Desert Rain

by Victoria Zagar

Dear Author,
That look he’s giving me is making it so hard to leave, but I have no choice. My fingers on his chin right now is the most intimately I have ever touched him. I wonder what he would do if I kissed him? Would it be fair to him?
Help!


Photo Description:
A red-haired man in an Army National Guard uniform touches his friend’s face tenderly. They both look agonized by the touch. There is a spark in their eyes that speaks of forbidden love and desire.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" 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.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Short Stories, Military Fiction, LGBT

30 pages, ebook

First published June 7, 2013

About the author

This author account is largely defunct as I have transitioned gender and no longer wish to keep this name. Some titles may remain under this name, but this profile will not be updated and no new titles will be released under this name.

In addition, the website Infinite Love has closed.

See Reis Asher for my new titles.

Reviews

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet friends to lovers story. That ends happily, but not perfectly, which actually seems pretty realistic.



I was surprised that Kevin and Nadir lived in the same town for years and Kevin didn't know he was back home? they never ran into each other or saw someone that mentioned Nadir to him? Or the rumor mill didn't wind it's way back to him..
But that's no biggie..
I was happy that Nadir's mother actually took the news pretty well, my only thought was why don't they move? Kevin doesn't have a job and Nadir doesn't have a great one with a lot of prospects. Add to that Kevin has no family and Nadir only has his mother...I don't see why they have to stay there with the threat of the community hanging over Nadir.
I would have loved a small peek at the future, maybe a few years down the road seeing them living and loving somewhere happily.

[Meep · Rating 1 out of 5]

tell you're commander you're gay, he'll have to dismiss you.
Kevin is all oh, ok then, it feels immature. Kevin throwing away a lot of trainning without much thought and no future plans.

Then the paraphrased 'my son is sensitive and will never come out'
I'm not sure such casual accetance in a traditional/religous family is believable and more than that Kevin's life seems disposable so he can become Nadir's shadow. There's no question of what Kevin wants.

Why can't they just move away together?

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, sweet story of good friends who finally admit their love for one another, even though cultural differences should make it impossible for them to be together. Lovely story, highly recommended for M/M romance fans.

[m. ✨ On Hiatus ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet friends-to-lovers story.

Everything wrapped up very well at the end, but I wonder why Nadir and Kevin couldn't just move away instead of remaining in their hometown and hiding their relationship? Maybe Nadir remaining at home is a cultural thing I'm not aware of, but it seems like it would be easier to just move and be happy together without the constant threat of people from the mosque knowing about, and looking down upon, their relationship.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars It was ok, parts were sweet, just felt unrealistic in that they go from not having seen each other for years to "I love you forever" yet they can't be together publicly. As well, If Kevin get a dishonourable discharge for being gay, won't it be suspicious if they are just "roommates" for years?

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

LHNB story released 7.6.13

Sweet story of best friends, one a newly signed up national guard the other an Iraqi refugee, set when in 2004 with flashbacks to previous events in the 2 MC's lives, as they admit what they feel for each other before one is supposed to be deployed to Iraq

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the story is very promising though it lacks in the delivery. Conversations feel scripted most of the time. The story doesn't have good flow as actions and events feel awkward; and not really because of the flashback. But still, the ending is quite good. More words to give emotions to the MCs would be perfect.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was sweet and I'm glad that Kevin and Nadir got their HEA! A few plot points kinda stuck out and bugged me, but others have already mentioned them. Still, I liked mixing the past with the present and liked the jumps.

[Anke]

Difficult writing style - it was like reading fragments. The end was rather HFN as I don't think that both will be happy with their life in the long run.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just meh.

[Sandra]

Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love Has No Boundaries event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet friends to lovers story. Thank you Victoria Zagar for donating your story, your time and your talent.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 * Very sweet, maybe even a bit too much and some unrealistic parts which have been mentioned in the spoilers of other reviewers already.

[Carole-Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very good story, but I got a little confused with the time changes (then, now, other then now....)

My fault for not adapting; but I found it slightly off-putting. Still a good story though!

[Jyanx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something about this story didn't seem quite believable to me, and the characters seemed more like types than real people. Not bad, but a little cookie cutter.

[Melanie~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really think I need to re-read this one. I remember feeling a bit confused by the chapters and dates and locations.

Thank you for the story.

[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation.]

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

[Lila Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5. Great idea, but it needed a better development.