Mark Twain Library Long Beach

The night Enzo was made boss of the Moretti family, I gave him my virginity. He was the heir I'd been promised to since before I could speak. We kissed against the floor-to-ceiling windows, tangled in the humid, twilight heat... His rough, urgent hands hurt me, but I didn't pull away. Even the pain felt sacred, a sacrifice I was willing to make for love. Lost in the heat of the moment, he promised me a pair of the most beautiful crystal shoes, so I could dance the opening waltz with him at his coronation ceremony the next day. The first dance is always reserved for the new boss and his future bride. I cried with joy, believing my years of secret pining and patient waiting would finally culminate in a fairytale ending. But I was wrong. So terribly wrong. The next morning, I dragged my aching body out to get his favorite espresso, only to overhear the guys joking as I returned: "So you finally popped the family cherry, huh? How was Vivian on your first night as boss?" Enzo's voice was lazy, mocking. "Face of an angel, body of a devil. She's a hot little viper in bed." The room erupted in sleazy whistles. "So, you really gonna marry her, young boss?" "Are you kidding me?" Enzo scoffed. "Vivian's just a warm-up. Once I get some practice in, I'll go tame the Falcone ice princess. When I get bored, I can always circle back and put a ring on her." I stood frozen in the doorway, my vision blurring, the coffee cup trembling in my hand. Before the world faded to black, I sent a coded message to the Don: "Uncle Romano, for the promotion in three days, get me a transfer. As far away from Enzo as possible."

On the day of the marking ceremony, Sabrina Carter returned to the pack. My fated mate and my childhood friend both abandoned me at the same time to welcome her. "Nicole, we can redo the ceremony another day." "Sabrina needs us more right now." After saying that, they turned and walked away without a single glance back. The two men who once swore they loved me turned my most anticipated wedding into a public joke. I stood there alone while everyone pointed, whispered, and laughed. Then, Sabrina posted a photo on Instagram, showing off how she was being doted on by both the pack Alpha and Beta. Every call I made to the two men was rejected again and again. In the photo, the ring that symbolized the Luna was on her finger. And Charlie Spencer had fastened the moonstone protection necklace, the one meant for me, around her neck instead. That was the moment something inside me finally broke for good. I bought a bond severing potion. I was done holding on. I was going to sever my mate bond with Joshua Ford.

Used as nothing more than a toy by her mate, life turns sideways for Alisha Morrin, who wakes up one morning to find herself in bed with the Alpha of the enemy pack, Derek Wayland. What happens when she tries all she can to escape his sights, but to no avail? And how long can she hold off, especially when she is carrying his child? The Red Wolf pack and the Silver Moon pack have been at odds for generations now, though they are powerful packs in their own right. When Derek Wayland, unmated Alpha of the Red Wolf pack, wakes up one morning with a mate bond burning in his heart, what happens when he finds out who his mate truly is?

For eight years, I was James Carter's secretary and secret lover. Eight years of giving him my heart completely. I truly believed he loved me back - he was always tender and attentive when we were intimate, seemingly caring about my every need and desire. But then I overheard him telling others, "She's nothing but a stand-in, just someone to satisfy my physical needs when I'm bored. Did you really think I would marry her?" In that moment, I finally found the strength to let go and stop loving him. I handed in my resignation and walked away from it all. Yet after my whirlwind marriage to someone else, why did he suddenly start searching for me desperately across the city? Now he's here with tears in his eyes, claiming I'm the one he truly loves? Wasn't I just his convenient replacement all along?

