They didn’t choose this life, but are making the best of necessity. The danger is always there, chasing just on their heels. It’s these tender moments that make it all worthwhile. The moments when the love shows through.Photo Description: A manga image shows two young adults. The blond, shaggy haired man, is sitting on a stool having his hand bandaged by the other. The other man, whose hair is slightly darker, is taking care of his companion, placing a kiss on the wounded hand as he tends to it. The image is simple but very caring.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.

    I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted, and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.Robert CaldwellSeptember 1914The complete story of Robert and Simon, including The Caldwell Ghost (which is no longer available separately) and Butterflies, plus a whole lot of brand new stories, taking the tale of the Victorian ghost-hunter and his narrator/sidekick/lover up to the events of Remnant: A Caldwell & Feximal/Whyborne & Griffin Mystery and beyond...This book will cover a number of ghostly mysteries, along with evil cults, mysterious skin runes, and illicit Victorian shenanigans between the decidedly forceful Simon and the entirely shameless Robert.

    Stavion had only been doing his job as an Enforcer, but now he finds himself the leader of his enemy’s old coven. And the position comes with a whole mess of responsibility and stress.Jory can’t believe he’s finally free of his prison. He has friends, clean clothes, and a warm bed at night. He also has a very big, very intimidating vampire claiming to be his mate. Not only does the man scare the hell out of him, but Jory’s not everything he appears to be, and keeping the secret is harder than he imagined.One obstacle after another is thrown in their path to keep them apart. Even Jory seems to be fighting it every step of the way. Stavion isn’t about to give up, though. Jory is everything he never knew he wanted, and he’s determined to have the last word.

    He's desperately short of money the night a well-dressed shih-aan offers to take him home. While Wishbone has heard that shih-aan are dangerous, he doesn't expect to find one of them so dangerously seductive. Rumored to be demonic, shih-aan fought humans to a bloody standstill in a war a decade past. Though peace between the two races is profitable, humans avoid and fear the shih-aan merchants living in Bronlyn Harbor. Wishbone allows himself to be drawn closer to the sophisticated alien whose only name is given as Sir. Wishbone learns the shih-aan's secrets as he uncovers the mysteries of the alien's body, hidden beneath layers of exquisitely tailored clothing. Sir seethes with sexual desires that his human hosts consider blasphemous. And he is a spy.

    Being rejected is the most painful. He just doesn’t understand. The sexual tension between him and Mick is palpable. It’s always been there, just under the surface, and Chris was so sure that if he just made a move Mick would respond. But he didn’t. He pushed him away. After ten years on the same black ops team, having each other’s backs and being there for each other every step of the way, Chris doesn’t know how they’re supposed to get past this. Mick is furious. Chris has run away, heading off on a solo mission to only God knows where, without giving Mick a chance to explain. He’s been gone for over a year. Did Chris really expect him to take advantage of him when he was drunk off his ass and barely able to stand? What kind of person would that make Mick? Chris has never given even the slightest indication that he wants to act on the tension between them, and letting him do so while drunk would be a grave violation of trust. Mick wishes that Chris would grow the fuck up and talk to him. But when Chris finally does call him, all of Mick’s hopes and dreams for a future with his best friend are shattered. Chris has bonded to an omega, and he needs Mick to come play bodyguard. Mick doesn’t have it in him to say no. When Chris’s omega goes into heat and Chris is nowhere to be found, things get complicated… (This 60,000 word novel is a standalone romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger.)

    They're a great team, and they have fun together, too: joking and enjoying each other's company in a way that doesn't happen every day.Tom is also a married man. And his husband hates the wolf shifter with a passion. Tom tries to balance the sides of his life—one minute on a high-pressure chase with Sean, the next placating his husband Lowell.Then the unthinkable happens: his marriage ends. Heartbroken, he's not expecting to ever get over Lowell's betrayal or to be able to love again.Sean offers a solution: sex as friends. They have chemistry, and they trust each other.But can they change their partnership that much? And is Sean secretly harboring feelings for him—expecting more than just sex?Sean is a loveable, funny, strong, and protective. He's the best buddy a guy could have. But Tom might not be able to keep from breaking his heart—if Sean is in love with him, and Tom can't love him back.

    When he stumbles across wolf shifter territory, the young fox is forced into hiding. The wolves prowling the forest would want nothing better than to exterminate him and his family. His entire life is a struggle, being the lowest regarded race amongst shifters.Jacob is a proud member of the Marcelle Wolf Pack. Their main goal is to protect and expand their rule over the forests. No mercy. No weakness. When he discovers the sexy blond he fell for at the local bar is actually a fox, his world tilts off its axis. Nathan brings out his protective instincts, and for once he can see a future beyond his duty to the pack.But Jacob's alpha condemns their mixed race mating, forcing them apart. Will Jacob choose love or loyalty to his pack?

