Fruits Basket Kisses

On the day before New Year's Eve, I didn't shut the window all the way, and my little sister sneezed. My parents kicked me out and ordered me to collect firewood in the dark. Inside, the family crowded around her, laughing as they handed her presents. I didn't cry or make a scene. Instead, I slung the basket onto my back before heading into the mountains through the wind and snow. I didn't find any firewood. I found a man instead. His leg was wedged in a crack between rocks, bloody enough to scare me. When he saw me, he said in a hoarse voice, "Get me out of here, girl. I can give you whatever you want." I looked up at him, my eyes finally focusing. "Really? Then I want you to be my dad."

On a bunk bed that's installed in the back of the truck, my husband, Dylan Gallagher, kisses me passionately while groping me incessantly. "Honey, I'm definitely taking you with me to work all the time." I can only squirm awkwardly beneath him. "B-Be gentle with me, geez…" Then, I look in the direction of the top bunk, where a certain someone is spying on us from behind the bed…

Even before marrying Wayne Cooper, I knew he had a fierce sister-in-law. He would always tell me to never get into a fight with her. After we marry, we spend Christmas Eve at his parents' house for the first time. I'm forced to bustle around in the kitchen as I prepare a feast for over a dozen people. Meanwhile, Wayne's family lounges in the living room. They chatter away while enjoying the fruits I've washed and sliced. As I place the last dish on the table, Wayne's brother and sister-in-law, Kyle Cooper and Lucy Wren, arrive. When I want to take my seat, I discover there isn't one for me. That's when Lucy snorts and says sarcastically, "I heard you're a good wife who's obedient and easygoing, Melanie. I have to say that your cooking is… mediocre, though." This infuriates me. I'm about to retort when she turns to my mother-in-law. She says, "I think you should do the cooking from now on, Gloria. Your food is delicious…"

“You’re marrying her tomorrow,” Jade said softly. He leaned closer. “You’re the only one I’ll ever make exceptions for….” “You think he loves you?” he spits. “He’s engaged to Amara Quinn. Written in blood and money.” **** Jade Miller has always lived in her sister’s shadow. Scarlett is perfect. Jade is the extra. The invisible one. Until the night she kisses Scarlett’s powerful fiancé, Kain Wolf. It was supposed to be revenge. A distraction. A way to feel seen. But Kain doesn’t kiss back to play. He kisses like a man who claims. And in front of the world, he does the unthinkable: He makes Jade his bride. Except at the altar, Jade learns the cruel truth. She isn’t the bride. She’s the substitute. Now trapped in Kain’s ruthless world of power, secrets, and obsession, Jade must choose: stay the pawn her sister always thought she was or rewrite the rules and take the king for herself. Because in this game of love and betrayal… pawns don’t just play. They conquer with charm.

Genenvieve has always been in love with Daniel, her father's best friend. On her 18th birthday, she kisses him, and is immediately rejected by him. After that, Genevieve never heard from him again. Two years pass, and Daniel has an incredible night with a mysterious woman. He couldn't imagine that this woman was Genevieve, his best friend's daughter...

I'd been bonded to my mate, Brandon Blackstone, the Alpha heir of the Blackstone pack, for three years. But I'd never been allowed to attend his family dinners. Every full moon, I could only stay home alone. Brandon said it was a centuries-old tradition of the Blackstone pack. Only after passing a long probationary period, proving absolute loyalty to the pack and one's mate, would someone be allowed to attend the Alpha's family dinners. I'd believed him for three whole years. But now, I'd found three photos in his car. In the background, I could see a long table laden with a variety of fruits and delectable dishes. The Alpha and Luna raised their glasses beside the statue of the Moon Goddess, standing quietly to the side. And beside Brandon stood a beautiful she-wolf. Moonlight spilled down, and I could clearly see how close they were standing, their fingers tightly interlaced. That was when I finally understood. Not being allowed to attend the dinners was never about some probationary period. It was because Brandon, or rather the entire Blackstone pack, believed that the person qualified to stand beside the future Alpha would never be me.

