SUBMISSIVE TO MY BROTHER'S BEST FRIEND

KARIMA HEARTI gripped my phone tightly as I exhaled a sharp, shaky breath. My brain was screaming at me to turn back, to walk away, that this was wrong. But there I stood, right in front of room 50. The same room where I was supposed to meet Owain Luther, my brother’s best friend.Don’t ask me how I ended up here. It’s a long, messy story. All you need to know is that Owain now held something over me. A secret I couldn’t afford to let slip, not even a little of it. And refusing Owain? It wasn't an option. Well, he'd already promised to keep my secret buried, as long as I played by his rules. After all, I used to be his cute little sister, back then, when he was still the Owain I knew.With trembling fingers, I turned the door handle and stepped inside the dimly lit room.My stomach twisted into knots I couldn’t explain."You’re five minutes late, Karima Heart," his deep baritone voice echoed across the room.He was seated, his legs crossed lazily on a velvet couch. His silky blue shi

TWO DAYS AGO"Karry, Karry, Karry!"The club thundered with my name as I stepped onto the stage, my heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. The lights dimmed, and a seductive rhythm pulsed through the speakers. I wore nothing but a strapless black bra and a matching thong that clung to my skin like a second layer, and a glittering mask that hid half my face, but not my intentions.I love hearing them shout my name like a sweet song...As I walked to the main platform, every step was deliberate, every sway of my hips a silent invitation and subtle temptation. The crowd roared louder, a sea of voices all demanding the same thing... Of course Marry.Here, in this room soaked with lust and rhythm, I wasn’t the nerdy quiet student at college, who aced her tests and smiled politely at church. I wasn’t the quiet or shy girl who avoided eye contact with bullies back at college or always said thank you even when I shouldn't.Here, I was Karry. A wild, unapologetic, free girl. Nobody

KARIMA HEARTI didn’t say another word.I couldn’t even tell what broke my heart more, whether the sight of what I’d just witnessed, or the damn pain ripping me apart from the inside out.Ellie?It couldn’t be her… The only way I’d believe it was if I stormed into that room myself and saw it up close.Owain just stood there, watching me like he could read my mind. Like he knew what I was about to do next.The second I turned toward the door, his hand snapped around my arm, tight and firm, almost like he wanted to rip it off.Before I could react, he spun me back with force and pulled me against him from behind. His grip locked around my waist like steel. Then his cold lips brushed my neck as he whispered, in a cold, low, and dangerous.“Have you forgotten we had a deal?”“You don’t get to walk away after I held up my end.”I thrashed, trying to break free, but his arms only tightened. And worse ... F*cking hell... The warmth of him made my skin burn in ways it shouldn’t have.What the

OWAIN LUTHERI didn’t plan for Malcom to show up early, but it wasn’t exactly shocking either. The guy had a sixth sense for walking in at the worst possible moment... And we weren't even doing anything illegal, just her in my arms, that's all, but...When his eyes locked on us—Karima in my arms, her lips parted like she’d just caught herself wanting something she shouldn’t. For a second, he froze. Then his brain finally registered the scene.Before I could blink, he was moving. I could swear he wanted to murder me, with that fury in his eyes... Karima broke out of my hold as if he hadn't seen everything—stepping between us just as he closed the distance.“We... Owain was just comforting me. That’s all. It’s been a rough day,” she rushed out.I didn’t say a word. There was really no point. The lie was weak, but she tried. Which meant something. She wasn't really the hard girl she pretended to be.Exactly why she needed someone like me to bring out that wild in her and maybe with a lit

OWAIN LUTHERI staggered away from Malcom, my fingers threading through my hair in frustration.Malcom wouldn’t lift his head, guilt branded on his face, not because Yasmin caught us mid-fight, but because Karima just witnessed it all.I strolled up to Yasmin, draping an arm around her waist. “Yasmin, you didn’t mention you’d be flying in.” I met her gaze.Karima had already stepped in, pulling Malcom to his feet, though he still avoided her eyes.Yasmin? She brushed my arm off like I was contaminated.I would be lying if I said that little stunt could actually shrug off the scene she just witnessed.“I asked you a question, Owain. What the hell happened?” She snapped. Her eyes flicked to my swollen, bloodied lip.“It’s nothing, alright? Can we focus on why you’re here?” I insisted.D*mn. Wrong move. Her eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers.“Seriously? That's what's important now, huh?” She shot a glance at Karima who instantly avoided her gaze. “Because you sure aren’t thrilled to see me