He shouldn’t have screwed over the Moretti brothers, though. It landed him in the river with weights on his feet. But somehow he’s escaped certain death. The last thing he remembers before waking on the riverbank is a beautiful face and a soft kiss.Then, Tolomeo turns up naked at Leigh’s apartment.Tolly comes from a race of killers—merfolk who drown humans for fun. But Tolly is different, and when he sees a human in trouble, he offers a kiss, granting the man the ability to breathe underwater… and himself the ability to walk on land, at least until the next full moon. The ancient laws state that if he is given a vow of love by the one he kissed, he will be able to keep his legs. If not, he will be put to death when he returns to the water.But love is not something Leigh offers easily… and Tolly has a secret of his own.

    He doesn’t want me here. How many times do I need to hear him say it, shout it, snarl it at me, before I get it through my head that he means it? I wish I could turn my back on him and leave, and find someone easy. Someone warm and welcoming who would laugh when they see me, and give me a hug.But even though he doesn’t want me here, I still think, deep in my heart, that he needs me. And I just can’t walk away.Or maybe, I’m the one who still needs him.Photo Description: A beautiful, toned man lies on a bed of white linen, naked but for a black cord around his left wrist, and a sheet barely covering his lower body. His left arm is bent, his hand resting against his temple. He is lifting his right arm up, away from his body. Mussed, brown hair hangs low over his forehead, and thick stubble covers his chin. His dark eyes throw a questioning glare toward the camera.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.

    Fate brings all three together, but to preserve his new family, Cord must leave his safe life in New York City behind to carve a living from the harsh ranch lands of Nevada.To forge a life with Juanita and Kalin, Cord must first discover the dark secret burning a hole in Kalin’s heart. With the help of Tomeo, a handsome Japanese veterinarian, Cord travels a gut-wrenching road of triumphs and tragedies to insure his son will survive the sinister violence of his past. But as Tomeo becomes more than just a helpful friend to Cord, a new set of problems arise between Cord and Kalin that may threaten the happiness of them all.

    At least that’s what young sorcerer Regis Teller convinces himself. He’s done what he must to survive: working for a witch since he was nine, helping her throw the kingdom into anarchy, and taking his only comfort in her mysterious son, Crow. And soon, Regis is going to commit his first murder.A do-gooder named Jonathan White has information the witch needs, and it’s Regis’s job to get that information and slit Jonathan’s throat. But then Regis actually meets Jonathan. And Jonathan is perfect—a hero with a passion for justice and little regard for civility.Lucky for Regis, Jonathan has a weakness for attractive men. Lucky for Jonathan, Regis is fast developing a conscience and a heart. But for Regis, keeping both of them alive at their adventure’s end means breaking a magical oath and surviving his ruthless boss—all without telling Jonathan the truth. Falling in love is never easy, especially when everyone involved is lying through their teeth.

    Sometimes, though, an everyman will do.Talent comes in all shapes and sizes, but some talents are a heck of a lot more useful than others. Hal’s particular gift? Talking to doors—a natural lead-in to an unglamorous career of locksmithing. What else would he do with himself when popping a lock comes as naturally to him as breathing? Other than burglary, of course. A guy’s gotta have some scruples.Leave it to Hal to find someone locked in a five-story building without a single door leading to his prison. Sure, it’s probably a setup, and no, Hal doesn’t relish the idea of being played for a chump. The guy in the window is clearly accustomed to batting his eyelashes and getting his way. But if he really is stuck, Hal can’t just leave him high and dry.Freeing him will merely involve outsmarting the gigantic tattooed bully that’s holding him hostage. How hard can it be?This retelling of Rapunzel originally appeared in the anthology Torqued Tales.

    When a suspicious bombing drives Grier to break his ties with the group and go into hiding, the head of the Organization sends model agent Alec Devlin after him, claiming Grier is a murderer and traitor to their cause. Grier manages to turn the tables and take Alec hostage long enough to convince him that the Organization is lying and hiding something sinister. The two strike a bargain: amidst enemies who want them dead, friends with their own agendas, and the growing passion between them, they'll work together to bring down the Organization in order to protect the world] and each other.