    As a guardian angel, Nikolai has one job—to protect his charge. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. Follow the Corporate manual and watch over the charge in his care to the best of his ability. Which isn’t a problem since following the rules is what he does best. Until now. Until this charge. Until Nikolai begins to… feel. Nikolai is stunned when he first experiences human emotions. The next shocker comes when he falls in love with his own charge—his Jonathan. Whether or not to save Jonathan when his life is at risk isn’t even a question, neither is sacrificing his grace to make it happen. This 26k short read novella is the prequel for an upcoming series. Watch out for an adorable demon, dreams coming true, and the biggest shocker two cis males could never expect to receive. Yes, this is an mpreg story! I hope you find all the heart and laughter you can expect from Susi Hawke.

    A dark stranger. And secrets that no one was supposed to uncover. When cattle begin to turn up dead on the family farm, twenty four year-old Landon Winfield assumes it's the usual culprits. But along with the string of mysterious deaths that threaten him and his mother’s struggling farm, the arrival of a handsome newcomer with strange tattoos brings Landon face to face — or more like face to frothy mouthed muzzle —with the real predator that stalks the forests of Rock Creek. A werewolf. Yeah, those exist. And apparently, so do people that hunt them. Crazy, right? The shocking revelations continue as the attractive hunter Rousseau reveals that Landon is a witch and has the power to summon fire at his fingertips. But his hands aren’t the only thing that heats up as he and the hunter work closely together to rid the small town of its werewolf problem and Landon finds himself falling for the knife-wielding stranger from Texas. As they get closer, so does the angry beast that’s stalking them and Landon must embrace his newfound power if he hopes to save the farm, his family, and the hunter that holds his heart. --- Content Warning: - Strong Language - Fantasy Violence - Explicit Sex

    Most would consider dying in a bar fight ten years ago upsetting, and existing as a ghost wandering the world might be thought a real predicament. They might deem a second chance at life through a chance encounter with a dying man a serious dilemma. But for Padraig, finding himself face to face with the man he'd loved and lost a lifetime ago is the biggest thing on his mind. Gareth Reilly stops at O'Toole's for a drink before he heads home. Tomorrow's going to be another lonely birthday for him until he's approached by a stranger. There's something about Padraig's bright green eyes and Irish accent that reminds Gareth of a man he once knew. Unable to resist, Gareth breaks his cardinal rule and invites Padraig home. On St. Patrick's Day, when Irish magic is strongest, it'll take a belief in the impossible and help from a grateful elf to give Padraig and Gareth another chance at love.

    While he may be attracted to the big, bad Alpha, and Grady will protect him from a corrupt Alpha jaguar, Cade won’t settle for anything less than the love of his life. As Alpha of one of the most powerful jaguar jamborees around, Grady’s reputation for bloodthirst is more of a help than a hindrance. When Alpha Decker approaches him with a proposal, Grady jumps at the chance to mate with Decker’s Omega brother. Grady doesn’t believe in love but craves having a beautiful, talented partner, so this arrangement is perfect.When Cade is kidnapped, Grady realizes his love equals his fear that he’ll never get his mate back…

    When a high-born Witch is found murdered on the steps of Nimueh’s Court, Oliver is given the case of the century—because no one else will touch it. Not when it looks like the murder was committed by a Werewolf. The Treaty between the Courts of Nimueh and Logan has stood for over a hundred years, and peace was hard-won. If a Werewolf is responsible, the murder counts as an act of war and would plunge both kingdoms into chaos. Something Oliver’s Captain is keen to point out. Treading lightly, Oliver has no choice but to venture alone into Logan’s Court to investigate. The trail of clues leads right to Connor Pierce, a newly minted Alpha of Logan’s kin. Connor is gorgeous and captivating and absolutely a suspect. Determined to do his job and catch the killer, Oliver finds he’s now got more to worry about than an inter-kingdom war. He tries to ignore his growing desire, but Connor keeps drawing him in. Everything about Connor is intoxicating, and Oliver isn’t sure how long he can fight off temptation… Now there’s not just the peace of two kingdoms on the line—there’s also his heart. (Worth a Shot is a M/M paranormal mystery romance with Werewolves, Wizards, and explicit sexual content. First in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. No cliffhangers.)

