Nick Joaquin Short

No connection. No acquaintance. In one night of passion with no expectations, strangers become intimately acquainted. Will one night of lust turn into their happy ever after? Is it simply lust or could it possibly be love at first site? A collection of short stories: four couples, one day, twenty-four passionate hours. "Strangers" is created by Stephanie Walls, an eGlobal Creative Publishing author.

PART THREE- THE SECRET THREAT After an intense battle to protect his home form the Ghoul menace both Brandon and Ezekiel emerge from multiple skirmishes with hearts that are heavy with unspoken words, unrevealed truths, and unrequited passions. After the events following Ezekiels poisoning and short term Amnesia the two beings attempt to determine the consequences of their previous actions. Brandon is frightened of what is coming. He is trapped beneath the darkness that follows him, but in Ezekiel he has found light....and kindness, but as Brandon's secrets suddenly start coming out, as an hunger and a need to powerful to be denied is revealed.....? How will Ezekiel and the rest of the Guardians react? As the walls around both Brandon's and Ezekiel's desires for each other begin to crumble beneath the strain of a hidden power...and emotions run high.... A dangerous foe reveals himself to the Clan....a black beast out for blood and vengeance. Will Ezekiel be able to protect Brandon....from himself....and from the evil that follows him?

SHADOW” is about Liam Remmick and his adventures in seeking revenge. His father, Steve Nazar abandoned the mother when she was still pregnant. After the death of his mother he lived from one orphanage to another until he was thrown out to fend for himself. Because no other orphanage agreed to take him in, mostly because of his sadist character, he lives in a cave eating whatever he finds. Most times he would steal food and fruits from vendors—he would be caught, beaten to a pulp and the food he stole would be taken from him. He would go home empty handed with nothing but a bruised face and a few broken bones and swollen eyes. When he’s not stealing fruits he’s either hunting for game or mushroom. On a faithful day when he came home to his cave after a sunny day of getting nothing, he noticed someone was in his cave and after having a short squabble with the stranger—as usual Liam is good at picking fights but rarely wins any. The strange figure introduces himself as Seth, Liam’s Uncle. Liam recognised his face from the picture his mother would always look at if she missed home. Seth is Liam’s mother’s baby brother. That day is the first day Liam is meeting him or any of his relatives. Seth has been looking for him after he heard his sister died, he was close to giving up when he finally stumbles on a cave to rest and tend to his wounds only for him to meet his nephew living like a caveman. He takes him home to the Shadow Realm—is the home of people with the ability to control Shadows, Liam’s father was from there but he deserted the place.

My boy friend Caleb Ford's childhood sweetheart, Julia Leclair, is losing her hair from chemotherapy. So, he orders me to cut mine off and make her a wig. "Julia's allergic to synthetic wigs. You've been growing your hair for ten years—it's perfect." I refuse, but his friends tie me down. Someone shaves my head to the scalp, buzzing through my thick, glossy hair until nothing's left but a butchered mess. Julia sits in her wheelchair and laughs, saying I look like a toad. Caleb smiles and nods in agreement. He adds with a chuckle, "It's just some hair. Was that really necessary?" But back when I was bullied for having uneven, choppy short hair for six straight years, it was he who stood in front of me. He had his arms spread wide as he shielded me from harm. Now he's the one wielding the blade. One by one, their little circle chimes in. They tell me not to hold a grudge against someone who's sick. Caleb snaps impatiently, "Stop trying to talk sense into her. She can get lost! Did you see that fit she threw over a few strands of hair? It's not like they won't grow back." I turn around and walk away. I never look back. Later, I hear that Caleb begs for my forgiveness by kneeling his way up 9000 steps until his knees are ruined.

Kiana's life became the true definition of chaos when she entered a contract marriage with the famous billionaire, Pierce Woods... It was a mutually beneficial contract but Kiana soon realized that she signed away her freedom and peace of mind. Kiana lost more than she could count within a short period of meeting Pierce and because of what she stands to gain, she endured everything that was thrown at her but when it came to losing her life and the most precious thing to her, she fought back. But how can you win a faceless enemy? How will Kiana win the battle when she has no idea who she's up against... What will Kiana do when she finally realizes that her faceless enemy has been in plain sight all along? Is the contract marriage with the billionaire even worth the stress?

