Detective Quinn Hughes doesn’t have many regrets in life,
but Sebastian Devlin is the biggest. As a cop and a defence lawyer, the deck was stacked
against them to start with, but Quinn was the one who left a burning inferno behind him.
Missing his chance with ex-Special Forces Commando Peyton Sinclair is a close second on his
regrets list, but Quinn isn’t going to ruin the happiness Peyton has found with fellow police
officer Will McMahon for anything—not even a chance at his own happiness.
Best friends Will McMahon and Peyton Sinclair have been
hooking up for years, content with their arrangement and the comfort they get from it.
When Sebastian—the hot lawyer they picked up at the club the night before—stumbles over
a dead body in their kitchen on his way out, calling Quinn is instinctive for them. Years of
unacknowledged tension between Peyton and Quinn is a sore point, but Peyton trusts that
Quinn will figure out the mess they’ve landed in.
While Quinn tries to find answers, Peyton and Will quickly
find themselves tangled in the tension between Quinn and Sebastian. They’re hoping Quinn
can move fast—before one of them becomes the next dead body—but the situation
becomes even more complicated when another explosive night proves that Peyton and Will
aren’t done with either Quinn or Sebastian, just as much as the two aren’t done with each
other.
Between the mind-blowing night Sebastian spent with
Peyton and Will, and the fact that every time he turns around it’s either Quinn or the barrel
of a gun waiting for him, Sebastian has never had more regrets. If he can survive long
enough to get some answers, maybe the four of them together are going to be the catalyst
for a future that’s more wildly different than anything they’d ever imagined.
Catalyst is a 90,000-word MMMM romance that ends in
a HFN. It is Book 1 in an ongoing series following the same four men and their relationship. It
contains adult situations, gun use, references to murder and drug usage, suspense themes
and a character with PTSD
Excerpt
Will nursed his empty glass as he waited for Peyton to
come back with more drinks. Having some drinks and dancing at a club was their favourite
way to unwind after a long week. While they’d stopped pretending that they were looking
for anyone to take home years ago—since their casual sex arrangement worked for them
and meant they didn’t need to spend their weekends trolling for random hookups—it didn’t
mean they didn’t like going out. Sometimes it heightened things later, when they made
themselves wait before they went home to fuck.
A few drinks, an up close and personal dance, and they
were ripping each other’s clothes off when they got home.
Peyton had been in a foul mood when he’d gotten home
and Will had sucked him off in the shower, but it hadn’t helped much. It had eased some of
the tension, but Will knew it was still there. Honestly, he wasn’t sure what Quinn’s problem
was. They both wanted each other, so why didn’t they? Peyton had asked Will once if it
bothered him, and maybe it should have—they’d been exclusive fuck buddies for years—but
thinking of Peyton with Quinn had never been a turnoff. The thought of it had spurred on
some of their hotter sessions together.
Will figured Quinn had to have his reasons, whatever they
were. He would have appreciated it if Quinn had let Peyton know what they were so he
could move on, but he didn’t know Quinn well enough to approach him directly. Their
relationship was purely professional.
“A guy that looks like you shouldn’t be sitting alone,” a
voice to his immediate left said.
Will smirked in amusement as he looked up, and then
almost swallowed his tongue. Well, hello there.
Dark blue eyes—that reminded him a bit of Peyton, though
Peyton’s were a little darker—that were shaped by sleek black glasses and long thick lashes.
His bow-shaped lips were drawn up in a smug smirk. It should have been off-putting or
smarmy. But coupled with the plain silver barbell piercing in his left eyebrow, it was making
Will’s dick stand up and take notice.
He was bulkier than Will—which wasn’t hard, since Will
was toned, but lanky—and filled his suit out in all the right places. He was wearing form-
fitting black slacks with shining dress shoes. No suit jacket, which was absolutely fine with
Will, considering that he had rolled up his sleeves to reveal smooth tan forearms. It was
kryptonite to any human being with a pulse.
It was too bad that Will’s only plans included getting Peyton
home and naked. Because damn, he was fucking sexy. Will couldn’t even remember if he’d
been into piercings before. He was now. Piercings, glasses, exposed forearms. Will might as
well have stamped “fantasy issue” on the guy’s forehead.
“Name’s Sebastian.”
Will smirk widened as he took the hand that Sebastian
offered. “Will.”
“Is this seat taken?”
“Well, it’s—”
Peyton returned then, two glasses of whiskey. His eyebrows
raised at Sebastian as he slid the glasses on to the table.
“Peyton, this is Sebastian,” Will said, smiling playfully.
“Hi, Sebastian,” Peyton said, in the same voice. He glanced
between them curiously as he sat on the tall stool next to Will. He reached a hand over and
placed it in Will’s lap, feeling the growing hardness in his jeans.
Sebastian put one hand in his pocket, smiling sheepishly.
“Pleasure. Have a nice night, you two.”
“No, stay,” Peyton said. He gave Will’s dick a gentle squeeze
and Will swallowed, heat rushing over him. He put his hand over Peyton’s but didn’t move it.
“Have a seat.” Peyton used his free hand to gesture at the empty seat opposite them.
Sebastian stared at Peyton as he did. Will couldn’t blame
him. Peyton was stunning to look at. All sultry eyes and delicate features. His shoulder-
length dirty blond hair was pulled up in a messy bun, with wisps of it falling over his temple
and forehead. The low lighting of the club only made his midnight blue eyes look darker, and
his cheeks were still flushed from their earlier dancing.
