~ 2021 WATTY'S SHORTLIST ~ "I-well, I..." I hesitated with my response. I wanted to let go. To not worry about what would happen in the future. I'd always loved staring into fires. It hypnotized me with its beauty and danger. It was so tantalizing to look at, but one little touch could destroy. I knew the heat between Tyler and I was similar. It started off small but it had only grown in the weeks he'd been here. We'd fed it unintentionally, and it had gone from an ember to a crackling flame. Every nerve in my body wanted to reach out and touch it, even though I knew I'd get burned. *************************************************** Pia Callahan always lived a carefree life with no worries. Her only responsibilities were to attend her college classes (sometimes) and keep herself fed (on ramen). When tragedy strikes, Pia is all of the sudden thrown into a whirlwind of change. She has to grow up and take on more responsibility than she could ever imagine: the custody of her best friend's son. Pia may not believe she is the best person for the job, but she is determined to do it. She'll trade in frat parties for PTA meetings and beer-bongs for apple juice. But what happens when the ruggedly hot motocross athlete Tyler Westwood shows up in her small town? Tyler lives on the fast track, never caring too much about consequences. You can't when your job is to do backflips through the air. Sometimes, you just have to send it and hope for the best. From the second Tyler meets Pia, he knows he wants her. But she is determined to ignore their bubbling chemistry. She has priorities now and a summer fling isn't one of them. Will Pia be able to stay away from Tyler? Or will she decide to hit the throttle? ***************************************************

NOTE: 68 Days and Counting is going to be published! The story has been split into two books and slightly altered for publication being renamed: Hitting the Crossbar (April 18th 2023) and Across the Line (April 2024). You can now buy Hitting the Crossbar here: https://books.wattpad.com/shop/p/hitting-the-crossbar Description: Sequel to first draft of The Bad Boy And the Tomboy. Macy Anderson and Sam Cahill are together in Manchester, England living the new university life with new friends, soccer teams, experiences, and more. Through their ups and downs navigating their first year in a new setting, follow along once again for the pair's new challenges in their relationship and their love of soccer. All Rights Reserved- ©nikki20038 No honestly, you copy this book, I will hunt you down and-kidding but you'll be in some serious shit :) #5 in Teen Fiction (5/2/17) Cover~ @Purplerabbit474789

As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams? ***** Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

Octavia. That's the name the world knows her by. One word. One name. At seventeen, she was a girl who had her spotlight when she was whisked away to co-star in what would be an award-winning movie. From that moment on, she had never strayed away. Now, at 24, Octavia is a star and has found herself in multiple productions. As she finds herself in Milan, Italy for a new and upcoming movie she is cast in, she crosses paths with Caleb Henderson, the famous writer known to the world as Romero Henderson. However, as the production of the movie begins, Octavia immediately decides her opinion of Caleb. She doesn't like him. She borderline hates him. She hates how annoying he is. She hates the stupid, random topics he always brings up. She hates how he almost always cuts her off whenever she's speaking. She hates how attracted she is to him. I exhaled, trying to rub the tiredness off my face with my hands. I looked down at his shadow on the ground to him. His face looked as if it was glowing from the sun, his eyes narrowing from the brightness. I let my gaze trail from the exposed tattoos on his arms to the stupid smile that was still on his face. "Why are you like this?" For a moment he didn't answer me. He simply glanced at me, knowing that I meant more in the five words. The smile on his face went from pure amusement to bitterness. It was something I had never seen before and I didn't think I wanted to see him smile like that ever again. He pivoted his head towards the sun once again and in a serious tone asked, "Would you have me any other way?" Cover: @EmSlough_

When billionaire bad boy Eros meets shy, nerdy Jade, he doesn't recognize her from his past. Will they be able to look past their secrets and fall in love again? ****** When Jade Collins goes to work for billionaire bad boy Eros Petrakis, all she thinks she'll be doing is making his coffee...but when sparks fly, the shy Jade (who wears a disguise to mask her beauty and the secrets of her past) and the fiery, cocky Eros (who is solely focused on business and doesn't believe in the distractions of love) begin to grow closer and closer. Will Eros be able to see past her disguise to the beauty within? And will Jade be able to tame his heart -- and her own -- once the man of her dreams finally notices her? ****** Officially now a series! Watch it for free on MediaCorp's Youtube Channel- MediaCorp Drama. [[Word Count: 150,000 - 200,000]] The Girl He Never Noticed (Book 1 + 2) by Neilani Alejandrino (Sweetdreamer33) Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

