"Sofia I've made it a point to steer clear of the men who work for my father. I have no intention of getting tangled up in that lifestyle. But there's something about Roman, an irrepressible energy that snaps and sizzles between us. From the moment we met, his dislike was palpable. And nothing has changed in the three years I've known him. If I were smart, I'd stay away. But I'm not smart. Roman The moment I saw her, I knew she had the power to destroy everything I'd spent years trying to accomplish. I can't allow that to happen. Most days, I'm barely civil to her, because I know all hell will break loose once the floodgates open. Nothing I've found douses the combustible energy that flares to life between us. It's as frustrating as it is dangerous. One of these days I'm going to get burned. Or end up with a bullet in my head. Claiming What's Mine was created by Jennifer Sucevic, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
Present...
I'm beginning to lose myself.
I feel it happening more with the passing of each day, and it scares the shit out of me. During rare moments of self-reflection, doubt creeps in, and I question objectives that should be irrefutable.
For a man like me, this is a precarious situation.
Over the last three years, I've done everything in my power to keep her at a distance. I've been a bastard. I've been rude. I've tried ignoring her. I've withheld my friendship. Most days, I'm barely civil to her, because I know all hell will break loose once the floodgates open.
None of my tactics douse the spark that flares to life when we're in the same room. I'm a moth dancing too close to the twisting flames.
One of these days, I'm going to get burned.
Or end up with a bullet in my head.
A solitary image of her flickering through my brain is enough to make me grow unbearably hard.
I've found myself on the verge of reaching out to slide my fingers through the glossy strands of her dark hair too many times to count.
Because I'm a sick and twisted fuck, I often fantasize about wrapping the thick, rope-like length around my palm and pulling it taut. I want her lush, naked body bowing like a supple tree branch and bending to my will. I want her rendered incapable of doing anything other than submitting to my dominance.
The thought of her on bent knees, ass high in the air, cheek and chest pressed against the mattress as I hold her pinned, puts me on the brink of blowing my wad.
Sofia can't figure out why I act like such a bastard. I see the silent questions lingering in her eyes. If I were a lesser man, I'd fall to my knees and beg for absolution. But that's an impossibility.
I know the truth, even if she doesn't.
You'd think she would grow to despise me because of my churlish behavior. But she hasn't. Not yet. She may have learned to stay away from me, but she doesn't always abide by what she knows is best for her.
Sofia doesn't understand the feelings I stoke to life inside her. Nor does she understand the attraction vibrating in the air between us. But I do. I recognize it all too well. She wears her emotions across her heart-shaped face. And she doesn't realize that I feast upon them like a starved monster lurking in the darkness.
They're much too tempting for me to resist.
Something primitive inside me enjoys the way her body reacts to mine. Without meaning to, she displays her sexual desire for me. She flushes when our eyes meet. Her nipples harden under clothing. Her breath hitches, causing the pulse in her neck to beat erratically like the wings of a trapped bird.
I want nothing more than to claim her and make her mine.
But that will never happen.
Sofia Valentini will never belong to me.
I can't get her out of my head. I've tried losing myself in dozens of other women over the years. It isn't difficult to find a willing woman in this city. Not when you work for the Valentinis. Our reputation precedes us wherever we go.
And the pussy flows freely in response.
It makes no difference how high or low you rank in the organization. Name recognition is more than enough to get you whatever you want. These women want to live vicariously through you. Money, drugs, blood, and violence are powerful aphrodisiacs.
It's surprising how drawn some of these women are to a dangerous lifestyle. They want to singe their wings without getting burned. They want to dance close to the fire without getting torched.
But Sofia is different.
She's a princess who was born into this lifestyle, and now that she's free to make her own choices, she wants nothing to do with the Valentini empire. She would prefer to come from average, middle-class parents. Not one of the most well-known crime families in the United States, whose power and corruption dates back generations. And not one that resides in a multi-million-dollar compound on twenty sprawling acres of prime real estate along the shore of Lake Michigan.
Sofia Valentini is an exotic bird trapped in a gilded cage.
I've tried fucking women with the same olive-toned flesh. Big-breasted, generously hipped, angelic-faced women I pretend with in dark rooms as I empty myself into their welcoming bodies.
But it's no use. No matter how hard I try, I can't forget that these women are nothing more than a poor substitute for the one I really want.
I've gone the other route, too, and screwed females who look nothing like her. Blondes. Redheads. Brunettes. Ones who are slim as reeds, with no tits to speak of. And ones who are tight and athletic and limber as hell.
You'd think a woman who strokes and plays with my balls as I slam into her from behind would be enough to make me forget Sofia.
It's not.
