Women. Drugs. Dima Zhirkov’s favorite things. Add in the element of danger and he should be right as rain. But not today. It’s not working, hasn’t for a long time. He’s grasping at the flimsiest of straws to prove he’s indeed strong enough to run his streets. Until he sets eyes on him. In the midst of a room full of strangers, Dima is drawn to a man as cold and dangerous as he’s beautiful. Captivated, Dima embarks on a ruthless campaign to get his new toy into bed.Here comes the danger…Xavier "X" Storm is content to pull the strings while someone else handles the day to day dealings of his gang, The Rude Boys. He’s after what Dima holds closest—the Coney Island streets. He contracts out the job of killing the Russian, except Dima isn’t that easy to kill. When he suddenly shows up in X’s path, tempting him to indulge in the dirtiest play, he finds Dima isn’t all that easy to shake, either. His cocky attitude and rough submission tempts X to go where he’d vowed to never return, and they plunge head first into an affair fueled by possessive obsession.Run for cover. Sex and pain Dima can handle, and X delivers the most depraved kind. Their connection is explosive, their games addictive, but Dima can end it whenever he wishes. He doesn’t see that X is breaking him down, giving Dima everything he wants and even more than he ever thought to need. By the time he realizes who X is and what he wants, Dima is raw and bullet riddled. It’s run or fight. And Dima doesn’t back down. Neither does X.

    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.

    Leland isn’t just his boss, though. He’s the son of the company’s CEO. And Brian has fallen in love. Hurt by too many stolen kisses and nooners at seedy hotels, Brian finally broke off their secret affair two weeks ago. Leland isn’t ready to let Brian go and he isn’t above seducing Brian — again — to give them both what they really want for Christmas: each other.This free short story was originally written for the Goodreads M/M Romance Group's 2010 holiday event and appears in the event's Stuff My Stocking: M/M Romance Stories that are Nice and… Naughty anthology.

    He's already lost a long-term boyfriend to the ex-gay movement-Robbie abandoned him for a straight life complete with wife-and for his own closure as well as his job at Options magazine, Misha intends to get an inside look at the ministry established by C. Everett Hammer III. Misha is shocked and dismayed to find someone else from his past at Stronger Wings, a man with whom he shared two brief but captivating encounters. He knows he can't save everyone in the program, but he's determined to save Jude Stone... no matter what it takes.

    It's not like Sam has a choice. He cares deeply for Mitch. He even refrains from saying "I told you so."That one night of chaste comfort is all it takes to start Sam thinking about Mitch in ways he really shouldn't. A spontaneous kiss that should have helped sort things out just makes everything more complicated, because Sam is terrified sex will ruin their friendship. Mitch is afraid that pushing Sam for more will drive a wedge between them, but he's even more afraid of never trying for happiness with Sam at all.

    Bradford Mitchell tries to escape the emptiness and loss by leaving his life in Seattle behind. Traveling to the Alaskan mountains where he and Jeff often vacationed, Brad reconnects with Mac Cleary, the ruggedly handsome and very straight floatplane pilot who had flown them to Hyline Lake many times in the past. Brad and Mac form an unlikely friendship and buy an old log cabin together, and as he and Mac begin to bring the old cabin back to life, Mac watches Brad come back to life as well, stirring emotions in him he’s never felt for a man before. When fear, confusion, and a near tragedy threaten to force the two men apart, they’ll face some tough questions. Can Brad let go of Jeff and the guilt he feels about beginning to care for another man? And can Mac deal with his fears of being gay and accept the fact that he is in love with Brad? It will be a struggle for both men to keep their heads and hearts intact while exploring what life has to offer.

    Simple handyman. Can they find common ground? Will Spencer is a player with a reputation for using and discarding lovers as easily as he earns big money on Wall Street. Handsome, sexy and openly gay, he’s used to having whatever—and whoever—he wants at the snap of his fingers. And what he wants now is his new handyman, Jack Crawford. But Jack is skittish. One lingering touch, one stolen kiss could send the older man into full retreat. Where Will might have quickly moved on to a more ready-and-willing partner, he unexpectedly finds himself wanting to go slow. With just a little coaxing, he’s sure he can show Jack how good it could be between them. Jack, a recent widower, never thought of himself as gay. Frightened years ago by an erotic encounter with his best friend, he focused firmly on his marriage. Now that his bed is empty, however, those deep sexual longings are rising dangerously close to the surface. Their connection is deep, instant, and one that Jack tries to ignore. Yet friendship grows into an erotic journey that must cross a divide of different generations, backgrounds and worlds. The prize is the one thing neither is sure he can handle—true love.

    They were close friends for a long time, but life just got in the way and their competitive careers and busy lives meant they somehow fell out of touch. They never forgot about each other, and they have both been waiting for this moment for years.I’d like to see an emotional reunion, maybe a hint of hurt/comfort in there somewhere if you can fit it in, but most of all just a whole lot of love (I’m a hopeless romantic!).Photo Description: The black and white photograph shows a bed, from directly above, with two young men all the way over to the right side, visible from the waist up. Their torsos are bare. They lie facing one another, and their embrace is tender and loving more than it is passionate.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.

