A stranger to her own existence, Kayla moves to a small town with the hope of finding comfort in a fresh start. But as she steps inside the unfamiliar classroom on the first day, standing in front of the class is a mysteriously familiar face, one that rouses memories of a time she believed had gone by. With past baggage catching up in the most intrusive ways, she stumbles upon unexpected comfort of friendship, unconditional love of found family, and a beautiful yet complicated bond between two hesitant souls. "This book was like a warm hug, and I might believe in love again." "I would give everything, especially my soul, to have the opportunity to read this book for the first time again." ────── CW: Substance abuse, harsh language, sexual content, mention of self-harm and suicide. ────── Started in January 2018. Re-published in November 2022. First draft (this version) finished in April 2023. ────── Copyright 2018 © Renee Steinberg All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, copied, translated, or republished in any form without the author's permission, except for brief quotations or reviews with proper credit.

When 𝐌𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 has to move back to Cedarsville, the perfect, glittering village of her childhood, she expects to pick up right where she left off: rich, admired, untouchable. But Cedarsville remembers, and so does 𝐀𝐮𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤. Once, they were inseparable: two girls building worlds in a treehouse, dreaming about forever. Until Aubrey kissed her, and Mia called it gross, and everything broke. Mia's family whisked her away to England. Aubrey stayed behind to become the outcast everyone whispered about. Now, six years later, Mia's back. Aubrey's still the same: clever, sharp, a little desperate to be seen, and Mia's still pretending she feels nothing at all. It's not a love story. It's obsession, humiliation, revenge, and the kind of attention that burns more than it heals. They destroy each other slowly, intimately.
Because somewhere deep down, they both think it's what they deserve.

When Priscilla walks into Sloane's office, she's just another patient-guarded, broken, slow to trust. Sloane, a dominant and calculating therapist, is used to control. She knows how to push, how to read people, how to get what she wants. But Priscilla is different. What begins as therapy twists into something deeper-an electric pull neither of them can ignore. Sloane tells herself it's about healing, but her control is precise, obsessive... seductive. And Priscilla, under Sloane's careful influence, begins to lose sight of where her pain ends and Sloane begins. Because Sloane isn't just hiding secrets. She's using them. And the most dangerous thing about her is how far she'll go to keep Priscilla close. [ wlw romance between a therapist and her patient. Hold on tight, this a messy-dark romance ]

Victoria Blackwell, a sharp and ambitious law professor, and Dr. Natalie James, a passionate architect with a PhD in architecture, have been rivals since their fencing days at competing schools. When their paths cross again at a prestigious university, old tensions reignite. Their contrasting teaching styles and opposing life philosophies fuel a relentless battle of wills, but beneath the surface, there's more than just rivalry at play-there's undeniable chemistry. As their animosity intensifies, so does the attraction neither expected. Their journey forces them to confront their past, their boundaries, and the complex connection between them.

Dakota Carson and Olivia Grace Sterling have almost nothing in common-different majors, different goals, and different worlds. The only things tying them together are their shared student dorm and a circle of mutual friends. In a world full of deadlines, parties, and emotional minefields, Dakota and Olivia must figure out where their friendship fits-and whether it's strong enough to survive the change.

In her senior year, Eve finds herself on a collision course with trouble and darkness from the very first day. Amidst this turmoil, she becomes captivated by a teacher who is her polar opposite. Driven by curiosity, Eve embarks on a quest to understand this enigmatic figure, leading to an unexpected and profound connection. As she delves deeper, Eve must confront the question: Will her curiosity and budding affection bring her fulfillment or heartache?

Valeria La Reina Monteserra has always been a woman of excess-luxury, arrogance, and a dangerous freedom that leaves no room for anyone's expectations. Born the youngest of the infamous Monteserra family, she walked away from a life of crime to seek her own path, a life without the weight of her older siblings' shadows. But escape isn't as simple as it seems. Five years ago, Valeria helped her sister, Luciana, kill Lorenzo-the man responsible for the love of Luciana's life, Veronika, the ruler of Russia. That single act tied her even tighter to the dangerous world she tried to leave behind. Now, she finds herself in Sweden, supporting her brilliant niece, Hanna, as she navigates the corridors of academia. But trouble is never far behind. Not when Selena Alexandra Lindström, the composed and intelligent professor who annoys her to no end, is part of the equation. Valeria, spoiled and unrepentant, can't resist teasing Selena. But beneath the arrogant exterior lies a secret-one tied to her blood-stained past. A past she's sworn to keep hidden from Selena, a woman whose life couldn't be more different from her own. As old ghosts resurface and emotions collide, Valeria must decide: Will she remain the free spirit she's always been, or will her family's dark legacy pull her back into a world where power, betrayal, and dangerous liaisons rule? In the game of empires, only the most cunning survive. But what happens when the heart gets in the way?

Valeria Silvius, One of the oldest vampire alive, one of the first vampires to walk earth and she doesn't interact with many humans..or creatures, yet one really stuck with her. Avianna Alastair, A siren. She's pulled many in with just her voice alone, but one night she managed to allure a vampire and since then, it's been hatred from both sides. But what happens when forces recreates the same scene for them, just many years later, at the exact same place, and day. With a sweet voice calling and tingling fangs, they were eye to eye once again. What could possibly make the hate go away? (Slow Updates)

Stephanie Walker is eighteen, moving across the country from Los Angeles to New York to begin her dream: law school at NYU. A new city, a new home, new friends, new everything. She's excited, but sleepless nights, old wounds, and quiet struggles follow her everywhere. She wants to live like any other college student, to blend in, to feel normal, but life hasn't been simple, and surviving on her own is harder than she expected. Every late night, every study session, every solitary drive home reminds her that life doesn't come with easy answers. Some nights, she leans on quiet habits she'd never tell anyone about, just to make it to morning. Elena Shay is thirty-two, NYU's Dean and a respected law professor. Her life is built on control, precision, and endless responsibility. At work, she's commanding, elegant, untouchable. Outside it, she's soft, warm, and human, but never careless. Elena doesn't date casually; she doesn't waste time or energy on anything that isn't worth it. She's deliberate, certain, and careful... Until Stephanie. Stephanie isn't just another student. She's sharp, captivating, and unafraid to be herself in a way that draws Elena in deeper than it should. Suddenly, the carefully maintained line between professional and personal life begins to blur. The rules, the expectations, the life Elena's worked so hard to control all scream that nothing between them can ever happen. And yet, the pull becomes impossible to ignore. As their worlds collide, Stephanie discovers a side of life she's never dared to touch: warmth, comfort, attention, and desire from someone who sees her fully, not as a girl with a "rough" childhood, but as a woman. Together, Elena and Stephanie fall into chaos, vulnerability, and longing they didn't know they were missing. Every glance, every touch, and every moment carries risk. Risk of exposure, of judgment, of everything crashing down, all shaped by the choices resting in their hands.