/0/39965/coverbig.jpg?v=e656d0b8173259f0415771e126753d06)
Lily Ross was having another miserable day at work when tall, dark, and stunningly handsome walked in. When she's least expecting it, mysterious Connor Brooks turns Lily's world upside down and plunges her into a torrid, passionate love affair that might just ruin her life... or save it.
I'm writing this because I'm heartbroken.
I'm writing this because I'm in love.
I'm writing this because more amazing, astounding, mind-blowing things have happened to me in the last two months than in my whole life before I met him, combined.
I'm writing this because I've lost more than I ever thought I would be able to bear.
And even though I hate myself for doing it, I pray to God I can hold him...
...kiss him...
...make love to him...
...just one last time.
ā¢ ā¢ ā¢
Okay, enough of mopey beginnings. I'm really not that kind of girl, I swear.
I guess I should say 'woman,' not 'girl.' I am 24, after all, and, well, you know ā 'yay feminism,' right?
It's just that I never really felt like I was an adult. In a lot of ancient societies, they had some sort of ritual that women go through where you know you're a woman afterwards. 'You passed the ritual? Congratulations, you're a woman by definition!'
In the 21st Century United States of America, getting married or having a baby probably qualifies. Although I've never been married or had a baby, so... problem not solved.
I guess the other closest possibility for a single woman is losing your virginity... but that happened for me when I was 17, and I sure as hell didn't feel like a woman with my high school boyfriend. Or my two college boyfriends. Or any 'boyfriend,' really.
He was the first one that made me feel like a woman. Entirely. Through and through.
But we'll get to that soon enough.
My name is Lily Ross. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, went to the University of Georgia, got a business degree with a psychology minor, had a horrible time getting a job after college, finally moved out to Los Angeles because my best friend Anh got hired at a prestigious consulting firm and promised me she could get me in, too. She did... although in a terrible position for next to no pay.
But I'm not complaining, mind you! (Not much, anyway.) It was a job, I had my foot in the door, and ā Los Angeles! Come on! One of the most glamorous cities in the world!
That much is true, though I never saw the glamorous side of it until waaaaay after I arrived.
Also, Anh had an apartment in Hollywood! Land of movie stars, the silver screen, the place where dreams come true! Right?
Wrong.
Hollywood as an idea ā the 'dream factory' ā I guess that's still valid. But Hollywood the 'place'? The geographic location you'll find on Google Maps? All the film studios and movie stars bolted over 50 years ago. Except Paramount Pictures, but they're right next to a graveyard, so let that tell you something.
Our Hollyweird apartment is down the street from a tattoo parlor and a skeezy-as-hell 'Thai massage' parlor.
That was my first introduction to reality versus fantasy.
I know these are all boring details to you, but I guess I bring it up for a couple of reasons.
One: as you'll see very shortly, my version of fantasy and reality began to blur together quickly and very dangerously.
Two: I was intimidated as hell by the women in Los Angeles when I got out here. It's like the best skin/hair/boob gene pool dumping ground in the country. (And if you want some extra help in the boob department, the plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills will gladly sell it to you.) Sometimes it feels like every good-looking girl from every town in America comes out here to try to make it... and when you're not in that crowd, it can be rough on your self-esteem.
However, as my dad used to say, sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut.
In case you missed it, I'm the blind squirrel in that analogy.
Nothing that happened to me happened because I'm gorgeous. I'm not. In Los Angeles, I'd almost say I'm plain.
At 5'4", I'm fairly short by LA standards. I could stand to lose 10 pounds (maybe even 15... that's it, I'm cutting off speculation at 15). I'm not even in the same zip code (okay, not even the same state) as Sofia Vergara or Jennifer Lopez in terms of, um, assets. Not exactly Victoria's Secret model material.
Guys I've dated tell me I have pretty eyes. My hair's good. I like my cheekbones. I have nice calves, and they look even better in heels. (We're not going to talk about my thighs.)
