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The warm salty breeze that blew in from the coast filled Matt's mind with nostalgia. This was the smell and feel of his childhood. Gazing at a small beach house colored a light teal, he could remember playing here during summertime visits to his grandmother. She had sadly died when he was a junior in high school but the joy of those days remained in his heart. He was now back at this familiar place because he was just starting college. His parents' place was two hours north of the campus so he could pay through the nose to live in a dorm or stay at the Beach House, as the family called it, which was only a twenty-minute drive away. Matt had naturally chosen the house that came with furniture, internet, privacy, and access to the water. Letting out a breath smiled and began unloading his belongings.
The warm salty breeze that blew in from the coast filled Matt's mind with nostalgia. This was the smell and feel of his childhood. Gazing at a small beach house colored a light teal, he could remember playing here during summertime visits to his grandmother. She had sadly died when he was a junior in high school but the joy of those days remained in his heart. He was now back at this familiar place because he was just starting college.
His parents' place was two hours north of the campus so he could pay through the nose to live in a dorm or stay at the Beach House, as the family called it, which was only a twenty-minute drive away. Matt had naturally chosen the house that came with furniture, internet, privacy, and access to the water. Letting out a breath smiled and began unloading his belongings.
The Beach House was small and only had a large main room, one bedroom, one bathroom, and a kitchen. The couches could fold out for guests and there was a three-walled garage, though it was more like a shed. His parents had renovated the place after his grandmother died and had been using it as a rental though they had kindly lent the space to him so long as he stayed focused on school. Once he got all his stuff situated he couldn't help smiling and headed to the bedroom. He stripped off his clothes and stood nude before a tall mirror. He observed his large but tone body, his well-defined six pack, and study pecs. He appeared more athletic than bulky, and his muscular development was in line with a swimmer who went to the gym regularly. He stared into his sea green eyes and toyed with his salty blond hair. His hands momentarily went to his dick that was lip though still a couple of inches long. He had good genes but his last relationship ended with his girlfriend doing drugs and cheating on him. Since then a few months had passed and he was itching for a friend or lover to vent his built-up libido. Still, at the moment he had other ideas and turned away before throwing on some swim trunks. He exited the back of the house and navigated a rocky path that led through a wooded thicket. The Beach House was small but the plot it stood on was rather large. Most of the area was taken up by tall trees but by following this trail one would arrive at a hidden shore. It was a hidden beach covered in soft sand and led out to an ocean of warm water. Matt smiled as he arrived here and waited out into the water letting happy memories fill his mind. --- After three months of living here, Matt had fully adapted to his new life. He studied hard and played hard and when he got tired he could always retreat to his own private beach. He had slowly dug out the family's fishing equipment and paddle boards and could entertain himself for hours. Like so he was paddle boarding back from an adventure along the coast when a loud voice rang, "Hey, it's you." Matt was startled by this and lost his balance plunging into the water. He surfaced, coughing up sea water while rubbing the salt from his eyes. After looking around he found the source of the voice. A lean girl with a skin tone akin to caramel, her ethnicity seemed to be Hawaiian mixed with something that added sharpness to her eyes and strength to her limbs. All in all, her appearance gave off a kind of universal beauty that caused one's mind to go blank. Matt's eyes looked her up and down taking in her long legs, curved thighs, slim belly, and round boobs held up in a swim top. Her hair was black and silky while her eyes were a soft brown. Her face was contorted as she tried not to laugh though soon she couldn't help it. Matt was thankful for the water that submerged his lower body which helped keep him from growing hard at the sight of her. Taking the time while she laughed to mentally recover from her surprise and hot figure, Matt managed to put on a straight face. He clung to his paddle board and snapped a bit flustered and angry, "What was that for?" The girl recovered from laughing and retorted assertively, "I just wanted to say hi, I don't think you'd panic." Matt grew a bit angrier at this and retorted, "I didn't panic, you surprised me." Looking around and frantically thinking of a comeback he added, "Where did you even come from, I know everyone around here." The girl looked at him with playful eyes and made a dismissive hand gesture, "I'm renting a place with my friends up the street. I just moved in a week ago." She then grew more focused as she gave off the aura of someone used to being in charge, "You have Ms. Dodds calculus class Mondays and Tuesdays right." Matt was startled by this