Fleeting Times

From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes comes a sexy standalone novel about a billionaire and the indecent proposal he gives the local barista. Billionaire CEO Jackson Weathers needs a family for a PR boost, and I've signed a contract agreeing to give him one. A doting girlfriend in public. A wedding ceremony to invite all the socialites to. And finally, a baby for him to parade around, to show he's really a wholesome, down-to-Earth man. I've tried to remain cynical about it. He's going to make all my dreams come true. So what if it's supposed to be a loveless marriage? Only, his tenderness in private has me hooked. The way he kisses me drives me wild. When we make love, I lose myself to him. His body feels like it was meant to be on top of mine, like we fit together like two puzzle pieces. I can't help but begin to fall for him. I can't tell him, or I risk losing everything. And nobody else can find out about our little "arrangement" or it will destroy his reputation. Still, I feel like I have to know how he feels, before the marriage, before the baby, before I give my entire life over to him. Is it still just pretend?

Amanda was loved by everyone. She was brainy, smart and what's more very good at sports. Her dream was to become a top shot scientist and to achieve that, Amanda knew she had to work towards it. Her parents were her world, she looked up to them for everything. She couldn't quite imagine how lucky she was to have parents like that. They gave her everything she needed and supported her in her dreams and aspirations. Then tragedy struck. A once happy family, bounded by love was severely ruined. Amanda's parents died in a plane crash on their way to an event. At that moment, Amanda knew her life was coming to an end. For several weeks, the star girl was out of school, battling with her mental health. The only succour she had in those trying times were her friends, Emily and Leslie. Gradually, Amanda's life began to take shape again but yet, she knew nothing would ever remain the same. Like a beam of light, under the darkness, Parker came her way. At first, he resulted to bullying her, thinking he could oppress her as a result of the jealousy he had towards her being the school's star girl and all. At the end, he realized that what he felt for her wasn't hatred but love and it was evident in the fact that he found himself being drawn towards her. Amanda, thinking it was all a lie avoided him like the plague. She didn't believe she loved him but yet, there was a nagging feeling within her that he was something more than that. Till then, she was determined to keep her feelings for him in check until they just faded away. But one thing she failed to realize was that true love never dies.

"Really? You've already had sex with that low-life girl? I thought you said you loved me?" "Language please. You're my father's wife. And that low life is now my wife and I won't have you–" Angelica suddenly removed her clothes and got naked in front of him. Reggie saw it and immediately closed his eyes. "Please put on your clothes, I'm a married man now." Reggie still had his eyes closed. He tried to resist her touch but eventually, he gave in without the knowledge that she was recording their sounds & actions. *********** Maya, a poor girl [illiterate] from the streets of New York City, gets married to Reggie Smith, the CEO of Smith's corporations. At first, it started as a game for Reggie. His only purpose was to use Maya to get back at his ex-girlfriend, Angelica, for getting married to his father. Then he slowly falls in love with Maya who has always loved him with her life. Marriage wasn't a bed of roses to the naive young girl as Reggie's ex-girlfriend kept getting in the way of their marriage. Tacky? No problem, money would change that! Timid and Used? No worries, time to change into a stunning high class lady. Weak and bullied? It's fine, I'd rise 10 times bigger and better! Will she find out about her husband's affair with his father's wife? What will happen when Reggie's brother sets his eyes on Maya, without knowing she's his brother's wife?

The day that I divorced my third husband, the system told me that I had completely failed my mission. I had married three times in this world and they were all targets that were supposed to fall for me. But every single one of them chose to divorce me because of Wendy Somerfield. The system pitied me for doing my best for the past 30 years, so it asked me to target my son. It said that if my son could confidently choose me, between me and Wendy, then I could live. However, it was no exception that the son I gave birth to after 40 weeks of pregnancy chose Wendy, just like my three ex-husbands. They all even pinned the cause of Wendy's illness on me. My first husband, who was my childhood sweetheart, pretended to be softhearted, but he was actually ruthless. He actually tried to convince me to donate one of my kidneys to Wendy. My second husband, who I met on a blind date, used a scalpel to personally cut open my body. My third husband, who I fell in love with at first sight, even threatened me with my son. While spitting out blood from my mouth, I agreed to their requests with a smile. However, when they saw me being pushed out of the operating room, those people who turned their backs on me went crazy.

Making a contract with the demon is an eternal agreement. Even when your body had broken and shattered, and you were lifeless, your soul would still be bound by the chains in the deepest of hell. *** Aghya’s revenge — Felenia’s mother caused her to bond with the cruelest demon, Lucifer — The Fallen Angel. She became his bride. Lucifer tortured her body many times until she was on the verge of death. However, Felenia always remains in the same condition as before. She should have hated Lucifer because, thanks to the demon, she needs to go through the most painful experience in her life, which was the loss of all her family members. However, another feeling developed in her heart, feelings of love that Felenia shouldn’t have. However, is it love? *** “That’s my way of showing love to you, my bride. After all, the demon does not bow to humans and other creatures, not even to God. So, I hope you understand that.” ~Leoniel~ The Great Demon Lucifer.

