From escaping their dysfunctional families in the working-class neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens to teaching in one of the city’s most queer friendly schools in Brooklyn, the two men have shared everything. Or so they thought until a sweltering night of dancing leads to an unexpected encounter that forever changes their friendship. Now, casual touches and lingering looks are packed with sexual tension, and Michael can’t forget the feel of his best friend’s hands on him. Once problems rear up at work and home, Michael finds himself seeking constant escape in the effortless intimacy and mind-blowing sex he has with Nunzio. But things don’t stay easy for long. When Michael’s world begins to crumble in a sea of tragedy and complications, he knows he has to make a choice: find solace in a path of self-destruction or accept the love of the man who has been by his side for twenty years.

    They are heavenly beings who grant courage, unknown benefactors who offer help, best friends who lend their strength, and celestial beings who embody inspiration. You might not recognize these everyday angels or messengers of mercy, but the men in this anthology are touched by their purity and light and sometimes blessed by love.Morning Glow by Taylor Lochland Benjamin and Alan have been friends since high school. Though they often drift apart, Alan always seems to come back when Benjamin needs him the most—like when Ben is grieving over a bad breakup. As always, Ben feels better just from spending time with Alan, but then he realizes he’s in love with Alan. This time when Alan takes off again, Ben isn’t going to let him go without a fight. A Trail of Feathers by Sarah Ann Watts Alone on New Year’s Day, Daniel is more aware than ever of the self-destructive despair consuming him since his lover’s death. Then he meets a stranger shedding feathers in the street, and despite the risk, he takes Leo home with him. But Leo is not the hustler or drug addict Daniel suspected him to be. He’s there to give Daniel a gift—a gift Daniel might not know how to accept. Heart's Salvation by Réve Garrison After losing his wife and daughter in a car accident, a distraught Nathaniel approaches the church for comfort, seeking the statue that is said to heal emotional distress. When the angel embodied in statue feels the depth of Nathaniel's pain, he makes the unusual decision to assume human form and comfort the grieving widower. But soon the angel must decide between returning to the statue to comfort others and retaining his humanity for the hope of love. In the Hands of the Gods by Jana Denardo The only business that concerns Tiberius Aelius Rufus is how to extend his olive oil trade from Pompeii to Rome and how to sort out a family when his tastes do not run to taking a wife. Expanding his oil trade is easy enough, but a man of his station can’t exactly dally with another man. But when he meets Marcus Lartius Priscus at a party, Tiberius is enchanted and falls hard, hard enough to consider risking his business and his reputation to follow Priscus to Rome. A Voice in the Darkness by Patric Michael Landon Hargrove wakes in darkness and pain to find he and his unconscious husband Bryce are trapped in their car after a landslide. With no help but the moral support of a man named Dan who can speak to him but not reach him, Landon must find a way to rescue them both before the rest of the mountainside breaks free and crushes them… along with their dream of adopting a son. Some Comfort by S. Blaise Dale is having a hard time adjusting to everyday reality after returning from combat when he runs into Mal, a fellow soldier who’d saved his life during a missile attack. Mal seems determined to continue to watch over him even though Dale knows very little about the other man. Why does Mal have such faith in him? And will it be enough to drive the darkness inside Dale away? Ascension by RJ Scott When Sabrael visits Adam Riley, the last remaining descendant of the family under his protection, the angel finds a man consumed with grief after the death of his father and the decision to sell the family bookstore. Sabrael is surprised by a connection to Adam strong enough to redefine his entire purpose, something Sabrael has never felt for any mortal in his charge. Now he wonders if it is part of the Divine plan—if his time to live a mortal life has come. A mortal life with Adam. Sariel by Mary Calmes Jacob Gray is on the trip of a lifetime with his employer only to have it turn into a nightmare. Drugged and taken to an underground catacomb, Jake is forced to make a life or death decision: face torture by the men who kidnapped him or confront a ferocious beast. Much to his captors’ surprise, Jacob casts his fate into the hands of an unknown creature instead of surrendering himself to sure death, with only hope as his salvation. The Platypus Learns Astrophysics by Matthew Vandrew Hardworking businessman Jonas Mason is the last person expecting a visit from an angel. Yet Micah, angel of the Divine Plan, shows up in his office, absolutely certain of his mission: to enlighten Jonas’s days and fill his heart with love… all by simply touching him. And when nothing happens? Micah will have to wing it: act human, rein in the grumpy and generally unpleasant Jonas, and figure out how to bring Jonas—and himself—lives full of joy. The Angel Blues by Cornelia Grey It’s a nondescript, depressing night when Morgan, a seasoned cop, finds a witty stranger perched on his windowsill who shares his appreciation for the blues. Worried for his own sanity, Morgan mostly ignores the man who insists on materializing at the most inappropriate of times… until a life-threatening experience forces Morgan to see just how much the stranger who claims to be an angel means to him.Redemption by Clare London Ziba is a fallen angel, working as a sponsor of lost men, helping them find genuine repentance after a life of sin. Banished to the Arrivals Hall between worlds, he offers them work during their journey to a better afterlife. But for him, personally, that option is closed. His position was so exalted, and his sin so great, that he is imprisoned in Arrivals forever. Until he meets Abdiel, an angel who also fell from grace - but whose love and self-sacrifice offers both of them a new hope of redemption. Herbal Tea by H.J. Brues Douglas, a world-weary, cynical agent of a very special kind of law enforcement, is sent to recruit Justin, a young herbalist, for a unique assignment. Considering the lies and betrayal in his past, Douglas can’t help but look for hidden intentions behind every selfless act, and he doesn’t trust easily. But Justin will show him that a simple man can have the courage to offer his protection, his love and even his life for those he cares about, because it’s not the wings that make the angel, but the readiness to reach out to others with your whole heart in the tips of your fingers. The Tenth Avatar by Roland Graeme When a relative dies and bequeaths to Arun a family heirloom—an old bronze statue of Kalki, the tenth avatar, or incarnation, of the Hindu god Vishnu—the delivery of the statue coincides with the arrival of a new man in Arun’s life. Jack is everything Arun has ever desired in a lover, and Arun will have to face his parents’ pressure for marriage and Jack’s unknown opinion on commitment to move forward to a loving future. Santangelo by Zahra Owens Michael isn’t the type of man who needs rescuing, but after he’s attacked by a group of skinheads, he’s glad Gabriel Santangelo is there to help. Four stitches in his forehead later, Michael is introduced to Gabriel’s severely disabled baby daughter and jumps at the chance to get to know Gabriel better. But Gabe has more issues than he's willing to share and when he keeps Michael at a distance, Michael starts wondering who is rescuing who. The Archangel of Castro by Diana Copland What do you get when you mix a former real-estate agent turned diner owner; a sweet, unassuming, movie-star handsome runaway; selfless generosity; and unrequited love? You get Nick at Nick’s on Ninth; his live-in friend Brian; a treasured friendship; and two very nearly broken hearts… until the unlikeliest Archangel ever notices the need for a bit of divine intervention.

