J.L. Beck – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

J.L. Beck – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.wownovels.com Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:52:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.wownovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png J.L. Beck – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.wownovels.com 32 32 Branded and Broken (Black Hollow #2) Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/branded-and-broken-black-hollow-2-read-online-j-l-beck Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:52:51 +0000 https://www.wownovels.com/branded-and-broken-black-hollow-2-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Dark, Taboo Authors: J.L. Beck Series: Black Hollow Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)

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They say the truth will set you free.
Mine didn’t. It gutted me.
One day, I’m the Bishop family disappointment. Next, I’m heir to the enemy's dynasty.
Confused and angry I’m thrust into a new life, where I’m expected to become the monster my father spent years crafting. But I don’t even know who I am, or who I want to be, and if I have to hurt, then everyone around me will too.
There’s one person who refuses to break, who refuses to deal with my crap.
Allie Porter.
My enemy. The girl raised by the mother I never had—perfect, untouchable, infuriating.
She meets my fire with her own, and it pisses me off almost as much as it pulls me in.
I want her and despise her in the same breath, which is why I keep my distance.
Until the night I save her life.
Now she’s indebted to me, and if she wants to survive she’ll do what I say.
But taming the little filly is nothing like I expected.
The closer we get, the more her truths tear through my assumptions.
She’s not the pampered princess I tried to hate— she’s a survivor. A fighter. A girl drowning in the same darkness I carry. It's then somewhere between hate and obsession, the truth becomes undeniable: I’ll burn this dynasty to ash before I let someone else claim what’s mine

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Allie

“Suppose she just left town and decided she didn’t want to tell anyone?”

I roll my eyes at the lazy theory thrown at me by our esteemed sheriff. Go figure.

How many times do I have to repeat myself? Saintlyn James wouldn’t simply disappear, not even for an hour—let alone days. I grit my teeth against the need to bite back at this bastard.

“You know Saint. Everyone in town knows her. She wouldn’t just leave. That’s not who she is, and even if she did leave, where would she go? Her father is here. I’m here now. Her entire life is here.” He can’t actually expect me to go along with this—this lie.

I guess he does since he merely shrugs. The movement makes me drop my gaze to the badge on the front of his khaki shirt. It gleams in the overhead fluorescent light. What a load of shit. The man wearing that badge should genuinely care about every person in his jurisdiction, yet he barely stops short of yawning in my face.

“The truth is, we all think we know someone. Then they do something wild and shocking, and suddenly, everyone starts actin’ like they never knew them at all. Maybe you don’t really know Saint. Maybe none of us do. People disappear all the time. Sometimes there isn’t a reason. They just take their possessions and go.”

I would laugh at the thought of Saint doing something so out of character if his indifference didn’t make my blood boil. Men like him shouldn’t be in positions of power. Clenching my hand into a tight fist, I slam it on his desk. “I’ve told you numerous times already. She didn’t run away. Something happened to her! Can’t you see that?”

The glares of the other two officers in the room burn into my back. Sure, I’m making a scene, but I want answers, and playing nice only gets you so far. Playing nice is what Saint does. Not me.

He sighs, long and slow. “Listen, I know you care about Saint, but I can only do so much. There was no forced entry at the pastor’s house, and no apparent struggle. We have nothing to lead us to believe that she was taken anywhere or that anything malicious happened.”

I don’t understand how that’s possible. Saint wouldn’t disappear without a word, not on me. Especially me. I mean, yeah, I’ve been away at college, but we’re still best friends. Distance doesn’t change that.

“I don’t understand.” I shake my head, trying to figure out this puzzle. They watched my best friend grow up. They know Saint’s father, and that she lost her mom not all that long ago.

Are they blind? Or just avoiding the truth?

How can they not see how out of character this is for her?

It’s already been almost a week.

Six awful days since I went to Saint’s house to catch up when I got home from college, only to find her gone. The front door had been unlocked, and while Sheriff Tanner was right—it didn’t look like there had been any struggle—the baking supplies she was using were still on the counter, along with a bowl of cookie dough. It was like one second she was there and the next... gone. No text. No note. Nothing.

“I’m sure she’ll turn up.”

I narrow my eyes. “Turn up? Turn up? She’s not a missing pet. She’s a human who disappeared without a word to anyone, and y’all are acting like it’s no big deal.”

Sheriff Tanner sighs again. “That’s not true. We’re doing what we can based on the information and evidence we have.”

“I don’t understand. You’re a police officer, and someone is missing. Shouldn’t you be putting up flyers? Asking people to help look for her? Why are you sitting here doing nothing?” It feels like I’m begging him to do his damn job, and I shouldn’t have to.

Every time I think of Saint, this sick dread threatens to consume me. I should be doing more, asking more questions. I have to do more.

“We’ve asked questions and run surveillance. The best thing to do is wait and see if anyone calls to report somethin’.” Tanner’s features soften. It’s almost like he’s capable of feeling remorse, but he’s not fooling me. He doesn’t really care. He’s pretending. The way he always pretends to a person’s face when they bring him a problem he either can’t or won’t handle. “If I hear anything at all, you’ll be my first call, but making a scene won’t help.”

There’s an ache in my jaw from how hard I clench my mouth shut. Then I can’t. “No, you’re right, but I bet if I had a different last name, you’d be out there looking for her. The only thing that motivates you is money and a fucking order from a Bishop.”

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Sinner and Saint (Black Hollow #1) Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/sinner-and-saint-black-hollow-1-read-online-j-l-beck Thu, 25 Dec 2025 22:04:34 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/sinner-and-saint-black-hollow-1-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Dark Authors: J.L. Beck Series: Black Hollow Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)

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I’ve always been the good girl. The preacher’s daughter. The town’s saint. The one who never strays from the rules.

Until one reckless night changes everything.

Calder Bishop is the monster I’ve been warned about my entire life. Heir to the most feared family in Black Hollow Creek. Rancher by day, enforcer by night. His touch carries ruin, his name carries blood, and his gaze makes my prayers falter.

When I stumble into Bishop business, Calder is left with a end my life or claim it. Killing me would be mercy. Keeping me could start a war.

But Calder Bishop has never been a merciful man. And if there’s one thing he wants, it’s me—all to himself.

Now I’m trapped in his world of violence and vengeance, my innocence colliding with his sin. I search for a way out but there is none. Only Calder. It’s when he claims me—branding me with his soul—I learn the the only thing more dangerous than a Bishop’s wrath . . . is his love.

