** Jon Bernthal fanfic ** **Older man trope** Naomi thought graduation night would be the beginning of her new life. Instead, she catches her longtime boyfriend cheating, gets blackout drunk, and ends the night with a bruised cheek and a broken heart. When her father's stern, older best friend, Jon, comes to her rescue, Naomi's life takes an unexpected turn. Forced to stay under his roof while her fathers on a work trip, she quickly learns that Lawson has rules-and she's determined to break every one of them. He's supposed to be the man protecting her. She's not supposed to start wanting him. And neither of them is prepared for what happens when the lines between them begin to blur.

Malika Danai is pressure. Friendly, social, and loved by all, Malika thrives in college and is often seen as a mirage - seemingly real and attainable but disappears when approached. She's a party girl to the core. Loves to drink, flirt, and explore with her best friends, Ayana and Isabella. Her beauty is undeniable. With curly black hair cascading over her shoulders and golden-brown skin that glows no matter where she's at, Malika's presence is impossible to ignore. Her dark brown eyes often sparks with mischief, and her full two-toned lips often curves into teasing grins that hints at secrets she rarely shares. Malika excels at a lot of things but she was never the study type. She prayed the night before exams and hoped that her grades would at least give her a passing score and somehow, that always worked. Until now... Her grades are barely holding on- good enough to pass, but not good enough for a sorority like the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA). She wants to join. No she needs to. It's the only way she can prove to her mother that she's worth it. And she'll do whatever it takes. Even if it means casting her pride aside to get help from the boy who loathes her existence. Meanwhile... Theo Sinclair is a weapon. An academic weapon that nobody can beat. Coming from an old money family where the expectations and bars are set high, Theo surpasses them all and is often pushed towards greatness by his family. Yet he has a big flaw: boredom. Because of his uncaring attitude towards everything and everyone around him, Theo is often alone. Deliberately avoiding attention and validation from peers; he thrives in the silence and rhythm of his own scheduled routines. He has only one rule; 'Never let myself feel things I can't control.' To him, parties are ratchet and vile. An enigma vastly contrasting his reverence for solitude, silence, and carefully ordered thoughts. So when he's pushed into an unwanted arrangement, he resents the intrusion because slowly, his rule...

Excerpt: After a few seconds, he gently grasped her hand between his own. He tugged her closer until she was wedged in between him and the desk. "Don't be mad at me when the bond becomes stronger," Oliver said. Like last time, he kissed the inside of her wrist. Victoria's heart fluttered in her ribcage; her breath froze in anticipation. He pulled back, trailing his fingertips over her skin. "You let me drink from you, but deny our bond. It's torture you're putting me through, my lady. Please, make up your mind," he murmured. "I'm trying," Victoria whispered. Oliver hummed in response and pressed his mouth to her wrist. Victoria closed her eyes while he laid several open-mouthed kisses there. His fangs taunted her with every kiss, reminding her of what he truly was. They were so wrapped up in each other that neither of them heard the door open.

"It's hard to feel beautiful or loved, when a world you live in is segregated because of the color of your skin. But when I met him, everything changed." - Diana *A Dallas Winston Love Story*

Aaliyah Daniels is a former Drug Lord, assassin, and wife. She lives a secluded life with her two children Kitai and Isabella, who are her entire world. Then one day her secluded little life comes to an end when Damien Arden makes her an offer she can not and will not refuse. And even though Damien and Aaliyah have a business deal, that business deal might just become personal.

Pain. Those 4 words can effect a person mentally and physically. Those 4 words I don't wish on anyone, Aelia.

I cupped her face, planting a soft kiss on her beautiful lips. "Don't ever run from me, baby," I said softly, letting my thumb trace her jaw. "I love the chase." Her jaw tightened, her hands coming up to try and move mine. "Stop calling me baby, Ezra," she snapped, eyes flashing. I couldn't help but grin, dropping my voice to something low and dark. "Ohhh, now my baby has a problem with me calling her baby?" She shot me a glare, but I just tucked her hair behind her ear, pressing another kiss to her lips-gentler this time, lingering. "You don't get to tell me what to call you, baby." I leaned in closer, brushing my nose against hers. "You're whatever the fuck I call you."

꧁༺ ⚠︎ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 ⚠︎༻꧂ this story contains: ♡ explicit sex scenes ♡ age gap relationship (17 years apart) ♡ daddy title kink ♡ vulgar language ♡ mafia & organized crime ♡ premonitions + spirituality read responsibly, babes ♡ ✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦ Damianos doesn't do love. He barely does attachment. Successful, disciplined, and carved from the darker parts of the world he runs, romance isn't even a blip on his radar... until he crosses paths with a girl who shouldn't matter. Azuri - green‑amber eyes, soft voice, and a life she's finally getting together - isn't looking for trouble. But trouble arrives anyway, wrapped in a tailored suit and answering to the name of her best friend's uncle. He's older. He's dangerous. He's everything she should avoid. And yet... she wants him. Badly. In ways she can't explain and shouldn't admit. He wasn't supposed to notice her. She wasn't supposed to want him. But some connections don't ask permission - they just pull. And once they collide, neither of them walks away untouched.

Zola Reed is almost out of time. At seventeen, she's one placement away from aging out of foster care and being on her own for good. But when she's sent to live with Miss Penelope on a quiet dirt road, everything changes. The house is warm, the food is real, and the animals aren't the only ones watching her closely. There's also Jace-Penelope's rugged, confident godson who works the land and isn't afraid to make a move. Zola's not here to fall in love. She's here to survive. But sometimes, the place you never wanted to be is where you were meant to belong.

COMPLETED While away for a wedding, Theodore crosses paths with Aria, a busy single mom who unknowingly becomes the key to saving his family's ranch. His spiteful father will stop at nothing to take the farm from him, but he never anticipated Aria's loving charm would turn the tables. With her by his side, Theodore just might have a chance at keeping the land-and building a life he never saw coming. Love, family, and a fight for the land-can one woman's heart be the key to saving everything?