Nox is dying. Marked by a curse no one understands, his once-vibrant birthmark fades with each passing day; an unspoken sentence counting down to his end. Alone on a desolate hillside, exhausted and broken, he clings to the last pieces of his fading life: a letter to his family, a worn sword, and a heart heavy with regret. Then, without warning, a stranger appears. Tall, dark, and silent, the man's arrival is both a mystery and a lifeline. There is something in his sharp, guarded gaze; a flicker of something deeper beneath the surface of his hardened exterior. In the face of death, what begins as wary dependence slowly shifts into something more powerful, an unspoken bond that neither of them expected but both desperately need. In the shadow of a fading curse and the weight of a broken past, Nox and the stranger find themselves drawn together by something neither dared to name. As life grows fleeting, their connection becomes a chance at salvation, not just of the body, but of the heart. Sometimes, love arrives when all seems lost.

"Eric said my eyes are cool, and he said he thought I look beautiful" five year old Christian said "I'm going to marry Eric when I'm older!" He declared with a big smile ~~~~~ Twelve years later and the spoiled rich boy doesn't even remember Eric's existence, while Eric remembers but doesn't really care. When they meet again in the maid quarters Christian starts to question himself and what he wants. With his parents trying to marry him off and the struggles of his senior year of high school, how will he navigate his new feelings? How will his parents react to his new relationship? Will Christian's honest feelings reach the slightly oblivious Eric? Or will he give into his parents pressure? ~~~~~ {MxM} {contains sexual content} 1st 🥇 #finding true love {Jun.3.25} #embrace {Jun.3.25} #gay pride {Dec.10.25} 2nd🥈 #internal conflict {Jun.3.25} #embrace {Jun.3.25} 3rd🥉 #finding happiness {Dec.10.25}

Desmond Crenshaw doesn't have much going for him. He street races for cash, deals drugs to get by, and drags himself through each day with only one goal: survival. He's a reckless high school dropout with very few talents that won't get him arrested-definitely not someone you'd want around your child. Vaughn Torres agrees, he's been seeking a solid reason to cut off the friendship between the troublemaker and his daughter since the day they met. He gets one, too, when Des's vices begin to bleed into their lives and Winter is officially in danger. Des is given an ultimatum: he can only be around Winter if he distances himself from the crime. There's only one way to do that. A change of employment, specifically to Vaughn's mechanic shop, though that balance is a lot easier said than done. No, things for Des are never that simple. Not when he's working under the watchful eye of a man who hates him. Not when he starts genuinely wanting to be better, and is faced with the rocky road of leaving a life of crime entirely. And especially not when he's been in love with Winter's dad for years.

Ledger Olivier is an artist. Intense, ardent and a complete flirt; he's forever searching for the next thing that will make him feel alive. When he meets stoic, serious, heterochromic Everett Hayes, he knows that he'll never be the same again. Everett Hayes is drowning. The eldest of six wayward brothers and the weight of the world on his shoulders, he doesn't have time for passion. He knows better than to fall for his brother's best friend's charm, but when his gaze feels electric, it's easier said than done.

Miles is nervous and quiet. He graduated early to escape the bullying and chaos of high school, but adulthood hasn't offered the escape he had hoped for. Isolated and adrift, he struggles with panic attacks, loneliness, and memories that refuse to stay buried. His world shifts when he meets Atticus. Confident, kind, and impossible to ignore. Miles quickly begins to crave the connection he never thought he deserved. As their relationship deepens, so does Miles's hope that maybe someone could love him enough to help him heal, but the past has a way of catching up. Because love, as beautiful as it is, doesn't always drown out the noise, and silence can be louder than anyone realizes. Set against a backdrop of late-night parties, quiet heartbreaks, and moments of painful honesty, Loud Silence is a slow-burning, coming-of-age story about identity, survival, and the terrifying hope of letting someone in. This is the first long-form story I've ever written. I would love feedback as long as it's respectful. This story has been swirling around my head for years, and I'm excited to finally fight against my own anxiety and put it out into the world. ⚠️ Trigger & Content Warning ⚠️ Loud Silence contains boy x boy romance and deals with heavy mental health themes, including depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual), sexual identity struggles, and death. I do everything I can to portray these themes honestly and respectfully. Reader discretion is strongly advised. Best rankings: #1 in mental health #6 in gay #12 in gaylovers #17 in boyxboyromance #30 in gaypride #26 in anxietyattacks #76 in homosexual