**This is book one in the series and is a complete standalone with a happily ever after. Certain scenes within this book may be triggering to some listeners. Please review the trigger list at the beginning of the book before listening.**

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Prologue

SAINT

“Happy birthday to me,” I whisper to myself as I sit on the edge of the bed. I’m officially an adult. Eighteen. The age when everything is supposed to change, or at least that’s what I’ve been told. That might be the case for everyone else, but not me.

When I wake up tomorrow morning, everything will be the same. I’ll still be the God-fearing daughter of a preacher, trapped beneath expectations that will never disappear. Always smiling on command, always stepping up when called, yet never once asked what I want.

Saint by name, saint by nature.

Of course, thinking that, guilt leaks into my chest. It’s a heavy weight. My life is good. I’m content. Happy. Cared for and loved. To think the way I am is selfish and ungodly. To feel bad for myself when I have everything makes no sense.

Before I can sink deeper into my thoughts, a pebble taps the glass of my window.

No, this is my birthday. If I can be selfish on any day, it’s today. So I shove back the shame I’ve built into my freaking personality and prepare to have a fun night out with my best friend. Pasting a smile on my lips, I push off the bed and walk over to the window. I already know who I’ll find standing there. Allie. She’s the only one reckless enough to throw rocks at Pastor James’s house.

I pull open the curtain and peer outside, and just like I knew she would be, Allie stands there staring up at me. She’s grinning in the middle of the yard, her arm cocked back with another stone in her hand.

“Let me in, birthday girl! I have a surprise,” she shouts.

I press my index finger against my lips to tell her to be quiet, and I slip downstairs to open the door, careful not to wake Dad.

Allie barrels inside, her usually wild copper hair styled perfectly. She’s wearing a crop top that clings to her curves, and a pair of skintight jeans that I would never be brave enough to wear. One look at her face and I know she’s up to no good. Her green eyes sparkle with mischief, and a promise of chaos that’s soon to come.

Allie and I are opposites in every way.

She’s bold where I’m quiet, and reckless where I’m cautious. I suppose it’s what makes us such good friends.

“What kind of surprise?” I whisper.

Her grin widens as she pulls a pink bottle from the bag slung across her body. “The liquid kind. And after this, we’re going to The Rusty Nail.”

My stomach drops out beneath me. That’s the most popular bar in Black Hollow Creek. Showing up there would get me in all kinds of trouble if my father found out. What if someone recognizes me? What if they tell my dad? He’ll ground me for life. “Allie⁠—”

“None of that. I will not accept your excuses tonight. We’re doing something for you. Something that Saint, the preacher’s daughter, wouldn’t do. Something normal.”

Can she read my mind, too? I’ve never been able to talk about wanting to be seen, really seen as me—not just as Pastor James’s daughter.

The older I get, the bigger the urge is to be more, to do more.

The reminder and the feeling in my gut drive my choice. But first, I have to shove this shame back into a closet in my brain.

I don’t think. I act.

I grab the bottle, bring it to my lips, and take a long gulp. The liquid burns a path of fire down my throat, and I pull it away from my mouth, sputtering and hacking. Lord, have mercy.

“Are you sure that isn’t lighter fluid?” I ask, still trying to swallow against the burn.

She shrugs. “I don’t think so, but then again, I didn’t really read the label. Just grabbed it out of my mom’s bar and left.” Figures. Allie’s been stealing alcohol from her mom since she was thirteen. And every single time, she tries to drag me into her trouble.

“So what’s it going to be?” Allie juts her hip out.

I’ve already decided. “We can go for one hour. That’s it.”

Allie squeals and then wraps her arms around me. “Yes! I’m so glad you’re letting me corrupt you. And who knows—maybe Calder will be there.”

Warmth creeps into my cheeks. “Stop. Be quiet, or we’ll wake my father.”

Allie shakes her head and laughs. “I’m never going to stop. You’ve had a crush on this man for over a year now. Don’t you think it’s time you made a move?”

“Maybe, but I’m not like you, Allie. I don’t just see something I want and take it.”

Even if I were like her, there’s no way Calder and I could ever be together. Calder is the oldest son of the most feared family in Black Hollow Creek—the Bishops.

I only met him officially for the first time a little over a year ago when I fell off a horse and broke my wrist during the harvest festival. Calder saw it and helped.

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The Reckoning – Oakmount Elite Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-reckoning-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:13:34 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/the-reckoning-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, Forbidden, Suspense Authors: J.L. Beck Advertisement

Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)

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Aries:

I kept my distance to protect her.

My little stepsister with wide eyes and soft smiles—too innocent for a world like mine.

But while I was locked away in darkness, he took my place.

My name. My life.

Her.

Now I’m back. And I’ll burn this world to the ground to get it all back—even if she’s afraid of what I’ve become.

Lilian:

I was never meant to matter this much.
Not to one brother—let alone two.
Aries was my almost. The stepbrother I shouldn’t have loved.
Arson was the secret. The lie no one warned me about… until it was too late.

They hate each other.
Always have. Always will.
But now I’m gone, and the only way to get me back is to work together.

Two monsters. One obsession.
And when they find me, the war between them won’t stop.
It’ll just turn inward—
Because saving me might be the one thing that breaks them both.

Arson:

I was never supposed to have a name.
He was the golden one. I was the shadow they buried.
But then she looked at me—and didn’t run.
She saw my brother’s face and wanted me.

And I wanted her.
Twisted. Pure. Off-limits.
Mine.

Now she’s been taken, and for the first time in our broken, blood-soaked lives,
Aries and I want the same thing.

We’ll burn the world to bring her back.
And when we do…
We’ll see which of us she survives.

Please note this is the final book in the Oakmount Elite Series and it is NOT a standalone. Please read The Psychopaths before reading this book to avoid confusion and spoilers. For a detailed list of triggers read the warning at the beginning of the book

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

ONE

ARIES

The first thing I notice is Drew’s stupid fucking grin, like he’s stumbled onto a practical joke instead of a hostage situation. He leans against the doorframe arrogantly, twirling the key card between his fingers like it’s a poker chip, taking his sweet time while my mind races with a thousand and one questions.

How the fuck did he find us?

Has he known all along where I was but didn’t tell anyone else?

Does he know anything about Lilian?

“Well, isn’t this awkward?” Drew says, whistling low as his gaze bounces between us. “Two Aries for the price of one.”

“Where’s Lilian?” Arson demands, ignoring his bullshit.

