Can you share a peek into their triumphant story and let us see who they are and who is watching over them in the world they can finally share?Photo Description: Two naked sandy men kiss on the beach as men stand near. The crew-cut top cradles his dark-haired partner and almost blocks him from view. The other hooks his leg and arms around the first. He wears a ring on his pinky finger.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 4.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, military men, business men-lawyers, in-the-closet, over age 40, reunion, long lost love, childhood sweethearts, coming out, don't ask don't tellWarnings: implied het, infidelity (involving a main character)Word Count: 9,322

    They've just unexpectedly reunited in this small town diner somewhere in the Northeast. Based on this picture it looks like their accidental meeting is turning into something more than just childhood best friends running into each other later in life.Please give these cute boys a happy ever after ending.Photo Description: Two young men face each other and kiss gently in the booth of a teal-colored diner. In front of the sunlit, white venetian blinds, the dirty blonde's right hand and the raven-haired youth's left hand cross to hold each other at the neck, thumbs caressing cheeks. 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 2.__________Genre: science fictionTags: gay m/m, reunited, interspecies, in the closet, friends to loversWord Count: 9,446

    This evil mob boss thinks he owns me. I’ve been under cover for so long I’ve forgotten who I really am. There’s a new guy in the gang who’s always watching me but for some reason I think I can trust him. Maybe we can bring down this gang together and get out with our lives and a HEA?Photo Description: A dark-haired lightly-bearded man in business clothes gazes forward confidently, almost ignoring intense attention of the man standing close manhandling him. His dark eyes shine and a smile curves his lips, despite the ringed and tattooed hands that grip his neck and turn his face. The other man frowns, mouth cold and cruel. From the shadows, a third man watches.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 4.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, suits, tattoos, organized crime, casual threesomeWarnings: mention of organized crime and drug dealing, prostitution, sex with strangers, some consensual power playWord Count: 15,499

    He's not afraid to make the merciless decisions, to put in the long hours, to lose himself in his work for the greater good of his company and his clients…even if it means losing a piece of himself in the process. But when does a man with a mind always turning at two hundred rotations per second get his personal needs met?Dalton is an uncompromising businessman, who could, no doubt, go toe-to-toe with Archer in the boardroom—but that's not the room Dalton wants to tackle Archer in.With a little help from his friends at the premier BDSM club, The Sanctuary, Dalton hopes to fulfill every one of Archer's hidden needs.**Previously released as part of the Don't Read in the Closet V.II M/M Romance Collection in 2011. Since then it has been reworked and edited for your reading enjoyment.8,100 words

    Maybe there's one hanging out in this bottle of Jaeger....Photo Description: Sitting on a doorstep in a brick wall, arms on his knees and a bottle of Jaeger tilted to his mouth, is a very...unusual man. He's lean, tattooed and shaven-headed, wearing only a pink tutu, pink-and-white striped socks, and rubber-toed black sneakers. He holds a cigarette, one knee sports a Band-Aid, and perched on his head is a rhinestone tiara.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 4.__________Genre: paranormal contemporaryTags: gay m/m, fairies/fae, magic, second chances, comfort, sex content mild/non-explicitWord Count: 4,850

    Perhaps there's a hurt/comfort story in here that someone might like to write? It doesn't have to feature Batman, of course! But then again, maybe it does. I'll leave that up to you! As for the other man? If one is Batman, is he Robin? Or someone else? Maybe Batman is just a man in uniform, either military or police, you be the judge!Photo Description: Batman stands in front of the moon with a beautiful naked man in his arms.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 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, fanfic, slash, Batman, super-heroWord Count: 11,624

    Any chance you can help me out?Photo Description: At a lake in a forest, two shirtless young men stand front to back, facing left, heads bowed forward. The one in front has his right arm bent behind his head, holding his lover's head close. His shorts are unbuttoned. His lover pulls back on his left arm at the elbow.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 2.__________Genre: sci-fiTags: gay m/m, military, year 2200, spaceships, obliterated Earth, aliens, robot soldiers, a hot interspecies man, sweet future technology, a kick-ass grandmother, and a Reference HologramWord Count: 10,646

    He's living on the streets (or beach) and looking for love (someone to give a damn) in all the wrong places including gay bars and dark alleys.The older man rescues him from someone taking advantage of him (hurting him) and takes him home for a few days till the boy gets on his feet. What the older man didn't count on was the kid getting to his protective and dominant instincts with the boy's submissive (calming) reaction to the slightest touch of skin on skin. What happens then is up to you. HFN or HEA with D/s works for me.Photo Description: A very young man with pale skin and dark hair is pinned up against a wall. The older man behind him has a hand on the boy's forehead, tipping his head back until his pale neck stretches. His cheek is against the boy's hair. Despite the controlled pose, or perhaps because of it, the young man shows closed-eyed calmness.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: contemporaryTags: hurt-comfort, age-gap, light-BDSM (rough/bossy), barely-legal (he’s 18), boy off the streetsWord Count: 7,039

