xiao long bao pronunciation

Marchioness Harriet Goldlane, a talented noblewoman, made a deal with Old Duke Almandine. To save her younger brother, she was willing to become a substitute for Liam's 'mate', the grandson of the Old Duke. Liam was an Alpha whose 'mate' died long ago. He was severely injured and had been living without a heart for a long time. He could only wake up from his sleep when there was a full moon. The Old Duke and Liam himself guessed that the man would die soon due to his worsening condition. Because of that, Old Duke wanted Harriet to give birth to an heir to the Almandine Family from Liam's seed so that their family would have a new leader. The Alpha's replacement bride would soon find that she was in love with the dying man and now they both wished for a miracle to save Liam's life. Could she fulfill her duty to bear the next Alpha for the Almandines? Would Liam survive to protect his bride and family?

In the world of high finance, Melody Von Line is making a name for herself. She’s started working with the legendary Wolf of Bay Street as his associate, no less. There’re a few slight problems, okay, they’re huge. She didn’t know when they called him a wolf. They really meant it. He’s a wolf shifter. That wouldn’t be a problem if she were a human woman. She’s not. Melody is a fox, as in a fox shifter. Foxes are the prey for wolves, and it hasn’t changed. So, she desperately resists her growing attraction to the handsome wolf. But today’s the day he makes his move. Offering her a long weekend with him, no strings attached, anything goes, but they walk away at the end of the weekend and get on with their lives as it never happened.Things like this never go as planned. Malcolm wants to change the rules as the weekend winds down. But now he’s alone in the cottage, without a clue to where Melody has gone. Tuesday morning, he discovers she’s quit her job with no forwarding address. He wants answers. This has put him off his A-game because he wants her back. After a meeting over a year later, he sees her in a crowd. There’s no mistaking that fiery red hair, and she’s pushing a stroller with a child in it. A child who bears his distinctive blue wolf’s eyes. There’s no mistaking them. Now the hunt begins anew. No human could ever raise a shifter pup without their secret existence being revealed. This time he’s hunting two for keeps.

Roxanne Grant has always been one to live her life according to her rules. Blessed with a handsome and capable fiancé and a dream job, she couldn’t have imagined a life better, until she discovers that her fiancé had been cheating with his secretary for a long time. Enraged and heartbroken, Roxanne decides to take revenge but accidentally bumped into Lance Laurent, Los Angeles’s hottest bachelor and heir to Laurent cop and the stepbrother of his fiancé. After that one steamy night, things began to get more complicated, spiraling out of Roxanne’s control and down a lane of lust. And much to her surprise, the L.A’s hottest bachelor doesn't plan on letting go of her anytime soon. ** ** ** "Thinking of another man while having me? Tell me, is my time a joke to you, woman?” Lance had grabbed her chin to meet his gaze harshly. With his words, Roxanne grinned as she placed the last of her concerns behind. Wrapping her legs around his waist and pulled him closer, she answered him in a slurry voice. “You have my full attention now, so you better make it worth the while.”

His smoldering golden gaze struck sparks from hers. “I wanted you the first time I saw you nearly three years ago. Now I want you even more.” “Me too... I've been waiting for this for so long… Three years might seem an eternity sometimes. Touch me, Diego. Please,” she mumbled shakily. “I will, 'cariño'… And I won’t stop. Not until you beg me to.” "Then... Don’t you ever stop…” she whispered urgently, shifting her hips in a restive movement against the sheet, wildly, wickedly conscious of the growing ache at the very heart of her. “Never…” "Is this a promise?" "A certainty." For sexy, mysterious Mexican aristocrat Diego Francisco Martinez del Río, Duque de Altamira, Jacqueline Maxwell was a gypsy, a weirdo living in awful conditions. And she was raising his orphaned baby niece in… a trailer! So unacceptable! Since she wasn’t giving up on little Azura, and his niece was very fond of her aunt, Diego offered to marry Jacqueline and raise the little girl together. Yes, she was poor but she was a real beauty, and with a little help, Jacqueline might become a perfect wife for a Duque. Graceful, beautiful... delightful, even. Jacqueline Maxwell knew Diego and his kind all too well. He was as stunning and charming as the devil himself, but twice as ruthless and heartless. He was just a playboy interested in one thing and one thing only. And it had nothing to do with little Azura. Still, accepting his proposal of a marriage of convenience might be the end to all her worries regarding the little girl left in her care by Alyssa, her sister...

