collateral damage

The evening air was biting cold, sending shivers down Cole's spine. She was sure she'd turn into an icicle when, without warning, Vincent gently scooped her up. A soft gasp escaped her lips as he settled them both across the length of the bed, pulling her close as he draped an extra blanket over their entwined forms. A warm blush bloomed across Cole's cheeks as she became acutely aware of their intimate position. But Vincent, with his steady composure, seemed entirely unbothered, simply relaxing into the bed’s softness. "Get some sleep," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble that resonated in her chest. Sensing her gaze, he added, "The power will be back on once the damage is repaired. So… just stay close to me until then." Cole took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to calm. Slowly, she let herself melt into his embrace, resting her head on his broad chest. The faint scent of spring blossoms and cypress swirled around her, a fragrance that felt both comforting and familiar. She nestled closer, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill as sleep began to tug at her eyelids. With each steady beat of his heart, Cole felt a sense of peace she hadn't known she needed. She smiled softly, the rhythm of his heartbeat the most beautiful melody, lulling her into the comfort of dreams. As survivors of a collapsed society, a group of doctors are the world's last hope for a cure. In order to protect each other and the future, they've worked in secret. Preserving resources which become scarcer year after year. Among these survivors, a pair of doctors endure challenges as a deadly contagion spreads. Against better judgment, an unexpected bond develops between them and their patient.

Life was perfect for Alison Jade Jorgensen, an eighteen-year-old who had everything she could ever ask for - wealth, beauty, and attention. As the only child of a wealthy family, she was the apple of everyone's eye. Despite her privileged life, Alison remained an innocent girl, unaware of the harsh realities of the world. But everything changed when her beloved grandfather passed away a month before summer. Grief-stricken, Alison isolated herself behind the walls of her bedroom, unable to cope with the loss. Enter Jared Thompson, a twenty-five-year-old man who lived for nothing but pleasure. When Alison finally ventures out into the world, Jared becomes her distraction from the pain of her grandfather's passing. But what if Jared ends up causing more damage to Alison than she has already suffered? What if he becomes the source of her destruction?

"You're my property, and that's what you'll remain forever," He walked closer to me, his dark eyes looking deep into my soul, "I'll make sure you pay for the damage you've caused and the humiliation I felt that day." His cold and menacing words sent chills down my spine as he spoke with gritted teeth. His eyes glinting with hatred as he stared at me. I mustered all the courage I could find deep within me and straightened my spine as I opened my mouth to speak, "I will repay what I and my father owe and then I will be free from your monstrous grip." Despite my heart heaving hard against my chest. His lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting fiercely, "Have a nice try then." He spat, as satisfaction twinkled in his eyes. Elsa Elkins' dream of living a simple life with the one who would cherish her for the rest of her life was shattered when she found herself back in the life of Leonard Kish - the man she had escaped from on the day of their wedding. Her quest for freedom and survival pushed her deeply into entangling with him, crumpling her initial desires. However, she was faced with the challenges of accepting his true identity or walking away from him - Her Monstrous Husband.

Betrayed, Abused, and Abandoned. Her Husband must face the consequences now that her Saviour's Beast is out for blood. * * * Samantha Covington has become collateral damage to her husband Richard’s self-destruction, leaving her a shell of her former self; her once vivid spirit suffocated. When Daniel Sanford, a powerful and enigmatic Alpha, enters her life, he sees the wounds her husband inflicts, igniting a fiercely protective instinct within him. Daniel becomes Samantha’s lifeline, his sure and steady presence the anchor she needs to rise from the depths of despair. But Daniel's secrets may break her. Now she is caught between the man who sees her worth and a husband who strips it away. The hidden threads connecting her two worlds become increasingly tighter, and she must untangle the hidden lies to protect her heart and secure her freedom.

This is a story of Esmeralda Puccho, the daughter of Anthony and Griselda Puccho. Esmeralda grew up with her Aunty, Martha, after her homeland was destroyed by the war and her parents left with nothing to take care of her. On her twenty one birthday, Esmeralda was married off to a very strong and ruthless Mafia lord, Gustavo as a Collateral for a failed business between her Aunty and Gustavo. Her life came in a harrowing moment of self defense when she was faced with a life threatening situation at the hands of her abusive husband, Gustavo. Esmeralda was confronted with a new set of challenges, determined to provide for her triplet sons and establish her own Identify. Will Esmeralda be able to fulfill this amidst the stumbling blocks and challenges? The answer all in the chapters. Happy reading!

