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CRIMINAL INTENTIONS: Bitter + Sweet
What if the characters of Criminal Intentions took a different path in life? What if Malcolm Khalaji was a big-bellied baker, and Seong-Jae Yoon a grouchy graphic designer? A vampire and a vampire hunter. A knight and a warlock. Cybernetic supersoldiers pitted against each other in a future war. Explore alternate universes, alternate lives...and find out everything and everyone Malcolm and Seong-Jae could ever be.
On the day of December's first snow, the man in black walks into Malcolm's bakery...and a single cupcake begins a chain of events that will change their lives forever.
Shy looks. Sweet curiosity. Slow smiles and softly ventured interest, until a snowed-in night and a strange situation open the door for more. For whispered names. For mutual understanding. For a longing as sweet as curls of thickly swirled icing, melting on the tongue and making each man crave the other's luscious taste.
In Seong-Jae Yoon, Malcolm Khalaji finds a man of surprising passion and sweetness underneath his surly facade--and in Malcolm, Seong-Jae finds the safety, love, and shelter he's always been afraid to seek.
Two familiar characters set in different lives and different paths, but still finding their way to each other.
And from date to date, touch to touch, kiss to kiss, they discover...no matter what lives they've lived, the love between them will always blossom--and stand the test of time.
This series is a set of AUs, or alternate universes, featuring characters from the Criminal Intentions series reimagined in different roles and different genres. Ebook editions of these books are available for free on the author's website.
On the day of December's first snow, the man in black walks into Malcolm's bakery...and a single cupcake begins a chain of events that will change their lives forever.
Shy looks. Sweet curiosity. Slow smiles and softly ventured interest, until a snowed-in night and a strange situation open the door for more. For whispered names. For mutual understanding. For a longing as sweet as curls of thickly swirled icing, melting on the tongue and making each man crave the other's luscious taste.
In Seong-Jae Yoon, Malcolm Khalaji finds a man of surprising passion and sweetness underneath his surly facade--and in Malcolm, Seong-Jae finds the safety, love, and shelter he's always been afraid to seek.
Two familiar characters set in different lives and different paths, but still finding their way to each other.
And from date to date, touch to touch, kiss to kiss, they discover...no matter what lives they've lived, the love between them will always blossom--and stand the test of time.
This series is a set of AUs, or alternate universes, featuring characters from the Criminal Intentions series reimagined in different roles and different genres. Ebook editions of these books are available for free on the author's website.
448 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2023
4 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Cole McCade
51 books1,548 followersSlender. Angry. (Part) Asian.
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 29, 2023
♡ trust Cole McCade to write a sex scene that actually makes me tear up.
♡ i definitely did not expect getting to read an AU fanfic about one of my favourite couples of all time written by the actual author himself. like what???
♡ the cute and fluffy bakery setting itself definitely wasn't for me, i admit i skimmed a lot of the food talk, but i pulled through for the AU Malcolm and Seong-Jae.
♡ while these are basically different characters than in CI, i couldn't help but love them almost as much as the original Mal and Seong-Jae.
♡ apparently Cole is gonna do more of these AU stories, so yay!
♡ i definitely did not expect getting to read an AU fanfic about one of my favourite couples of all time written by the actual author himself. like what???
♡ the cute and fluffy bakery setting itself definitely wasn't for me, i admit i skimmed a lot of the food talk, but i pulled through for the AU Malcolm and Seong-Jae.
♡ while these are basically different characters than in CI, i couldn't help but love them almost as much as the original Mal and Seong-Jae.
♡ apparently Cole is gonna do more of these AU stories, so yay!
Read
April 15, 2023FYI, if you're looking for where to get the ebook for free vs. buying the paperback, you can download it by signing up for my newsletter in one of three ways:
Direct signup + download through my website: http://blackmagicblues.com/vip-section/
Sign up + download through ProlificWorks: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
Sign up + download through Bookfunnel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/is37mpi6t7
Available in .mobi, .epub, and .pdf format. If you sign up through my website and don't receive the email with the password, that means you've already been a confirmed subscriber for a while and Mailerlite won't resend the new user email chain again. Just email me at blackmagic(at)blackmagicblues(dot)com and I'll check and send you the password myself.