“Mummy, Is the President our daddy?” Layla asked curiously, head tilted sideways. Her brothers listened in attentively, obviously wanting a response. I forced out a chuckle as I crouched low before her to cup her soft cheeks. “Honey, the president isn’t your daddy. The President is a very wicked person.” “But, we met him today and he was very polite. He even complimented my hair.” Layla continued earnestly and my heart hammered against my chest violently “Cupcakes, whenever you run into the President; stay away from him because he’s very cruel, okay?” The triplets’ eyes were wide as they hastily nodded their heads, and I pulled them into a long hug. They had no idea the President had once wanted them dead without second thoughts. I’ve sworn to protect them with my life since I had them. No one’s going to take them away from me. Not even their vile father, the President! ~~~ Zendaya Montclair unwillingly got into a contract marriage with the President and suffered a great deal in the marriage– from having to break up with her high school sweetheart because of the marriage, to depression, to public humiliation– to her ex-boyfriend whom she was still in love with, getting married to her supposed best friend. Zendaya was heartbroken. She got drunk that night and spent it in her husband’s bed, which instantly led to an accidental pregnancy. The President wanted her to get rid of the pregnancy because he never saw her as a mother of his future children and only a wife of convenience. That was the last straw. Zendaya left everything behind and fled, promising herself to come back for revenge on every single person who had wronged her. Including the President, she was going to make him pay!

"Hello Evie, it's been a long time..." His deep sexy voice still made her tremble but she tried her best to remain calm. His eyes stared at her beauty like he wanted to devour her. "Mr. Wayne. " She nodded. Tried so hard not to show her trembling hand and shook his big hand. "Mr. Wayne, huh? It's always been, baby to you..." He grinned. Showed the perfect teeth on his handsome face. God. Why she had to meet him of all presidents that owns a company?! Evangeline got an e-mail for job interview as a secretary in a big company in the country. The interview went smoothly and she was accepted. Of course the beautiful young woman was delighted. But the HRD told her, the president was really ill and his son, the one and only heir would take his place. And that heir was Alexander Wayne. That was also her ex. Her psycho ex that was obsessed with her. Her heart. Her mind. Her body. Will she escape his unbearable love? Or accept his true nature and obsession for her? Warning! This book is full with violent and disturbing scenes! Please consider it first before reading!

It’s all started with a flirt. It wasn’t a surprise to me that he’s a playboy—it’s all written all over his pretty face. He’s a kind of guy your mom warned you about, but your body craves. It might be hard to accept, but I’ve been in a dry spell for a long time. So maybe he’s the answer, but the charming, cocky, and brutally honest playboy made me feel like no men ever did. And pretty soon, I was in too deep. *** It wasn’t a part of my plan. In fact, I never have imagined my life to be with someone more than just to warm my bed, let alone a woman with a kid, but just a single look at her gorgeous blue eyes, I’m already confused—I’ve never been drawn to any women the way I was drawn to her.

Pinning me against the wall, he gripped my jaw and growled, “You are mine, Ember.” His hand closed around my throat tightly before he whispered venomously, “Mine to break. Mine to destroy. As long as you are here, you are at my mercy.” A devilish smirk touched his lips as he said playfully, “And I am NEVER letting you go, my mate.” ============== All her life, Ember has worked hard to be the next Queen of the South but her life turns upside down when she finds out that she is the mate of the ruthless Alpha of the North, the bloodthirsty enemy of the South. Angry at fate, Ember vows to fight this forbidden mate bond. Alpha Nicholus, on the other hand, is disgusted to find out that the daughter of his worst enemy is actually his fated mate. But in his quest to become the most powerful King, he decides to bow down to fate but when his rebellious mate disagrees, he doesn’t hesitate to unleash his ruthless demons to get what he wants.

From dodging airborne slot machines to an unplanned swim in the fountain of a luxury hotel, it's safe to say that a trip to Las Vegas doesn't go as Carrie Blair had planned it to. A part-time teacher by day and an artist by night, Carrie thought that a fun, relaxing weekend in Vegas with her best friend was exactly what the two of them needed to unwind. Instead, her presence in the city of lights attracts the attention of a rival Alpha. Luca Ronan thunders into Carrie's life with plenty of demands and expectations of his new mate. Unfortunately for him, Carrie isn't one to fold under pressure-even when it's applied by the most intimidating Alpha in the country. Stubborn and determined, Carrie puts as much space between her and Luca as she can. But how long can she remain ill-willed against the charm and passion that comes with the formidable Alpha she has been destined to love?

"Tyler Wills broke my heart and now, he's back to pick up the pieces, but I built walls he can’t climb... or can he?" ——— Samantha Blake, a rising star in New York's design world, thought she left her broken past behind. But when a big lie messes up her life, she has to face Tyler Wills, the man she once loved and lost. As secrets come out and enemies show up, Samantha must deal with a mix of lies and desire. Will she find the strength to forgive and get her future back, or will the past ruin everything she cares about?