Sliding Door Moment

Wanting to give my boyfriend, Justin Letterman, a surprise on Valentine's Day, I throw myself at him when he enters the room. I push him against the door and kiss him passionately. It isn't easy to transfer the spiked wine from my mouth into his, but his reaction is cold and indifferent. He says nothing as he pushes me aside to turn on the light. "Don't you want my first time anymore, darling?" I ask bashfully as I grab his hand. His breathing turns heavy in an instant. Smiling, I slip my hand under his shirt, but I'm distracted when I hear the front door creak open. "Babe," Justin coos in a deep and hoarse voice. "Why are you in such a hurry?" my best friend, Natalie Quinn, asks coyly. The wanton noises of kissing and moaning echo into the room. Before I can snap back to my senses, I'm yanked into a closet. Am I the one getting caught, or am I the one doing the catching?

When I'm on my break, I decide to help my neighbor, Yvonne Cook, fix the gas valve, which has been leaking gas. But she instantly lodges a report, saying that I've gone against the rules. She demands compensation for the shock that she's suffered as well. I don't bother defending myself. Instead, I just write a reflection report. After that, my squad leader sentences me to disciplinary confinement. Yvonne wastes no time gloating in the tenants' group chat. "It's time to teach these power-abusers a good lesson, anyway!" Three days later, a fire breaks out in Yvonne's apartment. Thick plumes of dark smoke keep rising from the burning apartment. Yvonne wails as she bangs on my door and pleads with me. "Please crack open the door and put out the fire!" I can only sigh from behind my front door. "I'm under disciplinary suspension right now, so I can't break protocol. You should wait for the fire truck instead."

Adrian woke to warmth, too much warmth. His heart nearly stopped when he realized his head was resting against Kaelen’s chest, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. Panic surged. He shoved himself upright, only to freeze when he saw it, thin, glowing red threads coiling around his wrist, binding him to Kaelen. His blood ran cold. “What the hell…?” Adrian whispered, staring at the unmistakable bond mark. Kaelen stirred, blinking awake. For a moment, confusion flickered in his eyes, then shock. He tugged the sheet up to cover himself, gaze darting between Adrian and the red mark linking them. “What did you do? Adrian hissed, his voice breaking. You’re my sister’s fiancé! You’re supposed to be her mate, not...” He trembled as he scrambled for his clothes. Kaelen sat up, still staring at the line as though it mocked him. “I… I don’t know. But this—this isn’t a mistake. Adrian, you’re my mate.” “No!. Adrian’s hands shook as he pulled his shirt over his head. Whatever happened last night...forget it. This is wrong. You hear me? It never happened. Don’t you dare breathe a word of this to anyone.” Kaelen’s voice softened, almost pleading. “Adrian…” But Adrian couldn’t bear to listen. His chest ached as he turned away, slamming the door behind him, leaving Kaelen staring at the red bond that refused to fade. Two souls tied together by fate. One forbidden connection that could destroy them both.

My husband, Cesare Ferrante, the most feared Don of the Ferrante family, had always hated children. Yet everything changed the moment my stepsister, Bianca Moretti, moved in next door with her six-month-old baby. Suddenly, my husband became obsessed with that child. He personally fed the baby formula, sang lullabies, and carried the baby everywhere he went. Every day, he came home exhausted at dawn, yet his face glowed with joy, as if that baby occupied his entire soul. I became invisible to him. Three days ago, someone forced my car off the road, and I crashed into the median. Blood streamed down my forehead, and my vision swam. I called Cesare 55 times. He did not answer a single call. Instead, he posted a photo of the baby on his social media. [My little angel smiled today!] I had had enough. Tonight at the family banquet, every member of the famiglia was seated around the table. I raised my final toast, then set down my glass. "I want a divorce." They all froze. "Are you insane?" My parents' voices rose in unison. Cesare grabbed my wrist, disbelief written across his face. "Giulia, you want to divorce me just because I was busy taking care of the baby and didn't answer your calls? You're actually jealous of a six-month-old child?" I did not meet his eyes. Instead, I stared at the glaring kiss mark behind his ear. "Since you love that child so much," I said calmly, "I'll make it easy for you. Go be that child's father."

Elaine is a twenty-five year old woman who has been married to a mob boss since the day she turned eighteen as an alliance for her family. Damitri was a loving and caring husband always doting on Elaine until a horrible accident turns him into a monster. Someone close to Damitri will betray him by helping Elaine escape after he put her in a coma for five weeks. Meanwhile three thousand miles away, Tristan, an Aplha with a reputation that makes most grown men shake in their boots is growing restless. He does not have his mate and is not sure when he will meet her. Even though his pack has been thriving since the great war he is feeling more lonely than ever. When an unexpected human comes onto pack territory looking to buy a cabin deep within the forest Colt asks Tristan to come in to approve the purchase. As soon as he opens the door his wolf Hades stirs and is practically jumping up and down in his mind screaming 'Mate! Mate! Mate!" In the same moment three hundred miles south of where she is another Alpha will sense his mate as his own. They knew this day was coming but will he be able to share her with another as they promised? Tristan knows he must take things slow with Elaine since she is human but when bounty hunters and those wanting his mate come for her he will need to make a drastic decision. Will Elaine think Tristan is completely insane or will her need to live make her more excepting of his bombshell news? Will both of her Alpha's be able to save her in time before history repeats itself?

