excuses for hickeys on chest

The throne is threatened as Thalisse, a humble village on the outskirts of Apharoth is attacked. Since the king had no heirs, there was no one left to save the royal family from being overthrown. In desperation, the king declares Gairoshi, an ancient practice where the next king will be selected through a series of duels. Bold men from all around the world flock to the center city to participate and try out their luck in this tiring and grueling competition. As different characters gather for this prestigious event, from the nobles, mighty men, people from the shadows, and down to the Thalisse victims, they cross each other's paths and fate reveals that there is more blood to Gairoshi than they expected.

Emma is living every fangirl's dream: her new CEO is her celebrity crush, and she'll be working with her favourite K-pop idols as a designer. Her new CEO, Park Hyun Bin, is a former K-pop idol with a controversial past and now founder of an entertainment company. Emma ends up in his bed, and what was meant to be a one night stand turns into more. But as a long-term fangirl, Emma knows fooling around with a popular ex-idol could spell doom for her if the fandoms and media catch wind of what's going on. Will the unexpected feelings that bloom between them survive when scandal after scandal—and furious fans and antis alike —threaten to tear them apart?

Kimberly, Alpha Nathan's mate, abruptly moved from being the pack's princess to a rejected pariah. He denied her attention and refused to touch her. She was forced to have a one-night stand with a stranger the night that Nathan sent her out of his pack and as a result, she became pregnant. When Nathan found out, he vowed to kill her and the baby. Kimberly had to escape away from the Crescent pack for her protection. On the run, she stumbled into the Lycan king who protected her from her oppressors and claimed her as his mate. Once her pregnancy signs started becoming visible, she was afraid of how the King and the Lycans would take it considering the circumstances behind her baby so she faked her death and disappeared to raise her baby in privacy. What will the future hold for them since the Lycan King has his secrets and dangers hiding in his kingdom?

Ashton Johnson is a formidable presence, a person who refuses to be controlled. With a strong will, unwavering resilience, and complete accountability, this twenty-two-year-old billionaire alpha male navigates his extraordinary life with ease. Every day brings a flurry of adoring fans, transforming a simple lunch into a chaotic spectacle. By afternoon, his face is plastered all over the internet, capturing the attention of millions. From the moment he was born, Ashton's life was destined for fame and recognition, thanks to his prominent family. He is the epitome of American royalty, carrying the weight of his lineage on his shoulders. However, his world takes an unexpected turn when he is assigned a new bodyguard, someone who will be with him around the clock. This is when Ashton comes face-to-face with his worst fear: being paired with a tattooed, MMA-trained professional who is notorious for disregarding rules within the security team. As if that weren't complicated enough, this bodyguard also happens to fulfill one-third of Ashton's deepest desires. Lennox Burke, twenty-seven years old, has a singular duty: to protect Ashton Johnson at all costs. Anything beyond the realm of strict professionalism, such as flirting, dating, or engaging in intimate encounters, is strictly forbidden and could lead to Lennox's termination. However, when unexpected emotions begin to surface, the task of safeguarding this stubbornly alluring celebrity becomes increasingly complex for Lennox. As their paths intertwine, the boundaries that separate them start to blur, and the consequences of their growing connection could be catastrophic for both of them. The risk of exposure looms large, threatening to upend their lives in unimaginable ways.

My husband, Carlton Stewart, looked me right in the eye and asked me to abort his unborn child. Then he asked for a divorce. That didn’t hurt me more than when I discovered the reason he asked me to abort his child. I felt so worthless and even more worthless when my husband threw me in jail after my sister accused me of a crime, we all knew I would never commit. Six months went down in speed and I was out of prison with six months pregnancy. Unconventionally, I met a young man who surprisingly was hell-bent on helping me take revenge on my ex-husband and all of them who’d hurt me.

"Rule 1! I don't want to see your filthy hands on my kids, make sure you are clean before touching them." "Rule Two! I don't want you close to me. People like you are nothing but gold diggers." Those were the rules Lucas Maxwell, the renowned billionaire gave to Scarlett Barnes before she was finally accepted into the big mansion as a nanny. She had long dreamed of a high-paying job to foot her bills, and she finally got one. Without considering the terror she would face from Lucas, being the father of the kids she bonded with. Scarlett thought it was the beginning of a new life, without realizing it was another phase of woes for her. Fortunately, an opportunity came and she got into a contract marriage with Lucas, she gradually falls in love with him, but then secrets are revealed. Would she be able to stick with Lucas even after discovering his secrets? What happens when she herself discovers her true identity?

