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Wealthy businessman Aiden Walker spirals into a dark abyss following a catastrophic plane crash that claims his beloved family. He sheds his opulent lifestyle and seeks solitude within the four walls of his vast Savannah mansion. However, his sanctuary isn't immune to external torment, as he becomes the target of a ruinous lawsuit by a bereaved family who lost their son in the same tragic event. Caught in her family's web of indifference following her brother's untimely demise in the same crash, Lexa Patterson, a dedicated ER nurse, stumbles upon the forlorn billionaire under unforeseen circumstances. As Aiden stumbles into her ER after a drunken bike accident, Lexa is struck by the vulnerable side of this influential tycoon. Ignoring ethical boundaries, Lexa decides to delve deeper into the tormented world of the reclusive Aiden Walker. In an intoxicating game of passion and lies, Lexa treads a perilous path by concealing her true identity. An unexpected connection blooms amidst grief and despair, as Aiden and Lexa seek solace in each other's company. But how long can Lexa keep her true identity veiled? Will their newfound love stand the test of truth or shatter under the weight of their secrets? Veil of Lies: A High Stakes Affair weaves a captivating narrative around fate's twisted games, insatiable grief, and the desperate search for love and solace.
Aiden's [POV]
There's nothing quite like sleeping on Victorian furniture, and it damned sure wasn't built for a situation as informal as passing out drunk. I woke up with a splitting headache and a crick in my neck, but worse than that, I wasn't alone. There was movement from the other side of the room.
I opened my eyes with a wince, then adjusted my lids to slits so I could peek out and see who was there with me. I didn't remember picking up anyone from the bar, but it wouldn't be the first time I'd brought home a woman and forgotten about it.
"Well, Aiden Joseph Walker, it's about time you wake up." The familiar voice made me cringe, as did the use of my full name. A grown man of nearly thirty should never be called by his full name, and only two people had ever done so in my life as far as I could recall. One was my mother, who'd been dead for over a year, and the other was Mattie Johnson, our family housekeeper who had mothered me alongside Mom my entire life.
"I was beginning to think you were dead. Lord knows there's something dead in this house. Smells like it, anyway." She waved her cleaning rag through the air and then turned to wipe down the family clock that hadn't had the correct time since I was twelve and pulled the pendulum too hard. Mattie had tanned my ass, and Mom had let her.
The only thing dead in the house was my sense of humor. "Shouldn't you be somewhere spending the insane retirement fund I paid you to leave me the hell alone?"
"You shut your mouth. I don't work for you anymore, and Lord knows why I bothered coming here, but I won't have you disrespecting me." The crack of the dishtowel popped about two inches from my ass before she turned around and went right back to wiping down the things around me. The smell of a chicken boiling set my mouth to water, but I wished she hadn't done that. My appetite wasn't what it used to be.
I sat up and wiped my eyes and scrubbed my fingers through my thick beard, giving it a scratch. "I don't understand what's so hard about respecting my wishes."
"Your wishes are getting out of hand. Look at this place, Aiden. It's a pigsty. You might want to grow your hair and beard to look like you haven't got two pennies to rub together, but this home needs attention, whether you like it or not. The grass is knee-deep, and there's a good year's worth of overgrowth out on the hedges."
"Yes, and that's because when I gave the gardener his payoff, he left and had the good graces not to come back."
"So that's it, you want to sit up in here and let this place crumble around you? I've sat on my hands for too long, boy. If your parents could roll over in their graves, the ground would be shaking just knowing how you're handling things around here. Your mother would take a razor to that face in your sleep and your father - he'd be damned embarrassed of you." I pegged her with a hard glare, but she held her chin up defiantly.
"Well, you can stop worrying. They won't be anything. They're dead." They'd died fourteen months ago in a tragic plane crash along with my sister, Ally, and her boyfriend, Shawn Patterson. I hadn't handled things well since then.
