As a dedicated fourth-grade teacher, 26 year old Simone Walker never expected her job to lead her into a forbidden romance. But when she meets Owen Hayes, a rugged, overworked single father of two, everything changes. At 40, Owen has spent years putting his children first, refusing to let love-or heartbreak-get in the way. But when his son's new teacher, the brilliant and compassionate Simone, steps into their lives, she brings a warmth he didn't realize he was missing. Neither of them meant to fall.

"It all started with a tattoo" This story is a little fast paced

"𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥..." Poet was used to being the second choice. Actually, she was used to not being chosen at all. The girl blended into the background easily, it had always been that way. Sometimes, passion wasn't enough to put you in the spotlight and she was okay with that. Riot had always carried the weight of his mother's ways on his shoulders. He was the oldest son. The protector. The rock. He never would have thought these things to push him closer than ever to his soulmate. Not when he wasn't even sure what he wanted his own love story to look like. Their love was never expected to be but maybe it was supposed to happen that way. 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝟏 𝐎𝐅 '𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄' 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

"Your gun, Christian," I whispered breathlessly, the reality of who he was momentarily flashing in my mind. Even in bed, he was a dangerous man. He didn't stop. I felt the vibration of a low, dark smile against my skin before he spoke, his voice grazing my ear. "Gun's under the pillow," he whispered. ౨ৎ Lelani, 20 never asked for chaos. She wanted a quiet life, a clean future, and a chance to finally breathe. Christian, 24 was the kind of man she promised herself she would never get close to dangerous, secretive, and tied to a world she has no business stepping into. But fate doesn't care about warnings. And he's not good at letting go. Something about her pulls him in. Something about him keeps her from walking away. All she knows is this: The boy she shouldn't want is the only one who touches her right.

When Ayanna is forced into a job working for her parents' trusted college friend, she expects structure-not the quiet pull of a man who sees her more clearly than anyone ever has. Langston, a forty-three-year-old record label owner and divorcé, lives by rules that don't allow desire, especially not for his employee or the daughter of people he respects. As long hours and industry chaos draw them closer, attraction turns into something dangerous neither of them is willing to name. With her parents tightening their grip and her dreams of an artistic life slipping further away, Ayanna must choose between approval and authenticity. For Langston, loving her could cost him his reputation, his principles, and the one line he's sworn never to cross.

"I told you about looking down when you being talked to mama." Kaiser spoke more softly than before. In the small time he been around Serenity, he noticed how shy she was. She was so avoidant but alluring. He was interested in her. Seeing how well she was with the kids was just a plus. "Why?" She sighed in frustration before signing. She knew if she started talking she would make a fool of herself. "Why what?" He signed back. "Why do you care? You don't know me." "Not everyone has it out for you. I just wanna know you," Kaiser frowned. He didn't understand why she was so isolated but he wanted to know. She was worth knowing.

Valentine is 22 and just graduated college with a PHD in Child Development. After her parents died on her birthday and she was thrown into the foster system she developed a passion for kids and their mental capacities. Her life was regular to her nothing out of the normal or too outrageous. She didn't have friends besides her work buddy who was a bit eccentric. She didn't have a boyfriend because of her fear of abuse after her last boyfriend and foster family. She was plain, dull, and simple. Until she met Quincy Quincy was a known felon in the neighborhood. He murdered two cops in a shootout but thanks to great lawyers he got out in 6 years. Then he went back for armed robbery after someone stole from him and he stole it back (in blood) that got him 4 months. His last crime was assaulting a teacher because allegedly the teacher made a threat at his 11 year old daughter. The man barely made it out of a coma and didn't sue or get police involved lucky for Quincy because he was on his third strike anymore and he wasn't coming home. He only heard Valentine's voice once and ever since he'd been keen on making her his.

" 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

"Satori why you doing me like this man? You do shit for me nobody else do and walk away from me when I want more from you," Sergio sighed. "I want you too-Then what the fuck we waiting on? I'm a grown ass man Satori," Sergio cut her off once more. "I would just be another bitch to you. You're literally married Sergio. Satori said in a more quiet tone than before. Satori didn't have much of an issue with leaving people where they're weird at, but it was getting tiring to waste her time just for there to be another girl. She didn't know if it was worth it anymore. A SHORT STORY.

When a single mother meets a single father. Updates: Mondays, Thursdays, & Saturdays Read, Comment, Vote , Enjoy, Allat 🤗