Contemporary Stories

Modern settings and everyday life. Right here, right now — dating apps, city apartments, and desire in the age of read receipts.

Contemporary Stories

A Fiery Love Story: The Rehab by Jim — The fire took the back wing on a Tuesday night, and the man investigating it kept finding reasons to stay after the reports were filed.
U Up? by Argo Faye — How wet are those panties? Very wet I gotta see you babygirl Please Ok I’m gonna tear them off with My teeth
The Handyman by Argo Faye — “Good girls do what they’re told.” He whispers in my ear, his hand so far up my thigh his fingers play with the top of my panties. His thumb brushes over the w…
The Merger and Acquisition by salt_and_smoke — Six weeks of negotiations. Two principals across the table. Michelle is CFO of the acquirer, Colby is COO of the target, and neither of them mentions the thing…
Water Tension by Jim — Cora's fear of deep water meets marine biologist Leo on the deck of a luxury yacht when a shark draws first blood. As the storm closes in around them, a single…
Tourney to Remember by Jim — Sports therapist Elisa walks the PGA circuit and tries to keep her growing feelings for veteran pro Alex strictly professional. A piece of Georgia land, a chea…
Card Game: High Stakes of Love by Jim — Allen walks into a Vegas casino with his last buy-in and meets Rose — older, sharper, and willing to teach him everything about cards and risk. The biggest gam…
World Cup Bang by Jim — Stadium security expert Ava is locked in a VIP lounge with billionaire client Calvin and a live bomb in the ventilation shaft. The countdown is running. So is…
Island on Fire by Jim — Three days after the wreck of the Neptune's Folly, Tara — marine biologist and expedition leader — discovers that the most dangerous things on the island may a…
The Equestrian by Marcus Dark — The air in the main arena hung thick with the scent of hay and leather, a familiar comfort that usually settled my nerves. Today, it did nothing. My riding boo…
On the Malay Road by Marcus Steele — The humidity hits me like a physical force the moment I step out of the air-conditioned van, a thick blanket that clings to my skin and makes my cotton dress i…
Hot Pursuit by Marcus Dark — The strobing red and blue lights paint the interior of my cruiser in rhythmic pulses, a familiar dance I've performed countless times. But tonight feels differ…
Heist at the Museum by Emma Rosewood — The heavy steel door of the service corridor clicked shut behind us, the sound echoing in the profound silence that only comes when a building this vast is tru…
Hands of Desire by Sophia Moon — The air in the Serenity Wellness Spa always smelled the same—a blend of eucalyptus, lavender, and something vaguely medicinal that promised relief. I'd been co…
Great Wall Lockdown by Sophia Moon — The first day of our lockdown began with silence. Not the peaceful kind, but the heavy, oppressive silence of five people suddenly cut off from the world. The…
Gang Conflicts by Marcus Steele — The warehouse air tastes of rust and concrete dust, thick enough to chew. For three nights now, this ritual has been the only thing keeping the violence at bay…
Holdup at the Bank by Elena Rivers — The fluorescent lights of First National hummed their monotonous song, a sound I usually found comforting in its predictability. Today, the buzz seemed to vibr…
Aloha! by Sophia Quinn — The plumeria blossoms felt cool and damp in my hands, their scent a familiar perfume that usually grounded me. Today, it did nothing to calm the restless energ…
The Cabin Fever by double down 99 — An enigmatic artist opens her father's lake house to a chosen pair of guests, ostensibly for a creative retreat — but every brushstroke is laid down with a muc…
Sway and Sweat by Marcus Dark — Newly named principal ballerina Elara has spent years walling off the vulnerability her role demands. When the theater's quiet security chief intervenes agains…
Safe Refuge by Sophia Moon — A mid-level diplomat ordered to dig up dirt on a beautiful asylum seeker uncovers a corruption ring her own boss is running — and a longing she can no longer h…
Lockdown Protocol by Emma Rosewood — When a citywide lockdown traps a sharp-tongued security consultant in a hotel sub-level with the manager she's spent months antagonizing, professional protocol…
A Sui Generis Rendezvous by paperlanterns — Three years after stepping back from a senior-partner track, attorney Yael walks back into her husband's firm with his sharpest paralegal in tow — and a plan t…
The Taste of Pleasure by Marcus Steele — Pastry chef Lana has spent years perfecting precision in her executive chef's kitchen — until a lunar eclipse, a 1990 Sauternes, and her sous-chef's hands on h…