Fireman Lift

At my lowest point that year, I took a job at a pet shop, where I was assigned to take care of a "gentle-tempered" silver-white Alaskan Malamute. Every time I went near him, he would lift his head and bury his nose against my chest, breathing in low, rough sounds that felt disturbingly like a grown man holding himself back. Especially when my hand brushed through his beautiful fur, his body would heat up, and his eyes would darken and burn with unmistakable possessiveness. Thinking he was sick, I rushed to find the shop owner. The owner gave me a long, meaningful glance. "He's not sick. But he only acts like this with you. "You need to bathe him, give him a full-body massage, and try giving him a little kiss. Otherwise, he might lose control." I had my doubts about the whole thing, but I didn't really have a choice. I went along with it anyway. Eventually, I told the friend who had gotten me this job everything that had been happening. After she heard me out, she went quiet for a second. Then, she looked at me strangely and said, "Have you ever thought that maybe you're not looking after a dog at all? What if he's actually a werewolf who can take human form, and he's in heat, using pheromones to mess with you because he wants to… You know, sleep with you?"

Catalina Ramirez has always been the subject of gossip on campus—labeled a playgirl not for what she did, but because of what people think they saw. When her long-distance boyfriend left for the Philippines, rumors flew that she cheated with her boy best friend, Aiden. What no one knew was that Aiden was simply protective of her, always by her side, never crossing the line. But to others, closeness easily looked like something more. With striking blue eyes as calm and deep as the ocean, Catalina doesn’t need to lift a finger to catch anyone’s attention. Her beauty is effortless, her voice captivating. As a member of a rising campus band, she sings with a passion that defies the quiet disapproval of her mother. Who has always tried to pull her away from music. Catalina feels it deep in her bones: her mother is hiding something from her, something about her past, something she’s not ready to confront. Then came Logan Axel Tyndall. At first, Catalina thought it was nothing but a harmless crush, an infatuation she’d get over in a week or two. She tried to laugh it off, but soon found herself stalking him, chasing after the way he walked, talked, and carried the world like he knew more than he let on. Before she knew it, she wasn’t just falling... she was drowning in him. But Logan wasn’t just another boy. He held the missing pieces of a puzzle she never knew she was trying to solve. Through him, secrets begin to unravel. Questions long buried rise to the surface.

Sadie: Unrequited love is a b*tch, isn't it? I have been in love with Alec for as long as I can remember, but he never felt the same way. To him, I was just his sister's annoying best friend. I was sure he'd be my mate, but the moon goddess played a cruel joke on me because Alec found his mate, and it wasn't me. I thought nothing could be worse than seeing the man you're in love with happy with someone else. I was wrong. It took just one night for my life to change. Everyone turned against me. I was shamed, shunned, and tortured for a crime I didn't commit. As if that wasn't enough, Alec banished me, a fate that was worse than death. With a broken heart and soul, I left, vowing never to cross paths with him again. Alec: With a curse hanging over my pack and time running out, I had my hands full. I thought nothing could be more difficult than trying to lift a f*cking curse but I was wrong. It wasn't as hard as trying to convince a woman you hurt deeply to forgive you. Sadie despises me and wants nothing to do with me or my pack. Not after the sh*t we put her through. I want a chance at redemption, but will she ever forgive me? Will she ever let go of the pain I put her through? Turns out the woman I cruelly mistreated is not only my second chance mate but also the key to breaking the curse.

