"I hate how much I need you, Niyah..." From just enemies, to enemies with benefits, to lovers. I hate how much I want him. But I can't escape him. Why? Because we're lawfully locked. An office romance between rival lawyers who try to fight the tension between them until they finally give in. "You say you hate me but you fuck me the same day." *a lot of smut included!*

Nia Hart is used to living quietly, slipping in and out of rooms without being noticed, keeping her world small, controlled and safe. Aidan Collins is the opposite, loud laughter, bright energy, the kind of man who fills every space he walks into. She's an introvert with a laser‑focused career. He's an extrovert with a reputation that follows him everywhere. In private, they're soft. In public, they're a headline. He has golden‑boy charm and easy laughter. She has quiet ambition and careful boundaries. He pulls people in. She keeps them at arm's length. And when the world discovers them, the contrast becomes impossible to ignore: he shines in the spotlight, she hides from it. To stay together, they'll have to learn how to meet in the middle, and build a love that survives both the noise and the silence. Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the images used both on the cover and throughout the story.

When 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 22, drops out of college after her father is sentenced to prison for a crime he swears he didn't commit, her life collapses fast...eviction notices, unpaid tuition, a mother barely holding it together. Then 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐧 appears. Late 40s. Private wealth. No digital footprint. He offers her a monthly allowance for companionship only. No sex. No exclusivity clause. No explanations. What unsettles Kailani isn't the money. It's how little she needs to explain herself because he already knows.

Junior year was supposed to be normal. For Zane Carter, that meant sitting in the back of class, keeping his head down, and getting through the year unnoticed - just like always. He's quiet, observant, and smarter than most people realize. He doesn't expect attention. He doesn't look for it either. Then Ireila Perry walks in on the first day of school. New girl. Confident without trying. The kind of presence that makes conversations pause and heads turn. Within minutes, everyone knows her name - even if she hasn't said much. Zane notices her too. But there's no way someone like her would ever notice someone like him. Until their English teacher pairs them together for a major junior-year project. Now the most talked-about girl in school is sitting beside the boy who's spent years being invisible. At first, it's just schoolwork. Short conversations. Careful glances. Accidental hand touches when reaching for the same paper. But somewhere between shared notes and quiet after-school study sessions, something changes. Because sometimes the loudest feelings start off lowkey. And sometimes the person you least expect... is the one who sees you the most.

After getting in trouble for the millionth time, Landon's mother makes the decision to ship him off to Montana to stay with his father for the summer. The thought of spending those long, sweltering days in the middle of nowhere, far from the comforts of city life-complete with relentless heat, annoying bugs, and the occasional wild animal-was far from what Landon had envisioned for his summer break. But as fate would have it, he wasn't prepared for what lay ahead, especially not for meeting Clementine. As Landon steps out of the dinner, he notices a group of boys. And one of them hops off the truck's hood, his mischievous smile lighting up a face. "Looky here, we got us a city boy," he mocks, sizing Landon up with a scrutinizing gaze. Landon feels the defiance sparking within him. "A city boy that can whoop your ass," he retorts, his voice stead. He squares his shoulders. "Guys, leave him alone," a voice cuts through the tension as a dark-skinned beauty jumps out of the truck, her presence commanding the group's attention. Landon's gaze drifts toward her, and he can't help but take her in fully from her slicked-back curly hair to her dusty boots that tell stories of their own. There's a fierce spark in her eyes, as if she can see right through him-confronting any lingering uncertainty he has about being here. He watches her engage with the boys, still keeping an eye on the one that spoke. Suddenly, the summer landscape doesn't feel so indifferent, and the oppressive heat seems a little less daunting. Maybe this summer won't be so bad after all.

Rule #1: Date within your circle. Rule #2: Uphold the family image. Rule #3: Never, ever get distracted. Carter Vanderbilt has followed the rules his entire life. As the golden boy of the conservative elite, his path was set: marry a suitable girl, run the family empire, and maintain the status quo. His current fling, Ashley, is the perfect "pick me" placeholder-until Meredith Bridges walks in. Meredith is kindness and light, a beautiful black woman who represents everything his world is not. And Carter can't look away. His fascination quickly twists into a dangerous obsession, making him question every belief he's ever held. Ashley isn't about to let some "sweetheart" steal her trophy. She's played the game too long to lose now. Watch as a man's entire world unravels for an obsession that was never part of the plan. He was taught to build walls. She's the reason they'll crumble.

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.

"Can't you just turn it on?" She huffed irritated tapping her foot anxiously. Her red bottom heals were too nice for a place with uneven pavement, tire marks, gas and oil all over the ground. She was humiliated being seen here in this sh*tty shop but she had no choice. She was already running late for her shoot. Kai stared back at her blankly and rolled his eyes in annoyance. The entitled impatient brat was giving him a major head ache. Such a beautiful f*cking headache this woman was and he just met her. "If that was the case you would be gone already and my day would be so much better." Adeline Jones. A pretty name for a pretty woman. Adeline is a black, upper class, young lady who is straight from Manhattan. She is the IT girl and she knows it. A model, an actress, an A lister with a grade A awful personality. She took over 80s and 90s and now is untouchable in the early 2000s. No one is good enough for Adeline and no one tells her no. Except one stubborn, and callous Mechanic named Kai Green.

NOW ON KINDLE UNLIMITED! Read the full story, including exclusive scenes, via the link in my bio! 🔗 He came for a hiding place. He stayed for the cook. Serenity Davidson has no time for strays. She's too busy running the best soul food catering business in Greensboro and keeping her heart in the Dudley neighborhood. As a proud Dudley High alum, Serenity knows how to handle the heat but she isn't prepared for the starving, half-dead man collapsed on her front porch. She does what she does best: she feeds him. He says his name is Kevin. He says he's an unemployed factory worker with "bad asthma." He is lying. He is Lorenzo Moretti, the ruthless Don of the Sicilian Mafia, battered and hiding in plain sight. He intended to heal, exact his revenge, and disappear. But after weeks of Serenity's soul food, her warm bed, and her sharp tongue, Lorenzo realizes he has a new addiction. He's not just going to take back his empire. He's taking the cook with him.