Denver Public Library New York Times

Running away from the dark past of her life, Sofia McCommer is determined to start new and prove her worth to her family by joining her family business that's close to bankruptcy. Scorched by life, Adrian T Larsen, the powerful business magnet has become a man no one wanted to cross paths with. With only darkness filled in his dead heart, he doesn't know what kindness is, and has an intense hatred for the word: love. And then comes the game. A game of ignoring the cold-hearted playboy Sofia plays with her friends at a Saturday night club. The rules were simple: Ignore the billionaire, hurt his ego and get out. But little did she know that getting out of the paws of an injured tiger wasn't an easy thing to do. Especially when the infamous businessman, Adrian Larsen's male ego was at stake here. Bound by fate when their paths clash with each other more than Sofia ever expected, when the powerful billionaire barges into her life, sparks and desire start to test her resistance. But she has to push him away and keep her heart locked to keep both of them safe from the dangerous shadows of her past. The dark past that always lurked around. But can she do that when the devil has already set his eyes on her? She has played a game, and now she has to face the consequences. Because when a predator is teased, it's supposed to chase...

I made my way directly to the library with the present I had for Asher all nicely wrapped up, ready to be torn open. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. When I arrived at the library, no one was there. I sat there for a whole 20 minutes waiting for Mr. no show. I felt stupid for thinking he would actually come. I got dolled up for no reason at all. Maybe I’ll still meet my mate today. Then it won’t be for no reason. I got up from the table seat and went into the hall, hearing a lot of whispers regarding my new appearance. Some asking if I’m a new girl, others saying I’m trying too hard and others saying I look drop dead gorgeous. I didn’t know how to feel about myself. As I was wandering around the halls waiting for school to start, a smell hit me like a truck. It filled my lungs and took over my mind. It was the smell of after the rain had fallen. Petrichor. "Mate", I growled. I let the scent lead my feet to where my mate was. I was so excited and my palms are sweaty. It led me to the janitor’s closet and before I opened it I heard a moan. I put my ear to the door and heard shuffling. “Hurry Saige, I smell my mate, I can’t let her meet me like this.” I know that voice my heart skips a beat, fear and anger covers my heart like a blanket. It can’t be. It can’t be. There’s no way.

**Dark Romance** Being the new girl is hard, Mary is shy, introverted, and prefers the solitude of being with her books than people. But in her new school, things became different as she got noticed by the wrong people. She catches the attention of the school's bad boy who begins to taunt and ridicule her. ***** I played with my fingers as he stared, he didn't stop staring and I was finding it hard to maintain eye contact with him. His stare was making me feel uncomfortable. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing here alone. "Mary Davies," he whispered my name. "You are still a virgin right?" He asked smirking. "Hmmmn... Untouched. Innocent. Just like I have always wanted." He whispered, trailing a finger down my collar bone. "I am going to have so much fun with you," he whispered again, kissing my ear lobes. "So much fun." He added, stepping away from me. He began to walk towards the door. "See you tonight."

It was our wedding anniversary when my husband's high school sweetheart posted a sonogram picture on her social media, with her captioning a public thank-you to my husband: [Thank you to the man who's been there for me for ten years, and for giving me a son.] The room spun, and anger surged through me as I quickly commented: [So, you're proud of being a homewrecker?] Almost immediately, my husband called, his voice full of rage. "How can you think such disgusting things? All I did was help her with IVF, fulfilling her dream of becoming a single mom. "And by the way, Ruby only needed one try to get pregnant, while you’ve been through three rounds with nothing. Your body is useless!" Just three days ago, he told me he was going abroad for business—ignoring my calls and messages the entire time. I thought he was just busy. However, it turned out he was with her, attending her prenatal checkup. Half an hour later, Ruby posted again, showing off a table full of delicious food. [I got tired of French food, so Ash made me all my favorite dishes. He’s the best!] I stared at the pregnancy test in my hand, the joy I had felt earlier now completely gone. After eight years of love and six years of swallowing my pride just to keep the marriage alive, I’m finally ready to let go.

On the run from her adoptive father for five years after being sold to the Russian mafia, Lianna took refuge in the states. She thought New York City was a safe place for her, that it was her ticket out of the mafia world. Little did she know that it’s swarming with people much vile than the place escaped from. This city will pull her deeper into the underworld. ~~ "I'm not her." He stood up from his chair abruptly that it fell behind. It took him three strokes until he was holding my neck, lifting me, and pinning me on the wall as he choked me. He breathes the smoke in my face but I was losing air in my lungs to inhale it. "I've searched for you and you're giving me this crap?" he hissed in my face. "Try something else, Alexa, or I'll bury you alive." He let go of my neck, I gasped for air as my lungs took all the air it needed. It's better if he ends my life anyway. I thought to myself. "Where is it?" he asked as he stood beside the table. "Where is what?" He lifts a tattered knife in his hand as he walks slowly to where I stood now. "I'll carve my name in your chest if you don't stop acting dumb, Alexa." He traced the neckline of my dress with his knife. The pointed cold blade sent shivers all over my being. "Where did you bury my father!?" ~~ [Mature Content] Photo credits to Nikola Jovanovic

