Tugged

17-year old Star Sullivan was no stranger to loss, having recently endured the heartbreaking passing of her parents. Struggled to come to terms with her grief, she found herself uprooted from her familiar surroundings and thrust into a new town under the care of her godparents. The weight of her sorrow hung heavy on her shoulders casting a shadow over her once bright spirit. Star navigates the unfamiliar street and faces of her new home, a glimmer of intrigue caught her eye - a student with eyes as silver as moonlight, a captivating mystery etched in every glance. Drawn to this enigmatic figure, she found herself unable to resist the pull of curiosity that tugged at her heart. His mysterious past whispered secrets that beckoned to be unraveled, a puzzle waiting to be pieced together. With each passing day, Star found herself entangled in a web of intrigue and emotion, her heart torn between the allure of the unknown and the safety of familiarity. As the threads of secrets began to unravel, revealing truths that shook the foundation of her newfound life, Star stood at a crossroads, her heart torn asunder. Would she choose to stand by her new friends and family, embracing the complexities of their intertwined destinies, or would she heed the call of uncertainty, fleeing to the safety of the hills, away from the tumultuous storm that threatened to consume her? Only time held the answers to the questions that plagued her restless mind. The clock ticked away, each passing moment a reminder of the choices that lay ahead, the paths diverging into the unknown. In the quiet of the night, as the stars whispered tales of destiny and fate, Star found herself standing on the precipice of a decision that would shape the course of her future.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, I took my boyfriend's sister to his flashy new influencer hub. Fresh off brain surgery, Benedetta Griffin needed a break from her recovery, and I hoped the trip would lift her spirits. In the hub, a streamer was hawking a face cream like a carnival barker. "Listen, fam! The boss lady is slashing prices. Get this $3,800 cream for just $398 today!" Benedetta tugged my sleeve. "That cream is bad news." She'd interned at the FDA last summer and could spot a scam from a mile away. "It's packed with steroids. Long-term use will ruin your skin." Driven by her sense of justice, she marched up to the streamer. "You can't sell this unlicensed junk. The steroids exceed legal limits. Pull it from the shelves." Morgan Lamb froze, but then her fake smile twisted into a scowl. "Who the hell are you to trash my product?" Benedetta didn't back down. "You're scamming people, and you know it." Morgan planted her hands on her hips. "I'm the boss lady here. How dare you slander my brand? Nobody leaves until you cough up $500,000 for damages." "Boss lady?" My stomach churned. My boyfriend's sudden venture into the streaming industry now made sense. He was sinking money into this hub to bankroll his lover. I fumbled for my phone to call him, but Morgan was faster. "Babe, get to the hub. Two haters crashed the party, trying to tank our business."

"You're in heat." His words were breathy as his hand moved down her face to caress her cheek. "Your body will writhe with pain, and it will only get more intense as the moon rises." "How do I stop it?" She asked, leaning against his touch. "If you allow me, I can ease your pain, Xenia." Mason's gaze traveled the length of her body as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "All you have to do is say yes." The sight of him created a desire that made her wet all over until only one thing echoed in her mind… Let him take us. *************** Many years have passed since the Century War between humans and other species, but times seem to improve. Since then, more have come to terms with living peacefully side by side, while others believe things should go back to where the species were segregated. Xenia Bakken is just a baker who wants to run her own business one day and work with her best friend, Lottie. Everything changes when a chance encounter turns into a kidnapping. Now, she is thrown into a world she doesn't want to be in and has to adapt to survive. Mason Dalton only has one goal: to bring back his first mate, Melania. So when he meets the perfect person to help, he acts without hesitation. However, he discovers his perfect vessel is unwilling to give up without a fight. The attraction between the two is stronger than they both realize and will test them to their limits. With a quick deadline and people searching for them all over, will Mason be able to reunite with his love, or will Xenia gather the strength needed to get away?

