Erica has always dreamed of breaking free from the world of secrecy and power that she was born into. In a society where men are kings and women are pawns, she longs for a life of her own choosing. But when she makes a fatal mistake, her dreams are shattered, and she finds herself trapped in a cage of her own making. Her enemy and tormentor is none other than her brother's best friend, a man who controls every aspect of her life. Despite his ability to wound her with his words and break her with his touch, he is also her solace in this kingdom of power and wealth. Erica knows that as long as she remains in his world, she must play by his rules. But as the war between them intensifies, she begins to wonder if there is a way out. Can she find the strength to break free from her cage and the man who holds the key to her heart? "The Ruthless Heir" is a gripping tale of power, love, and betrayal set in a world where nothing is as it seems. Will Erica find a way to escape the confines of her world, or will she be forever trapped in a life she never wanted?
Erica's [POV]
Blood.
Every time I close my eyes, I see it. That pungent metallic odor still burns my nostrils, and it's seeped so deep into my flesh, that I can't wash it away. I know because I've been trying for well over thirty minutes. My skin burns as the spray from the shower pelts the areas I've rubbed raw, but I can't feel sorry for myself. This is the least of what I deserve.
My eyes are swollen, and it hurts to shed more tears, but I let them fall because this is the only time I have. I can't allow the world to see me vulnerable. Santiago can't witness me crumbling any more than he already has. The De La Rosa blood runs through my veins, and we are not weak. So I try again to burn the image of the corpse from my mind. I blink through my tears, hoping to wash away the memory of her battered and bloodied face.
It doesn't work.
She's everywhere. The entire car ride here, she haunted me. As Santiago's tires crunched over the gravel, all I could hear were the shards of broken glass beneath my blood-streaked heels. Every muscle in my body aches even though I made it out with little more than a gash on my cheek and some bruises that will inevitably fade. Time has a way of dealing with wounds, at least physically. But there is no cure for a broken spirit.
I can't forget the look in my brother's eyes when he saw me tonight. When he came to my rescue, the way he always has. I tried to explain it away, the way I always have. It was never intentional. I just needed to make things right. I was going to take that woman back to him so he could punish her for the things she'd done. But it didn't work out that way. My flimsily constructed plan blew up in my face, and by the end of the night, it was my hands stained with her blood. There was no pride in what I'd done. Santiago certainly wasn't proud.
He looked at me like I was a monster, and the worst part was, that I couldn't deny it. That's what I've become, isn't it? It's why he brought me here, to the IVI compound instead of the safety of the manor. He doesn't want me tainting the halls of our family home with the misery that seems to follow me everywhere. Now, there's a voice in the back of my mind, whispering the fate I don't want to accept.
He's going to send me away.
As I step out of the shower, I try to muster up some denial, pacifying myself with paper-thin assurances. Santiago is the only family I've got left. He wouldn't hurt me. Not like this. Not when he knows the pain of losing everyone we've ever loved. Our grief tethers us together for life. Our blood is the same. Our loyalty is unshakable. It's the one truth I have to cling to.
I can be difficult. Intolerable at times. I won't deny that. But he loves me regardless. He protects me, and I'm certain he always will. I can accept his disappointment in me. I can find a way to bear his shame, which can't be worse than my own. But I will show him there's still something in me to love. Something worth salvaging. I just have to pull myself together and figure it out. The way I always do.
I release a few shuddering breaths and force my gaze to the reflection in the mirror. I don't recognize the person staring back at me. The woman with long black hair and dark eyes may as well be a stranger. I feel detached from her. Empty. And it's a fucking relief.
That means numbness is setting in. As long as I can stay like this... unfeeling, I can survive.
Robotically, I brush my hair and dress in the cheap sweats Santi bought me on the way here. They are a far cry from my usual clothing, but I don't care. I'm exhausted, and I need to face him. I need to show him that it's okay. I'll find a way to fix everything.
When I emerge from the bathroom, my brother stands by the window, his gaze unfocused as he peers through the glass. I know he feels my presence, and he certainly heard me open the door, but it takes him a few moments to turn and face me. His expression is guarded, his eyes equally anguished and frustrated. It sets me on edge, the tightness in my chest gripping my breath like a vise.
"Santi." My strangled voice forces his name out. "Why are we here?"
He swallows the words he doesn't want to say, and it hits me like a punch to the gut. Even so, I can't accept it. I have to believe there's a purpose for me being here other than what my instincts are screaming at me.
"Tell me everything," he orders in true De La Rosa fashion.
