
Introduction
Phoenix Williams comes back to the town he swore not to revisit. He’s a cocky, confident, and relentless businessman—the type of man Sam despised. Surprisingly, the same qualities draw Phoenix closer to her.
He also treats her like a princess. But like most relationships, there are always ups and downs—their relationships tested by their pasts—the past that brings them closer, and the same past can change their lives forever.
Chapter 1
PART I
SAM
Mom looks in my direction and smiles when she notices me approaching. "Morning sweetie, I didn"t hear you came home last night. I must be in a deep sleep when you arrived," Mom says, pouring coffee into my mug.
"I"m sorry, mom. It was Amy"s birthday party last night. I couldn"t come home early because I carpooled with Maya and Garrett." I take my plate of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and two strips of bacon she offers.
She hands me a cup of coffee. "You didn"t mention to me about going to a birthday party, sweetie. You also forgot to send me a message." She looks at me with her famous worried look.
I sit on the stool of our small kitchen counter and start sipping my coffee. "Yeah, you worry too much. Did forget I"m twenty-one and not a twelve anymore? Don"t you have duty tonight?" I munch my breakfast quickly. I only have twenty minutes to get to the coffee shop where I work as a part-time waitress.
"I have. I"ll be here in the morning. We can have a movie marathon." Mom"s duty at the general hospital as an ER nurse makes it difficult for us to catch up every day.
I roll my eyes. "Yeah. We can have a movie marathon while you"re snoring on the couch."
Mom works hard to let me go to college. She took all the responsibility since Dad died in a car accident when I was fifteen. Mom didn"t even date anyone and just focused on her work and me.
Dad worked as a bank clerk in a local bank in town. He was the best father I could ever wish for, but unfortunately, he was taken away from me by a tragic car accident. His car hit the tree when he was trying to avoid hitting someone who crossed the road—he was confirmed dead on arrival.
"You, silly, you always chose a boring movie, all they did were kill each other. Who will enjoy watching that kind of movie? It"s too violent for me."
I roll my eyes again, stand up, and take the empty plate and mug with me to the kitchen sink. I love action movies while Mom loves drama.
"Your choice of movie is more boring, mom. If not dying of cancer, a husband cheated on her. So dramatic. I won"t waste my tears for sappy movies like that."
She laughs and shakes her head—Mom is funny. She"s not only my mother but also my best friend.
I go up to my bathroom to brush my teeth, re-coat my mascara, and wipe more lip gloss.
I grab my purse and my keys from the couch. "Got to go, Mom. Get some sleep, and I"ll see you tomorrow morning. I love you." I peck her cheek.
I pull my car 2014 Ford to the driveway—Mom"s birthday gift for me two years ago.
Ten minutes later, I"m already in the coffee shop. I notice many customers—most of them are college students, football players, and a few couples busy chatting with each other. Suddenly, I feel a twist in my stomach.
"Sam, get your ass in here and wear your apron. We have customers to serve." Daniel "Big D" Chase, who manages the coffee shop for five years now. A six-foot-tall and bulky standing in front of my locker wearing a scowl on his face.
"Good morning to you, too, Big D. Why so grumpy early in the morning?"
He is like a big brother to us, but, of course, he"s still strict when it comes to our job.
I grab my apron from my locker and wear it. Our coffee shop is the biggest coffee shop in the area, and it"s open seven days a week.
"The new owner will come to check the shop. I can be demoted or replaced by someone else, or worse lose my job." He shrugs. Worry is palpable in his deep gravely voice.
My brows furrowed. "Why would you lose your job? You"ve been good at it. He"ll not be going to replace you, and I"ll kick his ass if he"ll demote you, Big D." I playfully punch his huge bicep, but he doesn"t even flinch.
I"ve heard about the buying of this shop, but I don"t know who"s the new owner. I don"t really care for as long as I have a job and get paid.
"You don"t have any idea who the owner is. He"s ruthless and heartless. He bought some establishments here; a restaurant, nightclub, coffee shop, and a house on the Hillside. He already started changing management and fired staff."
I purse my lips while listening to him. He must be very rich if he bought establishments and a house at the same time.
"He got a huge share when his father died. He and his brother got equal shares of the assets. He moved here from New York when his father died, but his brother stayed in New York and managed his own business there. I heard that"s where their mother stayed when their parents divorced. He is related to Hughes."
I cross my arms over my chest. "Wow! You seem to hear a lot of gossips lately, Big D." I fix my hair and walk with him inside.
