LS Phoenix's Blog, page 21

When Competition Turns Into Chemistry—Writing the Shift

There’s nothing quite like watching two characters try to outwit each other—until the teasing turns into tension and suddenly they’re not just playing to win. They’re circling something deeper.

When a story starts with rivalry, banter, or a bet, it creates a natural push-pull dynamic. But writing the moment where things begin to shift—where the competition becomes attraction—takes a careful hand.

Here’s how to make that transition land hard:

1. Raise the Stakes With Personal Vulnerability

Your characters might start out teasing or challenging each other, but the moment chemistry creeps in is usually when something personal slips through. A crack in the armor. A glimpse of something real. Let them see each other—really see—and suddenly, it’s not just a game anymore.

2. Let the Physical Reactions Betray Them First

Their bodies will almost always give it away before their words do. A glance that lingers. A touch that shouldn’t mean anything—but does. Keep the dialogue sharp, but let those moments land in the silences in between.

3. Make the Shift Feel Uncomfortable (At First)

If they started off as rivals, friends, or cocky challengers, attraction is going to feel like a betrayal—of the bet, the friendship, or their own sense of control. That inner panic? That confusion? Lean into it. That’s what makes it satisfying to watch them unravel.

4. Don’t Rush the Payoff

The buildup is half the fun. Let the tension stew. Let them fight it. Let them lose a little control before they finally give in. Readers want that delicious delay, the moment they cross a line and everything changes.

That’s the magic of competition-turned-chemistry—it’s not about who wins or loses the game. It’s about who stops playing first.

The Best Wagers-Turned-Love Stories in Romance

There’s something irresistible about a romance that starts with a bet. You know it’s going to backfire—in the best way—and that moment when pride turns to pining? Pure gold.

If you love the I bet you won’t… setup that spirals into spicy, emotional chaos, here are some favorites that nailed the trope:

💥 The Dare by Elle Kennedy

College rivals. A fake dating bet that turns way too real. Sassy banter, slow burn, and all the heat you want from a Briar U story.

🎯 Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

An old-school classic. He bets he can get her to go out with him. She finds out. Chaos ensues. Sharp, funny, and full of heart.

🔥 The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Technically a favor-turned-deal, but the energy fits. Fake dating with real chemistry and one of the most lovable MMCs in new adult romance.

🧨 The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken

A love triangle with history, family drama, and a high-stakes wager that complicates everything. It’s messy, addictive, and full of angst.

👀 To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise

Childhood crush + fake relationship in the public eye. The “let’s pretend” starts out playful and unravels into something so much deeper.

How to Write a Romance That Starts With a Bet or a Dare

There’s something electric about a romance that begins with a bet.

Maybe it’s the tension. The challenge. The fact that one—or both—characters think they’re in control, only to realize too late that they’ve walked straight into the one thing they swore they didn’t want: feelings.

Romances that start with a wager or dare are goldmines for chemistry. You’ve got built-in conflict, the perfect excuse for characters to spend time together, and a ticking clock of “how long can they pretend this doesn’t mean more?” But the key to writing one that hooks readers isn’t just the setup—it’s what you do with it.

Here’s how to make it work:

1. Start With a Bet That Actually Means Something

The most compelling bets aren’t random—they’re rooted in personality, pride, or fear. A cocky hero who’s never lost a game. A heroine tired of being overlooked. A friendship built on teasing that’s been skimming the edge of something more.

Maybe one swears they’d never fall for the other. Maybe there’s a dare to kiss, to flirt, to fake-date. Whatever it is, let the bet reflect deeper emotional stakes. It should matter when things start to spiral.

2. Use the Bet to Force Proximity (and Tension)

Bets work best when they trap your characters in close quarters. Set rules they can’t easily escape—weekly check-ins, shared tasks, a fake dating scenario with real consequences. The more they’re stuck together, the harder it gets to ignore what’s bubbling underneath.

And don’t let them off the hook too fast. Let the tension simmer. Make the reader feel the heat of every almost-touch, every line they shouldn’t cross but do anyway.

3. Give Them a Moment Where Everything Shifts

There’s always a turning point—that one moment when the game stops feeling like a game. Maybe it’s jealousy. Maybe it’s a kiss that lingers too long. Maybe they start looking at each other differently, wondering if they ever really meant it to be fake.

Whatever it is, lean into it. Let it be messy. Let it rattle them. That shift is what makes this trope so addictive.

