"The Blue Hole Boys/The Fugu Feast (Double Feature)" by T.N.Collie (Short Stories)

Genre:  Literary Fiction

Type of Short Story:  Short Stories

Summary:  "The Blue Hole Boys"- a short story inspired by the true event of two brothers who went missing in an Andros forest. This fictionalized account of the adventure is from the perspective of the two young boys as they find themselves lost deep in an unfamiliar forest, waiting to be rescued.

"The Fugu Feast"- prize-winning tale originally published in On the Premises magazine, this story is an inside look at a suicide camp. 

Excerpt:

Damien didn’t care if the mango juice covered half his face and made his hands and cheeks sticky—he was starving.

He didn’t think about the various piles of feces he and his brother had left in the Androsian pit, having nowhere else to leave them and nothing much to wipe with, surrounded by small glossy leaves, mounds of damp dirt, and swollen ripe fruit.

Mango used to be Damien’s favorite fruit—both the smaller, ovoid, yellow ones and the large, multicolor, more rounded ones—but he wasn’t so sure he could eat them again if he and his brother ever escaped; his stomach now got sick from them, but they were the only food and drink besides the small, yellow pigeon plums that fell in from trees above.

Damien was grateful for the visible chunk of clear aqua sky and the armies of trees all around above them, but he couldn’t see how it was possible to climb out of the hole he and his little brother had fallen in.

From day one he was sorry he’d brought Mikey along—only six, Mikey couldn’t stop crying although he pretended bravery sometimes, frequently offering up stupid, hopeful suggestions. At first Damien got mad at him, but then he remembered the three years he had on his brother—of course he was smarter. If Damien had fallen into a pit at six like Mikey, he too might have suggested they practice jumping so they could jump high enough to bound out of the bushy pit one day. Perhaps he too would have thought one of them could stand on the other’s shoulders and they could get out that way—although that suggestion wasn’t so stupid; Damien had actually tried it, managing to hoist Mikey onto his shoulders, but the pit was deeper than their combined eight-foot height. If Damien had been six, maybe he also would’ve kept saying their parents would find them soon, then cry quietly in a corner when he thought his big brother wasn’t looking.

Damien had lost count of how long they’d been in the hole. He remembered night falling without their parents finding them, then another day, then another night and day. Then days and nights began running together in his head. Perhaps they were on day eight by now.

“Mikey, how long we been down here?”

His brother looked up from nibbling on plums.

“Six days,” he said with finality after a few seconds.

Damien felt surprised. But then again, what did a six-year-old know? Mikey couldn’t even remember not to put his hands in his hair after eating a mango so that when he slept through the cool night, leaves wouldn’t stick to it.

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"At The Office" by Katy Baker (Short Story)

Genre:  Erotica

Type of Short Story:  Short Story

Summary:  College student Lucy Williams has been having a steamy affair with her best friend's father. She knows it's wrong. She knows she ought to forget him. But she can't. Richard Smyth has become a fire in her blood. A fire she can't quench. Needing to see him again, she decides to confront him at his workplace. Will Richard be pleased to see her? Will he give her what she most desires? Or will her dreams come crashing down?

Excerpt:

“What are you doing here, Lucy?” Richard said at last. 

The sound of Richard’s voice as it washed over Lucy’s skin made her body tingle. Desire flared within her, breath quickening, heat building between her legs. 

“Why do you think?” she replied. “To see you. I was worried. Melissa says you and Claire are having problems.” 

This answer didn’t seem to please him. Something flashed in his eyes. Anger? 

He shook his head, shoved back his chair and climbed to his feet. He took two steps toward Lucy before suddenly spinning on his heel, throwing open the balcony door and striding outside.

She followed him out. A light wind whipped her auburn hair across her face and lifted the edges of her skirt. Richard leaned on the railing, gazing out over the city. His shoulders were hunched, his muscles taut. 

“Richard,” she breathed, laying a hand on his back. 

He tensed at her touch, like a startled animal ready to bolt. 

“Richard. Don’t ignore me.”

He spun suddenly, blue eyes alight with rage. “You had no right to come here! What did you think you were doing?”

Involuntarily, Lucy took a step back. Then, despite herself, wet heat burned between her legs as arousal flashed through her body. Richard was so masterful, so god-damned sexy when he was angry.

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"At The Apartment" by Katy Baker (Short Story)

Genre:  Erotica

Type of Short Story: Short Story

Summary: It's been a month since college student Lucy Williams was seduced by her best friend's father at his anniversary party. In that time Lucy has done her best to forget Richard Smyth and move on with her life. After all, it's clear their dalliance meant nothing to him. But it's not that simple for Lucy. She can't stop thinking about him. Dreaming about him. So when Richard turns up on Lucy's doorstep unannounced her hopes are rekindled. Are her wildest dreams are about to come true?

Warning: contains sexually explicit material. For adults only.

Excerpt:

“Hang on, Lucy.” He caught her wrist as she took a step. 

His deep eyes held her and she longed to fall into them, to drown in him. 

