SAY YOU'RE MINE AND MEAN IT Desmond Matrice keeps her head down, her shot clean, and her heart out of reach. Raised on survival and silence, she's built for pressure-on the court and in life. But when a honey-skinned cheerleader with too much lip gloss and not enough boundaries sets her sights on her, Desmond's routine starts to slip. Haylen Blakemoor is used to getting what she wants. And what she wants is Desmond-cool, quiet, unreadable Desmond. The girl who won't flirt back but never looks away. The girl who moves like control, but kisses like chaos. What starts with hallway glances and late-night FaceTimes turns into sleepovers, sideline tension, and a love that refuses to wait its turn. Desmond's afraid to need. Haylen needs too much. And neither of them is backing down. This isn't just a campus love story. It's about claiming what's yours. And holding on-harder, louder, deeper. If you say it, you better mean it.

A drunken night on a girl's trip leads to a secret relationship between two best friends.

Kabari Braxton had been incarcerated at the early age of 14 years old. Groomed by an older gang in his neighborhood, he was lured into robbing a convenience store-he complied intending to walk away with cash but leaving with blood on his hands instead. Tried as an adult, he spent seven years behind bars, cut off from the world that moved on without him. Now, at 21, he's granted parole and an early release. But freedom isn't what it seems. He's stepping into a world that he no longer recognizes, with no home, no family, and no direction. As far as he knows, he's completely alone-at least, that's what he expected.

𝟏𝟑.𝟎𝟗.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟏𝟒.𝟎𝟗.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Niah Monroe, a 26-year-old ambitious woman working her way through grad school, has always kept her life on the straight and narrow. She's loyal to her best friend, and she avoids men who could derail her goals. But then enters Khalil "Khaos" Mercer, 32, her best friend's older brother-fresh out after serving time, running the family's underground hustle, and building an empire of his own. He's dark, dangerous, and the one man she's never allowed herself to want. When circumstances force them together-him needing her brain and discipline to clean up his business moves, her needing his protection after a brush with street danger-the forbidden attraction between them sparks into a full-blown, undeniable passion.

Kaine is rich in blood but broke in spirit. Drained and tired of living a life of sin, he has hope in a clean slate. Until he meets Syn who lives a completely different life than he does. So he thinks. Love is dangerous territory in this game, he wants to keep her safe. But somehow he'll continue to get his hands dirty to protect a love with his life.

"I didn't run because of you," Zoey said after a moment. "I ran because I wanted more than you were letting yourself have." My arm slid around her back, careful, protective. "I didn't think I was allowed to want more." She tilted her head up, her face inches from mine now. "You don't get to decide what I can handle." "I like the way that sounds." I said with a laugh. Her gaze flicked to my mouth. Back to my eyes. She hesitated- not out of fear, but because this mattered. "Dizzy," she whispered, "If you stay here with me, it has to mean something." I didn't even blink. "It means everything to me." "Diz, please don't go." "I don't have nowhere to go. I'm exactly where I need to be." I confirmed for her. I put my thumb under her chin and pulled her face towards mine. The kiss was nothing like the one at the party. No alcohol. No confusion. No running afterward. This one was slow- her lips warm, deliberate, pressing into mine like she was anchoring herself to the moment. I kissed her back just as gently, my hand cupping the side of her face, thumb brushing her cheek like I was afraid she'd vanish if I pressed too hard. I slowly rose to my feet, ensuring our lips never parted. My hands found their way around her waist as I urged her closer to me. She exhaled into my mouth, a soft sound that made my chest ache. When we pulled apart, our foreheads rested together. "You should've done that sooner," she murmured. "I know," I said, smiling faintly. "But I'm here now." ------------------------------------------------ Dizzy (Denzel Hardiman Jr.) moved to New York City from a small town in Mississippi when he was 10 years old. His family moved into a hotel-turned apartment building in Harlem. He meets three kids at his school and they go on to remain friends into adulthood. Dizzy is tasked with hiding his feelings for their mutual friend, Zoey, pursuing his music career, and maintaining his bonds, while facing a life of crime.

Asianna has always had it all. Money, beauty, brains, and a sharp tongue that cuts deeper than any blade. But having everything handed to her comes with strings she's ready to cut. She vanishes from her family's and sets out to find something real. Enter Ryan cold, cunning, and the iron-fisted queen of the underground. She runs the mafia with ruthless precision and doesn't believe in asking twice. When she wants something, she takes it. And right now, what she wants is Asianna...whether she knows it or not. But Asianna isn't one to be tamed. What begins as a power play turns into a deadly dance of wills, secrets, and seduction. In a world ruled by shadows, can two queens reign without tearing each other apart?