The Rain Barrel Effect

“Don't tell me you have forgotten what happened last night?” she asked as she moved closer to the bed with a flirtatious smirk. “We had a good time together. Last night was fun.” She leaned close to him, her eyes staring deep into his black orbs. Being in this close proximity with him, her heart was beating, but she won't show how nervous she was. The white towel she was wearing reveals the top of her breast, and Richard's eyes flickered towards it. He gulped down as he found himself drawn to her. Their proximity made him feel an internal heat within him. Her lips are so tempting. He has never felt this way for any woman for the past five years. Who the fuck is she? “It seems you want more of my sweet body, Mr. Presley. Last night wasn't enough, was it?” she said with a sexy smile. She could see the effect she had on him and it kind of made her relaxed. Richard was snapped out of his lustful illusion by her words. What did he just hear her say? Did something happen last night?  …. After the tragedy that befell Annabelle because of the Presley family, she returned for revenge. For her revenge to be successful, she must make her cold hearted ex husband marry her and also make him fall in love with her. Will she succeed with her plan?

Carol: Life was never a bed of roses. At least for me. Abandoned at birth by both parents, and made to go through too many foster homes, I had to put in twice the amount of effort of my peers. Both in education, and in my career. I love children, and I've aspired to land a very good job as a social worker who cares for kids for as long as I can remember. When New York's most eligible bachelor and billionaire Evans Armstrong propositions me to become a nanny for his nephew, I'm speechless. Out of every options he had available, he choose me. And his nephew is the sweetest boy I've ever encountered. Maybe, just maybe I can achieve my dreams after all. Evans: Life was never the same ever since my sister Serena died, leaving me with her son Brandon. Each day that passes, I strive to be a better man, and provide for Brandon everything he needs. He's a smart kid, and he deserves the best. Which is why I go out of my way in searching for a suitable nanny to tend to him, since my efforts can only go so far. When I see Carolina for the first time, she's striking. And her polite demeanor has a ripple effect on young Brandon. I know immediately that she's the right one for him. She would make a wonderful nanny. And perhaps, a wonderful wife.

"I hate the effect you have on me" I said softly but I can feel my body betraying me by yearning for his touch. "It doesn't seem like that to me. You want this. You want me" He chuckled softly. I could feel his hands on the small of my back reaching out to caress my bare skin. I shuddered. Just one touch alone and I let my guards down. "Now say the words, Aria" "I want you. I need you" *** On the night of her Luna ceremony, Aria's world unravels when she catches her betrothed, Luca, in a compromising position with her cousin, Indie. Heartbroken yet she desperately clings to the hope that Luca will return to the love he once showed her. Just as she is about to be introduced as Luca's Luna, Alpha Kael bursts into the hall. A beast with a devil’s reputation, he claims Aria as his fated mate. As Luca resolves to fight for her, a fierce rivalry ignites between the two powerful Alphas. Conflicted and confused, Aria must choose between the love she once shared with Luca and an uncertain but dark future with Kael. Amid the tension, Aria harbors hidden secrets—some she knows all too well, and other secrets she is yet to find out. What happens when these secrets start unfolding before their own eyes?

“I have cancer,” I said—and my husband didn’t even flinch. Dorothy Rain is dying. Not fast, not loudly, but painfully and slowly. And to make things worse? The man she’s legally bound to—billionaire heir Joel Hernandez—isn't just emotionally absent... he’s infertile. Joel’s inheritance depends on Dorothy giving birth to his heir. With time running out and hatred growing between them, Joel brings in a third option: his estranged, broke, and dangerously attractive cousin, Rico. The deal is simple: Rico gets a second chance. Joel gets his heir. Dorothy gets treated like a breeding contract. But nothing is ever simple in a house built on lies. As Dorothy fights for her life and autonomy, she finds herself in between two enemies—one who ruined her and one who might ruin her all over again. Secrets grow. Lust sparks. Love becomes a war. And when hearts break, who will be left holding the child?

