What do you give a man who has the money to buy everything...literally? Yourself. That is, if by some miracle he'd ever see you as anything other than his best friend.

Jake: I've been in love with him since he was a pimply-faced, preppy boy. Okay, that description isn't exactly accurate - he's always been gorgeous. Now, he’s an uber-rich millennial and takes my breath away every time we share the same space. Who am I talking about? My best friend, Barrett. The man who I’ve known I wanted to share my life with since the age of 14. Now that we’re older, I want him in ways I know aren't possible. And why? Because I'm bisexual, and he's straight.

Barrett: My 40th birthday is in a few days and my good-intentioned best friend wants to throw me a party with all of our friends, but that's not what I want. Full disclosure? I want a private party with Jake. One that has a no-clothing theme and involves a big bed. That kind of sounds as though I want my best friend. You wouldn't be wrong about that. I've been in love with him since before I understood that it was okay to have feelings for another guy. He was my first love and I want him to be my forever. The problem? Jake doesn't see me that way. Never has … and he never will.

The Illicit Heat Series is a new collection of short stories. Each story in this series and can be read as a stand-alone.