Novels by Ikechukwu Julia

Aiden's words hung in the air long after he had vanished, leaving me rooted in the center of the grand hall. The hum of conversation continued to swirl around me, yet somehow sounded far away and muffled, like I was underwater. It tugged at my chest, and his voice continued to replay itself over and over in my head."You are mine.”Those words were a weight, but not a comforting one. It wasn't romantic; it stung. He had brushed me aside so many times since our little kiss in the storage room, he made me feel like nothing, and now suddenly I mattered.A glass appeared in my vision, the soft aroma of champagne rising to meet me.“Take this." Kane's voice was low, smooth, almost disarming. The easy smile played at the corners of his mouth as he held the glass out to me."You look like you could use it."I hesitated, my eyes

8 p.m. arrived sooner than I anticipated. My phone vibrated in my hand as the moment approached. This evening wasn’t an ordinary one—it was one I couldn’t manage to get ready for, regardless of how hard I attempted. I stepped out into the silent hallway; my heels clicked against the polished marble floor. Daymon stood by the door, his broad frame rigid, his eyes locking onto mine. Something about the intensity in those eyes ripped a ripple of unease right through me."Daymon?" My brow furrowed; I slowed my steps. "Why are you looking at me like that?"He hesitated, something unreadable crossing his face. "No reason," he murmured, tone flat. With reluctance, he added, "You look… good, ma'am.”The tightness in his tone was not to be missed. He wasn't one for compliments, and the words felt out of place.We walked silently to where the waiting car was, his eyes staying on me. But then the sleek black Range Rover came into view, and everything else faded. Aiden leaned casually against th

“Why are you holding back?” I asked, my tone unwavering even though my heart quaked under my flesh. Aiden’s eyes met mine, piercing and cold, yet there was an underlying emotion concealed within—something he struggled to control. "I'm not holding back,"“I simply… don’t want to.” "You don’t want to what?" I pushed forward, moving closer, my heartbeat accelerating as the tension grew stronger between us. "This," he replied, shaking his head, his face lacking any feelings. "This—whatever you think is happening. It's a contract, Artemis. Keep that in mind." A slight, cheerful grin pulled at my mouth. “Shhh,” I whispered, gently tracing my fingers along his jaw, playfully provoking him. “I know you want it as much as I do. You're just a scared little puppy." His eyes grew dim, his jaw clenched tight. “Be careful with your words, baby girl,” he cautioned, his voice deep and menacing. "You will plead—pleading with me to stop." I moved in nearer, allowing my body to graze against his.

Her lips collided with mine with a power that took my breath away. For an instant, I paused, the tempest of feelings tearing at the barriers I’d created around me. Artemis was the flavor of uprising and sweet defiance, and even though my brain urged me to stop, my body let me down. This was not meant to happen. Artemis had remained an enduring, persistent allure, always too nearby, too intense, too… her. I had reminded myself countless times to keep my distance. Women like her—no, all women—brought trouble, and I had learned this lesson through tough experiences. My history carried wounds I couldn’t reveal, reminders of how effortlessly trust could be broken. Yet at that instant, all the rules I had established for myself fell apart. Her lips melted against mine, urging a reaction I had suppressed for far too long. My hands acted independently, grabbing her waist, drawing her nearer until the warmth of her body endangered to burn away every bit of my self-restraint. And then I ki

I was lost, stage five lost, total disorientation kind of lost. The big office, with tinted glass walls, with its sprawling view out at the city skyline, didn't feel like a sanctuary as much as it felt like a jail.I sat stiffly beside Aidan, his presence sharp and commanding. Behind us, Daymon loomed like a shadow, a quiet menace radiating from him. I was sure he was armed-his tension was palpable, the kind that only accompanied a weapon ready to be drawn.Aidan was calm, too calm, lounging in his chair with that maddening confidence he wore so easily. Across the polished mahogany desk sat Hernandez, his eyes darting between Aidan and me like a man trying to read the room but missing every cue.“Mr. Creek," Hernandez began, his voice careful but edged with nerves. "I've come with a proposal-one I think you'll find agreeable.”Aidan tilted his head, and his dark hair fell across his forehead, framing him like some rogue God. The green of his eyes was glinting with the sort of amusemen

It seemed, suddenly, that a week or two passed in a mist of duties and lies. Playing Hera was a lot more difficult than I'd thought, and Aidan's crankiness wasn't helping one bit. We even had to stage photos, pretending for the press that we were madly in love.I hadn't bargained for any of this paparazzi, the scrutiny, the eternal click-click-clicking of cameras that gave me the creeps. Aidan had assured me it would eventually die down, but I was anything but convinced. I was a small-town girl; I wasn't built for this world of flashing lights and fake smiles.The worst part, though, was sharing a bed with Aidan. I'd had my room to start, but his dad insisted on the arrangement since it would make the charade all the more believable.I lay now, awake in the dark, and listened to the soft rhythm of Aidan's breathing. He had looked different while sleeping-softer, almost human. The constant tension that always twisted his features had dissipated, leaving him to look… peaceful. His hair,