Barely Synonym

“Do you regret it?” he whispered, as he pushed my night gown above my breasts. My heart pounded as his fingers trailed down my skin, stopping just above the lace on my thighs. “I should,” I said barely above a whisper “But I can’t.” His lips curved into a wicked smirk and his hands tore my pants into shreds. “Then say it, Elise. Say you’re mine.” And I did, knowing that the man I’d just given myself to… might be the reason my mother was killed. Elise Anderson never believed in love after betrayal destroyed her world. Her fiancé and best friend planned to kill her for her inheritance, and she swore never to be weak again. So she made a deal with the devil himself, he was a man called Ravien Drayton, Verya’s most ruthless billionaire. It was supposed to be a contract marriage, as it escalated from kissed to steamy nights And when secrets began to unravel, Elise discovered the man she loved was her stepbrother, and the son of her mother’s killer. Now she’s trapped between vengeance and desire, torn between the truth that could destroy them… and a love that refuses to die.

Jeanne Blanchard’s world shatters after the loss of her first child. As grief consumes her, so does the growing distance between her and her husband, Edgar De Villiers. Once loving and devoted, Edgar now barely acknowledges her, and the weight of blame from those around her becomes unbearable. On their fifth anniversary, when Edgar doesn’t even show up, Jeanne knows—his love is gone. Then, by chance, she meets Hector Éclair. Charming, attentive, and everything Edgar no longer is, Hector becomes the light in Jeanne’s darkness. With him, she rediscovers warmth, passion, and the love she craves. When she learns she is pregnant, she leaves Edgar behind—only for him to realize, too late, what he has lost. But Jeanne’s new beginning comes with a dangerous twist. The man who healed her heart is not just any man—he’s a ruthless mafia lord. And while Edgar, a dedicated policeman, may have failed her in love, he will not fail in his duty. Now, Jeanne is caught between two powerful men—one who let her slip away, and one who may never let her go.

Selene Whitmore has known only pain. Half-blind, mute, and scarred from years of torment, she has spent her life as a captive, treated as nothing more than a possession by the ruthless rogue, Sebastian Kane. She stopped screaming long ago. She stopped fighting. She stopped hoping. Until the night Alpha Killian Blackwood slaughters her captors and finds her trembling in the dirt—his fated mate. Killian is a warrior, feared and respected, but nothing prepares him for the fragile girl who flinches at his touch. He swears to protect her, to give her the freedom she’s never known. But his pack whispers—how can a broken, silent human be the mate of a powerful Alpha? Selene tries to disappear into the shadows, but fate won’t let her. Neither will Killian. Because Sebastian isn’t done with her yet. When warnings turn into attacks and the past refuses to die, Selene must make a choice—remain the powerless girl she was or become something no one ever expected. Can Killian convince her to trust him before it’s too late? Or will Sebastian drag her back into the darkness she barely escaped?

For centuries, the villagers have whispered of Solas, the forgotten moon god imprisoned in a cave deep within the ancient forest. Solas's wrath has been a force of terror, barely contained by the magical runes that bind him. Every decade, a bride is sent as a sacrifice to appease his fury, only to be met with a swift and merciless death. But this decade, something is different. Solas's powers are growing stronger, and the bonds of his prison are weakening. As another bride offering day approaches, Solas is ready to kill once more. But when he meets her, he is thrown off balance. This bride doesn't tremble in fear like the others. She comes to him not with the desperation to survive, but with a quiet resolve to die. Her defiance infuriates him. Solas decides he won't kill her right away. Instead, he will break her will, torment her until she begs for death, and only then will he deliver the final blow. But as he begins his cruel game, Solas finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her resilience and strength. In this battle of wills, who will emerge victorious—the god of the moon who wields power over the elements, or the mortal bride who refuses to bow to his wrath?

Just after stepping out of the shower, I received a private message from my so-called uncle, Hank Shephard—a distant relative I barely ever spoke to. "Francis, that new car you posted looks impressive. Perfect for William's wedding!" I hadn't even figured out how to reply to that out-of-nowhere comment when another message popped up. "Your cousin William is getting married next month. Just treat your car as his wedding gift." The entitlement in his tone made my head hurt. I didn't bother arguing and closed the chat window. Apparently, he did not think there was anything wrong with what he had said. Messages kept coming. "Don't worry, your uncle won't let you suffer a loss. "When it's your turn to get married, I'll have William drive that car as your lead wedding car. It'll make you look good." I stared at the screen in silence. That was the moment I realized—Some people don't just feel entitled to your belongings. They believe your life exists to serve theirs.