I'm fairly smart, I think I'm funny (you may beg to differ after you've spent enough time with me), and I have a few interesting quirks.
The point is, none of this happened because I look like a pin-up model. Because I don't.
Hell, I'm still not sure how it happened.
It was a Friday night at Exerton Consulting, and of course, my boss was being a douchebag.
Excuse my French.
Exerton is a small multi-national consulting firm with offices in a few big cities around the globe ā LA, New York, London, Tokyo. But they're not among the biggest fish in the pond, not by a long shot.
'Consulting firm,' you ask. 'What does that mean?'
(If you didn't ask that and don't care, skip down about ten paragraphs.)
It means that other companies think they have problems, so they get Exerton's 'experts' to come in and tell them how to fix said problems. Efficiency problems, human resources problems, hiring problems, blah blah blah, are your eyes glazing over yet?
By the way, most of the problems are things the companies could have solved by talking to lower-level employees, or by trusting good people in their own organization. But they never do that. Oh no. That would be craaaazy.
Don't mind me, I'm just being snarky because I got hired as a temp secretary. I couldn't even make the cut to regular staff, much less a junior consultant like Anh.
Anyway, back to the douchebag boss.
I work in the Executive Compensation division, which advises companies on how much to offer when they're hiring high-level executives ā CEO's, CFO's, and other alphabet-soup positions ā in order to be competitive.
So, basically, I make $20,000 a year (which, in LA, is like $12,000 a year in Atlanta) supporting a senior VP who makes at least a half million a year, who advises companies on whether they should offer 11 million or 12 million to a potential new CEO who drove the last company he worked at into the ground.
Sorry, I'm a little bitter.
I'm even more bitter because my boss, Klaus Zimmerman, is... well, he's not the nicest person on the planet. Even more than that, he's disorganized, high maintenance, and wishy-washy. He can't find anything and yells at me like it's my fault his office is a pigsty. He is constantly coming up with a humongous list of time-consuming demands that he adds to hourly. He makes a hundred last-minute changes on any big project we send out, which means that I'm constantly begging the copy room guys to reprint and rebind 50 reports at 5:45 PM so I can make the last FedEx pickup. Otherwise I get to drive seven miles through LA rush hour ā which is, to say, I get to wait in traffic 45 minutes ā to drop off the delivery at the closest shipping office.
And he has the evil, evil habit of saving a ton of busywork until 6PM Friday night, which he needs corrected and emailed to him, because he 'has to work at home on the weekends.'
Ah ā but I get paid overtime for this!
Which means I make $12.50 an hour instead of $10. (Don't forget, the temp agency gets their cut.)
And virtually every Friday night is shot because I'm exhausted by the time I wrap up at 10PM getting Herr Klaus's reports ready.
I don't think he even works from home on the weekends. I think he just likes torturing me.
But I shouldn't complain, because if Klaus weren't such a jerk, I would have never met him.
A formidable Alpha werewolf and a determined human defy age-old customs and unearth hidden truths to embrace their destined bond as soulmates. Alpha Zev Hassick, hailed as the mightiest werewolf in ages, finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his closest companion, who happens to be human and male. In their society, werewolves are expected to mate with their own kind to maintain their humanity, making same-sex relationships taboo. Despite this, Zev's instincts insist that Jonah is his destined mate. Jonah Marvel faces numerous challenges in keeping his lifelong love with Zev intact, especially with the distance between them and Zev's unconventional family dynamics. As Jonah starts experiencing mysterious illnesses, he realizes that he must prioritize his well-being and mental health to secure a future alongside Zev. Though Zev and Jonah are aware of their undeniable connection, they must confront deep-rooted traditions and uncover hidden truths to embrace their shared destiny.