“You can share my drink,” Will said. He took a sip of his
drink and then pushed it across. He made a show of arching his neck back and swallowing,
so Sebastian could see he’d drank some himself.
The Road to Rocktoberfest 2022 – A multi-author
series
Hot rockstars and the men
who love them, what more could you ask for?
Each book can be read as a
standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage next? Hot rockstars and
the men who love them, what more could you ask for?
Kick back, load up your
kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
1 – Hidden Blade by Kaje Harper
2 – Blinding Light by BL
Maxwell
3 – Feel The Noise by Aria
Grace
4 – Changing His Tune by
Blake Allwood
5 – Three of a Kind by Nic
Starr
6 – Midnight Reunion by Lynn
Michaels
7 – Bleeding Dawn by Layla
Dorine
8 – Syncing Rhythms by Kris
Jacen
9 – Muted Chords by Samuel
York
10 – In Tune by Elle Keaton
11 – David’s Disaster: Embrace
the Fear 2 by TL Travis
Social anxiety’s been my constant companion for twenty-
three years, sometimes in the background, sometimes silencing me and yanking my guts out
in the nearest trash can. No matter how much I love playing music, I’m never going to get up
on a stage and perform in front of a crowd. But since I met Erik, and was asked to join his
band Hellsbane, that knowledge hurts worse.
No heart (even Erik’s) or dick (even Erik’s) is big enough to
carry me past my limits, but God, I wish there was a way.
Erik
Life’s damned unfair when a guy with the voice of a hard-
rock angel and a songwriting talent like Cam’s can only post anonymous videos online. But
you can’t cure anxiety with wanting, or willpower. My drummer needs to quit trying to push
Cam onstage with us before he breaks.
Rocktoberfest’s our goal, and touring with Hellsbane was
my only ambition until I met Cam. Now I can’t have everything I love in one place, but
dammit, I wish there was a way.
A first-times, life challenges, coming out, rockstar
romance.
Easy Rian has been lead singer for Blinding Light since the band was formed.
Through the years many things have changed. Not all of them good. When the lead guitarist
leaves mid-tour, the rest of the band is left waiting to see if they’ll continue on to
Roctoberfest, or if this is where their tour ends.
Liam Tarrant has been playing guitar for as long as he can
remember. When he gets the chance to audition for Blinding Light, he jumps at the chance.
Meeting the band is surreal, especially the lead singer, Easy. Liam has always had a crush on
Easy, but he never thought he’d get the chance to meet him, let alone spend time alone with
him.
Easy is drawn to Liam, no matter how much he wants to
deny it. When the two are thrown together over practice and planning the upcoming tour,
attraction grows between the two of them that neither can deny. But falling in love on tour
could be what finally ends Blinding Light, and both of them will need to choose what’s more
important to them. Love or music, can they have it all? #Rockstar #mmromance
#grumpysunshine #friendstolovers
Larson Monroe is not a rockstar. Not by any stretch of the imagination. He’s
a newly promoted middle manager for the marketing department of a sports apparel
company…and he’s content. Mostly. But when Pitch, his identical twin brother, calls and begs
for help, Lars can’t resist indulging in the childhood game of pretending to be his
brother.
Reed likes being hired by stuffed suits and high society
types just fine. But when he gets the chance to work security for Rocktoberfest, the biggest
rock festival in the country, he’s eager to take the job. It’ll be a nice change of pace and a fat
bonus for being on-site during the event. What he doesn’t expect is the change of pace of
his heart when he spots Pitch Monroe, lead singer for a newbie band he’s never even heard
of.
The sparks are instant and quickly burn hotter than either
of them have ever felt before. But when Larson’s real identity is exposed, it doesn’t exactly
go as planned…
Tired of being lonely, Hayden decides to take his life
back, starting with changing his music and his identity. Will these transitions be worth the
risk, or will they destroy everything he’s worked for?
Hayden Koal’s life has been… different. One minute he’s a
young boy living on his grandpa’s Iowa farm, the next, his parents have whisked him off to LA
and thrust him into teenage stardom. Now that he’s an adult, he’s got a lot of choices to
make about his life, his career, and his love life.
Erik Anderson has it all. A great job, friends that he loves
like family, and… okay maybe it isn’t perfect, but finding the right guy isn’t easy. When he
meets his celebrity crush Hayden Koal everything changes.
Their love affair is fraught with trouble from the moment
they come together and both Hayden and Erik have tough decisions to make. Will they
choose to upend their lives or sacrifice their love?
What happens when friendship becomes love, and you’re presented with
seemingly impossible choices while the world is watching?
Harvey, lead guitarist with Australian rock band,
HyperOctane, thought playing at Rocktoberfest would be the highlight of his career. He
didn’t expect a performance that would shape the rest of his life.
Ravi
Admitting his feelings for Harvey was one of the hardest
things he’d ever done. Being rejected was crushing. He never thought he’d be living the
same heartbreak years later after finally finding love.
Bo
He broke Ravi’s heart but he couldn’t ignore the feelings he
had for Harvey. It wasn’t fair on Rav, and Bo knew it was for the best, but why did doing the
right thing have to hurt so much?
Harvey
He wasn’t sure which was his biggest regret—hurting Ravi
all those years ago, or more recently giving in to temptation and having a one-night stand
with Bo. He’d always been close to his younger brother’s best friends, and now it seemed
he’d messed things up with both of them.
Now all three of them must confront their feelings for each
other. Why do things have to be so complicated?
Three of a Kind is a gay rock star romance featuring second
chances, friends to lovers, and menage.
