testing waters

In the dangerous world of organized crime, love is a luxury few can afford. But for Andrea Lopez, the daughter of a powerful mafia family, it's the one thing she craves most. Despite her kindness and resilience, past traumas have left her wary of opening her heart. When fate brings her face-to-face with Stefano Costanzo once again—her best friend's brother and the ruthless don she's always longed for—sparks fly, and old wounds reopen. Stefano, a cold and ruthless mafia don, lives a life devoid of emotional attachments, harboring a secret pain known to few. Yet, seeing Andrea again after so many years reignites emotions he thought long buried. As they navigate the treacherous waters of their shared past and uncertain future, they're drawn inexorably together despite their best efforts to resist. But their reunion is not without peril. Stefano's dangerous world threatens to consume them both, and Andrea must confront not only her own demons but also the demons of the man she loves. Can they find redemption in each other's arms, or will their love be their undoing?   *** “Why the hell did you just do that?” I demand, my anger rising. “I’m trying to protect you,” he says, his eyes blazing. “Protect me from what? A good friend?” “He’s not who you think he is. I don’t trust him.” “You don’t trust him, or you’re worried he’ll take me away from you?” I challenge. Stefano’s eyebrow arches. “You think I’m worried he’ll take you away from me?” He leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. “Oh, luce del sole, no one can take you from me. You’re mine.”

In a world of glitz, glamour, and dangerous secrets, Alice's life is turned upside down when she loses her brother to the infamous Logan D'Nores. Little does she know, Logan is not only a star actor and filmmaker, but also a powerful drug lord and mafia boss, controlling the underground world of crime from the shadows. As fate would have it, Alice finds herself forced into a marriage with Logan, leaving her with no choice but to play the dutiful wife and bide her time until the opportunity to strike presents itself. But things take a deadly turn when Alice discovers that Logan is onto her plans and will stop at nothing to keep her under his control. With her life on the line, Alice must navigate the treacherous waters of Logan's world, all while keeping up the facade of a loyal wife. But as she delves deeper into the dark underbelly of Logan's empire, she begins to unravel the shocking truths about her brother's murder and the sinister forces at play. Will Alice be able to outsmart Logan and finally exact her revenge? Or will she be consumed by the very darkness she seeks to destroy? Find out in this gripping tale of love, betrayal, and deception, where every page leaves you on the edge of your seat, wondering what shocking twist awaits next.

Shayla Sengupta is the type of woman who has that razor-sharp smile, a devil-may-care attitude and has the type of beauty that poets write sonnets about. She knows it and also knows just how to use all of it to get what she wants.But after a handful of most unfortunate incidents where she almost ends up drowning in the dangerous waters she tried to tread on ; Shayla faces the danger of dying due to thirst. Does a certain blue eyed boy with the voice of a nightingale prove to be the water for Shayla when she is stuck in the desert?

Dr. Alessia Russo's life is spiraling out of control. Drowning in debt and desperate to help her imprisoned brother, the brilliant ER physician makes a decision that will change her life forever. One moonlit rendezvous in a shadowy alley catapults her into the dangerous world of the Bratva, where loyalty is everything and one wrong move could be her last. Enter Nikolai Zhukov, the enigmatic and ruthless boss of the Russian mafia. With eyes that pierce her soul and a touch that sets her skin ablaze, Nikolai offers Alessia an irresistible proposition: become his personal doctor, no questions asked, in exchange for more money than she ever dreamed possible. As Alessia navigates the treacherous waters of the criminal underworld, she finds herself drawn deeper into Nikolai's web. By day, she saves lives in the ER. By night, she tends to bullet wounds and knife fights, all while trying to keep her moral compass intact. But Nikolai is no ordinary crime lord. Behind his cold exterior and calculated moves lies a man with hidden depths and unexpected vulnerabilities. As the heat between them intensifies, Alessia realizes she's not just risking her career and freedom – she's in danger of losing her heart to the very man she should fear most. With enemies closing in and loyalties tested, Alessia must choose between the safe life she's always known and the exhilarating, perilous future Nikolai offers. In a world where passion and danger collide, can their forbidden love survive? Or will the price of entering Nikolai's world prove too high for the good doctor to pay? "Code Black: A Bratva Billionaire Romance" – a heart-pounding tale of love, loyalty, and the thin line between right and wrong.

