inferiority complex

**EXCERPT** He rasped, his teeth grazing my earlobe. "I'll make sure you're addicted to the way I fúck you until you can't breathe without wanting me inside of you." Jesus Christ. He was going to kill me at this rate with his words... ⫷◍◍◍◍◍◍◍◍◍⫸ Lilith has perfected the art of disguise. She is an ambitious college student balancing her family’s needs by day. By night, she transforms into Raven—a mesmerizing dancer in a club where secrets reign, and the most feared man in the room, Giovanni, watches her every move. Giovanni's ruthless reputation is undeniable, but beneath his icy demeanor lies a deeply complex soul. When he hires Raven to uncover his rivals' darkest secrets, Lilith seizes the opportunity. The payout could change everything for her family—if she can handle the risk. One reckless night intertwines their fates in ways neither expected. As she ventures further into his world, every lie and secret draws her closer to disaster and a desire she never saw coming. If Giovanni uncovers her true identity, he’ll claim her in ways she never imagined—or destroy her in the process. *MATURE CONTENT AS THE CHAPTER PROGRESSES*

When Marcus, a notorious playboy billionaire, makes a bet with his friends that he can get any woman to marry him, he never expected to fall for the one woman he chose purely on a whim. Nicole is a struggling artist, barely making ends meet, and when Marcus offers her a sum of money to enter into a contract marriage with him, she reluctantly agrees. At first, their relationship is purely business, but as they spend more time together, they begin to realize that there's something deeper between them. Marcus is a complex man with a troubled past, but Nicole sees something in him that no one else ever has. As they navigate the difficulties of a contract marriage, they begin to fall for each other, despite their initial reluctance. However, their newfound love is threatened by outside forces. Nicole’s ex-boyfriend, a jealous musician, tries to sabotage their relationship at every turn, and Marcus’s cutthroat business rivals see his marriage as an opportunity to bring him down. As they fight to protect their love, Marcus and Nicole must confront their demons and learn to trust each other to build a real, lasting relationship.

The past never stays buried forever... The past caught up with Harper Carrington in the cruelest way. After tragedy summoned her home to Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains, she was confronted with another twist of the knife – Wyck, her first love who abandoned her fifteen years before and disappeared off the map. Wyck Ward never planned to see Harper again after her powerful father exiled him from Carrington Ridge. Consumed by the desire for revenge, Wyck spent over a decade systematically destroying the man's corrupt legacy. But with his enemy suddenly dead, Wyck realizes his all-consuming vendetta could cost him what his fractured soul needs - Harper. Join Harper and Wyck as they discover if some hearts are too damaged to ever mend or if even the coldest embers can flare back to life when two fractured souls find the pieces they’ve been missing. If you enjoy small town, second chance romances with complex characters, all the feels, a side of steam, and lots of twisty mountain roads, you'll love this first book in the new Carrington Ridge series.

Twenty-two-year-old Athena Paulsen’s life is a never-ending tragedy, but on the surface everything seems fine. A fine daughter, dependable sister, successful entrepreneur and renowned doctor. She is the envy of the town. But if you pull the curtain called skin and peep a little deeper you will see the reality: a scared girl who has nowhere to hide. Andrew Knight is a dashing and ruthless businessman akin to his last name. He would go to any lengths to get what he wants and stroke his massive ego. From the moment Athena stepped into his life it was never the same again. Initially he hated her but slowly her intelligence and kind heart melted away the Knight’s armour. Not all was rosy in the paradise. Athena’s past and the complex situation of both their familial ties was soon coming back to bite them hard and shatter their dreams of “happily ever after”. What is the big secret? Why is Athena trying to run from her past? What does the future hold for both of them? Every person has a skeleton in their closet.