Drew’s expression shifts from smug amusement to a flicker of concern. “Lilian? I don’t know where the hell she is. I came looking for you.” He points at me. “None of us has heard from you in weeks, except for Lee, and even that’s been sporadic. Every phone call goes straight to voicemail. I finally got fed up and tracked your car to this shithole.”

“You tracked my car?” I squint at him. “How the fuck did you track my car?”

“I have trackers on everyone’s car. After all the shit we’ve been through, I felt like it was a baseline security measure.” His eyes skim the facility that we’re in before returning to land on me. “And I wasn’t wrong.”

I’m forced to admit he wasn’t, but I don’t concede graciously.

“It’s fucking great that you finally noticed I wasn’t around or acting like myself and decided to do some investigating, but it’s a little late now. We have bigger issues to worry about. So you haven’t seen Lilian at all?” I pull against my restraints, the metal biting into my already aching flesh.

“No,” Drew speaks slowly, his eyes narrowing as he properly takes in the scene. “What the fuck is going on? Why are there two of you? I thought you said your brother died? Like when we were in our midteens, right?”

“He’s obviously my twin brother,” I say, struggling to keep my voice steady despite the fresh wave of nausea at the abject betrayal. Drew utters a soft, “Duh,” that I ignore. “His name is Arson. The family kept him locked away for years. I thought he was dead, too, until he kidnapped me to get revenge. You met him when we were kids. You don’t remember?”

Drew’s eyes widen, and he blinks as if he’s trying to pull up the memory. “You have to be shitting me.” He shakes his head as if he can’t believe it. He turns to Arson, his smile charming. “Well, I guess, nice to see you again. Weird you’re not actually dead, though.”

All I can do is roll my eyes as he continues with a grin directed at me now. “Damn, your life is like daytime soap opera gold.”

“Sure it is, but you’re missing the point. None of this is important right now. Lilian’s been gone for over twelve hours, and she locked us both in here and didn’t return.”

“We’ve had no contact with her since then,” Arson says impatiently, finally deciding to join the conversation.

“This just keeps getting better,” Drew says. “Lilian. That little five-foot-nothing, blond-haired walking heart condition locked you both up? Why would she do that? Better yet, how did she do that?”

I exchange a glance with Arson, silently asking how much we should reveal. The shame of what happened between the three of us still hangs heavy in the air, and I don’t know that we need to air all of our dirty laundry.

“It’s complicated,” I finally say. “Emotions were running high, some things were said, she got upset, and then left.”

“Ohh, so you’re both in the doghouse, then.” He chuckles, and his gaze sweeps the room again. “Or better yet, the dog cage.”

“Seriously?” Is he really making a joke out of this situation?

“Okay, I’m sorry. So you made her upset enough to lock you both up and leave you to rot together?”

Drew sounds genuinely concerned now, though I can’t tell how much is real and how much is acting. You never can tell with him. So even now, I have no idea if he’s actually concerned about Lilian or simply playing the part he thinks we want to see. That could also be the betrayal talking. I’m beyond angry with him and my other friends, and the fact that it took them this fucking long to realize something might be wrong. I’ve been trapped for months, and they just now started asking questions.

“She was upset, but she wouldn’t have left us here for this long,” Arson insists. “Something’s happened to her. Now are you going to help us or waste more time acting like an entitled dick?”

Drew studies us both, his gaze lingering on me for a half-second longer than necessary. There’s a lingering question in his eyes that I don’t want to answer. “Say I let you out,” he says carefully. “How do I know you won’t just kill each other? Clearly, you two need to sort out some serious shit.”

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The Psychopaths – Oakmount Elite Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-psychopaths-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:28:22 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/the-psychopaths-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, College, Dark, Forbidden, Suspense Authors: J.L. Beck Advertisement

Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 123575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)

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ARSON
Fear. Rage. Pain.

I’ve endured it all.

Seen it all.

I’m the bad brother, the evil one—the psychopath.

I wasn’t born this way. I was made this way.

Neglect, abuse, trauma, and pain really mess a person up.

Then the day I never thought would come finally does …

It’s time for revenge.

ARIES

Liar. Golden boy. Hero.

I thought I had it all figured out.

Then he showed up.

Arson is your worst nightmare brought to life and my twin brother.

He’s hell-bent on revenge and willing to hurt anyone who gets in his way, the person he wants to hurt the me, and he’s going to use Lilian to do it.

But if he thinks he plays a good villain, I can't wait for him to see just how ruthless I can be.

LILIAN

Fragile. Innocent. Broken.

With a rare heart condition, everyone in my life treats me like I’m seconds away from death. Everyone but him—my stepbrother.

What started as an annoying crush becomes an obsession when I realize Aries might feel the same. That is, until he rejects me, and I lose all hope.

When I arrive at Oakmount, I am determined to make him see me.

But the man I meet isn’t Aries, even if he looks just like him.

When I discover his secret for revenge, it’s too late.

There’s no escaping the psychopaths I’m falling for...

** This book can be read separate from the other books in the series, however for best reading experience it's better to start with book 1: The Wallflower. Please check the TW's at the start of the book. **

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Aries

Four Years Ago

Aknock on the door startles me from my textbooks—three hesitant taps barely audible over the music playing in my room at the Mill House. No one visits me here unannounced, and none of my friends would fucking knock.

This is someone else. I should be a little more hesitant, but if they know where to find me, chances are they know who I am. Opening the door, I freeze with my hand on the brass knob. Lilian, my stepsister, stands in the hallway, hands clasped nervously, looking simultaneously out of place and achingly familiar.

At sixteen, she hovers in that weird space between child and woman—still holding traces of teenage awkwardness but showing glimpses of the beauty she’ll become.

“Lilian?” Her name spills out harsher than intended, surprise sharpening my tone. I shove my shoulder-length hair out of my face to keep my eyes on her deep blue ones. “What are you doing here?”

She flinches but squares her shoulders. “I needed to see you.”

I check the empty hallway, suddenly worried I missed something. “Are Father and Patricia with you? Who let you in?”

“No one is with me.” A flash of defiance crosses her features. “I drove myself. Took the Audi. And I let myself in. It’s not like you guys lock your door. Also, there’s a naked girl passed out in the living room.”

The admission stuns me. Not the naked chick obviously...that’s common around here. Lilian—sheltered, protected, allegedly-fragile Lilian—drove herself to campus despite her mom’s objections to her even getting a license.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I say, even as I step aside to let her in.

