Books like 'Vain'
Readers who enjoyed Vain by Candice Wright also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance suspense forced proximity friends to lovers office
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The Guarded One by Brittney Sahin
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsHe’s a grumpy small-town sheriff. And she’s the off-limits operator capable of bringing him to his knees. Sydney Archer isn’t the typical daughter of a billionaire. A former Army officer, she now works with an elite security team to hunt the worst of the worst . . . all while raising a teenager. To the outside world, Sydney’s an ice queen who’s lethal with a bow...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers suspense sassy heroine mafia contemporary military bad boys -
![Rebellious Rook by Brooklyn Cross]()
Rebellious Rook by Brooklyn Cross
The rook’s heart is as cold as stone, but when the rock crumbles, the spoils are twice as sweet. Death follows me around like a dark cloud just waiting to strike. First, it stole my mother, then my aunt, and now my father is missing. Even though I’m told to walk away, and even though finding him shouldn’t be my top priority, the memory of him begging me to talk to him haunts my dreams... -
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![Can't Go Back by Debra Webb]()
Can't Go Back by Debra Webb
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe past and the present collide in the final installment of USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb’s Devlin & Falco series, threatening everything these two detectives care about. Birmingham detectives Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco arrive at the scene of a double homicide to discover that nothing makes sense... -
![Triangulation by Gregory Ashe]()
Triangulation by Gregory Ashe
After a recent case with a treacherous client, North and Shaw are ready to go back to work building Borealis Investigations. They’re also ready to go back to dodging their feelings for each other, with neither man ready to deal with the powerful emotions the Matty Fennmore case stirred up... -
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![Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose]()
Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsDeadly secrets lie beneath the murky waters of the Louisiana bayou in this pulse-pounding new romantic suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose. There's no safe place for a child to hide when danger comes from every direction. Public prosecutor J. P... -
![Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose]()
Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThe fourth and final book in Karen Rose's nail-biting Cincinnati Series revisits your favourite characters battling crime in the city's dark underbelly. Fans of Tess Gerritsen, James Patterson and Karin Slaughter will not be able to tear themselves away from this explosive thriller. Homicide detective Adam Kimble is no stranger to battling demons...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers mystery contemporary abuse dark second chances length-epic -
![Edge of Nowhere by Freya Barker]()
Edge of Nowhere by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.73 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOpen roads and honor meets poke bowls and self-control. I’m a homesick nomad. A protégé, a mountain man, an ally, and a seeker. My name is Wapi. I’m a work in progress looking to belong, and though my road has been a winding one, my heart has found focus. I’m a straightlaced hellcat. A princess, a fool, a target, and a handle. My name is Lindsey...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers forced proximity mafia cowboys mystery dark friends-benefits -
![The Devil's Lair by Penny Dee]()
The Devil's Lair by Penny Dee
Massimo De Kysa. The man who stole my first kiss. And now my boss. I learned early how life can turn on a dime. That’s how it is when you grow up as a mafia princess. One minute you’re rich, spoilt, and betrothed to the most revered man in the city—the next your broke and selling your designer bags so you can eat. But I’m not the kind of girl who gives up without a fight...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers forced proximity dark from hate to love mafia mystery contemporary -
![Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann]()
Pieces of a Life by Jewel E. Ann
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe summer before fourth grade, Colten Mosley moved into the house across the street from mine, and we became inseparable. He played the piano and baseball. I had a penchant for dead things while at the same time imagining what it would be like to kiss Colten. We were filled with curiosity and overly active imaginations. We were also forbidden to be more than friends. But that didn’t stop us...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers forced proximity office mystery contemporary angst single-father -
