short pause crossword clue

In a world ruled by power, fear, and blood, Dante Ricci is nothing short of a walking demon. A powerful mafia boss, he commands respect through sheer brutality, feared by his enemies and even those closest to him. Dante despises weakness, ruthlessly crushing anyone who dares to oppose him or show vulnerability. Cold-hearted, dominant, and cruel, he lives by the law of the underworld—survival of the fittest. On the other side of the city lives Elena Carter, a cheerful and innocent college student. Adopted by parents who despise her, she has always felt out of place in a world that offers her little love. Unbeknownst to her, her real parents were killed years ago, but she knows nothing of the dark secrets that shroud her past. She’s focused on her studies, trying to live a normal life despite her broken family. Fate takes a dark turn when Elena accidentally witnesses Dante in the middle of a brutal murder, crime no innocent eyes should have seen. Dante, always careful to eliminate any loose ends, has no choice but to kidnap her. She’s nothing more than a liability, a weakling in his eyes, and his first instinct is to kill her. As secrets unravel and tension mounts, Dante must confront the demons of his past while Elena fights to survive in a world she never belonged to. Will Dante’s hatred and heartlessness lead him to kill her, or will the unexpected connection between them change their lives forever?

I was pregnant. On my way to deliver documents to Tristan Goldberg, a flash flood struck. Desperate, I dialed his number, praying he’d answer. After a few rings, the call connected. But instead of Tristan, a woman’s voice answered. "Tristan, whose number is this? Do you want to answer it?" There was a brief pause, and then Tristan’s voice, cold and indifferent, cut through. "It’s just my maid. Ignore it. Hang up." And just like that, the call disconnected. Staring at the torrent rising around me, my pulse quickened. I texted him, begging for him to send a rescue team. Minutes passed as the waters climbed to my waist, churning and relentless. Then, a message from Tristan finally appeared. Tristan: [What kind of ridiculous story are you making up now?] Tristan: [Emily, do you think you're eighteen, playing these childish games? I want that document in my hands within thirty minutes, or we're getting divorced.] A surge of terror shot through me as I looked up, catching sight of a heavy branch snapping loose and crashing down. In an instant, everything went dark.

Ivy Coleman's post divorce journey was nothing short of focusing on her self and building her company, after finally escaping from a marriage that had almost ruined her life she finds herself falling hard for a stranger she had a hot steamy encounter with. A stranger with a lot of unknown secrets and it changes her life forever.

“If you say my name, then I promise to give you a treat.” Isabella smiled coyly, biting her lip while twirling a lock of hair around her index finger. "Dad... why can't we just have sex in your room? Mom's not home, so..." Isabella's words were cut short as her stepfather silenced her with a firm hand over her lips, and in a swift, fluid motion, he spun her around, pressing her face against the wall. "No time for negotiation, my dear." He stated, his voice a low, seductive rumble. "I want to fuck you right here, right now. Bend over," he ordered. His palm was still covering her mouth as his other hand roamed downward, slipping past her lips to explore the depths of her body. Isabella gasped! *** Isabella Roland finds her world turned upside down when she was forced to move in with her estranged mother and stepfather after her beloved uncle’s death. On that very day, she broke up with her boyfriend and had a passionate one-night stand with a stranger—only to discover the next day that the man was her stepfather. They swore it would never happen again, but the pull between them was impossible to resist. "But what happens when they're caught in the act?" "Will their forbidden affair destroy everything they hold dear, or will it lead to something even more dangerous and enticing?"

Billy had a tough life and had always lived by one unshakable rule. But one fateful night at an elite party, where she worked as a part-time server, everything changed as she caught the intense eyes of a stranger—a man whose allure was impossible to resist. And against her better judgment, she broke that rule of hers, surrendering to a night of passion and desire that left her breathless. But when she woke up in the morning, the bed was empty, and the stranger was gone, leaving Billy with nothing but memories of that night. Weeks later, she discovered the consequences of that night: she was pregnant. With no clue, and no way to find that stranger, she braced herself to face motherhood alone. Months passed, and Billy landed another job—serving at the engagement party of one of the city’s most powerful billionaires. But when she was called to serve a drink at the party, her world tilted as the groom-to-be was none other than the man she had been searching for: Marcus Lorenzo. Marcus, the cold-hearted billionaire with a reputation for ruthlessness, had been haunted by that night he had with Billy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forget the mysterious woman who had set his soul on fire. Now, faced with Billy again, he keep finding himself drawing closer to her and this brings out their lust for each other despite the obstacles between them. As their shared desire reignites, the boundaries of their lives blur. But with secret and lies threatening to destroy them, Billy and Marcus must confront the question: Was their night of passion a fleeting mistake, or the start of something far more dangerous?