    The only thing Sebastian Michael needs is a steady paycheck. Sebastian values his independence too much to let his secretive brother, Ed, pay his bills. He tried selling his paranormal romances with little luck. Looking for a steady job, he soon stumbles into a dragon's den pretending to be a BDSM club. Gavin Thorvald, the dragon lord and club owner, recognizes Sebastian as his mate and begins to woo the sweet human. Gavin worries about how to explain a dragon's reproductive cycle while Sebastian fears his past is catching up with him.At the same time, hunters are attacking and Ed is taking an interest in Sebastian's new life. Just when Gavin has everything he wants, Sebastian is taken from him by the hunters. Gavin fears the worst as he heals from the hunters' attack. Once healed, Gavin begins a race against the clock to find his mate and save their egg.

    That dream was shelved after years of struggling to make it in the music industry. While making ends meet at one of his jobs as a waiter, Ian met Logan Adams, Hollywood’s favourite movie star. More than he cared to admit, the handsome actor left a lasting impression on Ian. Three years after the intimate night they shared, memories of Logan still lingered on Ian’s mind. What happens when they meet again for the second chance encounter of their lives?

    At least it sure is in D.J. Manly's new trilogy of deliciously devilish, sexy, romantic contemporary comedies featuring three couples, who most inconveniently meet the love of their lives!In "No Vacancy," Manuel returns to his apartment late at night fresh from an undercover job only to find a strange man in his bed.In "Right Before My Eyes," it's love at first sight for Paul, who falls for the smokin' hot DJ at the rock and roll radio station where he gets his dream job, only to discover that this guy could be the bloody poster boy for heartbreaker of the year!In "My Name is Dane," Mark kidnaps the guy responsible for getting his sister pregnant, a guy who insists his name is not Christopher, but Dane!Experience the love, the lust, and the calamity, and see firsthand how love won't be denied, even if it is bloody inconvenient .

    Having met in college, they were dorm mates, friends, and now business partners in a marketing web design business. Except from day one, Gabe has had feelings for Malcolm that go way beyond the best friend line. Until one night a moment passes between them, and suddenly Malcolm starts seeing Gabe as more. But Malcolm is from an upper-class political family and Gabe grew up moving from one foster home to the next. Where Malcolm is light, Gabe lives in darkness. Pain is his only indicator that he's still breathing. Yet Malcolm begins to strip away Gabe's hurt, layer by layer, until the choice becomes his to accept happiness, or to stay with the path that has always kept his heart safe.

    Are they live-in lovers? Partners? Boyfriends? There isn't a word to adequately describe their mutual devotion and his quiet, deeply held feelings for Mike. Mike is no help. He thinks that what they share is a marriage, but Harry knows better. Weddings aren't for the likes of men like them... until a gay bar, missing lube, and a drag queen show him that he might be wrong.

    Thailand is a hedonist’s paradise but David isn’t interested in the sinful pleasures Bangkok has to offer. His only concern is taking care of business so he can return home and patch things up with his ex. Then on his first night in town David meets Kai, and the younger man turns his world upside down. Kai is close-lipped, and David knows he's hiding something, but Kai brings a joie de vivre into David’s life that’s long been missing. Then after a few blissful weeks, Kai disappears and David is hurt. He knows this was never meant to be anything more than a pleasant diversion, but now that it's over can he walk away without looking back?

    Once a year, he motors down to an exclusive yacht club on the Cornish coast and takes the summer off from the trap that is his life. When his car breaks down, leaving him stranded on the beach, he's transfixed by the sight of a surfer dancing on the waves. The man is summer made flesh. Freedom wrapped up in one lithe package, dripping wet from the sea. Once a year, Darren Stokes takes a break from his life of grinding overwork and appalling relatives, financing his holiday by picking up the first rich man to show an interest. This year, though, he's cautious-last summer's meal ticket turned out to be more pain than pleasure. Even though Alec is so deep in the closet he doesn't even admit he's gay, Darren finds himself falling hard-until their idyllic night together is shattered by the blinding light of reality- Warning: One explicit m/m sex scene and a great deal of swearing.

    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.

    But the killer stalking David’s lover may leave him no choice but to embrace his dangerous nature.Originally published in the anthology Queer Wolf edited by James E.M. Rasmussen, now the short story is offered for free on the author's website. Click the official url below for the free download.