Afflicted Quotes

“This was to be man sex.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“A long time ago he believed that he was above the men chasing him; capitulating to their secret desires and dark fears was what he did to survive, nothing more and nothing less. But now he understood that all that reasoning was nothing more than a self-assessing loop which he had used as a survival mechanism. It had run constantly but never actually went anywhere; like a rat on a flywheel, all action, no forward motion.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“Hunter turned and kissed Dillon deeply before he rinsed off. He had never wished for his sight before, but he would have given anything at that moment to be able to turn and witness the beauty of the man that had just made love to him. He'd literally felt the change in Dillon's grip as he made love.

The very first time they were together, Dillon's hold was uncertain, a tentative embrace that held no absolutes, no dreams, but just now it was different; it was a grip that sat right on the edge of possession, a possession Hunter would willingly give, if asked.

But would Dillon ask, and would he be able to accept?”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“They had talked about doing audio man on man fiction at one time, but they realized that neither of them would be able to create a complete CD without running home to masturbate every hour or two.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“Loving someone gives you courage; being loved back gives you strength.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“He knew what it was like to lose a parental anchor in life.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“Shu-shu nodded and waved him to silence. He smiled as he wiggled his index finger at Dillon with a playful grin. “I knew what it was when I saw you.” “How?” Dillon asked skeptically. Shu-shu gestured at the air around him. “It surrounds you, in your face, your eyes, and your stance. Loving someone gives you courage; being loved back gives you strength. I see both. It is nice to see it on you, finally.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“His feelings for Hunter kept falling down on him like an inescapable rain. He kept getting drenched, not sure if he wanted to dance in it or pop open an umbrella and run for cover. “You’re such an idiot,” he told himself quietly.”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted

“(...)"He said we all have this different idea of what love is and that's what makes our circle. The more ideas and misconceptions you throw in, the larger the diameter and the harder it is to connect with someone. We," he said, squeezing Hunter's hand and signaling Margie and everyone around them, "all sit around the edge looking at everyone else around the circle. Sometimes we just settle for the person next to us because it's easy or convenient and we skip our way around its circumference, never really knowing what love is all about."

He took a sip of his Coke and kept his eyes on Margie. "But other times, you see that person across from you, staring back at you, and you fight like hell trying to get across while he does the same. If you're lucky, there's a rope you can toss over and help draw each other in, never looking away, never worrying about those still on the circumference; just you and him, pulling each other in, deeper and deeper."”
― Brandon Shire, Afflicted