A Midnight Hunt Reunion is coming to Rocktoberfest
2022
Or are they? When Miami proposes getting the band back
together for the big rock festival ahead, it could mean everything to him – his career, his
life…and most importantly, a second shot with bandmate, Jinx.
Jinx isn’t sure what to do. He’d left Midnight Hunt and
Miami for good reason, but his life wasn’t turning out to be what he thought it was. Would a
reunion get him inspired, fulfill his desires? Would it lead back into Miami’s arms? Or would
everything bomb, falling right off the charts? Again?
Get ready for a rockstar reunion romance! It’s a slow burn
will they/won’t they filled with music and a killer rock festival!
Identical in appearance, twins Winter and Tripp are as different as night and
day when it comes to everything but the music they’ve spent the bulk of their lifetimes
composing. Now they’ve attained the fame they always hoped for, and it’s as empty and
meaningless as the remains of route 66, and about as broken too. Would help if Winter
could see it. Tripp’s sure he’ll lose his shit completely the next time some random groupie
leaps on the hood of his car and begs to take a selfie, but to Winter, every night is a party, he
lives for the crazy hookups, lives for the crazy, period.
Another place they differ.
Tripp would kill for one season to slow down. Just three
months where he and Zakk could melt into obscurity and be whomever they wanted,
together. Only Zakk’s band, Tattered Angel, is on fire too and it’s starting to seem like the
music he’s always loved is hell-bent on keeping him from exploring love of a different kind.
Last year’s Rocktoberfest was an amazing triumph, this year, it’s starting to feel like the road
to the desert is burning him alive.
Would be so easy to slip off across the sand, melt into a
dune on the back of some strange, psychedelic serpent, never to be heard from again. If only
there was a way to ensure Zakk took that last ride with him.
It’s taken years for Dawson’s band, AudioLock, to finally ‘make it’. Okay,
maybe they hadn’t made it yet but they were invited to perform on the big stage at
Rocktoberfest. Driving the beat of the band warmed his soul but Dawson really wished there
was someone to warm his heart and bed.
Ben Williams’ passion for music and theater is all-
encompassing but he doesn’t have a talented bone in his body. However, he does have the
mind and personality to manage everything that happens when the curtain goes up. His
ultimate goal of being a stage manager for a major rock band is in sight. He didn’t think
anything could change his focus until a certain drummer appeared on Ben’s stage.
Dreams within reach, are Ben and Dawson willing to change
so they can sync rhythms together?
Josh Shepard has an intense and strange connection to music,
considering he was born deaf. His bond with music is much easier than any relationship he’s
ever had with humans. Then he meets Branston ‘Bran’ Vale. Bran is the type of guy Josh
fantasized about meeting. With Bran in their band, traveling with them, Josh has a hard time
keeping it together.
Bran isn’t prepared for the impact Josh has on him. Bran
has had trouble with entanglements before, but this is different with Josh.
He’s ready to commit to more when a ghost from his past
comes back to haunt him. Bran might have to give up everything to save the band and
Josh.
Life is good for Dean Blanchett, lead guitarist of the
superstar rock band, the Lost Apostles. He’s got his music, he’s got his dog, he’s got his best
friend Luka and the girl he’s gonna marry. Right up until a few days before the biggest show
of the year, when his fiancé literally throws his ring in his face and leaves him for an
accountant.
AN ACCOUNTANT.
Dean quickly spirals out of control, knowing Luka will be
there to pick up the pieces. Again. It’s a good thing he has a friend like Luka.
Luka
How many more times will Luka have to put Dean together
again? Staying with the band, taking care of Dean’s dog – who’s really Luka’s dog – while
Dean chases after the next girl who is ‘the one’ and then crashes and burns. Again. It’s all
taking its toll.
And why does his stupid heart keep insisting Dean is the
only one it wants?
This time is IT. Luka is done with the Dean Drama, the soul-
mates-of-the-month, even the band. He loves Dean, he has since they met, but Dean is
straight as a ruler. And unless something changes, he’s going to self-destruct something Luka
can’t bear to watch.
When Luka throws down an ultimatum, Dean begins to
question everything—including his sexuality.
Can he live without his best friend? Does he even want to
try?
There’s only one way to find out; he has to live with him
first.
His band, Embrace the Fear, were living the rock ‘n roll
dream as an up-and-coming band under Masterson Management. They weren’t rolling in
the dough like the guys from Social and Maiden were, but things were good.
Outside of his love life that was.
David wasn’t a player, unless you count video games. He
grew up in a middle-class family. Both his parents worked and were supportive of him in
every way. To this day they were still head over heels in love with each other.
The one thing missing from David’s life was the same kind
of connection his parents had.
But David’s needs were a bit unorthodox and not always
welcome with guys closer to his age. Would an older man look past the number and trust
David to take care of them—body and soul?
Jordan Wright has a thriving business thanks to being
awarded the contract to manage the catering for Rocktoberfest for a second year.
He’s thrilled to be back at the venue again—maybe this is
the year something special will happen, although he’s not counting on it.
Since Jordan’s last failed attempt at a relationship, he’s
sworn only to engage in meaningless hook-ups.
But Jordan longs for a daddy of his own.
Will he ever be able to open his mind, and his heart, again?
Enough to trust another man, not only with his body, but to catch him when he falls.
Two teenage boys were certain they’d be best friends for life. With clear
paths planned for the future, they were ready to take on the world. All it took was one
deep—very adult kiss to throw them off kilter, and their plans turned to dust. One chose a
path toward stardom and stage lights while the other stayed behind in their hometown and
pursued his dream of being a cop. Although they hoped to see one another again, neither
thought it would ever happen.
