Expensive Artinya

Giulia Cavalieri grew up running from the mafia, and she always knew that one day they would find her. Fruit of a forbidden marriage between his mother, sister of a capo from Chicago, and a member of the Russian mafia, sealed his fate, and aroused the fury of the Villani family. Five years ago Giulia was entrusted to the care of the same hands that welcomed her mother, when she had nowhere to run, in the care of the sisters of a small convent a few kilometers from Rome. Now, about to complete adulthood she is awakened with gunshots in the middle of the night, and tries to escape, even knowing that it is impossible to escape from Michael Villani. Michael knew that the marriage between his parents was an arrangement, which is very common in the mafia, but what he never imagined was that his father had loved Donatella Cavalieri all his life. On his deathbed, Erico makes a last request to him, who claims Giulia, and ensures that she stays under his protection as his wife. All Giulia wanted was an ordinary life, studying, traveling, knowing the world. Among Michael’s goals, marriage would appear, and he was very happy with Carolyn, his mistress. But an agreement must be made in the name of peace between men of honor. Kept in a property and watched constantly, Giulia sees little of her future husband, until the night of her eighteenth birthday, when the engagement would be announced. When Michael kisses her, after putting the expensive ring on her finger, a spark ignites between them, in acombination of attraction and repulsion. Two sides of a story that had a tragic outcome that can either hate each other all their lives, or allow themselves to live an overwhelming love story.

The most powerful Godfather in the mafia underworld—Dante Costello—had an expensive diamond signet ring custom-made to fit my finger perfectly and sent straight to our home. He said that whoever could wear the ring would become the lady of his family. The Monroe family had long since fallen from grace. All that remained were four women. On ordinary days, we fought endlessly, tearing each other apart. Every single one of us wanted to marry Dante because marrying him meant preserving a life of dignity and comfort. In the first life, the fake heiress, Blair, secretly had the ring resized smaller and married into the family. Dante took one look at her, then had her thrown into the river to drown. “Not her.” In the second life, my cousin, Chloe, underwent plastic surgery to alter her fingers and force the ring on. Dante gifted her a staged car accident. “Still not her.” In the third life, my stepmother, Catherine, clenched her teeth and forced the ring onto her finger. Her blood hadn’t even dried when she married Dante. He coldly slashed her face, then locked her in the basement, where she slowly wasted away until death. By the fourth life, all three of them were terrified. None of them dared to marry him anymore, so they hurriedly pushed me forward instead. I put on the ring. This time, the size was perfect. Just when I thought my good days had finally begun, Dante stabbed me to death on our wedding night, his eyes burning red with madness. After my rebirth, the consigliere of the Dante family delivered the ring once again. This time, all four of us avoided it like the plague.

I bought expensive red lingerie to save my marriage. When I got home on Christmas Eve, I found my husband on his knees with his face buried between another man's legs. I ran. Bought a plane ticket to anywhere. Ended up crying in the airplane bathroom where the most gorgeous man I've ever seen found me. One thing led to another, and he bent me over that sink and gave me the best sex of my life. Turns out he's Knox Volkov. The Lycan King. My husband's boss. The most powerful and ruthless alpha alive. When we landed, he looked me dead in the eye and said he had a proposition for me. One that would let me get revenge on my cheating husband while experiencing pleasure I never knew existed. The catch? Be his fake girlfriend for one week at the Christmas Summit. For seven days, I'd be completely his. I should have said no. But I was hurt and angry and desperate to feel wanted again. So I said yes. But on one condition—he has to make me come every single time. He agreed with a wicked smile. But what happens when the fake starts feeling real? When I'm falling for a man who's sworn he'll never love or take a mate again? When his rules are no emotions, no strings, no forever—but my heart doesn't care about his rules? What happens when the seven days end and he's supposed to let me go? TRADING MY CHEATING HUSBAND FOR THE LYCAN KING (18+) WARNING: THIS IS A CHRISTMAS EROTICA WITH SO MUCH SMUT AND JUST ENOUGH PLOT. GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

"I’m not angry," he said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "I’m focused." "On what?" He walked toward her, and for the first time, Giovanni felt her wolf howl in warning. She backed up until her heels hit the edge of the massive bed. "On the reason you’re here," he said. He reached out, his hand wrapping around her throat—not to choke her, but to force her to look at him. "Do you have any idea what you’re worth to me, Giovanni?" "I... I love you, Russell. I’ll be the best Luna I can—" "I don't need a Luna," he interrupted, his face inches from hers. His breath smelled of expensive bourbon. "I need an heir. A strong, Alpha-blooded heir to secure my legacy against my brother and the council." "And we’ll have one," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears of relief. "We’ll have a family." Russell let out a dark, chilling chuckle. He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers, but there was no heat, only ice. "You don't get it, do you? You’re not a queen, Giovanni. You’re a vessel. And tonight, I’m going to fill you." He shoved her back onto the bed, his weight following her down instantly. He pinned her wrists above her head with one hand, his eyes flashing that terrifying, predatory gold. "Wait," she gasped, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Russell, please, let’s just slow down..."

