Blurb for "Bound by the strings of Desire" Lily Carter is at the end of her rope. With her mother's life hanging in the balance and no money to pay for her treatment, she's desperate. When a mysterious, brooding billionaire named Mason Blackstone offers her an impossible deal in a high-end club, she's left with no choice but to accept: one night of passion in exchange for the money she so desperately needs. What starts as a single night of reckless desire turns into something neither of them expected. Mason, used to controlling everything and everyone, becomes addicted to Lily in ways he can't understand. Lily, trapped in a world of power and temptation, becomes Mason's obsession a secret he can't do without. As their physical connection deepens, so does their emotional entanglement, leaving both of them fighting against an undeniable pull. But with Mason's dark past threatening their future, can either of them break free from the chains of desire? Or will they both be consumed by the fire they've started?
A fresh, acrid smell of paint mixed with desperation hung heavy in the dim light of her tiny apartment as she sat hunched over her easel. The painting before her was a kaleidoscope of chaos: a stormy sea, dark waves crashing against jagged rocks, a solitary lighthouse standing tall but weathered. It was her favorite piece and her most personal.
And it had to sell.
The gentle hum of her mother's oxygen machine filtered through the cracked bedroom door. Every hiss, every click reminded her of piling bills in the hospital, those treatments that Lily could hardly pay for, and that fact which was a bit too grim to acknowledge for longer than a moment or two.
Her phone vibrated on the cluttered table and tugged her back. Caleb.
Caleb: Don't forget about tonight. The gallery's your chance to shine.
Lily stared at the message, biting her lip. Caleb was always so optimistic, so sure that this was the moment her luck would change. But she wasn't.
Lily: I'll be there.
She was concise, and she managed to convince herself that this was the case. The event tonight in the downtown gallery wasn't just another opportunity; it was her last. If she didn't sell her art, she didn't know how she'd pay for her mother's next round of medication.
Hours later, she stood in the corner of the gallery, the stormy seascape she painted finally facing the room from her place upon an easel. The low murmurs of conversations filled the room, spurts of laughter then talked over each other, filled with patrons-very rich, costly scents mingling together amid a faint hint of wine and hors d'oeuvres.
Lily smoothed the fabric of her dress, a secondhand find that didn't quite fit, and tried to steady her nerves. She'd poured her soul into this painting. Someone had to see its worth.
But as the night wore on, her hope began to wane. People glanced at her work, nodding politely before moving on to the more abstract, trendy pieces that lined the walls.
"You're the artist?"
The voice was low and smooth, velvet, and it startled her. Turning, she found a man standing there; his tailored suit fitted him like a second skin. Sharp featured, with slicked-back dark hair, he had eyes so piercing they made her heart stutter.
"Yes," she whispered.
His gaze flicked up to the painting, hung there a moment, then came back to her. "It's raw. Honest. I like that."
Relief washed over her, but before she could reply, he pulled out his phone and began to text.
"I'm so sorry, I have to take this," he said shortly, striding away without another word.
Lily blinked. And that was it? Was he interested or merely being polite?
The night ended in disappointment.
She packed up her painting in mechanical motions. Her chest was empty, and her legs weighed a ton as she trudged her way to her apartment.
The hall was dark as she arrived. The bulb above her door flickered ominously. Stepping inside, she opened the door. The scent of lavender and paint thinner wafted from inside.
"Mom?" she called softly, peering into the bedroom.
Her mother was sleeping, her fragile body curled under a worn quilt. It sent a pang of guilt through Lily's chest.
She quietly closed the door and leaned against the wall, clutching the painting to her chest. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
Her phone buzzed again, and she pulled it out, expecting another pep talk from Caleb. Instead, it was an unknown number.
Unknown: Lily Carter, you have talent. But talent needs opportunity.
She frowned. Her heart raced. Before she could type out a response, another message came through.
Unknown: Blackstone Gala. Tomorrow night. Be there.
An address was attached, one she knew right away.
Blackstone Manor.
Her breath caught. Blackstone Manor was the stuff of legend, a fortress of money and power owned by the enigmatic billionaire Mason Blackstone. She had heard whispers about his galas: multimillion-dollar deals were made and the courses of fates changed in the span of one night.
But who would invite her?
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She wanted to ask who they were, why they'd chosen her, but something stopped her. Instead, she stared at the address, her heart pounding.
Next evening, Lily stood in front of the gates of Blackstone Manor. The sprawled estate was a tangle of hundreds of lights, the grand façade curving over the mansion to loom like a palace against the night sky.
Smoothing the dress that wasn't hers, clutching her invitation tightly, she stood a little straighter because her nerves were raw and because, beneath her skin, some strange sense of anticipation hummed.
"Miss Carter?"
A man in a slick black suit moved to stand before her. His eyes were expressionless. "Your invitation, please."
She did so, and after the merest of glances, he moved aside, gesturing to allow her inside.
Inside, the manor was more sumptuous than she could have envisioned. Crystal chandeliers cascaded from vaulted ceilings, casting golden light upon marble floors. Guests in designer gowns and tailored suits milled about, sipping champagne and whispering to one another.
Lily felt like a fraud. She was a starving artist amidst power players, and she did not fit in.
"Lily Carter."
The voice was unmistakably low, commanding, uncomfortably familiar.
She turned to see him, the man from the gallery. But here, in the grand setting of Blackstone Manor, he seemed even more imposing. His presence dominated the room, and his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.
"You're here," he said, his lips curving into a faint smile.
"You invited me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I did," he replied shortly, moving closer. "You interest me, Lily."
She swallowed hard as her heart rate shot through the roof. "Why?"
He didn't answer, merely fished his hand into his pocket and drew out a card of shiny black. "Tomorrow. Meet me here. Noon."
She stared at the card, confusion and disquiet churning in her chest. "I don't understand."
"You will," he said; there was no invitation for argument into his tone.
She had barely uttered a word in response when he'd already turned and melted into the sea of people, leaving her standing there, clutching the card for dear life.
The words were simple: Blackstone Industries. Private Entrance.
As she exited the gala, her brain was a maze of questions. Who was Mason Blackstone, really? And what could he want from her?
Back in her apartment, she laid the black card on the table and stared at it. The questions could never stop swirling in her mind, but one thing was for sure.
Her life was about to change...
Blurb for "Bound by Desire" Lily Carter is at the end of her rope. With her mother's life hanging in the balance and no money to pay for her treatment, she's desperate. When a mysterious, brooding billionaire named Mason Blackstone offers her an impossible deal in a high-end club, she's left with no choice but to accept: one night of passion in exchange for the money she so desperately needs. What starts as a single night of reckless desire turns into something neither of them expected. Mason, used to controlling everything and everyone, becomes addicted to Lily in ways he can't understand. Lily, trapped in a world of power and temptation, becomes Mason's obsession a secret he can't do without. As their physical connection deepens, so does their emotional entanglement, leaving both of them fighting against an undeniable pull. But with Mason's dark past threatening their future, can either of them break free from the chains of desire? Or will they both be consumed by the fire they've started?
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
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 all—from 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 didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t 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."
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.