"People talked around, Sam. I couldn"t help but listen especially when my only job was at stake."
I feel bad about him. I grab his huge arms and squeeze them. "I"m sorry, Big D. I wish I can help, but if your job is in jeopardy, I am sure my part-time as well. I need to get to work."
He nods, and I move to the counter and check all the supplies.
The door chimes and my work starts when a college couple gets inside and sits at the left corner of the shop.
Thirty minutes before my shift ends, I take a seat for a few minutes since only a few customers left. All their orders are served and supplies are refilled.
Something wicked in Amy and Maya"s smile as they walk in my direction.
"Did you know that the new owner is hot?" Amy giggles. She"s my close friend, dated a bunch of guys, but as she said, nothing serious. They just want to have sex with her and grab her D cup size. Well, I can"t blame them because Amy is a gorgeous blonde with blue eyes. She"s sassy and sometimes blunt. Okay, maybe most of the time, but she has a good heart.
I still don"t show interest.
She hits my arms to get my attention. "Did you not hear me, Sam? I said Mr. Williams is hot." She shakes me and widens her eyes.
I raise my eyebrows. "So? I don"t care if he"s hot or cold. Our jobs here are over once he changes the management. Big D is worried as hell that he might be demoted or replaced, and all you have in mind is he"s hot?"
Amy flinches because I know she needs this job.
"How did you know that he"s gonna change the management?" Maya asks. Her brown eyes widened in surprise.
"Big D told me earlier. Well, not sure yet, but people talked and gossiped around. The owner changed the management in his other establishments though."
When my shift ends, I punch out and leave immediately. I send Mom a message. Amy has a plan for tonight, so I"ll be alone since Maya of course, will be with her fiancé.
I reheat the dinner Mom left for me and eat, then I take a shower and change to PJs.
I grab my book on my study table that is still half unread, get in my bed, and tuck myself in. I flip the page where I Left with a bookmark. Before I can start reading the first line, my phone rings.
I roll my eyes to see the screen—it"s my ex, Tyler.
I press the answer icon. "Ty, "sup?" I answer casually, then at the music blaring—he must be at the frat party like always.
"Sam, I can"t drive home. My dad will kick my ass if he"ll know I"m driving while I"m drunk. Can you come and pick me up?"
Jesus, he"s such an idiot!
Why I even bother answering his call? I broke up with him because he"s an idiot, a cheater, and an egotistical jerk.
"Call your friend Ty or your girlfriend to drive you home. I"m in bed already and ready to sleep." I emphasize the girlfriend, who cheated on me a year ago.
"Sam, please. You know we"re not like that anymore. My friends are already drunk." Of course, they"re all drunk.
"Ugh! Send me the address. You won"t call me next time, Tyler. I"m not your DD."
"Thanks, Sam, I owe you." Owe you my ass.
"Be there. Bye." I get up in bed and change my clothes.
I"m in front of the Frat house after twenty minutes. The music is still blaring from the house. I dial his number and he immediately picks up and says he"s on his way out.
"Hey, Sam. Thank you for coming!"
I don"t answer, instead, I walk to the driver's seat. He gets inside the passenger seat, and none of us start to talk while I drive silently. Until we"re halfway to his home—where I lost my virginity to him.
"You"re still mad at me, aren"t you, Sam?" He leans his head back to the seat and rubs his temples.
I release a huge breath. "That was a long time ago Ty. I moved on and I already forgave you." I focus my eyes on the road.
"I"m really sorry, Sam. It was just a one-time thing. She"s not like you—she seduced me, and I was half drunk. When you broke up with me, I dated her for a free fuck. I missed you though." He sounds sincere, but he still cheated on me.
I stop the car in front of his house and wait for him to get out, but he doesn"t move.
I look at him and furrow my brows. "Why are you—"
Before I can continue, he grabs my head and crushes his lips on mine. I"m still dumbstruck to react.
He kisses me hungrily, wet, and with pure rage. I can still taste the beer on his lips. I like how he kissed me before, but now I feel nothing but disgust.
I push him away, but he doesn"t budge. I push him again, instead of letting me go, Ty cups and kneads my left breast.
This is wrong!
I slap him, and that"s when he stops kissing me. He narrows his eyes at me full of anger. He kisses me again and bites my lower lip—a taste of sweet and metallic floods my mouth.
I push him again.
This time, he pulls himself away. "What the fuck, Sam? Are you fucking anyone already?" he asks with pure anger in his voice.
