She grew up in a broken home- a mother grinding a 9-5 just to survive, and a father who gave her the world... before prison took him away. As an only child, she learned two things early: from her dad: how to want more from her mom: how to get it herself. But when she refused college, her mother slammed the door in her face, leaving her homeless at eighteen. With nothing but a duffel bag and stubborn pride, she crossed state lines and rebuilt her life from the ground up, earning every dollar under the neon lights of The Velvet Whisper. Comfort. Independence. Control. She thought she finally had it all- until Grim, the silent, dangerous owner of the club set his sights on her. And when Grim wants something? He always takes it.

(Spin-off to 32 & Caught Slippin', but can definitely be read as a standalone) Soraya Monroe Bennett doesn't do love. At 32, she's mastered the art of living life exactly how she wants. Business powerhouse by day. Party girl by night. The ultimate code-switch queen who can shut down a boardroom just as easily as she shuts down a club. Men? They're entertainment. Her roster changes the moment boredom hits, and feelings are something Soraya avoids at all costs. Then there's Josiah Carter Maddox. At only 23, life forced him to grow up faster than he ever wanted. Raising his three younger sisters, taking care of his daughter, and trying to leave the fast money behind has him carrying responsibilities most men twice his age can't handle. After dealing with a bitter baby mama who refuses to let go of the past, Josiah swore women were nothing but problems. Until Soraya walked in. What starts as pure lust quickly turns into something neither of them planned. No labels. No commitments. No feelings. Just sex. But the problem with playing emotional games is somebody always loses. And when one person starts catching feelings while the other refuses to acknowledge them... things get messy. Because sometimes lust turns into love. And sometimes... trouble just loves company. ⚠️ Warning: This story contains explicit language, mature themes, toxic tension, and a whole lot of smut.