Long Shadows David Baldacci

“Elijah!” I sneered, slapping him right across the face; he seemed unaffected as he let out a smirk. “What do you think you're doing?!” I said. "Look at me closely, sweetie. I know how you feel about me. Every inch of you is my property; I own you, and if you'd think you're free from me, you're dead wrong" Elijah scoffed as he pinned me against the bathroom door. I yanked his grip off me before glaring at him, unaffected by his presence which once gave me butterflies. “Whatever you tried to do out there, don't test me. I can have you thrown back in jail if I wanted” He spat. “My life has got nothing to do with you!” I muttered. “Oh it's my business of course, so now you're sleeping with other men to get me jealous right?” he chuckled manacly. “You left me to die in jail, who I am with is none of your concern!” I yelled back. “I'm not afraid of you Elijah!” I responded nonchalantly. “Under which grounds? Last time I checked, you don't have the power to do that anymore.” Elijah's face turned red and he held my hand even tighter, gripping my cheeks until I could not move. “You don't scare me, Elijah” I said despite the quivering of my hands, “not anymore.” ***** Laura's world crashes down after she marries Elijah, her boss. His constant torments and treatment worsen after he reunites with his long lost lover. Their life takes a dark turn after Laura is thrown in jail for a crime she did not commit And later gives birth to twin babies in jail, who get taken away from her by his husband's mistress. Will she reunite with Elijah after everything he had done to her?

Ayana Rivers had spent the last three years working as the secretary to the CEO and cofounder of Sterling conglomerate the most powerful tech force in Los Angeles. Working schedules, running after and clearing Ruan’s public messes was not new to her but what Ayana doesn’t know is that Ruan Sterling’s life doesn’t end in boardrooms, fancy newsletters and red carpets. By day he is the CEO of Sterling Conglomerate. By night he is an Alpha, one bound by ancient pack laws that threatens to strip his entire lineage and him of the throne and alpha title if he does not take a wife. When Ayana’s family is drowning in debt and every door closes on her, Ruan offers Ayana instead of help, a marriage, Ruan has no interest in Ayana beyond the contract. She is human, harmless, ordinary, and perfect for protecting his secret. A wife on paper. Nothing more. When Ruan’s dark world creeps into Ayana’s carefully controlled life. Desires beyond control and heat amidst silence grow between them. Except secrets have a way of unraveling especially when she discovers that the man she married is not the most dangerous secret in the house. She is.

She once humiliated herself by falling for him. She was set up which led her to his bed and she ended up in a situation she couldn’t even explain. Now, she was pinned against the wall in his office, her hands held above her head. Her back arched slightly, even her body betrayed her, she could see the city view beside them like nothing unusual was happening. “Sir...” She gasped the moment she felt his hand slide beneath her skirt. She regretted wearing a skirt. It had already been pushed up, revealing far more than she was comfortable with. Even with his one hand holding hers, he still has his fingers teasing her slick entrance through soaked lace. She couldn't describe how embarrassed she felt in that particular moment. He smirked and leaned toward her ear “I should hate you,” he whispered “but ever since I saw you naked, I’ve been so obsessed. I want to screw you so hard you will forget everything in the world, but how deep I can bury myself inside you until you’re screaming for more.” She took a deep breath. “This is wrong, Mr…” She swallowed hard. "Please… I still want to live...ahh… boss…” Her protest broke into a soft moan as his fingers went deeper and slowed like he was enjoying every second of her losing control. “Damn…” she gritted her teeth, trying to keep her voice down, afraid someone might hear them through the door. “You’re still pretending?” he chuckled in amusement, he intentionally kept his movement slowly. “My king… please…” she finally said what he had been wanting to hear. She had always been too proud to accept it. They used to hate each other. But could hate really turn into something this intense… this uncontrollable?

The Billionaire's Secretary is a contemporary romance featuring Star Griffin–secretary to the handsome billionaire CEO, Neal Ward. Star is brilliant and head over heels in love with Neal, who is more reserved with his affection. Trouble brews when Star learns she's not accepted by Neal's wealthy family. To make matters worse, she finds out that he is to marry a beautiful heiress. Heartbroken, she resigns from her job and leaves the city to start a new life. Only to return after three years. She has been transferred to her company's headquarters as the head secretary working directly with the boss. Once again, it's Neal–the man who shattered her heart in the worst way possible. But he doesn't remember her. Working together again causes sparks to fly and although Star guards her heart righteously, she ends up falling for him once more. This time, Neal doesn't hold back with expressing his affection–which is the one thing Star has always wanted. Neal has amnesia and his brilliant psychotherapist shares a striking resemblance to Star. Also, Star is a single mom to a three year old son who is the splitting image of the billionaire. History repeats itself when tabloids show Neal and his psychotherapist having an intimate moment. Star is heartbroken again and this time is far worse than the last. Her mom also falls fatally ill, leaving her vulnerable to Neal's scheming mom whose agenda is to once again break up the couple. Neal recovers his memory and battles to clear every misunderstanding in a bid to win back Star's trust. Meanwhile, the truth about his amnesia is revealed as well as the fact that he is indeed the father of her son. The lovers navigate treacherous situations and ultimately, get their happy ending.