Hikari Raine Davis is a college student studying Architecture. She always plans everything but something she didn't plan, happened. She fell in love. She met a guy named Raui. He's mysterious, he never told her his surname and it seems like he's hiding something from her. But she didn't care, she loves him. He shows up only when it rains. He never called nor show up when the rain isn't pouring. She didn't know why and she didn't want to intrude. But when she found out everything accidentally, her heart teared into pieces. Everything became a mess, Raui's secret ended their relationship. After years of moving on, she's finally back and she didn't expect what happened while she was gone. Will there be a second chance for their love? Or everything they've been through will just stay in their memories forever?

Chloe Yates, a tall and stunningly beautiful attorney, was known for her loyalty in relationships. She always believed that marrying her wealthy boyfriend, Trevor Skyler, would lead to the perfect happily-ever-after. But on their wedding night, her world shattered when she walked in on Trevor having a threesome with his childhood friend, Rachel Rain, and her best friend. Heartbroken, Chloe left without hesitation and sought solace in a club, drowning her sorrow in alcohol. Fate had other plans. That night, she shared a passionate encounter with a gentle yet enigmatic man, who turned out to be Trevor’s uncle, Roman Skyler! Drawn into an intoxicating and dangerous entanglement with Roman, Chloe found herself irresistibly captivated by this mysterious and wealthy man, who was far more alluring than she could have imagined. Amid their game of mutual seduction, Chloe discovered her growing desire—to tame the man before her and become the aunt to the very ex-boyfriend who betrayed her!

Marcus Adrian Lee. Adrian. Just saying your name makes my heart race so fast that I could barely breathe. I never wanted to fall for you...but I did. It was a cliché really, but I just couldn't help myself. I'm not sure if was your subtle charm or that certain sadness in your voice that drew me to you but all I know is that you're a habit that I could never kick. Will you ever see me the way that I saw you? Will I ever have the courage to finally admit my unrequited feelings? And will the day ever come when I'll finally be able to hear the words, "Madison Rain Rivera, I am in love with you, too."? Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

An apocalypse driven by natural disasters. Survival of the fittest. Typhoons, floods, deadly cold, scorching heat, earthquakes, tsunamis, insect plagues, acid rain… After struggling through three years of the apocalypse, Nicole Floyd met a brutal death. Miraculously, she woke up and found herself three days before it all began. Nicole seized the advantage to reclaim her storage space, flipping the switch on full-on stockpiling mode. She shopped until she ran out of money, and her storage was packed tight. She also looked for the dog that had saved her life once before. She sharpened her knives, stacked her supplies, and took care of unfinished business. She paid back every debt, whether owed in blood or in kindness. And then, disaster struck. Her right hand gripping a knife and her left stroking the dog, Nicole pressed on through the ruins of a world without order or morals.

"To a strategic merger." With those four words, Ryan Blackwood shattered Ava’s heart. After three years of building his empire, Ava wasn't his mate—she was a "placeholder." A mid-tier distraction to be discarded for a wealthier bride. Exiled by her heartless father and left barefoot in the rain, the "soft-tempered" girl Ryan knew died on that wet pavement. In her place, a Dark Horse is waking up. In the city's "Gray Zone," Ava finds a fallen legend to sharpen her claws. But she also catches the eye of Leo, a hauntingly handsome Alpha with a "sinister, feline grace" and a toxic obsession for broken things. He doesn't want to save her; he wants to own her wreckage. Leo offers her the ultimate weapon: a way back into the elite world as his "hidden gem." The Wedding of the Century is coming. Ryan thinks he’s won. He has no idea that the "stray" he kicked is coming back with a leash—and she isn't wagging her tail. The Counterattack has officially begun.

"I won't kiss you." His voice was cold. Right, it's just a business deal... But his touches were warm and...tempting "A virgin?" he suddenly stared at me... ***** Emma Wells, a college girl who's about to graduate. She was abused and tortured by her stepmother Jane and stepsister Anna. The only hope in her life was her prince-like boyfriend Matthew David, who promised to make her the happiest woman around the world. However, her world was completely crashed down when her stepmother took $50000 as the betrothal gift from an old man and agreed to marry her off. Even worse, she found her dear boyfriend cheated with her roommate Vivian Stone. Walking on the street under the pouring rain, she was desperate and hopeless... Clenching her fists, she decided. If she was doomed to be sold out, then she'll be her own seller. Rushed into the street and stopping in front of a luxurious car, she just wondered how much her virginity would worth...