On Emily's birthday, her father, Mr. Albert, didn't celebrate with her and her mother. Instead he went to celebrate his ex-girlfriend's son's birthday. He bought expensive gifts for them, but her daughter got nothing but heartbreak. Emily was suffering from the worst brain tumor. She has been on drugs since she turned two. When Albert's ex-girlfriend showed up with a boy, he felt happy and proud to have a living child. Because to him, Emily is just a waste of space. A disturbance to his life and finances. Deep down, he wanted her to die quickly so he would stop spending his money on drugs. He accused his wife, Jennifer, of cheating on him. That his sperm can never produce a problem child—a living dead child. One fateful morning, a day Jennifer went to deliver a cake to the CEO of a bankrupting company. There, right in his office, she made a prediction that turned the man into a multibillionaire. "Marry me, Jennifer, and I will make you the richest woman in the world." The man said with one knee on the ground while presenting a diamond ring before her. "I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm married with a child, and I love my husband," she said and got home only to receive a divorce paper. "Sign this paper and leave with your sick daughter if you don't want me to marry a second wife." "Wow, you just made it easy for me. I don't even need you anymore." She signed it and left with reckless abandon. Will Albert regret his actions? Was he actually the father of his ex-girlfriend's son? Most importantly, will Emily survive? Join me and find out for yourself.

Zara Mensah did not walk into WolfeGroup Holdings looking for love. She walked in looking for a fight. Her contract had been cancelled without warning, her money was on the line, and she had sixteen days to fix everything before her business collapsed around her. She was prepared for corporate stonewalling. She was prepared for lawyers and fine print and men in expensive suits who thought small business owners could be brushed aside without consequence. She was not prepared for Damien Wolfe. Cold. Controlled. Devastatingly attractive in the way that dangerous things always are. He gave her everything she asked for in under ten minutes and then offered her a year-long contract she had no rational reason to refuse. She told herself it was just good business. She told herself the way he looked at her meant nothing. She told herself the strange warmth she felt every time he was near her was just nerves. She was wrong about all of it. Damien has spent six years building walls around himself so high that even his own pack stopped trying to reach him. He lost someone once. He blamed himself. He decided he was done. Then Zara walked through his door and the mate bond he never wanted snapped into place before he could stop it. Now he is caught between what he feels and what he swore he would never feel again. Between a woman who deserves the full truth and a secret that could change everything she thinks she knows. Between the pack demanding he step up and a council meeting that is coming whether he is ready or not. And in the shadows, a man named Victor Graves is watching all of it with a smile that does not reach his eyes, waiting for the perfect time

Three months before my wedding, I found my fiancé buried deep inside my maid of honor. ​I gave Leo five years of my life. I ironed his shirts, managed his stress, and sacrificed my own dreams to build our perfect future. My reward? Standing in the doorway of our bedroom, listening to him call me "boring" while he ruined our bed with my best friend. ​Shattered, humiliated, and completely alone, I ran out into the freezing, torrential rain with nothing but the clothes on my back. I thought my life was over. I thought I had hit rock bottom. ​Until a massive black umbrella blocked out the storm, and a heavy, expensive suit jacket was draped over my trembling shoulders. ​Alexander. Leo’s incredibly wealthy, terrifyingly ruthless Godfather. ​He is older. Untouchable. The most feared man in the city and the patriarch who controls Leo’s entire inheritance. He is the ultimate forbidden fruit. ​He didn't look at me with pity as I sat bleeding and broken on the pavement. He looked at me with a dark, consuming hunger that made my breath hitch. Kneeling in the wet street, he wiped a tear from my jaw and whispered a promise that would change my life forever: ​"Tell me who did this to you, and I will ruin his life by morning." ​I only wanted a place to dry off. I only wanted a little bit of revenge. I never meant to let him back me against the marble counters of his penthouse. I never meant to crave his rough hands, his possessive growls, or the intoxicating danger of his bed. ​If Leo’s family finds out, it will destroy Alexander’s empire. ​But once the Godfather claims you... there is no going back.

