This is not a story about what happens. It's about what almost does. At an Ivy League medical school, Isabelle Laurent is known as the Ice Queen-brilliant, distant, untouchable. No one gets close. No one stays. Alexander Whitmore was never supposed to be different. Charming, privileged, and infamous for never staying longer than a few weeks, he understands desire. What he doesn't understand, until Isabelle, is restraint. She believes he doesn't want her. He knows wanting her openly would destroy everything. So they choose the most dangerous thing instead: friendship. "The most dangerous thing about Alexander Whitmore was not his reputation, nor his charm, nor the power he would one day inherit. It was the fact that he never asked for anything from me, and somehow, without realizing it, I had begun to give him everything that mattered." Slow burn • Dual POV • Consent • Emotional intimacy

Eleanor: My life is going to change. As expected of an mafia princesss i'm being sold of to a rich but very old businessman. After failing to escape from my father's clutches I'm brought to the old church up in the mountains. Little did i know my old bodyguard Theo is the who's going to swept me away. It's both sin and salvage for me. Theo: After years of planning, i'm going to exact my revenge against Reginald Marlowe. The power hungry fool is selling his only daughter Eleanor to an rich old man. After knowing Eleanor's failed attempt to escape, there is only one way. Kidnapping her and using her as an stepping stone for my plans. Little did i know she's going to be my sanctuary of redemption.

| ranked #1 | | 4.24.16| | completed | | wattpad featured story 8/17/16 | | winner of a collectors edition WATTY 2016 | "How many times do I have to say this until you accept it? Those people are mine, those soldiers are mine, you are mine." I freeze. "Well," I straighten my spine, tightening my fists," I am not to be owned by anyone, least of all you. And my people aren't either. I will not allow you to do this." "You won't allow me to?" He scoffs. "And how are you going to stop me?" "If you do not call off this awful plan, I will reject you, as my mate." highest rank: 1

✨ Quote featured in WATTPAD chicklit's THE CORNER BOOTH - April' 26 community newsletter ✨ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐃𝐏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 (after major editings ofc 😜) "Lie on the bed, Isla Maria Carter. That's my fifth payment" Falling for her brother's rival? Of course not. She'd rather eat dirt. For Isla, it was supposed to be a simple university project: observe, analyze, and leave. But you can't observe a predator like Noah Blackwood without becoming the prey. He's the new captain of the Blackthorns. The golden boy. The trustees' son and the visionary future of the University. But to Isla Maria Carter... he's nothing more than a SON OF A BISCUIT. He's her brother's greatest rival. Her biggest headache. And now? Her mandatory partner. Noah doesn't like being a subject; he likes being the one in control. And he has decided the only subject he's interested in... is her. HE WANTS HER TO FALL FOR HIM. SHE WANTS HIM TO FALL IN A PIT. HE WANTS TO KISS HER. SHE WANTS TO PUNCH HIM. FOR HIM, SHE'S THE CHALLENGE HE NEVER SAW COMING. FOR HER, HE'S THE PROBLEM SHE CAN'T ESCAPE. HE WANTS HER. SHE WANTS HIM-MURDERED. This season's game has officially moved off the field. But the question remains the same, "Who is going to win this match?" •=======• Cover by @elaradaven Well yes there are many kiss scenes in between (for absolute no reason acc to me) because, come on! It's my book and I love these things lol. Okay I know you guys. So, here's the spice level:- 4/5 🌶️ [UNDER EDITING]