I felt his lips brush against my earlobe, a soft brush that suddenly made my toes curl. His breath lingered on my neck before he finally whispered, "I own you Crystal. The sooner you get to accept that the better for you. I'll make sure you submit yourself to me, be it the hard way or the easy way. And I'll break this ego of yours. I promise you" * * * * * * He was her beast and she was his beauty. He was addicted and she was his favourite drug. He was a sinner and she was his sin. In the blink of an eye, Crystal sees her entire life crumble with the death of her parents and she is forced to take a job that she would never have thought off to make ends meet for her and her sister and pay of her gambling father's debt to a crime boss-- being a stripper. Just a glance on the doe-eyed milk skin beauty swinging her hips seductively on the pole and Leonardo already knew he had to have her as his. He had to claim her for himself. But he was everything she hated. She despised him and loathed his existence for the pain and anguish he had caused her and her sister. She swore never to succumb to him but what she didn't know was that he was also determined to show her that he would earn a place in her heart and life.
CRYSTAL
I closed my eyes nervously, exhaling and inhaling. Even though I knew I had been doing this for some weeks, my legs still felt too heavy to walk me. I had danced several times, I practice ballet and I was absolutely incredible at it but tonight I was going to be dancing as a stripper infront of men old enough to be my father.
I felt knots tie in my stomach and I wanted to puke. I wished I could be anywhere but here but I just couldn't make my wish a reality. It took every self restraint in me not to cry out in frustration and anger. Ever since our parents died months ago, it has just been only I and Mabel, my younger sister, fending for each other.
Life was extremely tough especially when we had to settle a debt of seven hundred thousand that was loaned by my gambling father from a crime boss.
When he was alive, he never brought us peace and now he was dead and we still don't have peace as we are left to cover up his disgusting tracks.
I just wondered why mum had to join him in death.
Mabel was the only family I had, I took up this job to fend for her and myself and also pay of our father's debt but time was running out and so did our anxiety increase. By the day I worked in a ballet hall with my crew, dancing decently and performing for people and by night I worked as a stripper. I had applied for so many other well paying jobs but I was never employed. Even though, I had been in this stripper occupation for weeks, I truly couldn't believe the sort of occupation I had to engage in to make ends meet and pay off my father's debt.
"Why aren't you ready yet princess?"Golden, my work colleague called out to me snapping me out of my reverie as she entered into the dressing room.
I didn't even realise I was alone in the magnificent dressing room and I wasn't also ready to do the work I had to get accustomed to.
I gave her a faint smile. "I'll soon be ready"
The red haired lady gave me a broad smile and pinched my cheek slightly. Out off all my colleagues she was the nicest.
"Look darling I know you didn't want to be in this sort of business but you just have to come to terms with it. Food ain't gonna fall from heaven you know. You got to stand and work. Now let me help you put on some make up" she said with a grin.
I allowed her work her magic on my face. By the time she was done, I looked so radiating that I could barely recognise myself whilst I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
"You are really so talented Golden"I complimented. She flipped her hair and winked at me.
Suddenly the door swung opened roughly and two other lady walked inside, perspiration covering their tanned skins.
"Crystal what are you still doing here? The men are eagerly waiting for your performance"Claire, one of the ladies, chided before taking off her wig and slumping down on a kingsized sofa.
For a strip club, I had to admit this place was oozing pure luxury. The building was magnificent, sometimes I wondered who owned it.
"Boss is here today and there must be no mistakes and sloppy performances"Violetta, the second lady, chorused as she eyed me from up to down like I was infected with leprosy.
"Chill vilu"Golden said with a sigh.
"Crystal has never messed up and she won't. Stop being so hard on the poor girl"Golden added with a frown.
"Crystal"she began turning to face me.
"You will do great ok. Go over there and show them what you are made off"
I truly liked Golden.
I took in deep breaths trying to calm the torrents of nervousness coursing through me and stared at my appearance in the mirror. I stared at my nude self from my laced underpants to my white lingerie and dagger heels. Then my eyes darted to my face and the breathtaking make up Golden applied on it.