No one can turn back time, but perhaps the future can be altered with a little luck—and a lot
of love.
Gamble: I was fifteen when I realized I was in love with
my best friend, Bix. Since then, not a day has passed when he didn’t cross my mind. I arrived
in L.A. at eighteen with nothing more than raw talent and a dream, then fell face-first into
drug addiction but not before my band hit it big, earning awards and million-dollar
paychecks. Success was one thing, but I still wanted Bix and the simple life we once had
growing up on Starfish Island.
Bixby: I spent a lot of years worrying about Gamble. The
entertainment news was great about airing his dirty laundry, which kept me aware of how
low he was sinking. Now I worried he might not survive. I’d wanted him since that one
perfect kiss we shared on graduation night, and I’ve wanted a lifetime of more with him ever
since.
Possible Triggers: Mentions of drug addiction, overdose,
recovery, and a gunshot wound.
His band, Embrace the Fear,
were living the rock ‘n roll dream as an up-and-coming band under Masterson Management.
They weren’t rolling in the dough like the guys from Social and Maiden were, but things
were good.
Outside of his love life that
was.
David wasn’t a player, unless you
count video games. He grew up in a middle-class family. Both his parents worked and were
supportive of him in every way. To this day they were still head over heels in love with each
other.
The one thing missing from
David’s life was the same kind of connection his parents had.
But David’s needs were a bit
unorthodox and not always welcome with guys closer to his age. Would an older man look
past the number and trust David to take care of them—body and soul?
Jordan Wright has a thriving
business thanks to being awarded the contract to manage the catering for Rocktoberfest for
a second year.
He’s thrilled to be back at the
venue again—maybe this is the year something special will happen, although he’s not
counting on it.
Since Jordan’s last failed attempt
at a relationship, he’s sworn only to engage in meaningless hook-ups.
But Jordan longs for a daddy of
his own.
Will he ever be able to open his
mind, and his heart, again? Enough to trust another man, not only with his body, but to
catch him when he falls.
David’s Disaster is part of the multi-author The Road to
Rocktoberfest 2022 series. Each book can be read as a standalone. Hot rockstars and the
men who love them, what more could you ask for?
Excerpt
“Guinness in a bottle if you’ve got it?” I didn’t
want to risk someone trying to roofie me, not that I wasn’t down for almost anything though
I preferred to have my wits about me when it came time to perform. Sammie dug one out of
the freezer, popped the top, and slid it my way. “Place is packed for a Sunday night.”
“Yeah, Joe’s got the dancers working
Sundays now. They come in at nine,” Sammie said, wiping the counter between customers.
Joe was Sammie’s partner, and they owned the club. Sammie managed the food and
beverage staff while Joe oversaw operations, including the entertainment. Some of those
boys’ moves should be illegal. “Looks like your entourage is here,” Sammie nodded toward
the door. Following his line of sight, two very angry bodyguards shot daggers at me. “Here,”
Sammie handed me a pass, “take this up to the mezzanine.”
I grabbed the red disc, “Thanks.” Just as I
turned, two muscular hands gripped my forearms like vices.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Sikes
asked.
Flashing the red card, I announced, “To the
mezzanine, kind sir!” in the most terrible British accent I could’ve done. Accents clearly are
not my forte. Sikes and Snipe groaned in unison but relinquished their grips. Sikes walked in
front of me while Snipe held up the rear. Hehe, rear. If I made that joke to them, they’d likely
knock me on my ass.
The bouncer manning the upper VIP level, or
the mezzanine as Sammie had called it, nodded, snagged the card, then grunted. What was
it with these overgrown protectors and grunting? I’m waiting for one of them to grab a rock
and start drawing caveman-style all over the walls. How do they even understand each
other?
It was much easier to breathe up here with a
lesser body count though the music and vibrations still flowed. The view was fantastic,
staring down at every sweaty, writhing body on the dance floor. This was front-row seating
when the dancers hit the stage. “Would you like another drink, sir?” I turned to face the
flirty voice, and there stood a five-foot-nothing cutie chewing his bottom lip and eyeing me
like a lollipop. “Hello gorgeous, I’ll have one more, please.” He turned and winked over his
shoulder, swinging those hips like the moneymakers they were. He knew the value of
his…asset.
Maybe a dark, secluded storage room
cocktail server ass was in the cards for me tonight.
Leaning over the iron mezzanine railing, lost
in thoughts of the firm ass beneath the shiny black boy shorts fetching my drink, I scanned
the overcrowded dance floor. Memories of once being able to be a part of it that seemed
like so long ago when it really wasn’t. Our lives changed overnight by winning that Battle of
the Bands competition. Did I miss not being a part of our old scene? Meh, not so much. The
view from up here was much better, like having your pick of the crop. Lower level was all
sweaty, grinding bodies. Most of the time, you couldn’t see past the face in front of you. No,
I think I liked my odds from this angle much…
Better?
No, it isn’t.
“What the actual fuck?” I said loud enough
for Sikes and Snipes to hear. Instantly, each large body took its place at my sides. There was
no stopping this primal, animalistic need to seek and destroy. Alarms inside my brain
actived, yet I couldn’t stop myself.
“Where’s the threat?” Sikes asked. Both sets
of eyes scanned the floor for trouble.
Down the stairs I went, nearly bowling over
the poor guy with the full drink tray heading in the opposite direction. I knew I wasn’t alone,
though I couldn’t hear Sikes or Snipe’s footsteps. It amazed me how those two over-muscled
guards could move like the wind. I’d descended upon my prey in fewer steps than it
should’ve taken.