I make myself move, taking a seat on the bed, my hands twisting together in my lap. "I will. But I need you to promise you won't hate me. No matter what. I need to hear that from you."
"I can't promise you anything." He glares at me.
A quiet sob slips from my lips before I can stop it, and tears hover precariously on the edges of my eyes as I turn and try to wipe them away. So much for being numb. I swore I wasn't going to do this, but for the first time in my life, I really can't control it. I hate crying. I despise it.
And more than anything, I hate that I allowed my brother to see such a display of emotion. If our father were here right now, he would have backhanded me into the next week for showing such cowardice.
"Now, Erica," Santiago clips out. "If you don't tell me now, you will decide for both of us. You will never hear from me again."
Horror washes over me as I glance up at him, blurting the words out before I can think about how pathetic it makes me look. "No, you can't do that!"
"You aren't in a position to argue anymore." He turns back toward the window, reaching for the curtain as he glances down into the courtyard again.
I'm terrified of what he might be looking for, but I'm even more terrified that he'll follow through on his threat. If my brother disowns me, I'll have nothing left.
"It wasn't supposed to happen this way," I cry out. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I was just so irritated with you, Santi. To see the way you looked at that Moreno girl. You were falling for her right before my eyes. I could see it, and it felt like such a betrayal."
He releases the curtain and turns to look at me, his pity unmistakable. He can see my jealousy for what it is, but I don't care. What did he expect? He betrayed our family when he married the enemy.
He committed the most egregious crime he could by falling for her. And in the end, instead of following through on our plans as he had promised, he ousted me from the scheme entirely.
Our revenge fell by the wayside, and now he's making his own little family with the blood we swore we'd extinguish from this earth.
"She was going to take you away from me," I snap. "I had to do something. I just wanted to make her hate you. So I hired that courtesan who used to work for IVI to lure you away at the gala and seduce you. Ivy was supposed to come out of the bathroom and see you together. That was it. Nobody was ever supposed to get hurt."
He's quiet as he paces across the room, refusing to look at me, and in my desperation for his understanding, I rush to get the rest out. I go on to explain how I knew it was a stupid idea, but I thought I could trust her.
I could never have predicted that she was in bed with the enemy too. That mistake almost cost Santiago his life, and I was trying to make it right. That's why I went to the courtesan's apartment tonight. I just wanted to make it right, so he'd forgive me.
Jackson King, the Alpha King, is desperate to secure his legacy and save his pack from extinction. He needs a surrogate to carry his child, and he's willing to pay handsomely for it. However, his chosen candidate, Layla Carlisle, a half-human and half-wolf, refuses his offer. Despite her initial rejection, Jackson is determined to make her change her mind, using any means necessary. As he struggles with his own darkness and the demands of his beast, Cain, Jackson must confront the consequences of his own cursed fate and the truth about his mate. Will Layla eventually agree to carry his child, or will Jackson's secrets and lies tear them apart?
Blue Learley, a bright and adventurous seventeen-year-old girl, lived a peaceful life in a small town with her loving parents and two protective brothers. Her days were filled with laughter, friendship, and dreams of a future filled with promise. But on one fateful night, her life took a devastating turn. Demetrius Easton, the ruthless and feared werewolf king, laid eyes on her, and his obsession was ignited. With a single glance, Blue became the object of Demetrius's unrelenting desire, and he would stop at nothing to claim her as his bride. But what should have been a nightmare scenario became a harsh reality when her own parents, blinded by greed and fear, betrayed her trust and sold her to the merciless werewolf king. With no escape from the clutches of Demetrius's unyielding grasp, Blue found herself trapped in a world of ancient traditions, dark magic, and unbridled power. Her once-peaceful life was now a distant memory, replaced by the constant terror of being at the mercy of a monster. With no one to turn to for help, Blue must rely on her own resilience and determination to survive the unrelenting forces that seek to consume her. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of Demetrius's kingdom, Blue will discover hidden strengths, unexpected allies, and the true depths of her own courage. But will it be enough to overcome the darkness that threatens to engulf her, or will she become just another pawn in the werewolf king's sinister game of power and control?
Sometimes, escaping the life you've known becomes a tempting salvation. That's the choice that Nate, an ex-band member grappling with a harrowing heroin addiction, makes when he opts to start anew on an island. His journey of recovery takes an unexpected twist when Abby, a woman also escaping her tumultuous past, enters the scene. Six years prior, the gruesome murder of Abby's mother and Abby's own brutal assault caught the nation's attention. While the two could not be more different, they find a compelling bond growing between them as Abby sees Nate's struggles and decides to lend a hand. Despite this newfound connection, Nate's world is rooted in Los Angeles, while Abby's cannot dare return to the mainland. With this difficult circumstance hanging over their heads, they find themselves faced with a significant question - Can they possibly nurture their sprouting romance despite their varying pasts and present realities?
