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Demon Next Door
Beset by chronic migraines, a gym bro ex-boyfriend who won't return his stuff, and a witch's neon-orange advertisements in his peripheral vision, David's had enough. There's only one way hand over control to a demon who'll be motivated to fix those issues in order to live in a pain-free, magical logo-free body. David will just have to be satisfied with being along for the ride.
But the summoning doesn't work quite the way David expects. Maybe, in retrospect, he shouldn't have used birthday candles and a can of extra hot and spicy menudo soup in his ritual.
Then again...even though it's not the way he intended, handing his body over to a demon has its compensations...
Demon Next Door is a short, sweet, spicy MM romance with a guaranteed HEA. It originally appeared in the Heart2Heart Volume 7 paranormal anthology, and has been slightly updated.
But the summoning doesn't work quite the way David expects. Maybe, in retrospect, he shouldn't have used birthday candles and a can of extra hot and spicy menudo soup in his ritual.
Then again...even though it's not the way he intended, handing his body over to a demon has its compensations...
Demon Next Door is a short, sweet, spicy MM romance with a guaranteed HEA. It originally appeared in the Heart2Heart Volume 7 paranormal anthology, and has been slightly updated.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2025
188 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Eliot Grayson
43 books1,389 followersEliot's a lifelong Southern California girl, right down to the flip-flops and backyard garden. When she's not writing her next book, you can find her reading, drinking tea, or (more likely) catering to the demands of her kids and ancient, cranky cat.
Steamy books with delicious tension, heart-wrenching pining, and a hefty dose of action and adventure have always been her jam as a reader. Guess what she writes?
You can catch up with her on Facebook in her reader group, Eliot Grayson's Escape from Reality, or sign up for her newsletter at eliotgrayson.com.
Steamy books with delicious tension, heart-wrenching pining, and a hefty dose of action and adventure have always been her jam as a reader. Guess what she writes?
You can catch up with her on Facebook in her reader group, Eliot Grayson's Escape from Reality, or sign up for her newsletter at eliotgrayson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 9, 2025
Tropes: human/demon
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 1.75/5
Kinks: demon anatomy
Angst: low
HEA: yes (more of an HFN)
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: illness, toxic ex
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: David's ex cheated on him
Other person drama: not during the course of this book. But Xan has been watching David for years before he could enter David's realm and wanting him, so he's probably seen David with others and been jealous.
3.75 stars (Novella standards apply - I have lower standards when it comes to novellas, because there's only so much story you can tell)
David has debilitating migraines that have been getting closer together, to the point where he's having one every other day. It's massively impacting his quality of life and his ability to work. His ex cheated on him and he's bitter over that, and his self-esteem (which was already fairly low because he's chubby and people have made him feel bad about that in the past has) taken a hit. He's tried to summon demons in the past but it never worked before. He's so desperate now that he doesn't care what kind of deal he makes, he's even okay if the demon possesses him and he has to be a backseat driver in his own body, as long as the demon gets rid of the migraines.
He tries to summoning spell, and even though he used the sketchiest of components because he had slim pickings, it works and Xan appears. Xan has a different type of possession in mind though, he wants to rail David. He has secretly been watching David for 10 years, since he was around 18, and he is entranced by the softness and smiles that he has seen from David. David is so different from the rough and the fight that Xan is used to. David is into it.
This was a cute novella. David was a disaster and there was some funny moments. Xan was entranced by David and eager to worship him and treat him better than anyone else had. They were steamy together.
I know it was just a novella, but I would have liked to see a bit more definitive of an ending, something about how Xan could integrate and live with David ongoing. What kind of deal did they actually make? Also, the timeline was kind of weird, when did David break up with his ex? It made it sound like it was recent, because his ex had his heating pad and David was trying to get it back. Presumably he would have needed it recently and couldn't have gone too long without it. But then David is also talking about how he hasn't had anal in years... I know the ex liked to make David give him BJ's, but David was also saying the ex criticized him during other sex acts.
Some notable moments:
"The demon uncrossed his arms, hands going to his hips in a posture uncannily reminiscent of my great-aunt Barbara. He shot a pointed look at the clear evidence of insanity laid out on the small table, and then leveled his gaze on me again. “Yes, clearly,” he said, and I winced. “I mean, this,” and he waved a hand at the guttering candles and stale spices of my spell, “is pathetic and kind of insulting. Canned soup? And that—what the fuck is that?” He leaned down and peered into the bowl of pink salt and honey. “You finally make it work, after so many times—is that supposed to be a joke?”"
"“My spell brought you here—” “Your spell opened a door,” he said, and bit me, a stinging nip that made me yelp and arch up. “I walked through it voluntarily. Because I wanted to fuck your pretty soft body until you’re drenched in sweat and soaked with my come. And smiling,” he added, and lifted his head, a smile of his own teasing the corners of his lips in a breathtakingly charming way, even though his sharp fangs peeked out at me. Maybe even because of the fangs. “I like your smile.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 2/5
Steam*: 1.75/5
Kinks: demon anatomy
Angst: low
HEA: yes (more of an HFN)
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: illness, toxic ex
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: David's ex cheated on him
Other person drama: not during the course of this book. But Xan has been watching David for years before he could enter David's realm and wanting him, so he's probably seen David with others and been jealous.
