" I don't even like you like that." Her face scrunched up in disgust watching water drip from curls in his hair. " 'Cause you love me. Just like I love you." He retorted with a grin, disregarding the deflecting she was doing. --- They were two sides of the same city-until one move split them down the middle. Elijah and London were inseparable once, bonded by childhood summers, beat-up bikes, and secrets too deep for anyone else to know. Unfortunately, when Elijah's mom packed up and moved her family across Onyx to a rival neighborhood, everything changed. She always thought when she spoke to him again he would've changed like her. She was witty, sarcastic, and had a low tolerance, but he was still the same calm , sweet, cute boy with a heart the size of the sun. Some things haven't changed. Some things never change. The pull between them, the memories that still burn etched marks in their brain, and the words they never said out loud. In a world where loyalty can be life or death, and love isn't always enough to cross old lines, Elijah and London find themselves circling each other again. --- STARTED; MAY 26th, 2025 PUBLISHED JUNE 6th, 2025 FINISHED; SEPTEMBER 27th 2025

Maliyah Jade "MJ" isn't here for distractions. School's just a stepping stone to getting her credits and building her hair business. She doesn't need friends, and definitely doesn't need any more complications. Kairo's in town for one thing: basketball. After transferring from Houston, he's focused on making a name for himself and proving he belongs. The last thing he's looking for is someone to distract him. But when they meet through a friend group, something clicks. It's not love at first sight. They're both too guarded for that. Still, their connection grows - quiet moments in between the noise of high school life, late-night talks, shared playlists, and stolen glances that turn into something neither of them planned for. But when real life starts testing them, they'll have to decide: Is this just a fleeting moment, or something worth holding on to? In a world where forever feels like a fantasy, Kairo and MJ will discover that sometimes, love doesn't ask for permission. It just happens. Read More to find out!!

"The best blessings are right in front of you." "Go Kamarii!" I said laughing, mocking her. "Leave me alone. You're the only one who got me saying shit like that." She said. "Nah, I liked hearing it from you. That shit was cute as hell." I said. I focused my gaze on the shirt she had on that was decorated, and i smiled. "I done got you wearing my number and shit now. We locked in fasho, ain't no going back. Lemme see it." I said. She turned around, showing me the back of her shirt that had my name plastered across it with my number being in the middle of it.

𝙏𝙞𝙡 3005, 𝙄 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙪𝙥.....

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚢𝚌𝚕𝚎, 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚆𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎, 𝚠𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚗' •-•-•-• •-•-•-• •-•-•-• This is the sequel to Done Deal. You don't need to read them in order but I do highly encourage you to at least read the chapter "Miragè's Backstory" before reading this book <3 Tags: • #1 in blackcast (4/23/25) • #1 in businesscouple (2/7/25) • #2 in businessowner (2/12/25) • #1 in pocauthor (4/06/25) • #4 in standalone (3/11/25) • #1 in dissorder (4/23/25)

All she wanted was one night. Serenity Monet is young, rich, and successful-but none of that keeps the late-night loneliness away. She's done being the good girl. Done pretending she's satisfied. One night, tired of the silence and her own touch, she slips into a nightclub with one goal in mind: find someone, take him home, and forget about everything else. What she doesn't expect... is him. Malik Cross is smooth, hood-rich, and dangerously magnetic. Their conversation is easy. Their chemistry? Instant. Serenity takes him home that night thinking it's nothing more than a steamy escape from her boredom. But Malik? He's been waiting for this moment. Because Serenity isn't just a stranger at the club. She's his obsession. His fantasy. The woman he's been watching from afar for months. And now that he's finally inside her world, he has no plans of leaving. She wanted one night. He wants forever. Even if he has to take it by force.

New Orleans isn't just a city-it's a pulse. A rhythm. A hunger. And nobody knows that better than Arielle Washington, a tired single mother grinding just to make rent in the Desire Projects. Love left her a long time ago, replaced with diaper bags, house keys, and survival. That is, until a new housekeeping job drops her into the home-and world-of ICE the most dangerous man in the streets. ICE doesn't do mess. Doesn't do feelings. But there's something about Ari-her fire, her silence, her scars-that draws him in. And when business gets bloody and loyalties are tested, the line between protector and predator blurs. Because in the Dirty South, nothing comes clean... not even love.

WHY DO YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE THIS?