I swear, all life, all sound, all music stopped
when the three of us hit the dance floor. Bodies moved aside, primarily out of fear of the
two men who were with me, I’m sure. But I was locked on a specific target. Dumbass one
and dumbass two blocking my path weren’t too bright. They hadn’t even noticed that
everything around them had come to a stop as they continued to feel up the body tangled
between them. “Enough!” I ordered.
“Hey man, we saw him first,” dumbass one
said, coming toward me. Sikes and Snipe cut him off, and he threw his hands up in surrender.
“We don’t want any trouble,” he pleaded as he and dumbass two backed away. At that
point, said target turned, and our gazes met.
“What the fuck, David?”
About the Author
TL Travis is an award-winning published author of LGBTQIA+
contemporary romance and erotic musings that have earned “Best-Selling Author” flags in
the US as well as Internationally.
When she’s not busy spinning steamy webs, she enjoys
spending time with her family, going to concerts, wine tasting, and people watching. With
every face, there’s a story and half the fun is dreaming up what it could be.
TL is surrounded by her extensive 4-legged rescue family, her
sons, and adorable grandkids. She will continue saving furry friends in need for as long as
she lives. TL would like to remind you to “Adopt, not shop.” Saving that lost soul may very
well be the one you need.
What better Christmas
present is there than finding your fated mate?
Blurb
’Twas the week before Christmas
And all across Christmas Cove the elves were snowed
under.
Preparing presents for Santa’s sleigh
To deliver to children all around the world.
But Dash—Santa’s favourite reindeer—is missing.
Vanished.
In his place, Aubron, the elf responsible for looking after all
of Santa’s reindeer, finds a naked man in Dash’s stall.
A stranger he is inexplicably drawn to.
Can Aubron find Dash, and figure out who the mystery man
is before Christmas is ruined?
This M/M romance from Beth Laycock features fated
mates, a reindeer shifter, an elf definitely not left on the shelf, Santa, the North Pole,
lashings of Christmas spirit, and of course a HEA.
Excerpt
The workshop was abuzz with activity, even at this early hour,
but before I could unwrap my scarf, Santa waved me over. Dodging the elves already hard at
work, I followed him into his office, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling of déjà vu.
“Did you check on Dash?” Santa asked as he paced the length
of his small office.
“Yes. As soon as I left you yesterday. He was fine—even
managed to polish off a good helping of his favourite moss. Then I took him out for a walk
along the seashore once I’d finished all my jobs and he had fun splashing in the
shallows.”
Santa stopped and spun to face me, tugging on his white
beard. “Really?” I nodded and he dropped into his chair with a grunt. “I don’t understand.
When I went in last night before I went to bed, the other reindeer were sound asleep, but
Dash was pacing his stall, scraping his hooves across the stones over and over. Even when I
spoke to him, he didn’t settle but eventually lay down. He looked so sad though, and he was
still awake when I left.”
Santa sounded distraught, but I didn’t know what to say—Dash
had been fine when I’d left him.
“What if it’s something serious?” Santa’s eyebrows
disappeared beneath the white curls falling over his forehead.
I swallowed thickly at the thought.
“What if he can’t fly on Christmas Eve? What would we do
then? There’s no other reindeer that could take his place—none of them can fly.” Santa’s
eyes met mine across the desk. “Christmas will be ruined.”
I stared at Santa not knowing what to say. There was nothing to say, he was right, it would be. So, I did the only thing I could and hurried away
to check on Dash.
Christmas will be ruined. All the way to the barn
those words echoed through my mind. Christmas will be ruined. I yanked my
feet out of the snow—almost buried to my knee—hurrying as best I could over last night’s
snowfall. By the time I reached the barn, my chest was heaving, plumes of my breath misting
on the air, and I didn’t think it was just the exertion of rushing.
I grabbed the large iron handle and tugged on the
door—nothing. It didn’t move an inch and my dream flickered in full technicolour beneath
my closed eyelids. This could not be happening.
I heaved on the handle, putting my full weight behind it, and
was rewarded by the squeal of the wheels as the door slid open. Releasing a sigh of relief, I
hurried inside, dashing down the centre aisle of the barn, past the stalls with the other
reindeer, a couple of them lifting their heads to peek out at the commotion I was
making.
I reached Dash’s stall and pulled up short. It was empty. Huh?
The gate was bolted shut and Santa hadn’t said anybody else was checking on Dash. I leant
over the wooden slat to peer into the stall and almost fell over the gate and inside when I
spied the stranger curled up in the corner—the strange man who was butt naked.
About the Author
Beth Laycock’s books are
influenced by her time living overseas as well as the gritty, urban landscape of the north of
England where she grew up. She has been reading romance since she was old enough to tell
herself that line every book lover does—just one more chapter.
As a teenager, she attempted
to write her first novel, and many more since then are still gathering dust on her bookshelf. It
wasn’t until she discovered the M/M genre that her muse showed up and refused to quit
telling her stories about beautiful men finding love together. She hasn’t stopped scribbling
them down since. Beth’s muse usually shows up when she is in the shower, is allergic to
cleaning, rarely lets her watch TV, and insists she drinks copious amounts of coffee so she
can turn caffeine into words.
Beth’s books range from
sweet to sexy, long to short, contemporary to paranormal, but a HEA is always
guaranteed.
