Jack had just arrived in town, a cold breeze following him, signaling the arrival of winter. The first snowflakes danced in the air, covering the streets with a white blanket. Summer, on the other hand, hated this season. Every year, she dreaded the cold, the gray skies, and the early darkness. But that day, something changed. When he walked into her café, an unusual shiver ran down her spine. The man with silver hair and icy blue eyes, as cold as the winter sea, seemed to bring a breath of fresh air with him. But there was something else, something captivating in his presence, a mystery that Summer didn't yet understand. Jack, with his calm, frosty demeanor, knew how to bring the chill, almost as if he could make the air feel sharper. Yet, soon, she would discover that beneath that apparent coldness, he had the power to ignite a fire inside her. A fire she never imagined could exist.
Chapter 01
« Damn fucking ice! »
Summer growled as she nearly slipped on a splotch of ice in the parking lot, carrying a box of two dozen eggs which nearly hit the pavement. That would've disappointed a lot of the customers who came to order the seasonal eggnog at her coffee shop. Thankfully, she managed to catch footing before she kissed the concrete.
Avoiding all the splotches of slippery ice that had formed over last night's frost, she made it all the way to her Toyota. Unlocking and opening her trunk, she slid the box in the back, happy that she had made it through alive.
« Is that the last box? » Her friend Bev asked, walking behind her with two grocery bags full of milk, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice.
« Yup, all done, » Summer replied, wiping her brow dramatically. « Just as well, I'm freezing my ass off out here in the cold, let's get in the car. »
Bev sighed as she packed the grocery bags into the trunk, trying not to slip on the ice herself. She was used to the winter chill, but it was hard to enjoy it when everything around her was covered in a thin layer of dangerous ice.
« You're really not a Christmas person, » Bev mumbled as she slid into the passenger seat next to Summer.
« I love Christmas, but I hate winter. If the two could just stay apart- »
« Then it wouldn't truly be Christmas! » Bev countered, her voice playful. « Jack Frost nipping at your nose, icicles hanging off the roofs, the twinkling lights on all the houses! »
Summer shot her a look of mock horror. « Influenza, death rods, and Christmas' number one cause of fire, » she summarized, making Bev laugh.
« Don't get me wrong, I love the Christmas decorations, just not the snow. Now let's get back to the shop, we open in less than an hour. »
Bev sighed longingly as she stared out of the window. « Well, it's not snowing yet. But you're right, let's get back. I wanna get my shift over with so I can get home and sleep. »
Summer pulled out of the parking lot, her tires crunching over the ice. « That is if we don't skid on the road back and die first. Blasted ice. »
Bev only laughed. « You're dramatic, you know that? »
Summer shot her a quick grin. « I've earned the right to be. »
The car ride was quiet for a while, just the hum of the engine and the occasional comment about the weather. They passed houses with Christmas lights already twinkling against the early morning light, but Summer kept her focus on the icy road ahead. It wasn't just the snow and the ice that made her uneasy-it was the fact that it seemed like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Christmas was approaching, and the pressure to make everything perfect was always overwhelming.
She pulled into the coffee shop parking lot, the small building nestled between a bakery and a bookstore. The warm glow of the shop's lights and the scent of freshly ground coffee and sweet pastries promised refuge from the cold outside.
Bev gathered the bags of ingredients, and Summer unlocked the door, holding it open for her friend.
The shop was empty at this early hour, just the way they liked it. A quiet calm before the storm of customers arrived for their morning caffeine fix. Summer moved behind the counter and started preparing the coffee machine, setting the milk frother in place while Bev went to the back to store the ingredients.
The bell above the door jingled, signaling the arrival of their first customer.
« And what's your name? »
« Jack. »
Summer glanced up to see a lumberjack-looking man with a thick beard and plaid shirt standing at the counter. He was tall, his broad shoulders taking up most of the space in front of the register. She smiled at him.
« Alright Jack, I'll call your name when your order is ready, » she said warmly. « It'll just be a few minutes. »
Jack nodded and moved to the side, stepping aside just as a young couple walked up to the counter. The girl seemed hesitant, her hands wrapped tightly around her purse as she glanced up at Summer. Her boyfriend, a skinny guy in a hoodie, stood close behind her, fidgeting nervously.
« Hi, » the girl spoke softly, her voice barely audible.
Summer smiled warmly, leaning over the counter to make her feel more comfortable. « Hi, how can I help you today? »
The girl looked up at the menu, her finger tracing over the options as if she were trying to decide. « Uhm, two hot chocolates, please. With whipped cream. »
« Two hot chocolates with whipped cream coming right up, » Summer said as she wrote it down. She paused, then looked up again. « Staying or to go? »
« Staying, please. »
Summer nodded and glanced at the girl again. There was something about her-something shy but sweet in the way she carried herself. The girl blushed as she glanced at her boyfriend, who seemed just as nervous. Summer smiled to herself. It wasn't the first time she'd seen that dynamic in a couple-maybe it was the Christmas season bringing out that extra layer of nervous energy.
« Alright, please have a seat, I'll bring your orders when your drinks are ready, » Summer said, keeping her tone light and friendly.
The couple nodded, exchanging shy glances before walking to a table in the corner. Summer set to work on their drinks, pouring the hot milk into the cups and stirring in the cocoa powder. She topped it off with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon before setting the two cups on the counter, ready for the couple to take.
A few minutes later, Bev came out of the back room, her hands on her hips as she surveyed the shop. « You've got the Christmas vibe down, huh? »
Summer shot her a grin. « What, the hot chocolate? It's essential. Besides, it's the least I can do with the ice storm threatening to ruin everything outside. I need to make up for it with warm drinks and good company. »
Bev rolled her eyes. « You're such a softie. »
« Only when it comes to Christmas, » Summer replied with a wink, as the bell jingled again.
