Dare County Library

“We’re friends,” I said, voice barely steady. Aaron’s lips curled, slow and cruel. “No, we’re not.” “Friendship’s too pure for this.” His hand slid to my waist, hot and claiming as he yanked me flush against him. “Do friends kiss like this?” He kissed me. Hard. Possessive. “Or grab each other like this?” A squeeze to my ass. A gasp. “Or think filthy little thoughts?” His breath burned against my ear. “Touch themselves to it?” My cheeks flamed. My body betrayed me. “Stop lying, Venus.” His voice was a growl. “I feel it. Every time I’m near you.” I whispered, “But you don’t even like me.” His smile was pure sin. “I don’t have to like you to fuck you.” Then the offer: “Let’s get it out of our system. No lies. No strings. Just truth.” He grabbed my chin, eyes lit with hunger. “Say the word, princess.” A whisper against my lips— “I’ll ruin you.” And God help me… I wanted him to. --------- Aaron Sinclair needs a bride to claim his inheritance. Venus Carter needs a miracle to save her dying mother. What begins as a cold contract marriage spirals into a dangerous game of buried trauma, stolen identities, and forbidden attachment. He’s ruthless, closed off, and refuses to love. She’s resilient, lost, and refuses to stay unloved. But when secrets unravel revealing a stolen childhood, a tragic past, and a vengeful stepmother, their fake marriage is the only thing standing between them and destruction. In a world ruled by power and silence, will love dare to speak first or break them both instead?

Sarah said, “I…i..i like you ….um…will you go on a date with me?” I give him that rose. He frowned, then looked at the rose, and then looked at my face. The atmosphere was as if someone had dropped an atomic bomb. I didn’t dare look at his face because my face turned red with shyness. I am freaking blushing for no reason. Then I heard his laugh. I was confused, and then I heard the whole class laughing. I touch my face with confusion. I look at him, and he is laughing so hard. What have I done? This is confusing. He took the rose from my hand, crushed it, and threw it on my face. Yes, my face... Nicholas said,“Did you see your face? You nerd, I will date a girl like you... ******************* This is the story of Sarah, who had a crush on the wealthiest and most well-known boy at her school. When Sarah found the courage to tell Nicholas she was in love, he ridiculed her and turned her down. Then, Sarah's life took a complete turn for the worst. Her family was destroyed as a result of this insignificant deed, and she lost the most important part of her life. Despite the ups and downs in her life, she managed to keep things moving in the right direction. However, Nicholas re-entered her life and fell in love with her, but it was too late, for Sarah's love had turned into hatred. But he is Nicholas Hill; he won't give up easily. He falls hard for her and won't let her go easily.

On the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Michael Robertson ghosted. I sat outside the County Clerk's Office for hours. Instead of him, I got a pic from his secretary, Kallie Clunt. She was in his lap, arms wrapped around him, making out like it was the hottest scene in a drama. [Sorry, Elsa. Michael said he had to comfort my broken heart. You don't mind, do you?] When I asked him about it, he just looked annoyed. "She gave me blood once. What's the big deal if I hang out with her? Can't you be a little more understanding?" My stomach dropped. I turned away and called his older brother. "Leon, do you still want to marry me?"

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

Would you love something that is broken or admire something that had fell into pieces? Would you hold it close to your heart and accept it, even if it means you'll get cuts? She was broken yet bravely collected herself together. She started a new life and decided to forget everything in the past by creating a fabricated image of herself. Would you dare look beyond the facade she made to get to know her more?" But getting closer means hurting her; digging for more from her past would destroy her. Would you gamble all the chance of helping her fix everything up, even though you’d break her more and make her feel worse? Or would you only admire her from afar and maintain your distance, to keep everything in place that she had built. Would you fight for her even if it means fighting against her?

For three years, we held a wedding in name only—my husband, Kit Rutgers, a pilot, canceled our marriage registration eighteen times. The first time, his female trainee, Katy Ferguson, had a test flight. I waited outside the county clerk’s office the whole day. The second time, he got a call from her mid-drive, made a sharp U-turn, and left me standing on the side of the road. After that, every time we planned to make it official, some crisis with Katy mysteriously arose. Eventually, I chose to walk away. But the moment I boarded a plane to Solara, he lost his mind—and chased me there.

