering the picture ae Santiago and Gael. They have also had cameo’s in other books. But now we get to KNOW them as they get to know each other.

I always liked Dean, what we knew of him. So buttoned up and proper. A history professor and author. But behind closed doors he is filthy. And still almost proper if you can imagine.

Santiago is the kind of classic bad boy. A former cop who works as a private investigator now. The Tenley brothers have him looking into Gael’s ex boyfriend who is known to be rather stalkerish.

Since Dean and Santiago already knew each other and Gael is in Dean’s college class and Santiago is helping out Gael, it was the perfect storm for these men to find each other and explore what they are and can be.

Gael is so eager. He has zero experience, but mostly knows what he wants. Santiago and Dean have no problem helping him to explore.

Writing a triad story without one person becoming the center of attention or without one couple edging out the third. But Cara Dee knows how to do that. She’s done it before and she did it again. And while this is the third triad (pretty sure) in the Game series, all three triads are different from each other. There’s no falling on what she knows and did before. No changing of names to tell the same story. This one is as unique as the others.

Gael finding his submission and his middle/little self while Santiago and Dean guide him without pushing. He blossoms as he is free to be who he is. Especially after the toxic relationship he was in previously. And I do love that he isn’t one of the stereotypical body types we so often see. Refreshing.

Besides their burgeoning relationship, Gael also gets to experience one of his fantasies. Which, again, Cara Dee writes really well.

As much as I enjoyed this book and story, I feel like the Game included at the end of the book was unnecessary. Especially because it was so soon after the other thing. You’ll see.

And we were left hanging with something which has me like “ARGH!”. I’m sure Ms Dee is laughing knowing we are all probably like that.

Solid entry in the Game series. I can’t wait to hear more from these three. And to find out…..

4 pieces of eye candy

Getting Kinky (It’s a Kink Thing) By M.C. Roth: New Release Review

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.                               .

Book five in the It’s a Kink Thing series

If your husband hates kink, can you still get kinky?

“ You want to kneel, sweetheart?”

Elliot is stuck in life, living a lie while doing his best to pretend he’s happy with his husband Hunter. Hunter has picked up the pieces so many times that Elliot has lost count, and he feels terrible asking for anything more— especially when it’s something that Hunter hates.

But after Elliot convinces Hunter to attend an event at the kink club Unkinked, Elliot finds a place where he doesn’t have to feel ashamed about the submission he craves.

While Hunter pouts on a bar stool in the club, the mysterious Dom Shelvin is more than happy to give Elliot a tour, somehow knowing in moments what Elliot desires so deeply. Elliot can’t let that night be the last time he sets foot inside Unkinked, even if Hunter doesn’ t understand why.

His brave face only lasts so long, and soon he confesses what he really needs— something Hunter can’t give him.

But making a contract with a Dom who isn’t his husband comes with conditions— conditions that Elliot will struggle not to break.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

I’ve been enjoying this series, partially because it doesn’t strictly follow the established path of this genre. Each book is just a bit different than another, but a bit more realistic than some bdsm. That being said, this one fell away from the HEA that I was looking for…in part. I won’t go into how and why, but it did, which since I was reading expecting more of an HEA or HFN, I figured out about halfway through that was not going to happen.

Elliot definitely was lying about loving his life, to himself, as much as others. And let’s be honest…his husband was a world class dick in many ways. But he was still put in an awkward position at the beginning.

Shelvin was still willing to put himself in the middle of it, and he doesn’t have any issues with making Elliot kneel right in front of Hunter. He’s definitely the S in bdsm, and doesn’t let Elliot get away with anything. But I wanted to see a bit more of his softer side. That being said, he really didn’t have one.

I didn’t love this, simply because it wasn’t what I was looking for in this book, but still well written, and really hits the realism well.

3.5 pieces of eye candy

Prowl (The Game Series Book 12) by Cara Dee: New Release Review

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The Game Series • Book 12 • Sequel to Apex Predator • MM+MM • Primal Play • D/s • ADHD in Romance • High-Protocol Kink • Age Gap • Second Chances • Ethical Non-Monogamy
The vacation is over for the four men you met in Apex Predator, and now it’s time for Ty and Walker to be on the prowl to secure their happily ever afters.

What do you do when you come home from a vacation that changed your life?

Walker McKenna was finally back with his husband and beloved submissive, Macklin. They had their work cut out for them, and they were ready. Walker had spent four years trying to get over the love of his life, and it just wasn’t happening. He couldn’t go back to that life-sucking void of an existence. But that didn’t mean his new path was paved with roses and unwavering confidence. When the ghosts of past hurt and insecurities grabbed hold of both men, Walker had to go on a hunt once more—and this time was different. This time, he found support in a new friend. A man with a fresh take on life, devilish charm, and a mission of his own.

Ty Madison returned home to DC and the blizzard of the year. He had one goal. To make Lane his—permanently. Ty couldn’t just write off the insane week they’d shared down south as a vacation fling. They belonged together. But before he went after the young man, who had his reasons for avoiding attachments at all costs, they had a storm to weather, and Ty found himself alone in his house with Walker. A man with insight, incredible charisma, and troubles of his own.

Maybe some missions were best executed as a team.

The Game Series is a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, one thing is certain. This is not a perfect world—and maybe that’s why the happily ever after feels so good.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited – All Regions

This one is tough for me. For the most part, I have really enjoyed this series. BUT, I feel like the focus is moving from couple (or throuple or quad) dynamics to events at McLean House.

For many books now we have know that Macklin was married but separated and his husband was in Boston. There wasn’t a ton of info given, but there was big time animosity on Macklin’s side- the only side we really saw. But in the book previous to this one, Macklin and Walker faced each other AND their issues. It was a little too easy for me, but *shrug*.

Now they are back together, albeit slowly. And one of their biggest issues was consensual non monogamy. And Walker jumps right in with Ty without talking to Macklin first. Like DUH! Yes, it was a blizzard and there was no power or cell service but come on. You’re grown men. Keep it in your pants.

Besides that, Ty was drawn to Lane. But he gets naked with Walker. Yes, I know this is the start of a fabulous foursome. But the lack of communication bothered me. And they even seemed to taunt Macklin and Lane by “connecting” on the kink website.

So Walker and Macklin are primaries and Ty and Lane are primaries, but Macklin and Lane are boyfriends and Walker and Ty are boyfriends. And that’s all well and good but there just wasn’t enough growth within the primary couples for me.

There’s also a demonstration at McLean House about high protocol and TPE. Kind of interesting…but too much. I got bored. I also got bored reading about all of their different thoughts on their dynamics without doing a lot about it.

And I was really looking forward to the big, all four guys sex scene. But it was kind of ruined for me by taking place in a hot tub outside while it is freezing out. Sorry, you can’t fully explore when you want to be shoulders deep in the warm water.

I need more intimacy. More of the men being together. Not talking about reptiles. Not explaining TPE. Not voting on the hottest photos (yes, in epilogue 2? 3?). I want the men. Together. Discovering each other. Learning about each other. INTIMACY.

I guess that is really what is missing for me. Intimacy.

3 pieces of candy