Malika Danai is pressure. Friendly, social, and loved by all, Malika thrives in college and is often seen as a mirage - seemingly real and attainable but disappears when approached. She's a party girl to the core. Loves to drink, flirt, and explore with her best friends, Ayana and Isabella. Her beauty is undeniable. With curly black hair cascading over her shoulders and golden-brown skin that glows no matter where she's at, Malika's presence is impossible to ignore. Her dark brown eyes often sparks with mischief, and her full two-toned lips often curves into teasing grins that hints at secrets she rarely shares. Malika excels at a lot of things but she was never the study type. She prayed the night before exams and hoped that her grades would at least give her a passing score and somehow, that always worked. Until now... Her grades are barely holding on- good enough to pass, but not good enough for a sorority like the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA). She wants to join. No she needs to. It's the only way she can prove to her mother that she's worth it. And she'll do whatever it takes. Even if it means casting her pride aside to get help from the boy who loathes her existence. Meanwhile... Theo Sinclair is a weapon. An academic weapon that nobody can beat. Coming from an old money family where the expectations and bars are set high, Theo surpasses them all and is often pushed towards greatness by his family. Yet he has a big flaw: boredom. Because of his uncaring attitude towards everything and everyone around him, Theo is often alone. Deliberately avoiding attention and validation from peers; he thrives in the silence and rhythm of his own scheduled routines. He has only one rule; 'Never let myself feel things I can't control.' To him, parties are ratchet and vile. An enigma vastly contrasting his reverence for solitude, silence, and carefully ordered thoughts. So when he's pushed into an unwanted arrangement, he resents the intrusion because slowly, his rule...

In 1942, James 'Jamie' Ross's life seems perfect-he has a promising career, an approved engagement to a beautiful woman, and his parents' blessings. However, after a fight leaves him injured, he finds himself under the care of Olivia Townsend, a nurse at the only colored hospital in their small Alabama town. Despite societal norms, Jamie and Olivia form a deep connection that transcends racial boundaries. As their friendship blossoms into a forbidden romance, both must confront the prejudices of their time and decide whether their love is worth risking everything they've ever known for.

𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 Started: August 20th, 2023 Published: July 20th 2024 Unpublished: May 30th, 2026 Republished: August 20th, 2026 ⚠️𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫⚠️ ​Please read carefully before proceeding. ​While this novel is set within a dangerous, high-stakes syndicate world, it is not a Dark Romance. The love story at its core is built on a different foundation; however, the world these characters inhabit is unforgiving, emotionally heavy, and deeply complex. ​The characters in this book are intentionally flawed and profoundly human. They lie, they break, they fight, and they make devastating mistakes. To honour their journeys, this story explores heavy emotional stakes and dark themes. ​⚠️𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 & 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬​⚠️ ​This book is intended for mature audiences and contains explicit content, including: ​Violence: Scenes of descriptive physical torture and syndicate warfare. ​Content: Explicit sexual content. ​Mental Health & Trauma: Graphic discussions and themes of trauma, mental health struggles, and mentions of suicide. ​Religion & Belief Systems: Exploration of religious trauma, incorporating elements and themes related to Catholicism, Jewish traditions, and atheism. ​Social Themes: Depictions of systemic misogyny ​Reader Discretion is Strongly Advised. Please prioritize your mental and emotional well-being before deciding to step into the world of Trust & Betrayal. 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤#1 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. (𝐂𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝

"You belong right here, Elysia. Not in New York with Julian, or out somewhere in the city galavanting around with Andrew, or anywhere near Canelley," He mumbled against a fresh mark on the base of my neck. "Right here, nowhere else." For two years Elysia Leal and Salvatore Grant's relationship had been strictly professional. She ran his errands and he ran his business. That is, until, a situation at work puts them in an awkward position causing the lines in their relationship to blur and feelings to ensue.

