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Lily Ross was having another miserable day at work when tall, dark, and stunningly handsome walked in. When she's least expecting it, mysterious Connor Brooks turns Lily's world upside down and plunges her into a torrid, passionate love affair that might just ruin her life... or save it.
I'm writing this because I'm heartbroken.
I'm writing this because I'm in love.
I'm writing this because more amazing, astounding, mind-blowing things have happened to me in the last two months than in my whole life before I met him, combined.
I'm writing this because I've lost more than I ever thought I would be able to bear.
And even though I hate myself for doing it, I pray to God I can hold him...
...kiss him...
...make love to him...
...just one last time.
• • •
Okay, enough of mopey beginnings. I'm really not that kind of girl, I swear.
I guess I should say 'woman,' not 'girl.' I am 24, after all, and, well, you know – 'yay feminism,' right?
It's just that I never really felt like I was an adult. In a lot of ancient societies, they had some sort of ritual that women go through where you know you're a woman afterwards. 'You passed the ritual? Congratulations, you're a woman by definition!'
In the 21st Century United States of America, getting married or having a baby probably qualifies. Although I've never been married or had a baby, so... problem not solved.
I guess the other closest possibility for a single woman is losing your virginity... but that happened for me when I was 17, and I sure as hell didn't feel like a woman with my high school boyfriend. Or my two college boyfriends. Or any 'boyfriend,' really.
He was the first one that made me feel like a woman. Entirely. Through and through.
But we'll get to that soon enough.
My name is Lily Ross. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, went to the University of Georgia, got a business degree with a psychology minor, had a horrible time getting a job after college, finally moved out to Los Angeles because my best friend Anh got hired at a prestigious consulting firm and promised me she could get me in, too. She did... although in a terrible position for next to no pay.
But I'm not complaining, mind you! (Not much, anyway.) It was a job, I had my foot in the door, and – Los Angeles! Come on! One of the most glamorous cities in the world!
That much is true, though I never saw the glamorous side of it until waaaaay after I arrived.
Also, Anh had an apartment in Hollywood! Land of movie stars, the silver screen, the place where dreams come true! Right?
Wrong.
Hollywood as an idea – the 'dream factory' – I guess that's still valid. But Hollywood the 'place'? The geographic location you'll find on Google Maps? All the film studios and movie stars bolted over 50 years ago. Except Paramount Pictures, but they're right next to a graveyard, so let that tell you something.
Our Hollyweird apartment is down the street from a tattoo parlor and a skeezy-as-hell 'Thai massage' parlor.
That was my first introduction to reality versus fantasy.
I know these are all boring details to you, but I guess I bring it up for a couple of reasons.
One: as you'll see very shortly, my version of fantasy and reality began to blur together quickly and very dangerously.
Two: I was intimidated as hell by the women in Los Angeles when I got out here. It's like the best skin/hair/boob gene pool dumping ground in the country. (And if you want some extra help in the boob department, the plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills will gladly sell it to you.) Sometimes it feels like every good-looking girl from every town in America comes out here to try to make it... and when you're not in that crowd, it can be rough on your self-esteem.
However, as my dad used to say, sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut.
In case you missed it, I'm the blind squirrel in that analogy.
Nothing that happened to me happened because I'm gorgeous. I'm not. In Los Angeles, I'd almost say I'm plain.
At 5'4", I'm fairly short by LA standards. I could stand to lose 10 pounds (maybe even 15... that's it, I'm cutting off speculation at 15). I'm not even in the same zip code (okay, not even the same state) as Sofia Vergara or Jennifer Lopez in terms of, um, assets. Not exactly Victoria's Secret model material.
Guys I've dated tell me I have pretty eyes. My hair's good. I like my cheekbones. I have nice calves, and they look even better in heels. (We're not going to talk about my thighs.)
I'm fairly smart, I think I'm funny (you may beg to differ after you've spent enough time with me), and I have a few interesting quirks.
The point is, none of this happened because I look like a pin-up model. Because I don't.
Hell, I'm still not sure how it happened.