Marley Jacobs is dead, and Max Masters Scrooge has no time for the grieving son’s sob story. Even if Jacobs Jr. is kinda cute—for a nerd.
Daniel Jacobs is anxious, drifting, and lonely. His gut tells him he’s overdue for a dose of self care, but the thought of setting foot in a gym gives him hives. Though he craves gentle guidance, what he gets is the heavy hand of the gym’s head trainer and sleaziest playboy, Max Masters.
Accustomed to topping the leader board, among other things, Max sells Daniel on his gold package. After things get steamy in the locker room showers, Max is ready to make like a ghost and vanish, as usual. But this time, he won’t get away with his selfish antics, not if a vengeful past hookup with a powerful uncle has anything to say about it.
MM Scrooge is a spicy hot horror retelling of A Christmas Carol, as part of the collaboration Monsters & Mayhem: An MM Horror Collection, adapting some of your favorite classic horror stories with an MM romance twist.
Content Warnings:
This book’s list of potential warnings is longer than my grocery list. Buckle in. Readers, feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions. In no particular order: Dub-con that some readers may interpret as non-con. Consent issues. Poorly negotiated BDSM elements. Sexual violence/spanking. Sex as punishment. Death of a parent/grief. Medical kink. Sexually explicit scenes.
That said, this book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that list might make it look darker than it really is. Better to err of the side of caution.
Excerpt
Just when I think my first workout is done, Max directs me back to the turf. “Now that you’ve got the hang of it, we’ll repeat each station for four rounds. Squats, rotations, rows. Ten reps each. Thirty seconds between stations. Ready?”
I widen my eyes. “I’m sorry. I could have sworn you said four rounds. I must have misheard. What?”
Max grins. “You’ve got this. Round one, Daniel. Knock it out.”
So I do what the man says and squat.
By the time I’m actually done, sweat beads on my forehead and drips down into crevices that are decidedly not meant to be wet in public. Will I be able to walk tomorrow? Time will tell. My arms are made of pudding.
Max’s warm hand lands on my damp back and squeezes my shoulder. “Nice work. You’ve got grit.”
He can’t possibly mean that, but I thank him anyway. I glance up to meet his eyes. His are hazel, ringed brown in the center and green at the edges.
“How do you feel?”
I blink. My heart pounds, and I’m gulping for air like a fish out of water, but…I feel good. Like maybe I could keep going, or I don’t know, jog somewhere or something. Not a feeling I’m accustomed to. “Great, actually.”
He leans in. He’s a head taller, but he stands close enough his breath ruffles my hair. “It’s the endorphins. They’re a rush, huh?”
“Yeah, a rush.” So this is why people work out.
His gaze lingers on mine. “You want to hit the showers?”
“Oh, I don’t need to wash up.” I didn’t come prepared for that. I don’t even have a change of clothes in my bag. “I’m going home after this. I’ll shower there.”
Max arches his dark brows and darts his tongue out, wetting his upper lip. “I didn’t ask if you needed to. I asked if you wanted to.” His eyes trail down my body like a caress and land on my groin. He looks hungry.
And now that I think about it…tasty.
“Oh.” What an offer. It’s not like me to put out on the first date, and this isn’t even date adjacent.
Orgasms fall under the umbrella of self-care, right? Opportunities like this just don’t land in my lap every day. But will sex make future training sessions awkward? I don’t want things to get weird, though rejecting him would do that too, so…
I peer up at him through my lashes, not completely lacking wiles of my own. “Now that you mention it, I am rather dirty.”
Max’s glinting smile could cut diamonds. “Right this way.”
About the Author
Lee Colgin has loved vampires since she read Dracula on a hot, sunny beach at 13 years old. She lives in North Carolina with lots of dogs and her husband. No, he’s not a vampire, but she loves him anyway. Lee likes to workout so she can eat the maximum amount of cookies with her pizza. Ask her how much she can bench press.
Alois d’Pierrepont and Marton Prawer have been attending
black market antiquities events trying to recover treasure stolen by Nazis during World War
II. Marton is particularly interested in a certain missing Picasso.
Following the trail to France, the two stumble into far more
than they bargained for when a shady auction they’re attending in Paris’s Latin Quarter is
raided by Interpol. Alois’s uncle Frederick, from Bring Me Edelweiss, is soon hot on the case
along with his lover Joel McIntyre.
After recovering the journal of a Nazi general the four men
race across western Europe, chased by fascists desperate to find the treasure for
themselves. Gunfights and car chases ensue as the group uses a map in the journal to track
down the treasure and its contents, rumored to include the fabled Spear of Destiny.
Excerpt
Alois d’Pierrepont knelt at the door to the study and pulled
a small black pouch from his breast pocket. With a grunt, he undid the button on his Versace
“Black Baroque” evening jacket. It fit a little too snugly for squatting. Opening the bag, he
selected two picks, inserted them in the door lock, and went to work.
“How’s it going?” Marton Prawer asked, appearing beside
him and flashing his winning smile.
Alois looked up at his boyfriend. I’d go a lot quicker if you wouldn’t hang on my
shoulder, he thought. “Just bloody fine, dear,” he grumbled between gritted teeth.
They’d come to the party to find evidence that the host
collected Nazi memorabilia. Marton was obsessed with returning stolen loot to the Jewish
people. A noble pursuit. And being a history buff and amateur archaeologist himself, Alois
found him fascinating and intense.
The owner of this house had a reputation for acquiring
antiques with a sketchy provenance. But reputation was not proof, so the two young men
were looking for something they could leverage for information. Something that might get
them an in to the black market antiquities scene. To be fair, Alois was at a loss as to how to
accomplish that, but Marton was determined. Seems a bit of a stretch.