but responded cautiously, "It's Calculus III but yah, you're not a stalker are you." The stranger laughed again then answered, "I'm not a stalker, I have Ms. Dodds for calculus the period after yours. I've seen you leave her room." She then looked him over and added, "Calc III is pretty high up there, you seem a bit buff for a math nut." Matt got back onto his board and stood up quickly while responding, "I need the class for my major. I'm studying mechanical engineering." Glancing at her figure again he flirted, "You don't look bad yourself for a..." He paused, then asked, "What's your major?" The girl smiled and giggled into a hand before responding, "I'm pre-nursing, though I want to be a Nurse Practitioner." She used her paddle to get their boards side by side, "By the way, my name's Jasmin." Matt smiled and nodded curiously, "I'm Matt, nice to meet you." Not wanting to lose his momentum he offered, "Since you're new to the area I could show you around if you like." Jasmin's eyes lit up and she nodded, "That sounds great." Then with a bit of a teasing tone added, "But what's in it for you." Matt's smile grew a bit snarky as he responded, "A great view." Jasmin rolled her eyes at this and retorted, "You sure are honest." Matt shrugged at this, responding, "I try to be." He then pointed to a way down the shore, "If you head that way you get to the boat ramp. It's probably the nearest restroom while out on the water." Jasmin perked up at this and the two began to paddle and talk. The subject matter varied from information about the neighborhood to school-stuff. Matt expressed how his classes were hard but that he was surviving. Jasmin on the other hand confessed she was doing well in everything but math. They chatted about the ocean and their history with it. Matt and how he grew up near the beach and always loved to swim while Jasmin was a Hawaiian native. By the time they had circled back to where they had started almost an hour had passed though it felt like much less. Matt had just finished a funny story about a mousetrap, a jar of peanut butter, and a rat; causing Jasmine to laugh. She whipped her eyes and asked, "Are you always this funny?" Matt feigned bravado and responded, "My humor shares an exponential relationship with the cuteness of the girl I'm talking to." Jasmin laughed again and jabbed back, "You sure know how to flirt." She then became more assertive and serious, "But who says I don't already have a boyfriend." Matt shrugged inwardly, loathing this idea. Jasmin was not only super hot but also fun to be around. She was definitely a bit spiked around the edges but he liked her fiery spirit. He responded, " Now that would be a shame. Still, I'd rather have a hot friend than a hot nobody." Jasmin considered this and responded, "That's actually kind of sweet." Matt smiled at this as a moment of eye contact passed before she looked away. He asked, "So... Do you have a boyfriend." Jasmin looked back at him with a calculating gaze before answering firmly, "No." After a moment of pause where Matt was going to jump in she then added, "And I'm not looking for one. I want to focus on school right now." She eyed Matt to evaluate his response, he clicked his tongue and let out a groan. "Aug, all you hot girls are either taken, lesbians, or bussy." Jasmin snorted, trying to hold back a laugh before recovering and countering, "That may be true. But I find it hard to believe a guy like you can't find himself a girlfriend." Matt nodded at this before answering, "It's a matter of quantity vs quality." Looking at Jasmin flirtatiously he added, "I have some high standards. I'd rather wait for the right girl than just waste my time on relationships that aren't going anywhere." Jasmin swallowed and blushed a little, not expecting such a response before responding in a slightly distracted tone, "Good luck with that." Matt focused his eyes on her and commented, "No worries, I'll keep you well informed." Jasmin's blush deepened and she snapped, "Are you always such a playboy." Matt laughed at this and responded, "Not at all, I'm actually making quite the effort." Jasmin snorted and looked away from him, "Well it's not working." Matt sighed exasperatedly though felt his heart pounding with playful excitement. Something about Jasmin really brought out his inner personality. She stimulated his brain and made him want to make her laugh. Similarly, Jasmin found herself struggling to suppress her fluttering heart. Matt was both funny enough to keep her laughing and assertive enough to keep her on her toes. Being with him was fun. He was honest about liking her but not over the top, a refreshing change from guys who either only stared at her or came on too hard. Even when she pushed him away he didn't get irritated but stayed at a comfortable distance and continued to play. He seemed to respect her feelings though he also made his stance clear. It was incredibly attractive. At the same time, his body made her want to drool. She could only imagine what it would feel like for a stud like him to have his way with her. His strong body moved against her. His arms holding her tight, his hands on her curves, his breath in her ear. In high school, she had discovered the joys of sex but her classmates either weren't interested or weren't impressive. She could always have her pick of boys with her looks but in the end, they fell short either skill-wise or personality-wise. Either way, she