In the world of werewolves, witches and vampires, aadhya a human always wondered if this is really the place she belongs to. No matter how many times she asked the question, the answer always remained the same… YES Her parents were one of the strongest beta couples (second in command) of their time on the whole continent. But even after having beta blood running in her veins, aadhya knew that she is different from all the werewolves that she have met in her whole life. She doesn’t have heightened senses of werewolves, she didn’t even transform into her wolf when she came of age which automatically made her “the pack’s weirdo”. Even after being treated as an outcast, bullied by other wolf kids and waking up every day with that eerie laugh and nightmare which always felt too real to be just a nightmare, she never let herself feel weak. She pushed herself to the most and trained herself as every wolf of their pack was trained. It was the day of her twentieth birthday when she suddenly felt the ‘mate-tingles’ from the touch of her number one bully, the to-be-alpha of their pack Ethan Smith. She knew that nothing is going to be normal from the time she felt that first tingle but she didn’t know that there is nothing normal in her life from the time she came into this world to start with. Will Ethan accept the gift of mate bond and leave his rank-holder girlfriend behind for a human? Will aadhya be able to survive all the things that are soon going to come her way? Join aadhya on the journey of her life which is filled with mystery, action, romance and many twists and turns..

He turns back to me that evil lust filled glint in his eyes I have seen on his face for the past year. ‘You’re such a little cock tease, you think you can walk around in your little shorts and skirts like you do thinking there is no consequences you’re going to learn exactly what that means now open up my girl,’ my eyes widen in horror as he thrusts his hips towards my face. Aurora Anderson and her mother Sarah flea in the middle of the night after suffering from abuse from the one man they both thought they could trust. They plight takes them as far as the Silver Brooke Pack where Alpha Matthew Reynolds welcomes them in. A romance transpires between Sarah and Matthew where the two marry forcing Aurora to join her new family where she meets her four new step brothers each more handsome than the last. Still recovering from her trauma, she is confused by her feelings towards her new brothers, despite their taunts and unkind words she feels the undeniable pull. On her 18th birthday she gets her wolf only to learn that she is mated to not one but all four of her step brothers. She fleas for fear of rejection, she knows what this could mean for her mother and after seeing her finally happy after so long so doesn’t know what to do. Will Aurora and Sarah both find a way to have their happy ending? Will their past come back to haunt them? Can Aurora even handle having four mates? What other secrets have been hidden that threaten their futures?

On Victoria’s 20th birthday she receives unsettling news: her father agreed to marry her to one of the most dangerous mafia leaders in the country. She has no say in the matter, there is no escape from this marriage. Her new husband, Dimitri Ivanov, is cruel, cold and controls her every move. Victoria has never been more frightened of anyone in her life, but she is going to have to learn to survive in the world of crime that she is now part of.

In this world, the line between what is taboo and what is desired is blurred, as you are taken on a journey through a steamy landscape of forbidden pleasure and carnal cravings. With each turn of the page, your senses will be awakened, and your deepest desires will be unleashed. In this collection of erotic shorts, you will be transported to a place where nothing is off-limits and where your wildest fantasies become a reality. From the seductive whispers of a stranger to the intimate touch of a lover, every encounter will leave you breathless and craving more. As you immerse yourself in this raunchy world, be prepared to experience every emotion, from lust and passion to heart-racing excitement and pure ecstasy. With each new experience, your own desires will be explored, as you are introduced to a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique tale to tell. So, if you're ready to let your guard down and surrender to your most intimate desires, then fasten your seatbelt and get ready for the ride of your life. This collection of erotic shorts is guaranteed to take you on a journey unlike any other, where lust, sin, and sexual reign supreme. Just remember, this book is intended for mature readers only and contains graphic adult scenes, adult language, and situations that may not be suitable for young readers or sensitive minds. So, reader discretion is advised.

Do you ever wish a secret billionaire would sweep you away to a tropical island? Do you ever wish that you could be like Cinderella and find your happily ever after with the prince? From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sweet but spicy Billionaire Romance Series that will have you believing in happily ever after! Each story in this series is a stand-alone one. But with all the stories happen in one world, characters will reappear in other stories. ****** The First Set: Saltwater Kisses– An accidental marriage between Jack and Emma. Rainwater Kisses– Falling in love, and finding how they fit together with Owen and Kaylee. Freshwater Kisses– Finding love in childhood friends with Robbie and Sam. BONUS: Kisses From Jack: The first half of Saltwater Kisses, but from Jack's perspective! Timeless Love Stories: Champagne Kisses– A story of long lost love and second chances with Dean and Rachel. The Second Set: Sandcastle Kisses– Finding love in all the wrong places with Noah and Izzy Hurricane Kisses– Surviving the storm together with Logan and Olivia Barefoot Kisses– A Cinderella story with Aiden and Lena The Third Set: Sunrise Kisses– Ava and Bastian discovering true beauty Waterfall Kisses– Leo finally succumbing to Charlotte's charms Island Kisses: Gabe finally meets his match in Harper!