‘‘Because I like you!! I didn't want you to leave! I didn't wanted us to end like that! But you…YOU JUST LEFT WITHOUT TELLING ME.’’ Aaron shouted and looked at Valencia. ‘‘YOU ALWAYS LEAVE ME BEHIND! YOU ALWAYS LEAVE WITHOUT TELLING ME!! YOU JUST DID THAT IN THE MORNING.’’ He shouted. ‘‘I know we had problems between us at that time but you could have just said it to me that you're leaving but you didn't!! You left me.’’ He said, but she was still sitting comfortably and looking at me. ‘‘I was attracted to you!! I liked you and I know that I unknowingly hurted you when I remind you of your mother. But I also said sorry about that to you and your mother.’’ He just let it out, he said everything. ********** “YOU BETRAY ME!!” Valencia shouted at Aaron.  “You dare to betray me while living under my roof!! How dare you do that?” She picked up the vase and threw it on the ground, in front of him.  “I…I didn't betray you!! I never wanted to do something like this?” Aaron stutters, his eyes moisten, as he sees the hatred in her eyes for him. “But you still did!? You choose to go against me!!” She said, feeling disgusted by looking at him. “Valencia! I swear I didn't— Please don't hate me!!” Aaron begged.  “Please don't chase me away from you!!” He fell on his knees, on the broken pieces of vase and bleeding on her floor. “I believed you. But you broke my trust!! Now leave my house and never show me your face.” She snapped, turned back and left from there. She left him bleeding in her house, with a broken trust and heart. The heart, she believes she doesn't have.

"Like what you see?" he asked, his voice low and seductive. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're lying," he commented, his voice husky. "I can smell your desire, Gracie. You want me, just as much as I want you." ~~~~~ "You have no right to judge me or my actions! How dare you?!" He spat at her. Gracie swallowed hard, feeling a wave of fear wash over her, as he called out to his guards. "Strip her of all her clothings, and put her where she belongs!" he barked, pointing towards her. __________ In a far-away land, there lived a powerful Lycan King who was dreaded by all, for his cruelty and mercilessness was way beyond the imagination of all under his reign, and far away from him. Alpha Jerri was no match to anyone, and even his closest pals feared for their lives. All the young girls around went into hiding all because of his cruelty, yet, getting any of his choice to satisfy his lust, took him nothing to achieve. Gracie, a young girl who was at the mercy of her father, was frustrated with her life, but only a glimmer of hope kept her going… A story of pain, trauma, lust and insane satisfaction… leading to a cloudy world of the unknown.. Gracie must stay strong to hang on, or be at the mercy of her oppressors!

Kate Zainab Omar is a mixed raced young lady of Syrian and Belgian heritage. She was orphaned at 8 years, suffered PTSD and was moved from various foster care to another. She grew up into a beautiful woman, fall in love with a secret agent: Albert Connor-Mckinney, but it seems like fate has other arrangements for her as she navigates through life challenges of abuse, conviction, stigma and betrayal. Will Kate be able to overcome this to become a strong, unbiased and purpose? There are many people that came into her life to help in the process of self discovery and purpose they include: Emma, Kayla, Stanley, the Stewarts, agent Tom and others. She have to face the challenge of overcoming her previous plights and wounds, conquer her PTSD to help solve the most mysterious strings of murder in Winster county both nineteen years ago and the present day. In the process she will also discover Love, raise her child as a single woman and focus on her self-improvement as an average woman in the society.

What was it like to grow old? Graduate college? Have a career in life? Get married and have your own family with your own kids? I am Celene Monte and I dreamt of those once maybe somewhere in my other ninety-nine lifetimes. Once the hands of the clock struck at twelfth midnight on the 22nd of April again, the day I turned eighteen, I died all over again and reincarnated to another world. And now this will be my 100th new cycle of life to live before turning 18. But I didn't knew that in this lifetime, new things would begin again when I met a crazy but famous lead vocalist of Dare, the Interhigh Academy's most famous band. And a very stubborn girl who was determined to beat Dare and dream to become the best band in the world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wordcount per chapter excluding the Prologue: 1200-2000 words A/N: Happy Reading to all!