The Picture of Cool


Laurie Boris - 2014
    But underneath his cool façade, there’s a hollow spot in his heart, waiting for the right man to ease his loneliness. Then he meets the show’s next guest, a handsome young politician with a bad case of nerves—and a secret that could turn both their lives upside down. word count: 14,000

Game On


Olley White - 2014
    You can imagine how surprised we were when we first met in person. How confused I was about my feeling for him. I was already in love with the person behind the character, but I had never been attracted to a man before.Can you tell the story of how we became that happy couple in the picture?Photo Description: Two men, in their early twenties, lean towards each other for a kiss. Both smiling, they have their eyes shut. One boy has tousled hair, an earring and an upper ear piercing. He’s wearing a bright turquoise T-shirt while the other has neater hair and is wearing a checked shirt. Their hands are held, and a gaming controller nestles between them. A computer screen with a game playing on it is visible in the background.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" 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.

The Long Way


DomLuka
    Even in a loving environment things aren't always easy. This is a story about making friends, losing them, learning to trust again and dealing with everything in between.Status: CompleteWord count: approx. 329,349

Love Is Always Write: Volume Two


Belinda McBrideAdara O’Hare - 2012
    They are a product of the Love Is Always Write promotion sponsored by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group and are published as a free gift to you.What Is Love Is Always Write?The Goodreads M/M Romance Group invited members to choose a photo and pen a letter or story prompt asking for a short M/M romance story inspired by the image; authors from the group were encouraged to select a letter or story prompt and write an original tale. The result was an outpouring of creativity that shone a spotlight on the special bond between M/M romance writers and the people who love what they do. Nearly 150 stories were submitted and published as a ten volume set – as well as an additional special bonus volume with three novel-length stories – titled Love Is Always Write; this edition is Volume Two. Whether you are an avid M/M romance reader or new to the genre, you are in for a delicious treat.Stories in Volume 2: Introduction ~ Love Is Always Write BLOOD RAINE – Belinda McBride (fantasy/sword & sorcery)BRINGING HOME BABY BIRD – Megan Reddaway (contemporary/culinary/bartenders)BY DESIGN – Kate Islay (contemporary/office romance)CALL ME BURT – Elin Austen (contemporary/humorous)CHIVALRY – Ravon Silvius (historical/ knights)CLOSE ENCOUNTERS – Xara X. Xanakas (sci-fi/post-apocalyptic)COMING HOME – Ellen Holiday and Stella Harris (contemporary/blue collar)A COMPETITIVE EDGE – Adara O’Hare (contemporary/college athletes)CONSTABLE OF DISTURBIA – Darcy Abriel (dark fantasy/scientist)CORY’S PRIDE – Amanda Corlies (contemporary/hurt/comfort)CROCODYLUS ACUTUS – J. Rocci (contemporary/shifter)THE DANGERS OF FAIRY COMPACTS – Katey Hawthorne (fantasy/cleric) DARKEST BEFORE DAWN – Gabbo de la Parra (sci-fi/post-apocalyptic)DEFINING RICO – Sassy Lane (contemporary/humorous)Words of Caution The stories in this collection are sexually explicit and intended for adult readers. Some stories 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.

One Week


K. Mason - 2013
    I hope it’s okay to be so vague, but I would thoroughly enjoy a piece that embodies the heart of the song. Bonus points for any scenes involving dancing at a club or sports. Additionally, I would love to see some of these flaws perhaps being one of the characters denial, perhaps even involving the fact that he may have a girlfriend/wife when he feels attraction to the other?[Lyrics for the song Flaws are written of Dan Smith of Bastille]Photo Description: There are two men on a bed. One man lies on his back. His eyes are closed and one arm is held up over his head. The other man, who has a well-trimmed beard and a rosebud tattoo on his chest, leans over him, as though he is about to kiss him.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.

A New Beginning (Sumeria's Magi, #1)


Lexi Ander - 2013
    But dangerous ghosts haunt Gregori and even the fierce, compelling Juan and the pull between them is not enough to override his desire to keep everyone safe by leaving the only place he wants to stay... A New Beginning contains some explicit content. While Books 1 and 2 in the Sumeria's Son series (Twin Flames and Songs of the Earth) contain some world building elements that are not fully explored in this book, it is largely stand alone and can be read out of order with the rest of the series.

Louder Than Sirens, Louder Than Bells


K.D. Sarge - 2012
    Lip gloss, eyeliner, eye shadow, nail polish? Back in the small town where I grew up, a boy would have never dared to dress like him. When an assignment to create a video news segment from one of our professors places us both in the same group, personalities clash, and what started as fascination on my part turns into instant dislike, which he seems to immediately return. He's smart, quick-thinking, creative…but also snarky, moody, defensive, and basically the complete physical opposite of every guy I've ever been attracted to. And yet, despite the fact that I think he needs an attitude adjustment, and he thinks I'm just a backward country hick, I've quickly come to realize that sometimes the line between love and hate really is paper thin.P.S. An HEA would definitely be preferred to an HFN ending. Photo Description: Two young men stare at each other through a chain-link fence. They are holding hands through it; one has nail polish and lip gloss.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" 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 it online or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 11 - Bonus Volume.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: first love; college; coming out; gay-for-you; enemies to loversWarnings: noneWord Count: 68,123

