Since I was sixteen I've always known the kind of life I wanted for myself. I wanted the love. The peace. The happiness. The marriage. The family. The home. But sometimes life doesn't always go as planned. Instead of getting what I wanted, I got what I needed. I got lessons. I got heartbreaks that forced me to grow. I got silence that taught me how to listen to myself. I got endings that pushed me toward new beginnings. And even though it wasn't easy, every detour shaped me into the person I am today. Stronger. Wiser. More passionate about the life I'm still building. And despite all of that, I still want the love. The peace. The happiness. The marriage. The family. The home. I still want it all. Because no matter how many times life has tested me, the desire for those things has never left. It's only grown stronger. ~ Crystal

At Aurelius University, education works a little differently. For over a century, the prestigious institution has paired its students into carefully matched dominant and submissive partnerships, believing that structure, guidance, and trust help shape students into the strongest versions of themselves. When Reina Castillo, a determined biochemistry freshman, chooses to attend Aurelius against her family's wishes, she knows the Matching Ceremony will change everything. What she doesn't expect is to be paired with Matteo-the same intimidating man who found her alone in the woods the night before. Reserved, stubborn, and carrying the weight of her family on her shoulders, Reina struggles to adjust to both college life and the powerful presence of the dominant assigned to guide her. But Aurelius isn't just about academics. As the semester unfolds, Reina must learn to confront her fears, challenge her independence, and discover who she truly wants to become. This is the story of growth, trust, and the complicated journey of finding strength in yourself-sometimes with someone else guiding the way. Ongoing! Updates multiple times per week :D!

A camp for the Italian Mafia and dept to be paid. Who will Marco pick when it comes down to the next donna and the mother to his heir? What will Elaya do when she finds out her whole life was a lie, and that she had been training for this very moment? They both wish to be free, but they only seem to trap each other. ••• "So you can talk to other men but have nothing to say to me?" I asked, my jealousy bleeding into my words before I could stop it. "Yep." She shrugged again, her nonchalance like a dagger to my pride. "Elaya, I'm a greedy man," I said, my voice low and deliberate. "I don't share what's mine." "Neither do I," she said quietly, her tone soft but firm. There it was again-her fire, her defiance. It was maddening and intoxicating all at once. She continued, her voice calmer now. "But over the last four months, I've learned that life doesn't care what we want." I smirked, leaning closer, unable to resist. "You're mistaken. I always get what I want." She turned to face me fully, crossing her arms. I could feel the heat of her gaze, the challenge in her stance. "Really? And what exactly do you want, Marco?" "Isn't it obvious?" I asked, my voice dropping as I held her gaze. "I want you." ••• "You didn't tell me you were going to fucking seduce him. And then you turn off your mic so i couldn't hear anything." Her jaw tightens, but she doesn't back down. "I'm not arguing about the fact that I did my job. I did what needed to be done, and I did it well." She pauses, and her eyes narrow just slightly. "But if you want to argue, then let's talk about why you've been acting so cold to me ever since the kiss." ••• SLOW BURNNNN🔥 !!!

"You always got everybody else to worry about." Saint pulled her a little closer. "Yeah." His eyes stayed on hers. "But you the one I come home to." ⋆‧° ⋆ʚɞ⋆˚࿔ ° ⋆ Magnolia Avenue follows Sloane, an eighteen-year-old girl from Atlanta who gets sent to live with family on Magnolia Avenue after her home life falls apart. What starts as a temporary escape turns into something bigger as she gets pulled into a tight-knit neighborhood full of loyalty, secrets, street politics, and people who look out for each other. The one person she can't quite figure out is Saint, the man everybody respects, everybody knows, and nobody seems able to explain. The longer she stays, the deeper Magnolia Avenue starts feeling less like a street and more like home.

When 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 22, drops out of college after her father is sentenced to prison for a crime he swears he didn't commit, her life collapses fast...eviction notices, unpaid tuition, a mother barely holding it together. Then 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐧 appears. Late 40s. Private wealth. No digital footprint. He offers her a monthly allowance for companionship only. No sex. No exclusivity clause. No explanations. What unsettles Kailani isn't the money. It's how little she needs to explain herself because he already knows.

xavier sterling was the starboy of summit state university. he was rich, charming and fine like wine. he was no longer the dating type, he just wanted to have his fun and focus on baseball. little did he know, kaira everett-mccoy would be the girl to flip his entire world on it's side. the kicker is, they couldn't be any more different. their compatibility is put to the test when they're paired together for the project of love.

Trust the timing of everything. Just because it's not happening right now doesn't mean it never will.. Everything will come to you at the.. perfect time when timing is perfect.. | based on some true events | 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 | 𝐦𝐞, @brisbookcase ᝰ.ᐟ

"You want tater tots, I'm finna make some." Kamaria rubbed her stomach feeling hungry. "Why you say it like that?" "Say what, like how?" She questioned, raising her eye brows in confusion since she hadn't said anything out of the ordinary. "You say Ta-ter like Tay-Tah. Like Tayta." He kept his eyes trained on her, not missing how the corners of her mouth twitched trying not to smile. "Imma call you that now." He declared with a shrug. "Uhh no you ain't, and you could've just said you ain't want none." She shut it down waving him off. "Okay...Tayta." He smirked. --- Ever since a small child, Kamaria had always been the feisty middle child bringing life to every situation with her vibrant ways. She never took mess from any one, and was big on defending herself. Toting a big heart, she always saw the good in people, which had to be her best and worst trait wrapped in one. Known for her spirited ways, her life is turned upside down when one deadly night occurs. Changing her life for the worst. Samir was always the outgoing friend of his group. Known for his unapologetic attitude, he never had to feel like an outsider with his two bestfriends. Although the life of the party, Samir struggles to be contempt with living a normal teenage life, always finding himself in the middle of troubling situations. It wasn't until one fatal evening that changed his view on life, forever. Fast forward years later, brilliant and ambitious Kamaria finds herself struggling with her academic life as the trauma she has endured takes a toll on her every day life. Focused on securing her future life throws her in for another loop when the past she had been avoiding shows up with a bright smile on his face, crashing full force into her life. Being back in the presence of one another their worlds collide in a whirlwind of emotions and an undeniable connection between the two of them. Started; October 20th 2023 Published; October 22nd 2023 Finished; February 29th 2024

After moving to Chicago to start a new life, Sveya isn't looking for nothing beyond a fresh start. Between church, school, and learning how to exist without losing herself, her life feels limited...until she meets Solomon.

[EDITING] 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡... xolani and two have been best friends for a long, long time. well over a decade of inside jokes, and silences that never bothered anybody and being everything the other needed. they've survived losing each other in every way, except for one. she buried her feelings to protect what they had and he hid his for longer, quieter. and one night, he finally rips the bandaid they've been holding on to for years: 𝒊'𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈...𝒊 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅, 𝒙𝒐. loving each other was never the hard part. saying it out loud and going forward, though, is up to nobody but themselves.