4. Make Them Fight the Fallout

Someone always panics. Someone always pulls away. That’s the fallout of a backfired bet—when one character realizes they’ve gone too far, and the other has to decide if they were playing too or if they’re all in. This moment is key to making the emotional payoff satisfying.

Don’t be afraid to let your characters mess up here. That raw vulnerability is what makes the resolution so worth it.

5. Stick the Landing With Real Feelings

By the end, the bet should feel like a catalyst, not the point. What matters is how far they’ve come—how much they’ve risked, how much they’ve changed. The best payoff is when both characters realize that somewhere along the line, they stopped pretending.

It was never about the bet. It was about them.

Bottom line:

If you’re looking for a way to mix banter, tension, and high emotional stakes, start with a bet. Just make sure you’re ready to let your characters lose it—because that’s when the story really starts to win.

Want Early Access to my MM romance? Here’s How to Become a Beta or ARC Reader

If you’ve been following along this week and thinking, “I need this book in my life,” good news—you can get it early

I’m officially looking for beta readers and ARC readers for my upcoming MM romance, and if you’re into angsty tension, forbidden chemistry, and emotional slow burns… I want you.

➡️ Apply here: https://linktr.ee/authorlsphoenix

What’s the difference?

Beta readers read the book before final edits. You’ll get a rawer version and can give feedback on pacing, character reactions, and anything that made you pause.

ARC readers get the finished book ahead of release (could still have errors, I am human 😉). In exchange, I just ask that you leave a review when the book goes live!

What’s in it for you?

• Early access to a great MM romance story

• The chance to help shape the final version before it hits shelves

• The possibility of falling for one or both of them!

You don’t need a blog or big following to apply, just love MM romance and be down to read spicy MM scenes. Easy, right?

Small Semi Spicy Teaser:

I wake with a start, the sunlight streaming through the blinds and my body a tense, heated mess.

 

The dream. Theo. The way he looked at me, touched me. The way I wanted him.

 

I groan, running a hand over my face. My body aches with need, the lingering haze of the dream refusing to fade. There’s no way I can go about my day like this, not when every inch of me is still buzzing with leftover need .

Let’s do this. 💙

Behind the Scenes: What It’s Like to Write an MM Romance

Writing MM romance is a whole different kind of magic.

There’s nuance in the dynamic. Complexity in the emotional layers. And so much chemistry just waiting to bubble over. For me, writing MM isn’t about checking a box—it’s about diving into the raw, real mess of falling in love when everything says you shouldn’t.

I write in dual POV, so I get to be fully inside both characters’ heads. That means I’m not just writing the tension, I’m feeling it. Every brush of fingers, every unspoken glance, every moment where one wants to speak but can’t. It’s that internal struggle—should I want this, do I deserve it, what happens if I say yes—that makes MM romance so addictive to write (and hopefully to read, too).

It’s not about writing two guys the same way. Masculinity looks different on everyone. Vulnerability hits harder when it’s hidden under control. And when a character who never lets anyone in finally breaks for one person? That’s the kind of moment I live for.

This book has all of that—grit, heat, heart—and getting to write these characters has pushed me in the best way. I can’t wait for you to meet them.

Only Mine - Short Story

They’ve been apart for days, and Memphis is trying to play it cool. But when someone flirts with Theo, all bets are off. He’s done pretending, and Theo’s about to find out exactly who he belongs to.

Only Mine

Memphis

I don’t really fit in here.

Everything’s a little too polished, a little too loud. The kind of place where people come to be seen, not to connect. Not really my scene.

But Theo? He fits like he owns the damn place.

I don’t really fit in here.

Everything’s a little too polished, a little too loud. The kind of place where people who want to stand out come, that’s not my scene.

But Theo? He fits like he owns the damn place.

And tonight? He’s on fire.

He hasn’t even made it halfway to me before some guy intercepts him near the bar. Tall, trendy, the kind of guy who wears rings and makes them look intentional. He touches Theo’s arm when he says something, and Theo doesn’t pull away. Just laughs, leans in closer, and keeps talking.

My beer bottle is sweating in my grip.

I tell myself I’m not the jealous type. That Theo can talk to whoever he wants. That I’m not his boyfriend. Not officially. Not yet.

But then Theo tilts his head and smiles, that smile, and I feel it. That punch to the ribs. Sharp. Irrational. Possessive.

Because that smile?

That smile is mine.

