Define Gripped

On the day of the World Rally Championship finals, I pressed the accelerator to the floor, ready for the final dash. The next moment, the engine exploded in a deafening roar, and thick smoke instantly filled the cockpit. Flames spread toward the fuel tank. I yanked at the door, desperate to jump out, but the handle wouldn’t budge, and the brakes felt welded in place. In that instant of despair, my husband’s voice came through the comms. “Attention, all teams, no need to rescue her. My wife is the Iron Racer! “For today’s live broadcast challenge, let’s see if she can drive this burning car across the finish line!” His co-commentator, recently recruited onto the team, chimed in with excitement. “Thomas, the sponsor just confirmed! As long as Jane holds on to the end, they’ll increase investment. I can get a permanent spot!” I understood instantly then that the husband on the commentary platform I had supported for years was using my life to pave the way for his mistress. Smoke clawed at my throat. However, I forced down the dizziness and begged, “For the sake of all our years together…” Only for him to cut me off with irritation. “Save your energy for driving. You’re skilled. Just hold on a little longer. Mandy’s promotion depends entirely on you.” The cockpit had become an inferno; my skin searing with every second. I gripped the blistering wheel, steering through the smoke for the last time. This time, my finish line was the commentary platform where the two of them were huddled together.

Warning: DARK ROMANCE Story contains detailed mature scenes possessing dubious consent not recommended for age group below 18 years old. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Prologue Shadows engulfed him in a beautiful embrace. He looked like an angel with devilish intentions. It wasn't until he took a step towards her did the gravity of situation descended upon her and even then she couldn't do anything but shake in fear. She knew making a run for it won't do a thing, calling was not an option and if she screamed...she opened her mouth to scream but a meek plea came out. Her body's lack of response terrified her, tears gathered in her orbs with horrible anticipation. With his each step nearer she gripped the frame of her window tighter hoping to keep her balance. It took him three steps to be inches away from her body. He slowly took his suit jacket off, making himself comfortable as he amusingly watched her shaken face. She was so horror-stricken to even look at his face. She gulped as his hand cupped her neck in a gentle grip, guiding her eyes to his. His eyes slipped from the hold of her eyes to her lips in a second. She grew self conscious all over again. His heated gaze on her lips was unwavering. In the moment of bewilderment and growing self awareness her tongue unconsciously wiped her lips wet and it was all it took for him to descent on her lips.

"Okay, if that's what you want. But–" He paused words. Excellent response, unexpected. Liana thought Revan would change his mind to not to force her to do things that she didn't want to. "But what?" "I will not let you go until I get what I want." Revan got closer to Liana, and before she tried to escape — he had locked Liana's movements. He started to tilt his face until Liana felt the breath getting closer. Liana's hand gripped tightly made her unable to rebel, she refused and she shook her head. Her heart was beating fast and a feeling of disgust surrounded her. Without waiting further, Revan put his lips on Liana's and crushed her lips greedily. He looked hopeless and disappointed because Liana did not kiss him back, even didn't open her mouth. With her martial art skill, Liana herself out of Revan's hand. She pushed hard Alex's body. Finally it succesfully made Revan stay away and weak. Revan clenched his fists, angry and more angry. While Liana didn't care anymore, this included as sexual abuse. “REVAN! YOU JERK! WE BREAK UP NOW!" shouted Liana emotionally. “OKAY, IF REALLY WANT TO KNOW MY REASON ... BECAUSE I HAVE SEX PHOBIA!" After saying that, Liana went and opened the door to Revan apartment room and closed the door violently. Leaving Revan who was silent after hearing Liana's words.

"We can't do this," I whispered, even as Jamie's fingers traced my jaw. "Tell me to stop," he commanded, his grey eyes darkening with desire. I should have. But instead: "I can't." His hand slid beneath my shirt. "This is wrong." "Then stop touching me." "I can't." His voice was raw. "Every night I think about you. About this." When his mouth finally claimed mine, it tasted like sin and salvation. His hands gripped my waist, lifting me onto the counter. I wrapped my legs around him, and reality dissolved. "Right now, you're mine," he growled against my neck. "Even knowing what it costs?" I gasped. "Even then." What happened in that kitchen was unforgivable. Beautiful and terrible and absolutely devastating. But our secret didn't stay buried. When a mysterious text arrives—*"I saw what you did"*—followed by photos taken through my window, I realize someone was watching. Someone knows. And they're not just threatening to tell Aiden. They're playing a twisted game where we're all pieces on the board. As paranoia turns to obsession and obsession bleeds into violence, I face an impossible truth: the person I should fear most might be the one I thought I knew best. **Some secrets refuse to stay buried. Some desires demand everything. And some love stories end in blood.**

When Prince Aurelian is dragged before the Alpha King Vael, bloodied and shackled, he expects to die. Vael’s pack razed his kingdom, slaughtered his people—and now, Aurelian is nothing but a spoil of war. But fate is cruel. The gods made Aurelian his mate. Vael should kill him. Instead, he stares at the prince’s trembling lips, the delicate curve of his throat, the fire in his eyes, and all he can think about is how cruel the gods are and badly he wants to ruin him. "You hate me?” Vael murmured as he loomed over me, brushing his lips over the edge of my jaw and to the tip of my fingers too slow, too deliberate. One hand pinned my chest. The other dragged down his body until he gripped the base of his cock, still slick and half-hard, veins bulging like it hurt to hold back. “Good,” he growled. “I want you weeping when I take you—cursing me through clenched teeth while I fuck the fury out of your bones.” But Aurelian is not some broken thing to be claimed. A voice calls to him in the dark, a forgotten god whispering promises of power, revenge and freedom. All Aurelian has to do is surrender. Let it in. Let it take control. As rebellion brews and lust poisons every breath between them, Vael’s wolf wants to claim. Aurelian wants to destroy. But the bond is stronger than hate—and hunger always wins.

