Synonym Surface

"I think you enjoyed at least part of your punishment last night, sweetheart." "No," I whispered, my voice barely audible, my eyes still on his hand, on his fingers as they drew small circles that made my toes curl on my exposed, sensitive skin. He moved closer to me, making a small gasp push past my lips as I looked up, our gazes colliding. "Relax. Do you know what the fun part is, Lana? It doesn't always have to be a punishment. It could be something... exciting too. Something you'll most definitely like." — To save her entire family from the Stravkos Mafia - which was the most powerful Mafia family in Tuscany, Italy - Twenty-two-year old Solana Williams agrees to take her sister's place and becomes a sacrificial lamb - becoming Abel Stravkos' wife. Theirs is just a mere marriage of convenience, but Solana is embittered, vowing revenge for all they did to her family. Abel Stravkos has no need of a wife, but with his cold-hearted father handling the helm of affairs, he's helpless to object. His heart isn't tied to this strange, beautiful, vengeful woman who's been forced down his throat. But the line between love and hate is thin, and Solana's staunch disobedience to his orders, fuels his need to control her in every way possible. Driven by revenge, and an undeniable passion sizzling just beneath the surface, it's only a matter of time before their attraction for each other becomes apparent, much to the dismay of his father and mistress who become forces, trying to pull them apart. Will they ever rise above obstacles lodged in their paths and get their happily-ever-after?

"You're not the type of girl I'd usually kiss," he says, his eyes fixed on my lips. "But I'll do it anyway." Then the cocky jerk leans in and kisses me. *** He claims to like her, she claims she'd never be stupid enough to trust a bad boy with her heart. *** After the death of her best friend, Ava Jordan Hansen's main goal is to get through senior year without losing her mind. She badly wants a distraction from her dark thoughts...but is tutoring the school's bad boy the solution? Jude Walker's life has never been easy--not since he made a mistake that turned his family against him. His father cut him off at 18, and to support himself, he took up underground fighting, modelling--whatever puts a buck in his pocket. He needs a university scholarship and to fix his Math grade, he finds himself thrown together with a smartass good girl. The two seem so different at a glance--the nerdy girl with a smart mouth and the troublesome bad boy with a different girl pressed against his locker every week. But they both have their own trauma, fighting not to drown in their pain. Will they help each other survive, or will they drag each other deeper under the surface?

I thought the worst part of my life was over when Lucas Mattfield divorced me and dissolved our bond. I thought I'd be free. I was wrong. After enduring two years of abuse at the hands of the future Alpha of Red Ridge, I’m left bruised and broken. Betrayed by my mate, my pack, my best friend, and even my own father, I’m nothing more than a discarded Omega, sold to yet another man. A rogue Alpha in a town I’ve never heard of - Haven's Crest. Alpha Johnathan Banks — tall, commanding, and impossibly handsome — offers me a new life and the chance to be his Luna. With his dark eyes and rugged charm, he’s as dangerous as he is captivating. The town is breathtaking, the people are friendly, and everything seems perfect. But something dark and dangerous lurks beneath the surface, and I don't know who I can trust anymore.

“Take off your dress, Meadow.” “Why?” “Because your ex is watching,” he said, leaning back into his seat. “And I want him to see what he lost.” ••••*••••*••••* Meadow Russell was supposed to get married to the love of her life in Vegas. Instead, she walked in on her twin sister riding her fiance. One drink at the bar turned to ten. One drunken mistake turned into reality. And one stranger’s offer turned into a contract that she signed with shaking hands and a diamond ring. Alaric Ashford is the devil in a tailored Tom Ford suit. Billionaire CEO, brutal, possessive. A man born into an empire of blood and steel. He also suffers from a neurological condition—he can’t feel. Not objects, not pain, not even human touch. Until Meadow touches him, and he feels everything. And now he owns her. On paper and in his bed. She wants him to ruin her. Take what no one else could have. He wants control, obedience… revenge. But what starts as a transaction slowly turns into something Meadow never saw coming. Obsession, secrets that were never meant to surface, and a pain from the past that threatens to break everything. Alaric doesn’t share what’s his. Not his company. Not his wife. And definitely not his vengeance.

𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 She had everything. Perfect family. Amazing best friend. A dream. Until she lost in all in the space of 7 seconds. Her life flips upside down. She was lost. Her mind is infiltrated by dark demons and harsh truths. Emerson struggles to find her purpose. Until him, Kingston James the perfect yet broken boy who happens to be on the same ice hockey team as her older brother. What happens when the sparks fly after one party and Em is left dealing with her feelings for him. It is worth the risk to lose herself in love again and potentially lose someone else. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 He is a super star. On and off the ring. But he always knew everything was surface level. His brother was his best friend, until he decides to leave and King is left wondering what is the point. He was lost. Except now, he knows he wants to be the help his brother never had. Struggling to maintain the nice guy mentality when his mind is full of darkness. He believed he would never come out of the dark. Until her. His teammate and best friend’s younger sister. A dream - kind, sweet and gorgeous. But totally off limits. But after an enlightening encounter wonders is she the light he needs.

