Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You're mine. Now and always."
Gianna Lloyd burst from the apartment, her heart hammering against her ribs as she fled.
Terror etched across her features, she sprinted forward with her torn shirt exposing one shoulder to the cool night air.
She dared not pause even for a breath, convinced her pursuer would seize her at any moment.
When she collided with someone's solid chest, Gianna's gaze darted upward in alarm.
Before her stood a man whose striking features conveyed aristocratic elegance despite his solemn expression.
Before she could react, a furious voice echoed from behind her. "Damn it! Where the hell did that bitch go? When I get my hands on her, I'll fuck her the whole night."
Every muscle in Gianna's body tensed at the sound; capture was unthinkable.
She searched the stranger's face, and something primal awakened within her.
"Sir, please help me, I beg you..." Gianna whispered, her trembling fingers clutching his sleeve while tears glistened in her eyes.
Tristan Murray glanced down at the woman who had crashed into his arms. Annoyance flashed across his face, but it dissolved into recognition when he saw her face.
Just as despair began to creep into Gianna's heart, Tristan enveloped her in his overcoat.
His voice was low, steady. "Don't resist. Just follow me."
Darkness surrounded Gianna, yet rather than fear, an unexpected sense of security washed over her.
Tristan's arm encircled her waist, holding her against him with unusual protectiveness, as though fearing she might vanish.
Oblivious to his peculiar behavior, Gianna instinctively clutched his shirt and allowed him to guide her forward.
The subtle scent of alcohol emanating from his skin crashed into Gianna's heightened senses.
Shortly thereafter, she heard hinges creak as a door swung open, and he ushered her into his apartment.
The door clicked shut, but Tristan maintained his protective hold.
Gianna clung to him, her self-control evaporating with each passing second.
His intoxicating scent overwhelmed her, drawing her body towards his with magnetic force, creating a desperate longing for skin-to-skin contact.
Tristan tilted Gianna's chin upward, noting her unfocused gaze and the unnatural flush spreading across her cheeks. His brow furrowed with concern. "Were you drugged?"
Now sheltered from immediate danger, the final threads of Gianna's rationality unraveled, allowing the drug to claim complete dominion over her consciousness, rendering Tristan's words incomprehensible.
She registered only the tantalizing sensation of his cool, calloused fingers against her feverish skin-a touch she found impossible to resist.
Following primal instinct, she rose onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, whispering, "Help me... Please..."
Gianna pressed her mouth to his, instinctively parting his lips and offering the velvet caress of her tongue.
After a moment of stunned hesitation, Tristan returned her kiss with unexpected fervor.
In that instant, Gianna discovered that kisses existed in countless variations.
Molten desire pooled between her thighs, intensifying when his cool palm enveloped her heated breast and teased the sensitive peak. For the first time, she experienced pleasure cascading through her body like liquid fire.
Lost in sensation, Gianna could not determine whether the drug alone was responsible for her abandon.
When he finally joined their bodies, confusion and exhilaration mingled within her. Gianna clutched his back urgently, her fingertips discovering a landscape of raised scars.
There was no time for questions; she buried her face against his neck, her voice quavering as she pleaded, "Harder..."
Without hesitation, Tristan complied, increasing the intensity of his movements.
His burning chest pressed against hers as exquisite pleasure engulfed her until consciousness itself dissolved into blissful oblivion.
When Gianna finally awakened, afternoon light streamed through unfamiliar windows.
The strange sensations coursing through her body jolted her fully awake, and she bolted upright.
Across from the bed sat a stranger impeccably attired, his strikingly handsome face bearing a refined yet gentle demeanor, an aura of restrained power surrounding him.
Gianna panicked. Had she and this man slept together last night?
"Awake?" Tristan absently rubbed the ring adorning his middle finger, his tone deliberately neutral.
Gianna's racing thoughts scattered, and she lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
She felt as though there existed no safe place for her gaze to land in the entire room.
"About last night..." She hesitated, struggling to find the right words.
But Tristan cut her off before she could continue. "I'll take responsibility for what happened."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."