Holding the Reins
by Vincent Diamond
Marcus is grieving -- for the lover he lost and for the life he once had on his farm. The years of sunny days and trail rides have given way to rainy nights and shadowed pastures. It's time to let go, but can Marcus make the hard decision to say goodbye?
To the Ends of the Earth
by R.G. Hendrickson
Joe is alone in his Brooklyn apartment, which he can't afford now. The pandemic complicates his plan to get a roommate. If only Michael could have stayed. Joe would join him on the west coast but he likes his job in NYC, in medical billing and coding. He does it online at home, at least for a while, but now he has to go back to the office and work in a plastic tent.<br><br>Vegan chef Michael detests meat, cooking it as well as eating it. Due to the restaurant where he works closing, he has to ta…
Opening Day at the County Fair
by J.M. Snyder
Jesse's a freeloader according to his father, a man he'll never please. Working on the farm is hard work and getting ready for the county fair a welcome respite from the daily grind. There he meets Davis.<br><br>The son of a local contractor, Davis is helping assemble the booths. He catches Jesse's attention immediately, and the two hit it off. If only they can ditch Jesse's sister long enough to get to know each other a little better ...
Hot Merchandise
by J.M. Snyder
It’s Friday night and the only music store in the mall, Da Hot Spot, is the place to be. Crammed with a young, rowdy crowd, the Spot pounds with a steady hip-hop beat that draws in the customers and keeps them milling in the aisles.<br><br>When an employee sees two guys casing the store, she advises manager Bill Jackson to call security. But the last thing Bill wants is to cause a scene, particularly one that might incite racial tension. In the hopes of settling things quietly, he asks the alleg…
A South Texas Holiday
by Michael War
Jesus Mendoza is looking to get away from big city life and forget about his cheating ex-boyfriend. So when he has the opportunity to film a local Posada at a progressive church in South Texas, he takes the first ticket out of Chicago and heads to Puntos Del Rey.<br><br>The first thing he notices is the heat, but the second is hunky Frank Villalobos, his guide for the week of the Posada. While Jesus tries to keep things professional, his attraction to Frank is undeniable. As Jesus gets to know t…
Joy Ride
by J.M. Snyder
Mack puts up with Brad’s flirtatious banter because he doesn’t think there’s anything serious about it. But when Brad goads him into a race, Mack takes the opportunity to find out just how far the younger biker will go when they’re finally alone.
Afflicted
by J.M. Snyder
It's hard to understand why some people feel the need to hurt themselves, especially when they seem to have everything they need or want out of life. So how do you help someone bent on a path of self-destruction?<br><br>And what can you possibly do when it's someone you love?<br><br>This short but powerful story is about a young man who discovers his lover is a "cutter." Simply asking him to stop doesn't solve the problem. As much as he hates to do it, he lays down an ultimatum that will hopeful…
Within It's Walls - The Gangleader Wants Me
by Marcel4eva
Two completely different humans are brought together by a frightening yet complicated chemistry.The only immediate thing Aden always wanted was to leave his oppressive step family behind and make it through life's tedious challenges. it's always been his goal, not getting involved in a nonexistent relationship with the school jocks or falling for them in fact.But kidnapped by an alleged top notch secret gang leader was not an option either but he somehow comes to terms with the frightening event…
Cup o’ Sugar
by Ofelia Gr?nd
Roarak Halfhide of the Halfhide pack understands his duty. He’s found his pack a home, now he just needs to keep them safe and fed. It doesn’t matter that Sam, one of the workers at Cup o’ Sugar, makes him want to shirk his duties and spend his time sipping coffee in one of the booths.<br><br>He doesn’t even like coffee.<br><br>But things don’t always go as planned, and when there is a threat to Sam, Roarak can’t pretend to be just another coffee-loving customer. He has to protect his mate.
