August Slipped Away

My parents died when I was ten, and I became an orphan. Darius Rossi, a mafia don, found me and took me out of the beggars' den. He wrapped me in designer clothes and raised me like a prized possession. Everyone said I would grow up to be his wife, that I was the treasure he kept close to his heart. Then came my birthday party. After a night of wild passion, he handed me a photo of his rival, Valerio Warren. He said, "Monica Arden, I've taken care of you for ten years. Now it's time for you to repay me. I'm arranging a marriage alliance with the Costa family. This is the guy Gina Costa has been crushing on, and I need you to seduce him and create an opening for me. I want her to marry me willingly." That was when I finally understood that I was never his treasure. I was just the most disposable piece on his chessboard. I followed his orders and pursued Valerio, doing exactly as he commanded. Yet, on the wedding day, Darius lost his mind when Valerio slipped the diamond ring onto my finger.

They had brought Olive into the Levine family under the shadow of illegitimacy, living a life concealed from the world. However, one day, her stepmother concocted a plan for a marriage replacement, coercing her into wedlock with Edward Johnson. She demanded that Olive take on the role of her stepsister. Olive found herself bound to a man notorious as ‘The Devil,’ an unsightly and disfigured villain. Little did she know, he harbored a well-kept secret. His mother had perished in a blaze, ignited by his stepbrother, transforming him into a vengeful figure. To pursue his vendetta, he sought to marry Olive’s stepsister, believing her to be entangled with his stepbrother. And he was deceived by them again... What would transpire when Edward uncovered the ruse? Would he spare her life? Could Olive soften the heart of this ruthless beast? __ The room was dark when he emerged behind me. His fingers skimmed against my bare shoulder, making me flinch, and his warm breath caressed my ear while his hand slipped down my navel. "Your body is mine, if not your heart." His hoarse voice made me close my eyes shut.

In a kingdom where loving him is treason…he kissed me like it was war.. “Why the hell do you care?!”. Iver’s voice trembled, more ache than anger. The Alpha king was the last man he expected to worry about him, especially as an exiled head warrior. Faiz’s control slipped, as he took a tentative step towards him. “What am I to you? Huh?!”. Iver’s voice rose up a notch. “You…you are…”. Faiz faltered, then snapped. “Fuck it!”. In a heartbeat, I was pinned to the wall, Faiz gripping his face with both hands, like a treasure he would kill to keep. Faiz crashed his lips to his. The kiss was desperate, addictive and utterly forbidden. Nothing existed except the heat between them, as time fractured. An exiled warrior. A ruthless Alpha king. A forbidden bond one can neither escape. Faiz rules with an iron hand, and a heart frozen by duty. But the moment Iver’s defiant eyes meet his, control shatters. Every brush of skin feels like surrender… Political unrest mounts within shadows as enemies circle closer. Yet the greatest danger was behind closed doors- when the Alpha king stops fighting his desires, and Iver stops pretending the bond doesn’t matter… But in Drathmoor loyalty is a weapon and love between two men is forbidden…

My uncle’s rival, Emmett Meyer, saved me twice. The first time, I was drowning after a shipwreck—until he cut through the waves on a speedboat and dragged me ashore. The second time was after someone had slipped drugs into my drink. That night, I seduced him, a hardened man ten years my senior. In the dim glow of a private room, he guided my hand downward and growled, “I want you so bad, Babe.” He took me ruthlessly, ignoring my sobs and pleas. From then on, Emmett—the untamable “Prince of Silverbridge”—abandoned his reckless ways and devoted himself to me. Or so I believed. Then one day, he coaxed me into his Rolls-Royce and captured our tryst on camera. I flushed with embarrassment and secret delight. Later, as I hurried after him to return some documents he had left behind, I heard the sneers whispered in the hallway: “You’re so wild, Emmett. Everyone heard your girl moaning.” “Damn, the car rocked so hard I thought you’d break it.” “Hey, if Franklin Reed ever finds out that his precious niece has been your plaything for three years… think he’ll have a heart attack?”

