Edged by the Apparition

Halloween Temptation

by J.B. Warrick

“No one can touch you like I do, baby. I might be dead, but I’m yours.”

I’d never planned on going back to my home town, and definitely not to the house where my boyfriend Blaise died. Yet here I am four years later, on Halloween, wrapping up the last of the loose ends so I can close that chapter of my life.

I expected to be reminded of Blaise while I was here. I expected to miss him. I didn’t expect his teasing, invisible hands on my body. I didn’t expect him to bring back desires I thought were long gone, and bring me to the edge over and over again.

Ghosts aren’t real, though. Am I going crazy? Or do I have a future with my dead boyfriend?

Edged by the Apparition is a 10k MM spicy short story. It is a second chance, hurt/comfort paranormal romance between a grieving man and the ghost of his dead boyfriend. Not appropriate for readers under 18.

Part of the Halloween Temptation Multi-Author Series

This Halloween, carve out some time to enjoy some frightfully spicy stories. Don’t be afraid, none of it is real… or so our boys tell themselves. But if they face their fear, if they give in to temptation, they’re in for an eerie-sistible first time. And if they’re lucky, find love - as a treat.

Genres: M M Romance, Paranormal

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2025

Reviews

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw the title of this book and immediately downloaded it! It was exactly what the title promised and I loved every bit of it!

It’s a short story (about 40 pages), but it was so well written. Sweet, hot, and laugh-out-loud funny! I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Edged by the Apparition is part of the Halloween Temptation multi-author series. I love discovering new authors through collections like this! What better way to find your next favorite read?

J.B. Warrick is a new to me author, and I can’t wait to dive into more of their work!

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erotic, romantic, taboo (maybe) this is a compelling, fascinating short read and I was hooked!

Whether or not you have opinions on ghosts and afterlives this book is compelling, it makes a suggestion which you can accept as entirely fictional or begin to wonder about, wonder if it could happen, could be true and why not - how do any of us know? What I do know is what happens makes both characters incredibly happy and gives both a reason to keep on being, what could be better?

Since his boyfriend Blaise was taken from him at far too young an age, by a heart defect, Tommy has moved away from their home which had too many memories, thrown himself into work, and wondered how he keeps going without the love of his life. It has been five years since the love of his life was taken and Tommy is going to finally return to their house and finalise everything before it goes on the market. It is also Halloween, the one time of the year when the spirit world is closer than ever.

Once Tommy is back in the house he can feel Blaise around him and would swear he can feel the touch of his boyfriend. Waking the next day, sure it was all a dream he discovers Blaise is still there, has been waiting for Tommy to return and that there is still very much something between them. Love has not changed for either of them, their chemistry is very much alive and the erotic scenes that follow will have you wondering if it could indeed all be a possibility!

I love this book, the series it is part of and the opportunities for love, in all its possible forms, offers. J. B. Warrick is an excellent writer who clearly has a fantastic imagination too! Don't miss this one.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

'His words healed something in me, closing a wound that had been ragged and raw since the day he died. Maybe it was because his death had been so sudden. The shock of the loss had unmoored me. It had injured my spirit, and only now, knowing for certain that he still existed, that his consciousness hadn’t died with his body, was I able to be whole.'

I loved this book. Great world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Tommy and Blaise. My heart really broke for them. The whole story is from Tommy's point of view and you can really feel his pain from his boyfriend's death. I liked how the author interspaced his sadness between happy memories of their lives that popped up to his mind as he finally let himself think of Blaise. We even get an insight into their families' lives. I was impressed how connected I felt to the two of them in such a short story.

I liked how Blaise- as a ghost- came into the scene. The chemistry between them still hot- though considering how sexy times worked now, probably hotter- than when he'd been alive. I liked how the home Tommy had avoided for years while stuck in his grief became the conduit that healed the hole in his heart. The wary part in the back of my brain worried Tommy was having a psychotic break and we'd find out he isn't really experiencing his boyfriend again from beyond the grave. I was so relieved that wasn't the case! (Thank you J.B. Warrick for not being cruel!)

