

The Lush Experience
Amelie Bergen · Ongoing · 102.4k Words
Introduction
Anais Crawford has been more focused on writing her next book rather than looking for love. The last time she was in a serious relationship was years ago, but writing about romance can't replace the real thing. When her friends set her up for a program called the Lush Experience, she experiences far more than just love. Matched with incredible men and even a few familiar faces, will she choose to live a life full of romance or will she be stuck having to write about it?
The Lush Experience is written by Amelie Bergen, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
Chapter 1
After finally saving the file for my last chapter, I closed my laptop and took a deep breath. I was tired and wanted to go to sleep, but I’d never hear the end of it if I ditched the birthday party my friends were throwing for ME.
The fact that they wanted to throw me a surprise party but failed to keep it a surprise was just another reason to love them, and to not spoil said surprise by not making it to said party.
I put my jacket on and practically shoved my things into my bag, waving goodbye to Gilbert, the librarian, as I finally left my kingdom of words.
I loved Gilbert. He’d been here at the library since before I even moved to the city and was always a brilliant source of information for my books. He knew where to find everything and anything, but most importantly, he never asked personal questions.
It was nice, especially since sometimes those questions were as innocent as, ‘what was typical British food?’ to ‘how fast does it take a body to decompose?’.
He never assumed that I was up to anything sketchy, though I was unsure if he knew it was because I was a writer or he just could not be bothered to worry about a possible murderer in the library.
Food for thought.
Later though. I was halfway to my car when my phone started playing dramatic funeral music and I answered the call.
“Hello, André,” I greeted smugly.
“Anais, what am I going to do with you?” My publicist André sighed heavily as I pulled out my keys and got into my car. “You were in the library again, weren’t you?”
“Well, you do pay me to produce good books, don’t you?” I smirked, and I could almost see him rolling his eyes.
“You also need a life. Need I remind you that today is your birthday? You get one freebee. Tomorrow I’ll torture you with deadlines.”
I hated that word, but he’s right. I was supposed to deliver a new book to him last month and yet, I kept stalling on the project. I had so many stories to share, but for whatever reason, this one just couldn’t reach its conclusion.
“I’m heading home now, the girls are waiting for me for a nice celebration.”
I twisted my keys in the ignition, and moments later, my Volvo was pulling out of the library parking lot as I headed back home to get ready for the night.
“Then, I’ll let you go, have fun, and send me some pictures ok?”
He didn’t wait for me to reply and ended the call, which was rather typical for André. We definitely had a strange relationship. Sometimes, he would be super friendly, and sometimes, he would draw a line between us and cut our interactions down to the bare minimum.
I guess I never allowed him to get close either, but he understood that for someone as weird as me, it was better and safer to keep it that way.
I looked at my phone to check what time it was. It was just a brief glance, but then I felt my body being jerked forward and backward. I was pulled by the belt, and the metal crunching and tires squeaking resounded in my ears.
It took me a bit to acknowledge and realize…I had just hit a car.
Someone knocked on my door but I didn’t react, still staring at the vehicle in front of me. My ears were ringing, but the knocking got stronger, enough for me to feel it, and I shakily turned my head.
At the sight of who was knocking, I knew I probably hit my head because standing there, knocking on my car door was Rob, my ex boyfriend.
Did I just rear end his car? Out of all the people on this street, in this city, I crashed into…Rob?
He waved a hand at me. Rob continued staring at me worriedly before waving again, snapping me out of it. This was no hallucination or dream, I really did just hit his car. His very fancy, probably expensive car—and we didn’t exactly break up on good terms.
I hurriedly pressed the button, my window rolling down automatically.
“Rob?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“For fuck’s sake An, you gave me the scare of a lifetime! I can’t believe you just hit me! What were you thinking?! You… An? Are you ok?”
I knew he was talking to me but his words weren’t quite registering like they should’ve been. My hands were shaking and I couldn’t function. Suddenly, my door was pulled open and Rob was crouching down next to me, taking my hands in his.
I hadn’t replied to his question. I knew it was rude but I–I couldn’t speak. My tongue was heavy in my mouth and the words wouldn’t come out.
What was wrong with me? Perhaps I really did hit my head during the chaos.
“An, it's ok. Don’t worry. It was just a scare…”
Rob’s voice started to reach me and I realized I was zoned out again. I needed to get a grip on myself.
“Miss, we need to check on you please,” I heard someone say, drawing my attention.
I realized there was a paramedic standing next to Rob. Did I faint and lose track of time?
“I’ll let the doc here examine you, ok, babe?”
Why was he talking to me like that? Our breakup was messy and it was…god, it was years since I last saw him. So, why was he treating me so kindly now?
