"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."
Sam slides onto the chair parked next to me about thirty seconds after class begins. His jean-clad leg presses up against mine as he settles in. Not taking my eyes off the professor, who has already launched into the lecture for the day, I whisper from the corner of my mouth, "Nice of you to join us, Mr. Harper."
Even though I'm not looking his way, I know he's grinning from ear to ear. I can all but feel it. His smiles are as blinding as the sun. Heat radiates from them in heavy waves. Any minute his warm breath is going to feather across my-
"I had to haul ass all t#he way from the stadium." He snorts before adding, "Coach scheduled a midafternoon practice just for the fun of it."
Well...that last comment is debatable. It's early November, and damn chilly out. The Bulldogs have been on an incredible winning streak this season, which means ramped up practices and workout schedules so they can keep their number one seed going into the playoffs. At this point, everyone in their conference is looking to tear them down.
I glance at him and notice that his dark blond hair is all shiny and wet from the shower he must have just taken. His bright blue eyes spear mine with a sparkle of mischief simmering in them. His cheeks are flushed, and his breathing is just a bit labored.
I'm slammed with the realization that this is probably how Sam looks right after a rowdy bout of sex. Something hot slides through me before settling deep in my core. Not knowing where the hell that thought sprang up from, I abruptly shift my body away from his. My brows pull together in bewilderment.
What the heck is that all about?
Not that I want to dwell on what it means, but those kind of pesky thoughts regarding Sam have been cropping up with a disconcerting amount of frequency lately. It's like I blinked one day and suddenly he looked different to me.
That being said, I need these feelings to go away.
Sam and I are friends.
Good friends. And I don't want that to change.
We met when I moved in with my grandparents who live next door to his family. That was eight years ago, and we've been tight ever since. Somehow, we lucked out, both of us choosing to attend Barnett University.
I wanted to stick close to my grandparents since I'm all they have, and Sam plays football for the Barnett Bulldogs. He was offered full rides to play at half a dozen other Division I programs, both in and out of state, but chose to stay local as well.
Needing to refocus my runaway thoughts, I murmur under my breath, "I'm hoping for your sake that you finished up the paper that's due today on the power of the judiciary over the legislature." I keep my gaze focused straight ahead. The last thing I need is to incur the wrath of Dr. Rickets.
"Yup. Freshly printed with references cited up the ass."
I almost snort but rein it in at the last moment. References had better be cited or Rickets will come after you with both barrels blasting. He's flunked people in PS 345- the Judicial Process for less. Since Sam and I are both in the pre-law program, we have a lot of the same classes. Although, this is the only one we have together this semester. We end up hunkered down at the library on a fairly regular basis.
Rickets continues droning on as Sam gets his laptop up and running. After about fifteen minutes, he leans toward me again, breaking my concentration. Unfortunately, laser focus is required because this class takes dry to a whole new and challenging level. "Are you planning to hit the Sigma party tonight?"
I'm on the verge of responding when our professor's sharp voice slices through the stale air of the classroom.
"An answer if you please, Mr. Harper."
My belly drops about eleven stories. Even though I try not to let Sam distract me, I hadn't been aware of a question being thrown out.
Sam, however, doesn't miss a beat. "Within limits, judges do, in fact, make law. Common law is their creation, and statutes require their interpretation. All law must continually be aligned with the Constitution. But at the end of the day, the Constitution means what judges decide it does."
If Rickets is at all impressed by the fact that Sam answered without even blinking, he doesn't let on. Although, by the way our professor presses his fleshy lips together, I'd have to say he's disappointed not to have caught Sam by surprise. He continues lecturing in a monotone voice, biding his time before springing yet another complex question on some unsuspecting student just trying to muddle their way through this class so they can graduate.
Almost leisurely, Sam stretches out his body in the seat next to me. As he does, the bottom of his soft gray cotton T-shirt rides up giving me a distracting view of rock-solid abdominals before I force my gaze away.