Caleo


James Crawford - 2011
    The band nerds, the math geeks, the chess club, the girl that chews her hair, but at Butler High, even the creepy nose picker in the chess club is more popular than Caleo Anima. No matter what he did, his pale skin, snow white hair, and piercing blue eyes always made him an easy target. He used to think that the only way things could get worse would be if someone found out that he was gay, but that isn't even the tip of the iceberg of problems after a mysterious stranger shows up and changes Caleo’s life forever.Hidden amongst our society, a secret and magical race of people known as ‘Leeches’, have been engaging in civil war for decades. Both sides are desperately searching for a weapon with unlimited power that will give them the advantage they need to rule their world. This wouldn’t mean anything to Caleo, except for one problem...He is that weapon!Forget making it through High School. Caleo has bigger problems! As the search for him goes on, the world is quickly crumbling around him. He's now fighting for his life and the life of what little family he has left. With the help of new friends, he has little time to try and master his newly found powers as he tries to figure out who he can trust, who is trying to use him, and who just wants him dead. One wrong step and being the awkward pale outcast will be the least of his worries.

You and a Billion Blue Tiles


Missy Welsh - 2011
    Adam is convinced it's fate that draws him into the showers after a night of studying so he can finally get a chance to be with the guy he's been crushing on for two years. Lincoln had no idea being with a guy could be more than getting off, but Adam's definitely more than he ever expected. Can they make it work for more than one night? Can they build the foundation of a relationship that will last for years to come?Original Prompt:Dear Author,I would love it if these boys could tell us the story of how they came together. Starting from that mind-numbing blowjob in the showers at high-school.One of the boys could simply no longer hide his feelings and lust and spurred by the acceptance of intimate contact by his colleague, he confessed his love. And was rewarded with a confession in return and more days of fun and loving.Photo Description: Surrounded by azure tiles, two naked young men share a shower. One stands, arms up-stretched to grip the shower-head, eyes closed. In front of him the shorter boy presses close, bellies touching, his hand gliding soap up one raised, exposed armpit, mouths hovering an inch away from the kiss. 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 3 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, coming-of-age, virgin, high school, teens, coming outWarnings: teenagers (both 18)Word Count: 9,322

Hot Coffee & Terrible First Dates


K.P. Maxwell - 2021
    Hot coffee. What could possibly go wrong?Derrick’s not really into dating, so when his coworker sets him up on a new app that promises to match him with another shifter, he’s ready to delete the profile and be done with it. He didn’t expect to get matched with the adorable, nerdy guy on the other side of the screen. When curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to meet the man at Café Seuil in Southeast Portland, will hot coffee and the cold, snowy weather make him give up on dating altogether? Or could this be the start of something wonderful?Hot Coffee & Terrible First Dates is a short and sweet 5,500 word M/M paranormal story set in the same world as KP Maxwell’s Men of Café Seuil novels.

Like and Subscribe


Jay Bell - 2013
    Just imagine if you had a chance to meet him and all your fantasies started coming true. There's only one catch: Between you and your dream guy is his less-than-pleased boyfriend. They say that love conquers all, but can love conquer love?Like and Subscribe is a new short story by Jay Bell, the author of Something Like Summer.

Secret Santa Surprise


Tam Ames - 2010
    This is now hosted by Goodreads' M/M Romance Group. The story prompts for the author were: 1. part of the setting - a toy *waggles eyebrows* workshop2. some background to one of the main protags - one of them is completely oblivious to attempts to get him under the mistletoe3. another character/s - a weekend motorcycle club whose bikes are all named after Santa's reindeers4. a conflict - *deep breath* finally engaged to the so-called woman of his dreams, one of the main protags finds himself left holding the baby after he discovers he was drugged and seduced by a former colleague at last year's Christmas office party *gasp* who was determined to have a child before her biological clock ran out but tragically died only months later leaving her gorgeous younger, gay brother and the main protag as joint guardians of the child... as long as they live together... *panting*5. an object/phrase to be mentioned in the story somewhere - the last line of the story has to be 'And that's how you put the 'ho' in 'ho, ho, ho''.

Sink or Swim


Lissa Kasey - 2011
    When he gets a job overseas, Abram feels that he has to follow his lover, but he still harbors doubts of his own worthiness. Those doubts come to a head during the long flight to begin their new lives. How far is Abram willing to go to keep Beau to himself? Sometimes in matters of the heart, you just have to dive in and sink or swim.Original Prompt:Dear Author,I will leave the story up to you. What ever gets your creative juices going is fine with me. These men just need a story.Photo Description: A close-up photo of the faces of two dark-haired, scruffy, shirtless young men in a field of red wildflowers. They are lying down in opposite directions. One's head rests on the other's chest, the other's head pillowed on a bent arm to look at the viewer.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 3 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, established couples, travel, new beginnings, mile-high, first-person, HEAWord Count: 13,815

Glitter


Ayla Starr - 2012
    You continued to smile anyway.Words: 2,869 (approx)

Masochism 101


Kim Dare - 2011
    No matter what he needs some loving and a happily ever after, don't you think?Photo Description: The man is caught in mid-disaster. In an old-fashioned bathtub shower, a lean, naked, dark-haired guy is taking a spectacular fall, feet higher than his head, tangled with the clear shower curtain, arm, head and shoulder headed for impact with unforgiving porcelain. One hand has grabbed the flimsy curtain. It will not be enough to save him.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 1.__________Genre: BDSM, contemporaryTags: gay m/m, BDSM, masochism, friends to lovers, kink, medical, nurse, reluctant dom, bratty subWord Count: 7,229