Silver Shorts 2012, Week 8 (Silver Shorts #3)

Welcome to the Silver Shorts! Every week, we will be giving the Silver Publishing authors a prompt or four to play with and one week to submit flash fiction and short stories to be offered as free reads to our customers. This week's themes are:



"The box was still there..."

"We fell in love..."

"You can only eat so much..."

"I cannot believe you..."



This week's anthology includes:

All or Nothing by S.A. Garcia
Branded by Freddy MacKay
Certain Extras by L.M. Brown
Hearts in Limbo by Julie Lynn Hayes
More Than Neighbors by Nicole Dennis
Only So Much by Diane Adams
Rock and a Hard Place by Karyn Gerrard
Special Packages by Lily Sawyer
The Initiate by TLK Arkenberg


Check back every week for new anthology releases, and happy reading!



All or Nothing Excerpt
S.A. GARCIA

Scott lit the twenty-fifth white candle. He glanced around his snug studio apartment and bit his lower lip. After adoring his handsome boss for months, tonight Scott planned to reveal his emotion to Thomas.

If Scott's lunacy caused unemployment, so be it. Hell, Scott needed to tell manly Thomas the truth, or quit his job.

The architectural photographer checked the Pinot Grigio again. There, chilled to perfection. Scott hoped Thomas appreciated the Italian vintage; at $95.79 a bottle, the wine should pour itself into the stemware. He prayed he wouldn't drink the wine alone.

He needed a last glance at his romantic speech. Scott plucked the post-it note from under the living room table and tried conquering his nervous squeak. "Thomas, when I gaze into your eyes, I lose myself. I fall into your confident gaze like a feather falls onto a tranquil river. I cannot believe how good falling in love with you feels. I sense our river of love will support us and take us places I've never explored. I love you."

Fuck, the words sounded like a simpering greeting card. Too bad, he spoke the truth.

The buzzer's harsh tone blared. Scott nearly pissed himself. His poor heart thudded so hard he feared for his skin. Splat, thud! Why had he picked such a humid night for this seduction? Liters of sweat erupted under his armpits.

He inhaled a centering breath. Scott buzzed Thomas up. His knees stuttered in terror. Stop!

An authoritative knock attacked the front door. Scott whimpered and hugged himself for luck. He opened the door and tried smiling at Thomas.

Ga-goo-omigod-help! Scott's speech scampered under the futon. The drool-worthy Thomas wore a red silk muscle shirt. Dark brown arms shone in the candle glow. Snug black jeans displayed Thomas's big, bold bossman's basket to the world.

Their gazes crashed and burned. Thomas arched one thick eyebrow in playful confusion.

Fuck it. Scott lunged forward. He shut the front door, pulled Thomas close and kissed his sexy boss's lips in aching, desirous desperation. He licked down his cheek until he bit the protruding Adam's apple.

He stepped back. "Shirt. Off."