I must’ve looked like a mess, and honestly, I felt like it too.
The paramedic unbuckled my seatbelt and checked my vitals. I knew that physically, I was alright. I mean, I was alive and nothing felt broken, but it was still a terrifying experience.
This was the first time I’d ever been in a car accident in my entire life, but my mother had died in one. Maybe that’s why I was reacting this way—why I was still shaking and practically on the verge of tears.
“Well, your vitals are stable, Ms. Crawford, even if your heartbeat’s a little fast. Can you look here for me?” the paramedic asked. He held up a little penlight and shined it in my eyes, making me wince. “It doesn’t seem like you have a concussion. That’s good. Now, can you turn your head for me? Slowly, don’t force it…”
I carefully turned my head to the side, following his finger. But as I turned my head to the right, I yelped, hissing at the sudden painful pull of my muscles.
“Ms. Crawford? Can you describe what you felt?” he asked.
“It hurt,” I replied wearily. “Like my muscles were pulling.”
“Ah. That’s called the ‘whiplash effect’ and it’s due to the sudden movement of when the car crashes and your seatbelt prevents you from being expelled from the car.” He gently pressed his fingers on the tense spot and I winced once more. Then, he removed them. “It doesn’t feel as if it’s anything more than just some pulled muscles, though. Are you able to stand?”
It was only then that I realized the paramedic was a middle aged man. He was looking at me worriedly, and his voice was kind. It helped a bit and I nodded, stepping out of my car and taking his offered hand.
I didn’t feel like I was going to faint, but I let the paramedic do his job, and he continued with his tests.
“Do you feel dizzy? Nauseous?”
“No no, I’m fine, just shaken.”
He nodded. “That’s good. Can you take another look around for me?”
I turned my head, taking a look at the chaos I inadvertently caused. There was an ambulance and two police cars helping block out the crash site, forcing traffic to go around us.
Rob was leaning against his fancy looking Ferrari, staring at me as I turned my attention back to the paramedic.
“It’s not as bad as the first time, there’s just a bit of pain,” I noted.
“Great,” the paramedic smiled. “You’re doing great. You’re very lucky. No one was injured too badly during the crash. Do you feel the need to go to the hospital?”
“No,” I answered. “I’m alright. If I’m not injured too badly, then I’d like to just head home, if that’s alright.”
“You’re all clear, Ms. Crawford,” he replied. “But please head to the hospital if you feel any changes in your health or if any of your symptoms get worse.”
I thanked the paramedic as he leaned down and picked up his supply bag before making his way back to the ambulance.
As soon as I was no longer being checked for injuries, the police swooped in without hesitation. A police woman quickly approached me, practically appearing out of nowhere.
“Miss, we need to take your statement for–”
“Wait, officer!”
I looked at Rob as he quickly walked over to us. The police woman obviously recognized him since she practically had stars in her eyes when he looked at her.
“I’m not pressing charges, don’t worry. She’s someone I know so I know this was just an accident. We’ll exchange insurance information and take care of everything, alright?”
He smiled, making the officer practically swoon.
“Of course, sir. Thank you. You are very lucky Miss,” she said, the words having an almost dreamy quality to them.
I wanted to roll my eyes at the whole situation but refrained. I couldn’t lie—I was relieved in some capacity it was Rob I crashed into and not a stranger.
My birthday had already gone all sorts of wrong, and I’d rather not add legal charges on top of it.
Now that no one was getting arrested and we were cleared by the medics, the police were quick to leave. Even our cars weren’t as badly damaged as I thought they were.
We were lucky, so damn lucky, and I couldn’t help but shakily sigh in relief. Still, the situation wasn’t over quite yet. I squared my shoulders, finally meeting Rob’s gaze.
He stood in front of me with a boyish grin that almost made me grimace. I knew he was about to say something that would make me want to slap him. He always knew how to get under my skin.
“For a moment there, I thought you had passed out with how you were acting! I’m glad you’re okay though, An… I never expected to see you again, especially like this.” He paused and then winked. “It must be fate, huh?”
Ok, that wasn’t exactly what I was expecting to hear. The words were softer and warmer than I thought they’d be. It was…refreshing, and good to hear that we were moving on from our past.
Still, he was right. I didn’t expect to see him again, but fate or not, I would really like to end this conversation and just move on with my day, leaving us in the past, where we belonged.
“I didn’t plan this, if that is what you’re trying to get at,” I noted firmly, my head still slightly pounding.
He chuckled and nodded. “Oh, I know. I really am happy to see you, though. Sorry for the scare.”
I frowned at his words. “Why are you apologizing for my mistake? I’m the one who should say sorry.”
