USA Today bestselling author M.Q. Barber returns to the beginning of the Neighborly Affection series with a collection of short stories from a different perspective. Finally, readers of the Neighborly Affection series get the other side of the story... Jay Kress knows his lover is into the girl next door. As a polyamorous bisexual guy, he's cool with that. And he's pretty sure the gal is into Henry, too, if their explosive dinner party is any clue. But now he'll have to tackle a submissive's toughest job: getting his lovers to make the leap from occasional sex to the permanent triad relationship he knows they deserve. Their hearts are made for each other—and the sexual perks ain't bad, either. With an overcautious dominant on one side and a newcomer to the lifestyle on the other, Jay knows he has to tread lightly, but he can't help pushing for more. Can he bring Henry and Alice...

Planning a wedding for three is the least of their problems. Since nearly losing Jay, Henry is driven by an inescapable urge to collar his submissives. Jay's certain to be all in, but Alice has fled from commitment before. Negotiating their needs is a treacherous tightrope. Can he sketch a path to forever? As Alice's career takes off, the new demands steal time from Henry and Jay. The stress is crushing when every decision hurts the ones she loves. She'll have to rig a solution before she cracks under the strain and takes her lovers down with her. After years of resisting, Jay is learning big lessons in therapy. Loosening his family's stranglehold leaves him free to explore what—and who—he wants in his life. But with Alice at work all the time and a deadline looming for the trio to vacate their apartment, stability is hard to find. Can Henry, Alice, and Jay hold themselves together when the...

Facing their families is turning out to be the trio's toughest test. Life should be grand for Henry, Alice, and Jay. They've defeated the doubts that kept them apart and embraced a relationship that suits all three of them. But the arrival of Alice's sister threatens to upend their cozy routine. Skepticism and accusations erupt in a visit bristling with tension as the sisters tear open old wounds. Even worse, Jay's springing a new idea on his partners: it's time to come out to his family. His decision might destroy them all—but Henry's hunger for Jay's public embrace makes it almost worth the risk. Henry, Alice, and Jay must redefine who they are to each other and what they want for their future—together or apart. Can they trust in their love enough to survive the consequences? New to USA Today bestselling author M.Q. Barber's Neighborly Affection...

Three's the naughtiest kind of crowd. Getting to the one-year mark is hard enough in a relationship between two lovers. For three, just getting through the day can be half the battle. Between Alice's headstrong insistence on pushing her sexual limits and Jay's need to confront an abusive former lover, Henry has his hands full keeping both his partners safe and happy. But despite all the challenges--and unexpected dangers that lurk in their hedonistic world--the three have formed a union that brings each of them to the edge of something new--something they may not be able to hold onto . . .

Neighborly Affection, #3There are no safe words. There is only surrender.When Alice leapt into sexual games with her neighbors Henry and Jay, she didn't plan to fall in love. She sure didn't expect she'd be the switch between Henry's commanding mastery and Jay's submissive playfulness. But now she's moving in with them, and she'd better figure it all out – fast. Trouble is, she's never been a live-in girlfriend. The day after a traumatic first night at a BDSM club might not be the best time to start. Struggling to find her place within the lifestyle, Alice seeks equality in a relationship built on surrender. Learning to lean on Henry challenges the foundation of her self-worth. He'll have to lean on her in return for their triad to find stability. But can her stoic dominant lover accept her as a confidante as well as a submissive? And will their love be enough to silence Jay's emotional ghosts?85,190 Words

Fast forward never took so long . . . Kit Runyon isn't looking for a man to keep—she's happy with the occasional one-night stand and no strings. Making sure her family's electronics repair shop is profitable enough to support three generations is her main focus. But when Brian Hendricks walks into the store, one look, one word, and she knows he's not wired like any man she's ever met before . . . Brian's attracted to Kit's strength and no-nonsense attitude, but he's tired of the one-and-done dating scene. He's ready to settle down with the right woman, even if that means he'll have to play things slow and stay out of her bed to show her there's more to love than just mind-blowing sex. But at this rate he's liable to short all the circuits . . .

From rescue to romance…Teach a wounded submissive the value of his service. The task ought to be an easy one for an experienced dominant like Henry Webb. But novice Jay Kress challenges his teacher like no other. Still bearing the bruises of an encounter outside the bounds of safe consensual play, Jay is desperate to submit to the man who saved him—and shamed by his desires. Henry recognizes the dangers of a relationship built on hero worship. He’ll teach Jay how to stay safe, that’s all. He won’t take advantage of the younger man’s trust. He won’t share his fantasies about his dark-haired, athletic student. He’ll never claim this submissive for his own...

Her heart is in his hands... After her marriage ends in betrayal, Eleanora Howard finds herself struggling to navigate the dating scene as a thirty-one-year-old divorcee. But feeling undesirable, and living alone in the house she once shared with her ex, is hardly the recipe for finding new love--until she meets Rob. He's just the kind of charming, old-fashioned guy she needs--but he's also eager for intimacy... After serving in the Air Force and getting a well-paid civilian career, Rob Vanderhoff planned to settle down with the right woman and raise a family. But at thirty-six, he's still single and searching--until he meets Eleanora. She's everything he wants. All he has to do is draw her out of her shell. Soon he's taking her on high school-style dates, fanning the flames of her desire--and helping Nora re-discover the sexy, adventurous woman they both know she really is...51,000 Words