Lingering Synonyms

When I send the family car to the body shop for maintenance, an employee discovers a cat pregnancy guidebook wedged in the slot between the front passenger seat and the door. The cat's name is Rose. The signature shown on the furparent's slot belongs to my husband. "Christian Johannson, furdad of Rose." I'm stunned, to say the least. We don't keep cats at home. Coincidentally, Christian calls me on the phone. I ask him, "There's a guidebook in the car. When did you keep a cat?" He chuckles lightly in response. "There was a pregnant stray lingering around the company. I found it pitiful, so I brought it to the vet. It had already given birth last month. Now, it and its babies are the apple of the whole company's eye." With a smile, I praise Christian for being a kind-hearted soul. After ending the phone call, however, I begin reading the guidebook meticulously. Rose is apparently a short-haired cat. She's now two years old. As for the cats living in Christian's company, I've seen them in his colleague's social media posts before. All of them are tabby cats. After closing the guidebook, I take down the vet clinic's name. Then, I drive over to that location.

Sia woke up from a coma after seven months, only to discover that she was the only sister of a Mafia overlord. Due to amnesia, she didn't recall all of her memories, but one thing she couldn't forget was how her father was murdered on her birthday by their enemies. This memory plagued her with nightmares every night, terrifying her. Driven by the desire for revenge, she believed that avenging her father's death might free her from the darkness that engulfed her. Thus, she embarked on a quest for vengeance. However, she was unaware that the four men she killed were not the ones responsible for her father's murder; they were merely pawns. In the underworld, everyone knew the name of the true culprit, but no one knew what he looked like, making it extremely difficult for Sia to find someone who existed only by name. One day, however, he appeared in her apartment like a ghost. He looked at her and said, "Aren't you looking for me? I'm here now, Little vermin.’ ‘Who the hell are you?’ With a sly smirk lingering on his face, he answered. ‘I’m your sweet nightmare, Little vermin. I give both sweet and lethal nightmares your experience every night.’

“Give me one year to win your heart, Lucius,” she pleads. “Just one year. And if at the end I fail… I’ll step down as Luna and let you take another woman in my place.” ********** In her past life, Violet’s husband Adrian pretended to love her for three years but only used her as a blood bank to save his true mate, ultimately taking her heart and ending her life. Reborn and wiser, Violet refuses to be anyone’s victim. This time, she’s choosing her own mate: Adrian’s half-brother, the untamed, dangerous Lucius. But their past is poisoned. Two years of rejection, hatred, and betrayal stand between them and Adrian is determined to make her suffer. So Violet stakes everything on a single, daring deal: one year to seduce Lucius, claim her place as Luna… or lose everything. Lucius agrees, convinced he can never want her but one brush of her skin, one lingering look, and one impossible kiss after another makes him question everything. With Adrian, the man who betrayed her once, still plotting her downfall and Lucius’s scheming concubine doing everything to claim him, can Violet survive?

"You know what they say about a person like you?" He hissed in my ear, his hot breath fanning my neck when he opened his mouth to speak. His grey eyes returned back to mine filled with wrath and displeasure as they bore into mine. "Curiosity killed the cat." He says in a whisper his voice laced with the threat lingering around me in the form of his addictive scent and my feets itched to get away from him for the sake of my life, but only if I could. *** Lorenzo Ace Russo, don of Italy is the perfect definition for ruthless, merciless, cruel and what they call a monster. He holds pride in taking the life of people to his convenience. His hands are stained with the blood of hundred of people and the number of sin he has committed in his life till now would put even hell to shame. Iris Grace Emerson never knew what she was getting herself into when she followed the scream of a man and found him getting murdered by the monster. Iris couldn't keep her mouth shut when the piercing scream of her classmate hit her ear one last time. And, Lorenzo couldn't risk leaving evidence behind when the FBI is so keen on getting him behind the bars. So, there was only one option, kill the cat.. Happy Reading.

Content Warning: This story contains explicit sexual content. The relationships depicted in this narrative primarily revolve around the BDSM lifestyle. It's essential to note that the central relationship between Sean and Lisa is not characterized as domestic abuse but rather as a profoundly trusting and consensual BDSM connection. Lisa has endured a turbulent past, marked by a toxic ex-partner and lingering emotional scars that have led her to withdraw from society. In an attempt to live a life away from the judgmental eyes of others, she keeps her distance from most people, confiding in only her two close friends. However, everything changes when Lisa crosses paths with Sean. He ignites a desire within her to explore her sexual side once more. Sean becomes Lisa's guide, introducing her to the authentic dynamics of a BDSM relationship, characterized by a genuine Dom. Throughout the narrative, we delve into a myriad of highs and lows, exploring various facets of BDSM, such as the roles of a submissive (Slave or Brat) and a dominant (Dom). The story also delves into the intricacies of polyamorous relationships, showcasing the complexities and dynamics that come with them. As Lisa embarks on this transformative journey, she navigates the complexities of her newfound desires and the unique connection she shares with Sean. Their exploration of the BDSM lifestyle unfolds as they learn, grow, and face the intricacies of trust, submission, and dominance within their relationship.

