Mark Twain Library Long Beach

Struggling to make ends meet while having to care for a sick mother, Lena is forced into a perilous choice: to borrow a large sum of money from Damian, a feared mafia lord with zero mercy in applying his power. The price? Seven years of her life serving him in his treacherous underworld. What starts as a desperate bid for survival soon turns darker. Damian is ruthless, using her as a pawn in his world of power where secrets and loyalty are as fragile as glass. Though many have shared his bed, no one has touched his heart—he views love as a weakness he can't afford. But as Lena's resilience and quiet strength start to crack his hardened exterior, Damian finds himself questioning everything he once believed. Torn by her own fears and his growing affection, Lena has to tread carefully in a world where betrayal hides around every corner. In a place where love's a liability and trust's a death sentence, will Lena be able to survive Damian's shadowed world, or will she lose herself in the process?

Ryan Carter came to Arkwood University to escape his past especially Jake, the possessive ex who blurred every line between love and control. But his “fresh start” takes a messy turn when he clashes with Daniel Brooks: the cold, perfect, student body VP with too much power and zero patience for Ryan’s sharp tongue. They hate each other on sight. But hate has a way of burning too hot and the line between enemies and something else is thinner than either of them is ready for. What starts as tension becomes obsession. And when the past comes knocking, Ryan finds himself stuck between who he was, who he’s becoming, and a boy he never planned to want.

All Raina just wanted was a peaceful home but rather, she ended up living a miserable and submissive life. Despite giving her husband everything, he still betrayed her trust and almost got her killed but then, he was going to regret it. Rina was going to get her revenge, even if it meant selling herself and becoming someone entirely new, but what if she then discovers that everything was planned?

I didn't hide your daughter, you're the one who hide from your daughter, Karic. "Oo nga at di kita masyadong kinilala p-pero pinapasok kita sa buhay ko kahit di ako sigurado, nagtake ako ng risk dahil ang sabi mo mahal mo ako! Gusto kong maranasan magmahal pero binigo mo ako. Nasira ang lahat sa akin, ang pag-aaral ko, ang pangarap ko! Kaya wag mokong sumbatan na para bang kasalanan ko!"

He conquered her people. Now he wants her heart. Freya was a human warrior, captured when the werewolves ravaged her realm and slaughtered everything she held dear. Labeled a prisoner of war, she expected death until the cold, powerful Alpha King set his sights on her. He doesn’t just spare her. He claims her as his bride. Thrown into a savage world ruled by her enemies, Freya swears to destroy the werewolf clan from the inside. But as she begins to uncover secrets buried beneath the bloodshed and as the Alpha’s icy walls begin to crack, her hatred blurs. How do you kill the monster… when your heart starts beating for him?

“Shh, little girl,” he growled, teeth catching my bottom lip. I fought the moan, but he circled my clit, my hips jerked helplessly against his hand. Then he pushed my panties aside and sank two thick fingers inside me. I soaked his palm, knees buckling as tremors wracked me. “That’s it, cum for me,” he whispered against my ear. I did. Waves crashed through me while he held me up, stroking gently, murmuring filthy praise that made it sweeter, deeper, more shattering than anything I’d ever felt with a woman. I’m a lesbian. I’ve always known it, claimed it shamelessly. I’ve mapped women’s bodies with my mouth, hands, loving every touch and gasp. My best friend’s tongue between my legs has made me come countless times. The only man I tried, my ex, was awkward, unsatisfying. I swore off them forever. I love women. I love my best friend. So why does this man, her father, the one I should never want make me wetter with one stroke than she ever has? Why am I aching for his cock, pushed inside me, thrusting relentlessly, filling me, ruining me in ways no woman could? Why does bending over his desk for him feel like the right thing to do? One forbidden touch. One devastating truth: I might never want another woman again. When I rejected the vice chancellor's advances, my best friend's obsessive aunt, she threatened expulsion. My friend took me to her father, the college owner. One look at his body and I was lost. That night in their home, hiding in the kitchen while watching him cook, I touched myself, craving what is forbidden. Will my best friend discover my sudden addiction to her father? Will her aunt ever stop wanting me?

"My brothers an I had a deal," he murmured drawing small patterns on my bare back with his fingers. "What, deal?" I asked between gasps. The light feathered touches were driving me crazy.... sending delicious shivers down my spine. "Hmmmm." Zephyr hummed low in his throat, and his gaze dropped to my lips. _kiss me_ I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. "Wagered on who will win you over first. But I'm guessing you don't want a contest do you?" he lip curled into a wicked smirk, "I'm guessing, little wolf, that you want all three of us." My eyes drift shut... "But the problem is...Will you be able to handle all three of us, Aurora?" ********* When her mate's betrayal leaves her shattered, Aurora is thrust into the land of the rogues and caught between the three rogue King Brothers, who were sworn rivals. Her deep hatred for her mate, leads to unexpected alliances and a love she never saw coming. But will the love be enough to bring peace to their chaos?

Sandra, also known as Ruby, is a young women who meets a popular rock-star. She feels a strong connection with him even though she is engaged. As she progresses with both relationships her world is turned upside down. Both men in her life know the truth about who and what she really is. Once the truth is revealed she is now forced to pick not only a lover, but a life style. One where she lives amongst the supernatural, and the other as a normal woman who knows the truth but can never involve herself in their affairs. Which will she choose, and does she really have a choice in the matter as her role in all of this is bigger than she could imagine. Where does her heart belong, with her old life or her new one.

In my last life, I was kidnapped alongside the fake heiress, Lilith Howe, at the same time. My father, the richest man in the country, claimed he had to prove his impartiality. Without a second thought, he told the police to rescue Lilith first and refused to pay a ransom for me. In front of the cameras, he declared with solemn conviction, "A daughter of the Howes must have backbone. We will never give in to criminals!" Lilith returned without a single scratch, and the internet crowned her a miracle girl. Meanwhile, I was killed by the kidnappers. There was barely anything left of me to bury. As my soul hovered above the scene, I watched my brother sneer at what little remained. "Good," he said. "At least she won't come back and be an eyesore to Lilith. We'll finally have some peace in the house." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the exact moment the kidnappers called with their demands. A knife was pressed against my throat. On the other end of the line, my father's voice was just as cold, just as absolute. "I'm not choosing. My money belongs to charity. If she's a Howe, she should be ready to sacrifice for the family." I laughed. If he was willing to destroy his own flesh and blood for the sake of so-called honor, then this time, I would grant them a reunion in hell!

I stared at the photos attached to an email. My Alpha mate, Marcus Hale, was supposed to be negotiating a partnership with another pack. But the photo showed him standing in Firefly Woods, a famous dating spot. Across from him were his long-lost first love and my two children. The four of them looked happy and complete, like a perfect family frozen in time. My heart jolted painfully. At the same moment, I realized that what I had with Marcus was over.