Chrysanthemum Hand Tattoo

My back hits the cold glass of the penthouse window, the city glittering a thousand feet below us. Sebastian’s hand is at my throat—not tight enough to hurt, but enough to remind me who I belong to. “You were talking to him,” he says, voice low, dangerous. His other hand is braced beside my head, caging me in. “You smiled.” “It was just—” “Don’t lie to me, Ocean.” His thumb brushes the hollow of my throat, and my pulse jumps so hard he feels it. “You’re mine. Every glance. Every breath. Every inch of you.” I should be furious. I should tell him I’m not his property. But then his mouth is on mine—rough, consuming, tasting like the whiskey he hasn’t let go of since the gala. I moan before I can stop myself. That’s all the permission he needs. His hand slides to my waist, fingers digging in as if he’s afraid I’ll vanish. The heat between us ignites like dry kindling. It’s dangerous. It’s too much. It’s everything. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark enough to drown in. “One year,” he murmurs. “That was the deal. But you… you’re making me want forever.” And in that moment, I know the worst truth of all— If Sebastian Velez decides to keep me, I won’t even try to run.

After I came back to life, the first thing I did was hand that five-carat diamond ring—yes, the one my husband gave me—to his mother. The very woman who spent years picking me apart like it was her favorite pastime. In my last life, that ring was a custom New Year's gift. He paid a ridiculous amount for it. I actually thought it meant something. One afternoon, I was out shopping when I walked right into a bridal party taking pictures. The bride glanced at my hand, saw the ring, and her entire expression changed. She stormed over and slapped me, accusing me of being a shameless mistress trying to steal her man. I stood there, completely stunned. She was wearing the exact same ring. Before I could explain, her friends grabbed me. They dragged me aside, tore my clothes, hit me, and stomped on my hand until I couldn't move my fingers. They carved the word "mistress" into my face and paraded me through the street like some kind of public disgrace. I died there on the pavement. When my husband finally appeared, he didn't fight for me. He just signed off on a settlement, as if my life were nothing more than a piece of paperwork. Widowed that morning, married to the bride by nightfall. His mother instantly welcomed the new woman, all because she was pregnant. And then I opened my eyes again… back on the very day he first placed that diamond ring in my hand.

“No! Please, Santiago--” I whimpered, as his hand seized my wrist with an iron grip, yanking me forward, dragging me effortlessly toward the chair he had pulled into the center of the room the night before. The symbol of my humiliation. He stopped right in front of the chair, spinning me around, facing him. "You want me to be your monster, mi ángel?" His hand grabbed my throat, tilting my chin up until my eyes locked with his dark gaze. I flinched from the sudden movement. "Cause I’ll be your favorite monster — just say the word, cariño." Santiago’s face hovered only inches from mine. His lips so close, I could taste the sweetness of his breath — once making butterflies take flight in my stomach, now curdling my insides into a cold, suffocating fear. Slowly, his free hand rose toward my face. I held my breath. His touch was deceptively soft and gentle, caressing my cheek. His thumb lingered against my lips, tracing them slowly, his eyes fixed there as he spoke — his voice soft, yet heavy with menace. "Divorce is not an option, mi amor. We took a vow five years ago. Remember?" He finally lifted his gaze to meet mine, catching every flicker of fear before he delivered his last words like a verdict: "Till death do us part."

[TRIGGER WARNING: Reader's Discretion Is Advised. This book contains mature themes, explicit sexual content, dark romantic elements, and strong language. It is intended for adult audiences(18+). Proceed with caution.] He placed a hand on my leg, and my breath caught. His hand slowly began stroking my thigh, sending a strange wave of sensation through my body. My fingers tightened against my dress as my pulse quickened. His hand moved slowly higher, sliding deeper into my thigh. My body stiffened as his fingers brushed against my panties. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. Is Master doing what I think he’s going to do? I thought, panic slowly rising inside me. He leaned slightly closer to me, his shoulder brushing mine. “Try not to moan,” he whispered, my breath hitched. I tried my best to stay still, forcing myself to keep my expression calm as the men around the table continued their conversation. But under the table, his fingers kept teasing the fabric of my panties. My breathing grew uneven, then his fingers suddenly slipped inside. A small cough escaped my lips as my body jerked slightly from the sudden sensation. Several heads turned toward me. “Are you okay, Mrs. Enzo?” one of them asked with concern. My face burned with embarrassment. “Is something wrong? Did you choke on the food?” another man asked. “I think she choked on the food,” Enzo said calmly as he looked at me, his eyes held a warning.

