WATTYS 2025 SHORTLIST || hey readers! don't forget to vote for my novel silver bound when the voting opens up! -- Milo's lips graze my neck, slow and unhurried, like he has all the time in the world. My breath catches, my fingers curling into his bare back, but I don't pull away. I should. Ryan would kill us both. Ryan, my brother. Ryan, his best friend. He presses closer and drags his tongue, his voice low and teasing against my skin. "Tell me to stop, Lil." I don't. copyright © 2025. all rights reserved.

Maya, an innocent nurse, finds herself forced to accept protection from the Phantoms motorcycle gang, specifically the dangerous, irresistible biker, Jake Ford. ***** Maya has a normal life and a normal boyfriend, Sebastian. But one day she drops off a letter to a prison for a patient under her care, and finds herself being watched over by a dangerous, handsome biker. It turns out Maya is under the protection of Jake Ford, and despite her feelings for Sebastian, she can't resist the pull of Jake's strong arms, dark looks and chequered past. Soon criminals are coming after her, and Jake is the only one who can keep her safe. Will Maya hide behind her good-girl reputation, or let go and lose herself in the passionate world of Jake Ford? Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains scenes of violence and sexual activity, which may be triggering for some readers. [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]] Cover designer: Ren T. Photographer: Michelle Lancaster Model: Jaxon Human

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 - a quiet, thoughtful girl who struggles to express her emotions and find trust in others. Shy by nature and cautious from past experiences, she longs for the kind of love she's only seen in movies-a deep, real connection that makes her feel safe and seen. Despite her reserved exterior, Talia has a childlike soul and a heart full of longing, hoping to one day find someone who understands her fully. As she faces the complexities of life and love, Talia must learn to trust both herself and others, realizing that true love might not be the fairytale she imagined-but something even more meaningful. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 - the tough and cold hockey captain, hides behind a tough exterior, keeping his emotions locked away. On the ice, he's fearless, but off it, he struggles with trust and vulnerability. While most see him as the "bad boy," Grayson longs for something real-someone to love him for who he truly is, not for his reputation. As he faces new challenges, he begins to question what it means to be loved and must decide whether he's willing to risk opening up to the people who could truly care for him.

"𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦." Wren's toxic boyfriend of 2 years is a bad person. 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳. They break up for what she hopes is the final time, hopefully. But that also means she's without an apartment. She has no choice than to ask her brother. Sounds great, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? Well, no. It's not. Because living with her brother also means living with Holden Bennett. Her least favorite person ever. After being forced to be around him for the last four years her brother has been in college, they've developed a rivalry (at the very least) between one another and cannot stand each other's presence. "I don't like you." "I know." A spicy emotional roller coaster between two enemies.. 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵. - Book One of the 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 Series - #1 in enemieswithbenefits 12/12/24 Started: November 12th, 2024 Completed: December 22nd, 2024

"WHY CAN'T YOU GET IT INSIDE YOUR HEAD?" He trapped my trembling body between his arms and slammed his fist into the wall. I flinch at the sound as I feel tears forming in my eyes. "I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOUR CRYING. JUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NEVER LEAVING. THIS IS YOUR LIFE NOW, WITH ME" He spits, anger consuming his voice as I push myself further against the wall. Shutting my eyes closed and turning my face to the side as I do. Moments later, I feel his rough hand on my waist and his finger grazing my cheek. "Look at me, love." His hand grips onto my jaw, his thumb playing across my lower lip. He turns my face to meet his as I lower my gaze to the floor. He lowers himself to my level and I feel his breath fanning my cheek causing my breathing to become unsteady. "I love you so much, darling. But you need to learn. You need to learn that you won't be going anywhere. You're mine." With that being said, his other hand slides down to my waist "Your entire body, your mind, your soul. All mine." All I could do was tremble at his touch. How can someone so beautiful be so heartless? ~~~~~~~~~~ All a 19 year old Aurora Shaw wanted to do was work to make a living and volunteer at the orphanage. Unfortunately for her, ruthless and cunning 26 year old Mafia leader and billionaire Tristan Black had other plans for her. He's been waiting for the perfect moment to kidnap her and finally make her his queen after 2 years of watching and stalking her every move. He'd kill anyone who gets in the way of getting what he wants. What will happen when he ruins everything she wanted and forces her to marry him? Will she escape and resist him? Or will she submit and accept her fate?

