Things You Save In A Fire: A Novel

*You want me to fuck you, i know you do* PRETEND YOU MINE. "I'm not your girl, Ethan." I snapped instantly. "You were during that kiss, Brynne." Eyes flickering, he read me, and then he inhaled. I was a damp mess between my legs, and I wondered if he could smell me. "You smell so good... and fucking sexy." Sweet Jesus! His thumb rubbed over my collarbone where his hand still rested on my neck. And I did absolutely nothing to stop him. I was enjoying the view too much. I'd tousled his hair from the mauling with my hands. He still looked gorgeous and probably did even when he crawled out of bed in the mornings. Bed. Was there a bed in our immediate future? It would take next to nothing on my part to get this man into bed. I didn't have to be a genius to know he wanted sex. The real question here was did I want it? "Ethan." I pushed against the wall of steel that was his body and got nowhere. "Why are you doing this? Why are you acting this way to me?" "Don't know. I can't stay away and I'm not acting. I tried to leave you alone but I can't do it." He feathered his other hand over my hair and down until it was resting on the other side of my neck. "I don't want to stay away from you." He rubbed slow erotic circles with his thumbs meeting at the middle of my throat. "You want me too, Brynne, I know you do."

10 years have passed and she got everything, so they said. A face that no one could ever deny its beauty, a body that makes men go crazy and a successful career in the legal profession. She has it all, except him- the man she so dearly loved but has to let go of for her to get all these things she has now. Cattaleya Rillera really thought then that it would be worth it. Afterall, she was only 17 at that time when an elderly couple chose her to be their adoptee. Hindi niya inakalang may magkakagustong ampunin pa siya dahil sa edad niya. When she reached the age of 16, hindi na siya nangarap pang may magkakainteres sa kaniyang maging parte ng kanilang pamilya dahil isang taon na lamang ay aalis na siya ng bahay-ampunan dahil magiging isang ganap na siyang maygulang. At ngayong may gusto siyang ampunin, hindi niya papalampasin. This is all she ever wanted. Lahat naman sila doon sa bahay-ampunan. Thus, she consented to such an adoption even if she would have to break her promise to the boy she loves- Caleb Sanchez- the boy she promised to marry when she left the orphanage. Isa ding orphan na naunang umalis ng orphanage dahil mas matanda ito sa kanya ng 2 years. Ang taong nangakong magsisikap para makapag-ipon at paghandaan ang kanilang pagsasama sa oras na umalis siya sa bahay-ampunan. Now that she has finally achieved the success of her chosen career, she thinks it's time to locate him. And if she succeeded, she could only pray that he was still single and that he would find it in his heart to forgive her.

“I said where did he touch you?” Aaron walk towards with his dangerous aura as sniffs in anger scanning my body with his eyes like he was trying to find some hickeys and marks of touches on me. “You are mine, mine and nobody touches what belong to me. Bring that bastard in”Aaron said for me to start tearing up as I felt stupid for running away.

“เรียนยังไม่จบก็มีเมียได้ ไม่มีกฎหมายข้อไหนห้ามเอาไว้สักหน่อย มีแต่พิ้งค์นั่นแหละไม่ยอมใจอ่อนเป็นเมียผมสักที ไม่รู้จะให้รอไปถึงเมื่อไหร่ ทนไม่ไหวขึ้นมาจับปล้ำแล้วเช้ามาก็ให้แม่ไปขอเลยดีไหมนะจะได้จบ ๆ ไป”

All it takes for me to be locked inside a sauna for eight hours is an accidental splash of hot water on Wayne Miller's secretary's hand. Right before I lose consciousness, he finally orders someone to let me out. He hisses, "Consider this a warning. If I ever see you lay a hand on Naomi again, I won't let you off so easily." I lie on a stretcher and answer with quiet composure, "Understood."

Acquaintance Party and some students already at the center of the hall. Dahan-dahang tumingin si Leighton Wajeeh sa kanan niya kung nasaan ang isang babae. "Eun-ji... M-May I d-dance with you?" he stuttered. With a sweetest smile he's ever seen, the girl answered, "Sure, Waj!" Right after she accepted his hand, they then walked towards the center of the hall. "Alright, on my cue, wear your masquerade mask!" the host suddenly announced nung nakita niyang marami nang nasa gitna. Matapos nilang hinanda ang mask, the host then muttered, "Mask on! Music, maestro!" Romantic song then played as they wore their masks. Slowly, Leighton Wajeeh puts his hands on Nikolina Eun-ji's waist while she put hers on his shoulders. "E-Eun-ji, I..." sabi ni Leighton habang unti-unting tumingin sa labi ng babae. Leighton's heart pounded fast. He is wanting this moment to come. Eun-ji just stared at him. With that, he stared at her eyes... deeply. "I like y---" Ngunit, hindi niya natuloy ang kaniyang mga salita. Leighton's mouth gaped open and his eyes suddenly widened. Napaatras siya dahilan upang mapatigil sila sa pagsasayaw. This can't be... "Waj, what's wrong?" Eun-ji innocently asked. She tried to reach him ngunit umiwas si Leighton sa kaniya. His hands and lips trembled while still looking at the woman's face covered with mask, highlighting her eyes. Those eyes... Those eyes that brought him trauma for how many years... Similar to the eyes who killed his father!