    After two years of struggling to make sense of his life, Eric and Charlotte convince Isaac to attend Red's gig; an up and coming rock band with a small cult following.All hell breaks loose and Isaac is left injured, with the whereabouts of his friends unknown and his body crippled on the ground. It's then that the four members - Troy, Nicolai, Kyle and Moss - aid Isaac by infecting him with a 'magical' virus that grants immortality in exchange for consuming blood.The 'Paranorm' world is exposed to Isaac. Vampires, werewolves and warlocks lurk in the depths of the city he has lived in his entire life, but he won't become one with the night until he completes his nine-month transition, leaving him in the hands of the band and at the mercy of vampire politics.

    His final decision will change the fate of world. * * * * * * * * * * Mate Test- Book Two Bonding with a space dragon left Tor blind but not helpless. When his uncle requests he go to the dragon planet to check on his cousin and negotiate mineral rights with a king, he goes, unknowing his hand in marriage is also at risk.

    For years his mother had warned him to stay away from the dark-haired neighbour, but on that particular evening, Aden hadn't listened. He'd been fascinated with the handsome man since the day he'd overheard his mother and grandfather refer to Victor as a vampire.Now, twenty years later, Aden once again is in the presence of Victor DePasse. Only this time he's older and knows exactly what he wants.After years of visiting his charge in his dreams, Victor suddenly has the man he's fallen in love with in front of him. Does he defy his orders and make Aden his, or does he obey and give Aden up to his destiny?Stealing Rain by A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. ManlyIn the not too distant future, water becomes so scarce the hunt is on for any drop on other planets. Drew and Trace, former lovers find that love, not just rain, is high at any price.Drew Lecour was once the pride of the military, until he'd decided to leave the federation and became a rogue, selling water to the highest bidder. Trace had a history with Drew, one that involved some hot sex and broken promises. And now, after not seeing him for years, Drew and his crew suddenly show up on a planet Trace has been contracted to protect, a planet where Drew is set to drill for water.Trace doesn't have a choice. He has to defend the water supply. His men are waiting for their leader to give the order to kill, but he can't bring himself to do that. So he confiscates Drew's equipment and takes him prisoner; but having Drew naked and at his mercy proves far more challenging than he'd anticipated, and then, there are others forces at play.Hotwired Heart by Jaime SammsTales from Rainbow Alley #1A good car thief needs sixty seconds, but grand theft heart might take even less time than that.Freedom and trust; opposite sides of the same coin that could give expert car thief, Marky, the win he's looking for. Little does he know escaping his gang ties will lead him through heartbreak and into cuffs he hadn't even thought to watch out for. Now he can trust the powerful man who wants to help, or he can keep running.It all depends on how much he values his freedom, and whether or not Roland has managed the impossible; hijacking Marky's carefully guarded heart.The Magic Thieves by Serena YatesElryk Muyd'omir is the most powerful lightning wizard born on Tah'Nut in two hundred years and a pacifist. When he refuses to co-operate with the illegally ruling Xoh'kas family they torture and kill his lover. Rather than risking the death of thousands by losing control over his lightning magic in his rage, he flees to Earth—a place without magic. When the gateway that connects Tah'Nut to other worlds opens Elryk knows that the Law Forces have found him. It is time to either face cruel punishment or fight.Kaythan Vs'urr is a Law Force Commander who is sent to retrieve the criminal wizard Elryk. He is expected to return him to Tah'Nut for ‘reprogramming'. Secretly disgusted with the Xoh'kas' lack of determination to stop the magic thieves, he has decided to win Elryk for his plan of defeating them. All they need to do is find the fabled Magic Shield to prevent further thievery.Can Elryk trust the gorgeous Law Commander who wants his help? Will the two men be able to work together to defeat the Xoh'kas and eliminate the magic thieves?Stealing Michael by Jambrea Jo JonesCan one wrong make it right?Robert's mother pushes him into stealing a painting. He is in over his head when the homeowner catches him in the act. It leaves him wondering what to do now?Michael's life turns in a new direction when a stranger enters his home and the urge to protect the thief overcomes his common sense. He knows he should be angry but who can resist a thief that looks like an angel?Dragon's Eye by Stephani HechtDragon's Soul #1After a decade of living under the iron rule of a sorcerer, dragon shifter, Duncan Moore finally has his chance for freedom. With his former master dead, all Duncan has to do is steal the very thing that has been holding him captive all these years, his dragon's eye. The stone holds his magic and his dragon self and without it, he can never go home again.What should be an easy theft turns complicated when he finds that someone has beat him to the eye and he has no idea where it could be. To add to things he suddenly finds himself teamed up with the dead sorcerers' son, Trent. For years Duncan has longed for Trent, but had never dared act on his desires. Then one night of passion between the men changes everything and Duncan realises that he could lose something far more valuable than his dragon's eye, he could lose Trent.Will Duncan be able to save them both? Or will he have to make the ultimate sacrifice?