One night. One unexpected meeting. And everything changes. Alex Lucas, heir to the powerful Lucas crime empire, never imagined that a night out would lead him to Shantex. The sexy, confident stripper sparks something in him that he can't ignore. Their chemistry is instant, their attraction undeniable. Shantex, with her bold confidence and hidden agenda, knows exactly what she wants. She has no plans to let Alex walk away untouched. Their night together is more than just about passion - it's about power, and she's determined to get it. In a world full of danger, revenge, and dark desires, will they give in to what they feel? Or will their secrets tear them apart before they can even begin? Neither of them is ready for what's about to happen.
A Night to Forget
Alex
The club had smothered me-a cloud of cigarette smoke, thumping bass in my chest, and flashing neon lights. I needed to escape the weight of my father's empire with the lies and bloodshed that came with it. This place was my refuge for the night, even if it was a poor excuse for one. It reeked of alcohol and desperation, but I didn't care. I just needed that distraction.
I leaned back against the cavernous leather booth in the VIP section, my eyes wandering over the ocean of bodies gyrating to the erotic beat of the headphones. Then I saw her.
Sin itself moved with the contours brought to life by the red and purple lights. Long legs wrapped in black stockings, a sequined top barely covering her, and an indecent smirk that tightened my lips made the cut. She twisted her body to every groove as though owning the stage, as if born to tempt. The crowd cheered, but I hardly heard them. All I saw was her.
I shouldn't have been staring so hard, but I couldn't stop. Lust clawed its way into my veins as reason died in my head. Who was she? No-what was she? A siren in human form, and I was already drowning.
Her eyes found mine.
At first, it was subtle, just a flicker of acknowledgment as her gaze wandered around the room. But her movements slowed, becoming deliberate when she spotted me. She whirled around that pole, eyes firmly locking onto mine, daring hints glimmering within her dark orbs. She knew. She knew what she was doing to me, and damn it, she was enjoying it.
I leaned closer, fingers digging into the edge of the table. Heat coiled low in my belly, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears. She came down the pole, her body bending like fire in the wind, her lips twisting into a wicked smile. Every movement was engineered to ensnare, and I was her agog prey.
When she finished her performance, I anticipated that she would soon disappear into the creased curtains like the rest. However, she walked off with hips swaying step by step straight to my booth. The crowd blurred out of existence as she bridged the distance. My jaw tightened, my fingers curling into a fist against my thigh to keep me from reaching out.
"Enjoying the show?" she asked in a low, husky voice, sending a shiver down my spine.
I gave a dry chuckle, which was supposed to mask the raging fire inside me. "Depends. Such as, "Do I get a closer look?"
She laughed softly, a sound that could only be felt like silk on the skin. Her eyes raked over him, judging, teasing. "That also depends. How much is a closer look worth to you?"
I smirked at the tilt of my head. "Why don't you tell me?"
There was a faint fragrance of vanilla, just an undercurrent to something much darker that seemed to envelop me as she leaned in. Lips hovering right by my ear, she whispered: "Private dance, that's one thousand. And if you want more than that..." She pulled back, daring me in her expression to take that bait. Lust tightened around my guts, and I knew it wouldn't be possible, not tonight.
"What's your name?" I asked, a rougher tone than I intended coming out with my curiosity.
"Shantex." Slowly her lips curved into a smile. "And you?"
"Alex."
"Hmmm. Well, Alex," she purred, sliding into the booth beside me, her thigh brushing against mine. "What are you looking for tonight?" Swallowed hard, my gaze dropping to her lips. "Distraction."
Her fingers trailed up my arm, light as a feather, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. "Lucky for you, I'm very good at that."
Torn apart, I leaned in closer until her waist met my hand as I pulled her just enough for my body to feel the curve she made against me. She took a breath, and yet she didn't pull away, but her lips curled into a smile that promised trouble.
"How much?" I asked, my voice low.
"As for the night?" she whispered, barely brushing her lips against mine.
I nodded.
Her fingers played with the collar of my shirt, her nails scraping lightly against my skin. "Five thousand."
"Done." My voice escaped sharper than intended, but I really didn't care. All I wanted was her.
Shantex got up and took my hand, leading me towards the private rooms at the back. Her fingers laced with mine, a soft contrast to the fire blazing between us. Each step bore heavier weight and was ever more charged with anticipation. I had no idea what the night held in store for me, but one thing I was certainly sure about-no way to turn back now.
Shantex
I staggered in shock for an instant when he posed the question about how much it would cost to spend the night with him. Oh, not that the question asked sounded nobel; it was just that for a good part, there was some offbeat touch about this one. The way stormy eyes bore into mine fired up my skin, and there was something caressing in the low and smooth voice that came out like an echo.
I leaned in close enough for him to catch the faint scent of my perfume and allowed a teasing smile to curve my lips. "You know," I whispered, dropping into sultry mode, "it all depends. How much is a night with me worth to you?"
He didn't reply that exact second, and that only made him exponentially more interesting. Any other guy would probably have either rifled through their references or thrown out a number, but he just strides on, keeping me in his catchment with eyes roaming like all hunters do across my face, down to my body, studying me, I was sure.
When he eventually found his voice, it was a calm and intent voice that said, "Anything."
The word was pregnant with heavy meaning and held between the two of us. For a moment, I felt my mask slipping. This was not just another customer; he was neither the type that could be forced to hear a few coy words and driven off. There was something about this one that was dangerous.
Still, I couldn't let him see how he affected me. I tilted my head, dragging a finger slowly along the lapel of his jacket. "Anything," I repeated, letting the word linger. "Well, let's see if you're serious."
He stood, towering over me, and held out his hand. There was no hesitation in his movements, no second-guessing. I slipped my hand into his, feeling the strength in his grip, and let him lead me out of the club.
