Synonym Cunning

Zaverio's eyes blazed with intense obsession. "You're mine to claim, and possess. I'll do whatever it takes to make you mine again, Alma." Alma's heart raced as she struggled to get out of his grip. "You can't own me, Zaverio. I'm not a slave to your selfish desires. Do not play with fire." Zaverio's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "You're mine, Alma and so is that baby in your womb. I'll chase you to the ends of the earth, I'll burn down the world or burn in hell to keep you by my side." Alma's voice trembled with fear and desire. "You're a monster, Zaverio." Zaverio's face twisted into a snarl. "And you're the beauty to my beast, my cruelty, my obsession." **** Alma Sinatra, a beautiful and innocent young woman, has been bound to the Riccardo estate as a housegirl. But her life takes a dramatic turn when she falls deeply in love with Zaverio Enzo Riccardo, the son of the powerful and feared Italian drug lord, Don Riccardo. Their forbidden romance blossoms in secret, with Zaverio reciprocating Alma's affections. But their love is torn apart when Zaverio departs for Italy, rumored to be groomed to take over his father's criminal empire. Years pass, and Zaverio returns, transformed into a ruthless and cunning man. His cold exterior hides a dark past, and his eyes no longer sparkle with the warmth Alma once knew. Though his indifference pierces her soul, Alma's love remains unwavering even when Zaverio's desire for her body is undeniable. They engage in a passionate yet dangerous dance, Alma clings to the hope that Zaverio will rediscover the love they once shared. Will she be able to penetrate the armor of the man he has become, or will their love be forever lost to the darkness?

This is a sexy and dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast where the beauty is a shy and sweet twenty-one year old girl and the beast is a twisted, psychotic, arrogant and cunning vampire. ****"C-can you p-please be gentle?" She meekly stuttered out between tears and hiccups. Her gaze still attached to the ceiling. Seconds passed. She could feel her cheeks heat up even after uttering that small request. What it implied. She'd never had sex before. She hadn't even seen a naked male before, in her entire life. She didn't know what to expect. But she definitely knew that it was going to hurt. The girls from her high-school had warned her of that. That it was going to hurt really bad at first. And that it wasn't actually that pleasant either. She startled at the sudden sound of his masculine chuckle. Her head instinctually turned to look at him before she could even try and stop herself. She watched him turn to lie on his side, his elbow digging into the soft pillow as he held his head in his hand. A sly smirk displaying on his beautifully-carved features. "And why would I do that?" He rose one brow. She immediately felt her cheeks burn even hotter. "B-because I asked you nicely," she bit her lip. Her hands were still tightly holding onto that duvet, keeping it at chin level. His gaze momentarily dropped to her mouth, taking notice of that small action. "A-and because I'm scared. I haven't done this before. Any of this," she truthfully admitted after a moment, her gaze lowering as she couldn't help but feel so embarrassed. About all of it. What she'd just told him, their current position. All of it. "You mean the sucking or the fucking part?"***

Erika Regis dreamed of love and belonging, but her world has always been ruled by tragedy and secrets. Forced into a political union with the enigmatic Alpha Diego Di Rocco, she finds herself trapped in a cold, calculated marriage, fighting for acceptance in a pack that sees her as an outsider. But beneath Diego’s icy exterior lies a fractured soul, and as Erika battles to prove her worth, she begins to uncover dangerous truths about her tragic past, a prophecy that ties her fate to the survival of the Lycans, and the strength she never knew she possessed. Their mating ceremony is no fairy tale. Diego’s pack is steeped in tradition, secrets, and rivalries, and Erika is thrust into a world where she is both the object of scrutiny and the pawn in a dangerous game. Diego’s domineering mother, Dunia, and his cunning childhood friend, Lucia, conspire to test her every move, while Diego himself remains an enigma—distant yet magnetic, capable of igniting both longing and despair in her heart. When betrayal cuts deeper than any wound, Erika walks away—not to escape, but to reclaim her own power. Yet destiny has other plans. As enemies close in and war looms on the horizon, Erika must decide if her broken bond with Diego can be mended—or if she’s destined to rise alone. Gripping, seductive, and fiercely empowering, Dark Luna Rising will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-pounding page.

Mafia boss Dominic Russo faces chaos and betrayal. He forms an unlikely alliance with Lucia Moretti, a mysterious and cunning partner with her own agenda. As they navigate the treacherous mafia world, loyalty and trust are tested. Alliances shift, rivalries intensify, and Dominic and Lucia must outsmart enemies and confront their demons. Will their unexpected alliance lead to redemption or destruction?

Ynez Lorenzo runs away from her pack to hide her pregnancy, but fate has other plans for her. She returns home after being tricked by her mother. A dinner with Raizel Richards, the Lycan king, and his family had changed her life completely. They all found out that we're fucking mates! They are forced into a loveless marriage. Worse, her husband was in love with Eleanor, the woman who caused her nightmares. Perhaps it's time to change her fate. This time she'll make Eleanor regret what she did eight years ago. Ynez's first step is to seduce her husband. Determined to seek revenge, she creates a cunning plan and proposed a bet to her husband. "Let's make a bet. If I lose, I will reject and divorce you immediately." Will she be able to win his heart and make him fall for her? She wants only revenge, right? But why did she find herself in his warm grasp and desire more than a simple kiss and hold? Her son's daddy was too hot to handle! It looks like she's doomed!