I don't spam; in fact, I haven't sent a newsletter in almost three years 'cause I hate annoying people with them. You're free to unsubscribe at any time and won't be re-subscribed without doing it yourself--my newsletter is fully GDPR-compliant. 🖤
Direct signup + download through my website: http://blackmagicblues.com/vip-section/
Sign up + download through ProlificWorks: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free...
Sign up + download through Bookfunnel: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/is37mpi6t7
Available in .mobi, .epub, and .pdf format. If you sign up through my website and don't receive the email with the password, that means you've already been a confirmed subscriber for a while and Mailerlite won't resend the new user email chain again. Just email me at blackmagic(at)blackmagicblues(dot)com and I'll check and send you the password myself.
I don't spam; in fact, I haven't sent a newsletter in almost three years 'cause I hate annoying people with them. You're free to unsubscribe at any time and won't be re-subscribed without doing it yourself--my newsletter is fully GDPR-compliant. 🖤
March 6, 2025
OMG HE DID NOT!!
this is like a fanfic of your all time fav couple written by the author himself. i'd send a kidney for this and he gave it for free 😭🥺
this is like a fanfic of your all time fav couple written by the author himself. i'd send a kidney for this and he gave it for free 😭🥺
July 6, 2024
#ColeMccadeBinge
THE AUTHOR FREAKING WROTE A FREAKING FANFIC NOVEL ABOUT HIS FREAKING CHARACTERS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! AND A BAKERY AU? I JUST CAN’T.
This was very sweet and syrupy and fluffy, I need my insulin shot😂 a chubby, kind and lovable baker Mal who is perfection as always and an extremely shy, awkward and stoic web-designer SJ, my kinda au! I enjoyed their dates a lot because there wasn’t much ‘dating’ in the original series; they do not go to the movies, which was nice of the author, because that would have given us PTSD. And I really miss these guys, reading their stories is nice and I wouldn’t mind more….don’t know about the planned tentacles au though!
So why did I rate it a three? because it was over the top sweet for my taste and I skipped a bit while reading, it got long winded at times.
THE AUTHOR FREAKING WROTE A FREAKING FANFIC NOVEL ABOUT HIS FREAKING CHARACTERS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! AND A BAKERY AU? I JUST CAN’T.
This was very sweet and syrupy and fluffy, I need my insulin shot😂 a chubby, kind and lovable baker Mal who is perfection as always and an extremely shy, awkward and stoic web-designer SJ, my kinda au! I enjoyed their dates a lot because there wasn’t much ‘dating’ in the original series; they do not go to the movies, which was nice of the author, because that would have given us PTSD. And I really miss these guys, reading their stories is nice and I wouldn’t mind more….don’t know about the planned tentacles au though!
So why did I rate it a three? because it was over the top sweet for my taste and I skipped a bit while reading, it got long winded at times.
April 19, 2023
- “Omr-am,”
“You are the breath that gives me life."
“Malcolm. What…what are you saying?”
“That you are my life,” Malcolm said. “That you give my life meaning. Every day, I wake up just to see you. Every night, I can’t sleep without you. I can’t even explain it. It’s… it’s not quantifiable. It’s not something I want to quantify when that makes it feel transactional. Selfish.”
“But maybe I am selfish,” Malcolm admitted. “Because I want to hold you and keep you. I want you in my life forever because being around you, no matter what, makes me so happy I can’t… I can’t even function sometimes, and I don’t care, because it’s enough for me to live in that moment and just be in it with you.”
That's it. That's my review.
Tjese two own my whole heart and in this AU story they were simply too adorable and sweet for words.
“You are the breath that gives me life."
“Malcolm. What…what are you saying?”
“That you are my life,” Malcolm said. “That you give my life meaning. Every day, I wake up just to see you. Every night, I can’t sleep without you. I can’t even explain it. It’s… it’s not quantifiable. It’s not something I want to quantify when that makes it feel transactional. Selfish.”
“But maybe I am selfish,” Malcolm admitted. “Because I want to hold you and keep you. I want you in my life forever because being around you, no matter what, makes me so happy I can’t… I can’t even function sometimes, and I don’t care, because it’s enough for me to live in that moment and just be in it with you.”
That's it. That's my review.
Tjese two own my whole heart and in this AU story they were simply too adorable and sweet for words.
