Anya, a woman haunted by the past, seeks solace in the quiet solitude of her seaside cottage. Her peaceful existence is shattered when she encounters the enigmatic billionaire, Damien Blackwood. "You're a puzzle, Anya," Damien murmurs, his gaze intense. "A puzzle I'm determined to solve." Drawn into his opulent world, Anya discovers a man consumed by darkness, a man who craves control and possesses a dangerous obsession. "I'll protect you, Anya," he promises, his voice laced with both tenderness and menace. "From yourself, from the world, and from anyone who dares to harm you." As the lines between love and obsession blur, Anya must confront her own demons and unravel the truth about Damien before it's too late. "You can't escape me, Anya," he whispers, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. "I'll always find you."
Chapter One: Shadows by the Sea
The waves crashed against the rugged shoreline, their rhythm echoing through the quiet morning air. Anya Miller stood at the edge of the cliff, her arms wrapped around herself against the chill. The wind tugged at her loose sweater, carrying with it the briny scent of the ocean. Her easel stood a few feet away, the canvas still blank. Despite spending hours staring at the scene before her, the inspiration she sought refused to come.
She sighed and lowered her gaze to the rocky beach below. The sea had always been her sanctuary, a place where the noise of the world couldn't reach her. But lately, even its endless expanse wasn't enough to quiet her restless thoughts.
Anya glanced back at her small cottage, its weathered walls blending into the landscape. It was unassuming, tucked away from prying eyes, and it had been her safe haven for the past two years. She had rebuilt her life here, piece by fragile piece, away from the chaos and pain of her past.
But the past had a way of clinging to her like a shadow.
She turned back to the ocean, forcing herself to focus. The horizon stretched endlessly, a canvas of muted blues and grays. If she could just capture a fraction of its vastness, maybe the painting would come alive. Picking up her brush, she dipped it into the paint and hesitated, the bristles hovering over the blank surface.
Then came the sound of footsteps.
Anya's breath hitched, her grip on the brush tightening. The cliffside was remote-she rarely encountered anyone out here. She turned slowly, her pulse quickening, and saw a man standing a few feet away.
He was tall, his dark coat billowing in the wind. His sharp features were partially obscured by the shadow of the morning light, but his piercing gaze was unmistakable.
"I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice smooth and deep.
Anya took a step back, her instincts telling her to be cautious. "This is private property."
He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching as if amused. "I could say the same to you."
Her stomach dropped. She hadn't realized she had wandered so close to the edge of her neighbor's estate. She'd seen the sprawling mansion from a distance but had never been curious enough to approach it.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I didn't realize-"
"It's not a problem," he interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "You're an artist, aren't you?"
Anya blinked, unsure how to respond. She glanced at the easel behind her and nodded cautiously. "I paint."
His gaze lingered on her for a moment, as though he were trying to unravel her secrets. "I'm Damien Blackwood," he said, extending a gloved hand.
The name struck a faint chord of recognition, though Anya couldn't place it. Hesitantly, she took his hand, his grip firm but not overbearing.
"Anya Miller."
"Anya," he repeated, as though testing the name. "You live in the cottage just beyond the hill?"
Her throat tightened. How did he know where she lived? She nodded again, her words caught somewhere between her caution and curiosity.
"It's rare to find someone who values solitude as much as I do," he said, his gaze drifting to the ocean. "Most people would rather fill the silence with noise."
Anya didn't respond, unsure of what to make of him. He was impeccably dressed, his coat tailored and his shoes too polished for the rugged terrain. He didn't belong here, and yet he seemed perfectly at ease.
"What are you painting?" he asked, gesturing to her canvas.
"Nothing yet," she admitted, her cheeks flushing. "I'm still trying to figure it out."
Damien tilted his head, studying her as if she were the puzzle instead of the painting. "Sometimes the best art comes when you stop trying to control it."
Anya frowned, his words hitting closer to home than she cared to admit. "I suppose," she said cautiously.
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'll leave you to it, then." He turned, but after a few steps, he paused. "Be careful near the cliffs. The wind can be... unpredictable."
She watched as he walked away, his silhouette blending into the mist that rolled off the sea. Even after he disappeared, the tension in her shoulders remained. There was something about him that set her on edge, something she couldn't quite place.
---
Later that afternoon, Anya found herself replaying the encounter in her mind. She had returned to her cottage and busied herself with cleaning, hoping the routine would ground her. But Damien Blackwood's presence lingered like a ghost.
She finally allowed herself to look him up online, her old laptop whirring to life as she typed his name into the search bar. The results were instant.
Damien Blackwood, billionaire entrepreneur, real estate magnate, and philanthropist. The articles were endless, detailing his rise to power and his penchant for remaining out of the spotlight.
But it was the photos that gave her pause. In every image, his expression was the same-calm, composed, and unreadable. There was a coldness in his eyes that made her shiver, even through the screen.
A knock at the door startled her, and she quickly closed the laptop. Her heart raced as she approached the door, hesitating before opening it.
"Ms. Miller," came a familiar voice.
She exhaled, her pulse steadying. It was Sarah Caldwell, the local café owner and one of the few people Anya trusted.
"I thought I'd bring you some leftovers," Sarah said, holding up a basket. "I made too much stew again."
Anya managed a smile, stepping aside to let her in. "Thanks. You didn't have to."
Sarah shrugged, setting the basket on the counter. "You've got to eat, Anya. You're too skinny as it is."
As Sarah busied herself unpacking the basket, she glanced around the room. "Did you hear about the Blackwood guy?"
Anya froze. "What about him?"
"He's been back in town for a week now. People say he's planning to restore the old mansion. It's been abandoned for years, you know."
Anya nodded, her thoughts racing.
"Damien Blackwood's a bit of a mystery," Sarah continued. "Some people think he's charming; others say he's dangerous." She leaned closer, her voice lowering. "I'd keep my distance if I were you. Men like him don't come to places like this without a reason."
Anya swallowed hard, the weight of Sarah's words sinking in. She thanked her friend and saw her off, but the unease in her chest only grew.
As night fell, Anya stared out the window at the distant lights of the Blackwood mansion. For the first time in years, she felt the walls of her sanctuary begin to close in.
Something had shifted, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her quiet life was no longer her own.
"Slave to the Inferno" tells the story of a young girl named Elissa who is sold into the world of human trafficking and ends up in the hands of an underground mafia boss named Kaier. As Elissa adjusts to her new life, she finds herself becoming more and more fascinated with the power dynamics of BDSM, and begins to rise in the ranks of the dungeon as Kaier's favorite. However, the jealousy of the other women in the dungeon threatens to destroy everything Elissa has built, and she must fight to survive in this dangerous, seductive world.
"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."
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!