Three years ago, Venessa's husband, Marcus, married her to take revenge on his rich brother, Oren Weiss, who had an obsessive crush on Venessa. Now three years later, Venessa is stuck with a deadbeat husband and she just discovered that he is on a romantic vacation with another woman after she borrowed a substantial loan to fund his dying business. Deeply heartbroken and in desperate need for emotional support, she calls her best friend, Bianca, who suggests to meet her at the city's most luxurious bar. As Venessa waits for her friend inside the expensive bar reserved for elite rich, she finds herself in the company of an incredibly charming and most handsome stranger her eyes has ever gazed at. Oren Weiss also seems to treat her better than any man ever has. Drunk and eager to rid herself of the heart wrenching stress, she ends up having a night of passion with the irresistibly gorgeous man. A week later, Venessa realizes that she is pregnant with the strangers child. She decides to keep it a secret and escorts her husband to his family's reunion. She is utterly shocked to see the dazzlingly handsome stranger met at the bar, Oren Weiss, among the members of Wessington family. Turns out that her one-night-stand is her husband's filthy rich mafia brother, who inherited his father's entire fortune and wisely multiplied it through strategic dealings. Oren Weiss has returned to the city more powerful than ever before. He has had fantasies about Venessa, the girl he desired since childhood, every night and day of his life. He has returned to reclaim her from his envious brother, and he will use every twisted, ruthless and stupefying means to end the crumbling marriage and take the woman he has always wanted.

Manhattan was doing that thing again twinkling like it had all the answers, when really it just had expensive lighting. Alexander Knight leaned against the glass wall of his penthouse, seventy-five floors up, watching the city hum below him. Bourbon in one hand (mostly untouched), phone in the other. The merger docs stared back at him from the screen, but the part that actually kept him up at night wasn’t the billions on the line. It was the fine print from the Japanese investors: “Family stability preferred.” Translation: get a wife, look settled, or watch the whole deal slip away. He exhaled, fogging the window for a second before it cleared. His assistant had already sent over a neat little list of “suitable” women—discreet, polished, zero drama. Women who understood arrangements. He hadn’t even opened the attachments. Because something about the whole thing felt… hollow. His gaze drifted down, past the grid of lights, to the tiny café on the corner. Golden glow spilling onto the sidewalk, handwritten sign in the window: Local Artist Pop-Up – One Night Only. A woman stood in front of a canvas, head tilted, paint-smudged shirt slipping off one shoulder. She was talking to someone out of view, laughing softly, then stepped back to study her work like it had personally offended her. She glanced up—straight toward his building, straight at him somehow, even though there was no way she could see him up here. But for a split second, their eyes locked across the impossible distance. But right then, with the whole damn city glittering between them, he had this ridiculous, unshakable thought: She’s the one I’m going to ask. And hell help them both when she says yes.

For years, no one had been able to activate the last dragon's heart. No one except a poor young thief. ___ She only had one job–stealing a precious stone. Yet it landed her with an overbearing dragon. ___ Locked and chained, Scar suddenly awakened when his heart palpitated for the first time in decades, coming face to face with a young girl cradling his heart. In his vengeful attempt to get it back, they activate the spell binding him to her. Now not only was his heart stolen, but he was also enslaved. Scar vowed to kill the girl once the bond was broken. The only problem is no one had ever successfully broken a dragon bond, nor would it allow him to harm its new master. ___ "Oh... um ... sorry. I didn't mean to…um.. pry. I'm... gonna go now." I stuttered, inching backward from his penetrating gaze, glancing around for a way out. "I don't know who you're, but I do know you're not here willingly. Seeing as you're chained and all." Silence. "How about I set you free, and in return, you get us out of here?" Silence. Maybe he couldn't talk, so I did the only thing I could. Grabbing the keys, I fumbled with the heavy chains of his cage. His gaze finally shifted to the wooden box I dropped on the floor. "Fancy, isn't it?" I said. "I've never seen anything like it before. But then again, I'm not familiar with expensive stuff." A deep rumble rattled from his throat, freezing me in place. I glanced up at him wearily. "Run." And then he was charging towards me. ___ Tropes: Enemies to lovers. Hidden identity. Reverse harem. Betrayal. Revenge. Arranged marriage. Contract. Escape with pregnancy. Forced proximity. ___