Falling Away Penelope Douglas Novels & Stories

I suffered critical injuries that left me in a persistent vegetative state when I tried to rescue my wife, Regina Livingston, from her abductors. Regina spares no expense, spending millions of dollars to bring in the best medical experts in the country to treat me. She watches over me every single night, never weary of caring for me. Four years into my coma, I overhear a conversation between Richard Sutherland—a man I don't know—and Regina. "You've done all you can, Regina," he says. "You don't owe him anything anymore." Regina remains silent. Then, a young boy, Franklin Sutherland, suddenly asks, "Mommy, why do you always visit this man? Who is he?" I'm instantly shocked. Regina and I don't have a child together. I'm completely bewildered, and just as I try to figure it out, I suddenly wake up from my coma.

At our wedding ceremony, the four-year-old nephew of my fiance, Michael Thompson, suddenly rushes onto the stage. He grabs his uncle's hand and cries, "Daddy, why are you marrying another woman? Don't you want me and Mommy anymore?" Seeing this, Lisa Jenner quickly runs over to intervene. She sounds apologetic, but her words are slightly provocative. "I'm so sorry, Sarah. Danny lost his father when he was little and has always seen Michael as his dad. He didn't mean to cause trouble." Even Michael remains completely calm as he picks up Danny. He explains to me, "Before David passed away, he made me promise to take care of his widow and child. I only let Danny call me 'Daddy' so he could have a normal childhood. You understand, right?" As I look at the three of them, standing there like the perfect family, I laugh coldly and rip off my veil. "This poor child has been through so much. How could I possibly steal his dad away? "You know what? Why don't I just let Lisa take my place up here? Then you can have your happy little family of three."

When Alex Kincaid first sees Melody Jansen, he knew he was going to have her but what happens when the next time he sees her, she’s roaming the streets of Vegas in a wedding dress?

I had given up the Luna position six times for Silas Blackthorn. The first time, I shattered every moonstone lamp in the master bedroom and threw his clothes into the rain. The second time, I cried until my wolf went hoarse, asking him why I had to be the one who stepped aside. The third time, I begged him to leave at least one suitcase behind, because I was terrified he would never come back. By the fifth time, I had learned to fold his coats, pack his luggage, and stay silent so he would not get angry. Every time, he kissed my forehead and promised, “Seven days. Then everything goes back to normal.” And every time, I believed him. Until the sixth time. This time, when Silas handed me the document and asked me to step aside again, I signed without crying. He thought it was another temporary Luna authorization form. He did not know it was the mate bond release agreement. Seven days later, while he waited for me to return to the main house and reclaim my title, the bond between us broke. And by then, I had already left Blackthorn territory for good.

Meera Gupta, daughter of Niyati and Manish is an architect who comes back to India, after a long interval to visit her ailing grandfather, Prithviraj, whom she is most attached to. Her grandfather's last wish is getting her married and even though Meera is commitment phobic she knew she couldn't rest without fulfilling her grandfather's last wish. Arjun, son of Shantanu and Pratibha Goenka is a young man, working with his father and brothers for Goenka Constructions. He isn't ready for marriage, especially not arranged as he considers all the girls considered for his marriage to be immature and materialistic. The real fact is also that he isn't ready for marriage owing to the baggage from his past. Arjun's younger brother is Aakash is married to Divya who is Meera's cousin and confidante. To make matters worse for Arjun and Meera, Shantanu gives his word to Prithviraj to ensure that Arjun and Meera are married. To headstrong characters, who aren't ready for marriage are woven into a relationship, will they ever fall in love? Is love the only thing you need to make a marriage work?