Zeke Buchanan had swept Marianne off her feet, and their two-year marriage had been perfect-until recently....Their physical passion was as strong as ever, but was Zeke starting to regret their impulsive wedding? The beautiful Liliana was clearly interested in more than a business relationship with Zeke. Was he tempted? Marianne was determined to save her marriage and prove to her husband that their honeymoon wasn't over, it was onlyĀ justĀ beginning!
Twenty-one-year-old Ivy Spellman has always played by the rules ā get good grades, stay out of trouble, and avoid bad boys at all costs. But when she takes a temp assignment at a multi-billion dollar drug company, she canāt help but become intrigued with the sexy and ultra-demanding CEO, Cullen Sharpe. Cullen Sharpe is used to getting what he wants, and his dark and damaged desires are locked on Ivy. Her good girl innocent routine is enough to drive him over the edge, and after Ivy makes a mistake at work, he senses an opening to teach the shy temp the pleasures and seductions of being bad... ā¦as well as the punishment that goes along with it. Soon the two of them are locked in a game of mystery, seduction, and raging desire that knows no bounds. But as Ivy is pushed beyond her sexual limits, she begins to crave more from the dark billionaire. However, Cullen guards his secrets and his heart for reasons that run deep. And if those reasons were to ever be revealed, it just might destroy them bothā¦
IT'S PERFECT. UNTIL IT'S NOT is a blend of sensual, erotic romance with sweet & delicious head-over-heels love. HEA, no cliffhanger, no cheating, and a fairytale romance with a bad boy who's complex but magnetic - and of course, heaps of hot, juicy, passionate sex! Katie is running from lies and heartbreak back home when she crosses paths with the most intoxicating man this sweet but sassy Kansas girl has ever laid eyes on. Ian is a surfer in Venice, California. 6'3". Body of a Greek Adonis, face like a Calvin Klein model... demeanor of an iceberg. After a random and painfully awkward meeting, what follows are surfing lessons, ice cream on the boardwalk, and lazy summer days on the beach. As Katie and Ian spend more time together, they begin to fall in love. Hard. It's perfect. Until it's not. Ian has secrets he's hiding - a dark past he doesn't want to share. Katie swore she would never let a man lie to her again... but when do secrets become lies? And despite a passionate love and an unwavering bond, can Katie forgive?
Skylar Kinseyās life is in the toilet. Literally. She should have been starting her first job out of college, working at a prestigious advertising agency. Instead sheās in hiding, cleaning bathrooms and offices in a fancy high-rise building in Boston. But when she catches billionaire Madden Cross in a compromising position, sheās faced with an impossible choice. Wicked seduction. Devilishly handsome real estate developer Madden Cross knows how to control everything, from his company, to his public imageā¦and especially his women. But when he first sets eyes on the innocent and curvy Skylar Kinsey, Madden knows that she will be his most difficult conquest yet. And thereās nothing that whets his appetite like a challenge. Wicked Bad. Soon, Skylar is presented with an offer that she cannot refuse. A weekend with the powerful billionaire in exchange for ten thousand dollars and the chance to start a new life. But will the billionaireās need to dominate her voluptuous body lead her down the path to hell, or will she find that even the wicked can sometimes be good after all?
(18+) Due to frank scenes of sensuality and profanity, it is intended for mature audiences only. Kaitlyn Reynolds is a year out of college and fighting to become a journalist when she gets the biggest break of her young life: the shot at a cover story in Rolling Stone magazine. But thereās a catch. Sheāll be covering the hottest bad-boy in rock, Derek Kane, whom Kaitlyn met when she was a freshman in college and he was a struggling unknown. It was passionate two-week affair: tumultuous, sensual, exhilarating... ...and it ended very, very badly. Now Kaitlyn has to decide whether she can face the pain of the past, her fear of the future ā and the man who might just have been the One.
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogulāher success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husbandās entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "Iām out of your league."
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
On her wedding day, Khloeās sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didnāt commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrikās cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it allāfrom standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didnāt return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachelās terminal illness and realized she didnāt have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."