“Even if you like, run to the end of the earth. You, Cat, will forever remain my mate. And if it is what you want, I will make sure you remain hidden from the sight of all.” He said with a look of amusement. And then with all seriousness in his eyes, he stared at her until she feels that her body was burning even without his touch. “I am going to make you my secret mate.” ******** All her life, Catherine has always been the shadow of her twin sister, Camille. As if that was not just the worst of it, she was the child her parents never wanted. When the news that the lycan king was having a ball party where all Alphas first daughters have to be present and one would be chosen to be his mate, Catherine was asked to go in place of her sister to the ball. The lycan king as everyone knows was a ruthless man who has been rumored to kill all the women who he had chosen for his harem after every slight mistakes from them. To Catherine, her family was pushing her to the lion’s den where she is supposed to be gone and forgotten. However, Catherine was ready to define a new path for herself in the pack. The lycan king, Kane Lycanthrope, was also ready with his own hidden agenda. Will Catherine be able to execute her wish? Or, like the other dead women in the harem, will she be dead and forgotten?

Adam lifted her high into the air. “Hold onto the bar, baby.” Startled, she reached up and grasped the metal, her back against the wall. He stepped right under her, wrapped her legs around his neck and shoulders. His hands gripped her rounded ass and pulled her pussy right up against his mouth. She gasped and arched her back. Adam felt her incredible need. “I’m not going to make you wait, sweetheart.” “Please,” she whispered. “Please.” **** When Katie Lloyd learns her stepfather is dying, she’ll do anything to reach him. Stranded by bad weather and no transportation, she’s forced to accept help from the last man she wants to be trapped with: Adam Pierce. Big, brutal, arrogant... and the one person she’s argued with nonstop since the day they met. A five-day road trip with him sounds like hell. But Katie is out of options. Adam respects Katie’s talent as a photographer, even if her stubbornness drives him insane. Then an accident exposes the truth about her past... and everything changes. Adam shifts from adversary to protector, determined to get Katie home and face the man who destroyed her childhood. Along endless highways and dangerous truths, attraction ignites where anger once lived. And when the journey ends, Adam wants more than her survival – he wants to help her rebuild. In his arms, and in his bed, if she’ll let him.

|Excerpt| Iris was taking small steps to her husband's study. She had a medical file in her hand with tears in her eyes while she tightly gripped the file. Without knocking she entered the study to find her husband with a lawyer beside him. "Honey..", Iris started while looking down but was cut by a dark alluring voice. "Don't honey me you filthy women, just sign these divorce papers and take whatever you want and get out of my estate." Listening this Iris looked up and gasped as she looked in the dead eyes of her husband. | • | Iris Knight or now just Iris has been through alot in these past two years. Navigating her way since she got that report has been quite a task. Now broken beyond repair or as she believes she just lives without any hope... | • | Tristan Knight had it all money, power and most importantly the love of his life. But losing her due to some morphed photos have turned him into a ruthless and cold man with only goal being to find his flower... | • | So what will happen when Tristan and Iris finally after two years come face to face. Regrets, hatred, love, forgiveness, misery, happiness, sadness, hope, jealousy and trust; with so many emotion cruising what and who will win at what stake? With two most important question remaining like a mystery; What happened to Iris in the past two years and what was there in the file...

"I despise you as much as I love you," Raphael confessed to Winter, his voice laced with bitterness and tenderness all at once. "This connection between us is both a blessing and a curse. It torments us both. Don't you think?" Winter asked him. "That's what I regret. I could not kill you that night because you are my mate," Raphael affirmed. He approached her in a blink of an eye and gripped her throat. "Winter, why are you the daughter of my enemy?" Raphael growled, his head ducked to bury in her neck. He kissed her followed by a lick, which made Winter's knees go weak. "Shall we mate?" Raphael murmured, his breath caressing her ear, igniting a sensual response within Winter. The conflict between their hatred and desire blurred as the allure of their fate became undeniable. ~~~~~~~ Winter, the Princess of the Uriel Kingdom, had endured a lifetime of torment and lacked the love she deserved. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she discovered Raphael Kingston as her mate on her 18th birthday. She hoped that this newfound connection would bring an end to her suffering, but fate had other plans. Raphael, the lone survivor of his pack, had always sought vengeance against the King and his daughter. However, his purpose faltered when he realized Winter was his destined mate. The battle between his hatred and love for her led him to imprison Winter, torn between the desire to protect her and the weight of his animosity. Thus, began a tale of Hate to Love!

My Alpha mate Kieran’s new assistant was his childhood friend. She kept using work reports as an excuse to flirt with Kieran. Kieran yelled at her and said that if it weren't for their childhood friendship, he'd kick her out of the pack immediately. I was his one true mate. But just days later, he put his childhood friend Meredith's name on my life's work - my breakthrough research on silver poisoning treatment. When I confronted him about it, he just brushed it off, telling me to think about the bigger picture. At the annual Healer Excellence Awards ceremony, Meredith wore a designer gown and walked on stage as the chief healer to accept the award. Kieran sat in the audience, leading the applause for her. All the camera flashes and congratulations became a joke at my expense. The next day, as I was about to board my flight overseas, Kieran rushed to the airport like a madman to stop me. His eyes were bloodshot as he gripped my wrist: "I was just having fun with Meredith. You're the only Luna of this pack. But if you really leave like this, I'll have you removed from the pack healer registry." His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I spoke each word deliberately. "Kieran, you're way too full of yourself." After landing, I dialed another number: "Alpha Garrett, let's begin the plan to establish the new healing center."