Kissing Softly

“You mean nothing to me,” Andrew declared, his voice icy and final. My heart shattered with every word he uttered. My vision blurred with tears as our beautiful memories flooded my mind. We were in love, we were inseparable. So how did I become nothing to my husband? “Why…why would you say that?” I whispered, my lips trembling from the weight of disbelief. “You shameless cheat! I was bedridden, and you seized the chance to be with another man!” He snapped, his hand tightening around Anna's waist. My eyes darted to Anna, my best friend, “What did you tell him?” I asked, hoping this was all some misunderstanding. She smirked, “The truth.” “You were supposed to help me take care of him. I was going to tell him how I got the money for his treatment. Why would you lie?” I questioned as the feeling of betrayal stung. “Oh please,” she scoffed. “You expect him to believe someone paid you three hundred thousand dollars just to pretend to be their wife? You slept with him, Georgia. That’s cheating.” I staggered back, clutching my head as her words echoed through my mind like chaotic music on repeat. My mouth opened but no words came out. How do you explain a contract marriage to save your dying husband? I sobbed softly as the feeling of betrayal burned the shattered pieces of my heart. It stung deeper than I imagined possible. This wasn't from a stranger. It was from the two people I loved the most. Now, I've got nothing left to lose. And I'll make sure I get revenge for this. No one will be spared!

Sold to the highest bidder to pay off a blood feud, I never imagined I would be the pawn in my father's fatal game. Still, here I am before Enzo De Luca, the most vicious mafia leader in the city. Though appealing, he is cold, deliberate, and as lethal. Though my heart races just from his proximity, it is his touch that ignites me. My body betrays me and reacts to him in ways I am powerless over. And I melt as he softly, commandingly says my name. Enzo loves neither me nor another. In his deadly kingdom, I am only another bargain, another transaction. But every time we are alone, the conflict between us snaps—desire becomes a terrible addiction. Although I detest him for everything he stands for, I yearn for the way he consumes me, body and soul. He has made it quite evident—our marriage is more about power than love. Still, every angry gaze and every snatched moment in the shadow reveals something different. Benevolent underneath his icy façade lies something broken that appeals to the darkest sides of me. But depending on a man like Enzo may mean losing everything. Bound to him now, for better or worse, I am caught in a world where loyalty is brittle and treachery carries a bullet. Our friendship gets more perilous the more truths about his empire I find. And as the past calls for us, I have to question myself: will our passion be the thing that ruins us both or can I survive loving a guy like Enzo De Luca? Burning in his arms is me. But in his universe, I could roast alive.

Lilly Riverwood, daughter of Alpha Mick and Luna Harmony, lives in the shadow of her brother Luka, the heir to the Riverwood werewolf pack. Unlike most Alpha offspring, Lilly isn't power-hungry or interested in pack politics. She's a talented violinist who has gained fame in both human and werewolf societies worldwide. Standing tall at 5'9", Lilly is unusually tall for a she-wolf. She finds herself constantly avoiding her brother's overprotective nature and the scheming she-wolves who try to befriend her solely to get closer to Luka. While her brother enjoys popularity as the Alpha heir and football team captain, Lilly prefers a quieter life focused on her violin, studies, and helping at the pack's preschool. Under her mother's guidance, Lilly has been training to become a future Luna, as her mother believes she's destined to mate with an Alpha from another pack. The only thing Lilly truly does for herself is playing the violin, having no genuine friends except Emma, Rachel, and Mia. Lilly's routine is disrupted when a mysterious new Alpha heir named Axel Blackthorn joins her Advanced Music Theory class. After she performs a violin piece that captivates the class, Axel approaches her and shows interest, kissing her hand in front of everyone. This unexpected gesture sends the school's rumor mill into overdrive. When confronted by Kendra, the self-proclaimed future Luna of the Riverwood Pack, and her posse about Axel's attention, Lilly finally snaps and declares that, unlike them, she doesn't aspire to be someone's Luna—she just wants to be left alone with her violin and her music.

“I thought you wanted to sleep, my Queen,” Lorcan whispered. “I changed my mind,” Niamh kissed Lorcan again, deeply, hungrily. “Besides, you owe me a wedding night.” “I stand reminded,” Lorcan bowed his head. Looking up, he grasped Niamh around the waist and turned to lay her beneath him, kissing her passionately. *** Niamh had dutifully fulfilled her obligation to marry King Lorcan of the Elven Realms, only to watch her new husband ride off to battle the very next day. But he was lost in battle, and she was left to face her new role as Queen among haters, admirers, and potential suitors… and a traitor. Despite the challenges she formed new alliances, treaties, and friends, and, once the King was found, they built an unshakable love while facing turmoil. Once free to leave, what choice will she make? Will the love they formed be strong enough to endure more than time? Rising Storm in the Elven Realms is created by Heather Dilts-Baiano, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Heidi Sanson is the type of woman who preserves herself to the man she’ll marry. Not until her cousin, Shamcey, brings her to the club to have some fun just to forget her problems for a while. But too much fun can lead into different kinds of enjoyment… or more so, problems. Heidi had a blackout after drinking the blue cocktail that the waiter gave her that night. The next day, she found herself in a hotel room, sleeping alone in a huge fluffy bed without wearing anything on her body—she was literally naked! There, she remembered some blurred scenarios of that night. Someone pulled her inside the VIP room. Instead of stopping him from kissing her, she’s too completely drunk to go against his sensual urge. She just found herself responding to the kiss of that stranger. That night was a mistake that she will definitely use as a lesson learned. But… What if that night is only the beginning of everything? What happens when she begins an entirely fresh career path to face the challenge that she walked away after that night? What happens if the new acquaintances who got into her life helped her to unravel memories that were long forgotten? Can she connect the dots to discover the hidden truth of her life?