“You are mine to claim.” Killian growled, down on her neck. “Why are you resisting me?” Aria shuddered as his fingers grazed her core. “Your brothers are—” “Forget about my brothers.” Killian answered sharply. “You’re mine and no one can come between us.” ************************* Aria’s world crumbled when Alpha Matthias accused her father of treason and murdered him in cold blood. She was forced to be a slave in the palace as punishment for her father’s crimes. On her eighteenth birthday, Matthias offered her to Alpha Carrington to be his plaything. Filled with rage and fear, Aria tried to flee from the palace. But then she saw him. Her mate. He was Alpha Killian, the most powerful Alpha in the world. And he desired her, he craved her with all of his being. But Aria’s troubles were not over when she realized that Killian was a triplet and wasn’t the only one who desired her. She was mated to all three brothers and each of them wanted her for themselves. Who would she choose? And how would she navigate her complex love life?

For Camilla Castello, her deepest desires were simple—love and acceptance. When her family favored her seemingly flawless elder sister, she sought solace in her ideal mate, only to endure betrayal as he cheated with the favored sibling. Amid nursing a wounded heart, she became a substitute bride for her sister, forced to marry the incompetent Werewolf Prince, scorned by the King himself. Despite lacking choice, she trusted him, bore his child, and discovered a hidden, redeemable side beyond rumors. Her role, however, reduced to a mere breeder, her family and Pack mere pawns in the King's game. To escape these monsters, she fled with her unborn child, vowing to return for revenge against the Royal Pack. Yet, the unexpected entry of genuine love complicates her path. The prince was back in her life, and so is another, both offering their hearts. Now, faced with the choice between risking all for love or joining forces with a newfound alliance for revenge, Camilla must navigate a complex web of emotions and decisions.

Sarah Jones, a simple-living architect with a sharp mind, is thrust into a complex situation when her mischievous identical twin needs her help once again. This time, her sister's reckless actions have jeopardized a wedding, and Sarah must take on a false identity as the woman Christopher Banks, a renowned playboy, encountered recently. What starts as a seemingly straightforward task soon spirals into a treacherous game of seduction. As Sarah immerses herself in this deceptive charade, she becomes entangled with Christopher, a man who lives by his own rules. Boundaries blur, and Sarah finds herself torn between her true self and the persona she has adopted. In a world where passion and deception collide, she must navigate the thin line between her principles and overwhelming temptation. In this captivating tale of mistaken identities and forbidden desires, Sarah's courage and inner strength are tested like never before. Will she emerge unscathed from the dangerous game of seduction, or will the charade consume her, forever reshaping her perception of love and the limits of her heart?

Harry never expected to fall for Felix, the ruthless mafia boss who owns the city's hottest nightclubs. But as he gets to know Felix beyond his tough exterior, Harry discovers a complex and alluring individual. Will he find the courage to reveal his true feelings, or will societal expectations and family obligations silence his heart?

❝Find what you love, and let it kill you.❞ —* November Starkey is the country's sweetheart. A popular model at the age of nineteen, she is loved and admired by millions. She enjoys the attention until she attracts two Kings who make her life a living nightmare. King Sin and King Rome. One is known to be cold and detached, carrying the power of a thousand men. While the other is the Lycan King, known to be ruthless, daring and charming. These Kings feel nothing but repugnance for each other. And they both want November Starkey. Torn between two powerful Kings, November discovers her true self, and soon, she realizes that she is the Queen of a realm that exists between heaven and hell, harboring all kinds of supernatural beings. But a Queen needs a King. Which King will the Maiden choose? Unfolding in a steamy, paranormal romance, the story of these three lovers is turbulent, complex, and unpredictable till the very end.

Holland, the Caribbean, England, France... Lively flight attendant Blair Ozkan was used to a busy life with adventures and many lush destinations. She was living her own dream when an accident with a cup of green coffee brought Commander Voitovich into her life, giving her world a new perspective. Dimitri is a handsome and fun-loving Russian who was unwilling to pass up any opportunity that life would give him, including the one that put the beautiful stewardess in his path. Between their routine encounters and mismatches, a beautiful friendship emerges, and against everything they believed in, the feeling begins to evolve into something more, confronting a conviction they both had in common: long distance relationships don't work. Is it possible to live a love amidst complex schedules and diverse destinies?