When Jake wins a cruise to Alaska, he asks Dylan to go along, but what Dylan doesn’t know, is that there’s more on offer than a dream vacation.Can Dylan and Jake sail off to their happily ever after, or are they cruising toward disaster?***This story can be downloaded for FREE here: https://claims.instafreebie.com/free/...

    With instructions to choose healthier meals, and get some exercise, he makes efforts to change things for the better. Sam joins his local gym, and discovers exercise isn’t as bad as he’d feared—especially when he meets gorgeous gym trainer, Luke Walker. Luke’s not only good to look at, but he’s friendly and helpful with it. When Luke smiles at him, Sam knows it’s just his job to be nice, but in his dreams it means something more. Sam’s confidence is at an all-time low, with his ballooning weight, following a failed relationship, and he’s certain Luke would never look twice at him in reality. But when he discovers Luke has been hurt, too, by an uncaring ex, and has similar insecurities, Sam realizes there might be hope for him after all.

    Temptation. Hope. Depressed and at a crossroads following the death of his boyfriend, Drew Lawson dropped out of the cutthroat corporate world and started his own dog walking business. Pups and Leashes is off to a running start when Drew meets Kyle Bradley. Rich and successful, Kyle is everything Drew rejected after Steven's death. But suddenly saddled with his five-year old nephew as well as a rambunctious new puppy, Kyle is floundering. And Drew can't resist coming to the rescue. Before long, friendship turns to passion, but Drew is still guilty over Steven's death and afraid to embark on a relationship with someone who comes from the shallow world he rejected and left behind. Illustrator: K.B. SmithEditor: Keren Reed

    Travis wears his crown lightly, careful not to break any hearts. He knows what it’s like to really love someone who doesn’t love you back-at least, not in the way you want. Heath Kelley made the biggest mistake of his life the night before his best friend Travis left for college. One small action snowballed into years of silent misunderstanding and empty distance. When Heath accepts a transfer that sends him to his hometown, he doesn’t know Travis has moved back home, too. It doesn’t take long for the men to reconnect. Admitting they never stopped thinking of each other as “best friends” is easy. Forgiveness of past sins is easy, but confessing their secrets comes harder. When Heath discovers the truth about Travis’ private life, the newly repaired bonds of friendship are stretched taut. It’s time for Travis to choose—the love of his best friend, or a life of being second best.

    Nobody knows this better than Walker and Tristan. And after another mishap on the scene of a fire, Walker needs more from Tristan and with the help from the chief, they have the perfect solution. Which is why Walker and Tristan have a sudden surprise for their friends. Although, they are more than just friends—they’re family. But will things go as intended?This 14,000 word story contains sexually explicit material between men in a committed relationship and is intended for adults over 18.

    until now.To his surprise, Teddy finds himself co-owner of the Oasis Theater with Carter Monroe, a corporate shark who's looking at him like he's chum in the water. Being in charge of the theater is one thing, but having to deal with Carter and his demands is another. With Carter's proposed plan to sell the Oasis looming, Teddy must convince Carter the theater is worth saving. When he introduces the bright, bold world of the stage to Carter's cold, all-business lifestyle, though, Teddy soon comes to recognize that the Oasis might not be the only thing he has a chance to save.

    After his last disastrous relationship, he'll never again date a man who's not out. A little discretion while working for ultra-conservative clients in west Texas is hardly the same as being in the closet. Anyway, the only person he's interested in being indiscreet with is the client's macho son. Not happening, Trav.Bo Vargas is a cowboy-boot-wearing, meat-eating, truck-driving ode to masculinity. He's not gay. The men he picks up on business trips are just anonymous diversions. Travis isn't anonymous. And there's something about him that makes Bo want to expand his relationship options. Maybe.When a popular dating app sends Bo and Travis on the same blind date, the night explodes in passion. One night isn't a problem. But what will each man be willing to risk the morning after?

