stark contrast synonym

Human one day, wild beast the next. Maggie’s perfect life is turned into shambles when she is bitten by an injured wolf while hiking. Six months in a mental institution undergoing torturous treatments have left her bitter and out for blood. With a little aid, she escapes and finds herself indebted to her savior, who is after the wolf that changed her life, the elusive Ultima. After years of searching, she finally catches a break. The Alpha’s Freakshow is the key to her freedom, and she finally has a plan. Only one problem, the more time she spends with the Alpha, the more she seems to fall for him. And falling for the man she intends to betray might just be the death of her.  Axel has a checkered past of heartbreak and betrayal. After being exiled, he finds himself an outcast and an alpha with no pack, so he creates one of his own. Axel sought out the misfits within the shifter community and gave them hope again. Banding together, they created a show that brings magic to the humans and money to their pockets. Everything seems to be going well for Axel. That is until his mate shows up and she is picture-perfect, the stark opposite of him. Axel is torn between accepting her and telling her his darkest secret or rejecting her to spare her the pain of what he is.

Alpha King Maddox nips at my ear. “Do you like that, little flower?” I moan an answer as his other hand slides my nightgown down off of my shoulder so his mouth comes down on me, his tongue lapping at my sensitive skin. ***** I''m just his breeder, traded for a debt. But can I convince King Maddox I could be more--so much more? *Isla* When my pack Alpha takes me to the castle to see the king, I have no idea he's trading me for a personal debt. Scared and alone, I contemplate what might happen to me and miss my family. But then I meet King Maddox. His reputation for being cruel is a contrast to the care I see deep in his eyes. Is it possible he could develop feelings for me? A poor girl brought to the castle to complete a task? I am just a tool to him after all. Or am I? *Maddox* After my wife died, I had no intention of falling in love again, but I need an heir. A simple solution presents itself in the form of a beautiful girl, given to me in exchange for a debt. But the more I get to know Isla, the more drawn to her I am. Is it possible she's just the one to make me forget the tragic night my wife died... a night I take full responsibility for? With pressure from other Alphas to marry one of their daughters, and rumors that Isla isn't who she seems to be, my decision will not be easy. But then, I'm the Alpha King. My decisions are never easy. I hope I make the right one. Because Isla is starting to get under my skin--I want to be on top of hers. Forever Season 5 now available!

Adrian Lester woke up with a hangover. Sleepily, he yawned and sat up, only to remember that he had a date with Lola and went drinking himself at the bar. How did he get home? Suddenly he realised he was stark naked. He stood up quickly as the vague memory of the previous evening flashed through his mind and he smiled. The blood stain on the bed, the rumpled bedspread and the feeling of sexual satisfaction made him wear a broad gin. Lola finally gifted him her virginity! With that in mind, he would be responsible for his mistress henceforth. More reason why he needed to get this horrible marriage over with that tramp surnamed Leon. From that night on, Ava Leon's life kept going down in despair, until eventually, her husband Adrian Lester had her jailed and sent to prison.

An erotic romance When Elna's father first suggests an arranged marriage between her and Brandon Stark—the hot British billionaire—she is reluctant to go on a date with the man. On realising the dire state of their family business and the stress it puts on her beloved parents, Elna makes the bold decision to go ahead with it. Her family comes first. What she expects is a cold, cordial marriage. What she hopes is for their relationship to eventually lead to something more, as was the case with her parents. Ambitious go-getter that she is, Elna takes it upon herself to make her calm, controlling, anti-romance husband fall helplessly in love with her. But what she doesn't expect is to be drawn into Brandon's BDSM world of chains and whips, doms and subs. Will Brandon's love be more than Elna can handle?

“Maybe I'll come back later. I'm sorry,” I said, tension strangling my voice. “No, please. Stay!” He said in a calm tone. I looked at him hysterically, and, like he had just recognised his own nudity, he smiled confidently. “I'll just put on something if you're uncomfortable.” “Uncomfortable?” I scoffed, trying to sound assuring. “No, I'm not uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of naked boys.” He shot a glance at me, sending a thrill running down my chest. “Boys?” He asked, closing the distance between us. He grabbed my left hand and placed it on his hard breast, his heart beating steady, a stark contrast to mine, which raced like an antelope running from a predator in a jungle. “Well… I've seen a lot of naked boys, but not a naked man…” I whispered softly, gazing and feeling lost in his starry eyes. ******************* Reina Grayson, the wolf-less Alpha's daughter, harbours a dangerous secret: she possesses a silver wolf. If her Pack discovers, she’ll be killed. When Alpha Van Killian, whom she was forced to marry, rejects her for her step-sister, Reina is poisoned and dies. Gifted a second chance by the Moon Goddess, she is reborn as Narah Smith. On her eighteenth birthday, she uncovers her true identity, but she had lost her wolf. She returns to her hometown, now living among her enemies as a common maid. As she navigates her past, she forms a bond with Alpha Van, who believes she’s his second chance mate despite being married to her step-sister. But with a vengeful heart and a determination to uncover the mysteries of her death, Narah must choose: embrace her fated mate or accept Alpha Zander’s proposal? Can she seek revenge on those who wronged her, or will she remain forever in the shadows?