“I am King Thorn, and I will marry your daughter…” his lips tugged in a smirk as his eyes landed on her. “What, marry?!” Payton widened her eyes. “Yes, Payton Vass. You will marry me,” he stated firmly while he locked eyes with her. Payton stared at the man who had undoubtedly lost his mind. As if the mess that they were in was not enough, how dare he show up at her house to tell her family that? === The only thing Payton Vass thought remained for her was to marry her fiance and then fully live in her dream. What she did not expect was that this beautiful dream of hers would get shattered on the night of her fiance's birthday party. How she ended up in this icey, yet hot billionaire’s bed was something she had no idea of. And as if that was not enough… The paparazzi got wind of it. To repair their broken reputations, these two strangers were forced to marry each other. “It was you who put us in this mess, Payton, and you will do as I've told you!” his eyes blazed in anger as he grabbed her arm. “It was you who did this to me! You better get us out of this mess!” she snapped back as she yanked her arm away. These two would never believe that what happened that night was a mistake and not on their own accord and would not stop hating each other. Yet, they could not get out of this marriage. While the person he hated the most was the woman who could fix his tarnished image, he was also the only one who could save her father and her business from falling.

Currently Ongoing: Vampire and the Siren "Who are you?" I asked again, ignoring his care and affection. "I'm …...and I'm just a friend," he smiled. His smile tugged at my heart and I can't believe I'm in the presence of someone this beautiful and breathtaking. He's six-foot, two inches tall, almost a giant to the short five-foot me. His dimple was one-sided and that made him extra attractive. I love how his sharp jaw is perfectly shaped to fit his face. He's so perfectly built that his biceps are almost bulging out of the black shirt that he was putting on. "How do you feel, Bella?" He asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. His hand landed on my shoulder, trying to force me back to sleep and once it made contact with my skin, I felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach. "You're perfect Bella, so perfect" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After meeting with Adonis for the first night, Bella asked for her memory of the night to be erased so she could forget about everything that happened that day and Adonis did as she wanted even though it was hard for the 200 years old vampire to let go of his soulmate. The only problem was Adonis couldn't keep off Bella and those memories won't stop hunting Bella's dreams every night, especially with the mysterious man who seems to be stalking her. BOOKS IN THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES SERIES Book 1: Vampire and the Siren Book 2: Vampire's Wallflower Book 3: The Vampire King's Bride NB: Book cover changes when a new book in the series start

Adrian woke to warmth, too much warmth. His heart nearly stopped when he realized his head was resting against Kaelen’s chest, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. Panic surged. He shoved himself upright, only to freeze when he saw it, thin, glowing red threads coiling around his wrist, binding him to Kaelen. His blood ran cold. “What the hell…?” Adrian whispered, staring at the unmistakable bond mark. Kaelen stirred, blinking awake. For a moment, confusion flickered in his eyes, then shock. He tugged the sheet up to cover himself, gaze darting between Adrian and the red mark linking them. “What did you do? Adrian hissed, his voice breaking. You’re my sister’s fiancé! You’re supposed to be her mate, not...” He trembled as he scrambled for his clothes. Kaelen sat up, still staring at the line as though it mocked him. “I… I don’t know. But this—this isn’t a mistake. Adrian, you’re my mate.” “No!. Adrian’s hands shook as he pulled his shirt over his head. Whatever happened last night...forget it. This is wrong. You hear me? It never happened. Don’t you dare breathe a word of this to anyone.” Kaelen’s voice softened, almost pleading. “Adrian…” But Adrian couldn’t bear to listen. His chest ached as he turned away, slamming the door behind him, leaving Kaelen staring at the red bond that refused to fade. Two souls tied together by fate. One forbidden connection that could destroy them both.

His fingers trailed across my skin, making goosebumps pop up. The featherlight touch was driving me insane with need. He parted my thighs and stepped between them. His eyes drank in my features as if he was trying to memorize them. I always felt out of control around him, but I had a feeling that he loved that. "Tell me what you want, Violet," he murmured, his hand gently wrapping around me throat. "Tell me what you desire.” Enzo's other hand went to my skirt and began pushing it up until my white thong was showing. His finger ran over its wet center. A sinful smirk tugged at his lips. "Naughty little Violet is already so wet, and we haven't even begun. Tell me what you want, or we'll go back to work." His eyebrow rose up, awaiting my response. "You. I want you to touch me," I breathed out. ***** Enzo Vittori is a mystery to most. They believe that the CEO of Vittori Enterprises has everything that he could want. However, the one thing that he does not have is someone to stand beside him as an equal, someone to claim as his own. Violet Starling is a curveball that fate throws into his path. A woman who draws him in without even trying – a woman who will fight until her final breath is taken. Secrets blanket her reality and threaten her life. All it takes is one night for everything to change. They say that she is not human. They say that her mother is not really dead. Can Enzo protect her even when forces want her dead? Can she tame Mr. Vittori who is known for his cold, indifferent, and calculating presence? One thing is certain. Their journey will be filled with trials, passion, and spice.