I seriously don't understand what's going on with me lately. I mean, it hasn't been that long since I've been with a guy. Certainly not long enough to warrant me noticing the taut ridges of my best friend's six-pack.
But I am.
I am so noticing them right now.
And that is all kinds of wrong.
"So, you in or out for the party?" he asks.
Annoyed by the unwanted feelings that keep popping up within me, I shake my head before muttering, "Can we discuss this after class? I'm trying to focus here."
The key word is trying.
Clearly, I'm having a difficult time with that. Which doesn't make the least bit of sense.
There is no way I should be having these kinds of thoughts about Sam. It feels, I don't know-incestuous.
Sort of.
We've known each other since we were fourteen years old. For goodness' sake, I used to crawl into bed with the guy when we were in high school. Sam was the only one who could chase away the nightmares. That being said, nothing ever happened between us. There certainly weren't any wandering hands during the middle of the night. No copping a cheap feel. No I'll-show-you-mine-if-you-show-me-yours. He would simply hold me in his arms while I slept.
That was it.
Up until recently, I never thought of Sam as anything other than my best friend.
Which is precisely why these thoughts are disturbing on so many different levels.
Unperturbed by my abrupt tone, he shrugs before slouching further onto his chair. "Sure."
Sam has-for all intents and purposes-a photographic memory. So, chit chatting the class period away is no biggie for him. All he has to do is read something once and it's locked in for life. I'm not going to lie, it's annoying to people like myself who have to study their asses off to pull decent grades.
Even though Sam doesn't face the same academic challenges that I do, he lets me borrow that big brain of his anytime I need it. He's pretty great about studying with me or re-explaining concepts that I don't have a firm grasp on.
After another thirty-three minutes, which is precisely three minutes past the end of class, Rickets finally releases us back into the world. People scatter from the room as if they're fleeing for their very lives. Rickets dearly loves a captive audience and is always reluctant to turn them loose when his time draws to an end.
As soon as we clear the door of the classroom, Sam slings his muscular arm around my shoulders as we make our way out of the poli-sci building. It may be bright and sunny out, but there's a cold northeasterly wind whipping its way through campus. I'm bundled up in my silver North Face coat and Sam is wearing his football jacket.
"I hate this weather," I grumble right before Sam tugs me closer. The guy radiates heat like a furnace. That being said, I can't help but snuggle into his warmth as the wind continues to slap at us with icy cold fingers.
"Better?" His lips are so close to my ear that the husky cadence of his voice sends an unexpected shiver skittering down my spine. My gaze flies to his, praying that the hitch in my breathing has gone unnoticed.
He flashes a brief smile but doesn't seem any wiser to what's going on within me. A little sigh of relief escapes from my lips. I don't understand why I keep reacting to him this way. It's disconcerting. Not to mention, embarrassing.
The first couple of times it happened, I shrugged it off as a fluke.
Unfortunately, we're moving past fluke and toward-
Nope. Not going to go there. Because I definitely don't think about Sam like that. Furthermore, I don't want to think about him like that.
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.
"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.
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
Ashley Richard has been in love with Zion Thompson since childhood. Their parents agreed to an arranged marriage between them. Ashley was quick to accept it as it has been her long time dream. However, Zion was against it. He has grown and wanted someone else. Ashley did everything she could to be the perfect wife. Even putting her ambition of becoming a doctor. After three years of trying, what she got In returned was a divorce papers from her husband. Saying he wants her out of his life. Years passed and Ashley became the doctor she has always wanted to be. One day, she came across a strange patient, who happened to be her ex-husband. "Doctor Ash, I need your expertise." "What is wrong with you, Mr Thompson?" She asked. His eyes grew soft as he spoke. "My heart is broken and only you can mend it." "You see, Mr Thompson. I am a doctor, not a love expert. I can only treat your bear when it is failing. I cannot mend it with desire."
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"