Warm

They say fire is cleansing, a transformative type of destruction. After a forest fire, nature heals and grows stronger. It's forever changed but not destroyed. Fire is painful but beautiful, something that is warm but left unattended can be devastating. In the flames I was broken, destroyed, but in the ashes I was restored. Left floating in the grey, the smoke that led me through a divine transformation. Now I'm left adrift, the dark my only guide in the smoke, the blue of the sky, of his eyes, the only guide in the light. Forever torn and pulled between the two, unsure who I can trust and terrified to make the wrong choice. Not just my life hangs in the balance, but the lives and well being of all of humanity. It just might be too much for these wings to bare.

[A Mermaid x Mafia Boss Fluffy Romance] "Stay away from humans," Aqua's mother used to tell her. Until the age of eighteen, she spent most of her time in the deep depths of the ocean. Occasionally, she would swim to the pier at night when there were no humans to explore. One fateful night, a human fell from the sky covered in blood. Using her tears, Aqua saved the mysterious man and spiralled into a life of crime. Dawn Daniels did not expect to live. His advisor had betrayed him and tossed him into the cold watery depths. Yet, like a ray of light, he was given another chance to live by a mysterious mermaid like no other maiden. Touched by her gentle and innocent nature, Dawn tries to live his new life with her but his past catches up to him. Dying for the third time without a way for Aqua to save him using her immortality, the unlucky couple exchanged one last vow, transforming their lives forever. For the price of granting him a new life, Aqua loses her voice forever. Dawn promises to take care of her for as long as they live and marries her. Away from their tragic pasts, follow Dawn and Aqua as they learn more about each other's species and fall deeper each day. [Completed]

He straddled me, his hips swirling in slow, maddening circles. His body was right there, pressing into mine, and I couldn’t escape it; I didn’t want to. His hands found mine and guided them to his chest, and when my palms touched his warm skin, I was gone. My pulse was a blur of frantic beats pounding in my ears, drowning out the crowd's cheers and whistles. With his face inches from mine, Alec leaned in. His breath ghosted over my lips, his smile, cocky, knowing, playful, and somehow tender all at once. “You okay there?” he asked with an amused tone, and I opened my mouth, desperate to say something—anything—but nothing came out. My throat was dry, my skin was on fire and my mind was completely blank. All I could do was stare at him, completely mesmerized by how his body moved against mine and that wicked smirk on his lips. Before I knew it, heat pooled low in my belly, spreading downward, and I instinctively clenched my thighs together to stop the throbbing that ignited between my legs, but it was too late as I dampened the soft leather.

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and just barely recognizing yourself in the reflection? Well that is me, I have loved and lost. Survived and thrived, screamed and cried into my pillow tears nobody else got to see. But I never gave up hope, never lied down and never let them see me cry. Until him, he could see past the facade and see the real me. He wanted to love me, concole me and protect me. But I have lost hope in humanity, men, true love because life just arent a fairytale right? Its hard work and nothing comes easy even if you would like to believe it does it just doesnt. He is my mothers new husbands son and 10 years older than me. His blue eyes keep staring at me, it should warm me to the core right. Make me feel something anything. But it doesn't he makes women run after him and beg on their knees. But me, I have been down this road before. The charming smile, arrogant cocky attitude. It always ends the same, me covered in bruises crying on the bathroom floor. Thinking its all my fault, all me. But he just wouldn't let go. He wouldn't give up. And the more I turn him down the more it turns him on. I am only that strong before I give in,and even though I know how this is about to end. If he keeps staring at me with desire in his eyes as if I am the reason he is breathing. I know I am about to take the leap this can go down to damn ways. But the question is do I or dont I. Because fear can be your anchor or it can be your wings

Adam Ocampo is a premier world-class painter who went back to his hometown in search of a perfect place for his art and a home for his heart. His search for Teresa Milan draws him closer to long-lost memories, past grievances, and the closure of forgiveness.