This was such a sweet, beautiful, hurt/comfort second-chance romance. 5 stars

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy fled after the sudden death of his boyfriend, Blaise. New city. New apartment. New job. But it has been five years. Five years of the home they bought together, sitting empty. Tommy's sister has done all she can, but now it is time for him to return to finish cleaning out the house so it can be sold. So, Tommy gears up to spend Halloween weekend alone in the house he once shared with Blaise going through the last 15 boxes of their life together.

However, Tommy is not alone in the house. Blaise's ghost soon makes himself known, touching, teasing, helping Tommy come back to life himself. But ghosts aren't real, are they?

The title may not be serious, but J. B. Warrick's depiction of grief is. Grief and loneliness aren't given short shrift in order to get to happier moments and sexy times, giving the story a depth I did not expect to find in a short Halloween ghost story.

This is a Halloween MM romance ghost story that deserves to be read and reread throughout this Spooky season and beyond.

[bwrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm surprised how in depth, well written this short Halloween erotica is, how thoughtfully it portrays grief and loneliness for a departed mate, and how inevitably spicy the reunion was, from soft touches to light BDSM. Five years after the death of his lover, Tommy comes back to the house they shared to clean out the remains of their life; 15 boxes remain after his younger sister thoughtfully cleaned, staged and got their home ready to be listed and sold. Tommy had fled house, job, town after Blaise' heart attack, unable to function anymore where they had been happy. In his present life he is barely there, new apartment, job, city, sleepwalking through life, in grief's final stages, still not integrated or moving on, numb to everything, and alone.
- Moving through his old home, he feels more comfortable, is finally able to breathe, reliving fond memories in the rooms, slipping into reveries he barely allows in the city in his shared apartment, thinking of loving moments with Blaise. Aroused by the atmosphere, is he hearing voices from the past, is it real, and can he feel touches? In the morning, half awake, he thinks it was a dream, till he is answered anew by Blaise, and thus begins their new adventure.
- Ghostly restraints, banter, breath and touch, even levitation and the suggestion of tentacles make this enjoyable, but it is the emotional exploration, the description of grief and desire that raise this short story above others, out of the ordinary. A ghostly story of love that lingers.

[Laina Gruver · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4 stars

Ok, hear me out. There were parts I enjoyed and parts I didn’t

I enjoyed the whole edging and 👻 🍆 part. It was pretty hot!

The part I didn’t enjoy was that Tommy couldn’t move on after his love, Blaise died suddenly. Tommy left their house, moved away, got a mind numbing job and hasn’t smiled or laughed in 5 years. It’s unhealthy. Then when he returns to their house to pack up personal items so he can sell it, he discovers Blaise’s ghost can still touch him and give him pleasure so he decides to stay.

I’m still giving this story about 4 stars because it IS fictional so, if a fictional character wants to have an unhealthy relationship with his unalive boyfriend, so be it.

*****
POV… first person (Tommy)

Standalone or series… standalone in a multi author series

Hangover… no

Recommend… sure

Reread… maybe

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a supernatural romance erotic short story, featuring Tommy and Blaise, and is book eleven in the Halloween Temptation multi-author series.

After catching his boyfriend cheating, Charlie reluctantly visits a Halloween corn maze, only to be rescued by a grumpy, gorgeous demon who seems too real to be just an actor.

I think this is one of my faves in this series. It’s a second chance with a twist, and I love that even in death, their love was so strong they can still be together.

Things to expect in this book are:
Book 12
Multi-author series
MM supernatural romance
Erotic short story
Hurt / comfort
Grieving loss of boyfriend
Spicy times
Handsy ghost
Edging
Levitation s*x
Second chance with a twist
HEA hint

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short paranormal romance completely drew me in. It’s emotional, a bit eerie, and seriously steamy. After losing Blaise years ago, Tommy returns to their old home to finally let go, only to discover that maybe Blaise never really left.