![Luca by Eden Summers]()
Luca by Eden Summers
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsLuca dragged me from hell and delivered me to salvation. At least that's what I thought. I hoped this would be a new life. A fresh start. But the pain followed. I'm certain the monsters did, too. I'm told it's paranoia. Trauma. PTSD. Nobody believes my truth. But they'll soon learn. We all will. Because as much as I want to forget the mantra from my nightmares, it hasn't stopped being true... -
![The Nomad by Amelia Shea]()
The Nomad by Amelia Shea
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsBroke and bitter, Karia Mitchell is just done. So damn tired of it all. After spending a decade in a loveless and toxic marriage, she’s finally breaking free and rebuilding her life. The prospect of starting over at forty-one is gut wrenching, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes as long as she’s rid of her ex... -
![The Red Cardinal by Mia Smantz]()
The Red Cardinal by Mia Smantz
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsAfter their last encounter, Nikolai Ivanov proved that he's done toying aroung and is finally making his move. Callie Jensen and everyone she loves are more at risk than ever before. It's going to take the entire team working together if they all want to make it out alive...Categorized as:
friends to lovers suspense reverse harem contemporary dark mafia insta-love new adult -
![Sinner by Sheridan Anne]()
Sinner by Sheridan Anne
Death surrounds me. Every step I take, there’s someone waiting for me in the shadows. There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and now, I’m out here on my own, my hands stained with the blood of those I’ve killed to survive. Zade DeVil was my executioner, my most feared enemy, but he was also my protector. I wasn’t willing to cross that line with him, despite how much I may have wanted to...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity new adult from hate to love cruel hero contemporary dark length-medium -
![Special Kind of Twisted by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Special Kind of Twisted by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsHe had a way of pulling everyone into his darkness. Then, to make matters worse, he convinced you that you liked it there. Kyle Davis—ex professional baseball player and current felon—loved Sara, his best friend. Strictly platonically, of course. He’d do absolutely anything for her, even put up with Greer, Sara’s other best friend. What she was not was Kyle’s best friend... -
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![Hellfire by Cathleen Cole, Frank Jensen]()
Hellfire by Cathleen Cole, Frank Jensen
She’s his best friend’s little sister, but he’d risk everything to have her…. Hellfire. Smoke would kill me if he knew all the dirty, depraved things I want to do to his little sister. For years, I’ve been forced to look and not touch. She’s been mine since the first time I saw her, even if she doesn’t know it...Categorized as:
friends to lovers suspense dark military from hate to love bikers contemporary length-medium -
![The Savage by Stella Andrews]()
The Savage by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIvan may be my name but I am best known as The Savage. Born and bred Bratva heir and loving every delicious minute of my life. That's why it was easy to kidnap the entitled Charlotte Richmond from her finishing school in England. It was my pleasure to hide her away while her depraved father searched for her. I have no heart, no emotion, and no morals. She is a bargaining chip, a means to an end...Categorized as:
forced proximity suspense mafia from hate to love contemporary dark alpha male age difference -
![The Devil's Den by Lilian Harris]()
The Devil's Den by Lilian Harris
He was the boy held captive in the basement. I was the girl who knew. But I never told a soul. I had innocent lives to protect. And this was the only way. He was my friend first. My lover second. We wanted to be free, to make a life together. But that was a dream we knew would never come true...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity friends to lovers contemporary dark forbidden love new adult mafia -
![The Voices are Back by Lani Lynn Vale]()
The Voices are Back by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsJust a word, yet one person came to mind. Morrigan St. Pete. The woman that’d been hounding my every step since the day she was born. From the moment we first comforted each other in the hospital, to the day that I left her to follow her dreams, I knew that she was my one...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers bikers military humor single-father contemporary dual-pov -
![Cold Deceit by Toni Anderson]()