“About what happened at the party—”

Oh no, she thought, tensing. This is it. He’s going to say it. ’It was a mistake, Lucy. It’ll never happen again ’.

She straightened, forcing herself to stare at him without flinching. She refused to be ashamed of what they’d done. Yes, it had been wrong but it had also been beautiful. Amazing.

He stared at her for what seemed an age, eyes intense, lips parted, chest heaving up and down. 

At last, he spoke. “What we did at the party. It shouldn’t have happened. But I can’t help myself, Lucy. God help me, I want you.”

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"The Perfect Date, LLC" by T.N.Collie (Short Story)

Genre:  Literary Romance

Type of Short Story: Short Story

Summary:  The night before she gets married, Megan Scott goes on "the perfect date" with a perfect stranger. In Megan's world, utilizing the services of The Perfect Date, LLC is the norm for bachelorette events.

Megan is forced to re-evaluate her relationship and the decision she has made for the next day once she is presented with all the things she wishes her soon-to-be-husband could be.

Excerpt:

Megan wondered if the electricity coursing through her was anything near what guys felt at the thought of an almost or completely naked girl dancing near or around them; if so, she now completely understood. The knowledge of something new about to crown on the horizon rattled her with excitement, fired through her limbs and nether regions.

Her date was almost here.

She and Todd had argued about it—this, their last night of technically being single. The moment she realized he would have a bachelor party involving strippers, she made clear to him once again her disapproval.

She’d mentioned it in passing before, had given more subtle indications of her discomfort with strip clubs and the like, and he flicked away her unease—as far as he was concerned, there was no problem. He didn’t care for strippers, and had even gone to Vegas for a friend’s bachelor party where no topless dancers were around—the groom-to-be had been firm about it. But for his own party, his best man planned to involve the exotic dancers.

“Come on, it’s like paying someone to be a clown or princess or something—it’s just a character. The main purpose of having characters at parties is to cause excitement, right? I mean sure, excitement for kids is a little different...”

He smiled as if he’d made a joke.

“Look,” he said, smile vanishing, “I won’t mind if you get male strippers or go to Chippendales or something.”

“It’s not the same thing and you know it!”

“Megan, it’s exactly the same thing. Like, literally the same thing.”

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean.”

“I really don’t,” he said, looking clueless.

“You’re telling me that you think men and women are built exactly the same?”

He looked trapped then, right where she wanted him.

“Come on Meg...”

“Arousal and sex drive and everything is identical, right?”

He sighed.

“I think both sexes can equally appreciate prime examples of the opposite sex. Hell, male strippers are probably way better looking than female ones...”

“And what does that say? See, it’s not even really about the face for you guys. We both know it doesn’t take a perfect female body to get you guys excited—doesn’t take much at all. A random dude whipping out his cock will not have the same effect as a random woman whipping out a boob or two. The fact that male strippers have to be so perfect is my whole point—it usually takes a little more to excite us.”

He scoffed, unconvincingly.

“I think that’s one hell of a blanket statement,” he said, and she knew then that no amount of arguing or reasoning would make him understand. “Look, I can’t be fully responsible for what my friends pull Megan.”

Well then, neither could she.
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"At The Party" by Katy Baker (Short Story)

Genre:  Erotica

Type of Short Story:  Short Story

Summary:  Lucy Williams is a confident, self-assured college student. She doesn’t have a man and she doesn’t need one. But when she meets her room-mate’s father, Richard, her world is turned upside down. He’s everything she wants in a man: collected, confident. Gorgeous. And when she’s invited to a party to celebrate his wedding anniversary, there’s more than congratulations on Lucy’s mind. But does Richard feel the same way? Will Lucy’s steamy fantasies come true?

Excerpt:

Lucy’s words trailed off as her eyes settled on Melissa’s father. Strong jaw, blue eyes, black hair with a sprinkling of gray at the temples. Stuffy old fart? Not a bit of it. This man was lithe, athletic, toned. And utterly gorgeous.

“You all right?” Melissa asked.

Lucy jumped. “What? Yes. I mean, very pleased to meet you.”

Richard glided forward and held out his hand. “So you’re the room-mate we’ve been told so much about?”

“Um, that’s me. All good I hope?” Lucy replied, shaking his hand.

As Richard curled his fingers around hers, a tingle passed up Lucy’s arm. She found herself staring into his eyes. They were the deepest blue she’d ever seen.

“All good, I promise.”

His voice was low, husky. Arousal flashed through Lucy’s abdomen and her nipples tightened. How would it feel to have those strong fingers caressing her body? Flustered, she dropped Richard’s hand and turned back to the coffees.

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"Cerulean" by Anna Kyss (Novella)

Genre:  Young Adult Dystopian 

Type of Short Story:  Novella

Summary:  One hundred years ago, people were forced to retreat to the seas...

Chey's ocean home seems lovely on the outside, with its rainbow-hued reefs and soul-tingling Whale-song, but the beauty hides secrets and despair.

One thousand blues can be too many...
Some people cannot live amid them all.