    When Caroline died, she left Thompson alone and emotionally disconnected—until Thompson’s longtime friend and towboat owner Hank Charming tows Garner Holt, a recently retired psychiatrist, and his boat into the marina for repair. Thompson and Hank are both drawn to the sailboat captain, but for very different reasons. Since high school, Hank has secretly carried a torch for Thompson, even though Thompson remained committed to Caroline, even after her death. Hank is totally caught off guard when his initial attraction to Garner makes him realize this stranger might be the one to help him move on with his life. Thompson establishes a platonic friendship with Garner and starts to see the psychiatrist as his only lifeline to sanity. Life improves until Thompson sees Hank and Garner together, and old feelings Thompson thought were long buried begin to resurface. Garner quickly identifies the unresolved feelings between Hank and Thompson and decides to tap his professional skills and work behind the scenes to help Thompson and Hank see what has been right in front of them all along.

    New band member Hell showed him love and pleasure like he’d never known it. Now, Brent's late and Hell's pissed. Hell loves fireworks and he was looking forward to watching the Fourth of July fireworks show with his lover from the balcony of their new lakeside home. Brent screwed up and now he's got to make it up to his little firecracker in the best way he knows how.Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: m/m sexual contact.

    Unfortunately, they’re wrong, and Donavan’s desire to explore his submissive side goes unfulfilled. Smaller and older than Donavan, Doctor Seth Manning might not look like a typical dominant, but when the two men meet at Pride, Donavan realized Seth might be his perfect counterpart. The trouble is, Donavan doesn’t have as much experience with the BDSM world as he’d like. What could an educated, handsome, and confident man like Seth possibly see in someone like him? Seth must convince him that despite the differences on the surface, when it comes to kinky fun and discovery, they’ll fit together just fine.