Love and excitement that makes you want for more. The novel the book one tells the story of a retired loan shark that was willing to do anything to protect his wife and daughter from his rivals and other gang members. He would kill anyone who got in his way even if it was in law. Then it tells the story of an Alpha willing to do anything for his mate and his mate happens to be too sassy and refuses to take orders fron him, to a warrior ready to defy his king for a common prisoner who piqued his interest. Oh and don't forget there will be lots of intimate moments for the male characters. Read and find out more. Short stories that make you want more and turn each chapter. A book collection.

Outcast witch Hazel, just wanted to prove she was more than the reckless sorceress her former coven cast aside. But when her forbidden magic accidentally unleashes an ancient evil, she becomes the only one who can stop it. Aiden, the Beta of the Blackwater pack, has spent months hunting Hazel to prevent her from breaking the curse on the werewolves to save his Luna and friend. But when he finally catches her, he discovers the truth... she’s his fated mate. Hazel, desperate to escape the supernatural world, begs him to reject her and vanishes into a quiet life as an occult studies professor. But peace is short lived. Dark forces rise, threatening Aiden and the Blackwater pack, and Hazel may be their only hope. Now, Drake must find Hazel, not just to save his bestfriend and beta, but also to save his people. Will Hazel abandon the life she built to face the darkness once more? And will Aiden convince her that rejecting their bond was the real mistake?

[A BILLIONAIRE DARK ROMANCE BOOK] "Without obsession, life is nothing" -John Waters. Lyra eagerly seized an opportunity for quick cash when her best friend, Jane, presented a bold idea. She didn't think through the likely fallout. ************************* Jane needed someone to step in as her stand-in bride for Ryker Blackwoods, a reclusive billionaire shrouded in mystery due to her parents' debts and promises. Jane had no intention of entering into a loveless marriage with a man she had never met. Fortunately, Ryker had no clue what Jane-or Lyra-looked like. In exchange for a substantial sum, Lyra agreed to take Jane's place, sign the marriage documents, and occupy Ryker's estate while he was away. The plan was simple: Lyra would create enough chaos to provoke Ryker into seeking a divorce once he returned. However, when Ryker finally arrived home after six long months, everything changed. Rather than the distant figure she expected, Ryker turned out to be a man who pushed past her limits, a contradiction to Jane's descriptions. He was captivating yet infuriating-an undeniable force who seemed to derive pleasure from her discomfort. Lyra found herself regretting her decision. The money no longer mattered; she just wanted to escape this marriage. But Ryker calmly asserted that she belonged to him now, insisting that this was her punishment for her greed. He knew the truth-she was simply an imposter in a life she hadn't chosen.

After a night of passion, Elena finds herself pregnant and fleeing her arranged marriage to a ruthless Mafia Don. Her escape is cut short when three powerful beings – a scorching dragon King , a seductive vampire Prince, and a brooding lycan king – claim her as their own. Now, hunted by both the Don and the supernatural Beings, Elena was stucked in a dangerous world of forbidden desires and hidden agendas, while desperately trying to protect her unborn child and uncover the truth about the fathers of her unexpected Pregnancy

“I don't feel the same way I felt years back. In short, I don't love you, Amara. So it's better if you give up on me already." Prince Gilan says to me. Those were the most hurtful words Gilan has ever said to me. Since I loved Gilan so much, I did the unthinkable to make him love me again and that landed me into more trouble. Will Prince Gilan ever forgive me after this? Will he continue with his plan of getting married to Elena? These are the questions I ask myself while crying my eyes out. My love for Gilan made me do unimaginable things.