Yup. I truly looked like a certified stripper. My one wish was that Mabel wouldn't join this line of profession with me.
"Once you go out there baby, free your mind and relax. You look so tensed. Do your thing and get the money flowing"Golden urged with a chortle.
I gulped and nodded my head.
I opened the door but not before giving her a soft smile whilst the other two girls exchanged glares at me.
I truly had no idea why they didn't like me.
I began walking down the narrow walk way .
Loud defeaning music and the rush from the crowd could be heard from the hall.
I approached it briskly. Once I got to the wine coloured closed curtains, I took in deep breaths and tried relaxing myself.
Soon enough the curtain were pulled opened revealing a hall bustling with life. Loud music was blasting from all corners of the hall. Some men were dancing shamelessly with multiple women and endless swarm of waiters buzzing around filled the entire atmosphere with the stench of sex, drugs and alcohol.
I had no time to stop and think as I was already on the stage with poles sprouting out of them.
A new song was played by the dj and the crowd went noisy, cheering and expecting me to dance whilst feeding their eyes on my body. The men were yelling for me to strip myself naked. I felt like running back but I couldn't. I had to do this to put food on the table and settle my father's debt.
I immedately began moving my hips. I ran my hands down my body seductively in accordance to the beat of the song and grasped a long pole as I swirled my body around it.
The men were howling as they fed their eyes hungrily.
"Damn!!"
"Come naked darling!"
"Give us that ass!!"
I felt so irritated hearing their nude comments but I hid my irritation and kept on swaying myself around the pole.
I released my thoughts and let my my body twist around the pole seductively.
My eyes travelled around the hall as I danced to the rythm of the song. It then suddenly locked with a pair of cold blue eyes, eyes colder than glaciers.
He locked his eyes with mine, not cheering or howling like the other men. He stared at me like the way a predator would stare at a prey.
I suddenly felt myself being self conscious on my performance as a result of his fiery like gaze on my body.
His dark silky silver coloured hair cascaded over his shoulders. I couldn't really get a perfect view of his face since he sat in the shadows, surrounded by skimpy dressed women whom were seductively caressing his body to get a response from him.
Something about the way he stared at me gave me goosebumps. I immedately tore my eyes away from him and continued my dancing, twisting my body against the pole in hopes of finishing the dance quickly.
Slowly the beat came to an end and I immedately packed the money littered on the stage for me.
From the looks of it, I got about a thousand dollars if not more as I walked out of the hall. Today was really my lucky day.
"Oh my God. You performed so well today!"Golden excitedly chirped as she waited for me by the walkway.
"I truly am so happy Golden. Look at the amount of money I got"I replied back elated as I showed her my hands stuffed with money.
"Keep up the good work sis"
I sighed and stuffed the money inside my bra. "I'll. I have to be going home now. My sister would be waiting for me"
I quickly hugged Golden and headed to the dressing room to change back to my normal outfit.
* * * * * * *
I slumped on the couch, my hands flailing around. I was damn tired. Being a stripper was really not easy.
"How was work today sis?"Mabel asked as she came to sit by my side. She handed me a glass of water to which I collected and mouthed her a 'thank you'.
"It was good. I made eight thousand dollars today!"I chirped with ecstasy.
Mabel stared at me with widened eyes.
"Oh my God! That's huge. If you can make this amount everyday, we will settle dad's debt in no time"
Just the mention of my father got me hissing. He got us into this mess and now he is lying peacefully six feet underground whilst we were working our ass off to pay off his debt.
"Crystal why don't I join you so we can raise enough money on time"Mabel suggested with a faint smile.
I shot her a hard glare immedately. "Don't ever join me. There's no light in this job. I don't want you to get yourself involve in it. Stick to your normal part time book sales please sis"
She nodded her head reluctantly and slumped her shoulders. "We received another letter by the way" she informed me lowly.
