Five years changed everything. Kalliope "Kali" Lawson is thirty, thriving, and finally in control of her life. What once felt overwhelming-juggling single motherhood and building her career-became the very thing that shaped her into the woman she is today. With her village behind her, Kali didn't just survive... she elevated. Now she's respected, focused, and unshakable. Amani "Mani" Xavier Knight is twenty-three and living a life most people only dream about. Drafted into the NFL during his second semester at Redwood State University, he went from college athlete to full-blown brand overnight. Money, fame, women-he learned fast how to navigate it all. His past? Including the scandal that once tied him to Ms. Lawson? Long forgotten... or so he thought. Because one unexpected run-in changes everything. Five years later, Mani finds out Kali has been raising a child he knew nothing about. Now, his world is flipped upside down. Kali isn't the same woman he left behind-she's colder, guarded, and not interested in reopening old wounds. Mani isn't the same boy either-he's grown, successful, and not used to being shut out. But beneath the anger, the tension, and the pride... There's still something there. Now add: A girlfriend who refuses to let go. A coach who's a little too interested in Kali. And a past that refuses to stay buried. Two people. A secret that changes everything. And a love story neither of them ever truly let go of. Tune in to see what happens when the past catches up... and refuses to be ignored.

Xander King is the ultimate "holy" deception. As the son of the city's most famous Bishop, he's royalty in a three-piece suit. On Sunday mornings, he's the perfect heir to the pulpit. But when the sun goes down, the suit comes off, and the King of the streets comes out to play. Xander doesn't just run the city's underground-he owns it. He's got the money, the power, and a line of women who know better than to ask for his heart. Then there's Charity. She's the girl who just traded her old life for a Bible and a fresh start. She's trying to be "good," and when she looks at Xander, she sees a man who's just as lost as she used to be. She thinks she can save him. She thinks his cold stares are just a shield for a broken soul. But Xander isn't looking to be saved. He's fighting a war on every front: his father's impossible expectations, a past that won't stay buried, and the dangerous pull he feels toward a girl who's too pure for his world. When a body drops and a murder investigation hits too close to the church, the polished mask starts to slip. Charity is about to find out that the man she's falling for isn't a misunderstood saint-he's the devil in the front row. In this city, the only thing more dangerous than a sinner is someone Unholy.

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄....

𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐘 | SLOW BURNED ASF. " A rare and nearly obsolete word meaning 'the act of loving in return' or 'loving someone in the same degree'. " 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 © 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐄. (not edited).

A mom who has alexithymia is raising an autistic toddler. Ashauri had never known what happiness truly meant until she fell pregnant with her beautiful son, Cashton. Sadly, after she gave birth, the happiness she once felt went away and her life went back to being empty emotionally. With her son being autistic, Ashauri is relieved she doesn't have to fake a smile or make her voice higher than normal to give off the impression she's in a good mood. Her son couldn't tell the difference. Despite the rumors, Ashauri and Cashton's bond is like no other; they understand one another better than most. A simple glance can either make or break their decision on whether to continue whatever it is that has their attention. The two didn't depend on words because neither of them enjoyed talking. Apathetic: having or showing little or no emotion; indifferent. Alexithymia is when a person has difficulty experiencing, identifying, and expressing emotions. Intermittent explosive disorder involves repeated, sudden episodes of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts in which you react grossly out of proportion to the situation. -

On his planet, women don't choose, they're chosen. When a male claims a life partner, it is final. Permanent. Absolute. Belle, a university student, travels to this uncharted world for research. But she's unprepared for Thraxos, the towering, pale-blue warrior who rules with unchallenged strength and sees her as the one thing he's been missing. He's never chosen a life partner. Never needed one. Until her. But Thraxos doesn't love the way humans do. His affection is possession. His protection is control. And Belle's fire only draws him closer. Now, caught in a place where her voice means little and her body is his to claim, Belle must decide: resist the darkness, or surrender to the one male she was never meant to survive.

He came from the city. A border patrol captain turned palace guard, hand-picked for his skill and precision. He didn't come looking for trouble, but the moment Maelrik saw Sharhira, the sister of the most feared male on the planet, he knew he would have her. Wanting her was one thing. Claiming her was another. Thraxos would destroy any male who touched her without earning the right. So Maelrik waited. Watched. Worked. Every promotion, every fight won, every hour spent under the sun training , all to prove he was worthy. When he finally earned Thraxos's respect, Maelrik wasted no time spilling his blood in the temple, declaring Sharhira his life partner before the gods. Once she belongs to him, there's no going back. Life partners are forever, and because no one can undo that bond, she is his. To rule, to control, and to keep.

Ashima has dreamed of space exploration her entire life. Finally embarking on her first mission, her excitement turns to terror when she crash lands on a planet of ice. Alone and ill-equipped to survive in such harsh terrain, Ashima is found near death by a 7 foot tall alien with lavender skin. Will he be the savior she needs, or is she destined for destruction on this planet who's residents' hearts seem to be made of ice as solid as the planet she found them on? Note: This story is meant to be enjoyable for any age, but there are moments of physical abuse and there are times where the main character remembers the events of her spaceship crash. There is no specific warning for these chapters within the book.

"I made the decision to cheat on my wife because I liked the way you made me feel vulnerable and comfortable enough to open up to you the night before it happened. I ain't never did shit like that before and that's what made it easy for me to choose to risk everything I got for you." "That shit probably not a big deal to you but a nigga like me ain't never opened up to nobody but my best friend-and still..that's rare. I hate even talking about her with you but I don't even feel comfortable talking to Ariana about my feelings 'cause I know she gon' judge me. You don't make me feel like that."

"I got you something." He told her pulling away, while she watched him curiously until he pulled out a pandora bag. Her eyes widened at the necklace with an infinity symbol in crested with small little diamonds. "How you even afford this kari?" She questioned, unable to take her eyes off of it. "Shit, my savings." He rubbed the back of his head that possessed his starter loc twists. "That was so nice of you, you didn't have too." She smiled softly finally looking at him, "Can you put it on me?" He stood behind her and she moved her hair out of the way as he put it around her neck and clipped it back together. Her hand immediately went to it. "I'm never gone take it off." She promised him turning to face him. "I love you kari." "I love you too, hone. Til Infinity." --- When an unfortunate sequence of events suddenly separates two bestfriends, Dakari and Honesty, with no plausible reason, it's shakes up the world of the two inseparable individuals. With no goodbyes shared, Dakari was left feeling alone and heartbroken by the sudden disappearance of the only person outside of family that he cared for deeply. The outside world declared Dakari mad at the world, and he didn't think he could ever get over the missing void created by her absence. When honesty finds herself back where it all began, she discovers the hard way that Dakari no longer wants anything to do with her. The unexpected reunion rekindles unbearable memories of their deep connection and the painful separation that slowly but surely leads them back to each other. It's up to them to pick up the pieces of their broken friendship as they confront their past and face what's in store for their future, whether it's together or apart. They must decide if their love is strong enough to hurdle over the obstacles sent their way from every angle. Is true love worth fighting for no matter how long it takes? Published; Dec 24th, 2023 Finished; July 3rd, 2024