Impulse Control by Emily Carrington
Marisburg Chronicles (#8)
Romantic Suspense / LGBTQ
Date Published: February 6, 2026
Publisher: Changeling Press
Spontaneity can be both exciting and terrifying for everyone involved.
When Riku ran from the trouble caused by his lover’s family, he
wasn’t quite sure what he was running to. He left his beloved behind,
abandoning his heart’s desire in the name of escape. Now, in a job he
loves but missing that critical piece of his soul, he mourns, longing for the
companionship as much as the sexual tension.
Theo has given chase, all the way across the country. He wants closure if
nothing else, but that would be a terrible second choice. What he longs for is
to have Riku back in his life and in his bed.
Now, with all the time and former distance between them, can Riku and Theo
move past the merely physical cravings of “I missed you” to a
confession of their true feelings?
Read an Excerpt:
Copyright ©2026 Emily Carrington
HotSpot Universal Media had taken off in the late nineties and seemed to grow
exponentially every year. Theo’s parents’ company wasn’t
exactly the only universal design organization that worked with people of all
different abilities, but it had been one of the first to open its doors and
actually make a profit.
Every time Theo had to recite that bit of historical dogma, he felt both proud
and like he was rubbing his competitors’ noses in shit. He was so glad
to have a job when many people with visual impairment and hearing loss
couldn’t find work, but he was also profoundly aware that HUM traded as
much in bad press for others as it did in good reviews.
He leaned back in the seat of the Audi and closed his eyes, effectively
shutting out the world. He wore headphones that the driver could talk through
to get his attention if need be, but mostly the noise cancelling was to soothe
his over-stressed brain. He’d just spent four days at a conference
touting the importance of the universal design company, using the catch phrase
his parents’ marketing team had come up with three or four years ago:
Charity begins at HUM.
He was suddenly distracted by a wet nose on his ankle. He tended to wear
low-riding socks when he wasn’t in public and today was no exception.
His service dog was either just shifting or she was asking for pets. He
reached down without opening his eyes and found her head. He rubbed her
stand-up ears affectionately. She shifted a little closer and lifted her head,
giving him access to the spot under her chin. She liked to be scratched there.
Grinning, breathing out a good chunk of stress, and feeling grateful for
Capitaine’s monitoring of his mood, Theo murmured, “Good
girl.”
“Did you say something, sir?” Carlton asked through his
headphones.
“Nope.” He felt his grin stretch. “Capitaine just needed
some attention.”
“Very good, sir.”
He couldn’t break Carlton of the habit of calling him “sir.”
Probably that was because the man was former military. Theo supposed it was
better than not getting any respect, but the stiff interactions he had with
the family’s staff made him extraordinarily self-conscious. He much
preferred the occasionally awkward discussions he had with the businesspeople
he worked with. Often, their responses were confused, as they were unsure how
to talk to someone who was mostly deaf and losing more vision weekly, or so it
seemed.
His phone rang, buzzing against his leg and sounding in his ears. He pressed a
button and said, “Hello, this is Theodore Billings.” He
didn’t recognize the number, but that wasn’t unusual. He got lots
of random calls from folks trying to get him to fund their project or
business.
“Sir, it’s Omar Jeffries. I’m sorry I’m calling from a
strange number, but my cell is dead and I forgot my charger in the
hotel.”
The private investigator sounded excited, or at least not as discouraged as he
had during the last three conversations over the last two months. Theo sat up
a little straighter and, after giving Capitaine one more pat, turned all his
attention to finding out what Omar knew. “Good news?” he asked,
trying to make his voice casual. He failed as a frisson of excitement bubbled
up.
“I’m in Pennsyltucky and --”
Theo frowned and before he could stop himself, he asked, “Do you mean
Pennsylvania?” He didn’t like unfriendly names for things. He
tended to think there was too much division in the country at large.
Omar took a breath. “Yes, sir. Sorry. I’m in a rural part of the
state and even if this little town is a hotbed of culture, it’s
surrounded by farmland and…”
Theo heard him take another breath. Whatever he had to tell, he was letting
his passion overcome his caution.
Did that mean he’d found something concrete?
“It’s a little town west of Philadelphia. Maybe an hour outside
the city.”
“What’s the proof you’ve found this time?”
“Not just proof, boss. He’s actually living in a house with a gay
couple. I’ve seen him, and he and the one man went out and bought him
some new clothes, I think.”
Jealousy threatened to swallow Theo’s common sense then. He blurted,
“Did they… Is Riku their third?”
“I don’t think so. I snuck a peek in the window when he forgot to
shut the curtains. He sleeps downstairs on an inflatable mattress, although I
don’t know why he doesn’t sleep on the couch that’s
available.” He paused and then added, “Maybe he’s too tall
to be comfortable. It’s more like a loveseat than a sofa.”
Theo’s heartbeat had picked up. He closed one hand into a loose fist and
put it against his chest as hope coursed through him. “What’s he
doing there?”
“I think he’s looking for work. He’s bought, or had bought
for him, actually, a new suit.”
“Philadelphia… All right. I’ll get plane tickets and fly
out there. What’s the name of the town?”
“It’s more like a tiny village than a town. It’s called
Marisburg.”
About the Author:
Emily Carrington is a multipublished author of male/male and transgender
women’s speculative fiction. Seeking a world made of equality, she
created SearchLight to live out her dreams. But even SearchLight has its
problems, and Emily is looking forward to working all of these out with a host
of characters from dragons and genies to psychic vampires. And in the
contemporary world she’s named “Sticks & Stones,” Emily
has vowed to create small towns where prejudice is challenged by a passionate
quest for equality. Find her on Facebook at Shapeshifter Central or on her
website.
Author’s Website
Emily on Facebook
Emily on Twitter
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
Save 15% off any order at ChangelingPress.com with code RABT15
Pre-Order Today
Amazon
This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.