Brianna Lester, with her unusually platinum blonde hair and grayish-blue eyes, is impossible to miss wherever she goes. Her bubbly personality, hyperactivity, innate talent for tripping even while standing still, and her knack for always causing trouble ensure that she immediately catches the attention of the coolest tattoo artist around. Unfortunately, it's not her rather unique appearance that gets noticed, but her clumsiness. The moment she closes the door of the tattoo shop, one of the pictures hanging on the wall-the owner's favorite, and quite valuable-unexpectedly falls down. To make up for the damage, she ends up working at the shop until she can pay off the cost of the picture. It would all be pretty easy if a sexy tattoo artist didn't enjoy teasing her about her bad luck. By now, Brianna has resigned herself to the idea that her life is stuck in the "never a joy" zone, and her birthday is proof of that. Who can be considered lucky if they were born on a day that only comes once every four years? No one. Some people are kissed by fortune at birth, while others are kissed by bad luck. Brianna definitely falls into the latter category.

“Your body is mine, your soul is mine, you are mine, I have waited for this moment all these years and now that you are mine, there is nothing you can do about it” He said with his hands pulling at my pant as we wrestled in his king sized bed. RELUCTANT BRIDE FOR THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE 18+ “In your dreams! I refuse to be yours, I will never accept you as my husband! You’re a monster” I cried. I struggled to push him off, he was determined to have me. He was stronger, bigger, I was no match for his firm grip. “No woman has ever rejected me, how dare you think you can deny me your body” he grumbled. “My father may have given me to you as collateral for whatever terrible business deal you both had, but he sure did not give you rights over my sense of will” I said fiercely I tried to fight him off, but he was too strong, in one strong pull, he ripped my pants apart, stripping me bare. “Please don't, I’m a virgin!” I tried to protest further, “Even better!!” were the last things he said before he knocked the air out of me in one stroke. I watched the fire of desire burning in his eyes consume him, it was nothing like I imagined, and I realised he was the perfect man for any woman but me, I hated him.

“Fuck!” She finally said, still holding onto him. Don smirked. He was enjoying every bit of it and was not planning to stop anytime soon. He pulled out his fingers, gave her pûssy a smack before thrusting it in again and increasing the strokes, not minding her pleas. *** Giulia (Julia) Bianchi, a stunning and daring lady, has been used as collateral to repay her father's debt to a Mafia leader. She has to serve him and do everything he asks of her. Donatello (Don) Rossini reigns supreme as the merciless mafia lord, his dominance rivaled only by his new servant, Julia. They soon became entangled in a complex game of desire and seduction. Julia is now trapped in a world of deception and danger, one where the thin line between love and loyalty grows weak. As she attempts to escape in hopes for survival, she is forced to face one dark truth: Don's obsession with her has the potential to either keep her safe or destroy her.

Dark soul, damage by his past mated to a lost cause forced to be his mistress. The moon goddess Aliana looked at the only Lycanthroph left in existence. “You, the only son of Lord Trevinor, will only be able to escape the pain and loneliness when you find your mate”. Despite being the ruler of the werewolves clan, nobody was willing to marry the vicious Lycan king with excess bloodlust. But no one knew about the prophesy. Alpha Monroe's eldest daughter who was nothing but a waste was given to the supreme Lycan as his arranged bride. This waste of a daughter not only can't shift into her wolf form. But was just a beauty without brain, who acts arrogantly and self willed. Suddenly, on the day she was to get married, she died, causing a different soul to take over her body. When she opened her eyes, she was no longer the waste but a powerful witch, and the entertainment goddess Myra Monroe, who was poisoned by her best friend and fiancé. With her powers she's able to begin her revenge. Kyra: bring hell on earth to those who hurt me. Klein: spare more time to Pamper her.

Three years ago they got married with love in their hearts and promises on their lips. They were the perfect couple until everything slowly withered away. Aurora would have never imagined that her once loving husband, Adrian, would hand her divorce papers with no reason and walk away without a second thought. Eventually, she had to move on. Three years later, she is wiser, and free. But then Adrian returns, pleading for a chance to make things better, he wants to fix what he broke. Unfortunately, she isn’t the same woman who once waited for him. She was adamant on not letting him draw scars on her stars again, but he was persistent to draw stars by the scars he left. She tells him “the damage is too deep to mend.” He tells her “Don’t tell me it's too deep. Tell me what it'll take to make it right again, because I’d rather die trying to fix us than live without you.”