FREE STORY. PAID BONUS CHAPTERS. There's a thin line between love and hate. One thing Rosalie Jackson knows for sure is that what she feels towards star college hockey player Roman King is definitely hate and that feeling is mutual. Having hated each other ever since they met in freshman year under not-so-great circumstances, nothing has changed two years on. What they see as hate everyone else sees as sexual tension, and there are only so many insults they can throw at each other before that tension is released. Their feud continues through junior year and as much as they would love to avoid each other at all costs, they keep getting thrown together under the worst circumstances possible. As their rivalry heats up, so do their consequences. Stuck with each other for a full year, they'll find themselves spending more and more time together than ever before. Hockey games, temptation, and science experiments will go wrong. At the end of it all, maybe, just maybe, they'll become each other's perfect obsession. [The Jackson Family Series Book 2 - can be read as standalone]

Bailey Johnson has always had a plan. To get through her senior year and get into Stanford. So what happens when Noah Scott her brothers best friend begins to get closer to her...and she lets him. That wasn't a part of her plan. Highest Ranks #1 in Bailey #1 in Athlete #1 in College Romance #2 in Romance #2 in Love #1 in Teen #2 in Mature #3 in Humor #4 in Highschool #1 in Brothers best friend #2 in Best friend #1 in Wattpad

"The Stripper and the Mob Boss" ❦ A sickness of Anastasia's sister leads her towards a huge debt. When her friend comes to her with a solution that would make her go from rags to riches, Anastasia immediately accepts even if that meant stripping. Everything was running smoothly until she was met with the scary notorious mafia leader, Valentino Romano. Valentino was a man with no emotion, but when he was met with Anastasia, he knew that he wanted the blonde gorgeous stripper---at no matter what costs. ❦ "You're not allowed to touch me. It's against Mr. Romano's rules," she said, her back towards him. Her long legs were on full display with her high black heels only making them appear longer. "You must be new. What's your name?" He chuckled out, licking his lips. Valentino grabbed her hips, turning her towards him as his eyes settled on her breasts. Slowly, his eyes trailed up to meet her eyes. "Anastasia. Who are you?" she asked, fear clear in her eyes as she stared. He smirked. "Mr. Romano. Now, open your legs."

He rules Manhattan's underworld with blood. She was never supposed to touch it. Serena Hale lives behind locked doors and careful routines, hiding the scars of a past no one sees. Her quiet flower shop is her sanctuary-until Theo Sorrentino walks in. Cold. Lethal. Untouchable. They call him the Devil of Manhattan, a king among criminals who crushes anyone that breathes wrong in his direction. But when Theo looks at Serena, something breaks. Something dangerous. He wants her. Gentle, unshakable, his. Serena knows monsters. She sees the violence curled beneath Theo's expensive suits and calm control. But the way he protects her-the way he watches her-pulls her into a world she swore she'd never enter. Now the bodies are piling up, and the war is coming home. And in the wreckage of power, betrayal, and blood, love might be the most dangerous thing of all. Because in Theo's world, you don't fall in love. You survive it.

Piper Walsh has always been the fixer. The one who keeps it together, no matter what life throws at her. So when an internship lands her in New York City for her final year at Columbia, she packs her bags and promises her brothers she'll be fine. Then her housing falls through-and she ends up living with five inked-up, too-hot-for-their-own-good bikers. They're reckless. Messy. Completely inappropriate. And somehow, the only people in the city who feel like home. Except for Greyson Lowell. He's the quiet one. The one who doesn't look at her. Doesn't talk to her. Definitely doesn't want her there. He keeps his distance like it's a full-time job-until he doesn't. Until one stolen moment changes everything. Piper knows heartbreak when she sees it. Greyson's drowning in it. And the closer she gets, the more he pushes her away. But Piper didn't come this far to let one broken boy scare her off. Even if he might be the one thing that could break her in return.