After losing her parents and best friend, Chey would do anything to fight off the apathy that threatens her: swim in a brood of jellies, break her sector's rules, and even breach the Surface. A forbidden encounter sets Chey on a desperate search for a way to save her people... and herself. One question plagues her. Can she survive long enough to find a cure?

Excerpt:

I propel myself through the turquoise waters with undulations of my tail. No one has seen me. Luckily. Leaving Maluhia alone is forbidden.

My heart races from the danger, the exertion, the excitement. I revel in the blood flowing through my veins, the adrenaline pumping through my body—I feel alive. Daring. Elated.

If only I could suck up these feelings, bottle and save them for later, when the apathy rushes back in; for now, I absorb them. I have to make myself feel. The price for indifference could be my life.

A reef sits in front of me, one of the few remaining in our sector of the seas. The yellows, reds, and oranges of the ever-growing coral contrast with the ocean blue that bathes them. The pink and white tentacles of the anemones await their orange-and-white-striped friends—clown fish.

My classes have taught about this funny word, clown; once upon a time, people dressed in costumes and painted their faces to create laughter. I try to imagine it: a world where clothes and words are enough to make people grin. In my world, all the Skin and languages together are not enough to make us smile. My people do not laugh anymore.

A purple-and-white-striped eel pokes its head from the rocks, peers around, then darts away. He startles the groups of fish, and they swim straight toward me. A rainbow of fins and glittery scales swarms around me.

Rainbow—another of those curious words from my lessons. I try to picture those colors, imagine a sky, but it is too hard. In this world of a thousand blues, the reef is the only place to spot a rainbow.

Memories always draw me back to this spot, despite the threat of discovery. My best friend’s name was Rainbow, but a thousand blues can be too many. In our underwater world, happiness dissolves into the waters, while detachment and lethargy seep in.

With ’Bow, her smile left before she lost the last of her baby teeth. By the time she received her flipper-fins, she no longer wanted to play, and she stopped coming to the daily swims. Soon, she never left her family pod. Hopelessness crushed her, and she did the Unmentionable.

Sorrow fills the hollow left by our abandoned friendship, bringing up memories of others who are missing. My mother. My father. Gloom weighs me down.

Blinking back the tears that threaten to escape, I will myself to shake the negative thoughts from my head, then open my eyes to the wonders of the reef.

This is why I face the dangers of leaving the pod complex: to remember, to see the rainbow, to stimulate my senses and invigorate myself. I cannot follow the path ’Bow took.

I will not succumb.



A sea turtle approaches and circles me, growing closer with each rotation. The mottled greens of its shell blend with the kelp and algae. I kick my tail, edging myself nearer, but the turtle dips down and disappears into the shadows of the seaweed.

Left to float alone, I wonder how the turtle swims above the Surface—climbs onto Land—to lay its eggs. How can the turtle, with its thin skin and fragile eggshells, survive above the waters when people cannot?

I cannot resist looking up. Light breaks through the Surface, painting the sea in bands of cerulean. I yearn to swim up, to view the Land that we have lost. I burn to know what lies above the waters. Could there be a cure, too late to help ’Bow and my parents, but one that may save others from the same terrible fate?

I hide these forbidden dreams deep inside, choking down the possibilities and swallowing my desires. Once again, I have abandoned my caution. I could be taken away just for thinking about breaching the Surface.

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"Banging The Boy Next Door" by Katy Baker (Short Story)

Genre:  Erotica

Type of Short Story:  Short Story

Summary:  Melissa Smyth is enraged when her parents enlist the help of their next door neighbor to look after the house while they are away, not trusting Melissa to do it. Determined to prove she's in charge, Melissa decides to use all her feminine wiles to make her geeky neighbor regret his decision. But little does she know that Rory Thompson has ideas of his own. He's been travelling for the last three years and is geeky no longer. As these two old adversaries come together, who will come out on top? One thing is for sure - sparks will fly.

Excerpt:

Melissa opened her mouth to scream at him but the look on his face stopped her. His full lips were parted slightly, his bare chest heaving. And his eyes had gone dark. Lust, Melissa realized. Rory wanted her.

Melissa’s nipples stiffened, pressing against the clinging fabric of her wet t-shirt. Her heart thumped in her chest as hot pulses of desire radiated outward from between her legs.

Slowly Rory reached out and ran his dripping finger along her jaw line. Melissa shivered as waves of delicious anticipation rode up her arms. Rory stepped closer, never glancing away, and brought his face close to hers. Melissa held herself very still, tingling at the nearness of him, feeling his warm breath against her cheek, listening to the sound of the water dripping off his hair.

Cupping her chin in one hand, Rory kissed her, sending a jolt of rapture through Melissa’s system. His lips pressing against her felt so warm and insistent that she moaned softly as Rory’s mouth moved against hers. After a moment his tongue forced her lips apart and snaked inside, massaging her tongue in a firm rhythm. With a groan Melissa opened her mouth wider, caressing his tongue with her own. Her arms slid around his neck and pulled him close, kissing him hungrily as passion took hold. Rory’s strong hands glided down to her buttocks, squeezing the soft flesh.

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