To make ends meet, Randall does erotic photography and massage—a secret he keeps from his family so he can remain a part of his young niece’s life. But the price of that relationship is high, and Randall is once more slipping under his family’s thumb.Noah Carroll is the spokesperson for the Seattle Humane Society, and the city holds a special place in his heart. When fate intervenes during a pet adoption, Noah finds himself face-to-face with his first love—Randall.While Noah and Randall are not the teenagers they once were, the flame of a first kiss long ago draws them together. Their romance is beginning to grow, but someone is out to destroy Randall and expose all he keeps hidden.When secrets and rumors thrust Randall into the public eye, his relationship with Noah isn’t the only thing that comes under threat.

    Almost as bad as the still-overwhelming grief is the advice he gets from everyone and their brother, telling him to move on with his life. They’re flat-out wrong. Brett left his country music career and escaped to his ranch because needs the peace and quiet. He doesn’t want anyone invading his memory-filled, booze-fueled solitude.JT Campbell’s world had been defined by his parents’ money and his own empty relationships, until he couldn’t live that way anymore. A quest to find something more meaningful leads him to Brett’s ranch. It’s supposed to be a brief stay. JT never wanted to be anyone’s savior or compete with the ghosts of lovers past. Still, he can’t help wanting this gruff, mourning man.JT knows it’s a bad idea, but his heart keeps pushing him to find out what lies beneath Brett’s battered exterior. Brett’s not going to make it easy, so JT can only be patient, keep his sense of humor, and hope one day he’ll be allowed far enough into Brett’s world to unbreak his heart.

    The police are convinced Michael drowned, but Jamie knows better. No way would Michael swim to his death, especially on a beach with a wicked rip tide. Finding a stranger in his brother’s cottage only deepens his misgivings. Felix Bergstrom is recently discharged from the British Army. Unable to put the past behind him, he takes an unhealthy interest in old acquaintance and millionaire businessman Karl Weston, hoping to catch him up to no good. Michael’s disappearance adds fuel to Felix’s suspicions. Weston’s clifftop home overlooks the beach where Michael supposedly walked into the sea, but Weston has an alibi for that day. When Jamie and Felix meet, the physical attraction is instant. Mistrust keeps them from acting on it until finally all their secrets are laid bare. But time isn’t on their side. Before they’re able to work out whether they have a future, danger catches up with them and threatens to put an end to everything.approx 60,000 words

    Faced with real passion for the first time, Logan becomes restless and agitated, and soon his life and his new manuscript—a work in progress he’d always thought would be completed—are in a shambles.But as Logan is learning, you can’t always get what you want… at least not right away. To take his mind off the mess, he takes a trip, but even the beautiful Italian, um, scenery can’t keep his thoughts from his erstwhile editor for long. Logan just might have to admit there are some things you can’t run from.

