Sharing A Shower

I stood in the shadows, the scent of pine and frost heavy in the air, watching my mate, Ethan, smile—truly smile—for the first time in years. But not at me. At her. My cousin, Isla. His first love. She sat beside him, warm and glowing, with our pups, Lucas and Mia, curled up against her like she was their real mother. They were laughing, sharing bites of ice-cream cake, the kind Lucas once said made his stomach hurt. I was never meant to be here. I wasn't his choice. He didn't fall in love with me—he was assigned to me. To him, our bond was never about love. It was a political arrangement—an alliance between two packs: his power, my father’s ambition. A tie forged not by hearts, but by bloodlines and borders. He never touched me unless required. He never looked at me like I was his Luna. In that moment, as their laughter echoed under the full moon, I felt the mate bond falter—thin, fading, like breath in winter. And I knew. I had played my part long enough. So I turned away. It was time to severe the bond that was never truly mine. But when he sensed I was really leaving, when the tether between us began to snap, he broke. Dropped to his knees, clutching the pups like lifelines, his voice raw. "Please," he whispered, "don't leave me." Even the pups cried, reaching for me with shaking hands. "Mom, we’re sorry… We didn't mean it. Please don't go."

Gina and I were just ordinary werewolves in the Silver Claw Pack. Our incomes were modest, but we married well. Her mate was the captain of the Silver Claw Pack patrol unit. Mine, the fire squad leader. They grew up together—childhood friends—and were the youngest golden duo in the Werewolf Alliance. On the day we married, our mates each bought us a luxury high-rise apartment on the top floor of the central castle, side by side, with the promise of sharing life and death together. That is, until that fateful night. Rogues broke into the central zone. Chaos reached even the upper levels of our building. The tower caught fire. Amidst the thick smoke, I sent a desperate mind-link to my mate. He blocked it. Turns out, both our mates were busy shielding their shared first love, Lifu. They ignored our calls for help. Gina dragged me as we ran. She was six months pregnant; her pup was already kicking from the panic. Her mate never showed up either. We made it to the stairwell, where we were trapped for five hours. Toxic fumes filled our lungs. I went into labor too early. My pup didn't make it. Gina bled for three days in the hospital. Her pup was gone too. Meanwhile, our mates were digging through the wreckage—twenty-four hours straight—searching for Lifu's lost dog. That was it. Right then and there, Gina and I looked at each other and knew. We were done.

The boy who made my life hell just became my stepbrother, and now we’re sharing a mansion, a last name, and a hatred so intense it might just burn us both alive. I’m Summer Winters, the scholarship girl who never wanted Crew Ashford’s attention. But after I publicly humiliated Blackwood Prep’s golden hockey captain, he’s made destroying me his personal mission. With the months of psychological warfare, I've learned to survive his cruelty. Then my mother marries his father. Now I’m living under his roof, and Crew’s rage at my presence is suffocating. Behind closed doors, his bullying intensifies, but so does something darker. Something that looks dangerously like obsession. Just when I think it can’t get worse, I meet Gray, Crew’s quiet, artistic brother who sees me in ways that terrify and comfort me in equal measure. And my childhood best friend Tyler? He’s caught between loyalty to me and forces I don’t understand yet. Three boys. Three types of devastation. And secrets buried so deep they’ll destroy us all when they surface. When everything explodes at the championship game, I’ll have to decide: which kind of destruction am I willing to survive? This is a dark reverse harem hockey romance where the line between hate and want is razor-thin, and choosing yourself might be the most dangerous choice of all.

On the way home for the holidays, my wife, Sophie Hartman, and I were caught in a terrible accident. When I opened my eyes again, we had both gone back in time to before we ever fell in love. In our previous life, we'd been married for seven years. We were polite, respectful, and distant, almost like guests sharing the same house. And all those years, she never once agreed to have a child with me. It wasn't until later that I learned the truth. Sophie had never let go of the man she once loved. This time, I chose to set her free. We quietly deleted each other's contacts, kept our distance, and walked separate paths in life. … Seven years later, she became one of the most successful traders. At a class reunion, she announced her relationship with Vincent Parker, the man she had never forgotten. When she saw that I was still single, she couldn't resist teasing me. "Lucas, I know I've always been the one you love most, the one you're proudest of, but you don't have to spend your life waiting for me." I didn't respond. I simply took my son's hand. Sophie's face went pale. Her eyes reddened as she demanded, "You said you'd love me for life, that you'd only ever have children with me!"

