My Former Flame: The Tycoon Novels & Stories

He was so close I could smell expensive tobacco, rain, and a raw, heavy musk that made my pulse hammer in my throat. "I'm Franco," he murmured, his gaze dropping to my mouth. "And I think Lyle just made the biggest mistake of his pathetic life. He thinks he broke you. I think he just let you off the leash." The heat radiating off his body was a physical weight. I had just lost my husband, but standing this close to Franco, the only thing I felt was a sudden, violent ache between my thighs. He held out a heavy, matte black invitation. "The Apex Bloom. It's a survival game for the elite. The prize is a billion pounds. But it doesn't reward beauty, Lolita. It rewards the hunger of a woman who h

We shared a certain, unspoken rhythm, a comparable intensity in how we approached life, which is perhaps why we connected so quickly. What unfolded last night was never part of my plans. I had sought simple conversation, a quiet exploration of a potential connection, maybe even a friendship. But the evening took a different direction. Hearing the story of her disastrous relationship with that absolute jerk of an ex, seeing the loneliness and deep sense of betrayal reflected in her eyes, pushed me to make a truly reckless, crazy offer. The most astonishing part? She had accepted. But I was undeniably glad she did. I was glad I was the one who could momentarily erase the sting of her past and

“Before, I thought the Hart family’s harsh treatment of you was just a family matter, so I didn’t interfere. But since they pushed you that far, there’s no reason for them to continue existing.” Ella sighed dramatically. “So those novels about ‘when it gets cold, the tyrant CEO makes a company go bankrupt’ are actually true?” The domineering CEO really could ruin a company with the flick of a finger. Tiesto smiled faintly. “And the part about the tyrant CEO doting on his delicate wife seven times a night—that’s true too.” He leaned down and captured her lips, biting and teasing them slowly. She felt a slight sting and a rush of sweetness at the same time. “Where did you even read that stuff?

I arch toward him, my fingers threading through his hair. Back to reality. I closed my eyes again, trying to ignore how my body still thrummed with the ghost of his touch. Tomorrow, I'll be Audrey Lane again—professional, composed, in control. I leaned my forehead against the cool window glass, watching London fade into the distance. One night of passion with a stranger. No one would ever know. And I would never see that man again. But little did I know how wrong I was.

“Dragged you? Darling, dont flatter yourself, you leapt onto that rune like you were swan diving into eternal damnation. I just tried to stop you from combusting.” I crossed my arms. “You touched me.” “You touched ancient magic.” He shot back. “I’m not a damn lightning rod.” “Well congratulations, because now we are shackled in some sort of cursed wedding.” He smirked, trouble laced with charm. “Well, Flame, the honeymoon is off to a great start. Tell me when do we get to the fun part?” “Stop it.” I snapped. “Stop calling me Flame. Stop acting like this is all some twisted joke.”

“Move out of the way. You’ve done enough damage. Let us leave. The fire is spreading— if you stay here, you’ll die.” Tyler laughed, a harsh, hollow sound that echoed through the hallway. “Die? What do I care about dying? I’ve already lost everything. My money, my business, my wife, my home. I had a life once, Liam. I had everything I ever wanted. And then it was all taken away. I have nothing left. Nothing.”

Not ever. Her letter burned in my mind—the one she had written five years ago. She had said she didn’t love me, that she was leaving me behind for someone richer, better, safer. She had told me to move on and forget her. I had folded those words into my chest and carried them like a stone ever since. And now, here she was, walking back into my life, thinking maybe the old Orion—the soft, laughing, love-struck Orion—could ever exist again.

“Let me make this clear to you, princess. I own you. I f*cking bought you. Whatever order I give, you obey.” “You don’t own me, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is! I have no business with you. I’m leaving!” I snapped, moving past him — but his hand shot out, gripping my wrist. “It’s Luca. Luca Stone,” he said, his voice low and final. “And from today onward, this is where you live. Don’t make me repeat myself twice.” He released my hand and walked out, leaving me frozen in place. My jaw dropped. Did he just say Luca Stone? The billionaire Luca Stone the man known for his good looks, his ruthlessness, his empire. I wasn’t just sold to anyone. I was sold to him.

They'd only met Grav once. Tucker's gaze left mine and went to my hand and the diamond that sparkled on my finger. Darkness fell over his face, suffocating. I knew this expression. He was enraged. "Are you..." He could not even get the words out. "Ah yes," I asserted, wanting to feel triumphant, redeemed, at least a little less humiliated, but that triumph never came. "I'm engaged to Flinn Coltridge. You remember him?" A muscle in Tucker's jaw twitched. I strained not to wince. His anger always reached me. It was a storm cloud following every good minute in our relationship. And yet, my loud, obnoxious mouth couldn't keep quiet. I had to get him angry.