Peter Both

 Best gay romance books

MM romance by Peter Both

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 EBOOK $2.99 ~ Hardcover $8

Genre: Contemporary gay romance. Tropes: second chance. Trigger warning: childhood trauma, mental health, redemption, mild language, drinking, explicit spice, short story. 

SERIES: Sugar Crush Flash fiction (can be read in any order)

Lucius is not exactly a good guy... On the eve of his 27th birthday, he goes out to drink with friends and ends up completely drunk. The next day, he wakes up in bed with someone with a tattoo of Orion on their neck. But Lucius has no recollection of the previous night. He doesn't want to know anything and shout to get out as he rush to the bathroom.

Between his caramel cooping mechanism and the mysterious identity of the Orion tattoo bearer, Lucius is struggling to get his life in order. Caramel Boy is a heartfelt and authentic queer redemption romance. When you are broken beyond repair and still want real and strong connections. 

EBOOK $2.99 ~ Hardcover $8

Genre: Contemporary gay romance. Tropes: sweet love, age gap. Trigger warning: trauma, rough coming out, assault, trust issue, mild language, some spice, short story. 

SERIES: STRAY BOYS SERIES book1 (can be read in any order)

At the end of a toxic relationship with his boyfriend, Abel decides to move on with his life. To celebrate his first day as a single man, his friend invites him for a night out to mend his shredded heart. After a couple of beers, Abel isn’t in the mood to party and finds it suffocating to even breathe. As he walks away, a little drunk on wobbling legs, Abel meets a shadow in a dark alley. A trembling hand extended from the gloom. A tiny quivering voice pleading for help. Shocked at the sight of a naked young man shivering against the cold, Abel offers him his jacket. Frail and of exquisite beauty. Abel is intrigued. Who is he?

Is Abel ready to trust again after all that went through with his previous boyfriend?

This is a contemporary romance about two broken souls meeting in unfortunate circumstances. Each of them will learn to live and help each other to overcome their own pain and suffering. 

Will their feelings win over their dark past and let it bloom into true love?

Limited edition hardcover $7 Order here

Genre: forbidden romance. Tropes: Forbidden love, Twin brothers, one bed, forced proximity. Trigger warning: trauma, violent abusive relationship, incest, language, drinking, smoking, explicit sex scene.

SERIES: STANDALONE 

Sinful: Part 1

“Hey, Ash,” I rolled over with a groan and blinked at my screen. For a second, I didn’t recognized his voice.

“Adrian?” I pressed my phone to my ear. He sounded odd.

“Can I come over for a few days? I feel like it’s been a while since we did some catching up. How’s your new boyfriend doing?” That got me struggling out of my tangled covers. My bedroom was pitch black the little digital clock on my nightstand said 4 AM.

“You’re coming over?” I asked out of breath. There was a beat of silence.

“Is it not a good time?” I shifted the phone to my other ear and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. Summer was too hot to wear anything to bed.

“What are you talking about? You’re always welcome. Don’t worry about that boyfriend. He is done,” I added with irritation.

“You two broke up?” he sounded surprised.

“Yeah, a week ago,” I sighed.

Shameless: part 2

The invitation arrived at the same time my phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished out the device as I opened the door of my office. The glass panels on the left drew elongated squares of light over the gray tapestry. Claudia looked up from her screen and pushed her glasses up.

“Going home already, Boss?” She reached for the mail basket and lifted a large envelope off the pile of bills. I squeezed my phone between my shoulder and my ear while balancing my bag to get my car keys.

“Tony, you know I can’t drop everything. I’ve got a business to run,” I said through the phone and took the letter from Claudia. "Thank you, see you tomorrow," I said over my shoulder. She smiled as she shoved me away. I exited the office lobby and made my way to the elevators. Tony kept scolding me about not visiting my folks. I frowned as I pressed the call button. Home had far too many memories. They lurked around every corner. I've been running away from my past and my emotions. Away from my shattered heart. Keep away from Ash. It took ten years to numb the pain. His lips were imprinted on my skin. That was the only luxury I allowed us. Kisses that flutter like butterfly wings. Never let the kisses escalate. Never allow the touches to go too long. These continue to weigh heavily on my conscience. Too much to bear for a lifetime.

I entered the elevator as the door popped open. I tore through the enormous envelope as I waited for the numbers above the door to flash the second level of the parking lot. When I noticed the wedding invitation's letterhead, I paused. David's name followed by his fiancée, Nadia, was written in exquisite lettering. As my lungs whooshed with air, I slumped against the car's wall. I suddenly saw myself on the day of my wedding. I was about the same age as David. I wasn't a man at eighteen, and I was concerned that maybe he was about to make the same error that I did. My stomach churned from guilt.