"Boy, to hear you talk. I'm glad I don't have to stick around and hear it." She shook her head and kept on cleaning.
"So does that mean you're leaving?" I patted down my pockets until I found my wallet and the key to my bike.
"I'll be leaving when I get this living room cleaned up. I made a good dent in the kitchen already, though I'm going to work on throwing out those science experiments you've got growing in the fridge. You're going to end up in the hospital if you eat that food."
"I'm not eating any of it." My keys jingled in my hand as I opened my wallet and thumbed through my bills.
She turned and shook her rag at me. "Damn right, you're not. I'm boiling some chickens now. I'm going to fix up some of my chicken noodles you used to love so much as a child."
"It's really not necessary, Mattie." I stared into her dark eyes as she narrowed them at me.
"I know what's necessary and what's not, but you'll be thanking me when you've got a full stomach. You look like you've lost a bit of your bulk."
I hadn't lost that much, but she was right. I'd been much bulkier before the accident and hadn't cared much about myself since. Going to the gym hadn't been en route to my destructive life's path, but I certainly hadn't withered away. I glanced down at my abs and was thankful they were still defined, although not as prominent as before.
"You don't have to do anything, much less clean up."
"I'm not leaving until these two front rooms are presentable and there's a hot meal to get you through a day or two. You can argue with me all you want, but it isn't going to change a thing."
"Knock yourself out." I took my keys out of my pocket and went out to the garage to get on my bike. I glared down the line of my parents' cars as I cranked my engine. I wondered if any of them would even crank anymore. Surely the batteries had died by now, but it wasn't like I'd ever drive them.
My father's classic Shelby, which he loved to torment me with and had never let me drive, his 'Vette, which he drove to and from work to compete with Layne's, and the family classic white Rolls, which he kept for Easter Sunday when Mother would force us to go to church. The entire collection had a good layer of dust collecting.
My sister's newer Mustang, which had been towed to the house from the airport along with Mom's Land Rover, was going to waste, but I didn't care. They could sit there until they rusted. I couldn't bear to think of anyone else driving any of them. I thought back to my little sister and the day my father bought her that car. She was in tears as she hugged him, and then I'd had to teach her how to drive a stick before she could use it.
Without another thought, I sped off with the memories of my sister twisting like a corkscrew in my gut.
I hauled ass out to the only place I frequented, a bar called Jay's Pub, and hoped that when I returned home, Mattie would be gone. Deep down, I felt a pang of guilt for talking to her so harshly, but I'd asked the staff to move on and leave me be. So far, she was the only one who still reached out. I didn't think her any amount of her cooking or cleaning would make me feel whole again, but if it helped her, I'd let her do what she had to. But I didn't have to be around to see it.
Jackson King, the Alpha King, is desperate to secure his legacy and save his pack from extinction. He needs a surrogate to carry his child, and he's willing to pay handsomely for it. However, his chosen candidate, Layla Carlisle, a half-human and half-wolf, refuses his offer. Despite her initial rejection, Jackson is determined to make her change her mind, using any means necessary. As he struggles with his own darkness and the demands of his beast, Cain, Jackson must confront the consequences of his own cursed fate and the truth about his mate. Will Layla eventually agree to carry his child, or will Jackson's secrets and lies tear them apart?
Blue Learley, a bright and adventurous seventeen-year-old girl, lived a peaceful life in a small town with her loving parents and two protective brothers. Her days were filled with laughter, friendship, and dreams of a future filled with promise. But on one fateful night, her life took a devastating turn. Demetrius Easton, the ruthless and feared werewolf king, laid eyes on her, and his obsession was ignited. With a single glance, Blue became the object of Demetrius's unrelenting desire, and he would stop at nothing to claim her as his bride. But what should have been a nightmare scenario became a harsh reality when her own parents, blinded by greed and fear, betrayed her trust and sold her to the merciless werewolf king. With no escape from the clutches of Demetrius's unyielding grasp, Blue found herself trapped in a world of ancient traditions, dark magic, and unbridled power. Her once-peaceful life was now a distant memory, replaced by the constant terror of being at the mercy of a monster. With no one to turn to for help, Blue must rely on her own resilience and determination to survive the unrelenting forces that seek to consume her. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of Demetrius's kingdom, Blue will discover hidden strengths, unexpected allies, and the true depths of her own courage. But will it be enough to overcome the darkness that threatens to engulf her, or will she become just another pawn in the werewolf king's sinister game of power and control?
