State of Affairs ⚖︎ "You missed a talking point on page four, Governor," I said, sliding the briefing file across his heavy mahogany desk. Tennyson didn't look at the file. His dark eyes stayed locked on my mouth, completely devoid of the golden-man charm he'd just fed to a crowd of thousands. "Lock the door, Milan," he murmured, his voice low and exhausted. "You have a press briefing in ten minutes, sir. And your wife is waiting in the lobby." He stepped around the desk, invading my space until the scent of cedar and expensive bourbon swallowed me whole. His hand brushed my waist, his thumb pressing possessively against my hip. "I don't care," he breathed, his facade finally shattering. "Lock the damn door." 🏛️ To the world, 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐬 is untouchable. He is the state's golden man, a devoted husband, and a man with a spotless reputation. Everyone worships the ground he walks on. Everyone except his executive assistant, 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐚. Milan has a strict two-year plan: survive the Governor's temper, secure her recommendation letter, and catch a one-way flight to Washington, D.C. Her job description: hand him his black coffee, fix his crooked ties, and treat the most powerful man in the state like a normal human being. But her immunity is exactly what breaks him. Behind the heavy oak doors of his office, Tennyson sheds his perfect mask. He is cynical, ruthless, and spiraling into a dark, desperate obsession with the only woman who doesn't want anything from him. He becomes addicted to her warmth and slowly to her. As late nights at the office blur into a secret arrangement, Milan thinks she has the situation under control. But she doesn't know that Tennyson's public life is a PR lie. She doesn't know that the Governor has absolutely no intention of letting her go. 'Cause what the Governor needs, the Governor gets.

In a city driven by performance, two people at the top of their game are quietly starving for something real. Odessa Young is an international model tired of being treated like a trophy. Phoenix Caruso is a brilliant New York chef burned out by the cost of perfection. When a pair of disastrous blind dates pushes Odessa into Phoenix's empty restaurant after hours, an unexpected midnight refuge turns into a late-night game of pool, chili-butter sourdough, and raw, unvarnished truth. What starts as a quiet escape quickly blossoms into a life-changing romance. But as industry demands, personal loss, and sudden turns pull them far beyond Manhattan, Odessa and Phoenix are swept onto a journey across cultures and continents, learning that true resilience isn't about standing alone, but having the courage to rebuild together.

Imani arrives at Blackthorn University determined to honor her late mother's legacy. But beneath the pride, tradition, and prestige of the historic HBCU lies a centuries-old darkness. As she embarks on the journey to pledge an elite Greek organization, she discovers that some legacies demand more than loyalty, they demand blood.

❝ i'm not hiding anymore, i'm free. ❞ teagan pierce is a driven and ambitious surgical intern at seattle grace, determined to prove herself in the world of surgery while navigating the complexities of hospital life. maleoc x femoc lowercase intended january 20 - ongoing

A Maya and Tony Story

Damn, college really is the best part of yo life. Especially at an HBCU.

In Savannah, Georgia Elle Sinclair, a refined Black debutante, and Luke O'Connor, a rugged White mechanic, come from two different worlds destined to remain apart. But when a chance encounter brings them together, their forbidden romance sparks a love connection that challenges them for the unexpected.

Book 2 of Committed

"Our love was a case we both lost." When a brilliant lawyer and her ruthless prosecutor husband turn their marriage into the most brutal case they've ever fought, love becomes the one verdict neither of them can win-or walk away from. *** Naomi Carter is a fiercely intelligent lawyer with a near-perfect winning streak of 97% cases won. The only times she ever loses is to her husband. She's sharp, controlled, and commanding in the courtroom, but behind closed doors, she hides a woman who's never truly learned how to love. Nathaniel Carter is a ruthless prosecutor, relentless in his pursuit of justice, and impossible to read. Driven by a fierce need for control, he struggles to keep his own life from unraveling. He's the one man who knows his wife's weaknesses and exploits them with a quiet intensity, stirring both her frustration and desire. Their marriage is a constant battleground, scarred by a shared tragedy neither can overcome. Join these two broken souls as they fight to protect themselves while craving the one thing they fear most: each other. *** #1 in bwwm #1 in eroticromance #1 in blackwoman #1 in enemies #1 in grief #1 in childloss #1 in pregnancy #1 in brokenmarriage #1 in loverstoenemies #1 in darkromance #2 in mentalhealth #2 in enemiestolovers #1 in romance #1 in secondchanceromance

Dejah Champagne has always believed sweetness solves everything until the Santiago name walks through the doors of her bakery. Tony Santiago isn't just any customer. He's a mechanic with oil on his hands, a kingpin with weight on his shoulders, and the last man she should ever let close. Their families' blood runs thick with betrayal, and everyone in their world knows the two names don't mix. But Tony keeps coming back. For cupcakes, for chai... for her. His quiet persistence chips away at Dejah's resolve until one yes changes everything. What begins as a dangerous flirtation soon unravels into something deeper, something Dejah never thought she could feel. Yet love is never simple when loyalty is a battlefield. When Dejah's family discovers the truth and Tony's fear of commitment collides with the weight of his empire, they'll both have to decide: is their bond strong enough to survive the sins of their families, or will history tear them apart for good? Sweet meets street, sugar meets steel, and nothing will ever taste the same.