As a result, he mostly keeps to himself—makes it easier not to notice that no matter how he tries, people think he’s a know-it-all and a snob. Freewheeling urban gardener Milo Rios has worked hard to get where he is, and he’s passionate about his job at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He can get along with almost anyone, but no one has ever made him care enough to stick around. When Stefan and Milo meet on Milo’s tour of the Botanic Garden, it’s hatred at first clash. But hatred quickly turns to lust as Milo shows Stefan how exquisite it can feel to lose the control he’s clung to for so long. As Stefan’s mask begins to slip, Milo sees a deep vulnerability in the prim academic. Once he’s experienced Milo’s world, Stefan can admit that he wants more from life than professional success. If they can work together, Stefan and Milo just might be able to cultivate the future they both yearn for.This novella was previously published in the Exposed collection.

    The dependable one. The shoulder. The anchor. The pillar. The rock. The matchmaker. I’m the one you call when you’ve had a bad day. When you need to vent, or scream, or cry. I will always be there to comfort you. It’s a gift. A talent. A role I’ve happily played. I’ve helped my friends become who they were meant to be. I’ve watched them move away, find love, start their lives. But what about me? When does my life start? Where is my happily-ever-after? My name is Guy Handlin, and this is my story. *This novella is a New Adult M/M romance. Recommended for 17+ due to harsh language, sexual situations, and adult themes. **Let It Be is a companion novella to the Sometimes Never series, however, it can be read as a stand-alone book. ***Please note this novella deals with dark subject matter.

    Inside Tulane Medical Center the temperature is on the rise.A doctor nursing a broken heart. A wounded warrior with no interest in love. A single father finding the girl who got away. A combat nurse trying to adjust to civilian life. Two lost souls looking for love. A former detective looking for answers and an FBI agent who finds more than he bargains for.Desire. Lust. Excess. New Orleans will never be the same.Six never before released stories that will leave you breathless.Dirty things happen in the dark.Off DutySawyer BennettA member of the New York Fire Department, single father Tim Davis is about as tough as they come. But underneath the muscles and tattoos, he still nurses a bruised heart handed to him courtesy of his first love. While on vacation with his son in New Orleans, Tim runs into the very woman that taught him about love before pulling it all away.Holly Reynolds is rebuilding her life as an orthopedic doctor, far away from her home in New York City and her controlling father - the man responsible for tearing her and Tim apart. While she knows the hurt she caused Tim could never be forgiven, she can’t help the overwhelming feelings she still has for her first and deepest love.Truths are revealed as lies are exposed.ReboundChelle BlissAfter losing the love of his life to another man, Flash is heartbroken and lost.Wanting to forget, he heads to New Orleans. He finds the unexpected.A chance encounter could alter his fate or will she become his rebound?Wanting to ForgetToni AleoJordie Thomas is looking for something to take his mind off of the woman he let go—or rather, pushed away—and the terrifying prospect of what will happen if his broken leg doesn’t heal. He’s ready to get back to his family and fellow teammates on the Nashville Assassins and get back onto the ice. However, with his injured leg in the way and his mind clouded by a certain woman, he needs a break to clear his head and his heart. With New Orleans in his sights, can this player find a way to get back to the crazy and reckless life he used to live? Find out as author Toni Also takes readers on a wild journey in this Assassins novella.Closet ConfessionKindle AlexanderDr. Derek Babineaux is intelligent, dedicated, and one of the best ER physicians in the fast-paced world of critical care at TMC. Always on top of his game, he’s thrown off balance when the newest staff member unleashes his hidden desires.Justin Delacroix’s job at the inner city’s busiest hospital might be just what he needs to ease back into civilian life. There’s only one problem, his attraction for one sexy ER doctor is off the charts, but he has reasons for not returning Dr. Baby’s advances. Or maybe he doesn't.Healing TouchBrenda RothertShe spends her nights treating patients, but Dr. Jocelyn Drake’s own wounds are unfixable. A fierce determination to continue her research project and a shred of remaining pride keep Joss from transferring out of the Big Easy.Carson Stephens recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East, and now his closest companion is loneliness. His night-shift work supervising the electrical and mechanical systems at the hospital is a perfect fit – it’s solitary work putting broken things back together. If Carson has his way, his hands will work their magic on more than the wiring, and he’ll show Joss a night of passion that restores her shattered confidence.Swimming in ShadowsEden ButlerNeil Ryan was a good Navy SEAL. He was an even better detective, but when an unmarked envelope lands on Ryan’s desk, long-buried secrets are resurrected and Ryan questions everything he thought he knew about justice, including who killed his mother.Now he’s chasing a ghost, swimming in the shadows of the past, searching for answers. Ryan lands in America’s wildest, sexiest city tangling with a redhead, chasing down a dead woman, and trying to get his best friend to stop hounding him about a business he wants no part of. When a set up sends him straight to Tulane Medical, and into the care of the girl he never forgot, Ryan finds the strength and healing to unravel the mysteries of the past.