Cold Deceit by Toni Anderson
A tenacious forensic anthropologist needs protection from an elite FBI HRT operator as they search for a ruthless killer in this Romantic Thriller by New York Times bestselling author Toni Anderson. When forensic anthropologist Zoe Miller stumbles across a murder victim in the blisteringly hostile Sonoran Desert, she triggers a chain of events that puts her in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer...Categorized as:
forced proximity suspense contemporary military mystery heroine sleuth dark length-medium -
![Erik's Salvation by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Erik's Salvation by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsShe’ll mend his broken heart. He’ll shatter anew to protect her. Hannah Jacobs is intimately familiar with pain. Growing up in foster care, she experienced all of its varying shades, in ways that still impact her as an adult... -
![Dirty Deals by Nicole James]()
Dirty Deals by Nicole James
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsRusty—. I’m the president of the Devil Kings Atlanta MC. With a fractious club to rebuild and a revolving door on my bedroom, the last thing I need is 5’4” of sex-on-a-stick trouble. When a mysterious beauty shows up with her playmate’s body, dark soulful eyes and a bagful of cash, I’m willing to make an exception. I don’t fully trust her, but she needs my help. Ashlynn—. Things are finally good... -
![Wheelie's Challenge by Chiah Wilder]()
Wheelie's Challenge by Chiah Wilder
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA member of the Insurgents MC, Wheelie is a chick magnate. Having a ripped body, mesmerizing tats, and a boyish grin, he can have any woman he wants. Except for one: Sofia. Ever since he laid eyes on her, he was taken in by her sparkling eyes, her sweet laugh, and her pretty face. There’s just one very big problem: she belongs to another Insurgent... -
![Valiant by Bella Jewel]()
Valiant by Bella Jewel
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsI’ve known fear. I’ve known pain. I’ve known horror. I’ve known all of it. I’ve guarded myself as best I can. I’ve hidden myself from him. I’ve changed my name. I’ve moved. But he still haunts me. One day, I’m sure he’ll find me again. I don’t trust anybody. I don’t believe in anybody. I just want to be free. Until I meet Jack... -
![Charming Villain by Cora Kent]()
Charming Villain by Cora Kent
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI don’t want a wife. But in the mafia, marriage isn’t about love—it’s about power. When the Family demands I marry Giovanni Lucatello’s sheltered daughter, I drown my frustration in whiskey and meet a woman who’s everything I shouldn’t bold, sharp-tongued, and tempting as sin. One night with her is unforgettable. But by the next morning, she’s gone. Or so I thought... -
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![Before You Knew Me: An opposites attract romantic suspense novel by MaryAnn Clarke]()
Before You Knew Me: An opposites attract romantic suspense novel by MaryAnn Clarke
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSometimes moving into a new future requires letting go of the past. If two clashing agents of change can change they way they see each other – they might just change the world for good, and build a beautiful future together. Attorney Sharon Beckett worked hard to lift her life out of the gutter... -
![Midnight Target by Elle Kennedy]()
Midnight Target by Elle Kennedy
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Score and Midnight Revenge. .. Four years ago, Cate’s entire life changed when she discovered she was the daughter of a supersoldier. But Jim Morgan’s overprotectiveness has pushed her away. These days, she’s working as a freelance photographer and living the dangerous life Jim never wanted for her... -
![Perfectly Unraveled by Emily Klepp]()
Perfectly Unraveled by Emily Klepp
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI was raised to be composed, controlled, the perfect pawn in a world built on silence and shadows. Every step, every breath, every smile was measured. He was the chaos wrapped in control that my soul begged for. I wasn’t supposed to fall for him because I had a life to build for my baby girl... -
![Bound by Fate by Ryan Michele]()
Bound by Fate by Ryan Michele
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author Ryan Michele brings the action packed, angst filled story of second chances. Oh what a wicked web we weave. .. Marine, Benjamin Dryerson has been to war and knows the ugly side of freedom. It changes a man leaving him knowing what is important in life. He’s found peace in the Ravage Motorcycle Club and the family that comes with the cut... -
![Captive Heart: Armani by Stella Gray]()
Captive Heart: Armani by Stella Gray