I came to this new school with one goal—stay invisible. No drama. No chaos. Just finish the semester and get out. But everything changed the moment I laid eyes on him—Aiden Cross. Rich, arrogant, dangerously charming. The school's golden boy and certified heartbreaker. He had no business looking at me, let alone touching me. And yet, there he was, lips still warm from kissing another girl, smirking as he walked straight toward me… and pulled me into his world with one simple, cocky line: “Care to join?” From that moment on, my plan to stay out of trouble was officially ruined. Now, I’m skipping school, arguing with him like we’ve known each other for years, sharing moments I swore I’d never allow, and feeling things I can't ignore. But Aiden? He hides behind jokes and a player reputation—brushing off anything real like it’s just another game. He’s everything I told myself to avoid. So why does my heart race every time he’s near? Between surprise kisses in the cafeteria, his jealousy-fueled fights, and our late-night talks that cut deeper than I ever expected, I’m starting to realize one thing: Sometimes the person you least expect becomes the one you can’t let go. But can I trust him with my heart? Or will he leave me like he does everyone else. He was supposed to be my nightmare. Now… he might just be my love story.

“This….this is not right,” she whispered, closing her eyes as let her head fall back as he kissed her neck. Pleasure engulfing her, her mind hazy but at the same time working. “What isn’t?” He asked, in that rich, smooth, velvet voice that was quite enough to make her drop to her knees. She opened her eyes, staring right into his hunger filled ones. “It’s forbidden.” She whispered. “It won’t be nice if we get caught,” His lips twitched and he rubbed the back of his palm down her face, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Who said anything about getting caught, Rivers?” •••• If there was one thing Sloane Rivers loved most, it was Christmas. After working her ass off all year as an attorney, she was disappointed when she was nominated to go on the mandatory firm retreat. A day after she arrived, she found herself sharing the lodge with an unexpected “roomie” Ethan Hale. An arrogant, 6’2”, ridiculously wealthy CEO due to a storm. Their cohabitating came with plenty of back-and-forth bickering and arguments that slowly turned into something she looked forward to even after he moved out of her lodge. After the retreat ended, Sloane returned to her normal life. What she didn’t expect was for Ethan to crash into her world again, challenging every principle she’d lived by. The man she’d met a week before Christmas might just be her undoing, because mixing business with pleasure was strictly forbidden.

After our company loses the eight-million-dollar deal, my girlfriend, Lindsey Corwell, gets mad at me for the first time ever. She goes as far as to heavily insult me in front of everyone in the company. Once we get home at night, she retains her professionalism. "There's no such thing as a romantic relationship between us when it comes to work. The fact that you screwed up still stands. This is your fault." Meanwhile, Lindsey's junior, Gerald Whitaker, sends me an apologetic text. "This is all my fault, Julian. I'm the one who screwed up the deal. Lindsey bought me a cupcake to comfort me. It's pretty delicious. Let me buy you a cupcake as well." The next morning, Lindsey chucks the breakfast I've made for her into the trash can without hesitation. "I told you many times that I don't eat breakfast!" At work, my colleague, Joshua Miller, suddenly approaches me and begins sharing gossip with me. "The newbie really is fearless, eh? He actually had the guts to start a conversation with Ms. Corwell and even bought her breakfast! Guess what happened after that? Not only did she eat it, but she also claimed that it was tasty!" Oh, so that's how it goes, huh? Whatever. Anyway, the woman who keeps texting me is still trying to get me to switch lovers. "If worse comes to worst, I don't mind being a side chick! C'mon, give me a try!" I purse my lips in return. "It's fine. You shall be my official girlfriend now."