September 3, 2024
ꜰɪᴠᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
criminal intentions: bitter + sweet is the best half-birthday present* a girl could ask for (did it come out on my actual half-birthday? no. but it's the same month, so it counts ;)
thank you so much, mr mccade <3
❝ hold on to me, ❞ he said, letting himself sink into the pleasure of malcolm's body heat, ❝ and i will hold on to you. ❞
❝ that, ❞ malcolm said, sweeping an arm around seong-jae's wait and hauling him in close, ❝ is a promise i can keep. ❞
criminal intentions: bitter + sweet is the best half-birthday present* a girl could ask for (did it come out on my actual half-birthday? no. but it's the same month, so it counts ;)
thank you so much, mr mccade <3
April 18, 2023
4.5 stars
Just...delightful. Malcolm & Seong-Jae falling into like, love & (eventually) bed, supported by glorious food, warmth and a degree of emotional honesty that made me happy.
The stars are for the love story, Malcolm's unquestioning acceptance of Seong-Jae's differences and for McCade's ability to craft a plotless two-hander that held my interest from start to finish. Too many astute observations to quote; I like that McCade finds new ways to describe e.g. a cold - "His voice was a throaty thing, hoarfrost and shattered edges."
The low angst here is delightfully sunny & I'll certainly reread.
But this is, of course, AU Criminal Intentions, and from time to time I missed the grittiness and pain that make the "real" Malcolm & Seong-Jae more satisfying to live with over their (planned) 39 books.
Just...delightful. Malcolm & Seong-Jae falling into like, love & (eventually) bed, supported by glorious food, warmth and a degree of emotional honesty that made me happy.
The stars are for the love story, Malcolm's unquestioning acceptance of Seong-Jae's differences and for McCade's ability to craft a plotless two-hander that held my interest from start to finish. Too many astute observations to quote; I like that McCade finds new ways to describe e.g. a cold - "His voice was a throaty thing, hoarfrost and shattered edges."
The low angst here is delightfully sunny & I'll certainly reread.
But this is, of course, AU Criminal Intentions, and from time to time I missed the grittiness and pain that make the "real" Malcolm & Seong-Jae more satisfying to live with over their (planned) 39 books.
April 22, 2023
4.5 stars
Gah - this really is so sweet, but in the best of ways! Mal and Seong-Jae from Criminal Intentions are re-imagined in an AU where Mal runs a café/bakery and Seong-Jae is an introverted graphic designer, without all the blood, gore and past tragedies that litter the main series. Sweet CR isn't my normal go-to, but I adore these characters and who could resist the author's own fanfic about them? (Not me!)
The essence of the characters, what makes them them - Mal's deep compassion and kindness, Seong-Jae's awkward prickliness - is still there, so they're recognisably the same people, and I loved the little nods to some of the key moments in the main series - the impulsive first kiss, the tie, the late-night phone call. Sade's cameo as the impish but brilliant student is terrific and the writing, while perhaps a little wordy at times, is as beautiful as always.
The author says he plans to write a few more of these AUs featuring the guys in different guises and times - sci-fi, western, even vampires - once he's wrapped up the main series, and I'm here for it!
Gah - this really is so sweet, but in the best of ways! Mal and Seong-Jae from Criminal Intentions are re-imagined in an AU where Mal runs a café/bakery and Seong-Jae is an introverted graphic designer, without all the blood, gore and past tragedies that litter the main series. Sweet CR isn't my normal go-to, but I adore these characters and who could resist the author's own fanfic about them? (Not me!)
The essence of the characters, what makes them them - Mal's deep compassion and kindness, Seong-Jae's awkward prickliness - is still there, so they're recognisably the same people, and I loved the little nods to some of the key moments in the main series - the impulsive first kiss, the tie, the late-night phone call. Sade's cameo as the impish but brilliant student is terrific and the writing, while perhaps a little wordy at times, is as beautiful as always.
The author says he plans to write a few more of these AUs featuring the guys in different guises and times - sci-fi, western, even vampires - once he's wrapped up the main series, and I'm here for it!