He took a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving hers. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words, heavy with the weight of their forced connection. Elara felt a strange pull towards him, a dark fascination that both terrified and intrigued her. She was caught in his web, a moth drawn to a flame, even though she knew it would burn her. And in the depths of his stormy eyes, she saw a reflection of her own fear, and a hint of something else... something that looked disturbingly like desire. The storm raged outside, mirroring the tempest brewing within her. Her life, she knew, was about to change irrevocably #romance

"You deserved a real man to protect you and take care of you." Mm. So much for that. "How could I have done that sitting behind bars?" He takes my face in his hands. "There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't think about you, baby." I close my eyes as a tear drops down my cheek that he gradually wipes away with his thumb. "I've missed you so much, Leila." He says in a deep raspy tone. His lips hungrily fall to mine. They feel so foreign yet so warm and familiar. Both of us fighting for dominance as our tongues twirl against each other. My breathing hikes and I can't help but feel the wine taking over my body as I drape myself over his lap. I need him so bad right now. He starts biting little trails down my neck, getting close enough to one of my sweet spots. I push off him, and rising to my feet. "Nah. I don't believe you." Backing away from him. He returns a confused look. "Lei-." "If you missed me, you would've reached out to me." He finally stands. Sticking both his hands in his pockets. "One year you've been out. What the fuck have you been doing all this time?" I yell. He takes a step forward. Ting. Both of our eyes cut to the elevator. There's a loud drunken screech, "Damiannnn!" Who the fuck is this bitch??

Eva Graham is a guarded, no-nonsense social science major who studies human behavior to understand why people leave-and how to make sure she never lets the wrong ones in. She keeps to herself, avoids drama, and especially avoids campus athletes, whom she considers walking red flags. Cole Grayson is a third-year psychology major, a cocky ice hockey star with a grin that disarms and a fanbase full of puck bunnies. While everyone sees him coasting, Cole's under constant pressure-trying to go pro, balancing school, and keeping up a charming front to hide just how much he's cracking underneath. When Cole starts slipping in class, he's assigned a tutor: Eva. Neither is thrilled. She thinks he's a loud, lazy distraction. He calls her "Teach" just to get under her skin-she responds by calling him "Skates," with just the right amount of disdain. What begins as bickering soon turns into banter... then something softer. The nicknames stick, becoming a quiet thread that ties them together as friends-and maybe more. Cole falls first. Hard. Eva, scared of being hurt and shaped by people who've left before, fights it. Still, she agrees to go to one of his games-just once. But seeing him on the ice, in his world, adored yet somehow still alone, shifts everything. Then the bet surfaces. A stupid, careless thing made before he really knew her-and it threatens to destroy everything they've built. Surrounded by puck bunnies stirring drama, teammates with their own loyalties, and a past Eva isn't ready to share, the fragile trust between them begins to crack. Between jealousy, late-night confessions, and moments where one look says everything, Eva and Cole must decide: is love worth risking it all-even if it started with a bet, a nickname, and everything going wrong?

𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚛, 𝚜𝚘 𝙸 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬 : 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐂 September 27th, 2013 an infection took over the world. Twenty years later, a young girl is immune. Ruth doesn't expect her life to turn more upside down than it already has, but then her fourteen-year old niece shows up with a bite mark on her arm with no sign of infection. A rebellion, The Fireflies, think the teen's immunity could be the key to a vaccine. Despite Ruth's feelings, they decide it's worth a shot. Two smugglers agree to escort the aunt and niece to the Capital Building in Boston. When things go array, Joel quickly learns this is more than he signed up for. A story of loss, heartbreak, and love. Warning: There is an 18 year age-gap between Joel and my OC. If age-gaps make you uncomfortable, I would avoid this story. This is also based off the video game and NOT the tv show. #1 rated in tlou : 9-12-22, 11-03-22 #1 rated in thelastoufus : 9-13-22 #4 rated in videogames : 10-12-22 *I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE LAST OF US. ONLY MY OC RUTH AND MY ORIGINAL IDEAS*

sori moves to seoul for dance quiet, focused, alone. then she meets ni-ki. distant, unreadable, and far too captivating. in a story of late-night practices, silent glances, and slow steps toward something unknown, sori begins to realize that maybe dance isn't the only thing she came here to find.