"Let's live in together ..." She said those words solemnly in her flat facial expression like reading a formal report. “WHATTT???” The young man blinked his eyes in disbelief several times at the woman in front of him as if she has gone insane. But the firm look on her eyes showed him that she was serious with what she just said before. “I like this apartment. You also like it, right?” “Let’s live in together so we can share the rental fee. After 1 year, we can decide whether we want to extend here or not?” The woman glanced at him once again. Requesting for an answer from his mouth. "How?" The young man turned his head away. He seems irk with this weird request but in other hand, he should admit that everything that she said was makes sense too. Especially for sharing the rental fee. It’s a win - win solution! He’s totally broke! And he is in an urge for finding a new place to stay now! "OK. Deal… ” The two of them shook hands as an agreement. "But I also have a request." The young man said those words while his hand still holding her hand warmly. He stared at her and forming a smile on his face seductively. Arissa frowned and raised her eyebrows confusedly. "What is it?" "You can't fall in love with me ..." She sneered out and a mocking smile curved on her face shortly. "No worries. I'm an asexual after all…. ”

Si Jackson Lucas Montgomery ay kilala bilang the perfect son na nagpatayo ng imperyo, may daan-daang negosyo, at milyon-milyong investor na nagtitiwala sa kaniya. Ngunit hindi alam ng lahat, may isang lalaking nakatago sa loob niya. A man who is wilder, more ruthless, more dangerous… and far more sinful. His other self, ang rebelong anak na hindi kayang kontrolin ang tunay niyang pagkatao. Si Tatiana Louis Alcantara, isang stripper na desperadong makaalis sa mabahong buhay na mayroon siya, ay aksidenteng nabuntis ng lalaking hindi niya alam ang pagkakakilanlan. Tanging ang tattoo lang ng lalaki sa left abdomen ang palatandaan niya. Sa gitna ng kanyang paghahanap sa lalaking nakabuntis sa kanya ay nahulog siya sa patibong na hindi niya inaakalang mangyayari sa kanyang buhay. Bumungad na lamang sa kaniya ang dark, hypersexual alter ego ng pinakamakapangyarihang lalaki sa bansa. They fall into a secret, burning affair. Isang relasyong puno ng halik na bawal, yakap na delikado, at gabing kinakalaban ng katawan ang katinuan. Ngunit nang magsimulang maglaho ang perfect son personality dahil kay Tatiana, nagkagulo ang buong angkan ng Montgomery. Para sa kanila, si Tatiana ang sumpang sisira sa kanilang imperyo. At gagawin nila ang lahat para mawala siya sa buhay ng anak nila para ibalik ang perpektong anak na kailanman ay hindi naging totoo. What they don’t know about is that… The rebel son doesn’t just want her. He will destroy worlds to keep her.

"Kiara Hart, did you secretly hide some fresh milk? Hand it over now!" My boyfriend's younger brother, Matthew Chambers, pinned me against the wall and ran his hands over me, searching everywhere. He had no idea that the sweet scent was not milk, but...

Sophia Smith and Alexander Carter have been friends since high school, but she sees him as more than just a friend. When her father suddenly proposes marriage, she accepts without consideration and Alex was forced to abide by his grandfather's wish, so he married her, but her happiness fades as Alex's indifference takes hold. Determined to win his love, Sophia devotes herself to impressing him, but her efforts were all futile. A year into marriage, Alex files for divorce, accompanied by scandalous pictures that led Sophia to bear the burden of false accusations. Unable to face the distrust of people around her, Sophia disappears with her unborn child. Six years pass, and fate reunites them when Alex becomes Sophia's patient. Guilt clouds Alex's eyes, and his voice trembled with longing as he muttered "Sophia, I've spent years realizing my mistakes. I've regretted every moment since we parted" She spares him a glance "Regret won't mend what you shattered, Mr. Carter. The past is a chapter closed, I've moved on and so should you." He reached out for her hand but she moves away "And what about the twins?" he asks with a voice filled with remorse. Sophia responds curtly "The twins are mine. Alone." On one hand stands her ex-husband, prepared to endure any hardship to reclaim her, and on the other hand stands a friend who is willing to go to great lengths to have her as his own.

How can you fight for your love when it is not legal? How can you hold his hand in public and hug him to show how much you love him, when your relationship is secret? When your love ones is in a relationship with someone who is so close to you?

“Do you want me to show you?” He asked. I nodded, too weak to answer. His strong arms lifted me off the ground and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I felt him drop me on my bed. His eyes had darkened with desire. I wanted him. I wanted him so bad. He dropped slow, teasing kisses on my neck, on my ears, nibbling on the lobe. I felt his hand creep under my shirt and I gasped. He wrapped the hand around my waist and pulled me closer. I moaned softly, digging my nails into his back. He suddenly withdrew from me. “Who's the whore now?” He asked and then proceeded to walk away, leaving me by myself on the bed **************************************** From being the unnoticed calculus nerd to having the full attention of the school's bad boy, the principal's son.