Book One//: Arianna carved her empire with her own two hands. At twenty-three, her Brooklyn salon is more than a business-it's proof she doesn't need anyone. Independence is her armor, and success is her safe place. Love? That's a distraction she doesn't have time for. Keshawn built his reputation on Harlem's streets, moving with a quiet kind of power that demands both fear and respect. At twenty-seven, he's focused, untouchable, and not the type to chase anyone. But when Arianna crosses his path, the walls he's built start to crack. Their connection is undeniable-magnetic, dangerous, impossible to ignore. But jealous exes, shifting loyalties, and the weight of the streets threaten to pull them apart before they've even begun. In a world where love feels like a weakness and survival is everything, Arianna and Keshawn have to decide if two hearts hardened by concrete can really hold onto something real.

𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞! 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: this story does not have a happy ending, things take a turn for the worse very quickly. ❝you're changing, i can't stand it. my heart can't take this damage and the way i feel, can't stand it.❞ DISCLAIMER. do not take this shit serious. i am not from new york, this is just for fun!

Milan Ren Vaughn and Kairo Benton have spent months turning their apartment hallway into a silent warzone. She's convinced he's loud, messy, and allergic to respecting her peace, while he swears she was born to complain about anything he does. Their neighbors know the tension. Management knows the tension. And Christmas is the only thing keeping the building from falling apart. So when the manager assigns them to co-run the annual Christmas charity event, neither of them takes it well. Still, the holidays won't wait, the toy drive needs saving, and someone has to hang the lights - even if it means working side by side with the one person they can't stand. But as the season settles in, something unexpected begins slipping through the cracks. Late nights of planning feel calmer than they should. Their banter softens. The glow of the holiday lights makes everything seem a little less harsh, and a little more... possible. Moments that should've meant nothing start to feel like something they can't explain. They promised their truce would end after Christmas. But the holidays have a funny way of revealing gifts you never knew you needed - especially when they're wrapped in the person living right next door.

"𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖽𝗈𝖾𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝗆𝖾, she isn't half of me" - 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁

She runs a luxury beauty lounge. He runs routes in the NFL. When soleia Carter and Jeremiah smith cross paths, neither is looking for love - but the chemistry? Instant. She's not impressed by status. He's tired of women chasing his name. But the more they collide, the harder it gets to stay in their own lanes. Because some games aren't played on the field... and hearts don't always follow the rules. 🥇#1 in athlete 🥇#1 in latto 🥇#1 in black fiction 🥇#1 in Atlanta 🥇#1 in entrepreneur 🥇#1 in Jeremiah smith 🥈#2 in romance fiction #4 in urban fiction

He holds her heels. She lets her guard down. And in the space between city lights and silence, two people who weren't looking for love start to feel something they can't explain. No drama. No rush. Just raw connection and a spark that won't quit.

𝒏𝒐·𝒕𝒐·𝒓𝒊·𝒆·𝒕𝒚 /ˌ𝒏ō𝒅əˈ𝒓īə𝒅ē/ 𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒅 Revamped 20/01/23- 08-07-23 UNEDITED ⚠️⚠️

Texas is a courageous woman with morals. She owns her very own business and manages it with her best friends. Koffi is an aggressive man with a soft spot for the sweetest girl. He owns his own hair shop too. When their worlds collide, it's a love story waiting to happen.

𝐢 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐢 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

"You taught me the real meaning of love again" 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: @Dreamgirlmyaah