Leaned

His tie hung loose, his eyes darker than sin. The scent of whiskey lingered on his breath as he leaned closer. “Tell me to stop,” he murmured, the words brushing against my skin like a dare. “You’re drunk,” I said, staring into those grey eyes as my heartbeat filled the silence. He smiled faintly, his gaze trailing from my hair until it fell on my lips. “Drunk,” he whispered, his thumb grazing my mouth as if testing how soft it was, “but not blind. You want this as much as I do.” ----- After her husband’s mysterious death, Mara Lawson becomes the center of a scandal threatening to destroy the powerful Lawson empire. Elias Lawson, her late husband’s twin, is everything she should resist—dangerous, magnetic, and forbidden. David Hale, her ex-lover, the man who walked away once and now wants forgiveness… and another chance. Between the man who broke her and the one who could ruin her, Mara is caught in a web of passion, guilt, and secrets that could shatter them all. Because in the Lawson world, love is never pure—it’s just another sin waiting to be punished.

My heart raced wildly as he leaned in, his warm breath brushing my ear. "The next time I see you kiss anyone else..." he whispered, his voice dark and lethal, " I'll make sure these pretty lips of yours are stitched shut." He wasn't supposed to care. I wasn't supposed to matter. But one kiss was all it took to turn control into obsession. I'm bound to him by a dangerous deal, living on the edge of fear and desire, never quite sure where the line is, or if it ever existed at all. Mr. Hanson is cold, powerful, and terrifyingly possessive. He thrives on control, and he hates how I slip through his fingers no matter how tightly he grips me. Every touch feels like a warning. Every breath between us feels like a threat. As fear, power, and longing blur into something I no longer recognize, I'm forced to decide how far I'm willing to go to survive a man who doesn't just want my obedience. He wants my silence. My loyalty. My heart. Because with him, love isn't gentle. It's a weapon.

"You hate me, right?" I shook my head but he pulled me closer to his chest. "Feelings are mutual honey," his hot minty breath reached to my ears. He gripped my arms tightly and I winced from the pain. A tear fell from my eyes, I tried to push him but he was way stronger than me. "Daniyal, it's hurting" i cried out. "I know right," he smirked at me. He leaned into me and his lips were about to touch mine, I pushed him away with full force "What were you doing with me Daniyal?" I yelled, his face was red from anger, he held my wrist and pushed me to the walls. "You think, I'll do this with you, really?" He let out a loud chuckle and shot a glare at me. "You're just a piece of trash,my dad bought for me to play but I don't wanna lower my standard so don't worry, I'm not gonna touch you, " his words shattered my heart into pieces. I was his wife, his unwanted wife.

The mafia's maid. "Are you ready?" Damon asked. "Of course. I can't even imagine what torture my sister must be going through right now." Ashley answered. "Mom and dad won't allow this and she needs help, I can sacrifice myself." She wore a deep frown. The anger inside Ashely's heart was burning and that can't be hidden. "Okay then, just follow my instructions and report to me everything he does." Damon continued, "but if you feel you're in danger," he leaned forward from the front seat and placed her hands on his, "please leave immediately." He looked at her seriously. His forehead was wrinkled as he stared seriously at her. "And one more vital information." "What is it?" She inquiried. "He's a heart throb. Promise you will never get attracted to him." "Okay." She half smiled. ***** Ashley is a nineteen year old college girl striving to survive school when her younger sister gets kidnapped by a mafia boss. She has to go undercover as a maid to rescue her sister with some help from Damon. The plan was to get information, save her sister and leave. No falling in love. Easy right?

Ferrah Autumn is a lone magic user, intent on finding the man who destroyed her coven and, along with it, her brother, who was the answer to winning the war against shifters. She trained for years, working with some of the most powerful warlocks and witches to fulfill her lifelong goal of killing the Alpha King. But when he finds her in the woods, something unexplainable happens. Not only do they share the same prophecy, but they're also each other's fated mates.“There’s one condition,” I said softly. I leaned my back against the wall as I looked at him. I looked up to find him standing a few feet away from the bars. He was looking at me with hope in his eyes. My heart ached at the sight and I cursed at myself for it.“What?” he asked in confusion. I couldn’t believe that I was even considering this. I felt like a traitor. If my parents could see me now, what would they think? I was making a deal with the devil.The Alpha King's Prophecy is created by Claire Wilkins, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