I shift on my stool, forcing my shoulders to relax before I do something stupid, like stalk over there and ruin everyone’s night. Instead, I pretend to check my phone, even though there’s nothing on it. Nothing but our texts from earlier.

Theo: Don’t ghost me tonight, grump. Meet me at 9.

Theo:I missed your face.

Me: You always miss my face. That’s because you talk to too many people and forget what it looks like.

Theo: Ouch. That jealousy showing, babe?

I didn’t answer that one. I didn’t have to. He knows.

He doesn’t see me right away.

He’s too busy lighting up the damn room, letting that guy at the bar get a little too close. Theo laughs at something the guy says, tips his head back just enough for his throat to show. I know what that means. I’ve seen that look.

My grip tightens on the bottle again.

I tell myself it’s fine. I tell myself I don’t care. That this is just who Theo is, social, flirtatious, friendly to a fault. But the guy’s still standing too close. And Theo’s not stepping back.

I set the bottle down before I crack it in my hand.

Finally, his eyes find me.

He lights up all over again. That blinding, boyish grin aimed straight at me. Like I’m the only one in the place who matters. And for a second, I forget the last ten minutes. Forget the guy. Forget everything but the way Theo weaves through the crowd like he’s chasing me with purpose.

Theo reaches me with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. “You’ve been hiding back here?” he grins, sliding into the seat beside me. His arm brushes mine, and he doesn’t move it.

“I’ve been here,” I murmur, watching him. “You were just busy.”

His smile flickers. Only for a second. But I see it.

“Are you jealous?” he teases, nudging my knee under the table.

I don’t answer. I just take a slow sip of my beer and look back at the guy still standing at the bar, clearly watching us now.

Theo follows my gaze. “You mean Corey?”

“Is that his name?” I ask, still not looking at him.

“He’s in marketing,” Theo says casually. “Apparently, he likes my shirt.”

I glance at Theo. “He likes more than your shirt.”

Theo huffs a laugh and leans in close, his voice low and too damn smooth. “You know you don’t have to mark your territory, right? I already know who I’m going home with.”

“Do you?” I ask quietly.

That gets him. His smile fades into something softer, more serious. He studies me for a beat, like he’s trying to read between lines I haven’t drawn yet.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod. It’s a lie, but it’s the only answer I’ve got right now.

“Come on,” he says, grabbing my arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

I don’t argue.

Not when every part of me is itching to make sure no one forgets who Theo belongs to.

……

We barely make it through Theo’s front door before I’ve got him pressed against it.

His keys hit the floor with a soft jingle, but neither of us moves to pick them up. His back hits the wood. My hands land on his waist. And his mouth is right there, parted, surprised, waiting.

“Shit,” he whispers, fingers digging into my arms. “You missed me that much?”

I stare at him, my voice rough. “You have no idea.”

Theo’s lips curve, but he doesn’t say anything else. He doesn’t have to. He just grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me in like he’s been waiting all damn week for this.

I kiss him hard.

There’s nothing slow about it. Nothing sweet. It’s all pressure and teeth and frustration that’s been boiling under my skin since the second I walked into that bar and saw him smiling at someone else.

He groans into my mouth, hands sliding under my shirt, nails dragging lightly down my back. “Missed this,” he mumbles. “Missed you.”

I bite his bottom lip and pull back just enough to speak. “Then stop letting guys put their hands on you.”

His eyes snap open.

“You think I let him?” he says, voice low, rough.

“I think you didn’t stop him.”

Theo licks his lips like he’s trying to keep calm. “I’m not interested in anyone else, Memphis. You have to know that.”

“Do I?” I slide my hands to his jaw, tilting his head so he has to look at me. “Because watching someone else touch you? Laugh with you? Like he thinks he might get lucky enough to go home with you? Seeing that drove me fucking insane.”

His chest rises against mine, and I feel every inch of him. “I didn’t realize you were the possessive type.”

“Neither did I,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper. “But I’m not sharing you.”

Theo blinks slowly, and something shifts in his expression. Like maybe he didn’t know how badly I wanted him, until now.

“Say it again,” he breathes.

I press my forehead to his and repeat, “You’re mine.”

His breath stutters, and the look in his eyes says he felt every word. “I sure as hell am.”

I don’t give him time to say anything else.

I spin him toward the bedroom, hands already tugging at his shirt as we stumble down the hall. He laughs, breathless and off-balance, until I shove him against the wall just outside the door.

