away the almost still whole toast, I was on my way to the bathroom when a sharp knock on the door froze me completely. Loud noises had become a trigger for me; my mind always aware of my surroundings, even in my own apartment, and my ears picked up every sound around me which made loud noises in particular intensify.3Three more bangs on the door followed shortly after, making every muscle in my body stiffen."Emma, I know you're in there. Open the hell up!" Kevin shouted from the hallway.5I flinched from the angry tone in his voice, but my heart restarted when I realized it was my best friend on the other side of the door.For a short while, I hesitated to let him in, unsure if letting him in would be a smart idea. He had made me overthink every choice I made; worse than I've ever overthought before.When Kevin continued to create noises, I knew I either had to open the door, or he could damn well kick it in with the force he was using behind his knocks."I'm not asking again, Emma. Open the fucking door." When he banged extra hard, enough to make the wooden door tremble, I hurried towards it.3"I'm coming!" I shouted back as I gave the door a hasty inspection. I'd thought the wood was thick enough, stable enough, to handle a few kicks, but now I wasn't so sure, and that made my pulse soar. If he truly wanted to get inside no matter the consequences, would I truly have been safe? Was I just kidding myself the entire time with the extra lock and the bolt?4YOU'LL ALSO LIKEYes, Master2.9M94.9K| MATURE CONTENT | "You are fuckíng mine. Do you understand that?" That harsh growl echoed in my head.. His words scarring my mind. I could feel the heat of h...Lusting After Lucifer (18+) ☑259K2.5KThis is an erotic romance. Recommended 18+! Completed. Excerpt: His mouth was back on mine in an instant, the door behind us rattling loudly as he thrust against me. &qu...Not So Delicate ||18+67.4K1.5K"Bastard." She whispered. "Your bastard." He whispered back. ~~~~~~~~★~~~~~~~~ A shy at first girl but wild once you get to know her. Her innocence i...My Master, My Husband (BOOK 1)803K14.4KTHIS BOOK IS 18+/ NOW ON KINDLE VELLA WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS! "Alright, I'll tell you the rules twice, and I'll need you to memorize them, write them down and give t...Yes, Sirs (Book 1 of Desire's Den)62.3M1.4M"You were ours from the second we saw you," he stated as if I didn't have a choice in it, and the truth was, I didn't need to because he was right. I was their...The Debt1.9M62.2KThe anticipation is too much. I found myself praying for The Boss just to say something, anything. "Strip." Anything but that. My eyes widened to sau...JAKE'S UNDOING (18+) ✔ (LOVE AND OBSESSION...7.4K88Jake despised weak women, especially women who showed interest in him. A strong and independent woman was what could drive the beast in him, but there was Cassie. Adopte...When I finally opened it, I was greeted with a wild-looking Kevin. His hair was going in all directions as if he'd put his fingers through it too many times, and his eyes were wide and kind of crazy."What's gotten into you?" I asked, feeling wide-eyed myself as I took in his anxious form.He barged inside the second there was space enough for him to do so. No 'hello', no 'how are you'. He simply pushed his way inside my apartment.1"What's gotten into me?" he practically yelled, growing almost hysteric. I hurriedly closed the door; worried the other tenants were going to call the cops with all the noise going on."I'll tell you what's gotten into me. I had to hear from your ex-boyfriend that you were fucking attacked at work. Do you have any idea how that felt? Not knowing that my best friend was assaulted. I'll answer, it felt like hell, because I wasn't there for you, and I wouldn't even have known about it if Callan hadn't called me." His rant started out angry and harsh, but his voice broke at the end, the sound of it contained the type of hurt I never wanted to hear from Kevin.

As I listened to Kelven's voice, the warmth of his words wrapping around me like a comforting blanket, I felt myself growing increasingly weary, the weight of the day's events finally catching up to me. And as I leaned back against the door, the soft click of the latch echoing in the silence, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to succumb to the gentle embrace of sleep.

