Novels by Essa Michaels

The weight of the past twenty-four hours settled heavily on my shoulders as I watched Damien and Liam exchange loaded glances. The air crackled with unspoken words, each of them measuring the other, two kings in a world of shadows and deception.Liam smirked, the expression laced with a dangerous amusement. “You’re playing a high-stakes game, Blackwell. I hope you’re ready to lose a few pieces.”Damien’s eyes darkened. “I don’t lose.”Liam let out a low chuckle. “We’ll see about that.”The tension in the room was suffocating. I shifted on the couch, feeling like an outsider to something far beyond my comprehension. The world Damien lived in was one of power, blood, and ruthless decisions. And I was now tangled in its web, unable to escape.Liam turned to me, his eyes sharp and calculating. “And you, sweetheart? Do you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?”I lifted my chin. “I’m not afraid.”His smirk widened. “Oh, I like her. She’s got fire.”Damien’s jaw clenched. “She’s not part o

The air inside Damien’s penthouse was thick with tension. The morning sunlight did little to chase away the darkness that seemed to settle over us like a storm waiting to break.I sat at the edge of the bed, my fingers gripping the sheets as I watched Damien pace the room, phone pressed to his ear. His jaw was tight, his movements sharp.“No,” he said into the receiver, his voice cold. “If they think they can back out now, they’re fools. Tell them they either stand with me or they stand against me.”I swallowed hard, my heart hammering as I listened. Every word he spoke was another reminder of just how dangerous this world was.He ended the call with a sharp exhale and turned to face me. “We need to talk.”I nodded, bracing myself. “Tell me everything.”Damien ran a hand through his dark hair. “Cross is moving faster than I anticipated. He’s made contact with some of my associates, and I don’t have time to convince them to stay loyal.”“Which means?”His gaze locked onto mine. “It mea

The weight of Damien’s words lingered in the air long after they were spoken. He held me like I was both his salvation and his greatest downfall, his grip tight as though letting go would shatter everything he had built. And maybe, in some way, it would.The room was dark, save for the dim glow of the city lights seeping through the vast glass windows. I traced slow circles against his chest, my mind racing with the knowledge that we were standing on the edge of something dangerous—something that could consume us both.“Tell me about Ethan Cross,” I whispered, breaking the silence.Damien’s muscles tensed beneath my touch. “He’s the kind of man who doesn’t need to make threats twice. If he sees an opening, he takes it. And if he considers you a weakness…”I swallowed hard. “Then I’m a target.”His hand slid up my back, fingers tangling in my hair as he exhaled. “I won’t let that happen.”I lifted my head, meeting his gaze. “Then we fight.”A dark smile ghosted his lips. “You’re not af

The city lights shimmered beyond the glass walls, but all I could see, all I could feel, was Damien. His body pressed against mine, heat radiating off him in waves as we lay tangled in the sheets of his king-sized bed. My breathing was still uneven, my skin tingling from the way he had claimed and owned me.I should have been terrified.But I wasn’t.I was addicted.His fingers traced lazy patterns along my spine, sending another shiver down my body. I turned my head slightly, watching the way his sharp jaw tensed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. There was something stormy in his eyes, something restless.“Damien.” My voice was soft, but it pulled him from his thoughts.He looked down at me, his fingers stilling against my skin. “You should sleep,” he murmured.I shook my head. “Not until you tell me what happens next.”His jaw clenched. “Ava—”“No more secrets,” I interrupted. “You told me you’re in a business where people disappear. That you have enemies. That those men last night we

I didn’t know how long we stood there, lost in the fire of his kiss, but when he finally pulled away, my breath was ragged, my body trembling with something I couldn’t name.His hands lingered on my waist, his grip tight, as if he was anchoring himself. Or maybe he was trying to keep me from slipping away.But I wasn’t going anywhere.Not yet.Not when I was drowning in the storm that was Damien BlackwellHis forehead rested against mine, his breath hot against my lips. “You don’t understand what you’re asking for, Ava.”I swallowed hard, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “Then make me understand.”A flicker of something unreadable passed through his gaze. Then, slowly, he pulled away.I felt the loss of his warmth instantly.Damien turned his back to me, staring out the window at the glowing New York skyline. His broad shoulders were tense, his body coiled like a predator ready to strike.I waited, my heart pounding.And then—“I wasn’t born into money,” he said finall

Damien’s words hung between us like a blade poised to strike."I’m in the kind of business where people disappear, Ava."The air in the penthouse felt colder. The city beyond the glass walls pulsed with life, oblivious to the storm raging inside me.I swallowed, my pulse thrumming in my ears. “What does that mean?”His gaze was unreadable, his body coiled with tension. “It means exactly what it sounds like.”I shook my head. “No, you don’t get to be cryptic. I want the truth.”His lips pressed into a thin line. “The truth is dangerous.”I stepped closer, ignoring the warning in his eyes. “I don’t care.”He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. “You should.”I clenched my fists. “Why? Because you’re involved with criminals?”Silence.My stomach twisted. “Oh my God.”He didn’t deny it.I staggered back, my breath coming in shallow bursts. “You—You kill people?”His jaw clenched. “Not in the way you think.”I let out a hollow laugh. “Oh, so there’s a better way?”Damien