April 2, 2024
“That you are my life. That you give my life meaning. Every day, I wake up just to see you. Every night, I can’t sleep without you. I can’t even explain it. It’s…it’s not quantifiable. It’s not something I want to quantify when that makes it feel transactional. Selfish.”
in every universe, malcolm khalaji falls in love with yoon seong-jae, and in every universe, it ends FUCKING WELL BC HOW COULD IT NOT THEY DESERVE THE WHOLE WORLD AND THEY DESERVE EACH OTHER AND I LOVE THEM SM AND THATS IT THATS THE REVIEW
April 15, 2023
A million stars for this sweet, fluffy CI AU with a touch of steam . If you haven't read the original series you can still enjoy this romance filled with Sunshine Jewish Teddy Bear Baker , Grumpy quiet graphic designer , Demigrey asexuall , Neurodivergent MC , A snowed in event , heart emojis, date nights, slow burn , cupcakes , late night phone calls, cooking together and a perfectly sweet HEA. 🥰
featured
January 1, 2025Seong-Jae Yoon from Criminal Intentions is demisexual!
https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
April 16, 2023
Is there anything better than a novel-length fanfic AU of a beloved series written by the series' author himself??? No, no there isn't.
This brought me SO MUCH JOY it's ridiculous. It's just so perfect and so THEM, and I love it to pieces!!
This brought me SO MUCH JOY it's ridiculous. It's just so perfect and so THEM, and I love it to pieces!!
May 5, 2023
CRIMINAL INTENTIONS: everything everywhere all at once
my favorite writer writing fanfiction about my favorite characters from my favorite series ???
sign me the fuck up please and thank you
i will read everything and anything about Malcolm and Seong-Jae and I'm pretty sure Cole can't write something that i won't like
it just doesn't seem possible at this point
this was delightful and so fluffy and oh so delicious
more please ❤️
my favorite writer writing fanfiction about my favorite characters from my favorite series ???
sign me the fuck up please and thank you
i will read everything and anything about Malcolm and Seong-Jae and I'm pretty sure Cole can't write something that i won't like
it just doesn't seem possible at this point
this was delightful and so fluffy and oh so delicious
more please ❤️
April 25, 2023
MY BABES ARE BACK 😭✨❤️ I didn't know I missed Malcolm and Seong-Jae so much as I did but when I started reading this book.... I had the urge to reread CI so I'll probably do that 🙏🏻
This is a fanfic multiverse story of one of my favourite series: Criminal Intentions. If you love Criminal Minds and slow burn romances and super addicting plot and writing style, you're perfect here. I love the author for this self insert fanfic and I'll read every other piece of work Cole Mccade will gift me with 🥺
And I can't waaaaiiiit for s3 of CI to continue 😭
This is a fanfic multiverse story of one of my favourite series: Criminal Intentions. If you love Criminal Minds and slow burn romances and super addicting plot and writing style, you're perfect here. I love the author for this self insert fanfic and I'll read every other piece of work Cole Mccade will gift me with 🥺
And I can't waaaaiiiit for s3 of CI to continue 😭
April 19, 2023
Hi,
I will always put ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for Malcolm and Seong Jae. I am the type of fan who like everything about them.
It’s really incredible I found everything I like about them in criminal intention but version AU.
I loved their relation, their characters, everything.
Thanks to write a healthy relationship with acceptance, communication and only good things.
Emilie
I will always put ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for Malcolm and Seong Jae. I am the type of fan who like everything about them.
It’s really incredible I found everything I like about them in criminal intention but version AU.
I loved their relation, their characters, everything.
Thanks to write a healthy relationship with acceptance, communication and only good things.
Emilie
July 12, 2024
This was just lovely.
I loved how Cole let us see the well-known characters of Malcolm and Sae Jong in a different environment.
And although the backstories are completely different, we can still see the same insecurities
I adore these two, no matter in what kind of setting.
The involvement of all the secondary characters was great and very funny in between
I loved how Cole let us see the well-known characters of Malcolm and Sae Jong in a different environment.
And although the backstories are completely different, we can still see the same insecurities
I adore these two, no matter in what kind of setting.
The involvement of all the secondary characters was great and very funny in between
May 26, 2024
Coffee shop AU.
All the lush prose, no murder.
Prickly crow+kind wolf.
3.5 rounded down
All the lush prose, no murder.
Prickly crow+kind wolf.