"Where are you going, Mrs?" Zaviyaar pulled her to himself after seeing her going away from him. She fell straight on his lap. "I was going to change the dress." She said in a low voice as she felt his warm breathing airing on her neck. "It's not needed." He said meaningfully to her and put his lips on her neck. Anaaya stopped breathing as she felt his grip getting tight. This man is living in her every breath. Zaviyaar tightened his grip on her waist and slowly his lips travelled up from her neck to her face. Anaaya's heart was pounding fast as she felt his warm lips and his beard rubbing against her skin. "You have become my soul, Anaaya Zaviyaar." He said lovingly, kissing Anaaya's cheeks. Anaaya abruptly held him tightly by his shoulders. "For the happening of this moment, I waited every moment." She leaned near his ear and taking a heavy breath, she told him in a soft voice. Abruptly, Zaviyaar's grip has tightened around her waist.

'If one door closes, there are still a thousand doors open.' For the umpteenth time, the twenty-one-year-old art student Grace Menken is hurt by a man who only takes advantage of her kindness. Being alone, bullied, and always getting played with makes Grace hopeless, so she decides to end her life. With a rope and a broken heart, Grace chooses an abandoned mansion as a witness to her death. However, she had a bad accident in that place. Grace might have died in the accident, but fate plays tricks on her. A knock on the door awakens Grace, who had just fallen from a height of two floors. When she opens the door, a man in royal clothing bumps into her. "My apologies for hitting you, Ms. I’ve been chased by a pack of monster wolves. I have to find a way to get back to the palace. My wedding ceremony will start soon." ** Adro Alymer Groendez is the crown prince of the prosperous kingdom, Groendez a Lend. He will marry his childhood friend, Princess Joselyn. However, Adro accidentally crosses into the modern world on their wedding day through a witch's door. Trapped, Adro meets Grace Menken, a girl who becomes his friend and promises to help him return to the fairy tale land. Would Adro make it back to his world, where his bride-to-be is waiting? Or would Adro be trapped forever in the modern world?

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Twisting her hands backward, he took her till the walls. "You did'nt leave till now?" That man questions her as he leaned to her face. "Mmm...... Mmmmm....... Please leave my hand...... Leave it..." "I won't listen to you once today. I gave you once chance." He said coming close to her in a low and bossy tone. Anna smelled the strong smell of wine. It was obvious that he was more drunk than Anna. She could strongly feel his warm breaths across her face. Her start started to beat more faster than before. "But see.... You came back to me.... Now even if you want to leave me, I won't let you leave me." Anna tried hard to leave from his grip but he pulled her towards him. He kept his lips on her lips. By this sudden kiss Anna's eyes widened. She did'nt expect something like this. That man started to kiss her wildly. She started to suffocate by his wild kiss. She tried to free herself from him but was unsuccessful. He stopped for a moment and then took her face in between his hands. Both were standing too close to each other, so close that they could hear each others heartbeat but due to the darkness in the room both were unable to see each other. "You wanted this, right? You wanted me to love you endlessly" "Yes..... Yes.... I.....wanted.... to..... but....." She was trembling as she spoke.

"You know, when you decided to enter my world. You should know that there is no way back, Princess." Crystal Leonidas is the Perfect Princess. As the world's number one Billionaire's youngest daughter, her life is perfect. She is beautiful and smart and she also has Aiden Lucero, her prince charming who loves her and protects her from everything. With Aiden, Crystal believes she doesn't need anything else. Until the day her gaze met Xander William's beautiful eyes. He is warm but dark. Soothing and scary at the same time. It is no secret that Crystal immediately fell for the stranger. Fast, hard and deep. The spark of that feeling was scary, turned into fire, then turned into a strong sense of longing. Forbidden, but tempting. When Xander's lips burn her body with kisses, Crystal knows she has crossed a line. A dangerous limit. Unfortunately, there is no turning back. He is a Beast. A cruel beast who can kill you and bury your body deep underneath. So, what happens next when Crystal realizes that she is already Falling for the Beast?