At that he smirked. “Well then, apology accepted.”
I sighed. Did he seriously just do that? Oh, who was I kidding? This was Rob. Of course he did. He could never be serious about anything for more than a few minutes.
“Thank you for not pressing charges,” I continued, ignoring his gesture. “Here. This is a copy of my insurance company. I’ll call them tomorrow so they’ll know to expect a call. Do you need anything else? I actually need to get going. I’m running late.”
It was a bit rude of me, trying to escape the conversation so quickly and I knew Rob might not like it, but there was nothing else for us to talk about if he wasn’t going to press charges.
I could see his smile twitch as he tried to hide how my words upset him, but he didn’t say a single thing about what he was feeling, despite that. Typical Rob.
“Just remember that you owe me one, okay? I’ll collect it sometime, maybe for a coffee or something,” he noted.
A coffee didn’t sound that bad, but I knew it wasn’t entirely harmless either. Doing anything with him could be dangerous, mostly for myself and my emotions.
“Honey, can we go now?”
A woman’s voice came from his car and I peered behind him to see a girl leaning out of the side of his Ferrari to call him. She was gorgeous. I didn’t know how I didn’t notice her before, but the sight of her was a relief.
Rob rolled his eyes at being called, however, speaking before I could really ponder why he had such a reaction.
“I will be there in a minute. Get back in,” he stated, and she did as she was told.
“Honey?” I chuckled, smiling.
It seemed like Rob found someone else. I was happy for him, even if I was a little jealous. After our breakup, I hadn’t been able to find anything that would count as an actual relationship instead of a quick hookup, and as much as I hated to admit it, it was starting to take its affect on me mentally.
“Well, don’t let me keep you. I have to head out too,” I began.
Rob sighed, looking at me almost as if he was in pain, but I didn’t understand why. He moved on…right?
“I mean it, An. I’d like to get a coffee or something with you. Catch up and what not. I’m going to be around all month, ok? So, just…give it some thought.”
I nodded, coffee felt a bit less threatening now that I knew he was seeing someone else. Rob gave me a simple, honest smile, much realer than that fake one from before. It suited him and I watched as he turned around and got back into his car, driving away.
There was definitely something different with him, and I never expected to agree, but maybe we owed each other that cup of coffee.
Maybe.
Last Chapters
#50 Chapter 50
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#49 Chapter 49
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#48 Chapter 48
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#47 Chapter 47
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#46 Chapter 46
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#45 Chapter 45
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#44 Chapter 44
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#43 Chapter 43
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#42 Chapter 42
Last Updated: 3/3/2025#41 Chapter 41
Last Updated: 3/3/2025
You Might Like 😍
Surrendering to Destiny
Graham MacTavish wasn't prepared to find his mate in the small town of Sterling that borders the Blackmoore Packlands. He certainly didn't expect her to be a rogue, half-breed who smelled of Alpha blood. With her multi-colored eyes, there was no stopping him from falling hard the moment their mate bond snapped into place. He would do anything to claim her, protect her and cherish her no matter the cost.
From vengeful ex-lovers, pack politics, species prejudice, hidden plots, magic, kidnapping, poisoning, rogue attacks, and a mountain of secrets including Catherine's true parentage there is no shortage of things trying to tear the two apart.
Despite the hardships, a burning desire and willingness to trust will help forge a strong bond between the two... but no bond is unbreakable. When the secrets kept close to heart are slowly revealed, will the two be able to weather the storm? Or will the gift bestowed upon Catherine by the moon goddess be too insurmountable to overcome?
Rejected Protector
The Lycan Prince’s Puppy
“Soon enough, you’ll be begging for me. And when you do—I’ll use you as I see fit, and then I’ll reject you.”
—
When Violet Hastings begins her freshman year at Starlight Shifters Academy, she only wants two things—honor her mother’s legacy by becoming a skilled healer for her pack and get through the academy without anyone calling her a freak for her strange eye condition.
Things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that Kylan, the arrogant heir to the Lycan throne who has made her life miserable from the moment they met, is her mate.
Kylan, known for his cold personality and cruel ways, is far from thrilled. He refuses to accept Violet as his mate, yet he doesn’t want to reject her either. Instead, he sees her as his puppy, and is determined to make her life even more of a living hell.
As if dealing with Kylan’s torment isn’t enough, Violet begins to uncover secrets about her past that change everything she thought she knew. Where does she truly come from? What is the secret behind her eyes? And has her whole life been a lie?
Violent Little Thing.
“Angel, you have a filthy fucking mouth”, I whispered low into her ear.