3.5 rounded down
April 17, 2023
Es que Malcolm y Seong-Jae son tan.... Parecidos pero diferentes y la nostalgia. Joder, como los amo, me endulzó completamente. Es maravilloso
Read
April 21, 2023DNF almost immediately, look this is torture, all I want to know is what is going to happen in the non-AU!! I know coffee shop AUs are a thing people enjoy but I honestly don’t get it, I can go sit in a coffee shop whenever I want, it’s not that exciting! All I want to know is what is going on with Malcolm’s [spoiler], [spoiler] and [spoiler], the trans cop who’s [spoiler], and the whole Baltimore [spoiler]! 😭😭😭
January 28, 2025
🧁CRIMINAL INTENTIONS: Bιƚƚҽɾ + Sɯҽҽƚ🧁
”This is literally just a novel’s worth of fluffy fan service” Cole I wouldn’t described it better myself 🥹
I… I don’t think I’ll ever find the right words to express how much I love this. No matter what I say, it won’t be enough to convey how deeply this book resonated with me. I thought I loved them before in the “real world”, but experiencing this AU—written by Cole with the same intensity and perfection—felt like a gift, an honor. I’m at a loss for anything else to say, except that this was everything.
If I hadn’t read Criminal Intentions and didn’t know them, this might feel a bit cheesy and dull?! But knowing them—their personalities, the little similarities and differences—it makes this extra special. It feels like a gift to them, a reprieve from all the stress and horror they endure on the other side. This was delicious. 🤤 what’s also delicious is all the food Malcolm prepared, Omg, I was practically moaning and gaining weight just from the descriptions alone.
This book truly has some of the most beautiful and incredible romantic dialogues I’ve ever read—seriously. Sugar love coma, baby! The way they grow into each other, how they fit together so perfectly, the deep understanding and the passion between them... This is what I call soulmates. No matter the universe, they were meant to be—there’s never any doubt about that. A beautiful love story 🖤 with incredible the most incredible courting ever🥹 they are the kind of couple that you think without a doubt that are the sweetest perfection, even their “fights” will be cute as hell.
Malcolm and Seong-Jae—the old wolf and the grumpy cat—I adore you, unequivocally, in any universe. 🐺🐈⬛
You. Me. Us. Even if we never have sex again, I could…I could see us together.”
Seong-Jae’s brows rose fractionally. “Ah?”
“…yeah.” Malcolm swallowed, trailing his touch down to cradle Seong-Jae’s jaw, then admitted, “I could see myself falling in love with you.”(…)
And Seong-Jae only smiled.
Then pushed himself up, skin hissing in inviting whispers against the bed, to brush his mouth across Malcolm’s.
“Malcolm Khalaji,” he sighed against Malcolm’s lips, and the taste of his name on Seong-Jae’s tongue was sweeter ambrosia than Malcolm had ever known. “I would not be in this bed if I were not already in love with you.”
If I were not already in love with you.
Malcolm overflowed, then, with the emotions running wild inside him.
“Seong-Jae,” he sighed, and curled his hand against the back of Seong-Jae’s neck to draw him in deep, to kiss him, to hold him, to have him, to keep him.
And if he was lucky, if the stars in Seong-Jae’s eyes aligned in Malcolm’s favor…
To never let him go.
”This is literally just a novel’s worth of fluffy fan service” Cole I wouldn’t described it better myself 🥹
I… I don’t think I’ll ever find the right words to express how much I love this. No matter what I say, it won’t be enough to convey how deeply this book resonated with me. I thought I loved them before in the “real world”, but experiencing this AU—written by Cole with the same intensity and perfection—felt like a gift, an honor. I’m at a loss for anything else to say, except that this was everything.
If I hadn’t read Criminal Intentions and didn’t know them, this might feel a bit cheesy and dull?! But knowing them—their personalities, the little similarities and differences—it makes this extra special. It feels like a gift to them, a reprieve from all the stress and horror they endure on the other side. This was delicious. 🤤 what’s also delicious is all the food Malcolm prepared, Omg, I was practically moaning and gaining weight just from the descriptions alone.
This book truly has some of the most beautiful and incredible romantic dialogues I’ve ever read—seriously. Sugar love coma, baby! The way they grow into each other, how they fit together so perfectly, the deep understanding and the passion between them... This is what I call soulmates. No matter the universe, they were meant to be—there’s never any doubt about that. A beautiful love story 🖤 with incredible the most incredible courting ever🥹 they are the kind of couple that you think without a doubt that are the sweetest perfection, even their “fights” will be cute as hell.
Malcolm and Seong-Jae—the old wolf and the grumpy cat—I adore you, unequivocally, in any universe. 🐺🐈⬛
You. Me. Us. Even if we never have sex again, I could…I could see us together.”
