A Different Light

by Morningstar Ashley

  Bennett inspired him to paint. He’d always painted as an outlet for his emotions, to work through his thoughts, but now, it was more happy, overjoyed emotions and thoughts that he was putting to canvas to express his love, joy, and wonder. Wonder that Bennett gave him.

  He saw Bennett exit the main door of the building and smiled. He was such a dork when it came to that man. And seeing him in his button up, slacks, and bow tie was the icing on the cake of his day. That geeky, sexy-boxer-wearing pervert was his, and he would do anything to keep him. To see that special smile that Bennett sent him every day for the rest of his life.

  Bennett walked right up to Mac and kissed him, sweet and chaste. Mac couldn’t smile any bigger if he tried.

  “Hey, B. How was work today?”

  “It was excellent. I’ll tell you about it over dinner. Now, where are you taking me on our date?”

  Mac wrapped his arms around Bennett, pulling him in close, chest to chest. Those vibrant blue eyes looking straight into his own.

  “I thought it was your turn to take me out on a date, Princess,” Mac teased.

  “I probably should after you took me to a tattoo parlor for our last date,” Bennett replied, primly but playfully.

  “Hey, I took you to eat first, at Plum Blossom, that fancy Chinese restaurant with tablecloths and real silverware.”

  “You did, but a warning for the tattoo parlor would’ve been nice.”

  “You loved going to the tattoo parlor.” Mac smiled, remembering their last date.

  “No. I loved the tattoo you got,” Bennett whispered as his cheeks flushed.

  Mac had surprised Bennett with a tattoo that Mac had designed himself. He had his guy tattoo a big black B with a gold princess crown embedded with jewels the blue of Bennett’s eyes on the rounded part of the B right over his heart. Bennett had teared up after he showed him the finished product.

  “You loved that date, and you love when I take you on adventures, B,” Mac replied just as quietly.

  “Being with you is an adventure I wouldn’t miss for the world.” Bennett kissed him then stepped back. “Now let’s go eat. I’m starving.”

  Mac smiled at Bennett, grabbing his hand as they walked to the truck.

  And, maybe someday, way in the future, Mac would be brave enough to bring up kids to his geek. Another skill to learn, maybe. Another adventure to be had. They would find their way together.

  Thank you for reading A Different Light. I could not have loved writing Mac and Bennett and their motely crew of friends more that I did. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Please feel free to leave a review, that’s always appreciated.

  I love talking with readers so find me on social media.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morningstar.ashley

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarZehAshley

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starreadsbooks/?hl=en

  or email me at morningstar.ashley.author@gmail.com

  To my readers who took the chance on me, yet again, thank you! Your support means the world to me. This is a journey we go on together and I hope it is a long one.

  To my alpha reader’s ever-present companion, Edwin. You give me hours of entertainment and smiles. Keep it up!

  To my beta readers, thank you for your amazing input that helped make this book what it was and for your understanding in my many, many questions.

  To The Vault, you make every day an adventure, a challenge, and full of life. You had a huge hand in this book with your every word, cheer, and piece of advice. Thank you!

  To my wonderful editor, you easily saw through all of my writing flaws and you never gave up on helping me understand, even while dealing with a microwave fire. Thank you, this story would not be as polished and pretty as it is without you.

  Morningstar Ashley is a transplant from the Yankee-controlled territory of New York, and now finds herself in the heartland of cowboys and longhorns—Texas. Armed with her imagination, wit, and trusty sidekicks in the form of her two crazy kids, devoted dorky husband, big lap dog, and rambunctious cats, Morningstar spends her time reading the books she loves, crafting her own characters, and arguing the merits of hot chocolate over the bitter brew known as coffee. (Hot chocolate wins, FYI.)

  Morningstar loves graphic design, so much so she returned to school for a degree and regularly tromps her exams and maintains a stellar GPA that occasionally leaves her confounded and pleased. She can while away the hours on new designs, and perfection isn’t too much to hope for when it comes to her art. Her ideal career would be full time artist and author, and so far, she hasn’t come up against anything to stop her on her journey.

  After a lifetime of trying to get people to realize her first name wasn’t Ashley, Morningstar decided the best way to settle the debate was to put her name on a book cover. An avid reader and fiction reviewer for the blog and site Diverse Reader, Morningstar harbored a dream to one day join the ranks of her heroes. With plans to conquer gay, lesbian and LGBTQA+ romance, Morningstar has her gaze set on the horizon, her determination her own guiding star.

  Letting Go (Love By Design #1) by Morningstar Ashley

  Years ago, before tragedy struck, Alex made a child’s promise to always protect and care for his little sister, Evie. Then piece by piece, all the good in his life was taken away until Alex was left alone as guardian to his much younger sister. Suffering and loss scarred Alex, causing him to withdraw from the world. Struggling with anxiety and trust issues, Alex attempts to help Evie heal from their shared traumatic past, but each day is harder than the last. To make matters worse, Alex’s best friend, Ben, is pushing him to get out of his rut, confronting him with the fact that what Alex thinks is contentment is just stagnation and fear. The last thing he needs is for an old acquaintance to reappear in his life, making him feel things he hadn’t dealt with in years.

