In the heart of Sterling Heights, where high school drama reigns supreme, two classmates find themselves locked in a battle of wits and wills. Alex and Ryan couldn't be more different or so it seems. On the surface, they're sworn enemies, constantly at each other's throats and competing for the top spot in everything from grades to sports. But beneath the fiery exchanges and icy glares, lies a secret that neither is willing to admit.
Both Alex and Ryan are hiding their true selves, concealing their bisexuality from a world that wouldn't understand. But a drunken one-night stand shatters the facade, bringing their hidden desires to the surface. As tensions rise and the lines between hate and desire blur, their rivalry takes a steamy turn. Late-night study sessions and unexpected encounters ignite a passionate fire they can't ignore. Every argument is charged with an undercurrent of attraction, every touch leaves them wanting more.
In a world where their love is forbidden and their desire is dangerous, Alex and Ryan must navigate the stormy seas of their emotions. Will their secrets bring them closer together, or tear them apart forever? Find out in "Intimate Conflicts," a sizzling enemies-to-lovers tale that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.
"I always thought I was the ocean, you know?
Always reaching for things I can't have.
Always crashing into people who don't want me back.
The moon pulls.
The ocean follows.
Even when it hurts."
"You don't have to, Noah. Why can't you stay?
Why can't the ocean stay with the shore?"
***
Noah Reed has spent years trying to outrun the boy he used to be-
the one who froze under his father's fists,
the one who kissed a stranger under the stars
and watched him disappear.
When Noah and his mother escape their violent home and move to Novacrest, he's prepared to rebuild quietly: new school, new friends, a job at a café, and maybe-finally-something like peace. Milo, the sweet, steady football player who keeps showing up for him, feels like exactly that.
Until Noah sees him.
Eli Blake.
Quarterback. Golden boy. Untouchable.
And the first boy Noah ever kissed.
Eli acts like he doesn't remember him at all.
But his eyes say something else-fear, anger, longing, something sharp enough to cut.
Thrown together for a biology project, their old summer-camp secret forces its way back, tearing open every wound Noah has tried to bury. And just when Noah's heart begins leaning toward Milo, Eli breaks through his defenses... and kisses him again.
Now the past is unraveling, the truth is clawing its way out, and Noah has to choose between the boy who makes him feel safe and the boy who makes him feel seen.
Because oceans don't choose what pulls them.
But Noah has to-
before he breaks apart for good.
Book One in the Ocean & Moon series.