“You think I’m kidding,” I say, voice low, chest pressed to his.

Theo shakes his head, eyes dark now. “No. I think you’re finally letting me see you. The real you.”

I kiss him again, hard, filthy, with every ounce of frustration and want I’ve held back this week. He opens for me, moaning when my hand slides under his waistband and cups him through his jeans.

“Memphis…fuck—”

“Mine,” I growl against his throat. “Say it.”

He arches against me, grinding shamelessly. “Yours.”

I squeeze, just enough to make him gasp. “Again.”

“Yours,” he pants, tilting his head to bare more of his neck. “I’m yours, baby, you know that.”

I drag him into the bedroom and push him onto the bed. Clothes come off fast, rough, our hands everywhere. I don’t take my time. I don’t tease. I claim him.

Every kiss, every thrust, every command, I make sure he feels it.

“Look at me,” I snap when he tries to close his eyes. “You don’t get to look away from me when I’m reminding you who you belong to.”

He swears, loud, clinging to me like he might fall apart if I move.

“You’re not just something I want,” I grit out, hips snapping into his. “You’re the one person I can’t fucking stop thinking about. And I won’t share you, Theo. Not ever.”

He pulls me down into a kiss so deep it steals the last of the air between us. “Then don’t,” he whispers against my lips. “I don’t want you to.”

We fall onto the bed, fully naked now and breathless, his mouth on mine, his thighs parting without hesitation.

Theo reaches for the nightstand blindly, fingers closing around the lube like he’s done it a hundred times before. I take it from him, biting at his jaw as I slick my fingers and push one inside him without warning.

He gasps, legs jerking, but he doesn’t pull away. “Shit, Memphis—”

“Yeah?” I rasp, leaning in close as I work him open. “You like that?”

“Fuck yes,” he groans, gripping the sheets. “More.”

I give him more.

Another finger. Then a third. I don’t tease. I don’t play. I get him ready with sharp breaths and greedy hands, watching every twitch of his muscles and every sound that slips from his lips.

“Need to feel you,” he pants, already half gone. “I can’t wait, please—”

I pull my fingers from him, slow and careful, and drag my hand down his thigh as he whimpers at the loss. My chest heaves as I reach for the condom, sliding it on with shaky hands, slicking myself up while he watches me with blown pupils and parted lips.

I hook his leg over my arm, nudging closer, until the head of my cock presses right where he needs me most.

“Breathe,” I murmur, holding his gaze.

Then I push in, one slow, brutal stretch that knocks the air out of both of us.

His back arches. His mouth falls open. And for a second, I forget how to breathe.

“Fuck, Theo…” I growl, gripping his hips like a lifeline. “You feel so good.”

He’s tight, hot, perfect around me. And the way he grips me? It’s possessive in its own right. Like his body wants to remind me that I belong here just as much as he does to me.

I start to move, deep, hard thrusts that make his fingers claw at the mattress.

“You missed this?” I grind out, dragging his leg higher around my waist.

He nods wildly, moaning through every stroke. “Missed you. Missed this. Fuck, Memphis, don’t stop.”

I won’t.

I can’t.

Every sound he makes, every way he clings to me, it feeds something hungry and wild inside me. The part that needs to show him he’s not just a want, but a need.

“Look at me,” I snap when his head tips back. “Eyes on me when you come.”

His gaze locks on mine, wide and desperate and so damn full of everything I’m feeling.

“I’ve got you,” I promise, my voice breaking right along with the rest of me. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He shatters first, loud and shaking, back arched, crying out my name like it’s the only word he knows. His cum landing on both of us. And I follow, buried deep, pulse thundering as the last of the tension breaks inside me.

We collapse, slick and tangled and raw, every inch of us still pressed together.

And for the first time in days, I feel whole again.

The End

Want more of Theo and Memphis? Swipe, Chat, Repeat will be out this August. Want to read it before it’s published? SIgn up here to be a Beta reader or an ARC reader: https://linktr.ee/authorlsphoenix

Copyright © by LS Phoenix

No portion of this story may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Published by LS Phoenix

New Hampshire, USA

https://linktr.ee/authorlsphoenix

First Edition: March 2025

Cover Design by LS Phoenix

My Favorite MM Romance Tropes (and How I’m Putting a Twist on Them)

Tropes exist for a reason—they work. And when it comes to MM romance, the right trope with the right tension? Chef’s kiss.