I came to this new school with one goal—stay invisible. No drama. No chaos. Just finish the semester and get out. But everything changed the moment I laid eyes on him—Aiden Cross. Rich, arrogant, dangerously charming. The school's golden boy and certified heartbreaker. He had no business looking at me, let alone touching me. And yet, there he was, lips still warm from kissing another girl, smirking as he walked straight toward me… and pulled me into his world with one simple, cocky line: “Care to join?” From that moment on, my plan to stay out of trouble was officially ruined. Now, I’m skipping school, arguing with him like we’ve known each other for years, sharing moments I swore I’d never allow, and feeling things I can't ignore. But Aiden? He hides behind jokes and a player reputation—brushing off anything real like it’s just another game. He’s everything I told myself to avoid. So why does my heart race every time he’s near? Between surprise kisses in the cafeteria, his jealousy-fueled fights, and our late-night talks that cut deeper than I ever expected, I’m starting to realize one thing: Sometimes the person you least expect becomes the one you can’t let go. But can I trust him with my heart? Or will he leave me like he does everyone else. He was supposed to be my nightmare. Now… he might just be my love story.

as soon as I stepped out of the villa, it felt like I’d walked straight into a nightmare. Hector, the man I’d missed so much, was surrounded by soldiers, passionately kissing some woman I’d never seen before. The cheers and whistles around them felt like knives stabbing into my heart. I froze, my happiness turning into icy disappointment and rage. I forced myself to walk closer, even though every step felt like I was wading through quicksand. As more people noticed me, the noise died down, like someone had hit the mute button. Hector and his mystery woman were still in their own world until they finally sensed the eerie silence and pulled apart. When Hector’s eyes met mine, panic flashed across his face, but he quickly masked it. Holding the woman’s hand, he approached me. “Elena, this is Vanessa, she’s—” Before he could finish, Vanessa flashed a confident smile and offered her hand to me. “Hi, I’m Vanessa, Hector’s partner. We fell in love on the battlefield.”

"You belong to me!" he said in his deep, husky voice, sending shivers down my spine. "And you are mine to love, princess!" His tone was full of possessiveness. "Let me go-" I started to protest, but he silenced me by pressing his index finger to my lips. "Shh, be quiet!" he whispered softly against my lips. I looked into his eyes, which were filled with desire and longing. "It's just you and me tonight, and I want to make it special for us," his strong voice sent chills down my spine. My heart raced as I felt his fingers at the edge of my dress, ready to tear it away. *"I'm about to do the most sinful things with you now, Jaan!"* His voice echoed in my ears. "I've waited long enough!" His voice grew deeper with desire. "No, please-"before I finish my sentence, he interrupted me as air rushed around my body. He ripped my dress in two pieces.

"Stop it, Ethan! Stop doing this to me!" I wished I could utter those words, but my body betrayed me. His touch alone made me lose all connection with my senses. Internally, I screamed for freedom as his seductive kisses rendered me tongue-tied. I was tired of being treated like a mere sex toy by this man, yet my body continually danced to the rhythm of his waist. I let him have his way, gasping softly, my lips defying all moral sanity. After a few rounds of pleasure, he pushed himself off me, put on his pants, and walked out the door as if I meant nothing. The realization hit me hard: I shouldn't have let this happen. I should have stood my ground this time and not succumbed to his wishes. I picked up my clothes, the last pieces of dignity left in me. "Ethan!" I yelled, chasing after him. "Please wait!" "What is it, woman?" he halted, looking disgusted by my presence. "We're married, for crying out loud! You can't keep treating me like trash. Tell me what I did wrong. Tell me if there's anything I should change about myself. I'm willing to do anything, please, Ethan. To make this marriage work, I'm willing to do whatever you want. Just don't pick her over me again!" I sobbed, halfway on my knees, begging with my hands clenched to his trousers. --- Elizabeth Douglas, a young heiress, finds herself falling for her father's driver, Ethan Haynes. But there's a twist - Ethan is already engaged to Stella. Just when Lizzy decides to walk away, she uncovers a shocking betrayal that changes everything. Get ready for a story of untold secrets, broken ties, new alliances, romance, revenge, and a love that refuses to be forgotten.

Debbie Griffin, second born of the Griffin's sees herself been drawn to the darkness after the death of her parents . And the continuous torment that keeps her awake at night, she waltz into Alexander Jefferson world a young billionaire who has his own demons lurking in the shadows. What happens when they cross paths? Would she accepts a marriage of inconvenience ? What would be the fate of their lives when Debbie finds out the very secret that led to her torments? Wanna find out? Yallah!! —----------- “I didn't do it- I didn't do it” the voice repeated in distress. She move in that direction. “Who's there?” Debbie asked getting all sweaty,she couldn't help but be drawn to the voice. She moved closer to see a manly figure shaking. He was facing the walls so she couldn't see his face. “I didn't do it, please stop leave me alone!” Alex cries to himself dragging his hair and cutting himself. Debbie fearfully shifts backwards but stood wondering why he was acting unstable. “Hey,just calm down okay you are fine” Debbie said softly moving closer to him having no idea why she's doing this.