Camilla Dawson never expected to see the sinfully hot stranger she once hooked up with in a public washroom ever again. But fate-or rather, a father she never knew existed-has other plans. Now, she's bound and delivered as payment for a debt, straight into the hands of none other than Zeke Russell-the ruthless kingpin who always gets what he wants. Zeke built his empire on power and control, and he never takes no for an answer. Business or pleasure, the rules are his. It's been years, but he's never forgotten the woman who left him wanting more. Now, with Camilla thrust into his world as a replacement for his promised bride, everything spirals into chaos. She was never supposed to matter. Yet somehow, she's slipping past his defenses, unearthing secrets he's buried deep-and igniting a dangerous obsession. And when enemies close in, there's nothing he won't do to keep her. After all, what's one more crime in the name of love?
"𝔖𝔥𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔡𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩 𝔥𝔞𝔱𝔢, 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢, 𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯, 𝔩𝔲𝔰𝔱, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔡𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔰-𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢."
- 𝔲𝔫𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴𝔫.
Fucking a stranger in the washroom of a hospital while my classmate's stepfather lay dying in the ER has to be my worst sin. But let me back up a bit, because this story starts with a bang-well, not that kind of bang.
It starts with me, Camilla Dawson, sitting in the hospital lounge, tapping my foot impatiently. I hate hospitals. The odd chemical smell, the beeping machines, the constant reminder of mortality. I promised myself I'd never set a foot here again after finally being free of the regular visits. But here I am, waiting for news about Claire's stepfather, because that's what friends do.
And maybe my presence here tonight will finally convince her that I care about her. I've failed to keep the act up lately.
Truth be told, I think it's better if the man kicks the bucket. He's a total dick, always making Claire's life miserable with his controlling ways and constant criticism. But family is family, and Claire is here, so I am too.
She excuses herself to go answer a call from her mom, leaving me alone in the lounge. I glance around, trying to distract myself from the morbid thoughts, my palms growing sweaty as the flashbacks keep filtering in mercilessly.
And that's when I see him. Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome at the very first glance-like watching a love interest in a dark romance movie-leaning against the far wall. His eyes are the same colour as mine-blue, but they're many shades darker. There's something about his stare. It's too intense like he's stripping me with his gaze.
I might be reading too much into this... maybe it's just a stupid attempt to distract myself.... But, well. He could be Death itself, but Gods if he isn't sexy. And if I'm the next soul he wishes to reap, I'll gladly let him. Because at least he won't trail behind me between corridors after classes claiming he's fallen in love with me.
I raise an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips. "See something you like?" I mouth, knowing full well he can't hear me from across the room. But he gets the message. His lips curl into a slow, predatory smile that makes my heart race.
He pushes off the wall and starts walking towards me, lazily, almost dragging his feet. I stand up, meeting his gaze head-on. As he gets closer, I see the dark pits of his eyes widen, the slight stubble on his jaw, the way his white shirt stretches taut across his broad shoulders.
"You always this forward?" he asks in a whisper, looking over his shoulder, seeming desperate to keep this a secret.
I shrug, my smirk widening. "Only when I see something worth my time."
He blinks, impressed, and then leans in, his breath hot on my ear. "And what makes you think I'm worth your time?"
I laugh under my breath. "Because you're here, aren't you? And you can't take your eyes off me."
He chuckles, a deep, throaty sound that makes my stomach flutter. "Touché."
"So, what's your story?" I ask, tilting my head to the side, studying his outfit. He's rich, is my quickest conclusion. "You here for someone special, or just lurking around hospitals for fun?"
His eyes narrow slightly, and for a moment he looks lost, seeing something else entirely even though his eyes are on me. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he replies, distracted.
I take a step closer, our bodies almost touching. Why is he distracted? Did I say something to make him lose interest? That never happens.
"Maybe I would. Maybe I'm just curious about the mysterious stranger who can't keep his eyes off me."
He mirrors my movement, leaning in until our breaths mingle. "Maybe you should be careful what you wish for."
The smell of him is intoxicating, like cigarettes and bad decisions. The urge to feel those lips in me growing too strong. "And maybe you should stop talking and do something about it."
His hand reaches up, his fingers gently brushing a strand of my pale blonde hair away from my face. The touch is soft, but it wrecks me. "Is that an invitation?"
I bite my lip. "Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. Guess you'll have to find out."
He smirks, his hand moving to the small of my back, pulling me closer. "I never back down from a challenge."
"Good. Because I never lose."
His lips brush against my ear, a low growl filling my sense. "We'll see about that."
Before I know it, we're in the hospital washroom, the door locked behind us. His hands are on my hips, his lips buried into my neck.
He lifts me onto the counter in a single, effortless movement. His body presses into mine, knocking the breath out of me but I don't complain. Instead, I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer.
I moan, my head falling back to hit the mirror as he trails kisses down to my collarbone. His hands slip under my shirt, his fingers tracing the curve of my breasts. His mouth finds my nipple, his tongue circling, his teeth gently biting. I gasp, my body arching towards him.
What the hell am I doing? Who the hell is this man?
The thoughts come as warnings, but the way he touches me makes them all feel stupid. Rationality has no place in a mind that's overcome with lust.
He starts to move, his hips thrusting against mine, his body claiming me with each stroke. I feel every inch of him, his balls slapping against me with each thrust. It's messy, it's dirty, and it's the best fucking feeling in the world.
I never thought I'd ever be doing this, fucking a stranger in a hospital washroom. But I can't say I haven't fallen farther than this in an attempt to survive in the past, and this isn't even about survival, about need. It's what I want.