It was a good thing he was able to use his own contacts to
get an invite to this party, but . . . May wind up
paying for that. That particular person, a
socialite named Denis, was a pill and likely to bring it up to gain his own leverage. He let out
a long, deep breath. So far, it’s worth
it. After all, they’d made it here. But still, the games people
play. It’s all so exhausting.
He wiped beads of perspiration off his forehead and
frowned. Locks never gave him this much trouble. Then again, he wasn’t used to performing
under pressure. Before, it was always a lark, a trick he picked up as a kid running around his
grandfather’s drafty old home, picking the locks on all the doors for fun. Though he’d long
ago gone pro and bought a professional lockpick set, this was different. They were on a
mission.
“Take a breath.” Marton’s voice was easy and
soothing.
Alois shook out his hand and let out a long exhalation, then
went back to it. After a moment, the tumblers clicked easily like they’d been waiting for him.
The lock let out a satisfying chunk.
“Sorry, just a bit nervous.” Alois chuckled as he stood.
“Never done this ‘in the field,’ as they say. Before, it was always a party trick or me larking
about. Never actually tried housebreaking before.”
Marton looked up at Alois and gave him a kiss on the lips.
“You did great.” He ran a hand along the front of Alois’s slacks, teasing him until he
hardened. “I’ll give you something special when we get back to your place.”
A deep moan escaped Alois’s chest. “I’m looking forward to
it already.” Grabbing the door handle, he stepped inside the office and flicked on the
light.
They stepped into a nondescript modern office.
“Oh,” Marton said in surprise.
“What, were you expecting a Nazi flag on the wall?” Alois
asked, nudging the shorter man in the side. “Or an autographed photo of Hitler?”
About the Author
Kyle is an artist, playwright,
and writer. As a playwright, Kyle has had his plays performed in New York at the NY
International Fringe Festival, and the Midtown International Theater Festival. As an artist
and illustrator, he has had his art exhibited in both New Orleans and New York.
Born in Hawaii, Kyle is an
Army brat and grew up in Erlangen, Germany, as well as Augusta, Georgia, and several cities
in Texas. After stints in Louisiana and New York, he resides again in Honolulu with his black
Labrador Retriever Brady.
Josh Shepard developed an intense connection to music,
despite being born deaf. None of his relationships have ever come close to his bond with
music. Then Branston ‘Bran’ Vale saunters into his life. Bran is the type of guy Josh always
fantasized about. With Bran in their band, traveling with them, Josh’s libido rises to an
uncomfortable level.
Bran isn’t prepared for the impact Josh has on him. Bran
had trouble with entanglements before, derailing him. His feelings for Josh outshine
anything he’s ever had before. Josh could be the answer to everything, or he could be the
biggest mistake Bran has ever made.
Ready to commit to more, a ghost from Bran’s past comes
back to haunt him, stalling his future. Bran might have to give up everything to save the
band and Josh.
Muted Chords is part of the multi-author The Road to Rocktoberfest 2022 series. Each
book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage
next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for? Kick back,
load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
Excerpt
Everyone could hear what they were saying, which added
another layer of heat to the embarrassment Josh already felt. He wasn’t used to attention
like this, so incredibly focused just on him.
“Like I said, that first riff you all played was magical. I mean,
it was a soundcheck, but the magic zipped up my spine and held me. I hadn’t planned on
staying for the show, but I couldn’t leave. I think there were maybe three hundred people in
the audience—”
“If that,” Casey snorted.
“We’ve grown a little since then,” Margot said.
Ish came up and put his arm around Josh’s shoulder. “My
boy Josh is magical. He’s the reason we sound so good.”
Now Josh’s cheeks hurt from the flames burning through
him. Ish seemed to delight in embarrassing him based on the smile spread from ear to
ear.
“I really want to play with you all. I know I’m new to you,
but I swear I’ll—”
“Wait.” Casey jumped up and rushed over. “Are you
serious? Like you want to play with us on stage?”
Bran turned to Casey and nodded. “Yeah, of course. I was
going to tell Munoz to fuck off when he called, but then I heard it was Eradicate Apathy, and
I jumped at the chance. I haven’t played on stage in a while, so I’d like you all to go easy on
me for the—”
“Holy shit!” Casey yelled and jumped up and down,
clapping his hands. “Sorry, we’re total dorks. I can’t believe you’re going to be on stage with
us. This is a dream come true.”
Josh stared at the group jumping around and hugging each
other as fear wove through him. Bran was too good-looking. Josh would have to watch his
reactions. Living on the bus together would be difficult. Branston Vale was definitely not the
type of guy who would ever be interested in him. Their new bass player was hot. His sex
appeal dripped from every word, every look. Josh would be helpless against that appeal.
Shit, he would have to keep control or risk blowing his load at the most embarrassing
times.
Ish caught the look on his face and stilled, then everyone
turned to stare at him. He sucked in a breath, hating that he was freaking out and now
everyone was looking at him.
“Is that okay with you?” Casey asked.
Josh shook himself, trying to push away the weirdness.
“Yeah. I—that’s—it’s great.”
His voice didn’t sound like he meant it, and he could tell
Bran had picked up on his hesitancy. Why was he holding back?
Munoz narrowed his gaze but saved him by changing the
subject, asking Bran what he was currently working on. The rest of his band members kept
the conversation going as he tried to come to grips with how he’d reacted to this sexy
man.
