Rammstein Skinner is one of the most respected mobsters in the mafia but little does he know I've had a crush on him for the longest time. My feelings don't seem to be mutual and he confuses me by going hot and cold. Then I find out he has secrets. The man who once was held in the highest regard by the mob is now its biggest enemy. And as if things couldn't get any worse... I'm carrying the enemy's baby.
Freya
The best word to describe the whole spectacle is awkward. I've celebrated a ton of birthdays in my time but my nineteenth is turning out to be the most embarrassing one.
My uncle hasn't cut any corners. Fairy lights cover the whole park, surrounding our gothic mansion. Alcohol's overflowing in champagne glasses, strange music that sings about plundering and pillaging plays from the giant speakers.... Exotic animals from the north have been flown in; Nordic lynxes, arctic foxes and even Siberian tigers.
The whole Nordic Mafia is obsessed with exotic creatures from the north but all I feel when looking at the tiger pacing in his cage is sadness. I know what it's like to feel like you're locked in a cage. And suddenly I'm struck by an impulse to just let the giant cat out and give him that taste of freedom.
Freedom. Mmm...I bet it tastes delicious.
"There you are," a male voice grunts and suddenly my head locks in a chokehold. "I've been looking all over for you. Happy birthday, fairy."
Struggling to breathe, I curse inwardly at my uncle. Sometimes he just doesn't know his own strength. Especially when he's been drinking and I search for his wife. When she catches my pleading gaze, she lets out a soft laugh and walks over to us.
"Viper, go easy on your niece," she urges, before grimacing. "You're ruining her gorgeous hairdo." She goes on to groom me, making sure I look respectable in front of all the men that could potentially be my husband.
My uncle snorts. "She looks fine," he growls and I sigh when his knuckles rub my scalp until the skin burns. "Any man will count himself lucky to have her."
His wife looks up at him in awe, squealing something about him being socuuute. It makes uncle all full of himself, his chest bloating and he throws his wife over the shoulder before running away with her into the dark corners of the park.
My cheeks heat from their antics and I squirm when some of the males raise their glasses at me. Oh hell...I just want this to be over. It's way over the top and the males looking at me with hunger in their eyes makes me feel like I'm prey about to be eaten.
I know I'm supposed to be flattered that I'm desired by powerful men. I'm not the prettiest woman around. Most of the other women in the mob are a lot more beautiful than me. They're all walking, talking bombshells while I'm...
Curvy.And that's the nice word for it. The other word is chunky.
Despite my dress being tailor made, I still feel uncomfortable in it. It's too tight, sticking to my limbs until all I want to do is rip off my clothes and erupt into a wild dance. Dancing is my life.
Modern dance specifically, the kind where you pour out all your emotions, the kind where you tell stories with your whole body. When I dance, is the only time I feel amazing. The only time when I feel somewhat at home.
I swallow when I catch the group of girls in the corner, whispering behind their hands while looking at me. Most of them are girlfriends of the soldiers and I wince when I notice Julien is among them. She's the worst. And she doesn't even bother to hide they're talking shit about me, pointing at my shoes and then my dress and I can only imagine the things they're saying.
She looks like a stuffed sausage in that dress.
Those shoes are for hot girls. Fatty will just pop the heel.
Gulping, I reach for a glass of champagne and swipe down in one go. It makes my head spin and when I try walking, I stumble and almost fall nose down onto the grass. The catty girls burst into laughter and I turn red in the face. Unable to withstand it anymore, I run into the house, causing my dress to rip and a split tears all the way up to my mid-thigh.
Struggling to breathe, I climb up the staircase, feeling sick of everything and everyone when I bump into a hard body. It punches the breath out of me and I almost yell out a curse. Strong hands steady me, my eyes darting to great heights until I'm looking into the terrifying face of Rammstein Skinner.
Rammstein joined the mafia a year ago. He works closely with my uncle and is both well-respected and well-trusted. Despite being in his early thirties he doesn't have a family of his own and doesn't live at the compound.
He's mysterious like that.
Out of all the made men, Rammstein is the most...fascinating. His towering height and broad shoulders make me feel tiny and delicate. His tan skin makes him look exotic, and his hair that's a mix of gold and silver blond is always plaited in intricate braids that go past his shoulder blades.