A week before my death, my Alpha mate's childhood sweetheart Sarah returned to our pack. That night, he didn't come home. The next day, I received his mind-link. "I've purchased a mate-bond severing potion from the pack witch. Come home now so we can break our bond." In our pack, the Moon Goddess was very serious about mate bonds. Once two wolves chose to form a mate, the mate bond could not be severed, unless the witch's potion was used. This potion was very expensive, costing up to $500,000 per bottle. I smiled bitterly. He was very generous to sever the bond with me. I coughed twice before answering, "I'm in the healing center." His voice turned ice cold. "I don't care where you are. Even if you're about to die, you need to come back." I calmly replied, "Fine." He didn't know that I really was dying. Three years ago, during a rogue wolf attack, I blocked the silver dagger for him to protect him while he was unconscious. I was poisoned by silver and became weaker and weaker over the past three years. I only had one week left to live. On the day of my funeral, my mate was busy holding his marking ceremony with Sarah. Later, he knelt before my grave in pristine white ceremonial clothes, clutching my headstone and whispering through tears. "If there's another life after this one, I still want to marry you." That day was his marking ceremony with his childhood sweetheart. It was also my funeral.

Everyone thinks Clara's father is a rebel, but she doesn't think so. Adopted by the despised Beta Benson, Clara endures the torment of being treated as a lowly servant. But her struggles don't end there. As if the constant bullying from her stepsister Melissa and her cronies wasn't enough, Clara's dreams of love and acceptance are shattered when she faces rejection from her destined mate, Kent, the future Alpha heir. It seems that fate has stacked the cards against her. However, when the enigmatic Alpha Derek, leader of the powerful Winterclaw pack, arrives at her school as a visiting professor, Clara's world is turned upside down. With his presence, her sad song takes a pause, and for a fleeting moment, she dares to hope for something more. But jealousy and anger are fiery embers, threatening to consume them all. Will she truly be able to carve out the life she yearns for? Discover the captivating story of Clara as she battles against destiny, in a world where hope flickers in the darkest of moments. Brace yourself for an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Selyna: I was adopted, raised by humans but strange things happened after I turned 13. It turns out that I am a witch and my best friend, Ashe is a werewolf. When we move for college everything changes. I meet my coven, start having strange dreams and meet him. He is the surly but undeniably hot future Alpha of the Moonlight Dance pack. We would never work, but how long can I deny this attraction? Damian: I was born Beta but after the Alpha disappeared my father took over. His relentless search for the missing Alpha family often driving me to fits of anger. I have been chasing dead ends for him for over a decade. My father thinks that I was born to lead and that I must have a powerful mate since he believes the true Alpha heir is alive. I don't think I have a mate and just hope for my father's sanity that he is right about the Alpha heir. I have had little more than a passing interest in any female before she came into my life. The little witch moved here for college and she is smokin' hot. I need to forget about her, but how can I when she is all that I can think about?

'She was young, so I let her grow. She was wild, so I let her live her life. She wanted to build a career, so I stayed away. But the time has come now. Time for her to be tamed, to learn the rules, to be where she belongs. Beside me. Now the time has come for her to be mine. Because I, Duncan De Sylvano, am ready to hunt for my queen.' *** Cassandra Brooks has spent most of her life by paying her alcoholic mother's debts, with only one dream that one day she would be away from her disarranged family and become an independent woman. And after years, she was the woman she always wanted to be. Strong, fiery, wild, and a thriving model. The beauty who never fails to get attention. Broken by her past beyond repair, love was never in her to do list. Until one night, she came face to face with a mysterious Italian. The dark aura of danger around the rugged man got her curious. And when an opportunity to enter the untouchable billionaire's life came, she didn't think twice to grab it. Her plan was simple: get the hunk and then move on. But little did she know that it was Duncan De Sylvano's empire, and no one entered his territory without his permission. So didn't she. Now that his prey was right where he wanted her, he was ready to hunt. And he wouldn't stop until she was tamed and… his. After all, he has waited for years… *** Book two of 'Obsessive Billionaires' series The books of the series can be read as standalone.