"I don't understand how she is so dominant over me, yet a complete mess under my control." - Ethan Brown ********** Madison is a full package, when it comes to being the obedient worker, best friend or sister and pampered for being short and cute, she is also the most protective person. Obviously, when Ethan hurts her best friend, she has all the reasons to hate him, keeping his dangerously beautiful face the last thing, she would want to fall for. But what happens when Ethan, ends up becoming her new boss? Will they forget their past and work together or end up becoming something they never expect.

Years later, after the death of his beloved mate Lilia, alpha Ashton (Ash to friends and family) was consumed with so much hatred that he went on a spread killing anything and anyone on his path, especially rogues since they were the ones that caused such pain to him. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, quiet, naive, beautiful Hermoine was doing everything in her power to finish college so she could go and become the most successful designer , only for that dream to be cut short when one afternoon she was kidnaped by some strangers believing that she was a witch. That's when she was introduced to a world that she didn't know existed. Can these two come together to bring justice to the people that wronged them while they are fighting to complete the mate bond before a power-hungry alpha with some witches kills them?

"Please teach me to become a better writer!" "Oh?" Joaquin got his glass sipped his whiskey as he looked at me in a condescending manner. "I need something in return," he teased as he put his glass down on the table, making me nod excitingly. "Yes, yes! I would do anything you ask for!" Hearing her feedback, he stood up from his chair then walked towards me, chuckling. "Erm..." I stepped away from him, now bumping my back on the wall behind me. Surprised, I gasped as he did a breathtakingly hot "kabe-don". He then spoke near my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "What if I ask... for a collaboration?" --- Haven Thorne, a young woman who is eager to become a great writer, secretly attended a party that was hosted by a popular and rich top author, Joaquin Greyson. Wanting to learn from the great writer, Haven gathered her courage and visited his home for consecutive days even after the constant rejections. Irritated, Joaquin entertained the persistent woman to stop her. Seeing her determination however, piqued his interest and had agreed to her request—even asking for a collaboration! Will the top author really be willing to teach the newbie, or will he lose his patience? Will she able to meet the demands of her experienced mentor, or will she disappoint him? With that in mind, what will their pen and passion teach them? Love, hate… or something more?

Lyra thought she was living a fairytale, until it turned into her worst nightmare. Her boyfriend didn’t love her. He only wanted her virginity… so he could film it and sell the video for a $30,000 bet. Betrayed, broken and humiliated. She walked away without looking back. But pain has a way of making you reckless. One wild night, she fell into the arms of Nick, the hottest guy on campus, infamous for never touching the same girl twice. It was supposed to be a one-time mistake. Except Nick is breaking every one of his rules for her… and Lyra can’t tell if she’s falling in love or walking into another trap. What she doesn’t know? Nick is a dying werewolf, and she’s the only one who can save him, and Lyra doesn't even believe wolves exist. When the truth rips her world apart, will she run… or risk everything to stay?

HOW MUCH CAN YOU PAY FOR A SINGLE NIGHT... The only offense Emily Lee seemed to have committed was being a human among werewolves. As a result of this ominous hatred, Emily fought to earn the love of her family, especially her shady half-sister, Samantha, who despised Emily's beauty. A one-night stand with the powerful CEO, Don Nick, which was a clever plan of Samantha, cost Emily her relationship with Tyler. Emily was blackmailed into giving in to Samantha's cunning demands, and she paid a heavy price, which included losing her beauty and leading a deplorable life as luna. AGAINST HER WILL SHE BECAME A LUNA, BUT FOR LOVE SHE WAS MADE A MONSTER Emily's life as the luna was nothing like the popular fairy tales would have you believe. Samantha was the Lady of the Pack and Emily's young princess, Mila Xavier, lived in ruins. Emily Lee is currently a luna without the love of her alpha and a monster confined to a dungeon. In spite of this, Samantha hunted for the last drop of her blood. In Emily lies the answer Alpha Xavier sought, and she alone can bring Lycan Ryder, the vicious Dragon Lycan King, to his feet. However, Emily is held back by fear. What was worse was that she was ignorant of the power she possessed. One thing kept Emily going. And that was the hope that she would one day give her daughter, Mila Xavier, her most cherished desire, the love of her father.