But it's the eyes that get most people talking. One eye is amber, the other a milky white due to the three, thin scars slashing it. It's rumored a made man gave him the scar when he'd been a child.
Right now his eyes fixate on me and I feel like I'm under a microscope. As if everything that I am is on display for him, my body, my face...my heart, everything's ready for his taking. And my skin heats underneath his strong hands.
"Are you okay?" he rasps and I whimper in response, overly flattered by the sudden concern. His brows knots and I figure I sounded like a strangled cat just now but then he adds, "If anyone gives you any trouble, you tell me and I'll deal with it."
Speaking like a true protector. But I'm not his woman. I'm not his to protect.
"How kind of you but I'm perfectly fine," I squeak, flinching when fireworks explode outside. Rammstein's eyes narrow as if he doesn't believe me and I quickly excuse myself. "Enjoy the rest of the party."
"It's your party," he murmurs in a strange tone. "What's to enjoy if you're not there?"
Magazine editor-in-chief, bride-to-be, and soon-to-be-step-grandmother at twenty-six, Sophie Scaife is looking forward to married life with her fiancé and Dom, wickedly sadistic billionaire Neil Elwood. As they enter unexplored sensual territory, Neil leads Sophie to the very edge between pain and pleasure-and she discovers a surprising new side to her sexuality. While Sophie balances her hectic work routine with her devotion to her unconventional family, Neil has to adjust to life as a retired mogul. With their big day drawing nearer, they have to forge through pre-wedding jitters, personal crises, and an unexpected houseguest to get to their kinky ever after. But a decades old trauma still haunts Neil. When the private details draw public interest, Sophie learns that the scars of his past are greater than he let on-and he'll need all of her love to heal them...
Have you ever mistaken a guy for a stripper and had a scorching hot one-night stand with him only to find out he's your new boss? No? Just me? The first time I met Van, I was instantly drawn to his charismatic smile and stunning good looks as I shoved dollar bills into his waistband. The second time I saw Van, he walked into my bakery as the new owner and boss. That time, I kept my dollars to myself. But there's a problem, owning a bakery wasn't his choice and all he wants is to sell. Somehow, I need to persuade him to keep the business, so I can keep my dream job. When he admits he doesn't know the difference between frosting and icing, I realize I have my work cut out for me. With each passing day, our chemistry ignites like a chocolate flambé. But it's a distraction I don't need. I know from experience that when I wish for everything, I end up with nothing. Van's young and irresponsible, he can't possibly know anything about running a bakery or falling in love. But he's determined to prove me wrong. It turns out he has a few cupcakes up his sleeve that just might satisfy my sweet tooth.
After a run of bad luck, Elizabeth Walker is desperate to make some extra money. College is so important to her, and she won’t do anything to risk losing that. So, signing up to a Sugar Daddy website, where older, wealthy men find younger women, really is the only way to go. But no one seems interested in her as she’s a chubbier candidate—until lawyer Daniel Clark asks for a date. Daniel is tired of women declaring undying love for him, when all they want is his bank balance. There’s only one love in his life, and that’s the law. Seeing Elizabeth’s picture, he wants her, no doubt about that, and he’s going to have her. Before he agrees to anything, he gives her his ground rules: 1) He’s in charge. 2) He’ll give her more pleasure than she’s ever had. 3) Under no circumstances is she to fall in love with him. Can Elizabeth follow his rules? Will Daniel finally fall in love? Will Elizabeth walk away with a broken heart? They’re Daniel’s rules, but like he says, rules are made to be broken.
Xavier is the type of boss who likes women and loves to fuck a lot. Until he finally decided one day that he wants to have a child with his secretary Anya. It’s up to Anya now if she is ready to birth her boss’s child after knowing his true character.
A young girl who lives with her cruel stepmother and sister, accidentally meets 3 young and rich cousins who live a luxury life in a big mansion and is hired by the boys grandpa to look after their bad behavior.
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
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 of marriage couldn't melt Theo's frozen heart. When an art gallery collapsed on Lena, he was off romancing another woman—lavishing her with a private jet. Three steel pins held Lena's shoulder together, but her heart remained broken. She filed for divorce and told everyone that he was impotent. Rising from the rubble, Lena blazed onto the design world's A‑list. She expected him to sail off with his true love—until Theo reappeared at her runway, pressing her against the wall. "Impotent, huh? Care to give it a try?"
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.