“What kind of father am I to forget his own kid’s wedding?” Work had been piling up, and I hadn't taken a day off in a long time. The elevator door chimed as it opened over a dim parking lot. I quickly found my dark sedan, threw my laptop bag in the passenger seat, and fastened on my seat-belt. The car purred as I pressed a button on the dashboard.

After the divorce, my entire way of living changed. But, was it for the better or the worse? I accepted full responsibility for our marriage's demise. Lydia was right to want my undivided attention, and I failed her. I've hurt her in ways for which I'm still making atonement. And I’m still mending the burnt bridges between my two sons. David and Tom were just stepping into adulthood. I was in my late thirties, and my love life, as well as any form of amusement, were non-existent.

Coming soon

Genre: Paranormal gay romance. Tropes: Forbidden love, vampire, one bed, forced proximity, kidnapping, he falls first. Trigger warning: trauma, violent abusive relationship, extreme violence, death, and gore imagery, language, drinking, smoking, explicit sex scene. Proceed with caution.

SERIES: BITEFUL TALES SERIES Book1

It was pouring outside when my eyes resting on the restaurant’s window. The colors bleached from the gloomy neon flashing from the tattoo parlor across the street. Rose Noir blinked in Fuchsia against the blackened front store. The sun had just set behind sad gray industrial buildings. I checked my phone for the thousandth time. He stood me up. I sighed and turned back to my half-filled beer. It was now warm, just my luck. The tall glass sweat on the stained coaster with the logo of the family restaurant, The Happy Corn, where my blind date was supposed to meet me.

What was I really expecting? This was the third disastrous date I got from that stupid app. At least, the first two showed up. What a waste of time, I’ve been sitting here for the past 40 minutes convincing myself this will be different. Note to myself: ignore any guy without a profile picture, even if the way he writes is enticing, just stays away. Actually, I should probably delete my account and the app altogether. 

I turned back at the pretty blond waitress pouring coffee to the couple sitting at the next table. She looked up with a smile. It was a polite type of smile. The business one.

“Do you want some coffee, Sir,” I shook my head. Coffee with warm beer wasn’t a great combination. I should order something to eat but I was beyond the point of enjoying good food—alone. The disappointment has sipped deep inside my stomach. I just wanted to get away from the cheerful clients and go ravel in my self-pity. 

  coming soon- (editing in process)

         Genre: Dark romance. Tropes: First love, second chance. Trigger warning: trauma, violent abusive relationship, language, drinking, smoking, explicit sex scene.

SERIES: STRAY BOYS SERIES book3 (can be read in any order)

This is not a Romeo and Juliette kind of story, first there was no Juliette, second nobody died in the end… well, and maybe I did a little. What follows is the sad story of my first love. I had some quick good memories though... yeah… some horribly painful. But it has bugged me for this past two years.

            His name was AnTalon. I really hate it, sounds like an old geezer’s but Talon; as if I called him back then, was quite the contrary. He was in his mid-20 with a very handsome face and mysterious dark brown eyes slapped with a soft smile. Talon was very gentle in his gesture and spoke in a calm sexy deep voice... very mature compared to me at that time. But I never really knew him, so maybe it was all an act. I bet he was one hell of a performer to fool me like that. An Oscar level performer.

I was too in love and blind to notice all the blinking signs. The very reason for my downfall. The shortest love stories are those that leaves the most scars. They have that bitter after-taste of something not quite complete. Frankly, I was still trying to sort myself out and maybe a little desperate to meet my special someone... more like anyone. It may sound crazy but... Yeah, I love the honeymoon phase.

            Talon was the wood that fuel my fire and I was burnt to a crisp. Ironic isn’t it?

Special Christmas short

It was once again that time of the year. The one where people milled about ready to wrestle each other over a plastic Christmas tree. I trailed behind Emerald, hands full of bags. For a moment, the crowd gobbled him up. He disappeared completely out of sight. Somehow, it allowed me breathing space.

It’s been months since the encounter with my ghost. The one that came back from my haunted past. The one that I’ve shoved down the basement of my memories, dug a hole and buried he down there forever. Where I thought he would never rise. Little did I know, the dead could crawl out of their tombs.

A hand waved at me on my left. Music was blasting from decorated storefront as I made my way towards Emerald grinning from ear to ear. His red t-shirt adorned ‘Santa’ printed in fat capital letter. Normally I’d cringed at the sight. Here in the sea of bodies wearing the same cheesy Christmasy garments, he fitted right in.   Big crowds wasn’t my thing. Never was, never will. I wore neutral white with blue jeans. Still, I didn’t blend in. Not with my foul mood.