    When it's a story about two men falling in love, there's twice the attraction. We've chosen stories that run the gamut of M/M romantic fiction: from initial curiosity to the first blush of love, from awkward first times to finding fulfillment, and from heart-warming forever devotion to hot and sweaty sex. Think of it as a romance buffet: take a little bit, try a little dab, and find the flavor of M/M romance that satisfies you.Gambling Men by Amy LaneQuent is sure his admiration for his business partner Jace is only respect for Jace’s talent—until one night after hours when Jace gets shockingly close. These two tough-minded business men are used to playing their cards close to the vest. Will they be able to take a gamble on love?Bad News Brett by Sean KennedyAlthough opposites attract, it’s always good to take an interest in your other half’s passions. That’s why Brett finds himself in a batting cage when his only knowledge of baseball comes from Peanuts cartoons and a late-night rerun of The Bad News Bears. Luckily his partner Tex believes in a hands-on approach to working on Bret’s stance...Choices and Changes by S. BlaiseSelf-conscious about his weight, Brendan meets Seb, a moody loner, at the only empty table in the school cafeteria. The two outcasts become unlikely friends, until the day over summer vacation when Seb kisses Brendan—and then doesn’t return to school that fall. Over a decade later, the two meet again at a party and discover that despite appearances, some things haven’t changed since high school.Equinox by M. Jules Aedin and Anna J. LindenSince his parents kicked him out of the house when he told them he’s gay, Matthew has been making it just fine—and then the college dorms close for spring break. He’s got nowhere to go until his best friend Samantha invites him to come home with her... and Matthew isn’t prepared for his attraction to her drop-dead gorgeous, out-and-proud older brother Aaron. Now Matthew and Aaron only have one week to figure out how to balance their spring fling with the relationship they both want.We Are Stardust by M. Jules AedinRobin Danvers has been the perfect son and the model student and has never even tried to make it to second base with his girlfriend. But 1969 is a year for non-conformity, and when Robin’s parents forbid him to attend a hippie music festival in Woodstock, New York, he decides to hitchhike his way there. Picked up by a van full of free spirits, Robin meets Cat Ellis, who sets out to show Robin how it feels to be free.Spontaneous by Chrissy MunderCalling him boring and unpredictable, Michael’s ex-boyfriend leaves him with their vacation plans in shambles. Rather than sitting around moping, Michael decides to prove that he can do spontaneous as well as the next guy. Unfortunately, Michael’s spur-of-the-moment trip is going disastrously wrong—until he spies a hot construction worker from the bed and breakfast’s window. Suddenly, being spontaneous is easy when Eben provides the right incentive.The Meaning of Significant Digits by Ashlyn KaneMan-eater Alex Herrera and shy Dev Patel have been best friends since high school, so when Alex overhears a phone conversation that leads him to believe Dev is in love with straight, soon-to-be-married Elijah, he formulates an intensive twelve-step program to help Dev get over his hopeless attraction. But after only a few days, Alex realizes he’s a little too emotionally invested in the success of his plan. With Elijah’s wedding only a week away, can Alex convince Dev that what he’s looking for has been right in front of him all along?Mending the Break by Jaymz ConnellyTwo years is too long apart to mend a broken relationship—or is it? Quin is about to find out when he comes face-to-face with his former lover, Jai, for the first time since they split up. Quin has a badly broken leg, and when the masseuse assigned to his therapy goes home sick, Jai steps in to take her place. Can Quin overcome his fear of revealing just how much he needs Jai? Is Jai willing to take the chance that Quin won’t break his heart again? It will take concessions on both sides if they really want to mend the break.Road to Nowhere by Catt FordBig-city photographer Jim Folkner is going to publish a book of the most beautiful photos ever… until his car breaks down in a nowhere town in Wyoming. Meeting Barry Lancaster—a man he’d never given the time of day in college—and his uncles, Myrom and Dowling, teach Jim to look beyond the obvious and see that every road leads somewhere, as long as you like where it’s going.Snowman by Isabelle RowanEveryone finds a way to run away: some do it in seclusion, others in the arms of lovers. Caleb lives a quiet life in the Australian high country with only his dog and horses for company until an unexpected snowstorm strands a lost tourist at his cabin. Paul’s vacation plans called for drinking, fucking, and actively avoiding all outdoor recreation, not solitary confinement with a reclusive mountain man. But the storm will force both to reassess their lives—if only until the roads are clear.In His Eyes by Bethany BrownRyan Matthews’s ten-year-old son wants a trail ride for his birthday, so Ryan decides he’d better take some lessons. He’s instantly attracted to his instructor, Max Kincaid, but can’t believe the younger man would return the attraction. Max has had bad experiences with older men, but Ryan is making him rethink his caution. Being caught together in a sudden summer thunderstorm will give both men a chance to see themselves through each others’ eyes.Weak in the Knees by G.S. WileyBaker Spencer Howard and caterer Ray Bianchi are the best of friends, and although Spencer thinks Ray is gorgeous, he also knows he has no chance with him. Ray is as straight as they come—or at least Spencer thinks so until the day Ray kisses him. But love is harder to hold together than a crumbling birthday cake, and Spencer’s not sure they can even salvage their friendship.The Shirt by Amy LanePolar opposites Scotty and Ryan’s love-at-first-sight romance should never have worked—but it has. Now the two lovers are welcoming Ryan’s parents into town to meet the love of their son’s life… until Ryan encounters technical difficulties with the world’s most common object. Can Scotty and Ryan’s relationship survive the tangle caused by one woven, oxford blue, button-down shirt?The Neighbors by Janey ChapelWhen a gay couple moves into the neighborhood, a bird’s-eye view of their house and yard leads a woman to get to know her new neighbors in completely unexpected ways… and helps her learn a few things about herself at the same time.

