Mark Twain Library Long Beach

For Mature Audiences 🔞 Explore a collection of compelling short stories that delve into intense emotions, forbidden desires, and raw human connections. Each tale pushes boundaries, offering a blend of intrigue and passion that captivates and fascinates.

Diana Winnington was pampered by her husband and got pregnant as she wished after three years of marriage.But when she showed the pregnancy test to the man, all she got in return was a divorce. Julian Fulcher snarled, “I will never allow my child to be conceived by another woman!” She was bewildered. “Why?”The man gave her a firm and decisive response. “I’ve never loved you!”It turned out that she was the only fool in this world!She thought this man was deeply in love with her. In truth, what he loved was only her face, which resembled another woman’s.She signed the divorce agreement promptly without hesitation, and vowed never to see him again!Yet the man who claimed that he had never loved her and told her to go, lost his mind.“Diana…”He looked at the grave of his beloved wife in the cemetery and finally came to his senses as he realized that they were inseparable, and she had subconsciously been a part of his heart and soul for a long time.

Kisa Becker loved Gilbert Kooper with great care. In Gilbert's mind, however, she was a cunning and evil plotter.After marrying him, she believed if she played the role of Mrs. Kooper well, she could eventually win his heart. Little did she expect that man to send her to prison, where a fire burned her years of infatuation with him into ashes.When the two met again after her near-death experience, Gilbert realized her affection for him had long gone. And now it was his turn to be distraught.

Wendy and James had been married for eight years. One day, Wendy told James that she wanted to have a child with another man, and she wanted to hold a wedding with that man as well. Faced with James's questioning, Wendy didn't beat around the bush. "You're infertile and he's willing to give me a child. We're only having a child and holding a wedding. That's all. We won't be getting a marriage certificate, so he has no effect on your status." James's heart turned cold. He arranged the best wedding for Wendy and the man named "Sean." Wendy was very happy with how obedient James was. When they were saying their vow, James was lying on the operating table all alone and was erasing all his memories of Wendy from his mind.

Elena Kingston is a young lady who is indebted, her sister's medical bills take up half her income and her school loans keep piling up. She enters a loveless relationship with Marcus because he pays her bills but she soon falls in love with Gavin who is unknowingly Marcus's stepbrother with a lot of personal issues. A lot of lies, fits of anger, jealousy and passion later, Elena is faced with a decision, who does she trust more? Her cold husband who does not give her a time of his day or his stepbrother who has been lying and keeping things from her from the moment they met?

"On the table!" He ordered, leaving me fear-stricken as I scurried and positioned myself the way he had instructed earlier. Who was I to disobey the most callous Alpha King? "Part those legs!" He bellowed calmly, yet dangerously, emphasizing on every word. His voice sounded like the voices of many mighty men...authoritative, mysterious, deafening..like a thunder ready to strike. My eyes travelled up to the Moon that hung up in the sky, communicating to it as if telling it to send me a saviour. "There is no one coming to save you, Aurora. I am your new master. Now take off your clothes, I want to see the goods I purchased!" *** Aurora was supposed to be the Alpha's beloved daughter, but fate played a trick on her, making her serve as the pack's slave instead. Someone stole her life. Years went by, the truth got exposed, but when she was about to live her best life and assume her role in the pack, trouble rears its ugly head. Her pack was under attack. Faced with two difficult choices, she would either offer herself as a peace offering to the most cruel Alpha King in exchange for protection for her loved ones, or watch everything she holds dear crumble before her eyes. Desperate to save her loved ones, she offered herself to the king without thinking of the consequences. But the castle of the Alpha King is filled with shocking secrets. What if plans changed and she finds not one, not two, but three Alpha Kings ready to claim her? Would she agree to become their breeder? How long would she be able to resist their charms?

Arianna had not planned on using magic to summon anything, she just wanted to get out of an arranged marriage. She was told of the ancient magic of summoning a guardian but instead she had summoned a demon—the demon king himself. But what would he ask in return for his loyalty to this princess?

Sam and Nora were childhood friends whose bond was sealed with an arranged marriage. But soon after, Sam’s warmth fades, leaving Nora alone in a cold, distant relationship. His connection to Isabella, a woman from his past, casts a shadow over their marriage, fueling suspicions and driving them apart. After a heartbreaking divorce, Nora tries to rebuild her life, and just as her high school crush, Daniel, reappears, offering hope for a fresh start, Nora finds herself entangled in a secret that could change everything. As past emotions resurface and new complications arise, Nora must navigate the tangled web of love, loyalty, and deception. Can she move on from Sam, or is their story far from over?

Lyra Vale never asked for the crescent-shaped mark burning behind her ear—or the strange abilities pulsing beneath her skin. For months, she’s hidden it, hoping it will fade. But when the mark begins to sharpen her senses in ways no human should experience, Lyra knows she’s out of time. Her only hope lies in a dangerous border town called Ashridge Hollow. She’s just here to cover the mark. But when she walks through the door, she finds a tattoo artist with molten golden eyes and the commanding presence of something more than man. Ronan is Alpha of the HollowBane Pack, and the moment he sees her, he knows the truth: Lyra is his fated mate. There’s only one problem. She doesn’t even know she’s part wolf. As supernatural tensions rise with rogue vampires breaking ancient laws, and Lyra’s awakening beginning, Ronan is forced to make an impossible choice: protect the pack that relies on him—or claim the woman the moon has chosen for him. This book is a four part series telling the tale of not just Ronan and Lyra, but of the people they trust. Each book blends into each other as they find a way to survive the war to come and keep the people they love safe at all cost.

Naomi Ownes, daughter to the SilverFalls pack Alpha, dreamed of finding her mate when she turned 18 and having a long romantic blessed cheesy life with him, but that day never came. Now at the age of twenty-one, and with no recollection of her younger years, Naomi is on a collision course to meet her Mate, but what will Naomi do when she finds out he is no other than Alpha King Matthew Stevens of Crescent Moon Pack, who is already married, mated and has a child? Follow Naomi’s destiny journey as she discovers her newfound supernatural abilities, new enemies, and Moon Goddess’ purpose for her while fighting the chance of a happy ever after.