I gave him a weak smile. "You were one of two who knew about the shower. My landlord would've never done it, and you were the one who'd care enough to fix it." Too bad I didn't realize that before this morning. If I'd been with them when I had gotten the pictures, then maybe...maybe I didn't have to keep it a secret because they would've seen it themselves.12"Goodbye," I said with a heavy heart as I followed Gideon out the door.12The sound of the door shutting felt final, but I tried to shake it off; I'd been through much these past days and I was just being dramatic. Hopefully.We exited through the back door, and I was again thankful to avoid Jennifer. Seeing her was the last thing I needed right now.24Gideon's black muscle car was parked beside Callan's Porsche. He opened the door for me, and it still amazed me how they opened upwards instead of sideways like the cars I was used to.21As I settled in my seat, Gideon walked around to the driver's side. The car felt cramped as he sat down. His presence took up most of the space, overwhelming my senses. There was something to be said about being in an enclosed area with him, and I didn't dislike it one bit.Throughout these weeks I had spent with him, I'd noticed the looks he'd gotten from other people. Many of them had been scared and skittish being close to him, and most had taken either a step back or simply froze. I'd never experienced that with him. Sure, he could seem frightening with his build, tattoos, and dark expression, but I'd only ever felt safe with him. Like he could protect me...26"Are you still staying at Kevin's?" His quiet but deep voice caressed my soul, almost making me sigh in wonder and wistfulness.50"Mine. I moved back a few hours ago," I whispered back, matching his own volume.2When I talked to him—matching him whisper for whisper—it was always done unconsciously. People said the eyes were the windows to the soul, but if they were the windows, then the voice was the music of the soul because the voice revealed everything if you only knew what to listen to, and my soul was speaking to his.19Like I'd come to expect when I caught a ride with him, we didn't talk. The silence with him was always lovely—a reprieve from the loud world. I was mentally exhausted and couldn't think of anything more to say, so it was better that we didn't need to say anything at all. I was sure there were things I'd regret not telling them, but as soon as I got into that meeting room, my mind drew a blank.6I leaned back in my seat, enjoying having Gideon beside me. I already missed the other guys, but for the moment, I had him, and I would appreciate it for as long as I could—which would be thirty blissful minutes.

Everything about this was crazy. I mean, who the hell showed up out of the blue to follow me, take pictures, and write me creepy notes?8Most importantly, who sent threatening texts if this was just a prank?52My mind couldn't handle this. So, it shut itself off.2Shock.2I knew it was shock I was experiencing.This couldn't be real. I didn't want this to be real. I wanted this to be a nightmare, that I would wake up in Kevin's bed and this would all be gone.4Going into panic mode helps no one, least of all myself, I reminded myself. I couldn't allow myself to overanalyze and speculate because then...then I'd get sick with worry. The thing about the brain was that it could lead you down rabbit holes—holes that you would struggle to get out of.5I felt stupid, so fucking stupid for letting myself play into the unknown's game, but what could I do? I didn't know what this person was capable of. Obviously, he or she was insane, and insane people were the scariest because you never knew what to expect from them.62Whenever I read books where the heroine had a stalker—was that was this person was? —I was always irritated at how dumb the heroines were for not seeking help. They'd been either overconfident thinking they could fix it on their own or sacrificed themselves to keep those they cared about safe. I always cursed those women out because clearly this wasn't something they could manage alone—it was too big for them to battle by themselves.66Now...Now I thought I understood. While I had known it was a book, the heroines hadn't. And while I knew the book guaranteed a happy ending, they hadn't. They couldn't risk anything because, to them, it was real life, and real life wasn't straightforward—there was no arrow pointing them in the right direction and no knowing how it would've turned out if they got help. They couldn't