    As a construction manager, he’s not interested in being out at work, but he’d like to find a boyfriend or at least some gay friends. Two years after his wife got all their friends in the divorce, he’s no closer to the life he wants.Zach, Luke’s adult son, takes charge and signs him up for the Rainbow Blues, a social group for gay blue-collar workers. At an event, he not only finds friends but meets Jimmy Alexander, part-time stage actor and full-time high school biology teacher. Jimmy loves the stage but wishes potential boyfriends weren’t so jealous of the time he devotes to it. When he meets Luke and finds him accepting of his many facets, he thinks it’s a dream come true.Their relationship quickly moves into serious territory, but their connection is tested to its breaking point by the offer of a juicy movie role that takes Jimmy to the opposite coast and into the path of a very sexy costar.

    Kyle Braden has nowhere else to go. With no money and no prospects, he turns to the only man who promises him help. Jack Campbell-Hayes wants to show Kyle that he can be more than he ever thought.Kyle begins to see how far he’s come from being the scarred man who shut everyone out, when the first person through the doors of Legacy Ranch is Jason; a young man with nightmares that follow him when he's awake. Lost in the system and with three years on the streets marking every inch of his body, Jason Smith is scared. His life is an evil mess of hate and despair, and even the offer of a fresh start and a clean bed isn’t enough for him feel safe. Until Kyle comes into his life and shows him that it's okay not to be in control.For these broken men, Legacy Ranch offers more than a place to live and work.It offers hope.A new story set in the world of Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes and the Double D Ranch, Texas.

    The willingness to sacrifice any social life in favor of hard work and long hours. 2. The knowledge that taking the right risks always pays off. 3. The desire to see pride overflowing in my grandfather’s eyes. After his death, I doubled down, throwing everything I had into work, but there’s only so long I can ignore the promise I made years ago. Rush: Being a Marine was exciting, intense, and I loved every second. But after years of service, I traded it all for a quiet life back in my small hometown. When my parents announce they’ve sold their vineyard on a whim, I’m blindsided. And when I find out who bought it, I’m furious. The last person who should be inheriting my parents’ legacy is a spoiled rich boy who doesn’t know the first thing about growing grapes. But maybe first impressions are wrong. Maybe quiet and uncomplicated aren’t everything they’re cracked up to be. And maybe some risks are worth taking after all.

    They look like best friends, but is there something more between them? Maybe one of them is head over heels and the other one a bit clueless? They would make such a cute couple :)Photo Description: In the photograph, two young men sit closely together. One is smoking, while the other appears to be talking. Their close proximity to one another suggests friendship and intimacy. Behind them, the surroundings look bleak and drab.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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. This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

    That secret led him to develop his professional alter-ego, a sensual, androgynous dancer. When Dare begins his second (and considerably more wholesome) job playing clarinet in a polka band, he meets a young man who takes his grandmother out dancing. But Dare knows the man has his own secret. Jonah Day immediately recognizes the clarinetist. Three years earlier they crossed paths in a therapist's office, but they both abandoned that route to mental health. Neither was ready then to open up about the psychological traumas that haunted them. In an attempt to heal their wounds, Dare and Jonah turn to each other. Understanding and empathy come instantly, accompanied by ambivalence about their growing attraction. But the repercussions of victimization are many. Soon, the very experiences Dare and Jonah share threaten to drive them apart.

    One is a lawyer with his own firm and dreams of money and power; the other is a criminal with a lengthy record and a quest for vengeance. When they meet, sparks fly. But was their meeting an accident? Or, was it planned by the billionaires who want to control their destiny? The Love of Wicked Men is an erotic journey into the underbelly of the legal profession, the corporate culture of profit-at-any-cost, and the secret world of industrial espionage. IN THIS EPISODE: Sid Rivers has been very successful at helping his smaller corporate clients silence their critics and retain their profits. His success has caught the attention of a trillion dollar industry, and now Sid thinks he is about to realize a dream he’s held since childhood –unlimited wealth and unlimited power. Jack Brown stops in and robs the local Shop-n-Go and nicks Sid with his knife. He sets into motion a plan of revenge that has been smoldering within him for years. But his plan requires he get close to the same man who has become the representative of his enemies.