Changelings
by Wayne Mansfield
Jacob is a photographer and artist. One day, as he is walking through the woods, he catches a glimpse of a fairy, a tiny, flying human-shaped creature.<br><br>He knows no one will believe him, not even his lover Robert, so the following day Jacob ventures back into the woods whereupon he discovers more than he bargains for. An old oak lying across the rushing waters of a small river is the gateway to another world.<br><br>Fairy Land is a place of wonders where he meets Kellen, a fairy soldier, F…
Forgetting
by Wayne Mansfield
The test of any relationship is whether someone will stick around when times get tough.<br><br>Mark has middle-level Alzheimer’s. There are long periods of time he cannot account for. Often he can’t remember the names of everyday objects, or even of people. This is both unsettling and irritating. He spends a good deal of his time in a comfortable armchair by the window, looking out at the back yard.<br><br>But there is a man in the house with him. Mark doesn’t feel threatened by his presence. Ju…
Of Love and Punishment
by Wayne Mansfield
Dis, the ancient word for Hell, is a world parallel to our own, close enough for its inhabitants to pass back and forth from their realm into ours, collecting souls and tormenting believers.<br><br>Charam is a handsome devil who can easily pass for human. It’s an ability that brings him both pleasure and punishment. He loves his partner, Raum, a minor member of Dis aristocracy, but sometimes he slips. He can’t seem to control himself and he strays. It’s what he does. And why not? Apart from the …
On the Job
by J.M. Snyder
Charles is a service technician with the cable company who doesn't usually do new installs. His day is limited to trouble calls and reconnects.<br><br>But an irate customer has called into the office -- he missed the installer and now demands the cable company send someone out to hook up his service. Charles is already in the neighborhood when he gets the call.<br><br>New installs aren't usually in Charles's job description. But when he meets the sexy Billy Jackson, he's more than willing to hoo…
The Darkest Hour
by Wayne Mansfield
Daniel Greene is an artist with an exhibition coming up which he should be excited about, except he isn’t. He can’t sleep, he has no enthusiasm for social activities, and his constant tears and dark thoughts alarm him. When he’s finally diagnosed with depression, he starts the slow process of resisting the dark lure.<br><br>One day Oliver Campbell arrives at Daniel’s gate to deliver art supplies. He’s tall and muscular, and for the first time in a long while, Daniel feels there might be light at…
Music and Magic
by Foster Bridget Cassidy
Markle Vanrick is cursed by the gods. Nothing in his life has ever worked out. So, when he works up the courage to leave home with only his lute, it’s only natural his money is stolen and he’s stuck without a way to get to his cousin’s farm.<br><br>Enter Frye Indori, a mischievous man who lives life to the fullest -- only because he’s a few steps away from being caught and killed. Blessed with magic from the goddess Magana, Frye fled his hometown to escape the clutches of the corrupt priestess p…
Working It
by Louis Stevens
Martin is on his way up. He’s finishing his post-graduate degree in architecture, has an internship at the hottest firm in the country, and a clear goal of becoming the next big thing in the industry. There’s only one thing standing in his way.<br><br>Andrew Ryder.<br><br>Andrew is the leading architect in North America. Those who make it a year working for him have a career set in gold. The problem is reaching the end of that year working for the most arrogant and obnoxious boss in the history …
Play with Fire
by R.W. Clinger
Jobe Tucker is the hottest fireman in Templeton by Lake Erie. Hot, single, and a fireman, he’s caught the eye of Stuart Talbot, owner of a local convenience store. But if Talbot doesn’t stop prying in the fireman’s life, there might be hell to pay. He just can’t control his crush, though.<br><br>Enter Talbot’s best friend, the straight Adam Lark, who balances Talbot when needed. Plus he owns a cabin away from the city where the two men occasionally spend weekends for downtime, relaxing. Unfortun…
Lonesome Men
by Edward Kendrick
Two men with nothing in common except friendship.<br><br>One man is Darren Cameron, a cop who patrols the streets nightly. After his divorce -- because he revealed to his wife he was gay -- he gained full custody of his son, Jesse. Jesse is now twenty-one, living with his girlfriend, and trying to play matchmaker between his landlord, Malcom, and Darren.<br><br>The other is Rob, a homeless war veteran living on the streets, who has adamantly resists all Darren's efforts to help him start his lif…
Just a Little Unwell
by Iyana Jenna
Patrick Trafford is pleased with the simple life he has, spending his time tending a tiny garden accompanied by his best friend, Chad, who just happens to be a cockroach. Nevertheless, he can't hide the excitement bubbling in him when a man suddenly appears in the garden.<br><br>Damien Abner politely welcomes, albeit somewhat at a loss, Patrick's warm offer to spend time with him. To have a coffee, watch some movie, and dance along with the characters in it.<br><br>They begin to date and Patrick…
Two Hearts
by David Connor
Following a lightning strike that causes his nervous system to go haywire, Frank is left unable to touch another living thing. Though resigned to being a lonely freak, he ever hopes that someone, somewhere, might love him.<br><br>But his life goes from bad to worse when someone does ...