Seong-Jae’s brows rose fractionally. “Ah?”
“…yeah.” Malcolm swallowed, trailing his touch down to cradle Seong-Jae’s jaw, then admitted, “I could see myself falling in love with you.”(…)
And Seong-Jae only smiled.
Then pushed himself up, skin hissing in inviting whispers against the bed, to brush his mouth across Malcolm’s.
“Malcolm Khalaji,” he sighed against Malcolm’s lips, and the taste of his name on Seong-Jae’s tongue was sweeter ambrosia than Malcolm had ever known. “I would not be in this bed if I were not already in love with you.”
If I were not already in love with you.
Malcolm overflowed, then, with the emotions running wild inside him.
“Seong-Jae,” he sighed, and curled his hand against the back of Seong-Jae’s neck to draw him in deep, to kiss him, to hold him, to have him, to keep him.
And if he was lucky, if the stars in Seong-Jae’s eyes aligned in Malcolm’s favor…
To never let him go.
May 4, 2023
4,5 stars
It’s not often an author writes fanfic about his own characters, and – I’ll be honest – I was marginally sceptical.
But this is Cole McCade we’re talking about, and everyone who’s read him knows his unique way of linguistic artistry. And his amazing story-telling skills with so much attention to detail.
In this story Malcolm and Seong-Jae are very much the same (with only minor digressions) we know from ‘Criminal Intentions’, just that life has given them a different path. One that also leads them together, but here in a totally wonderfully romantic and – dare I use the word? – ‘sweet’ way. It’s a heart-tugging love story written with an emotional intensity very few other authors can conjure up.
With Seong-Jae firmly in the autistic range he has a hard time letting feelings in and showing them. His social awkwardness, his neurodiversity and difficulty with overwhelming impressions in life are portrayed with sensitivity and utmost care. I think, considering what’s said in the Afterword, it’s safe to say that the author has put a bit of himself into this character.
And Mal? He still is THE boyfriend everyone wants to have. Generous, funny, kind, honest, understanding and respectful. Swooning all the way here!
And I loved that he is a baker here. I have a soft spot for cooking and baking in books and could virtually smell and taste all the delicacies mentioned.
Saying that, the scene where Mal tries to catch up on his cooking is definitely a bit too long-winded. And I don't understand why there's a repeated mention of Malcolm’s chubby belly. I’m fine with the fact, but it seems the author is making a point (I don’t get) about it?
But mainly: to have a bit of Mal and Seong-Jae without the horror of brutal killings hovering above them, was heavenly, and I’m looking forward to the other AU setting the author has planned to write Mal/Seon-Jae fanfic about!
It’s not often an author writes fanfic about his own characters, and – I’ll be honest – I was marginally sceptical.
But this is Cole McCade we’re talking about, and everyone who’s read him knows his unique way of linguistic artistry. And his amazing story-telling skills with so much attention to detail.
In this story Malcolm and Seong-Jae are very much the same (with only minor digressions) we know from ‘Criminal Intentions’, just that life has given them a different path. One that also leads them together, but here in a totally wonderfully romantic and – dare I use the word? – ‘sweet’ way. It’s a heart-tugging love story written with an emotional intensity very few other authors can conjure up.
With Seong-Jae firmly in the autistic range he has a hard time letting feelings in and showing them. His social awkwardness, his neurodiversity and difficulty with overwhelming impressions in life are portrayed with sensitivity and utmost care. I think, considering what’s said in the Afterword, it’s safe to say that the author has put a bit of himself into this character.
And Mal? He still is THE boyfriend everyone wants to have. Generous, funny, kind, honest, understanding and respectful. Swooning all the way here!
And I loved that he is a baker here. I have a soft spot for cooking and baking in books and could virtually smell and taste all the delicacies mentioned.
Saying that, the scene where Mal tries to catch up on his cooking is definitely a bit too long-winded. And I don't understand why there's a repeated mention of Malcolm’s chubby belly. I’m fine with the fact, but it seems the author is making a point (I don’t get) about it?
But mainly: to have a bit of Mal and Seong-Jae without the horror of brutal killings hovering above them, was heavenly, and I’m looking forward to the other AU setting the author has planned to write Mal/Seon-Jae fanfic about!