Sometimes, escaping the life you've known becomes a tempting salvation. That's the choice that Nate, an ex-band member grappling with a harrowing heroin addiction, makes when he opts to start anew on an island. His journey of recovery takes an unexpected twist when Abby, a woman also escaping her tumultuous past, enters the scene. Six years prior, the gruesome murder of Abby's mother and Abby's own brutal assault caught the nation's attention. While the two could not be more different, they find a compelling bond growing between them as Abby sees Nate's struggles and decides to lend a hand. Despite this newfound connection, Nate's world is rooted in Los Angeles, while Abby's cannot dare return to the mainland. With this difficult circumstance hanging over their heads, they find themselves faced with a significant question - Can they possibly nurture their sprouting romance despite their varying pasts and present realities?
THIS IS A COMPILATION OF ALL MY EROTICA BOOKS Within the shadowy realm of desires untold and the echoes of illicit whispers, an exciting universe awaits the brave of heart. Welcome to the provoking collection of erotica, where every page will thrill, chill, and provoke all manner of responses you never thought literature could invoke. Delicate yet defiant, carnal yet spiritual, the power of sensual human connections reign supreme in these scribed records. Tucked away within the passionate folds of this compendium, lovers transgress boundaries and consummate their unions in secret places, reveling in the rapturous exchange of emotional intensity, delicate beauty, and voluptuous fervor. In these explicit narrations, relationships unfurl themselves in an evocative symphony of words, bold and fearless.
In a quiet town lies a striking, successful surgeon, Cole Becker. A man so enticing he captures the attention of every woman he meets. Admired for his impeccable looks, bustling medical career and his enchanting son, Cole's life seems the very embodiment of perfection. However, despite all his achievements, there is an empty spot in his life longing to be filled - the need for a loving woman. Allie O'Keefe, the new girl next door, couldn't help but notice her enchanting neighbor. As an innocent and pure 24-year-old fleeing from the hectic city life, the allure of a simple life next to the alluring doctor becomes increasingly irresistible. Allie, oblivious of the depths and layers hidden behind Cole's charismatic façade, gets lured into his captivating world. As the spark between them begins to kindle, Allie gradually becomes aware of Cole's haunting secrets, causing an unforeseen storm in their emerging romance. Despite the intensity of their blossoming relationship, Cole's obscure past becomes an imminent threat. With their love story hanging in the balance, the question arises - can love overcome the dark and unsaid mysteries of one's past or is it destined to fall apart?
Saige has been running from her past for two long years, always on the lookout for a place where she can finally be safe. She's a survivor of domestic violence and her experience has made it impossible for her to trust anyone. One day, when she's least expecting it, she meets an alpha wolf shifter, who seems to be everything she ever wanted. Rich, handsome, and powerful, he appears to be the knight in shining armor that Saige has always dreamed of. But soon enough, she realizes that he's a monster in disguise, and her nightmare only gets worse. Saige thinks she's doomed to suffer forever, until she meets three mysterious men who have dark secrets of their own. With their help, Saige begins to feel safe for the first time in years, and she starts to believe that she can finally outrun her past. But as they journey together, Saige and her protectors soon realize that their troubles are far from over. They are being hunted by a dangerous enemy, and their survival depends on their ability to fight back. As Saige fights to stay alive, she must confront her demons and come to terms with her painful past. Only then can she truly begin to heal and find the happiness she's been searching for all along.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"