‎‎"I'm like a fungus," Damian said cheerfully. "You'll get used to me." ‎ ‎"I'd rather contract an actual fungus." ‎ ‎"That's a little dramatic." ‎ ‎"I'm literally a science major," Lukas said, sipping his drink calmly. "I know how bad fungi can get." ‎ ‎Damian leaned forward, like Lukas had just issued a challenge. "Okay. Serious question. What would it take for you to willingly hang out with me?" ‎ ‎"An act of God." ‎ ‎"I'm serious." ‎ ‎"I'm not."

"We could just . . . *do it*, you know," he says now, teasingly. "Clear all that sexual tension up with one quick ten minute session?" I seriously hope he's joking, but I'm not certain he is. Either way, I can't prevent the exasperated huff of laughter that escapes my lips at those words. "You must be dreaming if you think there's *any* sexual tension between us," I scoff. "Anyway, I'd rather not be another notch on your bedpost, thanks very much." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruby Rafferty has won the ultimate prize - a luxury holiday in Crete! In theory, it couldn't be more perfect - endless sun, Greek food, an unlimited free bar . . . There's only one problem. The man she has no choice but to share the prize with. Lewis Sheridan may be ridiculously attractive, but he is also cocky, cynical, and comes complete with his own specific set of red flags. He's everything Ruby has never wanted in a guy, and she's not sure she can survive *one* day alone with him, let alone ten. It's *fine*, though . . . Their suite is massive, the cocktails are flowing, and Ruby can't help but notice how handsome and charming the hotel manager is. If only he didn't think she and Lewis were already a couple . . . Will forced proximity push our vacationers closer or further apart? Can enemies really become lovers? And what will happen if anyone realises they're technically on holiday under false pretences? I guess we're about to find out . . . Cover by @jspromcoms

Charlotte, a single mom trying to make ends meet, runs a small bakery in a sleepy town. Business is slow until a famous, notoriously grumpy chef, Oliver Steele, moves into the town's old manor to escape the city's pressure. When he starts coming to her bakery every morning, it sparks curiosity and rumors.

~WATTYS SHORTLIST 2025~ Hunter Dannings was a young CEO who had given up on love. But when he met River Conyers, a single dad and bar owner, his life began to change. Being around River gave him hope, and being around his daughter, Melodie, let Hunter imagine creating the family he's always wanted. But River doesn't let people in easily. And falling for him puts Hunter at risk for more heartbreak than he's ever known. ----- "Thanks for bringing me home." "It's no problem," Hunter shrugged, crossing his arms against the bitter Toronto cold. "You did the same for me." "Yeah," River started in, but paused, fingers tightening around the doorknob. "Maybe I should return the favor." In two large steps, River stepped in front of Hunter. His breath left his lips in small clouds as he stared determinedly at Hunter's mouth. Hunter's body was confused. After battling the oncoming winter chill for so long, it was strange to suddenly have River in front of him, warming his skin from proximity alone. Fingertips tinged pink by the cold reached up, grabbing Hunter's jacket and using the fabric to pull the taller man down. "You were gone for so long and never reached out," River croaked, fists tightening around the fabric of Hunter's coat. "Never sent me a text or gave me a call." "I'm sorry." "Are you?" River's whispered words warmed Hunter's lips, teasing him with the promise of more. "Then prove it." __________________________________ Highest Rankings: #1 mxm/malexmale/manxman #1 gayness/unlimitedpride #1 parent/singleparent #1 nosmut #3 gay #3 lgbtlove/lgbtlovestory #4 gaylove #5 fallinginlove #7 bxblove #16 wattpride #35 lgbt #64 bxb #96 boyxboy #99 single-parent #136 lgbtq #200 BL Date Started: 02/02/2024 Date Completed: 10/4/2024

"You ever think about how weird feelings are?" Maya asked quietly. Jade tensed. "What kind of feelings?" "Like... when you're around someone and your stomach just..." Maya made a vague explosion noise with her mouth. "You know?" "Like food poisoning?" Maya shoved her gently. "You're impossible." Jade smirked, but it faltered when she saw the way Maya was looking at her. Eyes open. Bare. Something unspoken balancing on the edge of her lips. Jade turned away too quickly. "Feelings are overrated." "You don't mean that." "No," Jade admitted. "I don't."

