Mercedes "MJ" Johnson grew up unseen - the only white girl in a tough Chicago neighborhood, trapped in a violent home and carrying bruises no one asked about. But Derek Morgan saw her. Protected her. Fed her when her own house was empty. He was her best friend, her shelter, and the first boy to ever make her feel safe. Years later, they reunite at the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. She's not the broken girl he once knew - she's quiet, brilliant, and tougher than she lets on. But Derek still looks at her like she's something worth protecting, and MJ still feels safest in his orbit. Their bond runs deep - forged in childhood, sharpened by time. But what once was innocent has turned into something slower, heavier, and harder to ignore. With every case, every look, every late-night conversation, their connection deepens into something they never dared to name. Because love like theirs doesn't burn fast - it lingers, waits, and grows quietly in the spaces between survival and healing. A Slow-burn Derek Morgan Fanfic This book does not follow the Criminal Minds' timeline #1 in morgan 07/29/25 - 08/07/25 #1 in bau 08/07/25, 12/1/25, 1/1/26 #1 in fbi 08/07/25, 08/16/25 - 08/17/25 #1 in derekmorgan 12/1/25

She was broken, silent, and small. He was dangerous, powerful, and cold to everyone but her. When Alexander finds 23 year old Daisy bruised, terrified, and deaf curled up on a dark street during a mission, he doesn't know why he stops. He only knows he can't leave her behind. What begins as protection turns into something deeper as the ruthless gang leader finds himself slowly softening for the fragile girl who clings to safety like a lifeline. Daisy doesn't speak much. Her innocence and childlike ways confuse the men around her but Alexander sees what the others don't: she's been hurt in more ways than one. As he helps her adjust to her new life ordering plushies, creating a safe room, and learning her world of soft whispers and quiet tears he discovers just how much he needs her, too.

Perfect appearances, perfect grades, perfect manners. Anything less for Adelina Torres and her family kicks her to the streets until she can keep up with the family name. She never had a life of her own. Always studying, always going to business dinners with her parents, always seen as a failure to her family. Despite her bubbly personality, she has always struggled to make friends. What happens when she meets Aaron Hendrix, the leader of the most powerful mafia in the country? A moment to thank you beautiful readers for giving me these rankings among thousands/hundreds of thousands/millions of other stories with similar tags :) #1 in mafia #1 in protective #1 in abused #1 in sunshine #1 in grumpy #2 in innocent #2 in cold #2 in goodgirl #3 in cute #9 in badboy #42 in family #54 in love

[Previously title Marigold and Sunflowers] She was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on, but also the most annoying one. She thought he was an arrogant, mannerless asshole sculpted to make her knees go weak. Ivy Marigold Taylor, an intelligent, down to earth, veterinarian who lives in the moment. She manifests peace and positivity that was soon corrupted when a man's assistant gets sick and he has to pick up his dog from her monthly check up. Carter Moretti, a businessman who runs a million dollar company who enjoys being in charge, ordering others around. When faith plays it's cards and cause the two to bump into each other at a coffee shop he fumes over spilt apple juice and a ruined shirt, while she tells him to suck it up. Despite her beauty and his attraction towards her, he's too stubborn and prideful to admit that he wants her. Being forced in the same perimeter repeatedly the two use annoying and insulting each other as an unknowing love language. ••• "Carter. Carter, I can't-" I stammer trying to push his head away but he was stubborn, determined. "Move your hand." His voice was dark and hoarse, his hand leaving my thigh to push mine away before returning to hold down my leg. I knew he could feel the shakiness of my leg, but he didn't seem to care. "It's too much!" My hips buck as I moan uncontrollably. I was too loud. I covered my mouth. Carter tuts, "Ivy, if I have to tell you to move your hand again I will tie them to the bed." He threatens and I was so tempted to keep my hand over my mouth. "I want to hear you." Book Three of the Beloved Series Can be read a stand-alone 2/4/23-

When Noelle, a devoted single mother, takes her young son to Kingston Farm to meet Santa Claus, she anticipates a normal visit. However, she never expects him to ask Santa for a father. What Noelle also doesn't know is that the man behind the Santa suit is Cole Kingston, a former pro football player and eligible bachelor. As sparks fly between Noelle and Cole, the magic of the holiday season brings romance in unexpected places, offering the chance to fulfill her son's Christmas wish. ~~~ This story isn't fully edited, so please be patient with a grammar mistake here and there ❤️ ~~~ All rights reserved. This story or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a review. ~~~ This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