    It's the one reason Ben will never claim Dave Maldonado. Being alone is better than being with someone who lives in a bottle.Dave was destined to be a pack Alpha until his first migraine hit at age fifteen, the day he caught his future mate holding hands with another boy. In the nine agonizing years since, he's contented himself as Beta, but never learned to live with the pain and confusion of Ben's rejection.Dave's worst attack yet sends him to the hospital and brings them both face to face with the misunderstanding that's kept them apart all these years. It's too late, though. Dave is headed for Gay Pride Week at Disney World with one goal in mind. "Forget Ben Malone."Ben's got a problem with that. Only one man is destined to hold "his" David. And he'll give anything, even his last shred of pride, to win forgiveness and the right to finally claim his mate.Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, and male/male love scenes between two top dogs. Who knew Rock Paper Scissors could be such fun? "

    Even in modern times, the line must continue. So he'll marry and produce an heir.Yes, a wife will fit into his well-ordered life.Instead he ends up with the brilliant pianist Isabella. Strong. Spirited. And highly disobedient. She rebels against every custom and every rule, threatening his careful balance.Fransisco never backs away from a challenge.Isabella never bows down to anyone.This scorching hot battle of wills may leave both of them broken.**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

    Nor had she ever confessed to a partner her interest in spanking. When her co-worker Josh notices the odd look on her face after someone casually uses the word “spank,” he has an idea of just what might turn her on. On a business trip to Vancouver, the two find it easy to carve out a little time to sneak away and experiment in Josh's hotel room. Has Molly finally found the partner who can make all her fantasies come true?

    I’ve been terrified of planes since my father died in a crash, but being next to Craig makes me feel brave enough to sit in the pilot’s seat.And when his hands brush mine, I know he’s not as straight as he claims.But as perfect as we are in bed, we’re a disaster in the air. I’ve never been a good student, but my flight anxiety combined with Craig’s no-nonsense attitude keeps ruining our lessons. And when my ex-boyfriend reappears at my door, I have to face a hard truth: winning the lotto doesn’t uncomplicate your love life.CRAIG:I didn’t mean to fall in love with my student. Lucas fits the bill for “eccentric rich guy”, determined to fly even though he’s terrified. He’s persistent, and he’s the first man whose courage I find almost as attractive as his beautiful hands and lips.Being together feels right, even from the beginning.Well, except in the cockpit. My serious teaching style clashes with his uneasiness in the air, and our progress is slow. What’s worse, his shady ex decides to show up on his doorstep. He claims he doesn’t want a handout, but my protective instincts are dialed high. I’ll keep him safe, if he’ll let me.This is the second book in the Lottery Winners series. It can be read as a standalone with no cliffhanger.

    These stories range from 7k to 10k words and feature plenty of laughs, Marian cameos, and steamy nekkid bits. A suggested reading order can be found in the Look Inside, but you do not need to have read any other Made Marian novel to enjoy these stories. Please be aware that two of these stories can also be found in the Made Marian Collection bundle. Brad's Story:When Brad opens his Vegas hotel room door to find a hot police officer waiting on the other side, he assumes crazy Aunt Tilly has sent him a strip-o-gram. But instead of getting naked, Detective Gorgeous pulls out his cuffs. Turns out, the badge and uniform aren't just props, this cop is the real deal. Beck's Story:After touring around the world, sleeping with fans after sold-out concerts, Beck is still unsatisfied in the bedroom. Men, women, men and women? He doesn't know quite what he's looking for when he enters an exclusive club to find some company for the night. But two sexy strangers begin dancing with him at the same time, and Beck finally begins to realize that it might not be variety he's after, but just the right set of lips whispering sexy words into his ear. Keller's Story:After telling Tilly to back off her attempt at setting him up, Keller catches sight of the nude model for the old lady's art class. Did he speak too soon? Meanwhile, stand-in model Eli is regretting his decision to strip down for a group of senior citizens, but then meets the manager of the vineyard and realizes being naked might not be so bad after all. Especially when things get wet... like really very wet... with hoses. Josh's Story:After moving from Denali, Alaska, to San Francisco in order to branch out, Josh hosts a big poker night for the Marians and his co-workers at the National Park Service. Little does he know, his own true love may not be someone new after all. Eight years ago, Cyrus Dimakos had to leave the love of his life to take care of his great-grandmother on a remote island in Greece. A family obligation may have kept Cyrus's body away from Josh all this time, but his heart never left him. Could it be that The One That Got Away is finally back for good?

    The job she loves is on the line when she’s faced with writer’s block and given a deadline she knows she can’t meet—that’s until her best friend, Pip, comes up with the perfect idea.Anthea never says no to a dare, and this one is so perfect it will solve all of her problems.Twelve men. Twelve months. Twelve articles. But there’s a catch: Anthea can’t know the real names of the men she dates, and she must only refer to them by a Spanish number. Mister Uno is unsuspecting victim number one. He’s domineering, alluring, wealthy, and a surprise packet Anthea never imagined. Will Anthea be able to hide her identity from each gentleman suitor?Will she complete the dare and keep her job? And will she do it without falling in love?

