But before I go, something stops me. I cross back to the small table at the side of the couch. It holds what once was a candle, and is now a pool of wax. It’s a beautiful pattern, really, the dips and curves of the wax forming a landscape more beautiful than most.
But my eyes fall behind the candle. A glint in the corner, a shiny beacon begging for my glance.
It’s a gold pendant.
And there, as I hold it up in the light pouring through my window, I finally know what it is for.
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THE END
Thank you so much for reading, and Happy Halloween!
Check out full-length Raleigh Ruebins novels below:
Your Fallen Star (Under the Stars, Book 1)
A decade and a half ago, Leo Stone was famous. Fans galore, and money pouring in like a waterfall. Music industry royalty.
…And then the band broke up.
Leo went from a prince to pauper, and now he’s trying to make a comeback. To clean up his image and grab a little publicity, his manager hires Jamie Sheffield to write his biography.
Straight out of college, Jamie can’t believe his luck. He’d never quite gotten over his teen-aged crush on Leo, and now here he is, talking with Leo, thinking about Leo. Sleeping with Leo. And the heat between them is enough to set paper on fire.
But Leo’s afraid to commit to Jamie, no matter how much Jamie wants it. Not with the tabloids standing by, waiting for their next serving of scandal. And all the while, the book is getting closer to being finished. Will their story be cut short, or can they make it last forever?
Your Fallen Star is a 75,000-word gay romance novel, complete with a cranky, lovable, washed-up musician, a young and starry-eyed hopeful writer, and a cat named Mr. Ginger Boots. A little slow-burn, a lot of steam, and a happily-ever-after ending. It is the first book in the Under the Stars series, featuring the former members of the boy band 5*Star, but can be read alone or as part of the series.
The Sweetest Star (Under the Stars, Book 2)
Eric Ronson used to be a superstar… now he’s only cooking up trouble. He needs a fake boyfriend, and fast.
As a former member of the boy band 5*Star, Eric never imagined he’d be starting a new gig as a host on a live cooking show—much less that he’d need a co-host to really help his star shine.
Dash Thompson loved his quiet life as a food writer… until a horrible breakup really stirred things up.
The offer to be on a TV show with Eric might give his life the spice it so desperately needs to get him out of his funk, but there’s only one problem (ok, maybe two)…. He has to pretend to be Eric’s boyfriend and he kind of hates Eric.
The idea of being Eric’s fake boyfriend really puts a hair in Dash’s biscuit, because Eric is everything that Dash isn’t: loud and unpredictable, wild and fun loving… so why does he want sleep with him so bad?
As the cameras roll, the line between what’s fake and what’s real quickly blurs when Eric and Dash realize they have better chemistry than sugar and spice. Can Eric give up his playboy ways and rise to the occasion? Will Dash’s heart crumble like a cookie?
The Sweetest Star is a 65,000-word gay romance novel where enemies become lovers, with plenty of cheesy food jokes along the way. It’s sweet and steamy, with a happily-ever-after ending. It is the second book in the Under the Stars series, featuring the former members of the boy band 5*Star, but each book can be read alone or as part of the series.
Wild Star (Under the Stars, Book 3)
The only place that feels like home is in his arms.
Adam traveled the globe for years. Now he’s settling down in the small town of Fox Hollow, right in the middle of the mountains and forests. His new next door neighbor is sexy, intense, and painfully overworked, and all Adam wants to do is reach out and help.
Because Adam would do anything to get closer to Grey.
Grey is desperate to get out of Fox Hollow. He’s sick of it, and has been working a dead-end job for too long. So of course, right when he’s about to leave, the ridiculously hot Adam Fara moves in next door. But why would a former pop superstar really want anything to do with Grey—a small-town guy with no money?
Grey has two jobs, no time, and a crazy dog to take care of, and shockingly, Adam offers to help. When Grey shows up one night with a bottle of liquor, he stays at Adam’s house way later than he’d planned… ending up in bed.
It’s incredible. Fiery hot and passionate, like a wild dream. Grey’s never even been in love, let alone had another guy treat him so well, giving him exactly what he needs. It’s irresistible. But…
Grey’s leaving town in just a few months. And Adam’s just settled down.
Can Grey leave Fox Hollow, now that he’s finally found a reason to stay? Or has his wild heart finally found a home?
Wild Star is a 70,000-word gay romance novel about finding home and love in unexpected places. It has plenty of steam and a happily-ever-after ending. It is the third book in the Under the Stars series, featuring the former members of the boy band 5*Star, but each book can be read alone or as part of the series.
Your Superstar (Under the Stars, Book 4)
“I always thought I was straight. But now I’m not so sure….”
Chandler Price is a superstar. He made it big in a boy band, then as an actor, and even has his own champagne brand. But he’s not so lucky in love. After a divorce, he finds himself lonely and adrift for the first time in years. And what’s worse? To keep his career afloat, he has to work with producer Ash Vance, who has a reputation for being exacting and abrasive.
Chandler was ready to hate Ash. But after filming starts, he’s more intrigued by the hotshot young producer than he’d ever admit.