  The executive of the marketing department at graphic design firm Vivid, Kelley has his life together. While not perfect, he’s happy with his career and his three best friends. A chance encounter with Alex, the guy he was once attracted to, is icing on the cake. Fighting through Alex’s defenses to find the breathtaking man underneath will be hard, but Kelley is up to the challenge. Kelley believes that the things most worth fighting for never come easy.

  To accept all that Kelley is offering means Alex must drop his barriers. Kelley will need to keep trying and prove that Alex can trust him, even when grief and anxiety try to pull him back.

  Snow Falling by Davidson King

  After running from a past that was destined to kill him, Snow has been hiding on the streets.

  Tell nobody your name.

  Tell nobody your secrets.

  Trust nobody!

  These are the rules of the streets.

  His entire life changes when he saves an eight-year-old boy from a violent end.

  Christopher Manos is one of the most powerful crime bosses in the country.

  Don’t ask anyone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself.

  Secrets can get you killed.

  Trust nobody!

  These are the rules he lives by.

  When his eight-year-old nephew disappears, he never expects the boy’s savior to end up being his own.

  A man with a dangerous past and a man with a dangerous future find love amidst murder and mayhem. But when Snow's life being threatened at every turn, will Christopher's best be enough to prevent Snow Falling?

  Saving Sebastian (Custos Securities Series Book 3) by Luna David

  Gideon McCade—weighed down by memories of his previous life as a Navy SEAL and a CIA agent—has blood on his hands. He turns to his BDSM club, Catharsis, and Dominating submissives to get him through the daily grind of civilian life. Knowing his past is too much to inflict on a life partner, he keeps his connections brief and superficial. When his former life comes back to haunt him, his desire for revenge pulls him back into the shadows, darkening his hopes for a future in the light.

  Tempora
rily sidelining his career as a tattoo artist, Sebastian Phillips works as a composite artist for the local police department. To alleviate the inescapable burden of a congenital medical condition, he immerses himself in his art and seeks the catharsis of submission. But with life weighing heavily on his shoulders and darkness encroaching, he yearns for a contract with a Dominant that sees past the protective barriers he’s erected to the vulnerable submissive within.

  When happenstance brings Gideon and Sebastian together, their connection is undeniable. The knowledge that they are both too damaged to form permanent bonds of love causes them to rely on an impersonal contract to fulfil their physical needs. But staying emotionally detached becomes impossible, and breaking their contract seems the only option. Will Gideon’s need for vengeance and Sebastian’s declining health destroy what’s grown between them, or will they help each other find their way back into the light?

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077JCMB8M

  Rescued from slavers, healer novice Jaime Buchanan finds himself alone and free in Pyrderi, a kingdom of magic, mythical creatures, and a culture as open and kind as his homeland was cruel and close-minded. Despite his rescue, Jaime is not left without scars, both mental and physical. Traumatized by his experience and hiding his gift, Jaime struggles to earn his place in the kitchens of Angharad Palace, the heart of Taliesin City. His former life as a student of the healing arts leaves him at a disadvantage in the kitchens, and his damaged state is becoming more apparent by the day. One day, when necessity and fate intervene, Jaime meets someone unexpected—Prince Maxim, youngest son of the Pyrderian king, a sword master and a devastatingly kind man. Unaccustomed to powerful people with compassion and heart, Jaime flees. A cascade of events reveals Jaime’s hidden talents of healing, and he finds himself not in chains, but at the beginning of a new life. This swift change of fortune opens Jaime up to new possibilities, including a smitten prince who cautiously courts Jaime, easing him away from his fears and reminding him that compassion and love can make him strong. The winter solstice is quickly approaching, and Prince Maxim shows Jaime the enjoyment and excitement to be found in a land that embraces the ice and cold, and the mysteries of all things magical. He learns to see the man under the royal mantle, and Maxim is more than even Jaime suspected. The winter solstice is nigh when tragedy strikes, and Jaime learns that his past of grief and sorrow can be a pillar of strength for his solstice prince. If there is one thing that Jaime believes above all else, it is in the healing power of love.

  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWRD1PK

  Rocko earned and loved his reputation as the wild child of the rock band, Carter’s Creed. His bandmates dubbed him Animal, not only for his skills on the drums, but because he was always looking for the next thrill. Sex, drugs and rock and roll were what he lived for. That was until one night when his wild ways nearly cost him his life.

  As the owner of Golden Entertainment Studios, Lachlan Edwards had a vested interest in his newest clients, the members of the band, Carter’s Creed. He wasn’t surprised when they quickly rose to the top of the music charts, given their talent, but he was concerned with how their drummer, Rocko, seemed to be spiraling out of control. When Rocko seemingly hits rock bottom, Lachlan decides to step in and offer him a chance to recover.

  Will Rocko accept Lachlan’s offer even if it means facing the past he’s tried so hard to run away from, or will it all prove to be too much and send him spinning out of control once again?