Sebastian's voice came from behind her, low and knowing. "You want to get back at them, don't you?" Kaira's gaze remained fixed on the disappearing figure of her sister, her emotions simmering just below the surface. She hated how easily Sebastian read her, seeing depths others missed. "Yes," she confessed, her voice laced with venom. "I want them to feel the same pain I feel." Sebastian stepped forward, his eyes locking onto hers as he gently wiped away the tears threatening to spill. His touch was soothing, but his words sparked a fire within her. "You can't take them down in your current state," he said, his voice soft but resolute. "But I can. I can make them pay, princess." Kaira's focus snapped to his, curiosity igniting in her eyes. "How?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Sebastian's smirk was a slow, deliberate curve of his lips. "Marry me," he said, the words dropping like a bombshell. Kaira's eyes widened, shock etched on her face.

***What happens when a girl falls in love with the one person she's not supposed to?*** "You and me, and never us: a complicated series of almost-interactions." It's the summer before college and Kara is forced to spend the holidays with her new family. Little does she know, a lot can happen in one hot summer. The moment Kara lays her eyes on Ryder, she knows she's a goner. She has never met anyone as sexy, fun, and liberating. But she's made a promise that she won't give herself away before marriage. The moment Ryder lays his eyes on Kara, he knows his life wouldn't be the same again. He has never met a girl so pure and genuine. He's made it his life mission to be with her, for better or for worse. "If God is love, you're my religion." Sometimes we can't choose who we fall in love with. Kara and Ryder's love for one another is the kind of love that only comes once in a blue moon, but unfortunately, they can never be anything more than a brother and sister. All that love, yet it is barely anything at all...

Warning: Not a standalone book. Book 2 of The Southern Werewolves Pack “Do not grieve at my grave for I am not there.” Cohen Kingsley, the former Alpha of the Southern Werewolves Pack, returns to his pack in an effort to find the body of his mate, Mira, who died nine months ago. Accompanied by his pack, family, and friends, Cohen sets out to find the missing body of his mate. Soon, he realizes all those things he learned about his mate, he's barely scratching the surface. Mira's life was more than just being tortured and experimented by her step brother, Damien. Without knowing the consequences of involving himself and everyone into her past life, Cohen put everyone at risk. Their investigation about Mira's missing body soon comes fruitful and at the same time, trouble follows. He realizes that there is still another big threat lingering around. A bigger threat than the battle against Damien Kincaid. But, it's already too late to back out as they're all already involved deeply into the mess. With the help of his allies, old and new, they unearth the oldest secret of all. The existence of the world's oldest species that nobody knows has ever existed.

After two years of marriage, I believed I was living the dream—until the day I gave birth to our long-awaited heir. The house was filled with joy as my husband's family arrived, bearing gifts and ready to bestow a name upon our child, as tradition dictated. But the happiness of the day shattered in an instant when my husband walked in, hand in hand with his childhood sweetheart. In front of everyone, he announced not only our divorce but also his engagement to her, as if I had never mattered. *** "I’m divorcing Stacy," Jason announces, his voice unwavering, "to marry Nicole Cruz, my childhood sweetheart." He points to the woman standing before him who smiles and waves at everyone in the room. My world tilts on its axis. The words echo in my mind, louder and louder until they drown out everything else. What is going on?? "But why?" I whisper, my voice barely audible, even to myself. I'm unable to believe his betrayal. Jason doesn’t even glance at the child in my arms. "Because this has been a long time coming, Stacy. I’ve only stayed this long out of obligation and not love."

Eight months into my pregnancy, my husband finally makes time from his police duties to go to a prenatal checkup with me for the first time. The moment we step into the hospital, his satellite-encrypted phone buzzes urgently. The caller ID flashes briefly, and just like that, the man who's always calm and collected panics. "Honey, it's a red alert. Another international fugitive just crossed the border. I… I'm sorry…" He's clearly anxious, yet his tone is firm, leaving no room for argument. After apologizing, he rushes off. As I watch his SUV speed out of sight, my fist clenches tightly, crumpling the prenatal checkup sheet. I flag down a cab, slide into the car, and swiftly instruct the driver, "Follow that car. Don't lose it." A Red Notice for a fugitive? What a joke. My father, who works at the National Security Agency, barely catches wind of a notice like that. Yet, somehow, a mere police chief who only assists with cases is suddenly tasked with catching a high-priority criminal. Fine, then. I can't wait to meet the superior who's given him such an urgent assignment.