With my fingers gliding across his flesh, I kept contact as I moved around to his back and across the broad expanse between each shoulder, afterward, I ran my fingers in a soft caress over the nape of his neck-God, how I'd always wanted to touch him in this way-and then began making my way over to the opposite shoulder, shortly coming around to his collarbone. Afterward, with a pivot of my fingertips, and practiced turns of my feet, I came a full one hundred and eighty degrees, facing him again. As I gazed into his eyes, my breathing increased, and I felt myself give a small pant as I moved my fingers down to his chest. Then, without so much as a pause in my actions, I lowered myself toward the floor. ******* Torin-Shattered:Way down we Go - A heart-wrenching tango of love, loss, and redemption unfolds as Marlowe Mills, the daughter of the president of the Sons of Morning Star MC, is unwittingly ensnared by Torin Montero, a member of her father's gang, who becomes her fathers rival and her silent protector. Their love, a secret flame in the shadows, is torn apart by the roar of a brutal betrayal. When the embers of their past ignite once more, Marlowe finds herself in the treacherous embrace of a Mob boss's son, entangled in a web of obsession and danger. But fate has a twist in store: Torin lives, scarred and driven by his own vendetta. As the lines between love and vengeance blur, Marlowe must choose between the comfort of the shadows or the tumultuous dance of destiny. Will she embrace love that's been reborn from the ashes, or succumb to the seductive whispers of power and temptation? This is a sizzling narrative of passion, deceit, and the indomitable human spirit, as Marlowe and Torin fight to reclaim what was stolen from them amidst the roar of engines and the whispers of a love that refuses to be silenced.
**MARLOWE**
A light flush of sweat coated my skin for I needed a fix, and I needed it badly, so when Auriella held out the pills in her hand, I took them from her without question, quickly swallowing them with a drink from my bottled water.
"Your dad wants you in the room tonight, he said you have a request," she told me, watching me recap the bottle.
I grimaced. "Do I have to? You know what happened the last time."
She gave a small snort. "Of course you do," she quipped, her tone that of disbelief I was even asking.
At fifty-two, Auriella was my dad's ol' lady, as well our House Mother, and it was her job to make sure everything ran smooth within the compound, as well the clubhouse, and just like my dad, she ruled it all with an iron hand.
I'd seen her beat the shit out of some of the girls for a simple eye roll when they didn't like what they had been told to do.
I didn't like Auriella much, and she didn't like me, but out of all the ol' ladies Dad had had, I guess I liked her the most. However, she was still just another in a line of many. Dad was a viral man, and women had always seemed to flock to him.
I suppose it had something to do with who he was. Stye Mills-my dad-was the president of our Charter; The Sons of Morning Star, and as such, I'd seen some pretty damn bloody fights between the biker mamas over him.
I'd never known my mom, as she had died giving birth to me, and life hadn't been easy because of it. Many of Dad's ol' ladies had tried playing Mom, or my best friend to me, but I had seen through their bullshit. I wasn't stupid.
That's the only good thing I could say about Auriella, she didn't pretend to be anyone but who she was, and though I was respected by the members as the club's president's daughter, I was still nonetheless part of the stable-dancers, prostitutes and topless waitresses-and she treated me as such.
Most times I served the bar, but tonight it appeared I'd be working in the back, so ten minutes later with the drugs cruising through my system, I found myself standing before the door of my private room.
I'd been assigned this one, and though I didn't know why I was the only one who worked in this particular room, I'd never voiced the question. I learned long ago you didn't question anything Dad said or did.
In fact, this was the only room I did work in. I didn't dance on stage, nor entertain in the other private rooms as most of the girls did. Yet, again, I hadn't questioned it, I was just thankful I didn't. Nevertheless, that didn't take away the nerves I was now working with.
After drawing several deep breaths, I readied myself for dealing with the man inside. Well, not actually me, but rather my stage persona, Mystique, was preparing, and she-well, fuck-I, was scared shitless about it.
I hated finding myself in this position again. The last time I entertained, barely three weeks ago, I'd sworn I'd never do it again after I'd endured a beating; the guy had damn near killed me. Thinking about it now, I realized I hadn't seen the prospect around since then.
As I tried to stop the slight tremors that raced through my frame, I smoothed the boy style shorts that bared my lower ass cheeks, then reaching up, I plumped my boobs in the matching bra-styled top. With a resigned sigh, I pushed a small button on the wall next to the door and started my introduction music. Afterward, hand on the doorknob, I twisted it and stepped into the room.