“Luciano…” Finally, an expression on her face. A real one she wasn’t hiding from me. It wasn’t fear though. It was lust. My girl likes this. I pulled her down further so she could feel just how much I was liking it too and the most enchanting gasp came from her mouth while her eyes rolled back for a moment.
————————————————
Do you enjoy a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armour? If so, then this book is not for you. This five foot nothing, FMC, Ariana Salvatore is a ruthless assassin, trained and tortured to be the most deadly weapon. She's got a heart of gold, a filthy mouth and a will to survive. She's on the run from her father's heavy hand and deadly demands. What happens when not one but three powerful mafia men pine for her? Will they be able to share? Will her past catch up to her? And what about her ex fiance? The ruthless, beast of a man her father had arranged for her to marry? This book is a whirlwind of events, violent, spicy and not for the faint hearted.
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.
He’s my boyfirend’s brother.
This is Tyler’s family.
I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And still—
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t care.
It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.
It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
I’m not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
She’s not my problem.
And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate
My drunk stepfather remained indifferent, his weight suffocating, making it hard to breathe as my heart raced.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and two figures burst in.
"Get off her!" a deafening roar echoed.
I didn't expect the twin brothers who'd bullied me at school to come charging in like gods to save me.
After my grandmother passed, I had to move in with my mom and stepdad, who treated me like a servant. I prayed every day for my 18th birthday to come, so l could leave and escape this broken home.
However, on my first day at my new school, l encountered the legendary twins everyone feared.
To make matters worse, the Moon Goddess revealed they were both my mates!
After helping me out with my stepdad, my twin mate cornered me, played with my hair, and whispered possessively, "You belong to us, our little mate..."
Letting Go
That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly.
When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win.
When Molly's secret is revealed and she’s forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.
A pack of their own
The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King
"Eyes on me," he growled, voice thick with lust, practically vibrating through me. "I wanna watch you lose it when I make you come."
My climax slammed into me, wild and unstoppable, as he rasped, "That's it, baby."
The next morning, my heart shattered into pieces. There was Scarlett—throwing herself into Jace's arms, her body pressed intimately against his chest, her hands possessively claiming what I thought was mine just hours ago.
Raised by werewolves, human Aria Silverbrook has always lived as an outsider. When her adoptive father flees with her to escape a dangerous Alpha's advances, they find sanctuary with the powerful Moon Shadow Pack. But Aria never expected the overwhelming connection she feels to the pack's mysterious Alpha, Jace Carter—or how his young daughter Aurora instantly claims a piece of her heart.
Jace's royal Primal bloodline makes him exceptional among Alphas, his wolf Phantom towering over others. When Aria enters his territory, something stirs within him. As the Blood Moon approaches, he debates revealing the truth: she is his destined mate who will unlock his full potential.
Near her eighteenth birthday, Aria notices disturbing changes. Her wounds heal unnaturally fast after saving Aurora from a rogue wolf. A strange voice whispers warnings of transformation, while her lifelong wolf-paw birthmark takes on new significance.
Is Aria truly human? What secrets will the Blood Moon reveal? And as she falls deeper for Jace despite jealous pack members threatening their bond, can she embrace a destiny beyond anything she imagined—becoming Luna to a Wolf King?
Into the Alpha’s Keep
To protect her sister, she flees, searching for a safe place to endure this agonizing time away from any pack.
But fate has other plans. Her journey leads her into forbidden territory, where the land is ruled by Fenrir, a powerful and ruthless alpha.
Fenrir has never known loss of control—until he crosses paths with the omega in heat, lost and vulnerable on his lands.
Their wolves take over, and an unimaginable bond forms between them: a mating bond neither of them wanted.
Confused and enraged by what has transpired, Fenrir decides to imprison the omega in his home, determined to figure out why their destinies are now tangled.
As the two struggle to keep their distance, their hatred for one another grows—but their wolves demand closeness.
The beasts within them are relentless, and neither can bear to be apart.
My Husband Wants An Open Marriage
Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage.
The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie’s long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back.
Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan.
Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
The Luna's Vampire Prince
His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I don’t jerk away from him. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want me—dead or alive. And yet, all I can think about right now is how badly I want this vampire’s hands on my body.
I live in a desolate village on the edge of the Vampire King’s lands. This used to be wolf shifter territory, but now, we are just trying to survive.
When I mess up and find myself in a culling, I know I’m dead. No wolf shifters ever survive these events.
And after the stunt I pulled in the middle of the village, Prince Rafe probably wants me dead.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing when a vampire looks at you like you’re a snack?
Something tells me, once I reach the castle, I’ll be missing my miserable existence in the village.
But then—it turns out I have no freaking idea who I even am, and when the royals start referring to me as Princess Ainslee, I realize my life is about to take a turn—for better or worse.