The shop slowly began to fill up with customers-regulars who came in every morning for their coffee or lattes, and newcomers who were just trying to escape the chill outside. The small chatter and clinking of mugs filled the air as the two women worked side by side behind the counter.
By the time the couple came to pick up their hot chocolates, the shop was bustling, but Summer made sure to call their names out cheerfully. The girl smiled as she took her cup, and the boy gave a small nod of thanks.
« Hope you enjoy! » Summer called after them.
As the couple left, she glanced at Bev, who was tidying up the counter.
« You're not wrong, » Summer said with a soft smile. « Christmas does have its charm. But I still say it would be better if it didn't come with all this damn ice. »
Bev laughed, shaking her head. « You'll survive. It's part of the magic. »
Summer chuckled, but she wasn't so sure about the magic part. Still, with every steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate she served, the warmth of the season seemed to seep into her, if only a little.
She was barely twenty years old when her heart was shattered by the man she thought she could love, a man who, out of spite and a thirst for revenge, left her in pain. He hated her for a crime she didn't commit, a crime she didn't even know about. The pain was unbearable, the betrayal devastating. Five years later, Ana was no longer the fragile, vulnerable young woman she once was. She had grown, matured, and built a strength she never knew she had back then. Life had changed her; she no longer believed in love or the goodness of men. She had learned not to let her emotions control her. Yet, when Devin reappeared, her balance faltered. He had returned, determined to finish what he hadn't been able to do before: his revenge. His dark, cold eyes exuded an icy hostility, but Ana knew he was no longer the man he once was. The Devin of today was more cynical, more ruthless. Still, she couldn't ignore the lingering attraction she had always felt for him. Devin, for his part, bore the scars of a life marked by betrayal and pain. Since the age of fourteen, revenge had become his only obsession. Fate had driven him to hate the daughter of the man who had destroyed his family. But when he crossed Ana's gaze again, he realized that the war he had waged against her could destroy both of them. Could their love be possible, or would the past be too heavy to bear?
Bronte was the beloved girl of everyone, always smiling and full of life. Her popularity made her an essential person in everyone's eyes. Yet, there was one exception: Blake. This arrogant bad boy, with his messy hair and piercing gaze, didn't even seem to notice her. But that was before her parents went to Africa. Forced to leave for several weeks, they entrusted Bronte to Blake. Upon her arrival, Bronte felt like an intruder in his world. Their first interactions were cold, marked by endless pranks and arguments that never seemed to end. Yet, behind Blake's attitude, Bronte sensed something deeper, a secret he hid carefully. Over the days, their relationship slowly began to change. Despite the provocations and tensions, an attraction started to form between them. Blake couldn't admit it, but it was clear that Bronte was no longer just the neighbor.
"Look at yourself in the mirror, little bun. You're still shivering under my touch, so excited, so pitiful..." His voice was low, teasing, as he stroked her cheek, his fingers trailing down to her trembling neck. "Let go of me, you bastard!" She struggled, trying to twist away, her hands pushing against his chest. "What did you do to the divorce paper?!" He smirked, not even flinching at her resistance. "It wasn't a divorce paper, baby." He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I changed the contract." Her eyes widened, confusion flashing in her gaze. "What do you mean-?" "In the end," he whispered, "you belong to me, and only me." His fingers brushed over her lips as he held her in place, savoring her resistance, knowing all too well how much she wanted to escape. But it didn't matter. She was already his, and the paper proved it. There was no going back now.
He swept my sweat-drenched hair off my neck, pressing his lips against my ear. His hot breath made me shiver, and every vibration of his voice left me breathless. "You're not the first to try to seduce me," he whispered, his warm breath grazing my skin. "But you're my favorite." His eyes locked with mine, piercing and intense, before he slowly pulled me away. I watched him take my red lace thong, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. A wave of desire overwhelmed me, mixed with a strange sense of defeat. I hadn't expected this, nor the palpable tension that had settled between us. And now, I'm an intern for Cole, the writer of the steamiest novels I've ever read. All of this is more real, more intense, and most of all, more dangerous than I could have ever imagined.
She loved her husband. She gave him everything, without hesitation, offering her heart, her soul, and her dreams. But he was nothing but a receiver, never a giver. He took without ever giving back, feeding off her affection and sacrifices. He was selfish, and every gesture she made for him seemed like a mere formality to satisfy his needs. He was never there for her, except when it served him. The only things he offered were confusion. He gave her empty promises, sweet words that rang hollow. He offered manipulation, ideals disguised as his "undeniable love," but in reality, he only loved one person: himself. She adored him, but he saw in her nothing more than a tool to fill his inner emptiness. He had invaded her mind to the point where, when he proposed an open relationship, he made her believe it was her idea, seducing her with subtle words. She wanted to believe him, convincing herself that it was a step of compromise, a sacrifice for the love he claimed to have for her. But deep down, she knew it wasn't what she wanted. She wanted him, and only him. He wanted her, and all the others he could get, all those who would feed his insatiable need for power and domination. But all of that changed when Tobias Wrexler entered their lives. His intense gaze, his silent yet powerful presence, brought a turning point in her life. The shadow of her husband suddenly seemed far less threatening in the light that Tobias brought.
Maddison Holt, the youngest and only female alpha in North America, took her father's place after his death and her mother's illness. She's always believed a mate would be a weakness. However, her mate is the killer who slaughtered her father. Jay Pierce, the most feared alpha in history, is the devil himself-handsome but merciless. Maddison wants nothing to do with him, but he intends to make her submit. A power struggle where only one rule exists: one of them must yield. The war between Maddison and Jay begins.
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
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."
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