Prince Rafe leans over me, holding himself up on one elbow as he gazes at my face. I feel his eyes wandering over every surface from my brow to my eyes, down my nose, to my lips and chin, and then returning to hold my gaze for a second. The small smile at the corner of his mouth makes me think he likes what he sees. His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I don’t jerk away from him. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want me—dead or alive. And yet, all I can think about right now is how badly I want this vampire’s hands on my body. *** I live in a desolate village on the edge of the Vampire King’s lands. This used to be wolf shifter territory, but now, we are just trying to survive. When I mess up and find myself in a culling, I know I’m dead. No wolf shifters ever survive these events. And after the stunt I pulled in the middle of the village, Prince Rafe probably wants me dead. Is it a good thing or a bad thing when a vampire looks at you like you’re a snack? Something tells me, once I reach the castle, I’ll be missing my miserable existence in the village. But then—it turns out I have no freaking idea who I even am, and when the royals start referring to me as Princess Ainslee, I realize my life is about to take a turn—for better or worse. From the author of The Alpha King’s Breeder

DOMINATING! CONTROL! OBSESSION! CONQUERING! In a twisted game of power and submission, childhood enemies Logan and Gavin engage in a delicate game of possession and control. When Logan's family falls into the problem of facing bankruptcy, he's forced to swallow his pride and seek help from the one person he's always despised. Gavin Slade.   Gavin however, sees this as the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on his long time enemy. With each problem Logan faces, Gavin appears as a black knight, but at a price Logan might not be willing to pay, a price to satisfy Gavin’s twisted desires.   As the stakes escalate, Logan finds himself trapped in a web of dependence, with Gavin holding the reins. But beneath the surface of their antagonistic relationship, a spark of attraction flickers to life with each encounter deepening their erotic desires. Desires Logan swore he would never have.   As Logan's feelings grow increasingly complicated, he begins to question whether Gavin's ultimate goal is to destroy him or to claim him as his own. Will they find redemption in each other, or will their toxic dynamic prove to be their downfall?   In this tale of obsession and control, the lines between love and hate are blurred, and the true nature of possession is revealed. Can Logan and Gavin find a way to break free from their destructive patterns, or will they remain forever bound in a cycle of desire and domination?  

In the glittering world of high finance and luxury penthouses, Maya thought she had it all. A fairytale marriage to a powerful CEO, wealth beyond imagination, and the promise of a perfect life. But beneath the polished surface lies a web of deceit, manipulation, and shattered dreams. As the cracks in her golden cage begin to show, Maya discovers that the price of her apparent success is her very identity. Trapped between familial expectations and a husband's cruel indifference, she finds herself fading into the background of her own life. But a chance encounter at a company gala sparks something long dormant in Maya – a fierce determination to reclaim her worth. As she navigates treacherous waters of family loyalty, marital obligations, and self-discovery, Maya must make a choice: continue living a lie or risk everything for a chance at true happiness. With each step towards freedom, the stakes grow higher, and the dangers more real. In a world where appearance is everything, Maya's journey to find her voice threatens to topple empires built on secrets and lies. Will she find the strength to break free from the chains of expectation? Or will the price of her rebellion prove too high to bear? One thing is certain – in the game of love and power, nothing is ever as it seems.

I was the biological daughter of the Stone Family. With my gossip-tracking system, I played the part of a meek, obedient girl on the surface, but underneath, I would strike hard when it counted. What I didn't realize was that someone could hear my every thought. "Even if you're our biological sister, Alicia is the only one we truly acknowledge. You need to understand your place," said my brothers. 'I must've broken a deal with the devil in a past life to end up in the Stone Family this time,' I figured. My brothers stopped dead in their tracks. "Alice is obedient, sensible, and loves everyone in this family. Don't stir up drama by trying to compete for attention." I couldn't help but think, 'Well, she's sensible enough to ruin everyone's lives and loves you all to the point of making me nauseous.' The brothers looked dumbfounded.

Un souvenir, une nouvelle vie, un passé, un avenir. Diana vit une vie paisible a Philladelphie quand elle rencontre un bel homme qui ajoute à sa paix et son bonheur. Au fond, un souvenir, des images, l'empechent de dormir et la guettent du coin de l'oeil. Une rencontre presqu'oubliée refait surface et chamboule ce chateau de crystal pour prendre ce qui lui reviendrait de droit.