Just as he's deep inside me, he says something that stops me cold. "You know, people like you always end up alone. No one cares about you, and no one ever will. You're just a waste of space."
I go rigid. "What the hell did you just say?"
He thrusts deeper. "You're nothing but another pathetic nobody, begging for attention. Look at you, devouring it now that you've finally got some."
I've spent years feeling alone, unloved, and unseen. And here he is, a stranger, echoing my deepest fears. Anger surges through me, and before I can think, my hand connects with his cheek. The force of the slap is so hard that his head snaps to the side, and a red welt immediately appears on his skin.
"Well, well, well," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Looks like someone just got a reality check. You might want to ice that, buddy. Wouldn't want your pretty face to get all puffy."
He looks at me, surprised that I'd do something like that. But I don't stick around to find out his response. I storm out of the washroom, leaving him hard and dry, and wondering what the hell just happened.
As I walk back to the lounge, I feel absolutely strange. And satisfied. I may have just made the biggest mistake of my life, but at least I did it with style.
In the chaos that unfolds over the next few hours-Claire's stepfather finally calling it quits, her fainting in my arms, her mother sobbing and screaming in my ears-I manage to forget about the dirty encounter with the arrogant stranger. But then as I'm about to drive Claire to our sorry excuse of a dorm, he shows up again, if only for a brief flash. He runs across the front of my parked car to the other side of the street before he's shoved into a fully tinted long black car. The front of his shirt is dappled with crimson patches.
I turn the car around and drive, frowning. Claire continues to cry, hiccuping now. I do my best to convince myself to forget him, and that it wasn't blood on his shirt, but every second etches him deeper into my memory, and makes me certain he killed someone.
The days faded into nights, months into years, and I forgot him-unaware that the stranger would soon become a far greater part of my life than I ever could have imagined.
"I'm not a little girl," I snap. "I'm twenty-five." "And I'm almost twice your age, Natalie," he says, almost like he's giving up. "But that didn't stop you from coming to me." In a second, he has me pinned against the wall. His hands trail up the sides of my body. "Do you want me to stop?" he whispers, his breath hot against my neck. *** On the brink of her second wedding anniversary, Natalie Jones finds her husband, Michael Cooper, embraced passionately with his mistress. Confronting him in a dimly lit restaurant, Nat exposes his scheme to marry her for her father's fortune and storms out. Ric Steward, on the other hand - billionaire and philanthropist - never expected his evening to ignite with scandal. When he sees Natalie-radiant, powerful, and on the edge of a breakdown-he's immediately captivated. Only for him to learn that she's the daughter of a longtime friend. But that doesn't stop Nat. It only makes her want Ric more...
"I, Alec Tawr of Lunar Crest pack, reject you, Elara Wildewood, of Lunar Crest pack," he utters, his voice cutting through the silence. The words sear into my soul, and my heart shatters, broken pieces scattering within me. The pain consumes me, wrapping its icy tendrils around my spirit. "Why?" I ask, letting out a painful cry as my knees give away and I collapse to the floor. Does he think that I agreed to marry Prince Magnus willingly? That I don't wish to be with him? "Why?" I repeat. He blinks and I see him shiver as he clenches his jaw. "Just accept the rejection, El. Make it stop," he says, his voice sharp and hard. I allow myself to cry, letting the tears cascade down my cheeks until I'm a sobbing mess. "I can't. I want you." He clutches his chest and I hate to see him hurting. "It's not possible. Please accept the reception." And so I do it. "I, Elara Wildewood of Lunar Crest pack, accept your rejection." ---- Elara Wildewood knows her life is doomed when she is forced to step in as the substitute bride for Magnus Blackwell, the disabled and cruel Prince of Caelondor. After she is rejected by her mate, she has no choice but to accept her fate. However, after she's wed, she finds out that the truth is not as it seems and the grand palace of Caelondor holds a lot more intrigue and secrecy than she anticipated earlier. Trapped in a web or lies and deception, Elara decides to take control of her life and trains to become stronger. As she gains the admiration of her court, she also attracts the Prince attention's who will stop at nothing to keep her safe.
Caden Miller is Willowbrook High School's notorious rebel, known for his devil-may-care attitude, grey hoodies, and a reputation that precedes him. Ruby Norman, on the other hand, is Willowbrook's epitome of sweetness and innocence. She excels academically, volunteers at the local shelter, and dreams of a life beyond the confines of her small town. When their paths cross, sparks fly, igniting a rollercoaster of emotions that neither Caden nor Ruby saw coming. Underneath their heated exchanges and antagonistic banter, a deep-rooted attraction simmers. The more they try to deny it, the stronger their feelings become. Drawn to each other like magnets, they embark on a forbidden romance that challenges societal norms and tests their own personal boundaries.
The island of Bellpond is a welcoming place for tourists—and a home to werewolves. Vanessa Martin, a member of the Silver Crescent pack knows that Jordan Hale is the forbidden fruit—someone off limits. He belongs to the rival pack. And yet, she's attracted to him in ways she cannot explain. When a tragedy befalls him, Nessa wants to be there in some way to comfort him. She goes out of her way, ignoring all words of advice and warnings from her peers and her grandma and soon, a friendship blossoms between them. The smooth wheel rolling down breaks when they find a body washed up on the shore, and soon a couple more follow, piling up. Nessa and Jordan pair up, vowing to get to the bottom of this, but as they investigate more, they realise the matter is more sinister than they expected. Will they stop and expose those involved in these gruesome murders or fall down the rabbit hole trying to uncover the mystery?
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
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?"