The Hayes name means never leaving family standing in hallways, regardless of circumstances. Not with the kinds of secrets that leak through walls.

She enters hesitantly, taking in my room with curious eyes. I see it through her perspective—the antique furniture, stacked textbooks, evidence of a life deliberately separate from our home’s opulence. Lilian only knows one side of me, the side I show with our parents. She doesn’t know about the late nights, the parties, the sex. The brute I’ve learned to play around campus.

“It’s nice,” she offers, though we both know it’s not. “More...you than your room at home.”

I close the door, maintaining careful distance. She’s dressed with obvious care—a blue sundress I’ve never seen her wear before. Something is different—more sophisticated?—about her golden curls. Subtle makeup highlights her blue eyes, which dart nervously around the room, avoiding direct contact with mine.

“Does your mother know where you are?” I don’t know why I even ask because I already know the answer.

She shakes her head, fingers fidgeting with the strap of her small purse. “I told her I was studying at the library. She thinks Marcus is driving me.”

She lied to her mother. Lilian Hayes, the perfect daughter, never lies. Never rebels. Never secretly drives to visit her stepbrother at college without permission. Breaking the rules is a foreign concept. To be fair, I’ve been keeping my distance from her the past year or so as I prepared for college.

“You should call her,” I say, reaching for a lifeline in the face of my growing unease. “Tell her there’s been a change of plans. I can drive you home.”

“Not yet,” she says quickly. Too quickly. “I don’t want to leave…not when I just got here. Can’t we, I don’t know, talk? It’s been weeks since you came home.”

I don’t really feel like explaining it to her, and I don’t owe her an explanation, but part of me wants to tell her that it has nothing to do with her. That being in that house, surrounded by them, by my father, makes my skin crawl. And it would be a lie...well, it does make my skin crawl, but I’ve also been avoiding her and the way I can’t stop looking at her. And how disgusted with myself it makes me feel.

There’s something about Lilian’s body language, the careful way she speaks, with an excited puppy eagerness that makes red flags wave in my head. If she isn’t here with our parents, then why is she here?

I retreat to my desk, putting physical space between us. “What did you want to talk about that required a secret drive to the Mill House?”

She draws in a deep breath, gathering courage for whatever she came to say. Fuck. Don’t do this. This isn’t going to be good. I can feel it.

“I miss you,” she says, the simple statement hanging in the air between us. “I’m lonely. You hardly come home anymore, and when you do, you’re so...distant.”

I busy myself arranging papers on my desk, avoiding her gaze. “I’m sorry, Lilian, but I’m an adult. Adults are busy. I’m also a business major, remember? Father’s expectations.”

“It’s more than that.” She moves deeper into the room, perching herself on the edge of the bed, trying to look casual even though every part of her is tense. “Did I do something wrong? We used to talk, but now you can barely look at me.”

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The Misfit – Oakmount Elite Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-misfit-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:24:02 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/the-misfit-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male Authors: J.L. Beck Advertisement

Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 113699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >119

Golden boy. Party king. Trust fund brat.

That's what they call me—Lee Sterling, Oakmount University's favorite disaster.

Everyone thinks they know me, but they only see what I let them.

I’m the guy who can charm his way out of anything and never takes life seriously. But it's all a ruse. They don't see the mask I wear or the cage of family expectations slowly threatening to suffocate me.

Six months. That's how long I have to find someone suitable to present at the Sterling New Year's Gala, or it's over.

I tell myself I can handle it like I handle everything else—with a smile and a shot of bourbon—but deep down, I know I'm inching closer and closer to the edge.

Then I meet Salem Masters in a dark pantry at a party, and suddenly, nothing feels simple anymore.

They call her crazy, and broken. The girl who wears latex gloves and counts her steps.

I call her beautiful, careful, haunted.

One encounter and I’m obsessed. I need to know more about her. I need to know if she's just like me.
When I discover we share a common interest, I convince her to be my fake girlfriend. She could use the protection, and I need to convince my family I’m normal… but when our fake relationship turns real I discover just how close to danger I am.

Because for the first time in my life, I want something that I can't have, that I don't deserve

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

“The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.”—E.E. Cummings

ONE

lee

I thought my first stint in jail would be for a crime far worse than kissing some random guy in a bar. If I’m being honest, it wasn’t the kissing part that landed me here; it was everything after that, but I won’t correct them. My reputation is more important than clearing up a rumor. Anyway, jail isn’t as half as bad as the endless reruns of Cops make it out to be.

To be fair, the severity of the jail might be a little more harsh in theory than reality, given this is more like a metal box with bars than an actual cell. Or maybe my last name has me receiving the royal treatment. It doesn’t matter.

The silence here eats away at my insides like an infection.

If only my brain were this quiet.

With a sigh, I roll onto my side to face the bullpen. They’ve stashed me away in a tiny-ass holding cell, but in a way, I should be thankful the police station is the next town over from the college and not the one we’ve been fighting against for the past year for Ely’s sake. I’m sure tonight would’ve had a very different outcome if that were the case.

As it is, the young officer who arrested me keeps casting looks my way. He’s acting like I’m about to strip my clothes off again and run around the station until he catches me. It doesn’t sound half bad; my only real worry is that he’ll like it. I give him a little wink and smile, and satisfaction builds as a red flush creeps up his pale cheeks.

What can I say … I have a habit of making people nervous. The door in the other room opens, then slams, and one of my best friends, Sebastian, comes marching in, his tie undone. His very pregnant wife, Ely, trails him. They are unamused.

“What the fuck?” Sebastian gripes as he approaches the lone officer.

His comment is directed at me, but the cute officer leans away as if that will protect him from Sebastian’s wrath.

I sit up, my vision blurring slightly as I reach my arms above my head and stretch out my back. “Took you long enough.”

“Is it really that difficult to behave? Why do you always have to do something that gets you in trouble?” Sebastian snaps, not even acknowledging the police officer.

“Are you kidding me? If I wanted to be scolded, I would’ve called my mother. I didn’t do anything wrong. I was having a couple of drinks at the bar and kissed a guy.” I toss him a grin. “And I liked it. So fucking what? It’s not my fault the homophobic owner got pissy and called the cops.”

Sebastian lets out a loaded breath through his nose. “Don’t play the innocent victim here. I know you, Lee. Instigation is your MO.”

“I didn’t instigate shit. There wouldn’t have been a problem if he hadn’t started one.”