I died as their pawn, I’ll live as their execution Betrayed by her beloved husband. Framed by her sister. Executed like a criminal. When Serina Valcrest opens her eyes again, she finds herself reborn two years before her death, with every memory of treachery fresh in her mind. This time, she will not be the docile, naive wife everyone expects. This time, she will sharpen her smile into a blade. Behind the glittering curtains of noble society, Serina begins her game of vengeance planting rumors, unraveling secrets, and setting traps with perfect precision. Every move pulls her closer to exposing the rot at the heart of her family. But in the shadows waits Cassian Veyra, a man more dangerous than any poison. Cold, cunning, and feared across the empire, Cassian is interested in Serina’s quiet war. His protection comes at a price… one she isn’t sure she can pay. As old enemies tighten their grip and hidden daggers strike from the dark, Serina learns the truth: They don’t just want to ruin her anymore they want her dead. And this time, she won’t go to the gallows quietly.

Orella Daria Maldini decided to marry Dante Laurenzo Ludovic after she found out that he had something to do with the incident that caused her brother's death. She also planned to take revenge and wanted to make Dante suffer until he finally died in her hands. During her revenge, she is assisted by a man who always wears a mask. Her revenge plan is always accompanied by enemy attacks that have targeted her. However, Dante always manages to help her, which makes their relationship even closer. Orella begins to doubt her revenge plan on Dante as she begins to fall in love with him. However, their relationship is interrupted by the arrival of Eliana Maria Nardo. She is Dante's ex and is obsessed with getting back together with him. She makes cunning plans to separate Dante and Orella, but all her plans fail. Instead, Orella realizes that she really loves Dante—until one day, a big secret is revealed. What is the big secret? So what about her revenge after Orella realizes how much she loves Dante?

Emma Caldwell's ordinary life as a librarian in Willow Creek is turned upside down when she receives an enigmatic invitation to the reading of a stranger's will at Haverstone Manor. What begins as an inexplicable summons quickly spirals into a labyrinth of secrets, danger, and intrigue. As Emma delves deeper into the manor's mysteries, she discovers she's not the only one with a stake in its secrets. Fellow guests, each with shadowy motives, vie for a piece of the late Lord Haverstone's enigmatic legacy. Amid ancient symbols, cryptic maps, and peculiar artifacts, Emma uncovers the existence of a machine designed to manipulate time itself. Guided by clues left by the deceased lord, Emma must navigate a gothic maze of shifting alliances, hidden chambers, and eerie warnings. Her companions, including a sardonic teenager and a glamorous but cunning relative of Haverstone, are as unpredictable as the dangers lurking in the shadows. When betrayals come to light and an old foe reveals their true intentions, Emma finds herself the reluctant guardian of a power that could reshape existence—or destroy it. As the stakes rise, she must unravel the truth about Haverstone’s experiments and decide whom she can trust, all while racing to prevent the manor’s secrets from falling into the wrong hands. Blending gothic suspense, unexpected humor, and thrilling twists, "Haverstone's Legacy" is a gripping tale of mystery and courage, where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and catastrophe.

There came a time in the world of glamour and money. There was a young and wealthy man named James Brookes. James was the only son of Mr and Mrs Williams Brookes. He was an epitome of wealth and success. His family always got what they wanted through deceit and cunning ways. James met a young girl at a business event named Laurie who he became physically attracted to due to her beauty, intelligence and determination. Laurie didn't agree at first but James got her forcefully and deceitfully. They later got married. Meanwhile, James' parents were responsible for the death of Laurie's parents and the downfall of her family. Laurie was unaware of this because she was only 10 when her parent died. She later found out about this after she got married to James. How will Laurie react to this ? Will Laurie be able to get through this ? What will her marriage to James be like after she had heard about all this ?

Valentina accepts billionaire Raffaele Ricchezza’s marriage proposal to secure his inheritance, hiding her intent to ruin his empire, which she blames for her father’s death. Their cold arrangement sparks tension and unexpected attraction as they navigate power plays and hidden agendas. When Valentina uncovers the red flower—a Sumerian relic with stone-melting powers tied to Gilgamesh’s bloodline—she’s thrust into a global chase against enemies seeking to weaponize it. As ancient secrets unravel, love and trust become her greatest challenges. The story opens with Raffaele’s calculated offer, which Valentina accepts to infiltrate his world. Moving into his estate, she sabotages subtly while investigating the red flower and orichalcum, a mythical metal linked to Atlantis. Raffaele, intrigued by her strength, begins to thaw, but their clashes intensify as Valentina uncovers his interest in orichalcum’s commercial potential. Danger escalates when Tariq, a cunning double agent, raids Gilgamesh’s tomb, stealing artifacts and aligning with U.S. military forces eager to exploit the flower’s power. Valentina’s friend Maria faces threats from her abusive ex, Tullio, complicating her mission. From Baghdad to Machu Picchu, Valentina and Raffaele pursue clues across the globe. DNA tests reveal Valentina’s descent from Gilgamesh, granting her immunity to the flower’s curse. As Tariq and Camilla, Valentina’s treacherous stepmother, close in, betrayals deepen. A passionate night shifts their dynamic,but trust falters when Raffaele learns of Valentina’s initial deception. In a climactic underwater battle at Atlantis’s ruins, Valentina chooses to protect the orichalcum technology. Justice prevails as Camilla and Tariq are arrested, and Valentina’s pregnancy heralds hope. She restores Baghdad’s museum, honoring her father. With Raffaele, their twins embody a legacy of love and a green future.