One immigration application ended my marriage— and erased me from my husband’s world forever. I was Arabella Ashford— the wife of the man everyone wanted to marry. An Italian mafia heir—Born into power, wealth, and fear. A bloodline successor watched by international law enforcement, forbidden to cross borders, permanently barred from U.S. territory. They said he adored me— built me a private estate so I’d never hear the city, sent me flowers for no reason, just to make me smile, remembered every little thing I liked, every habit and quirk, No one saw the truth. And while the world called him perfect— he was putting another woman in my place, and another life in her womb. So I made my choice. I filed for permanent residency overseas. With that one signature, I erased myself from his world. From that moment on, he would never find me again. This was the price of his betrayal. He didn’t realize I was losing him that day. When he discovered the woman he betrayed was already beyond his reach. That was when he lost everything. He gave up his position. Walked away from his inheritance. Turned his back on a throne men would kill for— all to cross an ocean he was never allowed to enter.

I spent eighteen years peacefully in the protective arms of my father until I went to college. I met him, a bad boy who was both evil and unruly and warm and gentle. That's how I feel about him. He is my hot love, it was in heartbreaking pain to know he was cheating. The emotions of my first love make me remember it forever. He used to know a lot of girls, I was just one of them. I think he is my love. He just saw me as a bet with his friends. When I suffered, I was desperate, I leave him. He ran up to me again and told me he really loved me. Will it be he, love belongs to me or just a game of a bad boy in school.

I'd been married to my vampire husband for three years, and he had always cherished me like a treasure. He held me close every night before I went to sleep. He never let go of my hand when we went out. He worried, always, that I might get hurt. A common cold was enough to make him cancel everything and stay up all night beside me. James told me no one in the world mattered more to him than I did. Everyone said he loved me to pieces. I believed it too. Until the day of the ceremony — the night he was supposed to turn me into a vampire. A woman who should have been dead walked back into his life. She had my face, tear-streaked, calling his name in a small voice. That was when I understood. I'd only ever been the stand-in for the woman he couldn't let go of. My stubbornness, my refusal to give up — all of it broke under the disappointment that kept piling up. So I gave up on him for good. I decided to keep our child to myself, and disappear from his world without a word. But later, he came back. Down on his knees, again and again, begging me to come home.

She runs into a man's private room as she's being chased down by someone, and she becomes his cure. After a night of passion, she stabs the man in the chest without hesitation before fleeing. Unexpectedly, the man becomes addicted to her and chases her all the way to Jipsfort. He pulls all sorts of tricks to lure her into his trap of lust. "What is it about me that attracts you so, Xavier?" Quinn Jowell asks. Xavier Patterson answers, "Your beautiful eyes, dainty nose, slender waist, and the way you look underneath me…" "You just want to get into my pants. Let's break up." He pulls her into his arms and seals her lips with his. "Over my dead body. Don't even dream about breaking up with me in your next lifetime, let alone this one." Everyone says that Xavier, the heir of the Patterson family, isn't interested in women. Quinn, whose legs are trembling, looks at Xavier while he lies in bed, looking sated. She can't help but think everyone is blind. Xavier is nothing but a monster who can never get his fill of her!

Aurora Valentino has spent her entire life in a gilded cage as she's the daughter of Marcello Valentino. A powerful mafia boss. Every step is watched, every move controlled, until she dares to slip away from her guards and taste a moment of freedom. That’s when she meets him. Luca Di Domenico. A dangerously handsome stranger whose dark, magnetic eyes promise trouble…and deliver sin. One night in his arms ignites a fire in her she never knew existed—his fiery kisses, his demanding touch, his ruthless passion. It was supposed to be nothing more than a stolen night. But fate keeps throwing them together, and soon Luca becomes the only man who makes her feel alive, fearless, and free. With him, she discovers her own strength and her darkest desires. But the truth shatters everything. Aurora is pregnant. And the man she’s fallen for, the man she’s given her body and heart to—is her father’s greatest rival and sworn enemy. If her father learns the truth, it could cost Aurora her life. But once Luca discovers who she really is…will he claim her or destroy her? *** Warning: This book is rated +18.** It is a box set of short spicy dark mafia romances that includes themes of enemies to lovers, forced marriage, and surprise pregnancy. The story features several violent scenes, as well as explicit and rough intimate nature. Please read this book only if you are comfortable with such content. Each book in this series is a standalone novel with no cliffhangers...