OP here - best of luck with moving and your new home! Please don't worry about frequency of updates, you'll get to it when you can. Though I do know that writing/publishing and getting comments does help in difficult times (I don't care there's worse, moving definitely qualifies in my book.)

> the chapter where Nicky tries to keep his heart in his pants' (or maybe out of his pants, whichever)

Can this please be the official chapter title/chapter summary? Because it's absolutely perfect.


I loved Nicolò getting lost in his own head - it's very him. Berating himself for his own greed? Beautiful. I really appreciate his view on temptation (i.e. if you decide to do it after all don't moan and groan about it after) and the "running down a hill" metaphor, especially how you reprised it later.
I just love the way you write them, I hope you won't mind hearing it for every single chapter.

Also, we got more bantering! I may be low key envious of your ability to write bantering. It's absolutely awesome!

Question: is Leandro the same guys as Lazzaro from the previous chapters?

I do like the glimpses into Nicolò's past and that his story with Leandro was complex. Loved that Leandro got dunked in the water, too!

Oooh, the sex part was just... *fans self*. Look at Yusuf rules lawyer-ing again! The two of them getting tying themselves in knots!!! Oh wow, the yearning!

> With an act of will to anchor earthquakes, he does not.

This sentence was my absolute favorite. Also "desperate devotion to Yusuf" from the line before, it's just too beautiful.

Loved the post-coital cuddling and confidences and Nicolò's lines about Yusuf's experience with a woman (both "your great experience was only once?!" and "Thank God I know nothing of that") .

I wasn't expecting the kissing! And of course Nicolò put a stop to that - you're so going to regret it, Nico. I'm calling it now.

Thank you so much for this beautiful chapter!