After an hour or so, he excused himself to the restroom and
breathed a sigh of relief as he stood alone and stared at the mirror. He shouldn’t be freaking
out, but his heart sped up every time he looked at Bran.
“Get it together.”
The door opened, and he quickly turned on the water,
washing his hands again so the person coming in didn’t think he was a dork talking to
himself. He hadn’t paid any attention to who had come in because they were in a private
area of the hotel and few people were back here. When Josh glanced up, he found Bran
studying him. A gasp escaped his lips.
Bran’s eyes narrowed, then he frowned. “I didn’t mean to
scare you.”
Josh shook his head. “No worries. I was deep in
thought.”
Bran’s lips thinned and he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Have you got an issue with me playing in the band?”
Horror washed over Josh. “No. I-I…”
Bran moved closer. “What is it then?”
Josh’s whole body heated and sweat broke out on his
forehead. He couldn’t tell this man he thought he was hot. His lungs seemed to stop
working, and his gaze accidentally flicked to Bran’s lips, looking all sexy and plump behind his
dark beard. He swore Bran’s lips ticked up before stepping back a few inches.
“I’m just a normal guy, nothing special. I’ve been listening
to you all since I first heard you. It would be an honor if you allowed me to play on stage
during Rocktoberfest.”
Josh gulped in air. He had to get past the way this guy made
him feel. “I want you.”
Bran’s eyebrows lifted in the silence that followed Josh’s
declaration, but he hadn’t meant it to be a declaration. Shit, he’d left off a word.
“There. I want you there to play with me—us. I want you on
stage to play with the band.”
About the Author
Samuel York writes gay
fiction. He believes love is love. Celebrate the love of others and love yourself.
It’s taken years for Dawson’s
band, AudioLock, to finally ‘make it’. Okay, maybe they hadn’t made it yet but they were
invited to perform on the big stage at Rocktoberfest. Driving the beat of the band warmed
his soul but Dawson really wished there was someone to warm his heart and
bed. Ben Williams’ passion for music and theater is all-
encompassing but he doesn’t have a talented bone in his body. However, he does have the
mind and personality to manage everything that happens when the curtain goes up. His
ultimate goal of being a stage manager for a major rock band is in sight. He didn’t think
anything could change his focus until a certain drummer appeared on Ben’s
stage.
Dreams within reach, are Ben and Dawson willing
to change so they can sync rhythms together?
Syncing Rhythms is part of
the multi-author The Road to Rocktoberfest 2022 series. Each book can be read as a
standalone, but why not read them all and see who hits the stage next? Hot rockstars and
the men who love them, what more could you ask for? Kick back, load up your kindle and
enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
Excerpt
Dawson climbed back into the bus with a big smile on his face.
Oh yeah, he was getting some of that man. It had been a while since he’d be this interested
in someone.
“Back so soon,” Nate said from the couch. He opened one eye
and gave Dawson a look. Whatever he saw had him sitting up quickly. “You were gone for
forty-five minutes max and got some? Shit, maybe I should’ve gone with you.” Nate smacked
Dawson’s hip and yelled over his shoulder, “Dawson scored already. Who had that on their
BINGO card?”
Chris and X stumbled out of the curtains on either side of the
bus. Looks of shock were on their faces.
“What do you mean? He’s going for being a reborn virgin,”
Chris teased as he walked to the mini fridge and pulled out a soda before sitting at the table.
Dawson could feel his emotions rolling; he was about to either lose his shit or blush head-to-
toe.
“Cool your jets, dude,” X cautioned. He was the closest to
Dawson in build. X had about three inches on Dawson but weighed less. The crowds loved
watching him thump on his bass, long fingers plucking the strings giving the structure to
their songs to balance Dawson’s drums. “So you got with someone?”
Dawson shook his head and dropped onto the couch next to
Nate. “I did not get with someone.”
“But you’re hoping to,” Chris interjected. He was two inches
shorter than Dawson’s six foot and had the chest of a wrestler. He hit the gym every day.
Said it was to keep his body in as good of shape as his voice.
“I don’t know what gave you all the impression that I was a
male ho.” Deflect and redirect.
“Not buying it, my friend. We’ve been together way too long
for you to pull this over on us. Now, spill,” Nate demanded with a raised eyebrow. Why
couldn’t he do that?
“Okay, fine. I might have met someone while I was wandering.”
Dawson shrugged and tried again for deflect. “When are we scheduled for sound
check?”
“Dude, didn’t you get any of your pent-up energy out on your
kit?” X asked, sitting in one of the chairs at the table.
Holy shit. How had he forgotten? Dawson looked
at anything other than the guys. He was never going to live this one down.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You went to find your kit because
you needed to check that it made it here in one piece and you forgot?” Chris
was snickering at Dawson. He knew he’d gone to blushing now.
“So sound check?” One more try couldn’t hurt,
right?
“I’ll bail you on this, but I want details later. Sound check is
scheduled for one tomorrow. We’re free until then. Did you find where the food was while
you were out?” X asked. “I’m getting hungry.”
About the Author
Kris Jacen grew up just north
of Boston, Massachusetts, and currently lives in western New York with her two daughters
and three rambunctious dogs. She always said she was “only an editor” but then Mackey
showed up and proved her wrong.
After editing for over fifteen
years, she opened her own editing/formatting/cover art company, Three Hearts. Working
with all the amazing authors she’s had the privilege to work with has allowed her to both
hone her editorial skills and indulge her inner fangirl. She also acts as editor, mentor and
sounding-board for newcomers which lets her “pay-it-forward” and help authors realize their
dreams.