Ethan Calaway has spent his entire life hopelessly in love with his best friend, Noah Anderson. Due to unfortunate complications, his love for Noah's ocean eyes has been locked away from the world- especially from Kurtis Anderson. Fast forward to many years later when Ethan receives an invitation to Mr. Anderson's memorial. Old memories, past love, and most definitely pain resurfaces when Ethan returns to his hometown.

"Sooner or later, you'll fall for me, too." Theodore bursts into laughter. "I don't know where your confidence is coming from." Jacob chuckles and says, "I just know." And then it catches Theodore off guard when Jacob adds, "We should be making out right now." Theodore swallows and looks him in the eye. "We should." "And I should be undressing you at this very moment," he continues, "We could stay up all night with our hands on each other and just... forget everything." ****** Meet Jacob and Theodore, the polar opposites within a tight-knit circle of the most esteemed members of society. Jacob, reserved and hard to read, isn't exactly Theodore's biggest fan-unlike everyone else, who's head over heels for the golden boy. However, as they navigate their way through law school, they trip over a connection that sparks a lowkey romance, catching both of them by surprise. Content warning: Physical assault, homophobia, mental health, strong language, sexual content Started: September 21, 2023 Ended: January 9, 2024 Revised: June 1, 2025 - June 28, 2025

~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

After his nervous breakdown culminates in a shocking assault, pop superstar Laurie Hayes must partner with a genius producer in a final bid to salvage his spiraling career. *** Three years after becoming an overnight global sensation, musician Laurie Hayes stands on a cliff's edge at the top of the world. Dominating headlines with inventive scandals and refusing to release new songs for his label, the spotlight on his future has started to dim. Desperate to clean up his image and deliver new music to the masses, his managers have pushed him into the path of James Kato, whose strict and stubborn methods have presented an insurmountable challenge. Brooding recluse James has devoted his life to staying in control. Now, he's been tasked with an impossible mission: getting Laurie Hayes to finish an album in eight months, without triggering another fit of frustration-induced rage. Charged with keeping Laurie in line, he begins to untangle the mess of secrets driving the singer's erratic behavior and unpredictable lifestyle. Forced to work as a team, only one question remains. Can James keep Laurie on top of that unsteady cliff, or will the two end up plunging over its edge together? *** Can be read as a standalone.

When shy bartender Elliot is approached by a handsome stranger on a park bench at midnight, their unlikely attraction unravels everything they know about themselves, and the crime-ridden city around them. *** Elliot Taylor is running out of places to hide. Trapped between a ruthless father, a dead-end job, and a future that feels just out of reach, he spends his nights on park benches clinging to one goal: get into college and get out for good. What he doesn't plan on is Noah Black. Vice President of the Stray Dogs Motorcycle Club. Infamous. Observant. Relentless. Far too charming for a man with a reputation for violence, and determined to pry into wounds Elliot would rather pretend don't exist. Through chance encounters and sleepless nights, the two can't seem to avoid each other. But Noah's life comes with complications: a motorcycle club under pressure, threats closing in, and loyalties that crumble when tested. As Elliot drifts deeper into Noah's current, he cannot help but realize how dangerously close he's falling -- even as deadly secrets threaten to unravel everything they've fought so hard for. Soon, Elliot must face a choice: keep chasing the life he's always dreamed of, or confront the truths that could shatter everything he knows... including his past, his heart, and the man who refuses to let him go.