3.75 stars (Novella standards apply - I have lower standards when it comes to novellas, because there's only so much story you can tell)
David has debilitating migraines that have been getting closer together, to the point where he's having one every other day. It's massively impacting his quality of life and his ability to work. His ex cheated on him and he's bitter over that, and his self-esteem (which was already fairly low because he's chubby and people have made him feel bad about that in the past has) taken a hit. He's tried to summon demons in the past but it never worked before. He's so desperate now that he doesn't care what kind of deal he makes, he's even okay if the demon possesses him and he has to be a backseat driver in his own body, as long as the demon gets rid of the migraines.
He tries to summoning spell, and even though he used the sketchiest of components because he had slim pickings, it works and Xan appears. Xan has a different type of possession in mind though, he wants to rail David. He has secretly been watching David for 10 years, since he was around 18, and he is entranced by the softness and smiles that he has seen from David. David is so different from the rough and the fight that Xan is used to. David is into it.
This was a cute novella. David was a disaster and there was some funny moments. Xan was entranced by David and eager to worship him and treat him better than anyone else had. They were steamy together.
I know it was just a novella, but I would have liked to see a bit more definitive of an ending, something about how Xan could integrate and live with David ongoing. What kind of deal did they actually make? Also, the timeline was kind of weird, when did David break up with his ex? It made it sound like it was recent, because his ex had his heating pad and David was trying to get it back. Presumably he would have needed it recently and couldn't have gone too long without it. But then David is also talking about how he hasn't had anal in years... I know the ex liked to make David give him BJ's, but David was also saying the ex criticized him during other sex acts.
Some notable moments:
"The demon uncrossed his arms, hands going to his hips in a posture uncannily reminiscent of my great-aunt Barbara. He shot a pointed look at the clear evidence of insanity laid out on the small table, and then leveled his gaze on me again. “Yes, clearly,” he said, and I winced. “I mean, this,” and he waved a hand at the guttering candles and stale spices of my spell, “is pathetic and kind of insulting. Canned soup? And that—what the fuck is that?” He leaned down and peered into the bowl of pink salt and honey. “You finally make it work, after so many times—is that supposed to be a joke?”"
"“My spell brought you here—” “Your spell opened a door,” he said, and bit me, a stinging nip that made me yelp and arch up. “I walked through it voluntarily. Because I wanted to fuck your pretty soft body until you’re drenched in sweat and soaked with my come. And smiling,” he added, and lifted his head, a smile of his own teasing the corners of his lips in a breathtakingly charming way, even though his sharp fangs peeked out at me. Maybe even because of the fangs. “I like your smile.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2025
The entire thing summarized in a sentence from the book itself: "inflated full of demon come". Yeah... infer from it whatever you want to and don't give me a side-eye
August 12, 2025
It was cute and i enjoyed it since it was so short, I don't have a lot more to say other than i really want to know what they do after this
October 4, 2025
"Time to be possessed. And I need enough room to work.”
Short, sweet, and just the right amount of demon possession.
October 31, 2025
This was freaking yummy! More please!
November 30, 2025
4⭐️
Nice, short, and entertaining. Perfect for a monotonous shift!
Would definitely like to see more of them in the future or for the author to write something similar but longer.
However, I appreciate I was able to find something like this in such a short format. 🙌🏻
Nice, short, and entertaining. Perfect for a monotonous shift!
Would definitely like to see more of them in the future or for the author to write something similar but longer.
However, I appreciate I was able to find something like this in such a short format. 🙌🏻
August 7, 2025
Disappointed in this. Virtually a long sex scene with some non sex bits thrown in.
October 31, 2025
Eliot Grayson is not a new-to-me author but also not one I'm super familiar with but when this showed up just as I was looking for something short and Halloween-y, I couldn't help but jump at it. Not a lot I can say without spoiling it and won't do that, just know that there is heat, humor, and heart which will satisfy both your human and paranormal needs. Okay, perhaps it's not scary on the paranormal front but it still fits the genre. I laughed, I fanned myself, and I wanted to wrap David up in MamaBear hugs, Demon Next Door will really feed your different hungers. And lets be honest, I think most of us would like to find a magical cure for our aches, pains, and ailments.
September 8, 2025
"Demon Next Door" received THREE stars.
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."
1/2 * gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
1/2 * gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
The novel failed to gain stars for this item:
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."
1/2 * gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
1/2 * gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
The novel failed to gain stars for this item:
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything she/he/they writes."
August 16, 2025
I first read this in the H2H anthology and really enjoyed it. It's a short, sweet, very steamy story of a man at the end of his tether and a demon who has been waiting for him to finally get it right. Although it has changed slightly from the original, I would have liked it to be expanded a little. I still have some many unanswered questions, but if you want a good time for an hour, then I highly recommend it.