Jake Taylor is a simple guy of simple pleasures. Family-focused and happy to help, he's proud of his little community in Gunner, East Tennessee. A good son, a dedicated brother, a loyal friend, and an honest man - that's all he strives to be. Ray Cooper can't wait to get out. Hungry for more and ready for freedom, he works hard and keeps to himself while maintaining the eye on the goal - move out and disappear. Any ties he has to Gunner are nothing but reminders of how the world is stacked against him. Ray and Jake don't so much crash into each other's lives as they slowly ease in. But their plans for how the rest of their lives look like don't match, and Ray's past is an ever-looming threat. They shouldn't make sense together, but maybe they do. So what now?

The cold man fell in love with the kind girl because he knew that she deserved the world and that he wanted to be the one who gave it to her. ♡ Alette Faye was a sweet girl. She was exceptionally kind and had an air of simplicity. Between her part-time job at the bakery, her classes, her time spent tending to her flowers and walking in the fields, she didn't get the opportunity to experience much. Her past created fears in her that she seemingly couldn't overcome, and then she met him. For when she meets him, she should have run away in fear, but she stayed. She stayed and she opened her big heart for a man who found his heart, just for her. ♡ This story is a little cliché, a lot unedited, and super simple.

One girl. One Boy. One bus stop. "She walked over to her bus, glancing back at the boy as she did every evening. Only this time, they locked eyes."

A stranger to her own existence, Kayla moves to a small town with the hope of finding comfort in a fresh start. But as she steps inside the unfamiliar classroom on the first day, standing in front of the class is a mysteriously familiar face, one that rouses memories of a time she believed had gone by. With past baggage catching up in the most intrusive ways, she stumbles upon unexpected comfort of friendship, unconditional love of found family, and a beautiful yet complicated bond between two hesitant souls. "This book was like a warm hug, and I might believe in love again." "I would give everything, especially my soul, to have the opportunity to read this book for the first time again." ────── CW: Substance abuse, harsh language, sexual content, mention of self-harm and suicide. ────── Started in January 2018. Re-published in November 2022. First draft (this version) finished in April 2023. ────── Copyright 2018 © Renee Steinberg All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, copied, translated, or republished in any form without the author's permission, except for brief quotations or reviews with proper credit.

She looks up at me, taking a step forward and smiling slightly, "How can I ever get hurt when I have you here to protect me?" "But you could have gotten hurt," I murmur softly, hanging my head and feeling my shoulders drop, the tension seeping from my body. "No. Stop," She cuts me off sternly but tenderly, "Don't talk like that, Reece. I'm okay, you're okay, we're okay," She speaks softly, reaching her hand up to gently brush her thumb over my cheek, just under the cut that's there. "We're okay," I repeat, taking a small step closer to her. She nods with a small smile, moving her hand down from my cheek and instead placing the palm of her hand on my chest, right over my heart. I know she can feel how fast my heart is beating. I just don't know why it's doing that. ~ Reece Carter is the bad boy of Northwood High. He smokes and he fights. He has countless tattoos covering his body. And he doesn't care about anything or anyone else. Layla Stevens is your average seventeen year-old girl, just trying to get through high school, with the friends she loves and doing the things she loves. When these two cross paths accidentally in an unusual way, they leave and never expect to speak to each other again. But fate has other plans. Layla finds her way into Reece's life and Reece doesn't know what to do about it. This ray of Sunshine suddenly meant something to him. She understood him when it seemed like no one else did. And he protected her from everyone who tried to hurt His Sunshine. Get ready for a story filled with bad pick-up lines, twin telepathy and a lot of fighting. Like, a LOT. Thanks for that one, Reece.