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Apollo was an artist who has had several muses in his life, so many that he may not even know how to count on his fingers and not even remember more of all that were due to his supposed "curse"; but maybe, just maybe... love would reach him for the first time, near those beautiful eyes of Amazonita enchanted him on an ordinary afternoon; but isn't that exactly how the first loves happen?
Paint.
There were so many colors and options available in that store that had in itself the fragrance of new materials and in the middle of it all...
Eyes.
Eyes are green as amazonite, bright as moonlight, and graceful as a feline.
Apollo couldn't look away and stop thinking about how he would paint that pair of eyes again and again if they allowed him to.
He didn't know if love existed, but inspirational muse at first sight? Well, in this case, he could not even dare to question.
Apollo was a simple person, so to speak; he would see a striking feature, become obsessed with it in specific, and try to convince the person to pose. It had been this way with all his other inspirations, which were never limited to color, size, or anything else.
Noses, hands, mouths, eyelashes, freckles, and hair - usually separately - made that beautiful young blond man approach.
A young blond man who... considered himself cursed.
Yes, cursed.
He could sustain himself with his paintings, sketches, or even anything he set his mind to, but there was always a catch.
All his muses never survived after the second painting.
Was this because of some macabre ritual? Some strange position, or even because of mistreatment?
No.
It was simply fate, bad luck, so to speak; they sometimes even suspected that his name had brought all the evils that had befallen the Greek god who had once carried it.
Well, that's what he used to joke about since there was no other logical explanation, but in the end... maybe the next one would survive.
He still had hope.
"Excuse me..." surprisingly, the green-eyed woman approached him without any outside influence. "Can you help me? I am color-blind and... I really wanted to give a gift to a special person..."
"Unexpected," the blond didn't help thinking; he also didn't help to have in his little head that maybe the universe was smiling at him again.
"Yes, of course," a gentle smile filled his lips, "what do you intend to give him as a gift? Paints?"
"Oh..., no..." the girl spoke as she looked confusedly at the paints in her hand, "I'm going to paint a picture for him, but I need to get colors that match."
A color-blind girl painting a picture? In Apollo's mind, this was a rather unusual combination that would make a significant disaster or a great work of art.
"Well, you can take these if you want a more sober painting," he took a few options and handed them over, "or you can take these if you want something more cheerful and lively..."
"Something lively!" Her eyes twinkled with excitement, "I want the gift to give good feelings and memories to him."
Cute.
That had been entirely and extremely cute.
"So here it is," the golden-eyed man just handed over the paint tubes, "I hope you have luck with your gift."
"Me too," the girl replied with a soft laugh, "you never know the outcome in my case."
"I can help you if you want," Apollo soon offered, "there are some easels over there on the balcony part."
Yes, besides a store for art supplies, that place also had a part just for artists to unleash their imagination and gifts.
No wonder that was Apollo's favorite place.
"Are you going to help me?" The young woman still looked incredulous at the proposal, "What do you want in return?"
"Be my muse," he replied without shame, "your eyes caught my attention as soon as I saw them."
"I am flattered," she tried to emulate a pompous tone. "Then I believe I will be your inspirational muse, my dear sir," she bowed slightly, wanting to satirize the old ways.
"Easy like that?" The blond didn't help but wonder since the previous times he had to try to convince and even practically beg.
"Easy like that."
It was different, strangely different.
So different that Apollo could hardly resist the instinct to pinch himself to see if this was just a dream, which would be rather cruel if he woke up.
I fell madly in love with a man I was forced to marry, but I didn't expect his heart to be as cruel as it was. "You don't have to be around him," my husband's trusted man told me after seeing me crying after a dance where I was humiliated, "help me, Alyssa... and let me love you as you deserve." He told me, and it took me by surprise. I didn't know what was going on, but the Goddess seemed to be merciful to my soul finally.
The duchess who succumbed to madness, that would be the title she would be remembered by, Ethel didn't need any more of this, didn't want any more of this, didn't want to continue on that mortal plane that would keep taking her to a bottomless pit. But, someone brought her back, and promised her a second chance...what would she do with such a miracle?
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
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..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.