People always say move on. But for Jessie, it's easier said than done. Memories of her past return to haunt her every night and she has no option but to endure the never ending agony in utter silence. But that doesn't stop her from dreaming of better times and working hard to live a normal life. With an amazing friend as a roommate and a steady job, everything seems perfect . . . until her arrogant boss wants her as his girlfriend. Mike is handsome, bossy and a little mysterious. He wants everything to be perfect and everyone to be under his control. But when his ex waltz back into his life, he is scared of losing everything that he has built over the years. Desperate to drive her away, he comes up with a plan, but that involves his perfect secretary. Things go perfectly, until they both realise they have feelings for each other that go beyond the work and definitely their little pretend-play. Will they be able to step out of their pasts and traumas and love each other? Or will that love be their ultimate downfall?

Every week, mt mate Alpha Bruce dragged a new side-chick into our bed. Right in front of me. They clawed at each other like I didn't exist. Each time felt like silver shredding through my chest, my wolf howling from the inside out. He did it to hurt me. On purpose. Over and over. Using their bodies to spit on what we used to be. Then came our ten-year anniversary banquet. He waltzed in with his side-piece—Moye. Five years he'd been screwing her. She wore my heels. My custom gown. Even the mate ring and necklace I once thought meant forever. Bruce stood there, smirking in front of the whole pack. "Don't like what she's wearing? Strip yours and hand it over. And don't bother coming to my bed tonight—she's a hundred times better." The room howled with laughter. I was the punchline. But I stood up, met his eyes, and said, "I want to break the bond." He snorted. "You've said that, what, a hundred times? I'm over it. You begged me to mark you, remember? Gave up your pride for that Luna crown." More laughter. But what none of them saw coming? This time, I was done. Done with him. Done with the Luna title. Done chasing something dead. I was ready to sever the mate bond—for real.

This book is loosely based on a true story. ‘You will fall in love many times in your life. But the best one will be falling in love with your best friend.’ When Blaze's world falls apart, it's only natural that she turns to Fabien ‘Fab’ Lévy, an old roommate, for support. They had become close friends eight years ago while dancing for the same company. Seeing him turns her world upside down. He’s now sexier than before, and so perfect… But even so, she will never have sex with him! Well, never is such a definitive word… Maybe just once… One steamy night… and that’s it! Fabien has always loved Blaze Autumn Bergdahl, and always wanted her. But she always so him as her best friend. Life pushed them in different directions, and now, after eight years, she's on his Paris doorstep, needing a place to stay… She's just as hot, and as gorgeous as ever and Fabien wants her just as much. Is this their chance to be finally together? Is it possible for a man and a woman to be just… good friends even if one of them is totally in love? Can she throw away the best sex and the best friend she's ever had for a handful of illusions?

Alpha Ethan's first love, Sarah, died unexpectedly just days before their marking ceremony. His grief was so profound, it sent shockwaves through the entire Duskrend pack. I spent my youth walking beside him, helping him crawl out of that darkness. And finally, when he was ready to love again, he chose to mark me. In the first two years after he marked me, I got pregnant twice. Both times ended in miscarriage. Ethan, heart aching, told me he couldn't bear to see me suffer through childbirth again. That he didn't want me to endure that kind of pain anymore. But in the third year, I conceived again. On the way to see the pack healer for a routine checkup, I was attacked by a wild beast. My wolf, desperate to protect me, burned through most of her life force holding the creature off. Ethan arrived just in time and carried me to the pack hospital himself. But the healer shook his head. We had lost too much time. The pup couldn't be saved. Worse, my ability to bear pups would be permanently damaged because my wolf was too injured to ever carry life again. My mother clung to me, sobbing. Ethan stood in the corner and smiled. "Joy just can't have pups anymore," he said. "But Sarah—Sarah lost her life because of people like you." Then he looked at my mother, his voice edged with contempt. "You were the one who forced Sarah to abort. You watched her—an Omega without a wolf—scream herself to death. So now, your daughter shall feel that pain too." Five years after severing our mate bond, Ethan had become the most powerful Lycan Chairman the region had ever seen—courted, admired, endlessly celebrated. And me? I was working at an underground club. I was dressed in scraps of fabric, smiling until my cheeks ached, bowing and pouring drinks for whoever walked into the VIP room. There shouldn't have been any reason for our paths to cross again. But Ethan held me tight, eyes red and refusing to let go— “Say it,” he whispered, voice breaking. “Call me your mate.”

R18 Helen Zachary’s life had always been tranquil and quiet, until one fateful windy evening. She was on her way to her boyfriend’s place to surprise him for his birthday when an unexpected event occurred. She found a young man covered in blood on the road. Helen wanted to help him, so she stepped out of her car and approached him, only to discover that it was a trap. He had pretended to be lifeless so as to make her feel pity for him. Helen was battered by the young man that night, and his companion raped her. Anger was the theme of the day, and she pledged to exact vengeance on the young man, known as Steven Alfredo, a Mafia boss. Steven had just escaped from prison, and he takes delight in seeing others suffer, but after meeting Helen for numerous times, he resolved to be a different person. ‘However, what happens when Helen confuses Steven’s twin brother for Steven? And if his twin falls for her, will she reciprocate the feelings and abandon her plans to exact revenge on Steven?’ ‘And what happens if Steven also falls for her? Who would Helen choose? Steven, his brother or her boyfriend?’