“W-what a-re you...what are y-you doing?” She stutters as he pulls her even closer to him. Balancing herself, she puts her hands on his shoulders while looking up at him as he smirks seeing how flustered she looks but he doesn't miss the fear in those grey eyes that leave him speechless everytime he looks at them. “I'll come back for you.” He said. Lisa can't even respond as he kisses her, she kisses him back but pulls away almost immediately, she pushes him away. She can't believe she just kissed another man who isn't James in their home. She doesn't even know him. He smirks and grazes his finger on his lips while looking at her. “Next time I kiss you, you won't be pulling back.”

“Eve,” he called, placing wet inhumane kisses on my neck as his strong but warm hands held my tiny waist. I closed my eyes. "Yes...sir?" I moaned helplessly, feeling the harsh tingles in between my legs. "Eve," he called again, trailing wet kisses towards my ear. "Ad....Adrian," I breathed. "What am I doing?" he asked, nibbling my ear lobe. "Touching....touching me?" "I shouldn't be touching you," he said, exploring my neck like a thirsty vampire. "I....i want you to," I stuttered shamelessly. He wrapped my neck with his hand, choking me slightly. Oh, heavens. "My son is crazy about you," he said, gripping me tightly. "I don't want him," I whispered, taking in his wicked kisses on my neck. "You should. And.......I have a wife." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a devastating night that left her wealthy parents dead, twenty-year-old college freshman Evelyn (Eve) Millers, a fairytale enthusiast, found herself fleeing for her life. Just when hope seemed lost, she was rescued by the charming Mario Morelli, a classmate she had previously turned down. He eliminated her pursuers and revealed his connections to a powerful mafia family. Mario whisked her away to his family’s mansion, where she met his intriguing relatives and quickly fell for his magnetic father, Don Adrian Morelli—the dangerous and handsome head of the Morelli mafia. Eve’s life was about to take a thrilling turn, mixing danger with undeniable attraction.

“I think we should introduce ourselves properly,” he said, with a small hint of a smile. “I’m Alexander Anderson. Richard’s father.” I froze, unable to think properly. This couldn't be happening. I had kissed my father-in-law and I had actually enjoyed it! *** Anna Whitmore thought marrying into the powerful Anderson family would save her family from ruin and give her a better life. Instead, it became the beginning of her nightmare. Stuck in an abusive marriage she could not escape, Anna is forced to play the role of a perfect trophy wife to Richard Anderson, the hottest and most powerful billionaire tycoon in Beverly Hills. But everything changed after an accidental encounter with a mysterious stranger who ignites desires she thought were long dead and buried. But this mysterious stranger turns out to be none other than her husband's father... Alexander Anderson. This is the beginning of Anna's troubles as she soon realizes that the best fruits are always forbidden. Will Anna hold strong and resist the dark allure of the man she should never want… or will she surrender to a temptation that could ruin both father and son?

The new intern always claimed to have the company’s best interests at heart, but her actions told a different story. To cut costs, she secretly swapped the two-thousand-dollar gift basket I had prepared for a client with a knockoff version she bought online for just two dollars, shipping included. During a critical overtime session, she turned off the power to save on electricity. Then, she boldly suggested canceling the company’s annual holiday leave. With a self-righteous expression, she declared, “The company doesn’t support freeloaders. I believe the holiday season is the perfect time to boost sales. I propose everyone work unpaid overtime and dedicate themselves selflessly to the company!” While the employees grumbled in frustration, I stepped up to refute her absurd suggestion and spoke out on behalf of the team. But instead of backing down, she accused me of embezzlement in front of everyone and recommended to the boss that I be fired. The shocking part? The boss agreed. Fine. If that was how they wanted it, I couldn’t wait to see how the company would function without me.