Lingering Synonyms

I gasp, surprised and he leans towards me. I catch the scent of his cologne and the faint scent of the cigarette smoke, lingering around him. But underneath it, there’s the scent of earth and rain. I see his muscles flexing under the thin linen of the shirt. I also notice the outlines of a scar, running down his forearm. I imagine his hands on me, his lips on mine. What is happening… Why am I thinking this? “Oh, don’t worry, Lily. “ his smile is canine, the words that come out of his mouth are a snarl, “I won’t touch you. I don’t want to. “ When her mother got sick, Lily had no choice but to marry a man she never met. At that time she didn’t know Arthur Stark was not only beautiful but as cruel as the rumours said. Her husband is a cold billionaire involved with the mafia. He never touches anyone. Not even his own mate.

Elena Russo is a master thief and assassin, driven by revenge. Her mission is to infiltrate the life of mafia billionaire Lorenzo Salvatore, whom she believes is responsible for her father’s murder. Under the guise of an art dealer, Elena enters his world, but the lines between duty and desire blur as she uncovers hidden truths, including Lorenzo’s vulnerability and complex relations. When sparks fly between them, Elena finds herself caught between duty and desire. As she uncovers his deepest secrets, including a hidden child and a dangerous rival bent on his destruction, Elena realizes that her enemy is not the man she thought he was. Torn between her lingering feelings for Ethan, the FBI informant with his own dark agenda, and her undeniable attraction to Lorenzo, Elena must decide: can she risk her heart to get her revenge, or will she lose everything in the heist of her life? In a world of betrayals, lies, and shattered loyalties, love may be the deadliest game of all.

One unforgettable night. Two men. A choice to make Lila Bennett’s life is turned upside down when a one-night stand with the emotionally cold billionaire Drew Sinclair leads to a shocking pregnancy. Fearing rejection for the second time, Lila keeps the pregnancy a secret, believing Drew would never accept her or the child. But when Lila’s old friend Max, a successful art mogul, finds out, he offers to marry her and take care of the baby. Lila is torn, She still has lingering feelings for Drew who's cold and has made it clear that the encounter with her was a mistake and there's Max who's offering all the support she needs. Who will she choose? Could there be more to what Lila is seeing on the surface? Find out in this thrilling and exciting book.

After Hours A Small-Town Forbidden Romance Alli never meant to fall for him. Eighteen, freshly graduated, and slinging drinks at the town’s no-frills dive bar, she was just looking for a paycheck and a way out of her quiet life. But then Johnny started showing up—twenty-five, devastatingly handsome, and haunted by more than just his late-night whiskey. Everyone knows Johnny. The town's favorite bad decision. A brooding mechanic with blue eyes that burn and a reputation tangled up with Layla, the town’s resident scandal—and someone else's wife. But when Alli catches Johnny’s gaze from across the bar, something ignites. Something forbidden. Something explosive. What starts as subtle glances and lingering stares turns into late-night texts, a kiss that ruins them both, and a fire that neither of them can put out. Just when Alli begins to believe there might be more between them, Layla drops a bomb: she’s pregnant. Now, Alli must face the truth—was she just a distraction? Or is Johnny just as trapped in his past as she fears? In a town where everyone talks and secrets are currency, love after hours might be the most dangerous thing of all.

My name is Elaira Wade, the only surviving werewolf of Shadowcrest pack. I'm in love with my homeroom teacher,sold to the cruel Alpha and now my bullies are being protective of me. ****** The Shadowcrest pack was wiped out on their most joyous day that the Luna was confirmed to be pregnant. All in one day, Elaira lost her parents, her unborn sibling and her pack but she was able to escape as she was saved by a huge wolf whom she didn't recognize. Starting over her life again in the human world, Elaira tried to forget everything that had to do with the werewolf world and life her best life as one of the rich kids in school as there was a mysterious good samaritan that was crediting her account with a huge amount of money every month. She had a crush on her homeroom teacher and was bullied by the hottest twin in school for unknown reason and everything was going perfectly well until her eighteen birthday when a man suddenly appear before her and claimed she belongs to him. Finding out that she was sold to Alpha Kayden by her father and Alpha Kayden was also the good samaritan sending money into her account all this years, Elaira's world crumble. And the worst part of it was that her homeroom teacher and the twins that bullied her, were also werewolf. She thought she had left everything that had to do with werewolf behind but had no idea they were still lingering around her. Now stuck in the midst of four Alphas, Elaira tried to escape but found it hard to do so, as the mysterious wolf that killed her pack are now after her again, hunting her down for an unknown reason.