had promised herself she was going to focus on college and not boys when she moved and was dedicated to sticking to that promise. After a few moments of silence, Matt pointed to the wooded shore and commented, "Hey, want to see something cool." Jasmin met his eye and teased, "You're not going to kidnap me are you." Responded with equal humor he said, "That's no fun, I like the thrill of the hunt." He winked and Jasmin rolled her eyes, "Fine, show me." They paddled on over to Matt's hidden beach, obscured from the water by draping foliage and a turn in the land. Once the sand was in sight he gestured and said, "This is my place but it has one of the only beaches around." Jasmin was excited by the sight of the beach though retorted teasingly, "So you tricked me into coming to your place, how typical." Matt smiled and responded in kind, "Oh don't mistake me for a gentleman, my intentions are not pure." Jasmin laughed a bit while Matt got off his board and walked onto the beach adding, "Feel free to stop here for breaks, people in the neighborhood come by all the time." Jasmin dismounted and made it to the shore as well commenting, "That's very kind of you." Matt picked up his board and leaned it on a tree while answering, "It's what my grandmother wanted, this used to be her place till she passed." Jasmin grew sympathetic and responded, "Oh, I'm sorry." Matt waved dismissively, "Don't worry about it, that was a couple of years ago. She was at peace." He grabbed a towel from a tree branch and tossed it to his new friend while calling, "You can use that." Jasmin caught it and wrapped it around her shoulders, obscuring her figure and feeling touched. At the same time, she took in the smell of the towel which consisted of salt, sweat, and pheromones. She responded, "Thanks." For a while, she looked around this hidden cove fascinated by it while Matt talked about its history. After a while, he gestured to the rocky path and said, "That leads to the house. We can stop by if you want a drink or something." Jasmin looked ready to agree but her waterproof smart watch suddenly let out a series of dinging sounds. She check the time and looked surprised blurting, "Fuck, I'm going to be late." Matt was worried for her and asked, "Late for what?" Jasmin returned to her paddle board and responded quickly, "My friends and I were going to get our nails done. They're going to kill me." Matt nodded considering and offered, "Hey, I could drive you back. It'll be faster than paddling." Jasmin looked surprised again but recovered and nodded quickly. "Yes, please." Matt smiled, "No problem, you get the board and I'll get the keys." They raced off together and in less than two minutes were In Matt's car. He handed her a cold bottle of water he had grabbed in passing and commented, "Got you this." Jasmin felt touched and quickly took off the lid, responding, "Thank you so much." She chugged the refreshing beverage while Matt stood to drive, responding, "I'm happy to. We're neighbors now and plus..." He glared at her and finished, "Who wouldn't help a hottie in distress." Jasmin blushed and almost choked on the water before growling out, "Eyes on the road buddy." Her place ended up only being a three-minute drive away and once they arrived she shouted, "Thanks for everything." Matt smiled and responded, "Anytime. How about we get lunch sometime?" Jasmin was half out the door and blurted, "I don't have time to talk." She jolted off as Matt called, "See you at school." Jasmin looked back and waved, "See you at school." Matt smiled to himself and drove back home and it was only after he had parked that he realized Jasmin had taken his towel with her. It wasn't gone long, the next morning when he was leaving for school he found it on his door with a note. On it was a neatly drawn phone number and a line that read, 'Let's plan that date.' --- For the next month, they saw each other at school and texted each other. Though both grew disgruntled with how little a text message could convey. Eventually, they scheduled lunch at a time that worked for both their busy school days. The instant chemistry they had felt when they first met was still there and soon the two were laughing happily. They talked about life and how Matt wanted to design 3D printers. Jasmin expressed her dream of having her own small practice. They found out they both liked classic rock as well as Syfy-movies. After a while, Matt got bold enough to ask, "I have to ask, why don't you want to date anybody right now. You seem to have everything under control." Jasmin sighed at this and began to respond, "I want to focus on school..." She was cut off at this point as Matt asked, "Aside from that, you don't seem to be struggling in your classes to me." Jasmin felt conflicted but then responded, "Fine, I'll tell you my reason if you tell me yours." Matt considered this and answered, "Fair enough. I've just been busy and looking for the right girl. My last girlfriend kind of gut-punched me, so I'm looking for something more real." Jasmin became intrigued and asked, "Ooo, what did she do?" Matt sighed at this and said, "She got into drugs and I wasn't down for that. After a while we didn't click and then she cheated on me." Jasmin looked surprised and responded, "I can't believe anyone would cheat on you." Matt shrugged at this, "She said she was high at the time but I had had enough." Jasmin nodded at this, "Good move." Matt smiled then eyed