Laura Mendes always wanted to become a top pastry chef, and landing a job at Moretti's Patisserie, the most prestigious bakery in the city, feels like her big break. But her excitement ended when she meets Shawn Moretti-the infuriatingly arrogant heir to the Moretti group. From the time she set foot in his family's bakery, Shawn makes it really obvious he doesn't want her working there. To him, she's just a random outsider who will never understand the Moretti business. To her, he's an entitled and proud jerk who thinks he owns the world. They always argued, exchanging words that turn the group into a warzone. But as the days went by, their hatred for each other takes an unexpected turn. Behind Laura's stubbornness, Shawn sees talent and undeniable passion. And behind his cold, controlling character, Laura sees a man struggling to live up to impossible expectations. When a major pastry competition forces them to work together, there was a spark between them neither of them can deny. But with family secrets, fierce competition, and years of resentment between them, will they give in to the temptation... or will their love crumble like the pastries she creates?
(Laura's POV)
Some people avoid the kitchen completely out of indifference or simple laziness, but I don't. A lot of people view baking and cooking as laborious chores that require precise measurements and where a single error in component proportions may ruin a meal.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved creating new dishes, experimenting with flavors, and discovering new recipes using whatever ingredients I had at my disposal. I still remember the first time I ever baked something on my own-I was just five years old, standing on a stool in our family kitchen, carefully measuring out flour and sugar while my mother watched with mild amusement.
I've always had a thing for cooking, even though my folks – who were both busy doctors working at the same hospital in totally different fields – never cared much for it. They'd spend long, grueling hours and usually ended up with meals that were nothing more than quick bites; takeout or a casual eat-out was pretty much the norm for them.
Most days, they'd say it's just easier to grab food fast instead of spending time in the kitchen, and, well, they weren't particularly drawn to the culinary arts. Still, they always backed my little food adventures – in fact, they even surprised me by buying my first oven and apron, which meant the world to me. All in all, even with their own hectic lives and a clear preference for simplicity, they made sure I got to follow my passion, however small or scattered it might have seemed at times.
I improved my abilities throughout the years, going from making basic homemade delights to more complex pastries. Eager to have practical experience, I began working at neighbourhood bakeries in Camden, London, by the time I was a teenager. My desire to learn how to make pastries professionally only grew greater.
After endless hours of burning the midnight oil-lost in studying and tripping over mistake after mistake-I woke up one morning to an email that, quite unexpectedly, turned everything upside down.
"Congrats!" it began, almost as if cheering me on. The note, warmly personal yet formal enough, said my application had been accepted; Moretti's Patisserie picked me to be one of their pastry cooks. And, really, it wasn't just any bakery-it's one of the city's well-known sweet spots, celebrated in most cases for its mouthwatering pastries, showy presentations, and a reputation that's simply hard to beat. I read that email three times (yes, three!) before it all really sank in.
At first, it felt almost dreamlike to process that I'd been chosen to work at such an iconic place. The thought of joining Moretti's-a name that carries both culinary pride and a dash of surreal expectation-left me both excited and a little bewildered by the sheer magnitude of the opportunity.
A sudden rush of feelings-shock, joy, and a hint of disbelief-hit me when I suddenly understood what was happening. I grabbed my phone with a trembling hand, my thoughts already darting around about what should come next. There was, without a doubt, just one person I felt compelled to call first.
As soon as Anna answered, her voice was playful. "Hey babe, what's up?"
I didn't waste any time. "Guess who just got an email from Moretti's Patisserie this morning?" I was breathless.
There was a pause before an excited squeal came through the speaker. "No way! Laura, I knew you'd kill it! Oh my God, I'm so proud of you! When do you start?"
I looked back at the email. "Monday."
"Monday? That's in-"
"Three days," I said. "And I have to pack now because I'll be moving to their headquarters in Paris." The weight of those words hit me as I said them out loud. Paris. I was actually moving to Paris!
Anna squealed again. "Paris? This just keeps getting better! Oh my God, we have so much to do. Clothes, luggage, travel essentials-wait, have you booked your flight yet?"
"Not yet! There's so much to get done in such a short amount of time." I rubbed my forehead, feeling the stress start to build. "I need all the help I can get. Will you come shopping with me?"
"You don't have to ask," Anna said. "How about we meet at the mall in 10 minutes?"
"Perfect. Thanks, babe! I'll see you then."
As soon as I hung up, I turned to my parents. My mom was at work, and she had a rule against being disturb during her shifts. So I texted her instead:
Mom, guess what? I got the job at Moretti's Patisserie! I start Monday and I'll be moving to Paris!
I sent the same exact text to my dad.
My dad responded right away, unlike my mom. His message appeared instantly.
Dad: Congratulations, princess! I knew you could do it. Let me know if you need help with packing or travel arrangements.
I smiled, already knowing his overprotective self would kick in. I responded quick.
Dad: I'm fine. I'm not a little girl anymore. I'll be 23 in a few months.
A few seconds later, his response came in.Dad: I understand you think you're all grown up but you will always be a little girl to me and I will always be here to help if you need it.
I sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. He wouldn't let it go unless I gave him something to do. So I took advantage of it.
Me: Okay, Dad. Since you won't rest unless I let you help, can you book my flights to Paris and find me an apartment near the bakery?
His response was immediate.
Dad: Consider it done. Anything for you, princess.
I smiled as I put my phone down. The reality was finally setting in.
In a few days, I would be starting a new chapter in my life, stepping into the world I had always wanted.
Moretti's Patisserie was waiting for me.
And I was ready.
For over a century, the Nightfang and Shadowveil packs have been very bitter enemies, their fight soaked in generations of bloodshed. When a more powerful enemy threatens both packs, an uneasy truce is forced between their leaders-Dacre Valnan, the ruthless and calculating alpha of Shadowveil and Aidana Draven, a brave and independent she-wolf who refuses to bow to anyone. Forced to work together, Dacre and Aidana meet at every turn, their hatred for each other becoming something none of them can try to control. But as problem draws nearer, they discover a sad truth-someone close to them is working against them, pulling strings from the shadows to ensure their death. Their rivalry takes an even crueler turn when they find out that they are fated mates, a bond that should bring them together but only fuels their rage. Dacre, affected by the scars of the past, rejects the bond outright, refusing to be shackled to the daughter of his sworn enemy. Aidana, not willing to give in to fate, fights it with everything she has. As betrayals give in and hidden truths of the pasts unveil, Aidana and Dacre must either continue down the path of hatred and destruction or welcome the fate that could either save or destroy them forever.
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
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. .
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!”