When celebrated chef Adrian Knight teams up with enigmatic sommelier Celeste Laurent for an exclusive culinary event, sparks fly faster than pans in a kitchen fire. Their shared passion for exquisite flavors becomes a tantalizing prelude to a deeper, carnal hunger neither can deny. But as secrets simmer beneath the surface, their indulgence threatens to burn everything they've worked for. In a world where precision and control reign supreme, can two fiery souls surrender to their desires without losing themselves-or each other?
Adrian Knight slammed the stainless steel counter with his palm, the metallic clang echoing across the empty kitchen. The prep stations gleamed under fluorescent lights, each surface scrubbed spotless in preparation for tomorrow's high-profile event. The invitation-only dinner promised to be his biggest break yet, a chance to solidify his reputation as a culinary genius. But right now, all he could taste was frustration.
"Where the hell is she?" he muttered, pacing the floor.
Celeste Laurent, the renowned sommelier, was supposed to arrive an hour ago to finalize the wine pairings for his carefully curated menu. Adrian wasn't used to waiting-especially not for someone with a reputation for being difficult.
The door to the kitchen creaked open, and Adrian turned sharply. His breath hitched.
Celeste walked in, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. Her auburn hair was swept into a loose bun, tendrils framing her sharp cheekbones. She wore a sleek black dress, her emerald eyes scanning the room with the air of someone who owned it.
"You're late," Adrian snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
Celeste arched an elegant brow, unbothered by his tone. "Punctuality is for amateurs," she replied, her voice smooth and laced with a faint French accent.
Adrian clenched his jaw, refusing to let her rattle him. "We're on a tight schedule. I don't have time for your games."
"Neither do I," she said, setting her leather portfolio on the counter. "Let's get to work, shall we?"
Despite his irritation, Adrian couldn't deny the way his pulse quickened in her presence. There was something magnetic about Celeste-her confidence, her defiance, the way she seemed to command attention without trying. It annoyed him as much as it intrigued him.
"Fine," he said curtly. "Let's start with the amuse-bouche. I'm thinking citrus and fennel to wake up the palate."
Celeste opened her portfolio, revealing a list of wine notes in meticulous handwriting. "A Sancerre, perhaps? Its crisp acidity will complement the citrus without overpowering it."
Adrian nodded begrudgingly. "Not bad."
"Not bad?" she repeated, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Careful, Chef. That almost sounded like a compliment."
He ignored her and moved on to the next course, but the tension between them crackled like static electricity. Each decision-every wine, every ingredient-was a battle of wills. Adrian was used to being in control, but Celeste challenged him at every turn, her sharp tongue keeping him on edge.
As the hours passed, their professional clashes took on an almost flirtatious undercurrent. A casual brush of her hand against his, a lingering glance across the counter. By the time they reached the dessert course, Adrian's irritation had morphed into something else entirely-a smoldering attraction he couldn't ignore.
"Chocolate ganache with a hint of chili," he said, plating a sample. "Rich, decadent, with just enough heat to surprise you."
Celeste tasted the dessert, her eyes fluttering closed as the flavors unfolded on her tongue. Adrian watched, transfixed, as a soft moan escaped her lips.
"Perfect," she murmured, setting down her fork.
His throat went dry. "The wine?"
"A Tawny Port," she said, her voice husky. "Sweet and complex, with a finish as lingering as..." She trailed off, her gaze locking with his.
Adrian swallowed hard, the air between them thick with unspoken desire. He knew this was dangerous-mixing business with pleasure-but he couldn't stop himself.
"Celeste," he said, stepping closer.
She didn't move away. Instead, she tilted her head, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "What is it, Chef?"
His hand brushed against hers, and the contact sent a jolt of electricity through his body. Before he could think better of it, he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a searing kiss.
Celeste responded instantly, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed against him. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the heat of their connection. Adrian's control-so carefully maintained in the kitchen-shattered completely.
They stumbled against the counter, their bodies colliding in a frenzy of need. Adrian's hands roamed her curves, pulling her closer as their kiss deepened. Celeste gasped against his lips, her nails digging into his shoulders as she matched his intensity.