Sophia and Rider are set to take over the alpha title of their respective packs when they turn nineteen. Although their families are close, the two have clashed since they were kids because of their strong personalities.  Where Sophia is impulsive and outspoken, Rider is a planner and domineering.  Sophia doesn’t believe in fate; she prefers to carve her own path when it comes to life and love. In contrast, Rider believes in fate but expects the Moon Goddess to pair him with a sweet, innocent, submissive mate who will obey and depend on him for protection.  When rogues start attacking packs at random, Rider and Sophia are forced to work together to deal with the rising threat.  The chemistry between the two burns hot, but their strong personalities make working together difficult. Will they be able to find a middle ground? Or will they kill each other before the rogues get a chance to?  Will Rider be able to tame the little spitfire named Sophia, or will she stand her ground and resist him?  What happens when vampires and witches take notice of the looming war and team up with the rogues? Will Sophia and Rider have what it takes to save their people?  Secrets regarding Sophia’s royal bloodline will be discovered, which draw unwanted attention in her direction. Will Rider be able to protect her from new threats? Does Sophia even need protection? 

Viren, the main character of the story, has a complex history that has led him to hold a strong aversion to romantic commitment. As the only son of industrialist Rai Bahadur, he carries the weight of responsibility, as the CEO of the family company. Despite being perceived as a shrewd and ruthless businessman, Viren possesses a deeply caring and considerate nature, especially when it comes to his family and loved ones. His tall, well-built stature and sharp features make him a highly sought-after eligible bachelor, but his past has left him wary of commitments and hesitant to embrace love. In stark contrast, Priya is a vibrant, middle-class woman who works as an assistant to Rai Bahadur. She is kind-hearted, devoted to her family and possesses beauty and intelligence. The story progresses with Viren expressing concern for Priya's scepticism and offering to help her with her problems. Priya then shares her family's financial challenges, including her brother-in-law demanding money and her father's mounting medical expenses, which she struggles to meet with her salary. In a heartfelt gesture of support, Viren offers to arrange the necessary funds for Priya if she agrees to a paper marriage, as his father's critical condition compels him to settle down. He grants Priya two days to consider his proposal. Despite their initial reservations, they unexpectedly find themselves falling in love with each other. Unaware of each other's feelings, they continue to navigate the complexities of their awkward and initially unwanted relationship. According to their contract, they eventually decide to dissolve their marriage after the completion of a year. However, following their separation, they both come to realize their true feelings for each other. The question arises: will they proceed with the divorce despite their newfound understanding, or will they find a way back to each other?

Book One of Legacies of Destiny series. The next generation of the Dark Moon series. Kalen Anderson is destined to be the first female Alpha of the Dark Moon pack. Her entire life has been spent preparing her for it – heart, body, and soul. The journey ahead is a long and hard road, but she is ready to take it on. What happens when fate decides to throw her a curveball in the form of Maddox Stark, a fellow junior at Crestwood Academy? He is the son of someone who will stop at nothing to see his revenge plan succeed. To accomplish that, he crosses paths with something dark and dangerous. Something that has the potential to destroy everything. With the aid of her visions, Kalen is able to deliver herself up to an enemy without him realizing that it is her intention to be captured in the first place. She knows full well that she might succumb to the torture that will ensue, but it is the only way to identify what it is that he has enlisted the help of. Kalen and Maddox are fire and ice – a raging storm and a blistering calm all wrapped up into one. The push and pull between the two has them both confused and conflicted. Placing her trust in him is the last thing she imagines herself doing, but it might be the only way to survive what is coming.

t was in the stark interrogation room where Caesar laid eyes on Lola's face for the very first time. Lola, accused of betraying her own country, was in a dire situation. She was draped in nothing but a flimsy, damp garment and weighed down by the clanking chains that bound her to the floor. Clad in his regal black military uniform, Caesar sat as the judge of her trial. Years later, when news of their lavish wedding emerged, the world assumed it was the genesis of their love story. "They said when Caesar, once a general, first saw Lola, shivering in agony and desperation, his heart swelled with empathy. He tenderly removed his black gloves and reached out to her with love." In reality, Caesar never removed his gloves throughout the trial. He sat outside the iron railing, observing Lola with a frigid countenance. But it wasn't until yesterday that Caesar finally held Lola in his arms.

Bonnie Walton had a crush on Jude Ashford since the first time she saw him when she was twelve and he was twenty-two. Jude is her brother’s best friend. He was always indifferent towards Bonnie until the summer she turned fifteen and he caught her reading a smut book and promised it was their little secret. Over the years, her feelings for Jude developed from a crush into a burning, heart-wrenching desire.  After years of not seeing each other, she can no longer hide her feelings for him on her eighteenth birthday, and their attraction ignites. They have the most lustful and sinful that leads to Bonnie losing her vCard to Jude.  Jude Ashford is the synonym of perfection, CEO of Ashford Publishing. He never steps out of line, being the most respectful man on the face of the earth. Jude always tries to be away from the spotlight his name brings.  What will happen when the woman that broke his heart ten years ago reappears in his life engaged? Will Jude be able to fight the jealousy he feels and allow her to find happiness with another, or will he fight to be with her?  Now that Bonnie is back in New York and living with her brother, Will Jude, and Bonnie be able to keep their hands to themselves? Or will their red-hot scorching desire for each other to get them to be together and reveal their attraction? Even if it means losing their best friend and brother’s support?