"Please, don’t do this here” Donald cried, his white shorts were soiled. He trembled greatly and his breathing was ragged. “Donald, you stepped on toes. Toes which you couldn’t even bend over to buckle a shoe on it. The powers that be want to take a pound of their flesh” The man grabbed the blade and knelt on one knee. He caressed Donald's neck with his finger. “Don’t do this in front of my wife and kids. Let’s go elsewhere and talk” Donald sounded like he had resigned to his fate. “Any last word” The man ordered his men to lift Donald. “I don’t want to die like this, in front of my daughter” He whimpered. “If we wanted to kill you outside, it would have been easy. But we maneuvered our way through for a reason” the Man said, as he got up, and beckoned for a blade. ***************************************** In a world where crime rules, a world compromised by powers that be. A weak Alicia finds herself in such realms. The night her Dad is murdered is the beginning of her destiny. She is torn between two worlds; two twin brothers who are crime lords. Making a decision is difficult as she is only in the lowest chain of power. Weak, confused, and dejected, she must rise to the occasion. Vengeance, Sex, betrayal, and death are the order of the day. Alicia is faced with two twins who seek to kill each other. Will she ignite emotions in the very one who denied the existence of love? Watch out for "Taming His Big Monster"

The Mills Family Series BOOK 1- Her Accidental Billionaire Husband "With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride," The priest said and I felt my heart skip a beat. The guy came closer to me, with a bright smile. What is he trying to do? he wasn't supposed to lift the veil or even kiss me, I stared at him in confusion. He held the veil and gently lifted it off my face. His smile was suddenly replaced by a shocked expression, then he asked "Where is Zara?.... Where is my bride?" Rosaline Robinson agrees to marry an old man to save her mum's company. On the day of her wedding, she accidentally married the wrong person, who turned out to be Frederick Mills, the country's wealthiest billionaire. How did this happen? Will Frederick accept her as his wife? BOOK 2- Hailey and Victor's Love Story Hailey, Fredrick Mill's sister has been in love with Victor, Fredrick's assistant since the first day she set her eyes on him. But then, Victor never seems to notice. Hailey travels from New York to Sydney, Australia to finally make him notice her. Will she succeed? BOOK 3- THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE MILLS FAMILY Tina Mills, Ryan Mills and their cousin Ethan face various challenges as heirs to the Mills empire. Amidst all these, they get to explore various emotions and find love. But then, emotions can lead you to the wrong person, right?

Over the Fourth of July weekend, I took my boyfriend's sister to his flashy new influencer hub. Fresh off brain surgery, Benedetta Griffin needed a break from her recovery, and I hoped the trip would lift her spirits. In the hub, a streamer was hawking a face cream like a carnival barker. "Listen, fam! The boss lady is slashing prices. Get this $3,800 cream for just $398 today!" Benedetta tugged my sleeve. "That cream is bad news." She'd interned at the FDA last summer and could spot a scam from a mile away. "It's packed with steroids. Long-term use will ruin your skin." Driven by her sense of justice, she marched up to the streamer. "You can't sell this unlicensed junk. The steroids exceed legal limits. Pull it from the shelves." Morgan Lamb froze, but then her fake smile twisted into a scowl. "Who the hell are you to trash my product?" Benedetta didn't back down. "You're scamming people, and you know it." Morgan planted her hands on her hips. "I'm the boss lady here. How dare you slander my brand? Nobody leaves until you cough up $500,000 for damages." "Boss lady?" My stomach churned. My boyfriend's sudden venture into the streaming industry now made sense. He was sinking money into this hub to bankroll his lover. I fumbled for my phone to call him, but Morgan was faster. "Babe, get to the hub. Two haters crashed the party, trying to tank our business."

"Lift your hand," I said looking at how he held onto his bicep with a tight grip. "Let me take a look at the bullet wound." "No tesoro. I can do this myself," Vittore grumbled and I gave him incredulous look. "Don't start that bullshit with me Vittore. Remove your arm and let me help you or..." I trailed off, not able to say more. I was still in shock but I could do this. "Just... just let me help." "No." I glared at Vittore. "Why are you being so damn egotistic?! Let me help you! Do you know what it was like to find you like... and to..." I couldn't even get all the words out. "Let me help you. Please." Begging wasn't something I'd ever do but I just needed him to let me help him. "No-" "Why?!" I suddenly exploded. "Why won't you just let me help you?!" "Because I don't know how to handle it ok?!" Vittore suddenly exploded, his dark eyes glaring at me. "I don't know how to handle these... feelings. Fuck tesoro you drive me crazy! Don't you see that? You make me question everything I've ever known and... I can't..." I watched Vittore as his expression turned determined. "Fuck it." He leaned forward and pressed his lips on mine.