She was born of two worlds… and belonged to none. Wolfless and rejected by her own kind, Freya, the hybrid daughter of a witch and a wolf, was sold by her father to the most feared Alpha in the land—Alpha Logan of the Northridge Pack. Her only purpose? To bear his heir and strengthen his bloodline. But love was never part of the deal. Torn between his lingering feelings for his first love, Lucia, and the bond he cannot deny with Freya, Alpha Logan spirals—cold, cruel, and indifferent. And when tragedy strikes and Freya loses the baby, his words cut deeper than any blade: “You’re just a breeder.” Shattered and betrayed, Freya flees to the human world with the help of a mysterious ally. There, she finds peace… and perhaps a new beginning in Daniel, a kind stranger who sees her as more than just a tool. But fate isn’t done with her yet. A prophecy looms. A war brews. And when Logan’s brother returns to claim the throne, only Freya—his true mate and the key to his power—can save his legacy. But will she ever come back to the mate who broke her heart… or choose a new path, and a new love, forever?

"Say that again, Freya. I dare you to look me deep in the eye and tell me that you don't want me and wouldn't rather want me buried deep inside you tonight. Under this stormy, cold weather instead." He taunted, his gaze lingering on me like an hungry predator as he took calculated steps towards me inside my bedroom. "Come on, say it. Say you don't want my hands roaming up and down your thighs like before, Freya. Tell me you don't want to relive those memories again with me..." The closer he got, the more harder my nipples got. "Screw you, Ethan!" I sneered. "That's not the question, Freya." ~~ Freya Smith, a nineteen year old worked as a maid for the Slades— a well known business Empire in the country. One day, Ethan, the eldest son and future heir of the Slade's empire came home one holiday and their path crossed— sparking the beginning of a forbidden teenage love affair. Freya discovered she's pregnant with Ethan's child after he had left. Freya received a letter from Ethan telling her she was merely a trophy to him and one of the many girls he could have anytime he wanted and that it's better she aborted the child or have it taken care of all by herself and of which he would never be a part of. She was also tagged a destitute who could never amount to nothing in her entire existence and beyond. Now, seven years later and Freya is an independent woman, controlling several popular jewelry businesses and engaged to the country's wealthiest man's son while the Slades drown in bankruptcy. Will Freya's thirst for vengeance be quenched? or will Ethan trying to gain custody of their child now by nook and cranny be her greatest battle yet?

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.’

Maya Rami is a survivor. As single mother in Dubai, she has worked relentlessly to provide the best for her daughter. But when she loses her job at an elite private school due to a scandal she had no part in, her life is thrown into turmoil. In an attempt at stability, she takes on the position of tutoring billionaire Adam Saif's son. Maya expectes that Sami will be just like any other pampered kid, yet he isn't. He's genius, withdrawn, and completely silent. Nobody, not even his powerful father has any idea how to reach him. Then there's Adam himself. Ice-cold, ruthless, and inscrutable, his entire life revolves around control. But behind the hardened facade, Maya senses something else, a man shaped by secrets, not authority. What starts out as a simple assignment soon turns a lot more complicated. The more time Maya spends in Adam's world, the more she sees the cracks in his armor. The late-night conversations turn into lingering looks. The chemistry between them is undeniable, yet Adam has made one thing very clear, he doesn't believe in love. Just as Maya begins to penetrate his defenses, his past comes back to haunt him. The enemies that encircle him close in, targeting everything, including Sami. Now Maya has to make an impossible choice: walk away before she's pulled into the storm or stay with the one man she never imagined she'd fall in love with.

“Five million dollars may have bought my chains, but it didn’t buy my loyalty — and it definitely didn’t buy my heart. I never dreamed my life would come down to a transaction of hundred million dollars. But my father’s betrayal puts me at the mercy of Adrian Costa, the ruthless Sicilian, head of Cosa Nostra whose name makes the mafia world quake with fear. Including me. He bought me in an auction and then made me his wife. Saying no to him is not an option. He is dark and dangerous. I have done underhanded work against him using my hacker identity, CIPHER. I have to escape his gilded cage before he finds out my alt identity. Each of our battles ignites a deadly game of power and lust. As secrets unravel and Adrian’s enemies close in, I find myself faced with the ultimate dilemma: Will I fight for my freedom, or will the king I hate become the one man I cannot live without? ***** “You think you can outrun me, Elena? You're wearing my ring on your finger.” I don’t flinch, meeting his gaze with defiance. “So what? I don’t belong to you.” He leans in, his lips brushing against my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. “You don’t, yet. But I can make you. Do you want that?" I swallow hard, my pulse racing. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Adrian chuckles darkly, his hand lingering on my waist. “Trust me, I’m not the one who needs to be flattered.” ***** # Dark Mafia Romance #18+ #Hacker Female Lead and Italian Mafia Lord # Touch her you die #Marriage contract # He falls first #Fast Paced #Strong FL and ML #A Not so cute Pet (Oh he is cute. Don't go by his looks) #HEA