❛❛ Oh dear love, we don't go near that door...no one in the flat does...the man that lives behind it is Alexander Solonik. ❜❜ . . . Everyone in the neighbourhood wanted them kicked out for no reason, they were never seen, never heard of and they never open their door. They never left their home. It was almost as if...no one lived inside that house? But-only I saw the little boy who lived there. And only I know about it because my mother would trap me in my room for even making eye contact with them. Started: 18/08/2022 Finished: 31/08/22 This book contains mature scenes! BOOK COVER BY: typinchapters on insta!! RATINGS: # 4 romance out of 2M stories # 13 love out of 2.3M # 1 wattpad

𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐍𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 is your average do-good lawyer on the rise to fame as a representative of young victims. Except her motivations aren't all that innocent. Rayne's only goal is to run from her past, to leave confrontation for the courtroom, no matter who or what that hurts. The task once easy soon becomes hard when an unlikely ally shows up with the truth about her twin brother. 𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐁𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒 is the Spanish mafia heir, at least, in name. Four years ago, he sat helplessly as his younger sister was snatched from his front lawn, and again when his best friend was taken months later. Up until now, he's been searching on his own. But there are new players involved; new distractions. The time for waiting is over: he needs an ally. Each fighting for a different reason, each holding onto closeted history, will the alliance prove to be worth it in the end? Or will all of their fears metastasize into something greater? 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓 is a classic jokester, hiding his personality and altruism behind false excitement and distracted ironies. With a broken child living inside of him, he finds life easier to manage so long as he keeps up appearances by entertaining a semi-toxic relationship with Blake Ruiz. Happiness is a virtue he can afford to scorn, that is, until everything he's ever craved steals his mind with dark blue Converse and black nail polish. 𝐊𝐀𝐈 𝐀𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑È𝐙, apathetic at best, shields his vulnerability with pride, ego, and a few too many Jack and Cokes. Men constantly fall into his trap, but when Mason makes the same mistake, things suddenly change. Traumatized from childhood, jeered by a complex he can't seem to quit, he clings to this new person. Steered by unhealed wounds, they find themselves wrapped in one another. Whoever said you needed water to drown when love is hastily included? ⤷ MULTIPLE MCS COVER: _NAVYBLUEEE_

[COMPLETE][EDITING] Ace Hernandez, the Mafia King, known as the Devil. Sofia Diaz, known as an angel. The two are arranged to be married, forced by their fathers, joining the two Mafia's. But Sofia eventually learns, even the devil was once an angel. Cover by @alluringathena *This book is more of a romance book than Mafia book and I hope you enjoyyy*

Adonis has always hated Romero. Romero has always thought Adonis was rude. When Adonis is asked to help Romero with an job, they both realize maybe they were wrong about each other.

Gwen Bradbury has seen the end. Gwen Bradbury has learned fighting again. ****** Gwen Bradbury's life is torture to her. She is floating above everyone else. Her existence is like a void, eating her up from the inside, little by little every day. Gwen wants freedom. She wants to escape. But she is not one to give up. The darkness and demons can't do anything to her, not again. She will fight till she can't take it anymore. Oliver Carlson isn't your typical boy next door. He isn't the popular bad boy with a dark past you will find in every book. Oliver is not cocky, not famous, not one with eight pack abs. He is quiet, silent, hiding in shadows, away from everyone else, on his own. He has learned to keep to himself, build his suits of armors up, and shut everyone out. Nobody really knows him. He doesn't care. What hurts is that when his popular brother Owen Carlson gets everything he wants, leaving Oliver nothing. So when Gwen Bradbury unintentionally unexpectedly crashes into Oliver Carlson's life, she tries to convince him that life is beautiful with her broad smile and crazy endeavors. Oliver does quite the opposite by shutting her out on the outside but maybe secretly slowly letting her own a piece of his heart. But what happens when both Oliver and Gwen are faced with disasters that make their second skin fall apart in front of their eyes abandoning only the truth? Completed. @girlofthetrees is the editor of this book. "How is it possible for someone already have written such an amazing book and on top of it write another one," - @Nani2096, A reader of 'In Too Deep' about Floating. "I love you and your books so muchh. The recent Floating chapter almost made me cry because it was so beautiful. I hope one day your books will get published and I'll be sure to buy them." - @sel__h Highest Ranking: #1 in depression #1 in hot #1 in slowburn #1 in friends #1 in sarcasm #1 in sad #1 in loneliness