The writing is evocative and sensual, blurring the line between grief and desire in a way that’s both touching and thought-provoking. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, this story makes you wonder… what if love really can reach across that boundary?

Though a shorter read it still manages to pack in emotion, heat, and hope. A hauntingly sexy second-chance romance that stays with you.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the twelfth entry in the Halloween Temptations series of smutty shorts.

It's been 5 years since Tommy's partner Blaise died suddenly. Tommy has had such a hard time letting go of the past that his sister has been helping him to finally get his and Blaise's home ready to sell. However, there are some things that can't be done by anyone else, so Tommy takes himself and his broken heart back to their house. After he arrives, though, Tommy comes to find that maybe love does transcend all. This story has sad moments, spicy moments, and in the end, some very happy moments and an unconventional HEA.

What to Expect:
*heartbroken MC + ghost MC
*paranormal MM romance
*grief over death of a partner
*second chance
*hurt/comfort
*edging
*ghostly c*ck
*levitating spicy times

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After 5 years Tommy goes back to the house which he owns with his partner Blaise who died. He thought to sort out the things in the house he wants to keep. But Tommy is in for a surprise.

It is sweet to read about how Blaise has been waiting for him and wanting the best for him. Next to that there are some spicy moments in the book. As a ghost a lot is possible for Blaise to do with him.

This book is part of a series which are such a great read. All good queer fantasy reads, all of them written by different writers.

[Shiran Naveh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a sad-hot combo, I thought it was weird at the beginning, but it worked. It was sad to read how hard the past 5 years were for Tommy, especially, but he finally found some comfort with Blaise again.
The only thing that bothered me was that it should have been longer with a bit more of their relationship after they united.
Overall, it is recommended for Halloween short read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edged by the Apparition is about Tom, who's going back to the house where his boyfriend Blaise died five years ago. Blaise has been in the house since his death, and now Tom is finally there.

When I read this I had different moods, it started a very sad and then it got steamy. A very good quick and smutty read.

--------------------------------------------
I received a copy of this book, and this is my honest review

[Michael T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit freakier than the other short stories in this series, as it is a second chance spicy romance with the ghost of the man’s boyfriend. It’s a bit depressing because the man hasn’t moved on from the passing until he is reunited with him. And then the supernatural spice begins… It did end in an unconventional way. Overall it was a cute short story.

[Shelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a fantasy unlike anything I have read before. I enjoyed the premise of the book and was delighted with the story. It would be interesting to read what happens years down the road just for curiosity sake. But overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how when Tommy was forced to go back to his house, he is reunited with his dead boyfriend Blaise. Tommy plans to stay now so nothing will separated him from Blaise again. I liked how Blaise was able to be with him again.

[Christine Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tommy is still devastated five years after his partner suddenly died. Five years after running away from his old life it has come to the point where he has to sell the house Tommy and Blaise bought together. Going back he finds that Blaise never left and that there is love after death. I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Stephanie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tommy suddenly loses his partner. After mourning for so long, he must face a few realities and place their shared home up for sale. But wait, Blaise never truly left?
Short, hot, spicy and to the point.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christina Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most intriguing Halloween stories ever. I love how it proves that love is eternal and even in death we never truly lose the ones we love (or in this case literally).

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series but this one was a bit off putting for me. I just didnt like the "dead for 5 years" ex-lover ghost thing.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and sexy, and I enjoyed the ending.

[Jessica Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bro this is a spicy Halloween novella. I should not have shed a tear hahahaha

[Reatha Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely loving this entire series and this was another great addition to this multi author series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella has a surprising level of charm combined with a pretty high degree of heat.

It's a satisfying Halloween treat.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another new author for me within this series. This story was actually beautiful. Who wouldn't want the love of their life to reappear and get that second chance? This was perfect for Halloween but in my opinion, year-round.
This short story packs in all of the emotion. Going through grief, shame, guilt, and experiencing the unbelievable. Loved it!