THIS IS A COMPILATION OF ALL MY EROTICA BOOKS Within the shadowy realm of desires untold and the echoes of illicit whispers, an exciting universe awaits the brave of heart. Welcome to the provoking collection of erotica, where every page will thrill, chill, and provoke all manner of responses you never thought literature could invoke. Delicate yet defiant, carnal yet spiritual, the power of sensual human connections reign supreme in these scribed records. Tucked away within the passionate folds of this compendium, lovers transgress boundaries and consummate their unions in secret places, reveling in the rapturous exchange of emotional intensity, delicate beauty, and voluptuous fervor. In these explicit narrations, relationships unfurl themselves in an evocative symphony of words, bold and fearless.
In a quiet town lies a striking, successful surgeon, Cole Becker. A man so enticing he captures the attention of every woman he meets. Admired for his impeccable looks, bustling medical career and his enchanting son, Cole’s life seems the very embodiment of perfection. However, despite all his achievements, there is an empty spot in his life longing to be filled - the need for a loving woman. Allie O'Keefe, the new girl next door, couldn’t help but notice her enchanting neighbor. As an innocent and pure 24-year-old fleeing from the hectic city life, the allure of a simple life next to the alluring doctor becomes increasingly irresistible. Allie, oblivious of the depths and layers hidden behind Cole’s charismatic façade, gets lured into his captivating world. As the spark between them begins to kindle, Allie gradually becomes aware of Cole’s haunting secrets, causing an unforeseen storm in their emerging romance. Despite the intensity of their blossoming relationship, Cole’s obscure past becomes an imminent threat. With their love story hanging in the balance, the question arises - can love overcome the dark and unsaid mysteries of one's past or is it destined to fall apart?
Wealthy businessman Aiden Walker spirals into a dark abyss following a catastrophic plane crash that claims his beloved family. He sheds his opulent lifestyle and seeks solitude within the four walls of his vast Savannah mansion. However, his sanctuary isn't immune to external torment, as he becomes the target of a ruinous lawsuit by a bereaved family who lost their son in the same tragic event. Caught in her family's web of indifference following her brother's untimely demise in the same crash, Lexa Patterson, a dedicated ER nurse, stumbles upon the forlorn billionaire under unforeseen circumstances. As Aiden stumbles into her ER after a drunken bike accident, Lexa is struck by the vulnerable side of this influential tycoon. Ignoring ethical boundaries, Lexa decides to delve deeper into the tormented world of the reclusive Aiden Walker. In an intoxicating game of passion and lies, Lexa treads a perilous path by concealing her true identity. An unexpected connection blooms amidst grief and despair, as Aiden and Lexa seek solace in each other's company. But how long can Lexa keep her true identity veiled? Will their newfound love stand the test of truth or shatter under the weight of their secrets? Veil of Lies: A High Stakes Affair weaves a captivating narrative around fate's twisted games, insatiable grief, and the desperate search for love and solace.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Haisley Jefferson, daughter of the Alpha of The Ashen Crescent Pack, finds her life far from fulfilling. She yearns to meet her mate so she can finally escape the hellhole she once called home. Instead of meeting her mate and escaping, fate takes an unexpected turn on her 21st birthday. Rather than a mate, she's given a husband – Hades Stone, the future Alpha of The DuskBane Pack, and a man she has secretly loved for years. The only problem is he has his eyes set on Alice, her adopted sister. In the face of this dilemma, Haisley rejects the marriage, but destiny seems to have its own plans beyond her control. Haisley finds herself at a crossroads. While she wishes for her mate to rescue her, she's also entangled in a deep affection for Hades. A forced marriage to him was not her desire, but it seems destiny has other plans.
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father’s ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?
Bethany, a stunning woman burdened by financial woes, wrestled with her future prospects in the city after fleeing her manipulative former lover. At the same time, a bold and unyielding man began to pursue her with relentless passion. The word on the street was that the aloof Mr. Swanson had taken under his wing a woman of striking beauty, allegedly snatched from his best friend. He showered her with lavish gifts and was captivated by her every word. They said she was not merely a beautiful woman, but a unique treasure that demanded constant dedication and attention.