Ash wants nothing more than to produce a huge hit song. After giving up on love, the last thing he’s looking for is a new flame. He’s happy to put his career first instead. Of course, he has a crush on Chandler—who doesn’t? But he knows he has to push the feelings down.
Because Chandler Price is straight.…Right?
But Chandler secretly can’t stop thinking about touching Ash, kissing him, falling into bed with him. When they come together, it’s scorching hot, but with a boy band reunion coming up, Chandler and Ash would have to risk their careers to ever go public about their budding relationship.
Can Chandler and Ash ever be together with the constant swarm of paparazzi? And will they realize they’re each other’s brightest star?
Your Superstar is a 70,000-word gay romance novel about what happens when you realize you aren’t as straight as you thought… and you’re one of the most famous people in the world. Emotional, steamy, and complete with a happily-ever-after ending, this is the fourth book in the Under the Stars series, featuring the former members of the boy band 5*Star. Each book can be read alone or as part of the series.
Seeing Sunrise
What do you do when a one-time hook up becomes your summertime roommate?
Jesse Chase is in Colorado just for the summer, and he is determined to have fun. It’s his last summer of freedom before graduating from college, and during his first week in town, he has a sexy hook up in a bar with a hot, mysterious man. The connection is explosive, but afterward, the guy refuses to meet up again.
But two days later, Jesse finds out that that same man will be his roommate for the rest of summer…
"Is this how you get all the guys?"
"Not all the guys act like you."
Nathan Stanford is still hurting after his engagement crumbled almost two years ago. He’s fully focused on his work as a photographer, and he’s definitely not looking for a serious relationship. But when he meets the young, intriguing Jesse in a bar, he can’t hold himself back.
He never expected to end up living with Jesse for the whole summer. He’s completely afraid of taking things any further, but at the same time, he can’t pull away…
“Stay with me. Just for tonight.”
Soon, Nathan is pulled into Jesse’s life. He’s forc
ed to photograph a wedding that Jesse is catering, and ends up bringing Jesse on an overnight camping trip soon after.
It soon becomes clear that their feelings can’t be ignored, and what they thought was a summer fling could be so much more….
Seeing Sunrise is a 60,000 word steamy, emotional MM romance, with slight May/December themes - HEA ending guaranteed.
Breaking the Record
“When will I see him again? And why do I want to so badly?”
Ben Lakeland owns a failing record store in small-town Welling, New York, and it's the last place he wants to be. Everything used to be easy: watching football with his frat buddies, drinking beer, and being popular in school. But at 24 years old, everyone else seems to have grown up but Ben. Each day the same: work, run, eat, and sleep, all on his own.
Until he meets Julian.
Everything changes when the mysterious and intriguing new customer enters his store. Who is this man who looks like he walked straight out of a rock band, with his tattoos, leather jacket, and icy blue eyes? And more importantly, why can't Ben stop thinking about him?
“Would you ever do something like that? You know… kiss a guy?”
Julian Hart just wanted to start fresh. Dumped by his last boyfriend in New York City, he thought Welling would be different - he could focus on pursuing his master’s degree without the constant anxiety of dating.
But there's only one shop in town to feed his endless record collecting habit, and a friendly, muscular jock works the front counter. Why is he so nice to Julian? And why can't Julian seem to stop his habit of crushing hard on gorgeous straight guys?
“Can you come home with me? I just don’t want to be alone tonight…”
The two men can't stay away from one another, and as hard as they try, their feelings aren't going away. Ben struggles to navigate what his attraction to Julian might mean. Julian knows he can't have Ben—and that's exactly why he wants him so bad.
Julian agrees to help Ben try to save the record store. But business and music are quickly forgotten when the two of them discover things they didn’t think were possible.
Breaking the Record is a 70,000 word slow-burn, steamy, emotional MM romance, with a first time gay story and mild hurt/comfort - HEA ending guaranteed.
Can’t Stop Now: First Time Gay Romance
“I’m driving 3,000 miles across the country.”
“You should take me along…”
Will Stetson just graduated from college, and with his degree in Fine Arts, he has no career prospects. He’s a talented artist with no direction, but what bothers him even more is that he can’t find love. He’s flirty, friendly, and openly gay, but he doesn’t want just a hook up, he wants to find a boyfriend who will truly love him.
Jacob Reitner is a tall, muscular jock who also just graduated and is ready to start his new job. But what will his life be like without his soccer team, business club, and jock friends? After the breakup with his girlfriend, he decides to drive across the country, to his new job in California, all alone. At least until he meets Will… how can a guy make him feel so good?
“You’d be perfect for me if only you could ever love me back.”
On a whim, Jacob meets Will and ends up inviting him on the road trip of a lifetime. But can Jacob resist the feelings he begins to develop for Will? Or will the trip transform them into much more?
“Because I’m falling for you. Or I already have fallen for you.”
Can’t Stop Now is a 55,000-word, standalone first time gay/straight to gay romance with a HEA, no cheating, no cliffhangers. Packed with steamy, adult MM scenes.
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The Night He Came Alive Page 3