Stay Close

The plan was simple: go stay with my mom for a while, meet her new husband, maybe fake a few smiles, and then quietly count down the days until I could leave. I didn’t expect to end up at a club on my first night out, dancing too close to a dangerously hot silver fox who looked at me like he already owned me. One drink turned into a blur of heat and hands. We didn’t even make it into the car; he had me up against it, my fingers gripping the roof while his mouth made promises he definitely kept. I thought it was just a one-night mistake. A beautiful, filthy secret. Until the next morning… when I met my mom’s husband. And he was him. Now every family breakfast and dinner is a slow-motion panic attack; every glance between us is wrong. I can’t tell my mom. I won’t tell her. But the worst part? I still want him.

"You don't belong in this world of mine," Liam whispered, his lips inches from mine. "But I'm selfish, and I can't let you go." "I want to stay," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I'm falling for you too, Liam." - I should be sneering, laughing even. How blind could he be? Liam Sterling—the killer, master manipulator, the ruthless, untouchable king of New York’s underworld—brought to his knees by the one woman sworn to tear him apart. For years, revenge was all I had. Liam destroyed my family, tore my life apart, leaving me with nothing but rage. I rebuilt myself piece by piece, every step driven by the thought of making him pay. But then... I got close to him. Close enough to touch. His touch is fire, burning through every wall I’ve built. Each kiss, every stolen moment, weakens my defenses, awakening a need that terrifies me. How can I want him like this? Crave him, when every scar I carry is a reminder of all he’s taken? I should hate him. I should destroy him. But when he looks at me, when he holds me like I’m something he needs to protect, I’m lost. And as I watch him break, all I feel is a strange, hollow ache where satisfaction should be. How can I keep fighting him, when I’m already falling, already broken, for the man I was supposed to ruin?

***Completed*** Cara Anderson She is an orphan whose parents died when she was five and then she was sent to foster home which was nothing but a living hell for her. There is one thing which she can’t tolerate or even witness and that is Violence. Chase Adams Violence is his second name. He is most feared bully not only in college but in town. He is cruel, cold and dangerous. Rumours says he has been to juvenile center but reason is unknown. He is called soulless delinquent, monster and much worse. But does he care about it? No he doesn’t. He doesn’t care what people think of him. Not many are capable of standing in front of him and saying a whole sentence without stuttering, and he likes it that way. He likes seeing fear in other’s eyes, he likes it when people try to stay as far away from him as possible. But everything changes when a new student crosses paths with him and messes with his heart, his feelings. He wants to stay away from her seeing the fear in her eyes she has for him, but he can’t fight the urge to touch her, hold her and be close to her. She urges him to think about changing his ways which he would never ever do for anyone. She is scared of him and his possessiveness but she is the only one who can break all the barriers and see right through his darkest soul and cruelest heart, which he doesn’t appreciate at all. Will she be able to tame the monster or is he going to ruin and break her even more than she already is?

Rafe Serafin was once the Mafia’s most feared enforcer until a betrayal forced him into hiding behind the quiet life of a bartender. He plans to stay invisible. Until the night he saves billionaire CEO Derek Morgan from a hit and gets pulled back into the world he swore he’d never touch again. Derek is marked for death, hunted by enemies who won’t stop. And the only man capable of keeping him alive is the one who refuses to take the job. Rafe knows what happens to the people he protects; they die and he can’t survive losing someone again. But when multiple Mafia factions close in and the city becomes a hunting ground, Rafe does the one thing he promised himself he’d never do: He steps back into the darkness to save Derek. As bullets fly, feelings grow, and secrets unravel, Rafe learns the truth: Derek is being targeted because of a secret buried in his father’s past. And when Rafe is ordered to betray Derek, the same command that once destroyed his life, he makes his choice…

Molly's life was perfect. She was married to her high school sweetheart, surrounded by her friends and family and she was looking forward to the future. But that all ends one tragic night when her whole world is turned upside down. That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win. When Molly's secret is revealed and she's forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.

“Stop messing with me, poor Omega! Who gave you the right to throw yourself at me?” Daniel growled, pinning me to the wall, his hands around my throat and his canines grazing the soft skin of my neck. “Omega? Have you forgotten that your father promoted me to Gamma, my Alpha?” I whispered breathlessly, trying to control my raging heart.“Gamma? You are still a pathetic Omega to me, mutt! So keep your filthy hands off me and stay the fuck out of my way,” he barked in my face.Daniel’s eyes revealed nothing but anger and disgust when he pushed away from me and, ignoring my tears, he left to look for his girlfriend.Aria is the current Moon Goddess. After years of mending others' lives and arranging their bonds, she wants to be reborn to live a happy life with her mate and child, ruining the plans of the evil Alpha Erick who killed both her and Daniel in her past life.To do so, she has to pay a price. She must be reborn as an Omega and fight for Daniel’s heart. He doesn't recognize her, affected by the spell the replacement Moon Goddess casts on Aria and him.Daniel is a strong and respected Alpha. He is loyal to his girlfriend, Lea, and plans to accept her as his Luna after taking the Alpha position from his father. The young Omega’s efforts to get close to him irritate Daniel, who humiliates her and forbids her from getting close to him.What will happen when Daniel’s father forces him to marry Aria after she saved his brother's and mother’s lives? Is Daniel going to accept his unforeseen Luna? Is Aria going to accept the way Daniel treats her, or will she regret her decision to be reborn and walk away from him?