Seb merely shakes his head. “At some point, you have to learn when to shut your mouth. Not every disagreement has to end with blood drawn.”

I ignore him because I don’t want his opinion. I want out of this fucking cell.

I peer over at Ely, who has thrown herself into a chair nearby. “Looking very round there, Ely. You okay?” She leans her head off the back of the chair and flips me off. Naturally, that makes me smile.

I look back at Sebastian, who is still staring at me like a disappointed father, and huff. “Can you save the lecture for later and get me out of here? I’m missing the party.”

His gaze scans my shredded jeans and vintage Lynyrd Skynyrd T-shirt. “You aren’t even dressed for the party. Besides, it will likely be over by the time we get back.”

I roll my eyes. “Not a Mill party. Never. If it ends before sunrise, I didn’t plan the thing properly.”

Ely groans, either from exhaustion or from my mentioning dawn, and I cock my head in her direction. “Actually, you can just drop me off and take your wife home so she can put her feet up. She’s super pregnant, for fuck’s sake.”

“I didn’t notice,” Seb snaps, then turns to the officer. “Can you get him out, please? I’ll send his lawyer to handle the paperwork.”

The adorable officer nods, grabs a ring of keys from his desk, and comes over to the cell. I stand, slip my Converse back on, and meet him at the door.

“Thank you for the hospitality.” I keep my voice low and husky, making the officer blush even more. God, I love making them nervous.

“Where’s the other guy?” Seb snaps.

I tear my attention away from the officer. “Huh?”

“The other guy. The one you made out with in the bar?”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >119

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The Predator – Oakmount Elite Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-predator-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:35:56 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-predator-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Billionaire, Dark, Mafia, Suspense Authors: J.L. Beck Advertisement

Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >105

What is a predator without his prey?

Elyse Silver was never mine to keep.

The day I saved her life, I ensured we would forever be enemies.

Hating her was easy.

Bullying her, as simple as breathing.

Stopping myself from falling for her… I had no idea how impossible that would become.

The harder I fought, the deeper I fell.

Love and happiness have never been part of my plan, but letting Elyse go isn’t an option, either.

Unfortunately, the truth always finds a way of revealing itself, and by the time she realizes who the real predator is, it’ll be too late for her to escape the trap I’ve put her in.

** This is NOT a standalone and must be read AFTER The Prey. This is a dark romance novel that contains numerous triggers. **

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

SEBASTIAN

It’s never been a matter of if I’ll kill Tanya, but when. Every person has a limit to the amount of bullshit they can take before they snap, and I’m teetering on the edge, looking down into the abyss.

If I jump, will I ever be the same again?

It’s been pure luck and discipline that’s gotten me to this very point. I was barely sixteen the night she took my virginity, and from then on every disgusting word and touch has been fuel to keep me going, to focus on the future and forget the past. But trying to erase the past without healing from it first is pointless; it’s like trying to heal an open wound while continuing to fuel the infection inside it. Unfortunately not all wounds can be healed. Sometimes you have to physically cut the infection out, lose a piece of yourself to get rid of it.

If I looked at killing Tanya like ridding my body of infection then I could do it. I could end her pathetic life and move on with my own.

It’s tempting, very tempting.

And yet, I shove the thought away. It doesn’t help, not when I can mentally feel her blood on my hands. Warm, wet, soaking my skin.

It's not about the sheer joy I'd feel ripping Tanya to shreds—and believe me, there would be joy—but it's the principal, the fact that no matter what happens she’ll never understand how fucked up she is.

Her bare thighs are pressed against my flannel pajama pants, hugging against them, and the sensation makes me almost gag. Memories swim to the surface of my mind, threatening to drag me down deep into their depths.

I fought too hard to give up this easily.

I rise, shoving my bare feet into the carpet to get the grip I need to shift out from underneath her, and the sudden relief I feel once her body weight disappears is almost frightening. She pops over onto the leather coach and releases a huff of frustration.

She should be grateful she’s still breathing right now.

I stalk across the room to grab a bottle of liquor off the mantle and take a long draw. The pungent smell of bourbon replaces the scent of her perfume, and I know if I drink enough the memory of her will disappear from my mind, too.

I grit my teeth against the raging emotions ripping through me. I hate her. I hate her so fucking much, and it’s crazy because she has no idea. Or maybe she does, and she doesn’t give a shit…that seems more likely.

Now would be the perfect opportunity to tell her how disgusting, cruel, and fucking vicious I think she is. How she’s ruined me from the inside out. It’s because of her I’ll never find happiness, love, or any kind of solace for my shame. I let my eyes fall closed and try to calm my erratic breathing.

No. No. I’m not that boy anymore. The one she used up and then discarded like trash once she had her fill. I don’t need her love or approval to survive.

She approaches again, the soft click of her heels sounding on the hardwood behind me, and presses against my back, pushing her breasts against me while I stare down into the fireplace, the flames casting an eerie shadow on the wall. My stomach rolls with the memories of a past that refuses to let go. "Tanya, you have one second to get off me before I throw you off."

She huffs again, her cherry scented breath hot against my neck. "Sebby, baby, you know you want me. Everyone wants me. Men and women would die to get me into their beds."

I’m not sure how I do it without tossing her out the window, but I grip her around her waist and shove her back. She stumbles on her towering heels and falls back onto the hardwood floor, her expression stunned.

I stand above her, and for one brief second I consider pressing my foot to her neck, holding her down until the final gasp of air escapes her, but I don’t. That’s too easy a way for her to go, and after all she’s done to me she deserves to feel pain.

To be torn apart, piece by terrible fucking piece.

I want the proof of her destruction staining my hands.

"Good, then you don't need me.” All I can do is shake my head, the rage festering deep in my veins eating away at my resolve. I’m going to snap. I’m going to lose control.

It wouldn’t be a shock at all if Tanya was the reason I went to jail.

In fact, it might be worth it if it makes her disappear from existence.

No, I can't think like that. Bel needs me. Elyse needs me. My friends need me.

I peer down at her, a bubble of fucked up laughter threatening to escape at the way she cowers. Are you fucking kidding me? She blinks up at me through her long lashes, innocence bleeding into her features while she curls her body into herself. When I was young and far more naive, I probably would’ve fallen for the tactic but now, there’s no fucking way she can fool me.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >105

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The Prey Oakmount Elite Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-prey-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Sat, 31 Aug 2024 08:13:40 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-prey-oakmount-elite-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Billionaire, Contemporary, Crime, Dark, Suspense Authors: J.L. Beck Advertisement

Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >116

Filthy rich. Monstrous. Vile.
He calls me prey.
I call him a bully.

