Damien Stryker is a ruthless billionaire, but when Serena Mclane is forced to marry him, she hopes to find the mercy behind his cold eyes and strong hands. ****** Damien Stryker, a domineering billionaire, is someone you don't want to get close to. Unfortunately for Serena Mclane, she doesn't have much of a choice. Always at the mercy of her family's name and legacy, Serena has to do as her father says. So when her father forces her into an arranged marriage with the one and only Damien Stryker: the truth comes out. Secrets are unveiled, and love starts to bloom. [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]]

Mari Hansen ran away from home at 15 not being able to stand her radically religious family anymore and was desperate to be nothing like them which lead her to living on the streets subjecting herself to drugs, alcohol and prostitution going down a road straight to an early death when her pregnancy saved her life. Clean and sober since then, she would do anything to provide for her even if it's selling her body to do that. She went from the bad streets where she was beat up to an agency for high priority clients. Now 24 with a 7 year old daughter she wants out of the life she's known nearly 10 years so she can do anything else, already knowing that one day her daughter would have to know the truth. So she studies while Lalexia is at school when she gets a new client that her boss thought only she could handle. Shawn Sorci left home as soon as he could and never went back. He was off to basic right after graduation. He dedicated his life to the Army and in 9 years he had served a good portion of that overseas. He volunteered for deployments and his leadership qualities shone through as he was promoted to Sergeant First Class shortly before his latest deployment, which he didn't know could possibly be his last. Part way in they were ambushed and he was lucky to make it out with a couple gunshot wounds while some of his men never made it out. Now on medical leave while he recovers he's irritable, frustrated, angry and not wanting to admit he was suffering from PTSD. He needed to let off some steam and that's where Mari come in. He didn't want some fake experience because he really didn't care so when he tells her to speak her mind she becomes the most infuriating and sarcastic woman he's ever met, putting him in his place on many occasions much to his amusement. For once in his life he feels a fierce protectiveness for someone other than for the men he served with but she wants nothing to do with that, to her he's a client and nothing else.

[highest ranking in romance - #3] [highest ranking in teen fiction - #19] "You've built your walls so high no one can climb them. But I'm gonna try." ❧ Lauren Gates is an eighteen year old girl whose past has left her with major trust issues and has caused her to shut out socializing from her life completely. But when she moves with her aunt to a new state, everything starts to change. Logan Williams is popular, good-looking, and determined to help Lauren break out of the shell she's been hiding in for the past three years - no matter what it takes. Somewhere along the way, her feelings for Logan start to develop into something more than she expected. But can she really learn to let go and allow herself to feel this way? Or will she keep holding on to the past?