Updated Mondays, Wednesday & Fridays Alpha Avery Waters, of the Crescent Moon pack, has been looking for his luna with no luck. That is until his twenty-third birthday party that is being thrown by the Red Moon pack. There Alpha Avery finds his luna, a slave named Haley Riveria. Avery forces the Red Moon Alpha, Jake Miller, to give him Haley given that she is his mate and he is bound by werewolf law. This makes Alpha Jake unhappy to lose his favorite play toy. Alpha Avery must work hard to gain her trust and get her to accept the mate bond. However, Haley knows she is cursed and must protect her secret at all costs from Alpha Avery. It could cost him his life, but the more she gets to know him the more she struggles to keep the mate bond at bay. Will Haley be able to break the curse or will her existence kill her mate?

Within a world of manners, petticoats, finely dressed men and grand houses, tension and sexual attraction still rule. The purity of a woman’s reputation is everything whilst a man could be the worst kind of deviant and still walk amongst royalty. Navigating these tricky waters takes skill. A woman could risk it all for such a dangerous man and come away ruined… Follow Athena Thornfield as she starts employment at Fairfax Manor as a landscape designer. The millionaire Baron owner has a scandalous reputation with women. Can Athena complete the contract, learn about her desires and leave with her heart intact? Or will the Baron make her an offer she doesn't know if she can refuse?

In the glittering world of high finance and luxury penthouses, Maya thought she had it all. A fairytale marriage to a powerful CEO, wealth beyond imagination, and the promise of a perfect life. But beneath the polished surface lies a web of deceit, manipulation, and shattered dreams. As the cracks in her golden cage begin to show, Maya discovers that the price of her apparent success is her very identity. Trapped between familial expectations and a husband's cruel indifference, she finds herself fading into the background of her own life. But a chance encounter at a company gala sparks something long dormant in Maya – a fierce determination to reclaim her worth. As she navigates treacherous waters of family loyalty, marital obligations, and self-discovery, Maya must make a choice: continue living a lie or risk everything for a chance at true happiness. With each step towards freedom, the stakes grow higher, and the dangers more real. In a world where appearance is everything, Maya's journey to find her voice threatens to topple empires built on secrets and lies. Will she find the strength to break free from the chains of expectation? Or will the price of her rebellion prove too high to bear? One thing is certain – in the game of love and power, nothing is ever as it seems.

In the second year of my marriage to Jeffery Sadler, he brought a young woman home. When his eyes met mine, Jeffery smiled carelessly and said, "Naomi, perhaps you should try it too." He added, "After all, young and energetic people are truly different." I knew he was only testing me; he had always enjoyed tormenting and toying with me. But what he didn't know was that this time, I was genuinely tempted. Later, as he stared at the fresh scratch marks on the "young person's" waist and abdomen, his eyes blazed red with anger. "Naomi Sloan," he growled, “Who gave you the audacity to actually take this seriously?”

Everyone loves to watch a slow-moving train wreck. That’s what happens when Ariel, librarian, book lover, and full-time geek, decides to work as an exotic dancer. When she loses her job as a bank teller, she needs a way to earn some extra cash--and fast. Driven by curiosity--just how hard could this stripping thing be?--she decides to sign up at a local club. There’s just one thing: she doesn’t tell her boyfriend about it.Diving into the world of exotic dancing, she has to navigate the murky moral waters of taking off her clothes for money. From wild champagne parties to private shows with high-rolling customers, she will start raking in the money...until the cost becomes too high.Confessions of an Exotic Dancing Librarian is created by Ariel Slick, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Vol. 1. The Unveiling of Immortality Zheira believes herself to be a monster, burdened with the extraordinary gift of peering into people's memories. But when a haunting presence claims to be her very soul, her world spirals into chaos. Desperate to resist this entity's control, she inadvertently becomes a danger to her own father, whose life hangs by a thread after she almost drained his blood. Consumed by the fear of hurting those she loves, Zheira flees, seeking solace and answers in the shadows. It is in these depths that she crosses paths with Vladimir, a charismatic vampire. Drawn to his captivating demeanor, she finds herself torn between his persuasive words and the overwhelming need to retain her autonomy. As Zheira embarks on a perilous journey, forces beyond her comprehension converge. Supernatural threats lurk in every shadow, testing her resolve and challenging her understanding of her own identity. With each step she takes, the stakes escalate, her own destiny intertwined with the fate of both her soul and those she holds dear. In this gripping tale of self-discovery, Zheira must confront her inner demons while navigating a treacherous world teeming with unknown dangers. Will she succumb to the seductive allure of her soul's dominance or forge her own path, risking everything to protect the ones she loves?