Love makes the world go round, sabi nila. Pero iba para kay Alexena dahil pinatigil nito ang isang bahagi ng buhay at pagkatao niya. Kahit na dala ang sakit ng kahapon ay pinili niyang mag-move forward at ngumiting muli upang ipagpatuloy ang buhay. Ngunit pagkatapos umalis nang walang paalam makalipas ang ilang taon ay hindi niya kailanman inakalang maglalaro ang tadhana at pagtatagpuing muli ang kanilang landas ng nag-iisang lalaki na kanyang minahal at iniwan sa nakaraan. Pero nagbago na ito, wala na ang bakas ng pagkatao ng lalaking kanyang nakasama noon. Wala na ni anino ng suyo kapag tinatapunan siya nito ng tingin at lambing sa tinig kapag kinakausap siya. Sa halip ay puro pang-iinsulto at masasakit na salita na lamang ang lumalabas sa bibig nito sa tuwing bubuka iyon. At ang nakakaloka pa ay napapansin niya na palagi na lang siya nitong pinag-iinitan at pinepersonal. Palagi ring iritado at akala mo ba ay may buwanang dalaw sa sungit. Aminado naman siyang may malaki siyang kasalanan dito. At mukhang dumating na rin ang panahon ng paniningil nito, ayaw man niya ay kailangan niyang magbayad. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga iringan nilang dalawa at hindi pagkakasundo ay hindi maikakailang ito pa rin ang nag-iisang tao na may kakayahang patibukin nang mabilis ang puso niya. Akala niya ay okay na siya, akala niya ay naka-move on na siya rito. Pero mukhang mali ang lahat ng naging paniniwala niya dahil tutol man ang isip niya sa kanyang nararamdaman ay sadya namang may pagkatraydor, suwail at balimbing ang puso niya basta pagdating na rito ang usapan. Love is sweeter the second time around, maging applicable naman kaya ang kasabihang iyon sa dalawang ito? O sa halip na maging matamis ay baka naman pait ang malasahan at maging kapalaran ng mga ito sa dulo?

Menjadi taruhan oleh orang yang dicintai tentunya akan sangat menyakitkan. Itulah yang dirasakan Yuca. Ia terjebak dalam permainan Naja. Setelah tidak sengaja mendengar pembicaraan Naja dan teman-temannya itu, tentu saja Yuca meminta putus. Namun, yang Yuca sesalkan pada dirinya sendiri adalah sifat tidak teganya pada Naja. Ia cukup tahu hidup Naja hingga sulit untuk tak acuh pada pria itu. Bahkan ketika Naja sudah meremukkan harga dirinya, Yuca masih sering kecolongan dengan sikap refleksnya setiap melihat Naja butuh bantuan. *** Tipe ideal Naja adalah perempuan tinggi, berisi depan-belakang, langsing, dan cantik. Naja adalah pemuja perempuan yang mendedikasikan hidupnya untuk kecantikan fisik. Karena itu, selama 'terpaksa' berpacaran dengan Yuca, lapar matanya tidak terpenuhi. Walau Naja akui Yuca adalah perempuan yang tulus, tidak mudah bagi Naja menerimanya. Atau lebih tepatnya, Naja memang tidak pernah punya niat memasukkan perempuan 'biasa' seperti Yuca dalam hidupnya. Setidaknya, itulah yang terjadi sebelum Naja menjadi mantan Yuca. Karena setelah Yuca meminta putus yang diterima dengan senang hati oleh Naja, ia merasa ada yang kurang dari hidupnya. Tidak ada yang peduli dengan makanannya, mengingat ia punya alergi. Tidak juga dengan isi kulkasnya yang kosong karena Naja malas belanja. Begitu pula dengan perhatian-perhatian kecil dari Yuca. Selepas merasakan keseharian yang jungkir balik, Naja sadar ada yang salah dengan dirinya. Bukan, bukan hidup seperti ini yang Naja inginkan.

Vero flatly refused the match between his parents. For Fero, the true love in his life is only Cassandra, his lover. But a situation turns all the stories around, Fero likes the girl he once rejected to be his soul mate. But it was too late, the girl didn't want Fero. How will it end? Can Fero get back, the heart of the girl he hurt in the past? So what made Fero turn to love that girl ?. see his story in the novel "Late Loving You"

Sceptical Lou Riley desires love, however what will she do once she gets an opportunity to own her fairytale romance? Will she freak out and push him away, afraid he is getting to break her heart or go along with it and hope it is the real thing?