“Tell me you hate me,” Mikhail whispered, aggressively pressing the side of my face against his expensive wooden table. I inhaled sharply, fighting back the moan in my throat. “I…” I wanted to force the words out, because I did. I hated him with every fiber of my being, with every drop of the blood in my veins. At the same time, I didn't. I had never put a label on the other thing I felt for him. He would never feel the same, and he would scorn me. “Say it, Marlowe. Say you hate me.” He dared, thrusting hard into me and stealing my breath. “Oh my God,” I cried out, pushing my ass backwards to meet his thrusts despite myself. “You can't say it, can you?” He laughed scornfully. “I… hate you.” I managed, inhaling sharply. He tugged my hair, fucking me harder. “No, you don't.” I couldn't argue, because an earth shattering orgasm snuck up on me and blinded my thoughts. When I recovered, I realized he was not completely wrong. *** *** *** Marlowe had a simple, happy life up until her late teens when she was about to go to college. Her father was murdered in cold blood and her mother fell apart. She was left to take care of herself and her mother, and all her dreams were shattered. She is kidnapped and sold to someone she once knew and was in love with. Mikhail Romanov. He is an entirely different person now. But Marlowe is an angel and she can melt the hardest of hearts. They fall in love with each other, but with this romance comes a revelation of secrets that shatter Marlowe and all that's left of her is a woman that is filled with hatred and anger, and desperate for revenge.

“You’re disgusting, you used me,” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief, my voice shaking with emotion. “You’re a vile, selfish bastard, and I hope you rot in hell.” A twisted smile tugged at his lips, and for the first time, I saw him for what he truly was. “You’re so dramatic,” he said with a laugh. “You hate your father too, don’t you? You’ve always resented him. And now you’re upset because you caught me with another woman? Is that it? Jealous? You should have learned by now to share your husband with other women, Emma.” “Shut up!” I screamed, my voice breaking. He chuckled darkly. “Come on, Emma. Both your father and brother-in-law have been doing the same for years. It’s not that big of a deal, is it?” *** Emma, a powerful CEO, hires struggling actor Ryan to be her fake fiancé at her sister's wedding. Their staged romance turns real, but Emma discovers Ryan's betrayal and walks away with her head held high. Six years later, Ryan returns to win her back, unaware of the secret Emma is hiding and a dark threat is closing in. As threats loom, will they overcome the past, or lose everything? Can they survive the danger and reclaim their love, or will they lose everything? *** "Mum, where is my dad?” “I don’t know,” I lied. “But you don’t need to worry about that.” “But Mum, how can you not know? The boys said you must be a bad woman if you don’t know who my dad is,” James said, “Please tell me I have a dad.” he started sobbing. Shit!! My honeypot!! “You had one,” I said, my voice breaking. “But we lost him in an accident.”

After being forced to give my wife's first love my heart, I died in the hallway of the private hospital she had personally founded. My six-year-old son, Ash, had already begged her thrice by the time I had drawn my last breath. The first time was when he tugged on her hand, saying I was coughing up blood. Sneering, she claimed, "So he's finally learned something—teaching his kid how to lie." Then, she had the bodyguards throw him out of the room. The second time was when he clung to her sleeve, insisting that I rambled nonsense due to the pain. "It's just a heart transplant," she opined with a frown. "The doctor already said he won't die." At that, the bodyguards stepped in again and dragged him away. The third time was when he fell to the ground, clutching her pant leg with all his strength, crying that I had already passed out. She finally lost her temper by this point, grabbing Ash by the throat and hurling him out of the room. "I have already said it—Howard isn't going to die. Dare to disturb Skye's rest again, and I'll throw both of you out of this hospital," she warned. To save me, my son pawned the most precious thing he owned—his St. Christopher medal—to a nurse. "Ma'am," he said. "I don't need to live a long life. I just want my dad to live." She accepted the medal and was about to arrange for me to be transferred to the last available room. However, my wife's first love, Skye Whitley, had someone block the doorway with his pet dog. He mentioned, "Sorry, kid. Your mom's worried I'll get bored if I can't see my dog. This room is reserved for him."