Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 3

any sort home before, and never just a casual date. Her eyes let me know she expected the full story later, but for now she let my half-assed introduction go. We all made small talk and I watched Ronan relax as my mother made him feel comfortable, gently probing for any information she could get. When she learned about his mother's death, she left her seat to hug him and I could see his eyes tear up. Sometimes just the simplest comforts were the hardest to handle with equanimity. After half-an-hour, Mom made her excuses and went upstairs to her room, allowing us some privacy in the kitchen.
    I decided some straight truths were in my best interests before Ronan slipped through my fingers. "I've never spent the evening drinking with a client before," I stated bluntly, "and I've never dated one or brought one home to meet my mother. Something about you is different, though, and I was having trouble keeping the professional mindset with you at work today. Once I saw you away from work, all bets were off. I would like to see you again, and to get to know you better, if that's what you want as well." I held my breath as I waited for an answer. In my mind, we had clicked and had an evening full of talking and drinking to prove it. My mother liked him or she never would have left the room, and her judgment was always spot-on. Now I just had to hope that the attraction went both ways.
    After a few seconds, the fullest, most glorious smile I had seen yet bloomed on Ronan's face. "I would like that very much," he said. "I wasn't looking for this, either, when I left the apartment today, but I'm glad you stumbled upon me tonight. I've had a really nice time with you and I want to do this again."
    With that small victory buoying my spirits, I leaned over and lightly, softly, brushed my lips over his, a promise of things to come. I wanted to go slow, to let things between us grow, and maybe, just maybe , the dreams of happy-ever-after could come true after all.
    THE END
    Author bio: Mandy Beyers is the alter-ego of a stay-at-home mother of four that spends her days trying to homeschool and not go crazy. A native Texan, her characters might not be born in Texas, but they get there as soon as they can! You can find her on Goodreads nearly every day or email her at [email protected]. This is her second story written for the M/M Romance group on Goodreads, and one of these days some of the other half-written stories in her computer or the many stories floating around in her brain might see the light of day.
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DROPPING A STITCH IN TIME
    by Casey K. Cox

    Cute naked guy lying alone in bed surrounded by flowers but looking sad.

    Dear Author,
    Their relationship was perfect, something right out of a fairy tale. Omar didn't even seem to mind the age difference. At least Jesse thought so. 10 years is not that much, right? Or was there another reason why after flowers, chocolates and mind blowing sex he woke up on Valentine's Day to an empty bed. It's been four days. Chocolates and flowers are still by his bedside, but his lover is gone without a trace.
    Sincerely,
    Mammarella

    genre : paranormal; contemporary
    tags: HEA; sweet; love-at-first-sight; time translation; heaven-n-earth; species-watcher
    word count: 11,784
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    DROPPING A STITCH IN TIME
    by Casey K Cox
    Human emotions, so powerful and yet fleeting in the face of the grand old age of the universal continuum. The power to etch themselves into the very fabric of space time. Like now. Such a sweet young thing, his whole life barely longer than a heavenly sneeze, and yet the breaking of his heart resounds through the dimensions like the temple gong calling the faithful to prayer.
    Omar shuffled uncomfortably as he waited in the antechamber. It had been a long time since he'd worn ceremonial robes and they itched. Except they didn't. A leftover figment of the imagination after taking on a physical body for the last week. A single week away from home, but a year in the life of the young man whose pain and confusion now ripped through the tranquillity of the heavens. These rarefied fields beyond such biochemical displays.
    Falling in love with the boy had been a surprise. Shouldn't have been possible. And yet Omar found himself echoing the confused and alienated thoughts of his human companion, wanting to be close, needing to touch. It ached. Ached with an intensity that surprised him. No wonder the chance at a human life was so prized.
    "Come on