[COMPLETED] "Love can be cruel," he mutters. "I thought it would be the reason I would propose, but it's not. Love never wins, does it?" Cruel. Devious. Twisted love. Love can play games, and we just happen to be the pawns. We play our moves strategically like a game of chess, until it comes to this moment. We can let the world separate us, stop us, pull us apart. We can let this old love between us fray at the edges. If love is a game, then Cato and I are destined to lose. "You're right," I whisper. "But love still exists. Even for a moment." His knuckles brush against my waist, before he decides to pull me flush against his chest. We're close, and burning, and his breath feels like electricity on my skin. In his green eyes, I see remnants of the heavens, the northern auroras flashing illuminating inside of them. He holds a new world inside of him, and I long to be the first to discover it. Cato's nose brushes up against mine, the space between our mouths fading like stardust. "Even for a moment," he murmurs my words against me. At once, our tensions release. ─── ·𖥸· ─── One half of her heart belongs to the man from the stars. The other belongs to the man of smoke and ash. Maureen Harradan lives at the bottom tiers of society. Scorned by anyone above her, she finds her fate entwining with Cato Leveque, a wealthy astronaut returning to Earth with new discoveries and secrets. When rumours spread of Cato's uncertain scientific plans, Maureen finds herself working alongside Thomas Smyth, who runs one of the most powerful criminal operations in the city. She must choose which man to believe, and put her entire reputation on the line while running from an unwanted past. Will Maureen's heart choose to follow the man of the stars? Or will she find peace from the criminal of the streets? ─── ·𖥸· ─── Started February 22, 2022 Completed July 9, 2022. 90,000+ words

*COMPLETED* (Y.O.L.O stands for: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE) *** Carter Jones, the school nerd, and Killian Henderson, the reputated troublemaker, somehow end up getting detention together. "How about we make a bet?" Offered Killian, his pistachio-green eyes drilling into mine as a playful smile lingered on his lips. "A bet?" I gulped, intimidated by how close he was sitting next to me. He nodded and raised four fingers, the ones with the letters "Y.O.L.O" tattooed on them, wriggling them in front of me with his ever-so-confident grin. "Four dares, Jones, just you and me." And that's how it all started. *** Rankings: #fiction #featured #queer #gay #depression #bl #youngadult #featured #comedy #bisexual #manxman #teen fiction #boyxboy #bxb #LGBT #romance Cover designed by Holly Thurston

All it took was one night for Lucy's life to completely change. Will she be able to handle all the new decisions and changes or will she break? SNEAK PEAK: "That is not true and you know it, Cole" I say, slightly choking on my tears. How dare he say that? He chuckles dryly before giving me a blank look. "Are you trying to deny how much of a whore you are? Tell them. Tell them how much of a slut you are, Lucy. I'm sure your brother would be so happy to know about how his baby sister is opening her legs to anything with a dick" He says, smirking at my mortified face. "That's not true! Why are you lying?!" I yell, my voice thick with tears and my eyes are bloodshot. I'm pretty sure my cheeks are flushed and moist with tears. "I don't lie, cupcake" He says, using the nickname he used Saturday night.