I needed to be inside of her again so desperately that the moment she moved enough that her legs parted, I couldn't help myself. She was already wet again, and my cock slipped inside of her with shocking ease. Her right heat gripped me so exquisitely I thought I would burst.In the room's silence, I could hear her breathing pick up, but when I looked down, she still appeared asleep. Yet she now clenched her eyes shut and her lips parted in a silent moan.I let more of my weight settle on her as I pushed deeper inside of her slick pussy. Her body welcomed me eagerly, and I exhaled sharply at the satisfaction of filling her. Fucking Rhea was the best experience of my life. I wanted to have her as much as I could. Something told me she enjoyed me as well. The way in her and how she moaned when she came on my cock seemed genuine."Aleksander," she whispered my name, and I shoved into her harder at the sound of her breathy voice. "Ah!" She gasped and her arms flew up to wrap around my ribs.

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

I flinched as his breath fanned my face, my body trembled in his arms. This was the chance, but was I scared? His eyes affected me in so many ways, as they held grief, pain and regret. Our stare was our way of communicating. It was intended, emotional and agonizing. I was hiding the knife behind me, picturing the perfect place to stab him. His searing heat sent a gush of lust inside me. I shouldn't fall for that. This was a revenge plan, not a romantic show-off. "I'm engaged, and I have a child with him" I remembered, barely recognizing my cold voice which had become soft and weak. He let out a dirty smirk, lowering his eyes to my lips as we exchanged breath. "I know, but I can't stop myself from falling" he whispered, and before I could blink an eye, he captured my lips, twirling them to his taste. It was a long liquid kiss that made me wet so that I couldn't fight back. The knife slipped off my hand as my body yanked on his. We both dried up where we stood when her voice resounded in our ears. "Mom?"

“Oops, my fingers slipped! These pictures were for someone else but I guess the cats are out of the bag now!” A cold chill ran down my spine as I scrolled through raunchy pictures of my Alpha husband and my sister. Five years of unrivaled love and dedication just for him to sleep with her sister on a stupid business trip. Well two could play that game, she unblocks a number and dials it with her heart in her throat. “One night–that’s all you get, after that we go back to being strangers,” She says, and a soft,dominant voice comes out from the other end. “My chauffeur will be there to pick you by right, wear the gown,” “That gown? Not in your wildest drea–” She's caught off by a new influx of pictures and she chokes her words, “Fine, but I'll need to drink–” “No,” he replied calmly, “I want you to remember everything I'll do to you tonight,” Two weeks later the pack doctor hands her a white envelope, “Congratulations, Luna Alice, you're pregnant!” Alice finds herself thrust into a web of lies of manipulation, caught between two brothers. Will she choose a familiar affection or traverse the plains of foreign passions?

Jemi held the lump in her throat trying to form a moan..was she beautiful the candle light bathed her in golden glory giving her the lure of Aphrodite. slowly Emma walked up to her, her fingers resting on Jemi's face. "you're cold aren't you?" the words couldn't come out, so she nodded. Jemi could swear she saw her smile. Emma's hands went down to her shirt, like a sorceress each time she touched the buttons, it flew open. swiftly she slipped to shirt down her hands, her pointy breast now on display, Emma placed her hands on them, squeezing and tugging with her fingers as she kissed her, teasing, testing her limit. Kissing her back Jemi wondered if this was one of those dreams she always had. with her hands resting on Jemi's taut belly, Emma's provoking lips went down to her neck. Jemi gasped "you kiss me there I'm losing control" she whispered hoping it sounded like a warning. seems like Emma wasn't heeding the warning or she was just plain deaf. nibbling, she bit it softly then sucked on it again. And all hell broke loose.

"Huh? Innocent and pure male god?" Albrey Hamilton's cold thin lips brushed Oakley's cheeks gently, his hand gripping the person's pale and smooth chin. "Very funny, isn't it?" Albrey Hamilton's hand ruffled Oakley’s hair, tousling it. "Aren't you just a plaything?" Albrey Hamilton sneered coldly and domineeringly captured the lips of the person beneath him. Immediately, Albrey pinned down the person's waist and thrust into the person fiercely creating a loud papapa noise that resounded in the low-key luxurious room Oakley's eyes and face reddened which wasn't known if it was due to pleasure, fury or embarrassment. Oakley's eyes pooled with tears that slipped past his cheeks rapidly yet he only bit his lower lip, a stubborn and defying expression on his face. He refused to part his lips, speak or acknowledge the cruel words of the person hovering over him. "Naive." Albrey's thin lips curved in a cynical disparage. "How do you think your fans will react when they discover their pure idol sold his body to me to become famous?" Albrey sneered coldly, his eyes darkening with coldness at Oakley's silence. Oakley stiffened after hearing the ridiculing word that emitted from Albrey's lips.