her like a predator, "Your turn." She looked resistant but after Matt raised an eyebrow gave in, "Fine but you won't like it." She composed herself but inwardly felt worried, not wanting to put off such a great guy. Still, she knew it was better to get this out of the way early so she began, "In high school, I slept around a bit." Matt's eye went big and she quickly added, "They were boyfriends but each only lasted like a month. I was insecure and curious at the time." She thought about it feeling regret and added, "Stupid too." She took in a breath and went on, "I got tired of that, tired of being unhappy. I'm trying to turn a new leaf." Jasmin felt miserable on the inside knowing she had just put her foot in something that could have been amazing. Matt was so nice, funny, and charming. He was a perfect guy both personality-wise and body wise in her eyes. Now she knew he would see her differently, not a hottie in distress but a slut. Waiting for a change in tone or chastisement she was surprised to hear his voice full of vigor, "Hey, good for you." She looked up and saw his eyes glow with admiration, "It really takes a lot to change yourself." Jasmin blinked and couldn't help but blurt, "What?" Matt was again surprised and became a bit frazzled, "I mean it's impressive that you're so dedicated to improving yourself." Jasmin could hardly belIeve this and outright asked, "You don't think I'm slutty or dirty." Matt understood what was going on at this point and responded assertively, "Of course not, that was in the past. Plus you're trying to change, I think that's noble." He then grew sly and said, "Also it's normal to like sex and be dumb when you're a kid." His eyes flickered as he went on, "I like sex myself so who am I to judge." Jasmin's jaw dropped as Matt finished up, "In fact, if you had found a guy good enough at fucking you probably wouldn't have needed to sleep around." His eyes grew intense as he finished, "I'd be happy to fill that spot for you now." Jasmin's face went a deep shade of scarlet as her brain was filled with a mix of embarrassment, anger, and attraction. She tried to clear her head and managed to growl back, "Who'd even want to fuck with you." Matt stayed on the offensive and counted, "I was hoping you would." Jasmin's expression grew lived though he quickly added, "After a couple of dates of course. I'm in no big rush." Jasmin responded aggressively, "Fine then." She didn't realize what she was saying till she had said it and instantly felt lost. She wanted to renege but Matt quickly jumped in looking elated, "Great, guess we're dating now." Jasmin was also excited to hear this but still had too many built-up emotions. Angrily she snapped, "Guess so." Matt smiled and said, "Perfect, I've been wanting to do this for a while." He swiftly leaned over across the table and kissed her lips. She had frozen as he advanced knowing what he was after and was frozen still when he returned to his seat. With a happy expression he chimed, "Wow, your lips are soft. I could get used to that." Jasmine's brain was now awash with emotion though in the end she only managed to get out in a lost voice, "Me too." They left the cafe they were at and walked around for a bit, Matt smiling and chatting while Jasmin's brain worked over time. Once she finally analyzed everything she turned to her new boyfriend and went ballistic. For half an hour she raked him over the coals for his flirting and innuendo, his verbal subduction and trickery. It felt good to vent though most of her anger was deflected by him with flowery remarks. By the time they were about to part ways he asked, "So, ah, how long are you going to be mad at me." Jasmin retorted, "Forever." Matt feigned sadness and asked, "Can I get a kiss." Jasmin shook her head so he tried again, "A hug." Jasmin wanted to say no feeling defensive but then realized she had agreed to date him. It was truly a wonderful but frightening idea. Deciding to remain hopeful she nodded, "You can have a hug." He approached her happily and wrapped his muscular arms around her frame. He could feel her breasts and soft body press up against his chest causing him to shiver. Jasmin likewise felt excited by his strong and warm embrace. She could feel his muscles and wished she could run her hands over them.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Sequel to chasing my estranged wife; I want you back. ******** " You promised me!'' I screamed. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt me, you made the vows that you would stand beside me, Ryan, and what did you do? You broke me into smithereens. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. When I said we were done. I meant it!" Falling in love with him had come in a whirlwind, she couldn't account for how exactly it had happened but what she knew was that she didn't want to let go once she was in. For Ryan, when he made a vow, he had meant it, but nothing had told him about marriage, that it wasn't just a bed of roses, but it had thorns in it as well. When secrets piled up between them and vows broken, they had no choice but to let go of each other, but years later, he wanted her back. Like the air he breathed, he chased after her, but she was gone. Left with the remnants of his actions, he is torn between getting her back and damning all consequences or letting go of her and his children, which would it be?
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?