Sebastian Arturo isn’t just cruel, he’s downright terrifying.
With piercing green eyes, a body made for doing very bad things, and a charming demeanor, it’s no wonder everyone thinks the world of him… everyone except me.
When I wake up with pieces of my memory missing he’s the only one who can give me answers.
But he doesn’t give me answers, instead he tells me to stop asking questions, or else…
I heed his warning and do my best to avoid him but since he’s my boss and I live in his house that’s kinda difficult.
Then one night his hate for me reaches its breaking point…and the lines blur.
Hate twists into lustful obsession.
His cruel words become seductive praises.
One touch sparks a raging inferno of desire, and I find myself burned to ash beneath his fingertips.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Prologue

This may be hard to believe, but I don’t just go around killing people. Many perceive me to be this ruthless, coldhearted murderer, but much to their dismay, I don’t make a habit of homicide. Death is messy and the easy way out if you’re asking my opinion. I prefer to give my enemies the hardest path possible if they want to escape me.

As I stand here in my grandfather’s study, I realize there’s no blood on my hands—not physically, at least—and no indication that anything terrible has happened except for the echo of the gunshot ringing in my ears.

A glass of whiskey sits abandoned on the desk alongside a cigar, the tip still smoking faintly in its marble ashtray. A fire roars in the grate, the wood crackling and popping like it’s trying to escape.

I stand frozen in the center of the room, suspended in time, my entire body trembling. The rich scent of leather from the books and furniture mingles with the pungent odor of gunpowder, like metal and wood, filling my lungs with each shallow breath I take.

I blink, slowly returning to awareness, my gaze skittering around me. Papers litter the burgundy rug on the floor, and I sink to my knees, my free hand landing palm down on one of them.

At the top of it, in what might as well be flashing neon lights, is a single word: CONTRACT.

It’s unmistakable. Typed out in big, bold letters.

Fuck. Why would he do this? Take a girl—no, a woman—as payment for a debt? Even for him, it’s a new low.

Acid climbs up my throat. This is what started the fight. Me proclaiming that you can't own another person, not in the way he proposed to, not with bars and cages and contracts. I was all about control, but not even I could stomach this.

My grandfather had laughed in my face, the sound almost bitter with the depths of his disappointment in me. The thing is—I’m not stupid. I know you can own someone, with fear…with love. Even with heartbreak and hope, but not with locks and windows with bars over them.

I own the fact that I am unwell—maybe insane, even—but I don’t come close to this level of depravity.

And I don’t want to.

Standing, I peruse the crumpled paper in my hand. I am fine with tormenting people. Fucking with those who deserve it, and hell, some who don’t. I am even fine with letting my dark side come out to play. I consider myself among the cruelest of the cruel, but I could not silently stand by and allow him to do this.

Even I have lines I don’t cross.

He never seemed to understand that about me. The harder he tried to mold me into something I wasn’t, the harder I would fight. That doesn’t matter now, though. Fighting was pointless. I’ve trapped myself in the cage and thrown away the key.

How had I let this happen?

Giving my head a slight shake, I snap myself back to reality and snatch my phone out of my pocket, letting the gun and the contract slip from my other hand as I do so. The paper flutters while the gun clatters to the floor loudly. I don’t care. I’ll dispose of it later. I scroll to my messages, my fingers hovering over the group text that I have with my friends, my most trusted allies.

They would be here without a second thought to help me if I called them.

I know this, but…

Do I really want to involve them?

To drag them into this twisted, dark mess I’ve created for myself? No. The answer is no, but I still hesitate. They’re my people, the closest thing to family I have.

Fuck. I’m selfish, but I can’t risk bringing them down with me in the event this goes sideways. I navigate back to my contacts and pace. Two steps to the right. Two steps back. I don’t have a lot of options available. I thought I could handle it myself, but I can’t, and now, I have to fix the problem.

How could I be so stupid?

Gritting my teeth, I tug at my hair above my temples. My gaze strays, drawn by blood and pale skin, and I pull my focus forcibly back to my phone. There's only one other person I can call, but once I do this, there will be no going back. Saving her will intertwine our lives. The alternative is worse, though—another guilt stacked on the pile of others that will forever stain and tarnish my soul.

I could let her die, but then this will all have been for nothing…

Fucking hell. There’s no other option. Unsurprisingly, my subconscious chooses then to remind me of that. Swallowing my own frustration, I hit a number I've never needed to call before. It’s a mistake that I even have his number to begin with.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >116

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The Wildflower (Ruthless Disciples #2) Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-wildflower-ruthless-disciples-2-read-online-j-l-beck Sat, 11 May 2024 14:57:16 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-wildflower-ruthless-disciples-2-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, New Adult Authors: J.L. Beck Series: Ruthless Disciples Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >154

Lies. Betrayal. Loss.

They're all I know, see, and feel.
I don't know what is true, or a lie. I don't know who to believe or who what is real.
Broken and grieving I find refuge in an unlikely foe.
A man who claims to be my brother, who vows to protect me, and destroy those that hurt me.
But not even he can't protect me from the nightmare that is Drew Marshall.
Deranged. Psychotic. Immoral.
He broke my heart, and publicly humiliated me. Leaving me shattered and broken when I needed him most.
I should hate him, and I do, but a sick twisted part of me craves him as well.
The harder I fight to escape him, the deeper he digs his claws into me.
They say the truth will set you free, but ours didn't do that.
It locked us inside the cage, and tossed away the key.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

PROLOGUE

- Bel

Lilacs. The scent tickles my nostrils, wrapping me in comfort. The smell of my mother’s perfume surrounded me whenever I curled up on her lap as a kid and snuggled under the blankets while she read a book to me.

I sink deeper into the warmth of my mother’s body, promising never to leave her again now that she’s here, however fleeting that might be. I grip her tighter, the memory fading like leaves blowing in the wind. I’ll hold on to her memory forever. The moment I open my eyes, I know the pain will sweep back in and carry me away, ripping the perfectly constructed figment of solitude right out from under me.

"Maybel?" The deep, dark voice should terrify me but somehow doesn't. My name echoes around in the concaves of my mind, but I ignore the beacon slipping back into that tranquil space.

"Maybel? Wake up!" the voice calls again, and there's a hard edge this time. Fear strikes me, but I settle quickly because something about that voice is familiar.