    Instead, his overprotective corporate CEO mother demands that he stay in New York City and help her evaluate the benefits of a potential merger. Jordy agrees, but resents to constant presence of his mother's spy, her administrative assistant, Ken. Until one night he sends Ken out on an errand and discovers a sketch of the two of them together that throws his life into a tailspin. After suffering through traumatic childhood events, Jordy believed he'd never be able to get close to anyone, especially a man, but he can't stop thinking about the drawing and Ken. Ken thinks that Jordy is out of his league and he has family responsibilities that mean he can't risk his job by pursuing his boss' son, but neither can he deny his attraction. Jordy and Ken have to decide if there are too many obstacles between them or if they can somehow create a merger of equals.STORY INFO:Genre: contemporaryTags: businessmen/lawyers, sweet no sex, abduction/kidnapping, hurt/comfort, coming outContent Notice: off-page deaths of background characters, off-page child abduction, discussion of past child abuse; discussion of past sexual abuseWord count: 23,435Author's note: This story has a Happy For Now ending, but it's only the beginning. Unfortunately, when the boys' tale took on a life of it's own and grew much more complicated than I ever anticipated, I was unable to write out the whole story due to the LHNB event deadline and other simultaneous obligations. I am, however, planning a follow up that will tie up all loose ends and will hopefully be available in the first quarter of 2014.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.

    He’s already been laid off from his job, compelled to sell his motorcycle, and now faces eviction from his apartment. Things can hardly get worse. Now, forced to work a low-paying job at a car wash and barely surviving, Kevin is too embarrassed to even tell his friends. Hotshot lawyer, Michael Bennett, comes into the car wash to have his Maserati cleaned. Kevin knows Michael well. When Kevin was fifteen, an openly gay twenty-one-year-old Michael was Kevin’s dream. But when the teenaged Kevin made his move, Michael rejected the young man. Nine years have passed and Michael is surprised how attracted he is to Kevin. He soon takes him out, then takes him home. This time the beautiful man is not too young. When he learns of Kevin’s situation, a smitten Michael makes it his job to clean up the disaster that Kevin’s life has become. But his take-charge, bossy way irritates a sensitive Kevin, who starts a fight, ending in the breakup of their budding relationship. A breakup neither of them really wanted. Can they repair their fractured relationship or will their differences and hurt feelings keep them apart for good?

    Or, at least since the first day of kindergarten, when he stole my Lego's, then shared his cookies with me when he realized he'd made me cry.He was my best friend. The first person I came out to. My entire support system in high school when no one would come near me for feel of catching "gay cooties" or AIDS.He's the guy I gave my virginity to. The guy who taught me to fuck. The guy who taught me to be safe. He doesn't know it, but he's also the guy who taught me to make love.I'm the guy he goes home with when there's no better prospect at the club.It was never supposed to be serious. I knew that, I even wanted that. I'm the one who broke the rules.So, dear author, how do I watch him go home night after night with the pretty boy - or man - du jour, when all I want is for him to come home with ME, and to stay?Photo Description: Two young men lie in a tangle of white sheets. The nearer man is asleep facing us, arms wrapped around his pillow. Behind him, his lover watches him, lean naked body braced up on one elbow, his dark eyes fixed on his lover's still form, his mouth just slightly curved up in affection.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Hot Summer Days" 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.Read the story here or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 4.__________Genre: Tags: gay m/m, Word Count:

    Battling nightmares and addiction, he leaves the concrete jungle for New Mexico horse country, hoping to start over on his uncle’s ranch.Foreman Eli Kelly spends his life rehabilitating abused animals, and Joshua is just another lost soul. But as Joshua slowly begins to put his life back together, Eli realizes that Joshua is a lot more than his newest project.Joshua’s plan seems to work—maybe a fresh start was just what he needed. Then, just when he has finally found a sense of peace, crime and hatred nearly destroy all his hard work. forcing him to reevaluate what he wants out his relationship with Eli and his own life.