“MATE!” “NO!” “I didn’t ask!” “Still No, my mate killed me long ago.” Silence… “You killed your mate?” “No!” “Aw! I got a broken doll! “ The smug bastard grinned. -- Mallory´s life didn’t go as planned, even after she believed her true fairytale had started. Betrayed, beaten, and broken beyond repair, she welcomed death when it finally came. The moon goddess granted her a new life, a choice. She chose to remember. Haunted by her past and trauma, she devoted her life to *unalive* the worse criminals, humans, and shifters. Working for the council, she managed to keep running from her nightmares. Suffocating the pain and panic attacks by escaping into subspace, guided by Mr. Bear’s firm hand. Love is not in Mallory´s world; she doesn’t want it. Don’t deserve it, and the mere thought scare her to the core. Why would two mated males have such care for her? Why would another claim her as his? She doesn’t recognize them as mates—any of them. But that doesn’t seem to scare them away. Reverse harem, BDSM, revenge, trauma, triggers! Torture, human trafficking +++ Not a beautiful romance but a dark romance with lingering trauma.

“I never meant to fall for him… especially not him.” — Mellisa Brown. Xavier Kesh has it all—England’s hockey golden boy, heir to a billionaire empire, and the face every brand wants. Fast on the ice and lethal with a smirk, he’s built a career on speed, charm, and winning. He was supposed to stay focused on the game… and loyal to his girlfriend, Katrina Brown. But everything changes when Melissa Brown—Katrina’s younger sister, fierce runway model, and rising hockey star—enters into a fake relationship with Xavier to skyrocket her modeling career. It was meant to be all for show. Just business. Just pretend. Until the cameras stopped rolling… and the chemistry became undeniable. Melissa has one goal—win the Miss England crown and prove she’s more than the second Brown sister living in Katrina’s shadow. But faking it with Xavier turns into late-night calls, lingering touches, and a connection that feels too real to ignore. And when Katrina discovers the truth? The sister who once protected Melissa becomes her worst enemy—hellbent on revenge, betrayal burning hotter than any spotlight. Now, lines blur and loyalties crack. Three hearts. One crown. And a love that was never supposed to happen. The game was fake. The feelings weren’t. And someone’s about to lose it all.

“Ruby," He whispered, his face lingering above hers. "I don't want anything else, just this, please, I promise I am not going to catch feelings, I just need comfort, please let me use you," "So you're telling me to let you use me? What if I catch feelings? Are you going to take responsibility for them?" He asked. She hadn't thought of that but she was sure he wouldn't catch feelings for her, people take time to like her, it's a miracle he did. "You won't," "How are you so sure?" "Because you are a guy, guys don't fall in love easily," ********** Liam Wellington is on a mission to investigate the illegal gambling and drug dealing on the island of Cacko, barely few days after he arrived the island, a baby gets abandoned on his doorstep, while looking for a temporary caregiver and nanny, to help look after the child till he finds her parents, he meets Ruby James a women and children doctor volunteering at the island clinic. He begs her to help him care for the child, and she agrees to help him in exchange for him lending a hand at the clinic. Together they discovered that the island is even more dangerous and mysterious than they thought. But, hey!! No one said romance can't brew in the face of danger!!!

The air in the penthouse was thick with unspoken words and the lingering heat of a shared victory. He stood before her, the ice in his gaze finally melted, revealing a raw vulnerability that stole the breath from her lungs. “This wasn’t part of the contract,” he murmured, his voice a rough caress as his thumb traced the line of her jaw. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird against the gilded cage of their agreement. “I know.” His fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of her neck, tilting her face up to his. The world narrowed to the space between them, to the shocking warmth of his skin against hers. “Then tell me to stop, Ivy. Give me the rules. Give me the clause.” She should. Every instinct for self-preservation screamed at her to rebuild the walls, to remember he was her enemy, her jailer, her temporary husband. But as she looked into the stormy grey depths of his eyes, she saw not the ruthless CEO, but the man who had just looked at her daughter as if she were the most precious thing in the world. So, she didn’t speak. Instead, she rose onto her toes, closing the distance, her lips a breath away from his in a silent, devastating answer. The first kiss was not a conquest, but a surrender. It was not about revenge or contracts. It was a question, and in the shuddering breath he released against her mouth, she found her answer. The cold, platinum wedding band finally felt warm against her skin.

Annie always believed that finding her mate would bring her happiness. But fate had other plans. The night she was supposed to be claimed by her destined mate, he rejected her—for her own sister. The betrayal shattered her, leaving her wolf weakened and her spirit broken. With no strength left to fight, Annie was cast aside, forced to leave behind everything she once knew. Alone and struggling without her wolf, Annie has no choice but to seek help from a neighboring pack—one that has always been at odds with her own. There, she meets Riley, the powerful and enigmatic Alpha, who takes an unexpected interest in her. From the moment he lays eyes on Annie, he feels an undeniable pull toward her, a connection so strong it shakes him to his core. But Annie has lost all faith in mates and love. Every kind word, every lingering touch, and every stolen glance from Riley makes her heart ache with memories of the past. She refuses to be seen as a tool or a prize ever again. Riley, however, sees beyond her pain. He doesn’t just want her because of the bond—they haven’t even confirmed it yet. He wants her for who she is, for the fire she tries so hard to hide. He wants to show her that not all mates bring pain, that love doesn’t have to be a weakness.