Here are a few of my personal favorites (and yes, they’re woven into my current book in one way or another):

✨ Friends-to-Lovers

There’s just something about that shift. One moment they’re joking around like usual, the next there’s silence… thick, loaded, and laced with what ifs. It’s emotional, it’s intense, and it never fails to wreck me in the best way.

✨ Forbidden/Off-Limits

Whether it’s a best friend’s brother, a fellow officer, or someone from the past, I love when there are real consequences for giving in. That push-pull between I want you and I shouldn’t creates so much delicious tension.

✨Hurt/Comfort

One character is strong until they’re not. The other steps in, unexpectedly soft, and everything changes. Vulnerability in MM romance is powerful—and it makes the connection that much deeper.

✨Only One Bed

Classic? Yes. Overdone? Never. It forces physical closeness when they’re still emotionally guarded, and it always leads to tension you can cut with a knife.

Of course, I like to twist things a little. Flip expectations. Let the quieter one be the dominant one. Let the tough guy be the one who falls first. Because in the end, tropes are just the starting point. It’s how you write them that makes readers fall in love.

And trust me… I’m writing them to make you fall hard.

The Allure of Forbidden & Unspoken: Why We Love Slow Burn in MM Romance

There’s nothing quite like watching two characters fall for each other when they know they shouldn’t.

Maybe it’s forbidden. Maybe it’s complicated. Maybe it’s both. But the slow burn? That aching, barely-there tension that builds with every lingering glance, every near-touch, every unspoken word? That’s the good stuff. That’s the kind of tension that keeps readers turning pages at 2AM.

In MM romance, slow burns hit even harder. There’s often more at stake—family expectations, past trauma, fear of rejection, fear of being seen. So when those feelings finally break through the surface, when one of them finally makes the first move? It’s explosive. And earned.

I love writing slow burn because it gives me time to peel back the layers. To let my characters mess up. To show every conflicted thought, every quiet look that says I want you even when the words don’t come.

If you love that drawn-out anticipation—the tension that simmers before it finally ignites—you’re in the right place.

Because in this book, when it finally breaks?

It burns.

Why MM Romance Deserves the Spotlight

There’s something undeniably powerful about a love story that refuses to play by the rules. For me, that’s what MM romance is all about. Two men navigating chemistry, vulnerability, and identity in a world that doesn’t always make it easy? That kind of tension, that kind of heart, it hits different.

I didn’t start writing my MM romance just to add another story to the shelves. I did it because I love digging into the raw emotion, the tension between strength and softness, the way these characters challenge each other and themselves. And of course because Theo stole my heart in book one of The Perfect Match duet. MM romance also has this layered depth that pulls me in as a writer and doesn’t let go.

And here’s the thing: MM romance isn’t just about sexuality. It’s about connection. It’s about two people who happen to be men, falling hard, breaking down walls, and learning what love actually means for them. No performance. No expectation. Just emotion, chemistry, and that slow-burn (or not-so-slow) fire that catches the moment they let their guards down.

Whether it’s a gritty enemies-to-lovers story or a soft, angsty friends-to-lovers journey, MM romance deserves the same spotlight every other genre gets. It’s messy, real, sexy, and so damn satisfying when it’s done right.

So if you’ve ever hesitated to dive into an MM book, or if you’re already addicted like I am, just know: the best love stories don’t need to follow tradition. They just need to make you feel something.

Interested in beta reading or ARC reading my MM book, Swipe Chat, Repeat, you can sign up here - https://linktr.ee/authorlsphoenix

How to Write That Moment When He Finally Breaks the Rules

 

He’s resisted for as long as he could.

He’s told himself it’s wrong, that she’s off-limits.

And then… he breaks.

That moment—when the tension that’s been simmering finally snaps—is everything. It’s the second the hero stops fighting himself, stops caring about the rules, and just takes what he wants.

So what makes that moment unforgettable?

🔥 A slow, inevitable build-up. It has to simmer before it can explode.

🔥 A breaking point. One look. One touch. One moment where he just can’t stop himself.

🔥 Hunger in the way he touches her. Rougher hands. Desperate kisses. A muttered “Tell me to stop” when he knows damn well she won’t.

🔥 The realization that there’s no going back. He knows he’s ruined. She knows it too.

There’s nothing more satisfying than a hero who finally snaps—because when he does, it’s not just about lust. It’s about everything he’s been holding back.

😏 What’s your favorite “he finally snaps” scene in romance?