He’s looking out from a window somewhere in heaven. He’s alone and miserable, because he did the unthinkable and gave in to the advances of another angel. The two angels fell in love with each other, and that was when things went wrong.His lover got punished; he was tossed out of heaven, because even though sometimes an angel can give their wings when they fall in love with a human, it can’t happen with other angels. Those are the rules in heaven.The angel in the picture wonders, if it would be worth to ask for a permission to go down to look for his love, because all his lover’s memories would have been wiped when he was de-winged.The worst part? Once an angel asks to go down to live as a human, there’s no way he can ever return to heaven, not until he dies. He may keep his memories, but what would he do if he couldn’t find his lover or if the lover wouldn’t want him in his new life.And my dear author, please don’t make this in any way about God, Christianity, or religion in general, because I’m agnostic and I can’t deal with that stuff. Sorry. :)Photo Description: Half in shadow, the dark-haired angel gazes intently up and away. Sunlight catches the fine cut of his naked muscled chest, the tattooed stars on his hip, the thorny design on his shoulder. Shadows lie on the soft white feathers of his wings, as he slides his white pants open.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 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.__________Genre: paranormal romanceTags: gay m/m, light D/S, angels, angst, love, drama, light BDSMWord Count: 19,345

    And now he's here. The first night, my brother ignored him, but he keeps showing up. First it was with a guitar and a love song, but the neighbors hated that and had their dogs chase him down the streets. The second night, he just stood under the windows looking pitiful while holding a bouquet of roses. For tonight...well, I see him trying to climb up the fire escape to my brother's room. To be fair, I did ask him if he wanted to just go up the stairs like any normal person while my brother is still out, but he said that this was just one of love's trials and he would find a way himself. Crazy person. And how did he know where we live anyway?Should I call the police or let this be and watch how it unfolds? I mean, this could be a crazy killer instead of an obsessive lover, not that either seem to be very good options.Photo Description: The grey 3-piece suit is impeccable, set off by white shirt, dark tie, and leather driving gloves held in elegant hands. The man is equally fine, slender, with a long narrow face, hooded dark eyes and styled black hair. He leans against a stucco wall, gloves in hand. There is a slight quirk to his full lips.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 3.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, geeks-nerds, rom-com, humorous, earworm, x with a heart of goldWord Count: 18,650

    Any chance you can help me out?Photo Description: At a lake in a forest, two shirtless young men stand front to back, facing left, heads bowed forward. The one in front has his right arm bent behind his head, holding his lover's head close. His shorts are unbuttoned. His lover pulls back on his left arm at the elbow.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 2.__________Genre: sci-fiTags: gay m/m, military, year 2200, spaceships, obliterated Earth, aliens, robot soldiers, a hot interspecies man, sweet future technology, a kick-ass grandmother, and a Reference HologramWord Count: 10,646

    Hot days and sultry, sexy nights. So, who's this guy got in his barn?Photo Description: In the dark doorway of a barn stands a burly, muscular man, wearing only a white stetson and buckskin pants. His hands pull the pants open and low on his hips, exposing his hairy torso down to the curls at his groin. A straw juts from his mouth, and his eyes are intent under the brim of his hat.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: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, cowboys, friends-to-lovers, reunited, first-love, HFNWarnings: implied homophobia (as a regional issue)Word Count: 10,167

    More the fool me.It wasn't as if *you* knew he was married, either.And for the record, I never said I didn't care about you. You said you didn't want a relationship with me.So, what changed?Photo Description: A man's face: startlingly blue eyes glare out from a frame of thick black eyeliner, under a one-sided fall of black hair. Lean cheeks and strong chin are accentuated by a stubble of beard. His full lower lip meets thin upper, mouth firmly closed. A chain of silver V-links circles his neck, under his open white shirt.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 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, goth, club, guyliner, friends to lovers, unrequited loveWord Count: 2,909

    But it seems that their relationship is not as secret as they thought. One night, everything changes, and they must face their greatest enemy in order to protect their love. Original Prompt:Dear Author,These two lived a life a quiet denial, but what choice did they have? They aren't even the same species and everyone knew they couldn't be together. I don't know their whole story, one of them is something, one of them is... something else. For a long time they denied themselves out of fear of what their friends and family might thing or say, but then one night everything changes and they knew they couldn't keep their love "in the closet" any more.Please, can someone tell me their whole story?Photo Description: A dimly lit photo from the neck up of two men in their twenties. The man in front is slightly more tan. His neck is arched, exposing the left side, while sweat beads on his skin. His lover stands behind him, lightly grasping his left shoulder while breathing onto his neck.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.Download the story, read it online or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 2.__________Genre: paranormalTags: gay m/m, wings, angel/demon, sacrifice, angst, fluff, soul-matesWord Count: 8,613