October 7, 2023
4.5⭐️
I did not know I needed an AU Mal and Yoon book till I realized we were gifted this 400+ page book by the author. I have been holding off on reading Season 2 of Criminal Intentions till we are almost to the end of Season 3 of CI so I don't get withdrawal symptoms like I did last year when I read CI for the first time and realized that though there were 29 books out there were still 10 more to go.
In this version Mal is a baker and Yoon a Graphic designer. But they are still perfect for each other. For all that I love the OG Mal and Yoon I liked that in this story we got to see their relationship blossom without the angst of killers, stalkers & corrupt officials in the mix. This AU delved deeper into other emotionally charged areas, especially with Yoon about his issues with his autism and his sexuality.
I have to admit I love Cole's writing, the way he describes peoples feelings is beautiful. But sometimes it might seem a bit flowery. But that just adds to the beauty of this story.
This book can be read as a standalone I think without having read the CI series. And there are hopefully more AU's that we can look forward to. I know the author has a few things to sort out before he goes back to releasing more books, so I will await them patiently if it gets us more of these books and the rest of CI season 3.
I did not know I needed an AU Mal and Yoon book till I realized we were gifted this 400+ page book by the author. I have been holding off on reading Season 2 of Criminal Intentions till we are almost to the end of Season 3 of CI so I don't get withdrawal symptoms like I did last year when I read CI for the first time and realized that though there were 29 books out there were still 10 more to go.
In this version Mal is a baker and Yoon a Graphic designer. But they are still perfect for each other. For all that I love the OG Mal and Yoon I liked that in this story we got to see their relationship blossom without the angst of killers, stalkers & corrupt officials in the mix. This AU delved deeper into other emotionally charged areas, especially with Yoon about his issues with his autism and his sexuality.
I have to admit I love Cole's writing, the way he describes peoples feelings is beautiful. But sometimes it might seem a bit flowery. But that just adds to the beauty of this story.
This book can be read as a standalone I think without having read the CI series. And there are hopefully more AU's that we can look forward to. I know the author has a few things to sort out before he goes back to releasing more books, so I will await them patiently if it gets us more of these books and the rest of CI season 3.
April 20, 2023
This was a fantastic trip into AU with The Old Wolf & Black Crow...
Page 255:
Malcolm curled his hand to the small of Seong-Jae’s back, keeping him close, kissing over his shoulders even as he spilled Seong-Jae back against the bed once more, the sheets almost icy against his overheated skin, painful.
“I’ve got you. I’m breaking too, Seong-Jae.”
Malcolm’s beard teased his jaw; lips teased his cheek. “It’s all right if we break together.”
BEST-PART of the story for me..... woof, that was HOT AF.
I loved it (minus the dead bodies and blood... which felt strangely weird by not having that present with the characters!).
Overall, it was a fun treat to see Malcolm (baker) and Seong-Jae (Graphic Designer) being normal people falling in love with each other.
Thank you, Cole McCade, for a fun & sweet journey with my favorite characters!
***Granted... I missed the blood & gore; I cannot wait for Criminal Intentions, Season 3, Episode #4 to resume.
Page 255:
Malcolm curled his hand to the small of Seong-Jae’s back, keeping him close, kissing over his shoulders even as he spilled Seong-Jae back against the bed once more, the sheets almost icy against his overheated skin, painful.
“I’ve got you. I’m breaking too, Seong-Jae.”
Malcolm’s beard teased his jaw; lips teased his cheek. “It’s all right if we break together.”
BEST-PART of the story for me..... woof, that was HOT AF.
I loved it (minus the dead bodies and blood... which felt strangely weird by not having that present with the characters!).
Overall, it was a fun treat to see Malcolm (baker) and Seong-Jae (Graphic Designer) being normal people falling in love with each other.
Thank you, Cole McCade, for a fun & sweet journey with my favorite characters!
***Granted... I missed the blood & gore; I cannot wait for Criminal Intentions, Season 3, Episode #4 to resume.
May 3, 2023
Beautiful AU companion piee to CI.
I particularly loved the sweetness of it, the buildup of getting to know each other.
And it is wonderful to see what Malcolm and Seong-Jea could have potentially been in other circumstances. I adore Seong-Jae with the passion of a thousand burning suns, almost as much as Malcolm, but seeing this version of him, more in contact with himself, free of the worst of the trauma Sila caused him, broke my heart a little bit, but made me admire the overwhelming strength of the character as well, and appreciate even more the work Mr McCade has done along CI to bring Seong-Jea out of his trauma and closer and closer to this version in CI.