​Daphne Clarke has spent her life keeping her head down. Juggling classes, part-time jobs, and dreams of a better future. One impulsive night at a party shatters her careful routine when she wakes up next to Zachary Moreau, the enigmatic heir to a billion-dollar empire. Years later, as a single mother struggling to rebuild her life, fate leads her straight back into his world. Only this time, she’s working for him, and he has no idea they share a son. Bound by secrets, a looming arranged marriage, and undeniable chemistry, Daphne and Zachary are on a collision course that could change everything.

What were the odds that I'd just fucked my boss and been too buzzed, too horny to clock it? Impossible. Catastrophic. My life was like a ticking bomb of fuckups already; this would only make it explode. "Get a grip, Shayle," I whispered, shaking my head hard. It can't be. -------------- What would you do if you found out you only had four months left to live? In the case of Shayle Vale, she was the definition of a plain Jane; quiet, overlooked, and freshly dumped by a boyfriend who called her ‘boring’. But when the doctor drops her death sentence, she decides ‘boring’ dies today. She made a list; Quit her job, Lose her virginity to her hot next-door neighbor, get a tattoo and Do what the fuck she wants. But life doesn’t play fair. Her shitty boss refused to accept her resignation, her neighbor was allegedly still a virgin, and nothing on her list was going according to plan. Now Shayle’s plain, safe little life is spiraling into messy office wars, late-night temptations, secrets she never saw coming and a toxic love triangle. Will she tick off her last wishes, or will fate throw her off the list completely and into the arms of two sinfully attractive men instead?

BLURB: Who knew love could cost you your life? Rosa was betrayed by her very first lover, only to discover their relationship was nothing but a lie. She was humiliated, thrown into the streets, and stripped of everything she believed in, but she refused to stay down. With revenge as her fuel, she rose to the top. Her only goal was to make Gary pay for what he did to her. But everything changes when she meets Andres. He becomes her weakness. Using him is easy. Resisting him is not. Falling in love means choosing between the man who destroyed her… and the man who could save her. Her past demands revenge. Her heart wants more. What choice will she make?

"You really thought I would marry someone like you?" His voice was as cold as ice while his blue eyes pierced through me without mercy. "You were just a convenient distraction.Victoria was always the woman I truly wanted by my side." In that moment, I felt my heart shatter into a thousand pieces, but I swore to myself that those would be the last tears I would ever shed for Alexander Reed. Sophia Morgan had always been a dedicated woman who built her career from the ground up. An orphan with no family support, she worked tirelessly until she became the Marketing Director of the Reed Group. When the powerful and arrogant CEO Alexander Reed noticed her, she believed she had found not only love but also a place to belong. After three years as his secret lover, Sophia discovers in the worst way possible that she was merely a pastime for Alexander. During a corporate event, he publicly humiliates her by announcing his engagement to Victoria, Sophia's personal assistant, who had secretly conspired to take her place. Devastated and with nowhere to go, Sophia tries to piece her life back together. But fate has other plans when she is forced to continue working at the same company, facing daily the man who destroyed her heart and the woman who stole her dreams. In a world where power and money make the rules, Sophia will need to find the strength to survive alongside the man who betrayed her, while battling the feelings that still persist in her wounded heart.

No safe words. No limits. Just raw, wicked pleasure. Step into a world where boundaries don’t exist, only desire does. This collection of scorching short stories takes you from moonlit rooftops to steamy locker rooms, from public restrooms to private fantasies. Threesomes, breath play, BDSM, and irresistible encounters collide in explosive tales that promise to leave you breathless. Whether it’s a secret tryst with an ex lover, a scandalous game with an athlete, or a lust-fueled session in zero gravity, a fuck by the pool, each story delivers unfiltered, unrelenting heat. Wild. Wet. Wanton. You’ve never read sin like this before. If you’re not dripping by the end of each tale, check your pulse. Content Warning: This book is dark, raw, and unapologetically explicit. It explores the deepest, most tantalizing corners of desire, pushing boundaries and playing with power. For those ready to indulge in their darkest fantasies. If you know you don’t have a partner, don’t read. Haha, just kidding. It’s for everyone above or at 18 years of age. It will leave you hot and bothered, craving sinful things.

That night, drunk and heartbroken after her fiancé’s betrayal, Celeste accidentally sent her masturbation video to her boss, Lazarrus Walkez V, the ruthless billionaire who lives in permanent numbness. The next morning, a single text arrived, “Come to my office, Little doe.” From that moment…he offered her a dirty deal, and she became the only one who could awaken the monster that had been dead inside him. Revenge turned into obsession. Obsession turned into love.