Enemy is part of the Ruthless Daddies multi-author collab and a complete standalone. With a sadistic older Italian Daddy, a not-so-innocent Russian boy, and rival families, these two hurt each other until they like it! Want more deliciously morally gray Daddies and boys? Grab the whole series!
* See Author Note and Triggers inside: Enemy has connections to characters in my other books (X Club: For You), but is a standalone. Contains dub con, see CW for full details.
Truths always catch up with us. There’s no denying it. Your senses heighten—as a presence lurks in the shadows, haunting your thoughts with every move. Knots form in your stomach from guilt, memories, or real horrors. Each moment is fraught with heaviness, zapping energy as your reflections pull toward whatever or whomever cowers in the shadows, ready to pounce at the slightest chance to claw at your soul.
The stories and poems in this anthology evoke powerful emotions across distinct perspectives and eras—plagued by terrors, misinterpretations, suffering, and lost love. Does hope linger when ghosts hold all the cards?
With stories and poetry by Amanda Dier, Amanda Nevada DeMel, Benjamin Larned, Christina Bergling, Darrell Z. Grizzle, Eric David Roman, G.B. Lindsey, J. Daniel Stone, John Grover, M. Edusa, Maxwell I. Gold, May Walker, Michael Thomas Ford, R.J.K. Lee, Rook Riley, Ryan Cole, Sara Tantlinger, Sean Eads, Sumiko Saulson, and Toshiya Kamei.
Proceeds from your purchase of this book go to the Modern Military Association of America, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
After their daughter was bullied at school, Kyle and Alejandro decided to make a fresh start and move into a beautiful new cul-de-sac development. As they take up residence, the family enjoys seeing the community come to life. But when lights flicker, shadows lurk, and small objects disappear, they begin to doubt their sanity.
When Alejandro and many of their neighbors are struck down by a strange sickness that defies explanation, the family starts to question their recent life change. Feeling trapped they speak with their new neighbors, learning they aren’t alone in the haunted neighborhood.
Who do you turn to when the authorities can’t offer any assistance or protection? How do you fight against a sinister force that is older than time? Can Kyle, Alejandro and the rest of the occupants of Golden Hills Court survive or will this nightmarish ordeal destroy them?
It’s been twenty years since the quiet Midwestern town of Lakeview was struck by tragedy. But every year on the anniversary of the tragic event Teddy returns home for ‘The Reunion’. Lakeview, like Teddy, has secrets and not all mysteries should come to light.
A group of explorers stumble upon a new species of plant in the depths of the rainforest. A novel virus drives humankind to flee the Earth. A killer fog rolls in off the sea, decimating everything in its path. Eco-horror is one of the hottest and most relevant subgenres around in 2021, and inside this anthology you'll find punchy, eye-catching flash fiction and poetry by no fewer than fifty talented authors. Plants, animals, weather phenomena… It’s time for Mother Nature to fight back.
Contributors:
Allison Floyd, Armand Rosamilia, Ashley Van Elswyk, Birgit K. Gaiser, Charlotte Reynolds, Chloe Spencer, Clay F. Johnson, Clint White, Corey Farrenkopf, Corey Niles, Cormack Baldwin, D.R. Roberts, Danielle Davis, Elecia Page, Freydís Moon, G.B. Lindsey, Hannah Hulbert, Hazel Ragaire, Ian A. Bain, Isaac Menuza, J.R. Handfield, Jameson Grey, Jasmine Arch, Jennifer Lee Rossman, Jennifer Shneiderman, Katherine Silva, Keely O'Shaughnessy, Lerah Mae Barcenilla, Lindsay King-Miller, Lucas Carroll-Garrett, Maggie D. Brace, Marisca Pichette, Micah Castle, Michael Bettendorf, Nico Bell, Nikki R. Leigh, Philine Schiller, Rose Taylor, Sally Hughes, Sam Lesek, Samuel Best, Sanaya Deas, Sara Crocoll Smith, SJ Townend, Sonora Taylor, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Steven Lombardi, Tonya Walter, Victoria Audley, Zé Burns
The monsters are winning. Tentacled, brain-eating gyle have unleashed a full-scale invasion, and humanity is helpless against their mind-control powers.
When novice elf mage, Ambrose, is commissioned by the King to halt the invasion, he thinks there must be a mistake—he’s wildly underqualified. Fortunately, he’s paired up with Kilgore the Conqueror, a brooding orcish war hero Ambrose has secretly been thirsting over for years.