Two years ago, as a graduate of Werewolf Medical School, I volunteered to go to the most remote and poorest pack, as it had always been my dream to help werewolf patients in need. I heard from my teacher that the werewolves in the Rogue Pack were the poorest and that their living conditions were the worst. Most of the werewolves there were old and weak, so I volunteered to go to that pack as soon as I graduated. After I arrived, I helped them build an infirmary and even set up a blood station. Every year, I led them in voluntary blood donations. But one time—right after I had taken a short break following a blood donation—they turned on me. They slandered me, calling me a selfish and heartless healer. Worse still, they accused me of faking illness, claiming I was lying comfortably in bed while patients were dying—refusing to lift a finger to save them. Not only that, they stormed into the infirmary, seized all my herbs and equipment, and completely trashed the place I had built for them with my own hands. Recalling the days I had spent day and night healing them—only to see my infirmary destroyed and my dream shattered—I let out a bitter smile. I picked up the phone and called the dean of my home pack. "I'm ready to return," I said. "I want to serve the patients in our own pack." Then, without a trace of regret, I left that place behind. However, after I gave up, the whole pack regretted it and begged me to return.

Victor and I were nothing more than a pair of sworn enemies married inside the camp. He hated me for handing over my frail sister to the research institute, all so they could extract the antiviral serum from her blood. And I hated him for never seeing anyone but her, even in the apocalypse, when she could barely lift a metal rod. For the ten years of the apocalypse, the words we said to each other most often were, "Die a miserable death." … However, when the zombie horde finally broke through the last line of defense, he chained me to the modified mech truck and went out alone to face it. "Live…" I watched as the tide of corpses swallowed him whole, the crack of breaking bones mixing with the sound of flesh being torn apart. On the edge of death, he pulled out my sister's faded photo and placed it over the one clean spot on his chest. "This life is yours. But if there's a next one, don't go near her again." … That night, when I returned, I blew up the camp. When I opened my eyes again, I went to the zombie king. His razor-sharp claws closed around my throat, and I smiled as I took hold of his hand. "Let's make a deal. Give humans five more years, and I'll willingly be your queen." Last time, he gave his life to save me. This time, I'll be the monster—so they can all get what they want.

"You have two options, Mira," he whispers harshly, "sign the bloody papers or watch all you've worked for go up in smoke." I look up at him, trying to surpress my mounting anger. "I will have you know, Mr. Mason Lachlan, that I am not a pet that can just be bought." I lift my chin. "I will sign your contract, but I will never be yours. My body might be yours to do as you please, but that is all you ever get." His beautiful, smoky gray eyes narrow to slits. "I accept your challenge then. I will have you begging for my love at the end of two years. And I will very much enjoy rejecting you at the end." *** Often referred to as the Dark god of the business world, Mason Lachlan is the most powerful…and dangerous, personality in New York City. Arrogant, ruthless, dominant, and filthy rich, he loves his women like he loves his cars – fancy, eye catching and utterly disposable. But nothing is more dangerous than being wanted by this man. Once he sets his sights on something…or someone, he pursues it with unflinching determination. And he has his eyes on Mira Fernandez. He wants her with a burning passion that could rival Hades. A hostess by day, a stripper by night, and a thief by midnight, Mira is one stubborn young lady on a mission. What happens when she is not so keen on being the arm candy of New York's most eligible bachelor? What happens when a predator refuses to let go of his prey? She can run, but she cannot hide. She belongs to the Dark god now, a property of Mason Lachlan. His dangerous obsession might as well be her destruction.