"I always thought I was the ocean, you know? Always reaching for things I can't have. Always crashing into people who don't want me back. The moon pulls. The ocean follows. Even when it hurts." "You don't have to, Noah. Why can't you stay? Why can't the ocean stay with the shore?" *** Noah Reed has spent years trying to outrun the boy he used to be- the one who froze under his father's fists, the one who kissed a stranger under the stars and watched him disappear. When Noah and his mother escape their violent home and move to Novacrest, he's prepared to rebuild quietly: new school, new friends, a job at a café, and maybe-finally-something like peace. Milo, the sweet, steady football player who keeps showing up for him, feels like exactly that. Until Noah sees him. Eli Blake. Quarterback. Golden boy. Untouchable. And the first boy Noah ever kissed. Eli acts like he doesn't remember him at all. But his eyes say something else-fear, anger, longing, something sharp enough to cut. Thrown together for a biology project, their old summer-camp secret forces its way back, tearing open every wound Noah has tried to bury. And just when Noah's heart begins leaning toward Milo, Eli breaks through his defenses... and kisses him again. Now the past is unraveling, the truth is clawing its way out, and Noah has to choose between the boy who makes him feel safe and the boy who makes him feel seen. Because oceans don't choose what pulls them. But Noah has to- before he breaks apart for good. Book One in the Ocean & Moon series.

Nathan is a pop star trying to finish his album. Elijah is a reporter gathering insider info. When they start fake dating, their worlds turn upside down... ***** When Nathan Lowe and Elijah Scott agree to stage a relationship for publicity reasons, both of them are striving for their own goals. Finding love is certainly not one of them, and yet it is only a matter of time until the lines between pretense and passion start to blur and what started as a PR stunt soon turns out to be more than they bargained for. Before they know it, they find themselves caught in a web of lies and intrigues, mind games and manipulation, until the only thing they can know for sure is this: Nothing in Hollywood is ever quite the way it seems. Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains scenes of sexual activity and drug use, which may be triggering for some readers. [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]] Cover designed by Ashley Santoro

Fabio Costa has plenty of talent, a sharp tongue, and unlimited energy to burn, but his forehand could be improved. Enter Julian Foster, a retired Wimbledon Champion with a bad knee and zero patience for Fabio's antics. When the two of them team up, their unexpected bond takes them from the gruelling Challenger circuit to the glamorous world of Grand Slams. But as their connection deepens, amidst intense training sessions, press meltdowns and far too many shared hotel rooms, their feelings for each other threaten to bring down everything they have ever worked for. cover art by the amazing @aphedragonfly CW: Language, Alcohol, Injuries, Mentions of past emotional abuse. +++ All tennis players featured in the story are completely fictional. All similarities to existing players are due to there being only so many ways you can hit a ball with a racquet. +++ Featured by WackyWriters [Judges' Favorites March 2025]

They couldn't be more different. Ridley is a knight in shining white armor, so perfect in every way that it makes people hardly able to stand him. Prince Vandel on the other hand (aka the evil demon prince of darkness) is the sworn enemy of the kingdom, obsessed with gaining power and wearing beautiful clothes. The two young men are right out of a fairytale, practically made to be archenemies...but what if they ended up falling in love instead?

[COMPLETED] [2025 Wattys Honorable Mention] Danny's neighbor should be illegal. There's no way someone should be that attractive. They've lived next door to each other for over a year. As a skinny, clumsy, sweater-loving, Modern Poetry professor, Danny never believed someone like him could catch the eye of someone as perfect as Brett. But when Danny (accidentally) RSVPs to a destination wedding he never wanted to attend, he realizes he's in a bind-he needs a plus-one. And somehow, Brett becomes his unexpected solution. Brett's MMA career was on the brink of greatness until an injury stopped him cold. Now, trying to reclaim his spot in the octagon and live up to heavy expectations, the last thing Brett expected was to build a friendship with the neighbor he's been crushing on. However, Danny is undeniably gorgeous and way out of his league, so he needs to maintain realistic expectations. But, when Danny needs a date for a destination wedding, Brett's first instinct is to offer his help. Being his fake boyfriend would not be a hardship. A romantic beach, a fake relationship, and one bed... what could go wrong? Genre: Contemporary Romance / Fake Relationship / Friends to Love / HEA Guaranteed / Dual POV There will be mature scenes between two men that I will mark accordingly. These scenes are intended for mature audiences. This is a spin-off of the worlds of King of Hawkings/Death & Tequila and A New Song/Beats of the Heart, but it is a stand-alone novel, so reading the other novels is unnecessary. However, some old characters will appear, so you may enjoy it more with the full background.

