Eden Sinclair takes a live-in tutoring position at the esteemed Laurent estate expecting a summer filled with academic work and strict discipline. She expected tutoring duties and discipline but not Gabriel Laurent-the irresistible yet forbidden son of her employer. Their duty binds them while desire divides them and a perilous secret confines them as Eden and Gabriel face the choice of whether love justifies breaking every known rule. One stolen touch. One whispered promise. They are convinced their love is forbidden forever... but maybe there's hope yet.
The wrought-iron gates of Belmont Manor towered tall and imposing above the dusky sky. Eden Sinclair held the steering wheel tightly when she carefully guided her vehicle through the entrance while a nervous beat pounded against her throat. The beautifully landscaped gardens surrounded the lengthy driveway which represented an exclusive world of affluence she did not belong to.
She inhaled deeply. It's just a summer job. For a few months she would tutor students and her salary would support her graduate studies before she would leave. No complications. No entanglements.
Upon seeing the estate she recognized that simplicity would never find a place here.
The mansion presented a stunning view combining French architectural design with ivy-covered stone walls and windows reaching skyward while balconies glowed with the warm light of candles. The estate remained untouched and preserved as if time had stopped there.
Eden parked her car and exited with her navy dress smoothed, realizing her plain appearance against the extravagant surroundings. As soon as she tapped on the heavy front doors they opened to show a woman with keen, evaluative eyes.
"Welcome Miss Sinclair," the woman introduced herself as Colette the housekeeper. Mr. Laurent is waiting."
Eden entered behind Colette with the sound of her heels tapping on the marble floors. The scent of fresh roses mixed with deeper aromas of aged wood and old money filled the air.
The grand staircases and golden chandeliers did not disturb her as they moved through the luxurious space. It was the silence.
Colette directed Eden to follow her into the study.
Victor Laurent occupied the space behind his mahogany desk with a silent authority that filled the room. Victor Laurent displayed salt-and-pepper hair along with his tailored suit and icy gray eyes that took in her appearance without delay.
He observed with a smooth voice that she seemed younger than he had presumed.
Eden reassured Vincent that she possessed the necessary qualifications while maintaining her composed voice.
With steepled fingers Victor leaned back and stated, "I don't doubt that." Discretion holds equal importance to intelligence in this place. My daughter is... difficult. My daughter presents challenges; therefore you must handle her tasks without creating unnecessary distractions.
A warning. One she understood immediately.
Eden stated her purpose to tutor Isabelle and nothing more.
With a nod of approval Victor instructed Colette to show Eden to her room.
As Eden moved toward the exit she sensed someone watching her from the hallway.
The slow sensation of prickling up her spine prompted her to look right where she saw him.
Gabriel Laurent.
He kept his watch from the hallway's end while his shoulder rested against the wall.
The air between them shifted.
His tall stature combined with his effortless poise made the dim lighting create shadows that emphasized the sharp angles of his face. Dark hair tousled about his head, sleeves rolled to his forearms, and his top button undone made him look as if he had just left a gala without caring to appear groomed.
His gaze lingered, intense, unreadable.
As heat spread across her face, Eden struggled to swallow.
She attempted to break eye contact and walk away yet she sensed his presence as a soft whisper against her skin.
She'd spent less than sixty minutes in this place. And already, she could sense the danger.
---
During the night Eden remained seated at her bedroom desk while she directed her attention to her open laptop in an effort to concentrate.
They assigned her a room in the west wing which was opulent yet secluded. Antique paintings covered the walls while silk sheets draped the bed. This place appeared inviting but felt like an opulent prison instead.
The words exchanged with Victor Laurent reverberated in her thoughts. No unnecessary distractions.
A polite way of saying: Stay away from Gabriel.
Not that she needed the warning.
Her past included encounters with arrogant and entitled men who treated other people's hearts carelessly. His natural ability to disorient a woman existed before she even knew her own heart was lost.
Eden possessed enough wisdom to avoid becoming that woman.
The silence broke when someone knocked on the door.
She stood, crossing the room. She wasn't expecting his presence when she opened the door.
Gabriel.
His voice carried a subtle amusement when he asked if he disturbed you.
Eden's pulse kicked. "It's not that late."
He nodded slightly before looking back at her. "I wanted to formally welcome you."
She hesitated. "Your father already did."
Gabriel smirked. "My father doesn't 'welcome' anyone. He tolerates them."
Eden couldn't argue with that.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, thick with something unspoken.
The doorway opened as Gabriel stepped in and his presence filled the space instantly before he asked Miss Sinclair if she planned to survive at Belmont Manor or uncover its secrets.
A shiver ran through her.
She repeated her earlier statement by saying "I'm here to tutor Isabelle."
Gabriel's smile expanded because he appeared to understand the falsehood she had yet to reveal.
With a nod he retreated and said, "Good night, Miss Sinclair."
And then he was gone.
Eden closed the door and let out a slow breath while pressing her hand against the wooden surface.
It had only been their first meeting.
From their first encounter Eden understood that Gabriel Laurent represented her most significant error.
The long-forgotten darkness awakens within the concealed shifter refuge located in Moon City. The uneasy peace between the Greyhound and Crimson Eye packs has lasted for decades until the unexplained disappearance of humans and livestock sparks fear that leads to a potential war between the two packs. The packs' strongest warriors, Vaelrick Dain and Sylara Voss, become unwilling allies to prevent bloodshed. But their history is steeped in pain. Vaelrick's rejection of Sylara as his destined partner broke her heart and condemned him to his cursed destiny. Under the ominous threat of death spreading through their city, they must unite to discover the truth. Their investigation reveals an ancient legend of a vengeful creature tied to Vaelrick's lineage along with a curse destined to destroy him and a traitor hiding among their ranks. When Sylara is taken, Vaelrick is faced with an impossible choice: The abduction of Sylara presents Vaelrick with a harrowing decision: remain loyal to his Alpha responsibilities or acknowledge the bond he previously rejected. As time dwindles, fate compels them to re-evaluate their beliefs and face the question of whether two damaged souls can save each other or if their past wounds will destroy them both.
A perky billionaire Adelaide, is not happy with the future her parents have mapped out for her. She meets a renowned art director on the street of New York with who she falls helplessly in love but he doesn't notice or is oblivious to all of her attempts at getting his attention. Travel & Adventure Whispers of the Silver Coast Relu is a man who sees ghosts. He has always known this since he was a child. Relu anda detective, partners with Sabin (who also happens to be his brother in-law) and get confronted by strange cases that relate to the paranormal ; Relu's greatest fear! When small-town artist Helen Bell accepts a mysterious invitation to restore a centuries-old mural on the remote Silver Coast, she expects solitude and inspiration-not the enigmatic billionaire who owns the estate. John Wolfe, a man as untouchable as the towering cliffs his mansion perches upon, guards secrets as fierce as the waves crashing below. As sparks fly and danger looms, Helen must decide: will she risk her heart for a love that could shatter her world-or save it? The Silver Coast, a windswept coastline of cliffs and secluded beaches with ancient architecture.
Growing up to become a rejected, is nothing anyone would pray or wish to encounter. Ember, who is caught up in the deep web of rejection and unplanned love, is left in the ocean of self destruction. Now, she'd have to think about the best way to be free and leave her life
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...