Dear Author, Matt has always been out and proud and from a very understanding and accepting family. He’s never openly flaunted being gay but he’s never hidden it, either. Chris has hidden the fact that he’s gay since he figured it out and has no intention of ever telling anyone. His family is very closed-minded and narrowly focused on him getting an athletic scholarship to college, like his dad. Both boys end up at the same college together. Chris on an athletic scholarship for baseball, hoping to make it to the major leagues, and Matt on an academic scholarship, not quite sure what he wants to do with his life, yet. When they meet they both begin to question everything they’ve ever thought they knew about themselves. Can Matt be in the closet for Chris? Can Chris come out for Matt? Can they make a relationship work with so many differences between them? Photo Description: Two naked young men in a window seat, cuddling. One is leaning back against, and looking up at, the other. The other has his arms wrapped around the one in front. 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.

One summer can change everything Hi, I’m Topher Carlisle: twenty-one, pretty, and fabulous. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. But let’s get real. Walking the fake-it-til-you-make-it road to independence and self-respect isn’t easy. Especially since my mom’s a deadbeat alcoholic, and most of my family expects me to turn out just as worthless. Oh, and I’m close to losing my college swimming scholarship, so let’s add “dropout” to the list. My BFF has invited me to stay at her beach house on the shore of Lake Michigan. That’ll give me one summer to make money and figure out what I want to do with my life. So of course I decide to have an affair with my BFF’s married, closeted dad. Because that always works out. Now I’m homeless, friendless, jobless. Worthless. Just like my family expects, right? Except there’s this great guy, Jace, who sees it differently. He’s got it all together in ways I can only dream of—he’s hot, creative, insightful, understanding. He seems to think I don’t give myself enough credit. And if I don’t watch out, I may start to believe him.

Tattoo artist Geoff Gilchrest is convinced his life is some sort of cosmic joke. Why else would a hemophiliac also be a masochist? He’s given himself more than one elbow bleed since puberty just doing what guys do when alone and bored, so forget about whips and chains. How many partners would contemplate playing with someone even a mild flogging could kill? Gallery owner Robin Brady knows he can deliver what Geoff needs: to be taken to the edge of danger but never beyond. But Robin came to Saugatuck to get away from the leather scene and heal from a betrayal by his former sub, so he’s not sure he should get involved with Geoff. His ambivalence isn’t helped by the fact that Geoff’s unwillingness to communicate about his well-being hits Robin in some very raw places. Geoff’s hemophilia isn’t the obstacle he thinks it is. Instead, a lack of trust—on both their parts—is what could end them before they have a chance to begin.