Theo Moretti, a 27 years old feared and emotionless mafia enforcer, lives a life of violence, control, and isolation.. Peter Antonio is 18 but seems younger. An autistic. He lives in a world of his own, filled with colors, textures, and imaginary friends. He's non-verbal on some days, overstimulated on others, and always unapologetically himself. To Theo, Peter is confusing. To Peter, Theo is terrifying-but interesting. Their journey is not easy. Various threats, sudden ambushes and loss of more strength. But they hold on to each other like an anchor. Believing it will end and they can live happily ever after. But only one thing matters. As long as Peter Antonio is by his side, he will burn the whole world for him. Just to see the boy's smile. His giggles. His passion of drawing. MLM

"Very good, Wesley," he breathed, the warm air fanning across the merchant captain's face. "Now I suggest you listen closely because I don't do this very often." Wesley curiosity grew, though he kept a healthy degree of skepticism as he listened to the pirate. "I'm prepared to offer you a deal." "What kind of deal?" he asked, his heart racing. "I seem to have found something that I want even more than your ship's cargo," he said with an unsettling smirk. "And I am prepared to let what remains of your crew sail free if I get it." "Name your price," Wesley said, at this point ready to agree to anything if his crew would live. Valentine reached out and tilted Wesley's head up so he could get a better view of it. His smirk seemed to grow as he let one little word slip through his lips. "You." *This is an LGBTQ+ story*

Lazy Touma suddenly wakes up in a BL novel as the Villain, Nakamura Shin. "..." Fuck the villain role, let me sleep. A grumpy cat-like person wakes up as Nakamura Shin, the Villain of a BL novel called "Sweethearts Since". His role was to bully the protagonist because Shin was in love with the male lead. It a was simple and cliche novel with many dramatic moments. But Touma didn't want to be a part of that and simply just wanted to live a lazy life. "Male Lead": You'll get cramps sleeping like that. Shin: Tsk. Leave me alone. "Male Lead": You can sleep on my lap if you'd like. Shin leaps into the male lead's arms: Pillow!! "Male Lead": *Smirks* Gotcha. Shin tries to avoid everyone...But his Male lead knew exactly how to deal with a grumpy cat. -- Started: July 22, 2021 Main Story Ended: November 25, 2021 Ended (+Extras): November 29, 2021 -- {NOTE: NOT A TRANSLATION! THIS IS MY ORIGINAL STORY}

When Alistair Melek gave his life to the sea, a various degree of things changed. For starters, his love for bloodshed was exemplified. Bolder. He was drawn to the clash of a sword, blood spiling below to floorboards, like a moth drawn to a flame. And this love was damned to spread through his crew as some treacherous disease, claiming any and all who joined. But he knew this was the price he'd pay. The price for the sea itself. So when his crew completes another standard loot and pillage from a merchant ship, he allows his men a bit of fun. He liked to give them an audience, rounding up those who didn't fall victim to the blade during battle, and forcing them to beg for their lives. To prove how much they really wanted to live. Alistair had ruled the sea for some years now. Killed thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Destroyed hundreds, maybe thousands of vessels. And yet, each feeble human was all the same. There was not one man he threatened that didn't beg for their lives with all they had in them when faced with the wrong end of the sword. Each feeble human was always the same. Or so he thought. And yet, he also thought that this would be one standard job. A treat for his men after a night of good work. But this particular survivor, the one with long white hair and dead looking eyes... He wasn't a merchant. He couldn't have been. More important, there was no hesitancy when Alistair asked the fairly built man whether he wanted to live, and the man replied with a simple no.