Stoking Their Passion

By Megan Slayer

Men Wanted—because sometimes love matches need a little magic.

Arlen Lake wants a partner and won’t stop until he gets the man of his dreams. He goes straight to Men Wanted for his match, knowing he’ll get his money’s worth. He’s in love with his assistant, Noah Maxwell, but Noah isn’t out of the closet. Getting matched with him seems impossible, but a little magic from the gods can’t hurt, right?

Noah Maxwell wants a match, too. He needs to come out of the closet first, but can’t deny he’s been in love with Arlen for years. With the help of Men Wanted, he comes out of the closet and allows them to help find his match. He’s convinced he can’t be paired with Arlen because Arlen wouldn’t want a man so unsure of himself. What if the perfect match is the last person he expects and exactly the one he needs—Arlen?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight
• Release date: Nov 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9780369504753

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

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Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2021 Megan Slayer

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0475-3

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Lisa Petrocelli

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To the Lucky Ducks

To JPZ & TPZ

STOKING THEIR PASSION

Men Wanted, 2

Megan Slayer

Copyright © 2021

Prologue

Who is our next couple? Apollo asked. We need to get to work.

The god from Olympus loved to bring couples together and give them happy endings. He and his twin sister, Artemis, had started Men Wanted, along with Eros. Their intention was to pair up humans to find their forevers. He and Artemis located the couples and Eros physically got them together.

He raked his fingers through his shoulder-length hair and waited impatiently for the information. He didn’t have much time for goofing off. Get in, get the couple paired, then hands off. The plan allowed the company to make money, gave the couples time and space to let the romance blossom, and kept him from potential romantic entanglements himself.

Artemis sat beside him at the brand-new meeting table. Getting an actual office space is cool. Think the humans will freak out when they find out we’re located on Olympus?

It won’t faze them. He considered his sister a moment, then scrolled through the files. Well? Who is the next couple? Artemis might be his twin, but she was certainly the better looking of the two. She had long, dark hair, thick lashes, mysterious eyes, and a welcoming smile. She’d make someone happy someday―if she’d allow herself to be paired up. Right now, he had bigger things to worry about than getting his sister a boyfriend. 

We have two guys who work for Lakeland, Incorporated. Looks like a case of two men who want each other, but aren’t able to say it. She pointed to one profile. This one is very out. His name is Arlen Lake. He’s got a fascination with a guy who works at his company and it’s kind of cute. He writes about wanting this man, but the object of his desire isn’t out. It’s killing him because the guy is closeted and he’s the one, but Arlen doesn’t want to push him.

Apollo crinkled his brow. Okay...but if the closeted guy isn’t out and isn’t one of our clients, then we can’t do much. He shook his head. We work with those who want us to pair them up. He’d let the magic ease the couples on their way, but he refused to push anyone. The magic knew when the love wasn’t true and if that was the case, then the magic didn’t take. 

Well, hold on. She snorted. "You have no faith in people, but I do. I kept an eye on this one because he fascinated me. He loves this man so much, but the one he loves isn’t comfortable yet―note, I said yet. Turns out the object of Arlen’s desire is indeed one of our clients. Just came in. He signed on and wants to be paired up. She pushed the second tablet over to him. They do want each other." 

He sighed and checked the second file. Who are these guys? Who is the other one? Arlen and…?

Arlen Lake. Forty years old, owns the company Lakeland, which deals in real estate, and he’s swimming in money. He could have anyone he wants, but he’s stuck on Noah Maxwell. So about Mr. Maxwell … he’s an assistant to Arlen. He’s 39 and loyal. He and Arlen are together most of the time and people have mistaken them for brothers, she said. Noah isn’t out, but he’s trying. I don’t know if Arlen is listening to him or already knows and isn’t pushing, but he’s the one Noah wants.

Ah. He read the profiles again. What are their biggest regrets? The one thing that seemed to be the secret sauce to pairing people up was regret. If he could find the two people who had regrets that meshed, he could help them overcome those regrets. The couples who had mutual regrets tended to work best because most of the time that meant they had unfinished business only love could complete. 

So I checked. Noah’s regret is not coming out earlier and not telling Arlen the truth, but he fears being rejected by Noah in the same way he’s rejected by his mother. I don’t think he knows Arlen’s enticed by him.

And Arlen? 

Arlen’s regret is not chasing Noah. He knows, apparently, that Noah is in the closet and he doesn’t want to force him out, but he wants Noah. He regrets not telling him the truth, and feels he’s the reason Noah isn’t out, she said. Because he thinks his pushing Noah to date a woman is pushing him away.

Apollo massaged his temples. Is it possible he regrets pushing but he did it because he wanted Noah and it seemed like it’d hurt less if Noah was with a woman instead of a guy, who might be a rival or competition?

Because the woman wouldn’t be as much of a threat?

Yeah. Apollo put the tablet down. If these guys are into each other and Noah’s ready, then let’s do it. Bring them together. Sounds like they want this. Set it in motion.

Will do. Artemis left the table. 

Eros? Apollo stood. We have a job for you. Arrows wanted.

Eros left his spot on the window seat. Arrows. I love how that sounds. Get me up to speed.

Apollo showed him the files. Artemis is setting it in motion now.

Eros saluted. I’m on my way.

Apollo stared out the window and watched the action on Olympus. He loved getting humans together and making positive magic. A little love never hurt. 

Sometimes humans just needed a little push to get what they already knew they wanted. He wasn’t going to settle down with anyone, himself. Artemis might and Eros had it in him, but Apollo wasn’t interested in having a lover. There wasn’t anyone out there for him. 

If he could help the humans and give them the thing he’d never have, then good. Someone deserved a happy ending. Why not give it to them?

Chapter One

Just answer. Arlen Lake opened the email app on his phone. He hated waiting on anyone or anything. His being the CEO of Lakeland, Inc. lent to his lack of patience in most things. When he snapped his fingers, his workers jumped. Unfortunately, Men Wanted didn’t work for him. 

That didn’t stop him from wanting an answer. Jesus. Why didn’t they reply? He wanted to see his match and start planning for their meeting.

Would Men Wanted match him with the right guy? He knew who he wanted, but hell, he doubted Noah was even on the list. Noah wasn’t one for dating and one day, Noah would finally come out. That day, Arlen would be there. Noah was more than an assistant. Noah was his best friend and the one he needed in his life. But Noah wasn’t ready to be out. 

Maybe if Noah had someone else, then Arlen would be able to forget the attraction. Probably not. Noah was too special to forget—damn special.  If only Noah would believe Arlen when he told him as much.  Arlen propped his feet on his desk. Ever since he’d met Noah, he wanted him.

His phone pinged with a new message. He checked the notification―an email. His heart hammered as he read the lines of the correspondence. 

Dear Mr. Lake,

Thank you for considering Men Wanted for your dating needs. We have found your perfect match. We believe this match is everything you want in your partner. You will meet your match tonight at the Cafe Glen at 8:00 PM. Your date will be wearing a white carnation and will order a coffee with exactly four creamers. You will sit at a round table by the window and will wear a red shirt, no jacket. This will help you both find your perfect match in the cafe. 

We believe in your work, our matches, and your happiness. If there is any problem or you’re