    He’s looking out from a window somewhere in heaven. He’s alone and miserable, because he did the unthinkable and gave in to the advances of another angel. The two angels fell in love with each other, and that was when things went wrong.His lover got punished; he was tossed out of heaven, because even though sometimes an angel can give their wings when they fall in love with a human, it can’t happen with other angels. Those are the rules in heaven.The angel in the picture wonders, if it would be worth to ask for a permission to go down to look for his love, because all his lover’s memories would have been wiped when he was de-winged.The worst part? Once an angel asks to go down to live as a human, there’s no way he can ever return to heaven, not until he dies. He may keep his memories, but what would he do if he couldn’t find his lover or if the lover wouldn’t want him in his new life.And my dear author, please don’t make this in any way about God, Christianity, or religion in general, because I’m agnostic and I can’t deal with that stuff. Sorry. :)Photo Description: Half in shadow, the dark-haired angel gazes intently up and away. Sunlight catches the fine cut of his naked muscled chest, the tattooed stars on his hip, the thorny design on his shoulder. Shadows lie on the soft white feathers of his wings, as he slides his white pants open.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 4 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.__________Genre: paranormal romanceTags: gay m/m, light D/S, angels, angst, love, drama, light BDSMWord Count: 19,345

    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

    He's loved his time in the military, but hated having to hide who he is. He's kept his secret long enough. Can you give him the happily ever after he deserves?Photo Description: His Chief Petty Officer's hat is so low over his eyes it completely shadows them. Only his strong jaw and surprisingly sensual mouth are visible. His dark jacket is pulled wide to display that there is nothing under it but a naked, perfectly hard-bodied torso, and a pair of dog-tags strung around his neck.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 3.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, militaryWord Count: 7,021

    After coming out and experiencing a painful rejection from his parents and friends, Kurt feels as if he's lost everything that mattered. Then he connects with James Theard and his perspective on life and the truth found in love changes forever.Original Prompt:Dear Author,Where is this guy? What’s he looking at, I wonder? And is that guy down the hall watching him with longing? Maybe he’s been too shy to make his move before now. Maybe he’s trying to build up his courage. So, what do you think? Can you help the shy little guy get his happy ending?Photo Description: A slim, classic-featured boy in low-riding briefs leans against a wall, washed in dim blue and gold light. One graceful hand brushes his own bare chest, as he gazes forward. Behind him, down the hall, a shadowed dark-haired boy in shorts leans out of doorway watching in rapt attention.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.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, italics, dash and ellipsis point abuse, sappy romance, prose with a mild purple hue, non-explicit, college, athletes, oh, teh angst!, excessive blushing, locker room groping, public displays of adorable, sports, nosey strangers & swimming allusion pornWord Count: 12,663

    I know the background is dark. I imagine them in a bedroom at this point.Photo Description: In moody black and white, two bare-chested men embrace. The front man stands still, arms at his sides. He tilts his head, eyes closed, his handsome face pensive. From behind, his lover wraps both arms around his shoulders in a snug embrace, fingers curved over his perfect chest, face buried against his cheek.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 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, recovery, one night standWord Count: 7,308

    or https://www.payhip.com/pennybrandonDear Author,I have tried every game and trick that I can think of. All I want is to have the big boss man take one look in my direction. I have been in love with him since the first day I stepped foot on this ranch two years ago.Can someone out there give this cocky cowboy the HEA and punishment that he is looking for.Photo Description: Standing in the stirrups of a western saddle on a bay horse, silhouetted against a blue sky, is a totally naked cowboy. He's young, slim, with curly brown hair and a tattoo on one bicep. The distinct tan lines around his white ass suggest he swims in a Speedo. He holds a white Stetson strategically over his groin.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. (Note: titled as Finding Jack.)__________Genre: contemporary, cowboysTags: gay m/m, cowboys, Australian, punishment, spanking, leatherWarnings: mild BDSMWord Count:

    The casual meetings that sustained him will be over soon—Raymond’s parents are moving from the old family home.The weeping willow tree in Raymond’s back yard is a place of transformations: from caterpillar to beautiful moth, from child to youth to adult. The old tree might retain enough of its childhood magic to open Raymond’s eyes and let him see the loving man where the adoring child once stood.Original Prompt:Dear Author,Everyone keeps telling me I'm too young to really know what I want or who I am yet. Give it time, don't be rash. But it's all just noise -- just blah blah blah -- when I see him.He's older, wiser, experienced and he makes me melt every time he looks at me. He's what I want and his boyfriend is who I am. Well, I'm hoping that's where tonight will lead, anyway. I'm going to do my damnedest to seduce him, to show him I can give him the sweet and tender I'm betting he needs.He spends his days being tough and confident, but I know there's a marshmallow angel inside him. I can take care of him. I can. Even if I've never done anything like this before. I have to try.Photo Description: An older, naked mystery man lies back, left leg bent so his foot is flat on a white bed, hands on his torso. His naked teenaged lover is on hands and knees between his legs, arms braced to either side of his hips. The blonde youth stares at him with intent.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, friends to lovers, age-difference, college, vanilla, outdoorsWord Count: 4,382