She gave them everything—her love, her trust, her time. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. After eight years of marriage and five years of motherhood, Maya’s world shattered. Her son cried out for another woman to be his mother, and her husband brushed it off like it meant nothing. But Maya knew—children don’t lie. So she made the hardest decision of her life: she let them go. Everyone thought she’d come crawling back, broken and regretful. But instead of falling apart, Maya rose stronger than ever. She filed for divorce without looking back and poured her heart into rebuilding her life. Now, months later, when her ex shows up with their son, asking her to come home, Maya is no longer the woman who once begged for love. She’s a woman with her own name, her own strength, and a future that doesn’t include them. It's okay... And makes sense. But, they wants to be part of that her world

When it's full moon and he lost control of himself "You have got no idea how loudly you will scream" ** He was described to be ruthless, merciless, cold and everything bad but he was handsome, hot and ridiculously rich. Also. He is our Alpha's first son and the next Alpha of Night Pack, Also a well known business man but I suspect that he has a dark secret life, a dangerous life. He was unfortunately mated to me, maybe it wasn't a misfortune but he broke me! He left me after breaking my virginity, he never gave a reason for leaving… He just dumped me. Now, I am healed from his hurt but he is back and wouldn't stop stalking me, he kills or hits any man he sees around me. He came back with a part of him I never knew of, he is Possessive, overprotective and obsessed with me.

Hands. So many hands. They're everywhere, sliding up my thighs, gripping my hips, tangling in my hair. I can't see their faces, but I don't need to. I feel them. Three of them, surrounding me, claiming me. One behind me, his chest pressed against my back, his breath hot against my neck. Another in front, his mouth trailing fire down my throat. The third watching, waiting, his presence a dark promise.* "You're ours," one of them growls, and the sound vibrates through my entire body.

Do you ever wish a secret billionaire would sweep you away to a tropical island? Do you ever wish that you could be like Cinderella and find your happily ever after with the prince? From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sweet but spicy Billionaire Romance Series that will have you believing in happily ever after! Each story in this series is a stand-alone one. But with all the stories happen in one world, characters will reappear in other stories. ****** The First Set: Saltwater Kisses– An accidental marriage between Jack and Emma. Rainwater Kisses– Falling in love, and finding how they fit together with Owen and Kaylee. Freshwater Kisses– Finding love in childhood friends with Robbie and Sam. BONUS: Kisses From Jack: The first half of Saltwater Kisses, but from Jack's perspective! Timeless Love Stories: Champagne Kisses– A story of long lost love and second chances with Dean and Rachel. The Second Set: Sandcastle Kisses– Finding love in all the wrong places with Noah and Izzy Hurricane Kisses– Surviving the storm together with Logan and Olivia Barefoot Kisses– A Cinderella story with Aiden and Lena The Third Set: Sunrise Kisses– Ava and Bastian discovering true beauty Waterfall Kisses– Leo finally succumbing to Charlotte's charms Island Kisses: Gabe finally meets his match in Harper!

Celestine Smith thought there was no hope for a better future after losing everything in marriage until the Alpha divorced her. Celestine took advantage of the opportunity to rise when everyone anticipated her crumbling into dust. Without the marriage binding her rights, she reclaims everything that is hers. But she must pay the price. "Let's make a deal," he adds, a deadly look on his face. "I'll get you out of this place. "What's in it for you?" Celestine asks as the man in front of her laughs. "I need to know what you want in exchange for helping me." "You." His brief response shoots lightning bolts through her body. "I want you," he says again. Celestine exhales deeply. "We have a deal."

BLURB Lexa has always been the forgotten daughter, a pawn in her father's political games, forced into a loveless marriage with Damian, the Alpha's second son who only ever loved her sister. When her comatose sister mysteriously awakens and accuses Lexa of attempted murder, the entire pack turns against her. Branded a traitor and awaiting execution, she has no hope of mercy. Until **he** returns. Cross Blackwood, the Alpha's estranged firstborn and rumored to possess the rare dual power of both werewolf and lycan bloodlines, interrupts her execution with an earth-shattering claim: Lexa is his true mate. With the protection of the pack's rightful heir, Lexa finally has the chance to rewrite her story. Cross offers her more than safety, he offers vengeance, sealed with a marriage proposal she can't refuse. As Lexa steps into her power, she becomes the key to an ancient prophecy, the Blessed Wolf destined to lead the clans through chaos. But with her sister's wrath rising, Damian torn between newfound desire and ambition, and dark secrets threatening to unravel everything, Lexa must embrace her destiny and decide who deserves salvation...and who must face her fury. In a world of wolves, only the fiercest survive. And this time, the rejected mate will rise as Luna.