    “Fun and easy” is his motto—and it’s kept him sunny through a painful upbringing and steered him away from trouble. But when trouble comes knocking in the form of a sexy, scarred, tattooed chef with a harrowing past and zero communication skills, Gage can’t help but be drawn to the flame.Brady Smith isn’t fun. And easy isn’t in his vocabulary. When cocky Gage swaggers into his restaurant kitchen, the former Marine-turned-five-star-chef is blindsided by the firefighter’s beauty. Then confused that this golden guy with the sparkling blue eyes and the body of a god might be interested in him. As desire flares and temperatures rise, Gage and Brady will have to figure out if the heat between them is just a temporary flash—or the beginning of something real.

    That is until he meets Xavier Dumont, a mysterious and dead sexy younger man. After having his heart broken by his long-time lover, Stephen is going through the motions and burying himself in his work instead of following his dreams. But if Xavier has his way, Stephen will seize the day—and the night.

    Who needs a commercialized holiday that only serves to make you feel bad about your relationship status, anyway? But not everyone at his party agrees. The cute blond guy who could be a member of a boy band challenges Bret, calling him bitter, and the truth comes spilling out: Bret's low interest in sex has destroyed every relationship he's had and tarnished his view of romance. Harry is tired of fast hook-ups and meaningless sex, but finding a guy who wants a serious commitment has been a challenge. When he meets the cute hipster throwing an anti-Valentine's Day party, he's immediately charmed. But when he learns Bret is graysexual -- willing to have sex only occasionally in the right circumstances -- he's leery of making promises he can't keep. He doesn't want to break Bret's heart or his own, but can he really walk away from a chance at real love? This s a novella of approximately 17,600 words.

    They would date, play, build something that was just for them, and share a future together. In a perfect world, Colt Carter would get through his next deployment and then move closer to DC where he could create at least a semblance of a personal life. He wanted something outside of the Air Force, something kinky, something worth leaving everything behind for eventually. For years, he’d kept his inner Sadist and Daddy Dom locked up, only letting him out to play on rare occasions. In a perfect world… In reality, Lucas and Colt met each other. Top Priority is the first novella in The Game Series, a BDSM series where romance meets the reality of kink. Sometimes we fall for someone we don’t match with, sometimes vanilla business gets in the way of kinky pleasure, and sometimes we have to compromise and push ourselves to overcome trauma and insecurities. No matter what, two things are certain. This is not a perfect world, and life never turns out the way you planned.

    Of course, all the late nights and weekends he spent at the office had their price, which he paid dearly. He no longer has any friends or social life to speak of, but none of that matters when he’s finally given the chance for an executive promotion, one that will grant him the financial security he so desperately craves. Kieron Parsons loves his life. He’s got a great family, friends he can count on, and a job that he enjoys. He works hard, but he also knows how to have fun, and for Kieron, there’s nothing more fun than teasing the sexy, surly man that comes into the deli every day for lunch. In fact, making the man blush has become the one thing he looks forward to most. He would love the chance to crack that hard exterior and see if there’s any sweetness inside. When Shaw’s boss invites him to attend an exclusive company vacation for executives only, he is thrilled. That is, until his boss tells him how important it is to have a balanced work and personal life then asks who his guest will be. Worried that not having anyone might cost him the promotion, Shaw makes up a lie, using the only person he can think of, the outrageous guy who’s always flirting with him at the deli. Thankfully, Kieron agrees to Shaw’s plan, posing as the uptight man’s boyfriend, but how are they supposed to convince everyone that they’re a couple when they barely know each other? Will Shaw’s rigid nature end up exposing their lie or will Kieron finally be able to convince him that there’s more to life than just work?

    Loving his very closeted stepbrother cost Denny everything once: his home, his family, the safety net of his trust fund. Everything. Denny built a new life. Matt finally coming out has stirred his stepmother's wrath, though, and four years of not loving Matt is about to cost Denny everything. Again.Or is it?Original Prompt:Dear Author,Sometimes you can find the love in the most unexpected places. He was younger and so full of himself that I couldn't even stand the sight of him. Unfortunately, we've know each other our whole life, so I couldn't ignore him. And then he decided to prepare a surprise...I've fallen in love with this picture and I'd be really grateful if someone wrote a story about these handsome men. It could be about close neighbours or even brothers (but not friends :). When I look at this picture I see sparks of love, passion and admiration flying between both men and the story should be the same.Photo Description: Two dark-haired jean-clad young men stand chest to chest, faces angled together, eyes closed. Bare muscular abdomens touch. Their mouths hover a breath away from each other. The taller, his back pressed to a rough wall, has a finger tucked in the other man's waistband, pulling him close.Download the story, read it online or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 2.__________Genre: contemporaryTags: gay m/m, brothers, stepbrothers, family, drama, angstWarnings: brothercest (stepbrothers)Word Count: 9,946