The owner is someone my subconscious knows will not hurt me. I cling to the wispy clouds of my dream, slowly evaporating before my eyes. The smell of lilacs, the warmth of my mother’s arms around me, the soft thud of her heartbeat beneath my ear… it all slips through my fingers like sand through an hourglass.

Slowly, with the weight of ten cinder blocks on my eyes, I blink them open, then immediately regret it and slam them shut again with a groan. A throbbing sensation slices through my skull as it spears through me like a pencil straight to my pupil.

"Maybel?" A shadow moves above me, blocking out the light. I recognize that voice.

Sebastian. And suddenly, I have a whole other slew of problems I don't know what to do with.

"The light," I croak, my voice raw. "It hurts my head."

The brightness behind my eyelids dims, and it's like someone has pulled a five-pound weight off my face.

"Thank you." I wince while blinking my eyes open once more. It takes a moment to adjust to the room. As soon as they do, I’m struck by his disheveled image, noticing that he’s stripped off his tuxedo jacket and his bow tie hangs limply around his neck. He doesn’t appear to care.

When our gazes collide, he eases, his shoulders relaxing away from his ears. "Good, you’re awake."

I am, but a part of me doesn’t want to be, not when the events that transpired earlier come flooding back like a nightmare that refuses to let go.

Sebastian.

Drew.

Mom.

Fuck.

The pressure of it all threatens to suffocate me, and I scramble for the covers, wanting nothing more than to hide beneath them and escape the reality of my life. Sebastian doesn’t appear to agree and clamps a hand around my wrist, his hard grip stopping any further advancement. "No fast movements. You have a concussion from the fall, and they had to put in a few stitches to close up the gash on your head.”

I attempt to tug my hand from his grasp so I can check for myself, but his unbreakable grip stops me before I can even try. "Let go of me."

His mouth folds down into a straight line, and he slowly relaxes his grip before taking a step back. Just like Drew, he’s great at painting an illusion. Though his features may convey a calmness, his body language speaks otherwise. His tense posture is tight, as if he might leap back and grab me the second I twitch the wrong way.

"How’s your head feel?"

I nod once, but the action is painful, so I become as still as a statue. "It hurts. In fact, my entire body hurts.”

He sighs and smooths his hands down his thighs like he needs something to do, something to focus on. “Yeah, that’s probably from when you fainted. I caught you the best I could. It might also be adrenaline. Sometimes after a game, even if I don't take a hit, I’ll come home sore, every muscle in my body stiff."

I don’t respond and instead look at the other side of the massive hospital room. Everything is beige and white. Sterile and clean. The sheets are soft beneath my fingers, and the beep of the machines next to the bed are muted. It’s the complete opposite of all the hospital stays I’ve had with my mother, where the blankets are scratchy, the walls an off-yellow color, and the machines constantly beep because there aren’t enough staff to manage the influx of patients. A place like this will cost more than my entire college degree and then some. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I already know I’ve outstayed my welcome.

"I need to get out of here. I can't afford this." I don't look at him as I speak. The last thing I want to see on his face is disgust or pity. After everything, and even in my current state, I refuse to give up an ounce of dignity.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >154

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The Wallflower (Ruthless Disciples #1) Read Online J.L. Beck http://www.wownovels.com/the-wallflower-ruthless-disciples-1-read-online-j-l-beck Sun, 03 Mar 2024 19:18:53 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/the-wallflower-ruthless-disciples-1-read-online-j-l-beck Genre: Alpha Male, College, Dark, Sports, Virgin Authors: J.L. Beck Series: Ruthless Disciples Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >139

She needs me, because she needs money.

I don’t need her. Just her complete submission…

Maybell Jacobs is the Wallflower: quiet, shy, socially awkward and hell-bent on hiding even from herself, that is until a chance encounter takes place between us.

Instantly she hates me and for good reason. I'm a walking-red-flag. Filthy rich jock, short tempered, and violent.

I can have anyone and anything I want.. except her.

Little does she know her disgust, anger, and hate for me fuels my obsession to own her, completely in every single way.

Maybell resists, predictably... but her fight only makes her more desirable and I have plans that will lead her right into my lap and never want to leave.

When she joins the sinful tradition put on by the elite of the town, the Hunt, I’m shocked. The pretty little thing has no idea how much danger she’s in if she decides to become my prey.

Sweet, innocent, and fragile like a flower. I'll have to be careful or risk breaking her.

Because I’m the ultimate predator and when I play there are no rules.

I don’t chase. I capture.

And I like to own my bait.

★ Tropes include: secret society, college, touch her and die, CNC & chasing bait fantasy ★

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

DREW

In football, there are two people, winners and losers. Nothing else in between matters, and with my last name and image hanging in the balance, there is absolutely no way I’m fucking losing, not even in practice. I give the asshole trying to stand one more vicious kick to the ribs, then step over his body. He'll be fine. He's wearing football pads.

My friends come up behind me, the men I trust most in the world. Lee, Aries, and Sebastian take my back as I jog slowly toward the training center to clean up after our practice.

The rest of the team, and even the coaches, follow at a healthy pace as if they want to keep their distance.

I'm amped up, as I didn't get nearly enough time to run off my energy. That dick groaning on the ground back there tried, unsuccessfully, for a sack. After his failure, my boys and I taught him a lesson. The coaches called practice over, but I'm still amped up for a fight.

I pull off my practice jersey and start unstrapping my pads as I head into the locker room. It takes a minute to strip them off, leaving me only in my pants and shoes.

Once I jerk my locker open, I shove the equipment inside and throw myself onto the bench to strip off my cleats.

Lee plops down beside me, his dark hair standing up in a sweaty mess. "You alright, man?"

I lean back into the locker, letting the cold metal cool me down. "Yeah, fine. Just wish we would have stayed out a little longer today. I have to work off some energy."

Aries leans in, his dark curls equally messy. "Want me to go find you a girl? Give you something to preoccupy yourself with?”

I shake my head and stretch my feet outside the confines of my shoes. "No, I'm saving it for tonight."

"You can go find me a girl, Ari," Sebastian says, his tone dark and deep. "I might need a little appetizer before the main event. It’s hard as fuck to wait until tomorrow. Just a little thing to suck me off, tide me over. It’s always good to get someone to take the edge off."

Aries narrows his eyes at Sebastian. "The last time I found you a girl, you fucked her throat raw, and now I can't go near that sorority house ever again."