It was a Friday night at Exerton Consulting, and of course, my boss was being a douchebag.
Excuse my French.
Exerton is a small multi-national consulting firm with offices in a few big cities around the globe – LA, New York, London, Tokyo. But they're not among the biggest fish in the pond, not by a long shot.
'Consulting firm,' you ask. 'What does that mean?'
(If you didn't ask that and don't care, skip down about ten paragraphs.)
It means that other companies think they have problems, so they get Exerton's 'experts' to come in and tell them how to fix said problems. Efficiency problems, human resources problems, hiring problems, blah blah blah, are your eyes glazing over yet?
By the way, most of the problems are things the companies could have solved by talking to lower-level employees, or by trusting good people in their own organization. But they never do that. Oh no. That would be craaaazy.
Don't mind me, I'm just being snarky because I got hired as a temp secretary. I couldn't even make the cut to regular staff, much less a junior consultant like Anh.
Anyway, back to the douchebag boss.
I work in the Executive Compensation division, which advises companies on how much to offer when they're hiring high-level executives – CEO's, CFO's, and other alphabet-soup positions – in order to be competitive.
So, basically, I make $20,000 a year (which, in LA, is like $12,000 a year in Atlanta) supporting a senior VP who makes at least a half million a year, who advises companies on whether they should offer 11 million or 12 million to a potential new CEO who drove the last company he worked at into the ground.
Sorry, I'm a little bitter.
I'm even more bitter because my boss, Klaus Zimmerman, is... well, he's not the nicest person on the planet. Even more than that, he's disorganized, high maintenance, and wishy-washy. He can't find anything and yells at me like it's my fault his office is a pigsty. He is constantly coming up with a humongous list of time-consuming demands that he adds to hourly. He makes a hundred last-minute changes on any big project we send out, which means that I'm constantly begging the copy room guys to reprint and rebind 50 reports at 5:45 PM so I can make the last FedEx pickup. Otherwise I get to drive seven miles through LA rush hour – which is, to say, I get to wait in traffic 45 minutes – to drop off the delivery at the closest shipping office.
And he has the evil, evil habit of saving a ton of busywork until 6PM Friday night, which he needs corrected and emailed to him, because he 'has to work at home on the weekends.'
Ah – but I get paid overtime for this!
Which means I make $12.50 an hour instead of $10. (Don't forget, the temp agency gets their cut.)
And virtually every Friday night is shot because I'm exhausted by the time I wrap up at 10PM getting Herr Klaus's reports ready.
I don't think he even works from home on the weekends. I think he just likes torturing me.
But I shouldn't complain, because if Klaus weren't such a jerk, I would have never met him.
A formidable Alpha werewolf and a determined human defy age-old customs and unearth hidden truths to embrace their destined bond as soulmates. Alpha Zev Hassick, hailed as the mightiest werewolf in ages, finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his closest companion, who happens to be human and male. In their society, werewolves are expected to mate with their own kind to maintain their humanity, making same-sex relationships taboo. Despite this, Zev's instincts insist that Jonah is his destined mate. Jonah Marvel faces numerous challenges in keeping his lifelong love with Zev intact, especially with the distance between them and Zev's unconventional family dynamics. As Jonah starts experiencing mysterious illnesses, he realizes that he must prioritize his well-being and mental health to secure a future alongside Zev. Though Zev and Jonah are aware of their undeniable connection, they must confront deep-rooted traditions and uncover hidden truths to embrace their shared destiny.
Zeke Buchanan had swept Marianne off her feet, and their two-year marriage had been perfect-until recently....Their physical passion was as strong as ever, but was Zeke starting to regret their impulsive wedding? The beautiful Liliana was clearly interested in more than a business relationship with Zeke. Was he tempted? Marianne was determined to save her marriage and prove to her husband that their honeymoon wasn't over, it was only just beginning!
Twenty-one-year-old Ivy Spellman has always played by the rules – get good grades, stay out of trouble, and avoid bad boys at all costs. But when she takes a temp assignment at a multi-billion dollar drug company, she can’t help but become intrigued with the sexy and ultra-demanding CEO, Cullen Sharpe. Cullen Sharpe is used to getting what he wants, and his dark and damaged desires are locked on Ivy. Her good girl innocent routine is enough to drive him over the edge, and after Ivy makes a mistake at work, he senses an opening to teach the shy temp the pleasures and seductions of being bad... …as well as the punishment that goes along with it. Soon the two of them are locked in a game of mystery, seduction, and raging desire that knows no bounds. But as Ivy is pushed beyond her sexual limits, she begins to crave more from the dark billionaire. However, Cullen guards his secrets and his heart for reasons that run deep. And if those reasons were to ever be revealed, it just might destroy them both…
IT'S PERFECT. UNTIL IT'S NOT is a blend of sensual, erotic romance with sweet & delicious head-over-heels love. HEA, no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a fairytale romance with a bad boy who's complex but magnetic - and of course, heaps of hot, juicy, passionate sex! Katie is running from lies and heartbreak back home when she crosses paths with the most intoxicating man this sweet but sassy Kansas girl has ever laid eyes on. Ian is a surfer in Venice, California. 6'3". Body of a Greek Adonis, face like a Calvin Klein model... demeanor of an iceberg. After a random and painfully awkward meeting, what follows are surfing lessons, ice cream on the boardwalk, and lazy summer days on the beach. As Katie and Ian spend more time together, they begin to fall in love. Hard. It's perfect. Until it's not. Ian has secrets he's hiding - a dark past he doesn't want to share. Katie swore she would never let a man lie to her again... but when do secrets become lies? And despite a passionate love and an unwavering bond, can Katie forgive?
Skylar Kinsey’s life is in the toilet. Literally. She should have been starting her first job out of college, working at a prestigious advertising agency. Instead she’s in hiding, cleaning bathrooms and offices in a fancy high-rise building in Boston. But when she catches billionaire Madden Cross in a compromising position, she’s faced with an impossible choice. Wicked seduction. Devilishly handsome real estate developer Madden Cross knows how to control everything, from his company, to his public image…and especially his women. But when he first sets eyes on the innocent and curvy Skylar Kinsey, Madden knows that she will be his most difficult conquest yet. And there’s nothing that whets his appetite like a challenge. Wicked Bad. Soon, Skylar is presented with an offer that she cannot refuse. A weekend with the powerful billionaire in exchange for ten thousand dollars and the chance to start a new life. But will the billionaire’s need to dominate her voluptuous body lead her down the path to hell, or will she find that even the wicked can sometimes be good after all?
(18+) Due to frank scenes of sensuality and profanity, it is intended for mature audiences only. Kaitlyn Reynolds is a year out of college and fighting to become a journalist when she gets the biggest break of her young life: the shot at a cover story in Rolling Stone magazine. But there’s a catch. She’ll be covering the hottest bad-boy in rock, Derek Kane, whom Kaitlyn met when she was a freshman in college and he was a struggling unknown. It was passionate two-week affair: tumultuous, sensual, exhilarating... ...and it ended very, very badly. Now Kaitlyn has to decide whether she can face the pain of the past, her fear of the future – and the man who might just have been the One.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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!
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Blurb "Part your legs for me, princess" Alpha Damian humored huskily like he was intoxicated, I whimpered as he voice sents a jolts of emotions round my body. An emotion that I wasn't supposed to feel. Selene was 18 years old when she found out that Alpha Jasper of the Silver Crescent pack was her mate at her Awakening ceremony. Being a reject with no parents she lived with him for over one year as a slave and he never acknowledged her as his mate because he couldn't accept a reject as his mate. On her 20th birthday, her mate not only rejected her and chose her best friend; Imogen, as his new mate, but he also sold Selene to the most feared Alpha; Alpha Damian of the Crimson Moon pack whom everyone referred to as a beast. Not knowing why Alpha Damian chose to buy her, she can only resign herself to fate. What has the moon goddess installed for me again? Is this the freedom she solely crave for? Will she be tied down with the shackles of the unknown?
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?"