Helena Cole, daughter of poor gardener Nicolas Cole, is forced into a contract marriage with Alexander Stone, the new CEO of Solara Helixia. Helena, who has always lived a quiet life, feels trapped in the marriage, but soon discovers that Alexander is not the cruel and heartless man she had believed him to be. As Helena and Alexander navigate the treacherous waters of their families' bitter feud, they begin to develop feelings for each other. However, their love that begins to build as a result of sharing the same roof is forbidden, and they must keep their relationship a secret from their families, lest they face the consequences. For Helena, the only family property left for her father would be taken away. Meanwhile, Nicolas Cole and Alexander's mother, Isabella Stone, continue to plot against each other, determined to destroy the other's life and property. As tensions between the two families escalate as Nicholas Cole fights to take back what is rightfully his. Helena and Alexander find themselves caught in the middle, struggling to keep their love alive while their families wage war against each other, she gradually navigates from being a weak young lady to a strong and powerful woman. Even though Isabella keeps oppressing Helena's father; he was determined to fight till his last breath. Helena and Alexander must make a choice that will change their lives forever. Will they choose love or family loyalty? Will they later Find out the main reason for their arranged marriage? Will they find out the secrets behind the deaths of Mrs. Cole and Mr. Stone? Will the internal enemies and obstacles behind all the troubles in their relationship be exposed? Find out in "AGAINST THE TIDES", a gripping and steamy billionaire romance novel that will leave you breathless until the end.

As Jonathan leaned in to drink blood from my neck, a surge of both pleasure and tingling sensation coursed through my veins. I could feel the connection between us deepening with every drop he took. He paused momentarily, his lips still pressed against my neck, and looked up at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You know, my love, there's something intoxicating about your blood. It carries a sweetness that sets my senses on fire." I chuckled softly; the sound laced with a mix of excitement and affection. "Oh, is that so? Well, I'm glad to know this. Consider it my gift to you, an elixir of love and devotion." He resumed his gentle feeding, his eyes never leaving mine as he savoured each drop. "It's more than just a gift, Mia. It's a reminder of our deep connection, an intimate bond that transcends the ordinary. Drinking your blood is an act of trust and surrender, a symbol of our eternal love." I sighed with utter contentment, my fingers caressing his cheek. "And with each sip you take, I feel a sense of unity, a merging of our souls. It's as if we're sharing a part of ourselves, intertwining our very essence in this moment." *** This is the story of a woman who fell in love with a mysterious man. He hurt her, insulted her, and did everything he could to keep her away from him because he was too dangerous for her, but he didn't know the strength of true love. He thought she was just an ordinary girl, but her hidden supernatural powers astounded him. Join Jonathan and Mia on their paranormal journey, which is full of secrets, true love, and suffering.

I, Daphne Thorn, am an impoverished woman from the slums. William Blackburn, on the other hand, is the son of the richest man in Wylland. Unexpectedly, the two of us who share such vastly different identities end up being together. So far, we've tried out various difficult positions in our bouts of passion during our secret rendezvouses in secluded areas. Like the madman he is, William often torments me in every session. I'm so exhausted that I'm about to fall asleep. That's when a notification pops up on William's phone, which is sitting next to me. So, I take a peek at it. "William, my stomach hurts a lot! I'm suffering so much right now!" It's a text from someone named "Ellie". All the exhaustion in me disappears. I can feel my chest tightening up in discomfort. Once William is done with his shower, he leaves the bathroom and picks up his phone. "You should sleep first. I'm heading out," he says. When I see William turning his back on me, I blurt out, "Are you going to meet that childhood sweetheart of yours?" William wheels around to look at me. Suddenly, he moves to lift my chin. There is a trace of wariness in his eyes. "Don't go around sticking your nose in my business, Daphne. I like my woman docile and obedient." But I end up stalking William all the way to Royale Hotel, where I witness him visiting Elaine Moore, his childhood sweetheart. He coaxes her as though she's the most precious treasure in the world. I don't have the courage to question William in person. But still, I want to know who he thinks is more important to him—me or Elaine? So, I give him a call. "William, my gastritis is acting up again! It hurts so much! Can you drive me to the hospital?" I said. I use the same tactic that Elaine had used earlier. That night, I keep waiting for William, and yet he never returns to me. That's when I decide to not love him anymore.