I didn't need to ask.
I already knew who it was that sent it and what the wordings were.
It was from the ruthless crime boss, the one whom my dad took a loan from, reminding us of the ever nearing deadline to pay off our debt.
His iron grip was fastened around my waist and he pinned me on to the wall. "Let go of me!" I gritted. "If I want to right now" he leaned in close, his lips grazing my earlobe. "I can forcefully have my way with you and watch you scream your beautiful melodious tone underneath me" he whispered gravelly. I gasped and tried getting his hands of my waist. "You are my wife after all aren't you?" He teased, his teeth gently nibbling on my skin. I felt a strange heat brewing up inside me and I fought to control it. "Dante let go of me!" I seethed. Slowly, his head ascended from my neck and faced me. He ran a finger along my lips and a devilish smile curled up on his face. * * * * * * Love. Crime. Passion. Strong female lead Alina Fedorov, the vibrant and daring daughter to the Don of the Russian mafia is forcefully put into marriage against her wishes by her father. And her groom is no other than the feared Dante Morelli, the ruthless capo dei capi of the most powerful and dangerous italian-american mafia. He has his base running all through Europe and America with myriads of capos and underbossess at his beck and call. Running his underworld without a heart, he is quick to do away with any one who goes against his orders and his years of training has him equipped for a dangerous life of crime. But none of that will matter when he meets the impulsive and independent Alina Federov. Can love ever blossom between the two especially as Dante craves revenge on Alina for the sins of her father? Or will Alina be able to break down his walls of coldness and have him on his knees for her?
"Would you have killed that young boy!? Over a fucking purse!?"I shot back. It was a stupid temerity but I was willing to take the risk. "I would do whatever it takes to show that I call the shots"He menacingly replied. "Even with you"His voice dropped to a dangerously low tone. "Now you are just acting like a possessive and dominating freak"I replied with a roll of my eyes and a hiss. In a fluid motion, he quickly grasped my braids, dragging it. My eyes widened and I held on to his arm, wincing. "That's because I am. I own you. You belong to me. I'll always be the one you lust for and crave for. And if you try to act otherwise, I'll make sure I make you submit to me whether you like it or you don't"Raphael huskily replied, dragging my braids more. His words felt so sensual and yet so dangerous. I became weak in the knees and my breathing became rapid in pace. "And what if I don't want to submit to your orders, what will you do huh?"I taunted him. "Will you kill me? Shoot me? Stab me huh? Mr Raphael!?" I knew if I were to be someone else, I would have been dead by now. Raphael looked like he was seconds away from hitting me but I knew there was no way he would do that. "I won't kill you"came his raspy reply with his voice turning malicious, laced with cruelty. He pressed his body against mine and his hands fisted in my braids curling against my scalp. Shit. It was becoming extremely painful. "I'll punish you" In the blink of an eye, I felt his lips pressed forcely against mine. My eyes widened at once. * * * * * * What if the hero in your story was the villain? Nicole, a black beautiful Nigerian woman, arrives in Italy with Raphael, the don of the Italian mafia following their marriage in Africa when he came for business purposes. She expects to begin a new, exciting journey with him but when a murder that happened in the pasts resurfaces, threatening to burn their future, Nicole sees her marriage and world crumbling before her eyes. A turn of unfortunate events and a mysterious car crash pushes a young man named Miles into their lives and Nicole finds herself trapped in a maze of lies, betrayal, scandals and secret plots as Raphael leaves no stone unturned in inflicting pains to Nicole until she sees death as a means of escaping the hell now known as her life. Will they ever get their happy ending with enemies surrounding them, threatening to destroy both their marriages and their lives? Will Raphael ever be able to win Nicole's heart again and possess her as his once more? Or will he loose every thing as he lets his demons rage havoc in his life? This is a beautiful tale of two star crossed lovers fighting to keep their marriage and love in the midst of various deadly plots. But sometimes, the price of love can be death.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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."
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.