"Where are you going, Mrs?" Zaviyaar pulled her to himself after seeing her going away from him. She fell straight on his lap. "I was going to change the dress." She said in a low voice as she felt his warm breathing airing on her neck. "It's not needed." He said meaningfully to her and put his lips on her neck. Anaaya stopped breathing as she felt his grip getting tight. This man is living in her every breath. Zaviyaar tightened his grip on her waist and slowly his lips travelled up from her neck to her face. Anaaya's heart was pounding fast as she felt his warm lips and his beard rubbing against her skin. "You have become my soul, Anaaya Zaviyaar." He said lovingly, kissing Anaaya's cheeks. Anaaya abruptly held him tightly by his shoulders. "For the happening of this moment, I waited every moment." She leaned near his ear and taking a heavy breath, she told him in a soft voice. Abruptly, Zaviyaar's grip has tightened around her waist.

The first time I attended my girlfriend Joyce's friend gathering, after a few rounds of drinks, her male best friend pulled her onto his lap. With a cigarette dangling between his fingers, he grinned. "Call me daddy!" Instead of getting offended, Joyce leaned into him, helpless but indulgent, and said, "Daddy." I froze, scowling, but she waved me off without a care. "It's just a joke! Lucius always never cared for the rules, and everyone knows we have a father-daughter vibe, okay? Don't get it all twisted, Henry! Aren't you a man?" Lucius became even more provocative, throwing a smoke ring at me. "Yo, son-in-law! Aren't you going to bow to me? Come on, kneel and offer me a drink, and your dad's got your back!" Everyone at the table burst into laughter as they waited to see me lose my temper and make a scene. I just smiled, meeting Joyce's impatient gaze with an excited expression. "That's great! I like the way you think, so why don't you call me daddy too?"

I was with Ivan Knowles for seven years. Despite the rumors that always swirled around him, he never gave me a reason to doubt his loyalty. He let me check his phone and even welcomed me to join him on business trips. I never found anything suspicious until our engagement day. The host had just shared how Ivan flew in my favorite white roses from abroad when the big screen, meant to play a video celebrating our seven years together, instead showed a hospital room. The cry of a newborn rang out. Ivan sat on the bed holding the baby. His secretary, Alba Lawson, leaned on his shoulder, wearing the same diamond ring as mine. Tearfully, she explained to me that it was a misunderstanding. "Alba is a single mom," Ivan excused. "I'm just helping her out as her boss. Don't make a big deal out of this." The room went quiet, everyone waiting for me to flip out. I didn't. Instead, I calmly slipped off my ring and handed it to him. "Of course not. I just wish you happiness."

The wedding had reached the part where the groom kissed the bride. I closed my eyes and leaned in to kiss Stella Stafford, only to end up with a mouthful of fur. Her assistant held up the camera and burst out laughing. "The almighty Mr. Rowe can't even tell if he's kissing a person or a dog?" I stared at the Husky in front of me, its tongue lolling out, and felt my stomach churn. I was about to lay into him when Stella stepped in to block me. "It was just a joke. No hard feelings." Laurent Reilly smirked smugly, his tone dripping with arrogance. "And guess what? This Husky happens to be a female, so why don't you just marry her instead? You're not good enough for Stella anyway." The employees erupted in laughter. Mortified, I kicked him square in the chest, sending him sprawling. The next second, Stella smashed a wine bottle over my head and demanded an apology. I wiped the mix of wine and blood from my face, then dialed an overseas number with a cold grin. "The wedding is short one bride. You in?"

"Let’s go on a proper date, with flowers and candles, his lips twitched in a cocky smile, he leaned in forward, inhaling my scent like a drug he was addicted to. “And then what?” I replied, quivering. His lips were too distracting as they stood dangerously close to mine. "We can pretend to get to know each other if you want. And after that, I can fuck you senseless." Looking up to meet his dark gaze. I swallowed hard, I had only two choices, but whichever I chose, I knew I was screwed. Zach always knew his mate was out there, but at 25, after searching every pack, he had nearly given up hope. Then came Nicole, on the run from a broken past, scarred by betrayal after a humiliating scandal with her crush who sinisterly released a sex tape of her that would haunt her for life. She’s sworn never to trust any man, but destiny had other plans. What happens when the one person you’re meant to love is the last person you think you can trust?