"You certainly do smell nice for a doxy,” He groaned, burying his face in my neck. "You should be mine." I chuckled, sliding my long nails over his neck, right atop his jugular. Hayden froze. “The fuck? Is that-“ “Wolfsbane?” I purred. “Yes it is.” He held his breath for a minute, before gritting out in a low gravelly voice. “Who the fuck are you?” I pulled away, still seated on his lap, grinning wolfishly. My tongue flicked out to lick my fangs before I replied. “Nova. Nova Frost.” ***** At the annual Howl Gathering, eighteen year old Nova Frost finds out that she is mated to the Alpha Hayden of the Storm clan. An Alpha said to rule over the mountain regions with an iron fist. He rejects her without a second thought. That same night, her father is killed along with several other Alphas, one of the few who made it out alive was Hayden. Those who made it out alive are called The Nine. Nova knows Hayden and the nine killed her father and spends seven years sharpening her sword for revenge. Seven years later she attends the howl gathering festival in disguise, out to seduce Alpha Hayden, find out why he and the nine had killed her father and then have her revenge all in the Seven days of the Howl Festival. What could possibly go wrong? Everything.

“He pressed me to the wall with one hand tight around my throat, the other sliding beneath the thin silk clinging to my skin. I should’ve been begging for help. Instead, my knees went weak when he leaned in, his mouth hot against my ear. ‘Does it hurt, darling?’ he whispered. I shook my head, even as his fingers left bruises. ‘Good. I like it when you take it.’ God, I hated him. God, I wanted him to never let go.” A DARK, EROTIC TALE OF OBSESSION, HUMILIATION, AND HUNGER. They called him the Devil, a sadist with a crooked smile and hands built for breaking men. In the underworld’s most perverse auction, Luca Ruelle is nothing but trembling prey, sold for a price no soul should fetch. Silk-wrapped, bare, choking on shame and smoke, he should be praying for rescue. But Kain Astor doesn’t rescue. He claims, corrupts, and devours. He teaches Luca how it feels to be owned. How pain can bloom where fear lives. How pleasure is just another kind of cruelty. Every command is a dare, every punishment a promise. Under Kain’s hands, Luca learns the exquisite agony of surrender, and the terror of how badly he needs it. He should be fighting for his life. Instead, he’s sinking to his knees, eyes glazed, lips parted, whispering the one word that seals his fate— “Please.”

“Benjamin, stop! This isn't the right place. If anyone catches us, I'm done for.” He smirked, locking the door behind him. He approached, grabbing me and placing me on my desk. He tried to kiss me again, but I dodged. “Benja—” I started, but he cut me off with a whispered, “Shush.” Before I knew it, he lowered his head, removed my panties, and spread my legs. The moment he placed his tongue on my clit, I felt like I was in heaven. I couldn't believe I had gone years without sex, especially craving Benjamin, who knew exactly how to please me. Racheal Williams battles the pain of childbirth only to face an even greater torment when her newborn twins were almost taken from her. She managed to keep her daughter but lost her son to her ex-husband. She was forced into an impossible agreement with her ex-husband Benjamin and her mother during their bitter divorce. She was shattered but hopeful; she clung to the dream of reuniting with her son. Four and a half years later, as a fierce and determined police officer in Rome, Racheal has rebuilt her life with her daughter Kyla. But her past resurfaces, her ex-husband Benjamin appeared in Rome. Benjamin discovers the daughter he never knew existed and seeks to reclaim his place in her life, igniting a battle of wills and hearts. Amidst the chaos, betrayal, and an undeniable connection that still lingers, Racheal and Benjamin are thrust into a collision course of love and loss. Can they find a way to mend the broken pieces of their past, or will the secrets and lies keep them apart?

“Valerian!” a cry came from outside and my feet rushed to the door, my body having recognised the voice before my brain could comprehend what was happening. I yanked the door open and almost broke down crying at the sight before me, “Queen Lyla!” Bethany gasped from behind me. I scooped her into my arms, my eyes searching for any unwanted presence before rushing her into the living room. “Valerian put me down, we don’t have much time!” she rushed out the command as she struggled to get down. Silently obeying, I put her down, taking note of how she looked and it wasn’t pretty. Her hair, that was always neatly made, looked like a bird’s nest; twigs and leaves hanging from the knots. Her long white sleeping robe dirty and bloody from her waist down, she looked a royal mess; with a bunch of blankets wrapped around her upper half. “My Queen, what happened?” Beth asked as she handed me my medicine bag.

When Jo turned 18, her life as a human was no more. A series of events throws Jo on a journey of discovering her past while falling in love and defeating enemies she never expected. Every hurdle they face is strength for Jo and Nikko, her fated mate. And she will do anything to prove that she is the Luna he, the pack, and even the wolf world are searching for.**When I opened the door, I got a breath of evergreen and lavender. Then the door shut behind me, and I felt tingles all over my body as I was pushed up against the wall."I forgot something, so I had to turn around and come back," he said softly as he lifted my arms above my head, using one of his large hands to pin the wrists."What did you forget?" I managed to choke out as he trailed his free hand down my arm, sending sparks and tingles in its wake."This." And he grabbed my face and pushed his lips onto mine.**Becoming a Luna is written by Kelsey Gittings, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.