When Sofia should be the last thing occupying my mind, she pushes her way inside. Then I ejaculate in a blind outrage with a roar of frustration. Instead of providing relief, the release fuels the fury and lust boiling within me.
It also forces me to acknowledge and accept that I have no fucking control over my own thoughts, feelings, or body where Sofia is concerned, which pisses me off more than anything else. I take pride in being able to turn my emotions off as if they were a light switch. I couldn't do my job if I didn't have that kind of self-control.
But that capability is rendered useless with Sofia.
She's my weakness
While I might not be able to possess her, I'll be damned if another man lays claim to what's mine.
There’s nothing wrong with a harmless little crush, right? And who better to crush on than the gorgeous man next door? The one who would never look twice in my direction. Except he does. The first time he pins me in place with his dark gaze, I’m rendered speechless.  The first time he lays his hands on me, I melt.  And the first time he takes me, well…I fall to pieces, wondering if I’ll ever be the same again. Everything about him screams danger. And yet I’d be lying through my teeth if I didn’t admit that was part of the attraction. Chicago is supposed to be a new beginning for me.  A chance to find my bearings and live again.  The man next door is the last person I should be getting involved with. And yet, here I am. A moth dancing too close to the flickering flame, hoping I don’t get torched. Protecting What's Mine was created by Jennifer Sucevic, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
"Last year, I failed out of school in spectacular fashion. Now, I’m starting over at a new university, hoping I can get my life back on track and prove to my family that I’m not a screw up. This year, I’m focused on academics. Unfortunately, someone should have mentioned that to a certain hockey playing hottie who refuses to take a hint and leave me alone. As much as I hate to admit it, if I had a type, Cole Mathews would fit it to a T with his dark shaggy hair, golden-brown eyes, and muscular arms. To make matters worse, he’s ridiculously easy going. Not to mention, nice. We’re talking total kryptonite to the female species. Which makes him much too dangerous for the likes of me. And this year, I’m smart enough to realize it. Resisting all that charm might seem futile, but there isn’t much choice in the matter. I won’t let a hot hockey player derail my future. Now, I just need to convince him of that. Stay is created by Jennifer Sucevic, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
"Sam Harper is my best friend and has been since we were kids. Unfortunately, he sees himself as my unofficial big brother. Which is to say that the guy is a major cock block. I swear he has a sixth sense when it comes to me getting laid. It's frustrating how I can be on the verge of sealing the deal when Sam will appear out of nowhere, and suddenly my night is going up in a big ball of sexually frustrated flames. I think the guy enjoys messing with me. Why else would he do it? Lately, I'm starting to notice things about Sam that I shouldn’t be noticing. Like those piercing blue eyes that pin me in place. Or his short blond hair that I want to drag my fingers through. Not to mention those killer abs that I sometimes catch a fleeting glimpse of. The strange feelings that have sprung up in me are definitely starting to freak me out. We’ve always been just friends. And I don’t want that to change. Friend Zoned is created by Jennifer Sucevic, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."
Isabella woke up in the morning and felt the ache in a place that never hurt before. She took a glimpse at her body, and Her thoughts went blank. Isabella's eyes discovered a guy who was laying near her, asleep, and her thoughts brought back to all the bizarre things that transpired last night. My boyfriend of 2 years abandoned me, I was intoxicated and went to my hotel room alone. Someone climbed on me. To say that he was gorgeous is an understatement. If an angel could marry a Satan, then I'm convinced he was their offspring. But it was not the goal! He came to me and kissed me. One thing led to another.. God! This man snatched my virginity. And it was hardly the worst. Guess what! He was my new boss Gabriel Remington. I was his new executive assistant. To top it, my former lover accused my boss that he raped me. What should I do? Trust my former lover who just dumped me? Or.. Trust my new boss who took my virginity?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
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 a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
Stella Richard married Rene Kingston in the place of her sister Sophia due to some reasons. But from the beginning, she knows that her marriage was just a time-limit contract and once the time was up she had to go. For RK, this marriage was just a burden but for her, it was a gift from God. Because RK was the man who she had loved all her Youth... So, in the meantime of her marriage, Stella did her best so that this marriage may work out. But on the day she found she was pregnant, her husband gives her the divorce paper and said... "I don't want this child. Don't forget to abort." These words come out of his mouth, like a bomb for Stella, and changed her life... She signed her name on the divorce paper and left the house... Because she doesn't want to be with such a cold-hearted man... Five years later... RK bought the company In which Stella worked. But Stella did her best not to have anything to do with him... Because she had a child and she didn't want him to find out about him... But one day When Stella picked up her son from school he saw her... RK, "How dare you had a child with another man?" Stella, "I don't think it has anything to do with you." RK was about to say more when his gaze fell on the child beside her... His face looked as same as when he was young...
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...