take the chance of doing something that might hurt someone else. And I...I couldn't either.61YOU'LL ALSO LIKETHE CONTRACT (The Chosen Series #2)273K13.5K{MATURE +18} I am strong, I am resilient, I am fire... ******************************************************************************************* Grabbing hold of my...Not So Delicate ||18+64.1K1.5K"Bastard." She whispered. "Your bastard." He whispered back. ~~~~~~~~★~~~~~~~~ A shy at first girl but wild once you get to know her. Her innocence i...Aching For His Discretion - DISCRETION SERI...757K30.9KDISCRETION SERIES - Stand Alone - BOOK #5 ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎ " I only trust you, Tesoro.. " He muttered once again, not budging when I tried to pull my arm, a...His Slave152K2.4K"Remember what I said at the coffee shop?" He asks, and I cringe. "I can report you, slave. And trust me, I will. And you know full well what that entails...My Master, My Husband (BOOK 1)803K14.4KTHIS BOOK IS 18+/ NOW ON KINDLE VELLA WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS! "Alright, I'll tell you the rules twice, and I'll need you to memorize them, write them down and give t...Dominant & Submissive | 18+51.9K1.6K"Good girl, now, call me Daddy!" He whispers, his voice sexy as fuck. "Daddy!" I voiced out, but it came out as a whispering threat. "Louder!&q...DOMINANT✔ (DSD SERIES, BOOK ONE)1.3M31.4K⚠️⚠️Rated Mature ⚠️⚠️ 🌟🌟I do not own rights to images on the cover or the song lyrics in the book. All rights go to the photographers and writers. 🌟🌟 CHRISTINA HASE ...I might be dumb—Hell, I was probably making a big mistake—but until I knew how serious this was, I didn't want to involve anyone, especially if it meant keeping those I cared about safe.

away a lonesome tear, I swallowed down the lump in my throat and steeled myself to go downstairs to Mateo.12This meeting...it wouldn't be easy, but it had to be done. It had to. I couldn't start doubting my decision.4I felt like a self-sacrificing idiot, but wasn't that how it should be if it meant keeping those you cared about safe?14A knock on the door made me flinch, still feeling the effects of the phone call."Gorgeous, are you ready?" Mateo's voice was like a balm for my nerves, and for the first time in what felt like ages, I could breathe easier. The only person outside my door was one I cared about. 37"I'm coming right now," I told him, surprised when my voice came out steady. Beating down whatever hesitation I might've still felt, I went to the door and opened it.5YOU'LL ALSO LIKEYes, Sirs (Book 1 of Desire's Den)62.3M1.4M"You were ours from the second we saw you," he stated as if I didn't have a choice in it, and the truth was, I didn't need to because he was right. I was their...Submissive Desires345K3.7KThis story is really HOT. Like really really really HOT. It's essentially about a college student learning about her hidden desire to submit to a man, with the help of h...Lusting After Lucifer (18+) ☑259K2.5KThis is an erotic romance. Recommended 18+! Completed. Excerpt: His mouth was back on mine in an instant, the door behind us rattling loudly as he thrust against me. &qu...Solicitude394K7.6KRated R "Please, faster," I begged but he didn't oblige. "No, my control, my pace," he said. Then, I felt his lips on mine as he continued easing in...Sometimes he loves me140K3.2K‼️Content warning and trigger warning‼️ This is a dark romance and contains mature content that is not suitable for all readers. The trigger warnings include: - Assault...DOMINANT✔ (DSD SERIES, BOOK ONE)1.3M31.4K⚠️⚠️Rated Mature ⚠️⚠️ 🌟🌟I do not own rights to images on the cover or the song lyrics in the book. All rights go to the photographers and writers. 🌟🌟 CHRISTINA HASE ...Saving Leah2.1M52.3KSaving Leah Series Book 1 Buy an edited and refined version on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PTD577S/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=saving+leah+book&qid=1607281...My breath caught the second I stepped outside as his warm ocean eyes connected with mine. There were so many feelings flashing through his gaze. Still, I didn't let myself read them, too afraid I would see something there that would make leaving even harder. Though, I didn't know if it would be possible for it to be harder than it already was.7His usually easy smile that showcased his beautiful dimples was nowhere to be found. Instead, it was strained and sad. The last time we had spoken, I'd come at him with all my hurt and betrayal, and to say it had been a tough conversation would be an understatement. I could still recall the last time I spoke to him in the park when I confronted him about what they'd kept from me. I'd been a little broken and a little scarred and a whole lot hurt.32Mateo was the one I found the easiest to approach, which was why I'd wanted to talk to him first. He always had this laid-back way about him that had drawn me to him right from the start. It made me feel safe and calm, which I had needed the most when it became time to deal with their betrayal. 