I particularly loved the sweetness of it, the buildup of getting to know each other.
And it is wonderful to see what Malcolm and Seong-Jea could have potentially been in other circumstances. I adore Seong-Jae with the passion of a thousand burning suns, almost as much as Malcolm, but seeing this version of him, more in contact with himself, free of the worst of the trauma Sila caused him, broke my heart a little bit, but made me admire the overwhelming strength of the character as well, and appreciate even more the work Mr McCade has done along CI to bring Seong-Jea out of his trauma and closer and closer to this version in CI.
August 22, 2024
THIS IS TOO CUTE TO BE TRUE
Oh I love Cole for writing this for us, for the fans. A fanfic of his own work???? I LOVE IT.
Malcolm runs a cafe and in comes Seong-Jae, a graphic designer. (Ha I see you there, in CI when they admitted to each other what they would have been if they hadn’t been a cop)
Seong-Jae is my baby no matter what AU, ugh, reading their interactions, how gentle Malcolm is… and the ending!!!! Malcolm you can’t kill me like that
I love love love this and I’m so excited what other AUs will be put out!
Oh I love Cole for writing this for us, for the fans. A fanfic of his own work???? I LOVE IT.
Malcolm runs a cafe and in comes Seong-Jae, a graphic designer. (Ha I see you there, in CI when they admitted to each other what they would have been if they hadn’t been a cop)
Seong-Jae is my baby no matter what AU, ugh, reading their interactions, how gentle Malcolm is… and the ending!!!! Malcolm you can’t kill me like that
I love love love this and I’m so excited what other AUs will be put out!
April 14, 2023
been waiting for this since the first offhand mention on twitter that it was even going to be a thing.
so, naturally, i devoured it the day it came out. so i could reread it as soon as possible.
this is a balm to an aching heart. a perfect dose of one of my OTPs, without all the danger and murder.
sprinkled with nods and references to the main CI story, and containing all the soul of both characters and their amazing connection.
so, naturally, i devoured it the day it came out. so i could reread it as soon as possible.
this is a balm to an aching heart. a perfect dose of one of my OTPs, without all the danger and murder.
sprinkled with nods and references to the main CI story, and containing all the soul of both characters and their amazing connection.
February 6, 2024
Aaah, getting to watch Mal and Seong-Jae get an HEA here (even if we're still a ways off from it in the original series) was awesome. I loved seeing how different their lives would've been if they weren't cops, and I have to say, as much as I love the Criminal Intentions series, my love for these characters makes me wish this was how their lives had been. No Sila in Seong-Jae's past, no loss in Mal's.
This story is definitely going to be my comfort read from now on.
This story is definitely going to be my comfort read from now on.
Read
January 15, 2025Very fucking sweet! Like, sickeningly drenched in sweet lol!
I enjoyed this so much. (I lowkey liked it better than the OG series just for the lack of criminal activity and mortal danger, but I also occasionally wished for just a leeetle plot drama, so idk). It’s okay—this was fanfic and it was good fanfic. Excellently done!
The only thing is that I’m kinda worried now that I’ll start mixing up the fanfic plot points with the canon lmao
I enjoyed this so much. (I lowkey liked it better than the OG series just for the lack of criminal activity and mortal danger, but I also occasionally wished for just a leeetle plot drama, so idk). It’s okay—this was fanfic and it was good fanfic. Excellently done!
The only thing is that I’m kinda worried now that I’ll start mixing up the fanfic plot points with the canon lmao
January 26, 2025
5 STARSSSSSS
Que casal é esse!!! Meu Deus como amo esses dois, eu tava morrendo de sdds deles não tem como não se apaixonar de novo por eles. Escrita maravilhosa, estou muito ansiosa pra ler coisas novas dos eu bbs.
Que casal é esse!!! Meu Deus como amo esses dois, eu tava morrendo de sdds deles não tem como não se apaixonar de novo por eles. Escrita maravilhosa, estou muito ansiosa pra ler coisas novas dos eu bbs.
April 22, 2023
If you ever wanted to see who Mal and Seong-Jae would be as people if they weren't cops, this it the book for you. Sweet, soft, lovely, and sensual - this book is pure low-angst joy.
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