Heather Drake is a 22 year old who is hiding from her past and trying to start a new life in California. She is going to be starting with a new career as a teacher at a private school. She is beautiful & witty and doesn't stand for bullshit. Who wouldn't notice her?.. What happens though when she catches the eye of someone who doesn't want to let her go... Who is attached at first sight and wants nothing else but her. Xavier Sanford is a 25 year old billionaire CEO who is also a single father. He also is a very dangerous man if need be and takes what he wants. He doesn't believe in relationships since they all disappear in the end however all it took was one glance at a bombshell beauty and he knew... she was HIS. Preview: "You will be mine Miss Drake and I do not share." I state sternly. "Release my arm Mr. Sanford before I force you to." She states giving me a fake smile. I smirk at her. She takes her other hand and squeezes my wrist before twisting it in a painful position. I hiss in pain. "Don't underestimate me Mr. Sanford." She whispers in my ear before gently pushing me away from her. I shake my hand and look back at her. "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me Miss Drake." She turns and glares at me. "Mr. Sanford, I am no possession of yours. " She pushes the classroom door open and leaves me standing there.

Paige Evans is a determined senior at UCLA who is barely making ends meet. Despite her sweet nature, her troubled past seems to follow her wherever she goes. However, everything changes when she lands a job as a nanny to one of the wealthiest men in the world. Ethan Anderson is a brilliant and successful business mogul. The sudden deaths of his parents left him in charge of his family's global empire and the responsibility of raising his 7-year-old sister, Sara. The weight of his responsibilities has turned him cold and distant to those around him. When Paige enters Ethan's life, she sees the pain he hides behind his icy facade, and they slowly discover a deep connection. However, it seems that the reality of living vastly different lives just might be an obstacle too big to overcome.

The Bad Boy and The Tomboy is now published as a Wattpad Book! As a Wattpad reader, you can access both the Original Edition and Books Edition upon purchase. Nicknames, a love of soccer, and school rumors are all the bad boy and the tomboy have in common. But if they give each other a chance, will they find something more? ***** Seventeen-year-old Macy Anderson is a tomboy that plays soccer, hangs with the guys, can't stand girls (except her best friend Jasmine) and doesn't know who Sam Cahill is. But when the pair unexpectedly meet, everything goes downhill from there. Because Sam Cahill is the school's bad boy, known for skipping classes and getting into trouble. Not to mention his cocky attitude, British accent, and magnetic charm, which seems to work on all the girls -- except Macy, who has a rule not date in high school. But when Sam starts showing her his moves (on and off the soccer field), Macy begins to see a different guy under the leather-clad exterior. Will that be enough to convince her that he's the one guy worth breaking the rules for? [[Word count: 300,000 - 350,000 words]] [[2015 Watty Winner]] All Rights Reserved- ©nikki20038

"You were ours from the second we saw you," he stated as if I didn't have a choice in it, and the truth was, I didn't need to because he was right. I was theirs, but what they didn't know was that they were mine, too. *** One invitation to an open house. One moment. One chance. And everything changes. When Emma receives an invite to the most exclusive BDSM club in the city, she knows she needs to go. At Desire's Den, she'll experience pain and pleasure, bondage, domination, and submission - all intertwined. For the first time in her life, she dares herself to go after what she wants. She'd always been too afraid. Now she is ready. Now she just has to secure a dominant. But just as everything she ever desired is in her grasp, she finds something she never expected: three possessive masters, all ready to claim her. Callan, the owner of Desire's Den, could make even the most innocent woman hungry with lust. His voice is soft as silk, and as wicked as the dirtiest fantasy you've ever had. Mateo, the sweet-tongued professor, is every woman's dream: a gentleman in public, and filthy in private. Gideon, the trio's resident bad boy, is owner of one of the most popular nightclubs in the city. Behind his calm and stone façade is a violent storm ready to conquer the object of his obsession. And she just might be the one they've been waiting for.

*As of 4/25/21 this story will exclusively be on Galatea by Inkitt* Everly has had a hard life, orphaned by her parents, sold by her hateful aunt to a vampire master. But everything starts to change when she finally escapes and finds herself in the territory of The Red Moon Pack. Will she finally find the life she's always wanted? The one that she deserves? Follow her story as she finds out about her surprising family history, makes new friends, and finally finds love. WARNING: MATURE CONTENT including tons of profanity, violence, abuse, sexual content, and sexual assault. Not suitable for readers under 18.