The evening air was biting cold, sending shivers down Cole's spine. She was sure she'd turn into an icicle when, without warning, Vincent gently scooped her up. A soft gasp escaped her lips as he settled them both across the length of the bed, pulling her close as he draped an extra blanket over their entwined forms. A warm blush bloomed across Cole's cheeks as she became acutely aware of their intimate position. But Vincent, with his steady composure, seemed entirely unbothered, simply relaxing into the bed’s softness. "Get some sleep," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble that resonated in her chest. Sensing her gaze, he added, "The power will be back on once the damage is repaired. So… just stay close to me until then." Cole took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to calm. Slowly, she let herself melt into his embrace, resting her head on his broad chest. The faint scent of spring blossoms and cypress swirled around her, a fragrance that felt both comforting and familiar. She nestled closer, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill as sleep began to tug at her eyelids. With each steady beat of his heart, Cole felt a sense of peace she hadn't known she needed. She smiled softly, the rhythm of his heartbeat the most beautiful melody, lulling her into the comfort of dreams. As survivors of a collapsed society, a group of doctors are the world's last hope for a cure. In order to protect each other and the future, they've worked in secret. Preserving resources which become scarcer year after year. Among these survivors, a pair of doctors endure challenges as a deadly contagion spreads. Against better judgment, an unexpected bond develops between them and their patient.

Because of a last-minute business trip, my husband missed the Thanksgiving family dinner. I spent the entire day helping out at my in-laws' place in the countryside with our five-year-old son, only to receive a complaint from the downstairs neighbor just before dinner. "Ari, could you please close your kitchen window when you're cooking? I can smell the hot sauce from all the way here. My husband has a lung condition—he can't handle it." My neighbor's words shocked me, and I immediately called my husband, who was allergic to chili peppers. "Honey, did someone break into the house? The neighbor said there was smoke coming from the kitchen." His breathing hitched for a second before he let out a casual laugh. "No break-in. My flight got canceled, so I was home alone cooking. When are you two coming back? I really miss you." I smiled and told him we'd stay a couple more days, but in the middle of the night, I packed up our son and drove straight home.

Lenie was left by her ex-boyfriend, Dexter, which led her to seek help from her friend Alice to find a new job and start a fresh chapter in her life. However, even Alice betrayed her by leaving her baby with Lenie and disappearing without a word. To support Javi, Lenie applied to the company where Alice used to work. When she got the job, she never expected to catch the attention of her boss, Alexis Ramirez. Over time, she found herself falling for him, and the feeling became mutual. However, Lenie had a secret she couldn’t reveal to Alexis—employees with children were not allowed in his company. She didn’t know how to explain her situation to him. While contemplating a solution to her problem, her former friend Alice suddenly returned to take back her child. Having cared for Javi for years, Lenie found it extremely difficult to give him up to his biological mother. To stay close to Javi, Lenie turned to Alexis for help. Little did the two know that Alexis’ simple act of helping would significantly change their relationship and their lives forever.

"Ella! You belong to me. Your body, your soul, all of you is mine, Alpha Marcus says. You're destined for me! You can run anywhere, but in the end, I will find you, you are meant for me." Ella struggled to catch her breath as she sobbed. She felt the pain that Marcus was with someone else, he was her mate, but he refused to get close to her, even though everyone feared him. She hated him, yet she had seen the good in him. She drank until she was drunk and then made her way to Marcus's room. She entered the room but didn't find him, so she headed to the bathroom where she found him in the jacuzzi, his massive muscles dripping with water. Marcus took the towel that hung nearby and asked coldly, "Ella, what are you doing here?" She was swaying, nearly falling, and said, "Why do you punish me like this? I'm hot and tempting. How can you not be affected by my presence?" Marcus realized she was drunk, picked her up, and asked in concern, "Are you okay?" He stood close to her, making it hard for her to breathe. It was as if she was about to have a breakdown. She was about to leave, tears streaming, but before she could make any more moves, Marcus immediately trapped her, placing his arms on either side of her. Both of them swallowed hard when their eyes met. A strange, powerful, but addictive feeling surged between them. "You have to stay here, Ella," he said. She looked at his half-opened lips. Intense and unwanted thoughts filled her mind as her breaths escaped her. Ella stated painfully, "I'm sure you feel it too, Marcus... You're my mate."