    Will Ryder cross a line no man should cross to obtain a second chance?Ryder Halloway made a life changing decision about his relationship with Harlan when he was young and stupid. Thanks to one rash moment, he lost it all. He lost the only man he would ever love, his drive to even try to finish college and his zest for life.Seven years later finds him in front of Harlan's house preparing to take back what he lost with a vengeance. He's prepared to use all the tricks in his arsenal to plow through every wall, protest and excuse Harlan might come up with.Of course, he never expected Harlan to put him in the hospital.Harlan Mychels had his heart broken in college by the popular Ryder. He learned his lesson about love and since then hasn't allowed anyone even remotely close to his heart. Then one morning he turns and sees the one person able to tear his walls down and destroy what is left of it.He uses every defensive tactic in his possession to keep Ryder at arm's length, but Ryder is persistent. Harlan's not sure if he can stay safe from heartache, and he starts wondering what the real heartache is – letting Ryder in again...or letting him go for good.**This book was previously published in the Story Orgy anthology Word Play**

    With all the heartbreak and despair, I feel myself slipping from humanity. I need something or someone to breathe new life into me.Photo Description: Colorized black and white - muscular doctor with bicep tattoo, wearing dark blue scrub pants falling down, with pale blue boxer briefs with a blue stethoscope around his neck.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.Download the story, read it online or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 9.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: ER; medical personnel; teacher; smoking; Star Trek fandomWarning: Brief descriptions of child abuse scenarios not related to main characters’ personal history/experienceWord count: 15,970

    Written for the M/M Romance Group's "Hot Summer Days" anthology.Jonah Beckett has been in love with his older brother's best friend, Laurie, since he was thirteen-years-old. When his boyfriend, Dirk, breaks up with him for refusing to put out, Jonah uses his heartbreak over the situation as an excuse to ask Laurie to teach him all about sex before he starts college in the fall. Problem is, he made Dirk up, and Jonah has no idea what will happen when Laurie finally finds out the truth.~*~Cover design by L.C. Chase.Download the story, read it here or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 1 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.

    He’ll do anything legal, including going gay for pay and spending a weekend as “Craig Rocke,” with gay porn star Marston Cougar. Marston tells him to remember it’s all fantasy for the camera even though it feels like more.Gary Carmeletti, also known as Marston Cougar, has a respectable day job. He started out making gay porn to pay for college. After getting his heart broken, he has a no-dating rule. Now paired with “virgin” Craig, he finds it hard to keep it make-believe when he’s losing his heart.Gary’s niece needs surgery, and he almost has enough money to quit for good. But now that he feels a true connection with his fantasy costar, will he be able to find a happily ever after when he feels it’s more than make-believe?

    What follows is a series of progressively intimate encounters that leads them on a scintillating erotic journey together. But Jeremy has a secret. Will his revelation destroy the burgeoning intimacy between them? Or will Martin rise to the challenge of loving a 'less than perfect' man?

    David's sheltered upbringing has left him socially awkward, a 80s fashion sense and a stick-thin physique. Matt decides to look out for the daydreaming student and teaches about some of the things he has missed out on. They quickly become best friends. However, David's feelings for Matt grow deeper than just friendship. After a awkward encounter with a girl Matt sets him up with, David knows he only wants on thing. But will David convince Matt to succumb to their desires? Or will it all end in disaster?

    Not this holiday. After his degree-seeking lover leaves humble blue-collar Ben, Ben spends the Yuletide miserable. He's not accustomed to being alone, not after seven years. Eventually Ben finds his lover's new address and sends him a greeting card asking when he'll come back home—only to learn in the returned correspondence that his card reached the wrong address and another man, Jason Prescott, by mistake.Jason is touched by Ben's appeal to his lover, and he and Ben spend months growing close as pen pals. Frequently exchanged correspondence turns into weekends spent together, but after learning Jason's working on his second master's degree and is even smarter than Ben's ex, Ben wonders if Jason will be able to love someone as ordinary as he is.

    Living alone in the old house his grandparents left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he has written off the possibility of romance or even sex. He refuses to consider himself lonely, or wonder what he might be missing. His life is organized, predictable, and, best of all, risk-free.Until the day he installs shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. With his contradictory combination of confidence and self-doubt, Gavin draws Derrick in with an intensity he's never known. As undeniable as gravity, Derrick finds himself falling for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways. But Gavin carries wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a dangerous betrayal, his future is far from certain. Can Derrick choose passion over safety, and let himself believe that Gavin is worth the risk?