Sebastian snorts. "She wanted it. She begged me before I let her have it. The only reason she got bitchy about it afterward was because I told her I wasn't fucking a cunt every man on the team has had. She could have my fingers or nothing, and she chose nothing."

Lee snorts from his spot at his locker a few paces down. The room is full now, the entire team filing in and stripping down to shower.

The boys rib each other a bit more, but I lean my head back, clenching my fists, thinking about tomorrow night’s big event. I can't wait to sink inside some little doe-eyed beauty who doesn't have enough sense to run when I finally catch her. That’s what my body waits for, what my dick waits for. I should have realized nothing else would do.

The guys strip off their own gear, shoving things in lockers and harrying the towel boy as he comes through to hand out the fresh towels.

I snatch one off the stack and shove him faster through the row to get him out of my sight.

"Sebastian, is everything prepared?”

I leave the planning for The Hunt to the most depraved of us. Sebastian always comes up with fun little surprises. He might appear to have his shit together, but he’s far from ordinary. The guy makes me look like a gentleman, and that’s saying something, given how fucked up I am myself.

Sebastian strips his undershirt off and drops it to the bottom of his locker. "Of course, it's all finished. Who do you think I am? Invitations have been sent out and shared by the guys. Every detail is in order.”

I stretch my neck from side to side, thinking. "And the pack this year…anyone who might pique my interest?"

Sebastian grins at me over his shoulder. "What do you think? There are at least a couple of virgins and a few lovely girls who have no idea what they’re getting into. I suspect a few of them might bring their own clueless friends along.”

Lee and Aries both chuckle at this.

Aries scrubs his hair away from his face. "I want one with a little fight. She might start out clueless, but when I catch her, I want her to make me bleed, and maybe I'll return the favor."

Lee shrugs. "I like surprises. I'll chase, and we will see what I happen to scare up."

I let out a long sigh and stare back and forth between them. "You all know what I want. But this time, I want it to be fucking real. None of this pretends not to want it while her cunt is sopping wet bullshit. I want to see the whites in her eyes. If she fights, fine, but I want it to be out of fear, not pretense."

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >139

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Corium Ever After Read Online J.L. Beck, Cassandra Hallman http://www.wownovels.com/corium-ever-after-read-online-j-l-beck-cassandra-hallman Mon, 01 Jan 2024 09:41:13 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/corium-ever-after-read-online-j-l-beck-cassandra-hallman Genre: Alpha Male, Dark, Erotic, Mafia Authors: Cassandra Hallman, J.L. Beck Advertisement

Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >30

It’s been over two years since I made Aspen my wife, and I've still not grown tired of exploring every single inch of her body.

I have made it my mission to destroy everyone and everything that has ever caused her pain. Now, it's time to erase the last reminders of the past that haunts her nightmares.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Quinton

If there’s one thing I’ll never grow tired of, it’s the look of joy my wife wears when I surprise her with something I know she’ll love. After everything she’s been through, she deserves no less than the best of everything, and I happen to be in a position to give it to her. She never expects or demands any of it, so the surprise is that much sweeter.

Her joy and wonder never get old. Like the twinkle in her eyes as we approach the lodge where I’ve booked us a stay over the Christmas holiday. As much as I enjoy spending time with extended family the way we normally do, I want it to be us this year. No distractions and no interruptions. We can always see them over New Year’s, anyway.

“I can’t believe it!” I’ve lost track of the number of times Aspen has whispered those words since we set out from the Swiss airport to our lodge in Gstaad. I’m not so jaded that I can’t see the beauty around us—the view of snowcapped peaks from a charming little town bustling with people who came to Switzerland for a luxurious holiday to shop and dine. Night fell before we landed, meaning a star-spangled, moonlight sky set off those snowy peaks, and warm, inviting lights from countless windows shined on the snowy streets. It’s beyond pristine, inspiring awe even in someone as world-weary as me.

She turns to me, her mouth hanging open and her green eyes sparkling. “It’s like something out of a fairy tale! Like a perfect little village in the snow.”

“Don’t fool yourself,” I warn her with a grin. “This isn’t some quaint little village. Someone could go bankrupt in some of the stores around here. But it is beautiful. You like it?”

“I love it!” Still, her brows draw together in concern. “So long as you don’t expect me to ski. I don’t think a broken leg would be a great Christmas present.”

“Point taken. Anyway, I figured you’d be more interested in sitting by the fire with a book.”

“Are you kidding? I can already imagine myself with a book in my lap and hot chocolate sitting next to me.”

“So long as that’s not all you want to do in front of the fire.” I run a hand up her thigh, and she giggles before playfully swatting it away, nodding toward the front seat where our driver navigates the darkened road up to the lodge.

I lean in, my lips brushing her ear. “You know it only turns me on when you tell me I can’t do something.” She rolls her eyes, but it’s all for show. When push comes to shove, she’s just as eager and ready to tear each other’s clothes off as I am.

There isn’t much I would rather do during this trip, even with all the other options at our fingertips. It doesn’t matter where we are. All I ever want is Aspen. To be inside her, beside her. It doesn’t matter to me.

We pull up at the sprawling lodge entrance, and staff members immediately descend upon us, taking our bags from the car and carrying them into the lobby. I take Aspen’s hand and follow them, smiling at how she looks around in obvious wonder. “I hope you don’t mind,” I explain as we step into the cavernous space, “but I went with a suite instead of renting one of the private cabins. This way, you don’t even have to step outside if you’re hungry. There are restaurants right here in the lodge, and the staff is ready to make sure you have everything you need. Room service is available as well.” I wink, knowing that will come in handy one or two or maybe even all the mornings.

She slides her arms around my waist and squeezes, beaming up at me. “It’s perfect.”

She’s perfect, but hearing that would only make her roll her eyes. I settle for kissing the top of her head before meeting the concierge, who takes us to our suite while explaining some of the hotel’s amenities. “Guests rave about our outdoor hot tubs,” he assures us, pointing through a window to where the covered tubs are currently being enjoyed by a pair of families. “Your suite includes one of its own if you’d rather not venture outdoors.”

I catch Aspen’s eye, and there can’t be any doubt about what I’m thinking. She flashes a secret little smile, telling me she’s on the same page.

I slip the concierge and porter a tip to get rid of them quicker so we can be alone. Aspen admires the fireplace, the hot tub in the bathroom, and the view from the windows overlooking the village. The warm and welcoming suite has a huge four-poster bed I’ve made plans to use ever since first seeing a picture of it on the resort’s website.

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