I don"t realize tears are already falling from my eyes. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and that"s when I see the blood from his bite.
"Get out of my car, Tyler!" I yell at him. "Before I"ll call the cops and complain you of harassment." My voice cracks in the end.
"You"re not going to do that, Samantha. You know my dad is a lawyer. You"ll just lose your case and will be humiliated in the end. I already fucked you, why can"t I fuck you again, huh?"
I push him on his chest. "Get out of my car Tyler! I should never go there to pick you up and drive you home. You trick me, asshole. Get out of my freaking car!"
He opens the passenger door and gets out. "My offer still stands, Samantha." He slams the door shut that makes me startle in my seat.
I drive away still crying from what he did to me. I was so stupid and didn"t think before going to pick him up. I don"t realize I"m not driving my way home.
Slowing down, I check my surroundings—I"m in front of the building that has a gym logo. The parking area is almost empty aside from the three cars are parked.
I stay for a while since I"m not blocking the driveway. I check my phone—no one call and gets out of the car.
The evening breeze touches my skin, making me shiver. I lean against the hood of my car and wrap my arms around me. My tears dry, but I"m still sniffing.
"Are you okay, miss?" A deep husky voice asks behind me that makes me jump.
My hand flies to my chest and turns to the voice from my back. My eyes widen. My jaw drops. Everything around me disappears, leaving just me and the man in front of me.
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I didn't tell him to stop.
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I gasped into him, his hand sliding up to cup my jaw, holding me as if afraid I might vanish.
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"James..." I whispered, more plea than protest.
His hand caught mine, fingers threading together tightly. "I'll bring him back. I swear it. Just... don't turn away from me. Please."
The word please—low, ragged, almost broken—undid me more than anything else could have.
Ella never imagined she would marry the man she had secretly loved for years in such a way.
When her brother Theo faced twenty-five years in prison for massive embezzlement, the ruthless business tycoon James Lancaster offered her a deal: marry him in exchange for her brother's freedom.
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Game of Destiny
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Amie cant resist the Alpha that comes into her life and drags her back into pack life. Not only does she find herself happier than she has been in a long time, her wolf finally comes to her. Finlay isn't her mate, but he becomes her best friend. Together with the other top wolves in the pack, they work to create the best and strongest pack.
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The Shattered Moon King
Lena is a survivor. For years, she has weathered the harsh, post-apocalyptic landscape by following one rule: trust no one. But when she finds an amnesiac man near death in the wilderness—a man with kind eyes and a strength that is anything but human—she makes a choice that will unravel her solitary existence.
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“Fuckkk”, I couldn’t help but scream.
“You need to learn to be obedient” he said as he kept thrusting into me. When I felt his hands on my clit my body shook.
“Asher please, it’s too much”.
“No. if I really wanted to punish you, I would give you all of me”, he said against my ears and my entire body froze. Suddenly he moved and I was standing again. This man was insane.
I felt him behind me. “Ten Lashes for your disobedience”, he said
“Asher please”,
“No”. His voice was cold and void of any emotion.
Asher was what I wanted , what I truly craved until it was too late. An orphan should never fall in love with someone out of their reach. I thought loving him was the right thing to do until he revealed his true identity and Ruined me. I was ruined for everyone one else . I could still feel his touch, it was as if it was etched into my skin. I tired to avoid him but fate wouldn't let it happen.
The Sterling's were the most powerful in Havenwood and Dorian Sterling was off limits.
As an orphan finding out you still have people looking for you is hard to take but when it turns out to be people of wealth and standing I took the other road and ran, but running led me right back to the place I was avoiding and the person I was avoiding.
Asher and Dorling Sterling one and the same. When his first love shows up and along with everyone that has set out to ruin me, I prayed that he could protect me.
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A drunken bet becomes their private game: win the maid.
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Don’t let the others know you’re falling for her.
And never, ever let her leave.
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The eldest buys her obedience.
The second steals her breath.
The third corners her in the dark.
The youngest ruins anyone who touches her.
Lila isn’t sure if she’s a player in their game… or the prize they’ll destroy each other to claim
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She finds truth.
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The Alpha twins who once scorned her now cannot stay away. A human hunter walks beside her and proves that strength is not born of fangs or dominance. A cursed Wolf King holds the key to her past and her father’s imprisonment. And watching from the shadows is one who was never meant to interfere at all.
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From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
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What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.