The cool night air brushed against my bare skin, but the chill didn't bother me. I was too focused on the man walking beside me. His presence was magnetic, pulling me in without effort.
We didn't speak on the way to his car. The silence wasn't uncomfortable-it was charged, alive with tension. He opened the passenger door for me, his hand brushing mine as I stepped in. That brief touch sent a spark through me, and I hated how much I liked it.
"You've been driving me crazy all night," he said, his voice rough.
I smirked, taking a step closer. "Oh? I thought you were the one in control."
That seemed to light a fire in him. His hands found my waist, pulling me against him with a force that made my breath hitch. His lips crashed into mine, hot and demanding, and I couldn't help but respond with equal intensity.
I slid my fingers into his hair, tugging lightly as his hands explored the curve of my body. His touch was possessive, leaving a trail of heat everywhere it landed.
We stumbled toward the bed, shedding layers as we went. The air between us was electric, every kiss, every touch igniting something deeper. When he finally laid me down, his gaze held mine, and for a moment, it felt like the world had disappeared.
"You're even more beautiful than I imagined," he murmured, his voice low and reverent.
A shiver ran through me, but I refused to let him see how much his words affected me. "Then stop imagining," I whispered, pulling him closer.
I touched through his messy mane of hair with my fingers-the strands thick and soft under my touch. Without thinking, I tugged him closer. A low growl rumbled from his chest, sending a thrill through me, echoing within it. His hands quickly found mine, moving over me like he tried to claim me with every inch of him.
There was no hesitation with him; it was urgent, demanding, as if he needed to have me at this moment. The heat from his suddenly seared my skin, drawing off my breath. My heart pounded hard, racing in my chest, but all I could focus on was him-his hands, his scent, the raw intensity in his eyes when he pulled back for just a second to look at me.
His lips traveled to my neck, biting and kissing in an almost desperate hunger that turned my insides into a melting pool of sweet reactions. I instinctively tilted my head to allow him more access and feel every inch of him against me. His breath was hot against my flesh, making me shiver with every whisper against my ear, words I couldn't quite catch but didn't need to. I felt them in every nerve.
I pulled him closer by his hair, my fingers gripping tighter, and he immediately met the instinctive pulling by pressing his body against mine. The weight of him behind me felt so solid that it grounded me-in control of the moment, of us. He was not gentle; he was possessive, determined to have me, to make this night his.
His lips trailed lower, kissing my collarbone, and I gasped at each touch-stoking more heat between us. He wasn't holding back, and I wasn't either. Each kiss, each movement felt as though it thought-wisps were pushing us to the edge of something neither of us wanted to stop.
I dived my finger deep into his skin on the first thrust in. The thrust was accompanied by a low-tone groan and a high-pitched moan that I couldn't suppress.
The first thrust, the second thrust, the third, and the fourth. The rhythm continued for a few minutes until he pulled out and sprung liquids on me from my tummy down to my thigh. He fell on the side of the bed. Both panting heavily with satisfaction.
Cassie's life is turned upside down when her mate, Mason, abandons her for a woman named Kara. Cassie is feeling betrayed and left out. At her lowest, Alpha Xander from the rival Shadowfang Pack offers her a contract marriage proposal: He marries him to join their packs, unite the packs, and battle dangerous rogue werewolves. Cassie, though hesitant, agrees, hoping to find a new sense of belonging. Cassie finds out the secret of her parent's mysterious deaths and uncovers a dark conspiracy to destroy the packs. Mason's secret baby adds another layer of suspense and complication to her new life. Cassie has mixed feelings about Mason and a weird feeling for Xander, too. Cassie must choose between her past and her future once Mason's secret is revealed. Find out what her choice would be!
NEW CHAPTERS DAILY!!! The same suffering, rejection, betrayal, and exile from her pack hurt Liana Elrend. Her father's failed rebellion had stained her name, and the pack had cast her off for her father's sins. When rogue wolves aim to threaten the vulnerable peace of Shadow's Vale, they need her back to wield a cursed relic. The cost? An unwanted mating bond to Kael Drayve, the pack's new lawless alpha and ruthless bastard of a leader. Kael is already a fragile leader. Of course, unless you count the fact that he has rival factions plotting to overthrow him. The Veilstone Shard enters the scene, a cursed relic so powerful the consequences of it leaving Liana's hands could see many cities torn apart by its power. The sacred Shard could be the making or breaking of everything. Kael and Liana go searching for it, in direct violation of everything in their world they exist in believing, and their connection only grows stronger. She has visions of destruction that grow to haunt her. She wants to fight the dark pull of the Shard's power ... but she has to protect her unborn child. Her journey is about pain, sacrifice, and choices that could change all of this if it were anyone else.
NEW CHAPTERS DAILY!!! ONLY HERE!!! Larkwood Haven is a place where animals have forgotten their humanity and children have forged a strong, unbreakable bond. Three clans of werewolves live there, kept together by a fragile peace. Everything falls apart when the wards that protect their sanctuary fail. Then we witness strange clawed marks appearing in the woods, Elder Theron disappearing, and whispers of an ancient curse spreading fear through the clans. An outsider to her pack, Calla Wynter dares to find and read her late mother's journal. Some old journal records the Eclipse Stone, and it reveals all about an artifact powerful enough to save the Haven either or utterly destroy it. Kieran, a warrior who's been having a tough time due to his social struggles and his past, and Ashlyn, a formidable magic seeker, are called in by her to help. They set off on a dangerous quest to find the Stone. With each passing day, the curse of the outer world grows more robust, casting a darker shadow over the Haven, and amidst the darkness, a betrayal is being planned. With everyone questioning her every step, she must determine if she has the strength to lead. Can she survive the fear and distrust to save her home, or will the darkness prevail over her?
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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!"
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."