Hollow Moon Castle By Tiva Wallon

“The old bastard’s gambling curse is coming back to haunt us Katty. I just got word this morning from the family's attorney.” Dennis called as he stepped into his coworker’s office. Both worked for Baxter and Brown, world renowned real estate moguls who specialized in estate sales of multi million dollar homes. Only the very, very well to do, cream of the crop and royalty were clients.

Katty Windsor looked up from over her glasses at the pest interrupting her busy work load. How many times had she told him not to disturb her when her door was closed? She was busy, too busy to chit chat with Dennis Casters. Ever since the death of Bernard, the elder Baxter, everyone in the office had been jumping here and there, all trying to impress his replacement; his son, Bernard Jr. He'd already been part of the family business from the day he was born. He'd been in the office every day and he already knew who worked, who didn't and who the brown-nosers were.

Dennis was a relatively good looking guy. He stood a bit under the six foot mark, blonde hair, brown eyes and an expensive, perfect smile. He was smart, gifted when it came to real estate and schmoozing the ladies and he could always hold a conversation with anyone on any subject. He didn't work out, wasn't tanned and had the most irritating laugh. Not to mention at thirty-eight, he was one of the highest paid agents in the office.

Fleur de Noël By S.J. Ronayne

Merridale Castle 

Flora considered her appearance as she looked at her reflection in the mirror of the guest bedchamber in which the Lord and Lady of Merridale had placed her. The deep sapphire velvet of her bliaut made her blue eyes sparkle. Pink roses were embroidered along the hem with slammer versions sewn around the draping ends of her sleeves and around the neckline, drawing attention to the pale blush of her cheeks. Burnished gold silk ribbons contrasted the blue beautifully where it ran under her bust and below her belly where the skirt started to flare away from her body. A paler blue veil adorned her loose dark brown hair.

She tried to take a deep breath but the tight fitting dress made it impossible. She did not see the reason for her to wear clothing so snug, it only just nipped in her thick waist and caused her breasts to nearly spill indecently from her neckline. Flora sighed and turned away from the mirror to find her slippers. Shoving her feet into the small, uncomfortable footwear, Flora winced. She truly hated them, no matter how beautifully beaded they were.

Leaving the chamber, Flora found her parents waiting patiently. “Are you ready, my dear?” Flora’s father, Sir Lionel of Chanterwall, asked.

“Yes, Papa.”

Her parents preceded her as they left the room, walked down the stairs and into the great hall of the magnificently appointed castle. A Yule log burned merrily in the large hearth, heating the room and spreading the scents of holly and cloves. Seeing friends standing to one side of the hall, Flora asked her parents if she could go visit with them.

“Of course, dearling,” her mother replied with a hint of concern in her voice. Flora understood her parents’ worry.

Many of her friends, like her, were only children who displayed bouts of rebellion by playing with the peasant children when they were small. Flora had nearly broken her leg once when she was twelve. The smithy’s son had dared her to climb the tallest tree in the woods surrounding the castle walls. She had only made it a few branches up before the castle guards had found them. One of their excited shouts had caused her to miss her footing and slip off the branch she had been standing on. Had it not been for Godfrey, the head of the castle guard, she may have broken her neck. As it had been, her leg had hit the tree trunk very hard causing it to bruise and swell for a month afterward.

 Dark Fires By Serena Knight

           Olivia Barclay shivered as they walked along the snow covered path that led toward the village.  Reluctantly, she was going to agree to the mysterious Earl of Salisbury’s marriage proposal. Her family was in dire straits and all her younger sister, Sara, wanted for Christmas was for them to no longer go hungry at their run down manor house.

           Olivia looked ahead at the tall, dark and sinfully handsome Earl.  Nicholas Deveney walked through the forest with a confident stride. But, why shouldn’t he? His family home, Braidwood Castle, was magnificent though haunted by the many mysterious deaths that had occurred there. Some murdered by the Earl himself the townspeople said! It didn’t take Olivia much to figure out that no woman from the village wanted to be his next wife.

           “How much farther and what are those rocks ahead, a run down castle?” Olivia asked. Her voice sounded strange, in the silence of the very early morning as it echoed off the stone walls of the rundown castle ahead. Eerie even.ven.

           “It’s not even a castle, a manor more like it that dates back centuries.” Nicholas answered. “The village is just up ahead.” 

           “It is a castle.” Jane scolded.

           Olivia shuddered upon hearing Jane’s voice. Jane didn’t need to walk with them down to the village. But, Olivia might as well get use to having her underfoot as Jane was Nicholas’s old nursemaid and she lived like royalty at the Braidwood Castle.

           “Nicholas you should know more about your family history than you do.”

           “Why?”  Nicholas asked.

           “Because you are heir to Braidwood Castle.” Jane answered.

           “Not because I want to be,” Nicholas laughed.

           Olivia pondered what Nicholas had answered.  Why would he not want to be heir despite the castle being haunted?

Shameful Desires By Skyler Grey

The thick wetness of humidity hung in the air like a damp cloak as Brice felt the sweat trickle down his back. “Fucking A it’s hot,” he mumbled to no one in particular. No one would guess it was already the middle of November due to Florida’s crazy weather.  He frowned as he worked alongside his co-workers, framing an addition onto an old three-story home. Bernie, a seasoned framer grumbled in agreement across the way.

Brice looked up as the new kid; nicknamed Sunshine ran the crane, lifting the tresses high above their heads. He was young but a damn good crane operator. Another couple of hours left and the day would be over then they could all go home and have a beer.

He frowned. Home. Brice had no desire to go home. The woman he lived with made him more miserable with each passing day.

He had met Ashley a little over a year ago and thought she was pretty cool. After a few months of seeing each other, she had somehow managed to slowly move herself in with him and at the time, he didn’t really care.  But as the months went by, he began to see a different side of her. One he didn’t much care for.

When he confronted her on the change, he had also suggested they take a break from one another, asking her to move back to her own place for a while. She lost it and began throwing things, her high-heeled shoes, a picture frame, silverware. 

He went after her, penning her to the ground when a knife came inches from his skull. Then suddenly, to his amazement she was actually turned on, begging him to screw her.

Confused at her sudden change of attitude, he released her only to have her shove him onto his back while unzipping his pants, giving him a hell-of-a blowjob. Even if he was pissed at her crazy ass Jekyll and Hyde personality, his dick didn’t give a shit.

Later that night she apologized for her temper and promised it wouldn’t happen again, which went right out the window soon after.