    So when the dinner hostess sits him with a bubbly woman and her single, gay, and very sexy brother, Tad’s vacation started looking even better than expected.The crystal blue ocean doesn’t hold a candle to the hard abs and cocky smile of Nick Boden, but Tad has spent his entire adult life building up the walls of his closet, while Nick has never put anything but clothes in his. The ship is called Freedom, but will its message be heard on the open ocean.Original Prompt:Dear Author,Last summer, I went on a cruise, and one day while I was out roaming the ship, I saw this guy sitting and reading and he just looked so peaceful and content that I needed to take a photo. But when I got home, I saw the guy in the background who looks like he is spying on him... I wonder if they have a story to tell.Photo Description: A man relaxes in a lounge chair in nothing but swim trunks and shades. One arm reaches over his head, showing off strong abs. One knee bent, a book is propped on his thigh. In the distance, behind a support beam and tinted glass partition, a figure appears to be discreetly watching our reader.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.Download the story, read it here or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 4.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, closet, vacation, meddling sister, lawyer, artistWord Count: 14,757

    Who would have thought...Photo Description: A thin vertical rope stretches down into rippled muddy water. Four naked men cluster around it. One stands at the base of the grouping, almost hidden by the second man in a wide-brimmed hat astride his hips. The third curly-haired man perches on his shoulders. A fourth, shoulder-deep in the water, reaches to steady the three on the rope.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.Download the story, read it online or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 3.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, m/m/m/mWord Count: 9,269

    Now after a near life threatening experience one has just started to feel more than he was execting for the other and is unsure about himself and his feels for his blonde friend.I hope you can tell their story.Photo Description: Two naked men lie on a wrinkled, gray bed. The blonde is on his back, left leg slightly bent, cradling his brunette lover's head comfortingly to his torso with his right hand. He grasps his lover's right wrist where the hand rests upon his left thigh.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 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, actionWord Count: 5,282

    One of these things is not like the other. Stealing every chance together they can. Staving off broken hearts as long as possible. One believes in love; one is afraid to.Photo Description: In nostalgic black-and-white, two men with eyes closed share a private moment against the side of an in-ground pool. One man, head on his arms, displays the classic features, dark hair, and muscles of a studio star. Behind him the second man presses close, cheek on his neck, holding tight.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 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, HollywoodWord Count: 4,432

    Maybe there's one hanging out in this bottle of Jaeger....Photo Description: Sitting on a doorstep in a brick wall, arms on his knees and a bottle of Jaeger tilted to his mouth, is a very...unusual man. He's lean, tattooed and shaven-headed, wearing only a pink tutu, pink-and-white striped socks, and rubber-toed black sneakers. He holds a cigarette, one knee sports a Band-Aid, and perched on his head is a rhinestone tiara.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: paranormal contemporaryTags: gay m/m, fairies/fae, magic, second chances, comfort, sex content mild/non-explicitWord Count: 4,850

    I know the background is dark. I imagine them in a bedroom at this point.Photo Description: In moody black and white, two bare-chested men embrace. The front man stands still, arms at his sides. He tilts his head, eyes closed, his handsome face pensive. From behind, his lover wraps both arms around his shoulders in a snug embrace, fingers curved over his perfect chest, face buried against his cheek.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 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, recovery, one night standWord Count: 7,308

    Perhaps there's a hurt/comfort story in here that someone might like to write? It doesn't have to feature Batman, of course! But then again, maybe it does. I'll leave that up to you! As for the other man? If one is Batman, is he Robin? Or someone else? Maybe Batman is just a man in uniform, either military or police, you be the judge!Photo Description: Batman stands in front of the moon with a beautiful naked man in his arms.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 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, fanfic, slash, Batman, super-heroWord Count: 11,624

    If it has the same effect on YOU, I'm listening....Photo Description: A naked, dark-haired man is on his knees, hunched over so his forehead touches the ground. His elbows are tucked between his knees so that his hands hide his face. The floor and background are covered in wrinkled black fabric. His skin and the fabric are smudged with dirt.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 2.__________Genre: sci-fi; futuristic, auTags: gay m/m, slavery, D/s, established relationship, spanking, orgasm denial, collar, auWarnings: very mild bdsm, melting ice cream being shared, the inappropriate placement of sand, public tickling and smoochingWord Count: 4,425

    I answered the call.Pyrogasm is a story in the same universe as "The Adventures of the Magician's Coven" with some slight differences. Here, I have used the elements as inspiration, creating a tale where a wizard named Hans gets almost too hot to handle.Original PromptDear Author,This is me: [picture 1]I know you probably wouldn't guess but I am a powerful wizard, still trying to discover my abilities and learning my limits. One night while practicing my fire control I had an accident. (Flaming ball throwing is not as easy as it sounds!) Anyway, things quickly got out of hand and I thought i was going to die... then he showed up: [picture 2]Author, please tell me what happens now...Photo Description: [picture 1] Two pictures of uber-hot men in white underwear. The first poses, his T-shirt pulled up under his arms. His cut muscles, strong features and dark hair are given a Clark-Kent edge by rectangular dark-framed glasses. The second's face is shadowed by a fireman's hat, his chest framed by suspenders for pants slipped half off his hips. [picture 2] A gorgeous man wearing nothing but tight white underwear and a fireman’s cap stands in front of a blaze.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: paranormalTags: gay m/m, Adventures of the Magician’s Coven series, firemenWord Count: 10,960