She stood, a smirk curling her lips, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "You may command the world, Lucifer, but I know how to set that very world on fire." Lucifer's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint sparking in their depths. He stepped closer, his grip firm as he pulled her into the shadow of his power. "Then burn me, Fiore," he whispered, his voice like smoke and sin. "I'll worship the ashes."

NEEDS EDITING THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT He built a fortress around his heart. She brought a wrecking ball and a secret. Elias Thorne is a mystery in Oakhaven, A solitary figure and the owner of a successful tattoo franchise, his wealth is as carefully guarded as his silence. He is the quiet grump the whole town wants to decipher, but no one ever gets close. Elias likes his life neat, organized, and utterly empty of anything that could remind him of love and loss. Then June Hayes arrives. Burnt out from the new york art scene and pregnant via a donor, June is determined to create a peaceful, new life for herself and her baby. To the locals, she's just a sweet, new artist. They have no idea she's also viral sensation with over a million followers who sells her work to the A-list. June sees Elias's grumpy exterior and smiles. She needs a friend, and she has decided the broody, ball cap wearing man (no seriously I never see him without a hat on - June) across the street is it. She invades his quiet space showing up at the inkwell every Tuesday and spending the day, sharing her music, and poking at his meticulous order. Elias fights it all, clenching his jaw and pulling his cap low to hide the truth: he fell for the Wildflower the minute she crashed into his life. As June begins posting subtle, faceless photos of him, their reluctant friendship turns into an online viral romance that threatens to expose both of their secrets. How do you guard a heart that already belongs to a Wildflower, a baby, and a life you swore you'd never have? And what happens when the most careful grump in Oakhaven blurts out, "That's my wife," just to stay by her side? Tropes: - Grumpy x Sunshine - He Falls First - Protective - Pregnancy - Small Town - Forced Friends - Friends to lovers - Secret Identity CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE

Six years ago, Blanchard Collins packed her bags, boarded a bus to Houston, and never looked back. She left behind her abusive father, the town that never forgave her for speaking her mind, and Rueben Bailey, the boy who broke her heart the night before they were supposed to run away together. Now twenty-four, Blanchard returns home with her five-year-old daughter, Willow, and a dying mother who's asked for one final thing-her presence. But coming home means facing the ghosts she thought she'd buried, including the man she's never truly stopped loving. Rueben "Benny" Bailey did what his family expected. Stayed, took over the farm, and proposed to the girl everyone said was right for him. But when Blanchard walks back into church with a little girl who looks just like him, everything he's built starts to fall apart.

Raelynn Baker A woman who escaped the viciously blinding nights of forced prostitution. Snatched from the embrace of a comfortable life, she had to hold onto herself for survival. A true warrior who persistently fights against the dark memories of her past. Vincent Marino A man who runs the entire underground syndicate. Born and brought up in the treacherous darkness of power struggle, he rose to the top by challenging years of humiliation and brutally vanquishing every opponent in blood. Respect. He values it the most. Freedom. She longs for it from her own demons. Mirroring each other's gaze, forcing the other to back down, they lock horns when a chance encounter collides them. One is authoritative. One is headstrong. Each holding a story of their own and both trying to read each other. She has secrets that when break out would tarnish his respect and question his authority while he has rivals who when succeed would shove her back into her terrifying past. When love becomes a double edged sword, with danger lurking right around the corner, can the ignited flames of curiosity break the shackles of their past and melt the ice walls surrounding their heart? Ride along the melancholically beautiful journey of two souls in their pursuit of a home! Reading 'What is family?' will give you a better insight into the family dynamics of the Marinos, but it is optional. Disclaimer : This book contains violence and triggering content. I advise you to read it at your own discretion. Also, note that the female lead in this book is not weak or timid. If you're looking for a submissive female lead, this book is not for you.