16Even with the sadness surrounding us both, I still felt the easiness of being with him now; my soul yearned to never let go of that feeling of tranquility he provided.2There was this instant humming beneath my skin as I joined him outside my apartment. Every cell of my body begged me to cross the small gap between us and fling myself into his arms and the safety of his embrace. Even with the trust currently broken between us, I didn't think my craving for him and the others would ever go away.8He was wearing a dark blue suit that was fitted to his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Two of the buttons on the white shirt underneath his jacket were undone, and I just knew it was because the formal wear felt stiffening to him. He was more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy, but damn...he looked good in it.37It had only been a couple of days since I'd seen him last, but standing in front of him now, it felt like ages ago. The sight of him was heartbreakingly beautiful.5I noticed he'd been able to get inside the building, but I didn't comment on it. If Callan still had the key from when he fixed the ceiling and shower, then Mateo had probably borrowed it from him. Frankly...it made me feel safer knowing they could reach me if I needed them.

My hands tightened into fists. I was this ready to knock some damn sense into him. I wasn't in the mood for this fuckery tonight. All I wanted was to make sure Emma was alright. I'd already spent too much time envisioning all the reasons why she wasn't."Callan, stop trying to fire up Gideon. We all know that's a fight you won't win," Mateo said calmly, but my jaw clenched at the sound of amusement in his voice. I held myself in place though, because even with their joking, the air around them was tense. And I knew, they too, were worried about our girl.1To hell with them for being better than me at managing these pesky feelings.3"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Callan withdrew himself from my area and sat down beside Mateo."I thought you were always the one with the plans?" Mateo asked."Yeah, until I messed it up for all of us. I'll let you guys take the lead tonight."Mateo chuckled. "As if you could ever take a back seat.""Watch me.""Sure, whatever you say. I'm thinking we should talk to her after the shift. See if we can get some answers out of her?" Mateo suggested."And if she doesn't want to talk?" Callan mused. I already knew his mind was making up ideas of what we should do, but he didn't offer any of them up. Huh, seems he really were going to let us make the decision tonight."Oh, she'll talk," I assured them. "We know what she wants. She's just too chickenshit to admit it herself."16"Yeah, but..."I tuned them out, having already decided what I was going to do. They could either sit back or join me. With a lot of effort, I managed to finish up my work right in time for the employees to arrive. Callan and Mateo had already gone by then to the club area.Saving the latest document, I turned off the computer and went after them. I found them sitting at my reserved table, and they were lucky none of them had taken my spot, which had a direct view of the bar.2"Seen her yet?" I asked as I sat down. My eyes scanned the club, but I only saw Mark talking to a new server.1"Nah, she hasn't arrived yet," Mateo informed me.1Good, I wanted to watch her expression when she saw all three of us sitting here. A dark thrill went through me at the thought of cornering her after her shift. She'd be in for one hell of a surprise if she thought we'd go easy on her. It was time to find out why she was avoiding her friend—and most importantly, why she was avoiding us.2At first, I had believed her when she'd said she wanted space, but the longing look she gave me whenever she didn't think I noticed? It told a whole other story. Baby girl wasn't getting rid of us that easily.She wasn't getting rid of us at all. I would make sure of it.You want me to fight for you, baby? Game. Fucking. On.