“Why are you pulling a long face?” He slipped his arm in my crooked elbow. In this packed place, we were safe from prying eyes. I balanced the bags; they were mostly gifts for his family. Emerald was the odd type of gay with amazing sisters that supported him and parents who couldn’t get enough of his new boyfriend, me. Maybe I was being an asshole about it. Whenever they invited me over for dinner, all I wanted was to get the hell out of there. Too happy, too intimate, too bright. Almost fake.

“I’m hunger,” I pursed my lips. “You know how grumpy I get when my stomach is groaning.” He leaned into me and laughed. Yes, I wasn’t worthy of his affection. Emerald was just too good to be true. The reason why I kept chasing ghosts.

“Let’s get that big boy some food.” He pulled me towards the restaurants area on our left, away from the main road. A mouth-watering aroma of roasting meat hang in the air. Food sizzled in a wok at the beginning of the road, as colorful stalls got ready for lunchtime. Fumes puffed from the suffocating kitchens. Magon Street was still deserted even if it won’t be the case in a couple of hours or so. It mainly held Chinese restaurants and other oriental delicacies. Emerald’s favorite. No that I’d frowned at it. Right now, I’d eat everything I can get my hands on. My stomach groaned in agreement. He dragged me to a dim corridor where tasty smells tickled my nostrils. I sniffed and grinned.

“You will love it here,” he whispered in my ear. A sweet shudder told I might agree with other idea I had in mind. He gave me a side-glance and hid a giggle. We emerged in a dark room with red decoration, a cross between Chinese New Year and Christmas. A bored young woman greeted us, who told us they just started their service, and the dishes might delay. After all the walking around, I didn’t mind siting in a cool place and rest. We eased in a booth in the back of the large room. Dumped the bags on the opposite seat and squeezed together under the uninterested gaze of the waiter. When we were comfortably seated, she handed us the menu then disappeared behind a door marked ‘staff only’.

“Lovely,” I commented when we were alone. Emerald nudged his elbow into my ribs.

“The food is good, the service not so much,” he smiled. His eyes had that glimmer whenever he looked at me. It punched me right in the guts with guilt. I reached out and he immediately grabbed my hand. He was way too sweet, my heart broke a little.

“Still grumpy?” he whispered. A faint smile stretched over my lips.

“Maybe.” I didn’t dare look back into those beautiful hazel eyes. I scanned the empty room then my attention went back to the menu. “What do you suggest?” I tapped a finger on the thick printed-paper with exotic names listed over it.

“You pick everything you want, it’s on me.” He grinned cupping his face with his elbows on his menu. I got a second jab of guilt setting in the pit of my stomach. My cheeks were flaming. Stop looking at me with those puppy eyes.

“I can’t let you pay.” I let out a nervous laugh. He reached towards me and brushed my cheek with his knuckles.

“It’s okay; I want to spend my money on you.” I swallowed and lowered my glaze. What was I doing? It was that prick’s fault that I couldn’t enjoy my precious time with my current boyfriend. He was history. I did not intend to see him ever. So why was he troubling me? A genuine smile broke over my lips.

“I’ll be happy if we share the bill.” I grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles. Emerald beamed.

“Here is my Dan. The one I felt in love with,” he chuckled. The front door chimed and new clients poured in. We quickly let go of each other and straightened in our seats.

Soon the restaurant filled in. Our food did delayed a bit but the taste made up for the wait. Lunch was spectacular. Emerald laughed each time I moaned with pleasure as I ate. We shared the bill and decided to get dessert in a cake shop on our way home.

By then, I was infected by Emerald’s happiness. We strode to our apartment hand in hand, eyes swimming with stars. That night I cooked dinner as a thanks for the lovely time we spent together. We only got halfway through the meal before ending up in bed. We made love until dawn. Emerald silently slipped into dreamland while I tugged the covers around him and brushed stray curls away from his face. When I reached to our discarded clothes for my underwear, I noticed my phone on the nightstand. I had forgotten it when I got out this morning. Since we were together, I didn’t missed it one second. I reached out and swapped my finger over the smooth surface. There was three miss calls, all from an unknown caller and a couple of messages. I ignored the calls and scrolled down to the messages while I made my way to my tiny bathroom.

My eyes widened as I read the first one. I paused in front of the door. I had to read it twice to be sure I wasn’t dreaming. The first message:

Hello, Danny Boy

The second:

I had begged some friends so I could get your number. Since the day I saw you…I couldn’t stop thinking about you.

The third:

I want to see you. I need to see you. Are you free on Christmas?

My hand shook and I almost let go of my phone. My breath came out raspy. Why now? Why? Just when I’ve found someone as amazing as Emerald. Why couldn’t he leave me alone? That gaping hole pulsing in my chest was ready to eat me alive. (extract from the new version of Danny Boy with a new ending and a pov of Talon)

© Copyright Peter Both