    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 4.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: baby; hot business; adoption; family; a bit of m/m steamWarnings: noneWord Count: 15,528

    Barely scraping by, Robert does what he has to in order to provide for Jack and Emma, even skipping a few meals here and there. A new VP joins the plant where he works, and always-been-straight Robert’s life is complicated when he is drawn to the man.Ethan Russell is the epitome of strength and confidence, and it seems everywhere Robert goes—and anytime he needs a strong shoulder to lean on—Ethan is there. Not even certain Ethan's attention is anything more than charity, Robert begins to struggle with his attraction to the handsome executive, who is part guardian angel and part sex god.When tragedy strikes the family, Robert realizes he needs to be with Ethan, who's away on business. Emotionally wrecked, Robert returns to his empty home. His life, his family, and his future are up the air, and Ethan may be the only chance he has for everlasting happiness.

    Harcourt And The Hurricane is a spin-off from the Lavender Series but is thoroughly enjoyable on its own.** After a scrape with the authorities, Reginald finds himself trapped in his own hell by a hurricane. He's stranded without a computer, a decent cocktail and the only other man alive who finds him resistible. A corpse and a mystery transforms a peaceful holiday into just the sort of puzzle Reginald can't resist. Can he solve the mystery without creating more chaos or putting his life in danger? Hayes held up his bottle and winked before he took another drink. He sighed contentedly as he leaned back on his elbow and Reginald damned his eyes for drifting down his chest and washboard stomach. He coughed softly as he looked around then nodded when his eyes settled on the ocean. “I think I’ll go for a swim,” Reginald announced as he turned and got his knees beneath him. He crawled until he was out of the halo of light surrounding the fire then scrambled to his feet. He swatted at his hard-on, trying to coax it into a more discreet configuration as he stumbled down the beach. “That’s not a good idea,” Hayes warned as he rolled onto his stomach then pushed himself off the ground. He teetered as he straightened then staggered after Reginald. “The water’s really cold and the current’s still too strong,” he called and Reginald flailed his arms dismissively. He was still holding his bottle and rum splashed on his chest and arm. He winced and mumbled at the bottle apologetically before he licked his wrist clean. He attempted to run his tongue along his forearm to his elbow but it wasn’t long enough. “I can’t lick my elbow!” Reginald complained and there was a snorting giggle from Hayes. “You’re not supposed to. Humans can’t lick their own elbows,” he explained and Reginald squeezed an eye shut so he could see his elbow. “Nonsense,” he argued then tossed the bottle aside. “I’m sure I’ve licked my elbow at least a hundred times,” he said as his neck, chin and tongue stretched toward his elbow as he turned in a circle like a dog chasing its own tail. Ice cold water washed over his feet and he gasped as the sand sunk beneath him before a wave knocked his legs out from under him. “I told you!” Hayes howled as he hugged his bottle to his chest and stomped into the water after Reginald. It was frigid, frothy and salty and Reginald shut his eyes and mouth as he relaxed and let the water carry him back. He could practically feel the steam coming off his body. “Get up!” Hayes ordered as his hand locked around Reginald’s wrist. “I needed that,” Reginald said as he was pulled to his feet. A larger waved rolled toward them and Hayes braced himself. Reginald reached for Hayes’ shoulder just as he was thrown against him. He groaned as he crashed into Hayes’ hard, lean frame. “I did not need that,” he muttered and Hayes swore as he steadied Reginald. “Can we go back now?” He asked and Reginald nodded as he let Hayes turn him toward the fire. Hayes locked an arm around Reginald’s chest and tugged him out of the water. Reginald hummed happily and draped his arm over Hayes’ shoulder as they danced up the beach. “You know, I don’t think I can lick my elbow,” Reginald decided and Hayes snorted before he took another drink. “I know I can lick yours,” he said and Hayes groaned. “Do you ever shut up?”

    That choice was taken away from him when the High King of Naverya, Adam Radcliffe, met Tobey and wanted him for his own. Against Tobey's will, his body and also heart fell prey to the man everyone called High King and the man he simply called Adam. As Tobey becomes Adam's favourite concubine, jealous rivals threaten to tear asunder the love that they have created together.

    popular. With a beautiful girl on his arm, a promising career, and a place in the first fifteen, he is the envy of all his friends. Yet when Tom meets Sam, one sunny December afternoon, a train of events is set in motion that will change both of their lives for ever. A tale of love, betrayal, heartache, and hope. A testament to how one chance encounter can change everything.

    When Father Nate calls him and asks him to work with Jamie as a big brother, Alex envisions a little kid and maybe some hero worship. He's not expecting the beautiful young man only two years younger than he is. Jamie's hot. Very hot, and even if he is eighteen, Alex feels guilty lusting after the kid. But Alex is sending some very mixed signals, and Jamie is getting pretty frustrated with the waiting. Will it take a catastrophe to make these two see that they might be right for each other?

    When his friend's death is ruled a suicide, Kevin Connor--a hustler by trade, sleuth by default--sets out to prove a case of murder. It doesn't help matters that the victim's grown children, who disapproved of their father's sexual orientation, are only concerned about their inheritance. But they are not Kevin's only problem. His high-strung mother has moved in with him--and she knows nothing about his questionable . . . job. Throw in his super-hot ex - now a New York City detective - and Kevin has more than his hands full. JA Konrath calls Sherman "the gay Janet Evanovich." You'll fall for this sexy, funny first mystery in the Kevin Connor series. Scott Sherman has written for Newsweek, Genre, Instinct, and The Washington Blade. The follow-up to First You Fall, Second You Sin was released by Kensington in October, 2011 in trade paperback and for the Kindle. The third book in the series will be coming out in 2012.