oranges by gary soto

Sabrina was taken captive by a man and was sold as a slave in the black market. She became a slave for five years, and just when she thought nothing could get worse than that, she, along with the girls she was with, were sold to a lycan man to be offered to their king. To say that she hated the lycan king is an understatement. She loathed the man to her core, feeling like his tyranny was the reason why her father died and her life became miserable. But when The Offering ceremony started, Sabrina never thought she’d find her mate. And her mate was none other than the lycan king himself. The man she hated the most.

He was busy kissing her. Catching her breath, she took out the dagger and while he’s busy stripping her skirt. Kill. She stabbed his back. He froze as she met his eyes. He growled in pain as she pushed him hard but he grabbed her neck and throw her away. She hold the dagger tightly as she landed on her foot and knee. “You little bitch.” He growled as she raised her dagger, the tip was facing down and the sharp blade was facing him. He could feel the burn on his back as he laughed. “As I expected, you weren’t just a timid girl, Bella.” He watched those blank eyes. Like there’s no soul on it. Kill. There he heard it again as she attacked immediately and he caught her wrist the blade was near on his eyes. He gripped on it and he pinned her down on the floor as he broke her wrist in anger. She growled in pain as she released the dagger. He took it and throw it out. Now with other hand, he reached her right ear and pulled out an earpiece. He crumbled it into pieces as he growled. “Bella!” He growled. “You little traitor.” She whimpered as she tried to kneed him but his knees were on hers, completely holding her down. “Shhh!” He pressed his forehead to hers as he stared right into her eyes. “Bella, Bella. My. Mate.” She froze and stops struggling. He finally let her go as he carried her to bed. He reached her broken wrist and fixed it. Then, he put cloth around it to support it. He pulled out his phone and rang Paxton. Then, he tossed it away. “Mate,” straddled over her and reached her neck.

Sometimes we go through hardships in order to get the best in our lives. Maia went through a painful ordeal, initially she had thought she married the man of her dreams but fate had another thing coming her way when now the romance turns bitter. Find out what game fate plays with her in By twist of fate.

Clara Shawn wasn't one to regularly attend parties, she was a simple human girl that preferred to stay in and read a reasonable romance novel. However her roommate, Lydia, was quite the opposite and when she dragged Clara to this mysterious party outside campus, it brought Clara to the extremely handsome Nicholas Young, a 200 year old vampire with an ego as huge as there can be. Nicholas saved Clara when no one else even noticed that she needed help, but they soon discovered that they were immensely attracted to each other in a way that was beyond explanation. At first Nicholas was just curious as to what was so special about this human girl so he pursued her, little did he know that they would end up falling hopelessly in love with each other.

I'm Kate Bamford, and I'm an EA (Executive Assistant), and I've just started a new job with - quite honestly the most gorgeous man I've ever set eyes on. This is a shame because men - gorgeous, sexy, or otherwise are completely off my radar! I can blame my ex for that, he's a controlling, miserable PoS! Weeks of being told what I can and cannot do would drive anyone to murder. Oops! The less said about that the better. No, I didn't stick a knife in his black petrified heart, but I did cause him major humiliation, which, thinking about it might have been even worse. My big worry is I have a secret, and the last thing I need is for my ex or anyone else to find out. Nobody will rescue me if my secret gets out. I'm Darius Graves, CEO of Graves and Son. I have a big problem, it concerns my mother - a matriarchal socialite who lives 3,461 miles away from me in New York. It's not far enough! My 'dearest' mother thinks nothing of getting into her private jet and popping over to see me in London as if she's going to the corner shop for a pint of milk. The thing is, she wants me to get married, but only to a girl she chooses. There is not a snowball's chance in hell of this ever happening. No way. No how. My two best friends are always coming up with various solutions to this problem. i.e. Sell the bank, or keep the bank and work from home in Katmandu. However, their latest idea is a fake marriage. But to whom? I can only think of one person, and that is my new assistant. She's beautiful and thinking about her keeps me awake at night.

Aurora Valentine wishes she could just escape this world and leave everything behind. Tormented, bullied and harassed on a daily basis, she lives in the mercy of her treacherous, gambler and alcoholic father who loves to abuse her. Her fellow students in high school despise her for no reason and she is often harassed at her work. The only thing holding her back is her five year brother, Riley, who her mother had entrusted to her on her deathbed. But things take a turn for the worst when the school’s biggest bully and bad boy, Caleb Blackburn, suddenly takes an interest in her. Suddenly, the boy who used to be her tormentor had turned into her protector, attracting the attention of not only other allies, but jealous classmates that want her gone forever. But how can she accept the fact that the boy who had tormented her all through high school was suddenly obsessed with her? Will she give love a chance or will she end up just like her mother, broken and destroyed and six feet under.

TW: ABUSE, VIOLENCE, DARK ROMANCE, DADDY KINK. THERE WILL BE MM, MF, and MFMM sex At 22 years old, Alyssa Bennett returns to her small hometown, fleeing her abusive husband with their seven-month-old daughter, Zuri. Unable to contact her brother, she reluctantly turns to his asshole best friends for help-despite their history of tormenting her. King, the enforcer of her brother's motorcycle gang, the Crimson Reapers, is intent on breaking her. Nikolai aims to claim her for himself, and Mason, ever the follower, is just glad to be part of the action. As Alyssa navigates the dangerous dynamics of her brother's friends, she must find a way to protect herself and Zuri, all while discovering dark secrets that could change everything.

“Don't come closer. There is no way I will let you have me again” he pulls him even closer, ignoring every word Reece just spilled. As always his signature grin on his face. He was so close in a way Reece could feel his warm breath and the strong smell of alcohol on his breath. His grip tightened around his ass giving it a little squeeze. “Hmm,” a little moan escapes Reece’s throat. He quickly held his hands over his mouth preventing further provocation. He was hard again, the man before him realized a trump smile. Reece may fight and talk trash, but for some reason, he obeys the man's every touch and provocation. He was like a lap rat in the hands of his abuser. The hands around his waist gently loosened up, letting him free, but before he could register what was happening, his hands slid down into his jeans ``no.. not again!!!

Kiera's way of life has always been by the book within her tribe. Her arranged marriage to a man she does not love causes issues within her soul. She knows this is not her path but if this isn't, what is? If she is to continue living as a respected member of her tribe, she must not go against her father's wishes. When a new tribe begins to grow near her's, their Chief comes to introduce himself. Something about the new outsider intrigues Kiera and draws her to him. Her tribe is against their tribe's way of life, causing a possibility of a war. If she fell in love with the outsider, what would it do to her relationship with her family?

At that age, when every woman in Keirah's hometown believes she is supposed to be married and have kids of her own already. She is still single and Childless. Getting married and having children of her own has always been her dream. But everything changed after her long-term fiance humiliated her in front of the whole town and he left on the altar to marry her sister. Keirah has been stuck in the past. It has been impossible to unlove her brother-in-law who has found his way into her immediate family. She has a plan to get over him and start fresh. The plan is to get a child into her life by deceit far away from her hometown and walk back into her hometown pregnant, with a baby, to become a single mother. Luciano Salvatore, 'The Bullet,' is the most wanted Italian boss Mafia in the world. When the two paths intertwine and the two people from different worlds meet. What happens to Keirah and her plan? PLEASE NOTE THIS BOOK CONTAINS LANGUAGE, MATURE AND DISTURBING SCENES 18+