Unfortunately, their mission is headed by Grist—a sociopathic gyle traitor who’s as cruel as he is clever. The manipulative gyle can read his companions’ every thought, and enjoys torturing Ambrose and Kilgore with their darkest secrets and forbidden attraction to each other. The trio has only seven days to save the world, but they must learn to trust each other first.
Monsters & Mind Games is an exciting MM fantasy adventure with complex characters, plot twists, and a wickedly funny villain that will keep you guessing right up to the happily ever after.
(Note: This standalone novel contains extra-spicy spice, and is intended for mature readers.)
Ambrose woke to the screeching of scrub jays. It was barely light, and the dawn mist blanketed the clearing with a blueish haze. The previous night’s fire was reduced to dregs of ash with a few wisps of smoke trailing away.
Ambrose’s hip and shoulder ached from lying on the hard ground. He sat up, and more blankets fell off than he’d had the night before. Kilgore must have thrown his own bedroll and rabbit fur blanket over him in the night. Ambrose flushed, touched by the gesture. It was more kindness than he expected from his own mother, and certainly more than he deserved after his foolishness with the wisps. He rubbed the luxurious fur between his fingers. He’d always pictured Kilgore as brave and determined, but never pictured him tender-hearted as well.
READ MOREHe crawled out from under the blanket and got to his feet, the morning chill quickly invigorating him. The tips of his long ears were numb with cold and he cupped a hand over his nose and mouth to warm himself with his breath.
Kilgore saddled their horses with a chunk of pork jerky dangling from his mouth. He chomped on the meat while he attached their packs. His breath puffed visibly from his nostrils, but he seemed unaffected by the cold.
“G’morning,” Ambrose said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Kilgore smirked at him. “Nice hair.”
Ambrose reached up to touch his head. His shoulder-length hair had become a tangled bird’s nest in the night. He started combing his fingers through, and Kilgore threw him a chunk of jerky. The adage “hunger is the best spice” proved true. The meat was hard as leather and took forever to chew, but his mouth watered for it.
Kilgore began buckling himself into his breastplate. “Let me help,” Ambrose said, eager to make himself useful. He’d learned how to do this for his father when he was still alive.
Ambrose cinched the straps and worked the buckles with practiced fingers. His breath caught in awe as Kilgore’s massive shadow fell over him. The top of Ambrose’s head didn’t quite reach the orc’s shoulder and he stood close enough for Ambrose to savor his warm masculine scent…
Ambrose counseled himself to be professional. He shouldn’t take advantage of the moment and touch Kilgore unnecessarily. But the idea proved too much temptation. He stroked a finger down the orc’s thick lateral muscles and shivered pleasantly at the feel of hard ridges hidden beneath Kilgore’s linen shirt. Ambrose thought he could get away with the caress unnoticed, hoping it would be mistaken for a slip of the finger, but Kilgore looked down as soon as he did it.
Ambrose flushed and kept his eyes focused on his task. “S-sorry.”
“For what?” Kilgore asked.
Ambrose shook his head to dismiss the topic. Maybe it was just a coincidence the orc looked down when he did. “Thank you for the blanket.”
Kilgore cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. “No problem,” he mumbled.
Ambrose stepped back to admire his work. The orc looked powerful in his armor, like a real hero.
“We’re a few hours’ ride from the falls,” Kilgore said. “The gyle will be there.”
Ambrose’s stomach clenched in fear, but he kept a straight face. “I’m ready.”
Kilgore caught Ambrose’s eye with an intense gaze. His eyes were a lovely, rich brown. “You can run. I won’t blame you. I’ll say you disappeared in the night.”
Ambrose’s heart fell. “You have so little faith in me?”
Kilgore shook his head. “You don’t have to die. You’ve got something to live for.”
Ambrose drew his brows together. “And you don’t?”
Kilgore held his gaze, steady and unflinching. Ambrose realized that was his answer.
“Stop trying to get rid of me,” Ambrose said. “It’s the King’s orders.”
Kilgore rolled his eyes a little at the mention of the King. Perhaps he really thought the King wanted him dead. Or he respected Irial’s authority more than her father’s.
“I’m going with you,” Ambrose insisted. He drew himself up to full height, but the effect felt lost when the orc towered well over a foot taller.
COLLAPSE