December 20, 2025
Cute!
This was a cute, smexy, sweet story. When David’s migraines continue to get worse and render him useless, he decides that he’s going to summon a demon to possess him. But it doesn’t work the way he thought. The demon wants to possess him alright, lol. And here’s where the smexy comes in. Xan, the demon, tells him he will possess him in every way and make him happy. Does he do it? What do you think?😘
This novella gets 5 stars ⭐️. Loved it! Wishing it was longer!
This was a cute, smexy, sweet story. When David’s migraines continue to get worse and render him useless, he decides that he’s going to summon a demon to possess him. But it doesn’t work the way he thought. The demon wants to possess him alright, lol. And here’s where the smexy comes in. Xan, the demon, tells him he will possess him in every way and make him happy. Does he do it? What do you think?😘
This novella gets 5 stars ⭐️. Loved it! Wishing it was longer!
October 4, 2025
4.25 stars
Quick, sexy read
David summons a demon hoping to be possessed so his migraines can finally end. What he actually gets is a hunky demon who loves David’s curves and treats him sooo much better than his ex.
*****
POV … first person (David)
Standalone or series… standalone
Hangover… slight
Recommend… yes
Reread… yes
Quick, sexy read
David summons a demon hoping to be possessed so his migraines can finally end. What he actually gets is a hunky demon who loves David’s curves and treats him sooo much better than his ex.
*****
POV … first person (David)
Standalone or series… standalone
Hangover… slight
Recommend… yes
Reread… yes
August 9, 2025
It reminds me a lot of another demon summoning story I read years ago. The same idea of summoning a demon with improvised ingredients, but this one had a twist of the main character suffering from chronic migraines. It was a decent story, not that much to it, honestly.
August 11, 2025
I vaguely remember reading this, but it was long enough ago that it felt new too!
I loved this. I loved the chubby rep. I loved the humor. I loved the ending with the ex boyfriend and the side piece. I would absolutely read a longer version of this but it is so good as it is!
I loved this. I loved the chubby rep. I loved the humor. I loved the ending with the ex boyfriend and the side piece. I would absolutely read a longer version of this but it is so good as it is!
September 9, 2025
A fun little read about a man who would do anything to overcome his migraines and the demon who would do anything to help him, but who is very happy that "anything" in this case is sex. Very enjoyable.
September 26, 2025
Sweet little story
Xan and David are adorable together! Their uncertainty is charming. The only problem is the story is over too soon. I want to know if Xan goes to work with David, if his migraines are cured, how Xan fits into his life. And much more kissing.
Xan and David are adorable together! Their uncertainty is charming. The only problem is the story is over too soon. I want to know if Xan goes to work with David, if his migraines are cured, how Xan fits into his life. And much more kissing.
December 1, 2025
Quick sexytimes
A verrry quick short with some desperate magic, magic peen, miscommunication, and showing up exes. It was short, sexy, funny, but not exactly building anything past the sexy times. Fun for a quick read.
A verrry quick short with some desperate magic, magic peen, miscommunication, and showing up exes. It was short, sexy, funny, but not exactly building anything past the sexy times. Fun for a quick read.
August 8, 2025
Hot as hell demonic sexiness and sweet cinnamon roll human adorableness combine to make this an extremely satisfying read.
August 8, 2025
Short and sweet!
For a story about a mortal summoning a demon, this was so cute! I only wish it were longer... I wanted to read more about Xan and David. 4.35 stars.
For a story about a mortal summoning a demon, this was so cute! I only wish it were longer... I wanted to read more about Xan and David. 4.35 stars.
August 14, 2025
What can I say, I love a good demon summoning.
If we had had use of the yoga or more of that infinite length tongue put to use, it would have been 5 stars.
If we had had use of the yoga or more of that infinite length tongue put to use, it would have been 5 stars.
August 18, 2025
I enjoyed this one when it originally came out as part of an anthology, and the re-read was fun again! Not surprising, as this author is always fun 🥰
August 20, 2025
I really enjoyed this quick spicy read! Loved the characters too, definitely worth a read
Read
August 21, 2025Too much sex without enough story/buildup
August 22, 2025
2.5 - too short to be memorable tbh
August 30, 2025
This book is more of a short tease but a surprisingly good combo of humor & spice, plus I liked the praise. It also did its job of making me very interested in the authors other works
September 6, 2025
been on a demonic kick lately idk
• mild stalking
• demon x human
• chronic pain rep (migraines)
• plus size mc
• mild stalking
• demon x human
• chronic pain rep (migraines)
• plus size mc
September 6, 2025
Perfect start to a sweet hurt-comfort book that just cuts off before it really gets started.
September 9, 2025
Just a quick and short ku romance. Only about 65 pages. Not the best writing but short enough that you decide why not just finish it .
September 22, 2025
Hot and sexy short story. While suffering from a migrain, David summons a demon to help relieve the pain. Xan does just that and more.
Read September 21, 2025
Read September 21, 2025
October 1, 2025
no plot, only sex.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews