Eleanor Shultz thought she had found true love with Bernard Laurence, but after five years of being his secret lover, she was left heartbroken and alone. Despite her gentle and submissive nature, she could not warm his heart. When she finally decided to move on and marry someone else, Bernard unexpectedly returned and pressed her against a wall, kissing her with a fierce passion. As Eleanor struggled to understand Bernard's sudden change of heart, she must confront her own feelings and decide whether to follow her head or her heart in this steamy tale of love and desire.
Bernard Laurence returned to the country, and his secret lover, Eleanor Shultz, was promptly taken to Rosewood Manor as per their agreement. She had to be completely clean without any trace of perfume or makeup before seeing him. She followed his preferences exactly, washing herself up and then putting on a silky nightgown before heading to the bedroom on the second floor.
When she entered, Bernard was sitting in front of his computer dealing with work. He glanced at her and said, "Come here." His voice was cold and devoid of emotion, weighing heavily on Eleanor's heart.
Bernard was an aloof man prone to mood swings, and Eleanor feared his bad temper. She quickly walked up to him. Before she could even get settled, Bernard pulled her into his embrace, his long fingers grabbing her chin. Bending down, he kissed her hard on the lips.
Bernard was never one for small talk. Making love to her was his only purpose when they met. Despite his noble appearance, he wouldn't go easy on her after being away on business for three months.
As she expected, when she woke up, he was gone, but she could hear the sound of water trickling in the bathroom. She noticed a tall figure reflected on the frosted glass and was taken aback. In the past, he would always leave as soon as he finished, never staying until she woke up. What was different this time?
Feeling tired, she sat up in bed, silently waiting for the man to appear. After a few minutes, the sound of water ceased, and he emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Water droplets fell from his hair onto his skin, tracing a path down his well-defined abs, exuding a dangerously enticing appeal.
His face was chiseled and attractive, but his deep, indifferent eyes conveyed a sense of detachment. He looked good, yet the chilly aura surrounding him made people think twice about approaching.
Noticing that she was awake, Bernard glanced at her with a cold stare. "You don't need to come anymore," he said abruptly.
Eleanor paused, perplexed by his words. Without looking at her, Bernard handed her a document. "This contract is terminated ahead of schedule."
Seeing the agreement, Eleanor finally realized the truth: Bernard was ending their relationship.
So he didn't leave right away, not because he was reluctant to part, but because he wanted to break up. They had been together for five years, and she knew this day would come eventually, but she never thought it would end like this. There was no explanation, no reason, just a simple notification. Suppressing the pain in her heart, Eleanor looked up at Bernard as he changed into his clothes.
"The contract's only got half a year left, can't you wait for a longer time?"
She had three months left to live, according to the doctor. She wanted to stay by his side until the very end. Bernard remained silent, his eyes cold and devoid of any hesitation, as if he were disposing of a worn-out object. Eleanor realized her predicament in the face of his silence.
Despite five years passing, she had been unable to capture his heart. It was time for her to wake up from this illusion. Accepting the contract, she mustered a forced laugh and tried to appear calm and satisfied. "Don't take it so seriously. I was just joking," she said. Then, she added, "Actually, I've been wanting to leave you for a while now. I'm glad the contract is ending early."
Bernard paused, buttoning up his sleeves, as he looked at Eleanor's emotionless face that seemed to hold a hint of excitement. It appeared that she felt relieved. He frowned, asking with an indifferent tone, "You've wanted to leave me for a long time?"
Eleanor casually nodded. "Yes, I'm not getting any younger. I should be getting married and having kids, not following you around without any status, right?"
In reality, marriage and children were no longer possible for her. But in front of Bernard, she wanted to preserve her dignity. Mustering strength, she smiled and asked Bernard, "Since the contract's over, can I get a boyfriend now?"
Bernard's eyes were difficult to read. He looked at her silently before reaching for his wristwatch on the bedside table and walking towards the door.
"Okay then," he said, as his final comment.
Eleanor's smile faded as she watched him leave. Bernard didn't like anyone touching his belongings, but he didn't react when she mentioned wanting a boyfriend. It seemed like he was genuinely tired of her.
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
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.
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...