The low throb of music greeted me, its low pulse echoing within my body, and placing my butt against the door, I pushed it shut. As I did so, my eyes landed on the man in the chair. He sat low in the seat, his legs stretched out before him, ankles crossed. But at my entrance, he raised his head, then, with slow movements, sat the tumbler in his hand onto the tabletop beside the chair.
Afterward, uncrossing his ankles, he straightened, peering in my direction. The dim lighting in that section of the room kept me from making out his features, but I could feel his eyes on me as his scent surrounded me, enveloping me within its allure-a mixture of spice and something...something musky and intoxicating: essentially male. A scent I knew well. I gave a small groan, a sudden flood of desire washing through me.
Torin Montero had been gone for the last three days making a run, and I was happy to know he was back and safe. The runs were always dangerous and some of the guys didn't always make it back. Rivalry between our MC and some of the other clubs always made for nasty business situations.
There were a shitload of good looking men in this club, but Torin was the only one I'd ever wanted so badly, that as a teenager, I'd spent many nights having erotic dreams about him. He was, as well, the only man outside of my dad and my brother, Dillon, that had ever held my heart.
Suddenly, I wanted nothing to do with this. I didn't want Torin seeing me like this: strung out and dancing in a sex room for whatever man paid my dad enough money. I wasn't a whore, but taking off my clothes for total strangers made me feel as though I were. Yet, I knew I couldn't refuse if Torin did request that I undress for him, because Auriella would beat my ass if I didn't.
As the first dance song on my soundtrack began to echo about the room, I heard the low, thick cadence of Torin's voice. "Dance for me, princess."
The time for escape had passed, and I drew in a deep breath. The throb of the music kept time with the pulse beating between my legs. As I stepped forward, I made my way over to Torin, then I began sliding my fingertips across his left collarbone and onto his shoulder.
With a shift, I let my dress slip from my shoulders and to the floor, revealing the lingerie beneath. Nathan's eyes darken, as closing the small distance between us, his lips claim mine in a possessive kiss, his tongue tangling with mine, both hungry and tender. Then, slowly, oh so tantalizingly slowly, he backs me toward the bed, his kisses travelling down my neck, across my collarbone, before they move lower still... FBI Agent Brianna Hart had always wanted Nathan Pierce, her stepbrother, and for several years they were lovers, but circumstances forced them apart. When Brianna returns to her former job within the FBI, she finds Nathan has married. When he once again becomes her team leader, Brianna tries to maintain a professional relationship with Nathan. But after a tragic accident takes the life of Nathan's wife and unborn child, he seeks solace within Brianna's arms. Old feelings flare to life between them as they delve into the world of a sadistic serial killer. Both struggle with the undeniable sexual attraction between them. However, Brianna's heart is torn over her love and need for the newly widowed Nathan, while he grapples with the loss of his family and his re-awakened feelings for a woman he never quite let go of.
From the age of fifteen Rylee Cody has been receiving visions of a psychopath's victims. Choosing a career as a crime scene investigator she hopes to catch the person responsible for the horrible visions. Fatally injured during an investigation, her heart stops during surgery, but even death didn't keep her visionary from invading her mind again. When she is brought back from the other side, she has one intent; the visionary's own death.
Sydney Trousseau has always known she was a witch, but at the age of eighteen, she learns she is immortal as well. Orphaned, and time lost, she doesn't remember her parents and always wondered who she had received the gift of magic from, her mom or her dad. Learning she could summon the dead through dance, she unintentionally summons a female from a lost dynasty called Lafoa, from whom she learns, to save the man she loves from an ancient curse, she must travel thousands of years into the past.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
Lindsey's fiancé was the devil's first son. Not only did he lie to her but he also slept with her stepmother, conspired to take away her family fortune, and then set her up to have sex with a total stranger. To get her lick back, Lindsey decided to find a man to disrupt her engagement party and humiliate the cheating bastard. Never did she imagine that she would bump into a strikingly handsome stranger who was all that she was currently looking for. At the engagement party, he boldly declared that she was his woman. Lindsey thought he was just a broke man who wanted to leech off her. But once they began their fake relationship, she realized that good luck kept coming her way. She thought they would part ways after the engagement party, but this man kept to her side. "We gotta stick together, Lindsey. Remember, I'm now your fiancé. " "Domenic, you're with me because of my money, aren't you?" Lindsey asked, narrowing her eyes at him. Domenic was taken aback by that accusation. How could he, the heir of the Walsh family and CEO of Vitality Group, be with her for money? He controlled more than half of the city's economy. Money wasn't a problem for him! The two got closer and closer. One day, Lindsey finally realized that Domenic was actually the stranger she had slept with months ago. Would this realization change things between them? For the better or worse?
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!