The cold metal of the counter bit into Adrian's back as Celeste pushed him down, her dominance both surprising and exhilarating. She straddled him, her dress hiking up to reveal long, shapely legs that he couldn't resist running his hands over.
"This is madness," she whispered, her breath hot against his ear.
"Maybe," Adrian said, his voice ragged. "But it feels damn good."
Their passion burned like a wildfire, consuming them both. Every kiss, every touch, every breath was an intoxicating blend of lust and defiance.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing hard, their clothes disheveled. Adrian stared at her, his mind racing.
"This doesn't change anything," he said, his tone harsher than he intended.
Celeste smirked, her green eyes glittering with amusement. "Of course not, Chef. It's just... a pairing."
Her words stung more than he cared to admit, but he nodded, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.
As Celeste gathered her things and prepared to leave, Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that their night of indulgence was only the beginning.
And he was right.
Because the next day, everything would unravel.
When Aria wakes up in an unfamiliar packhouse, disoriented and without any recollection of how she got there, she finds herself face-to-face with Lucas, the enigmatic and commanding Alpha who claims she is his fated mate. Confused and unable to recall their bond, Aria struggles to reconcile her lack of memory with the intense emotions Lucas stirs within her. As pieces of her past begin to return in fragmented flashes, she uncovers a painful truth: Lucas rejected her years ago, shattering their bond and setting her on a path of loneliness. But Lucas's pack is now cursed, their survival hanging by a thread, and Aria may hold the key to breaking the spell. Torn between the betrayal of the past and the undeniable pull of their fated bond, Aria must decide if she can forgive Lucas and if their love is strong enough to undo the darkness threatening them all. But as secrets unravel and a rogue witch's vendetta is revealed, Aria realizes her lost memories hide more than just heartbreak; they conceal a power that could save them or destroy them all.
Running from her past, Cassia, a runaway omega, has spent years hiding from the ruthless pack she escaped. But when she crosses paths with the feared Alpha Killian-a wolf known for his brutal reign-her world is turned upside down. Killian is her fated mate, a bond she can't deny. As she resists his attempts to claim her, dark secrets about her past begin to unravel, revealing the true reason she fled. With enemies closing in and her heart torn between fear and desire, Cassia must decide if she can trust Killian to protect her or if surrendering to him will lead to her destruction.
Drayen Fael has spent his entire life training to exert revenge on the witch who destroyed his family. As one of the last dragon shifters, his fiery rage fuels his every step, sharpening his claws and stoking the flames that burn inside him. Finally, after decades of hunting, he tracks her to the ruins of a forgotten kingdom. But the witch, Keryth, isn't what he imagined. She isn't the heartless monster of his nightmares. She's broken, haunted by her own dark past, and struggling to control the very powers that caused Drayen's grief. As their fates intertwine, Drayen must confront a truth more terrifying than any firestorm: vengeance isn't the answer, and his destiny is tied to the one he swore to destroy. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that goes far beyond their vendetta, one that threatens to unleash a darkness capable of annihilating their world. Can love bloom in the ashes of betrayal? Or will the flames of their past consume them both?
When Zara Hart agrees to a marriage contract with the notoriously cold billionaire Damian Cole, she thinks she's secured her freedom from a debt-ridden life. Little does she know, Damian has his own agenda-a vengeance plan that requires an ideal "wife" to win his family's approval and take control of his legacy. As their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, Zara and Damian discover their fake marriage is becoming all too real. But with secrets and lies woven into their contract, will their growing love survive, or will it destroy them both?
Amara thought she had everything-a destined mate, a promising future as the Luna of the Silver Ridge Pack, and a love she believed unshakable. But when her mate, Alpha Kael, cruelly rejects her for another, her world crumbles. Stripped of her title and cast out, she ventures into the wilds, broken but determined to survive. Years later, Amara returns as a formidable warrior with secrets that could change the fate of the werewolf world. But fate has one last twist for her-a second chance mate, one she never expected: Adrian, the enigmatic and dangerous leader of the rogue wolves. Torn between a past she can't escape and a future she never anticipated, Amara must navigate treachery, forbidden love, and a deadly prophecy. As the moon rises, choices will be made, blood will be spilled, and destiny will unfold.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!