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNothing lasts forever… except the Bellanti’s hatred for the Bruno family. My family prepared me to fight. My best friend taught me loyalty. My husband showed me who I am. And now I’m caught between them all. The thing about secrets is that they always come out. The past is never gone. No one expected it to explode. I finally understand why my life led me here... -
![Seeking Peace by Crystal Daniels, Sandy Alvarez]()
Seeking Peace by Crystal Daniels, Sandy Alvarez
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNothing remains of Blake’s life before the club except death, deceit, and corruption. He was on the road to self-destruction when his path crossed with Jake, the President of Kings of Retribution. Now Blake is dedicated to the MC and loyal to the men he calls brothers. The club gave him a family and purpose. Blake thought he finally had everything he ever wanted. Until Ember... -
![The Two Last Moments by Hannah Shield]()
The Two Last Moments by Hannah Shield
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s a former Army medic. A hero with a heart-stopping grin and a steady hand. And the only person I remember when I’ve lost everything else. When I wake in the hospital, there are only a few things I can recall. My first name. A car, racing toward me before impact. And him . The firefighter EMT who miraculously appeared that night. Who saved me...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity abuse contemporary military mystery age difference insta-love -
![Fixate by K.E. Osborn]()
Fixate by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe’s a part of me. Even though I don’t know her name. The woman I’ve been exchanging letters with and developed feelings for over the past five years. But I can’t help feeling torn in two when I’m suddenly pulled toward another. Maxxy, the club’s horticulturalist, is strong, sassy, and she gives me so much lip the aggravation is exasperating. She infuriates me. She ignites me...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers forced proximity mystery angst alpha male bikers contemporary -
![Opal by Freya Barker]()
Opal by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGEM: A PRIVATELY-FUNDED ORGANIZATION OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE SEARCH FOR—AND THE RESCUE AND RECOVERY OF—MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH, AT TIMES WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, GEM AIMS TO ENSURE THE VICTIMS RECEIVE JUSTICE…BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. ____. GEM Operator Opal; multifaceted, versatile, a chameleon. She hides in plain sight, adapts, and infiltrates...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity single-father dark mature couple mystery contemporary length-medium -
![Because I'm Yours by Claire Contreras]()
Because I'm Yours by Claire Contreras
Lenora De Luca. I've always been a good girl. The perfect daughter. The perfect sister. And, in two weeks, I'm supposed to become the perfect wife. I don't know or like the man my father chose to marry me off to but I have no say in the matter. That's why when I see Rocco Marchetti, the man I've had a crush on my entire life, I decide he'll be my first...Categorized as:
friends to lovers suspense forced proximity contemporary insta-love dark new adult mafia -
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![The Sinner by Marni Mann]()
The Sinner by Marni Mann
The first time I saw her, I wanted her. The second time I saw her, I knew she had to be mine. Beautiful blonde hair. Cornflower blue eyes. Body to die for. All things I knew I couldn’t live without. But after one night, she ghosted me, leaving me desperate for another taste. I was usually the one to walk out the door before the morning light came...Categorized as:
suspense office forced proximity super rich hero grumpy sunshine contemporary alpha male dual-pov -
![Finn by Melanie Moreland]()
Finn by Melanie Moreland
His Power Rules the City—But She Rules His Heart. Finn O’Reilly. Finn O’Reilly Stern, powerful, confident. Oversees his hotel and his syndicate with a commanding presence and leadership, knowing any weakness could be used against him. And he has none. Except Una Murphy. The woman he lost his heart to and still loves, even though she wants nothing to do with him. Or so she claims... -
![Tethered Souls by Beth Flynn]()
Tethered Souls by Beth Flynn
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy family has secrets. I’m always the good girl, doing what’s necessary to keep my loved ones safe. I've kept the darkest secrets from everyone I know. As painful as it is to hold them all inside where they live and gnaw away at me, that’s where they must stay. I haven't seen my closest childhood friend, Christian Bear, since I was a teenager—he hasn't changed a bit... -
![The Rogue by Kimberly Kincaid]()
The Rogue by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe scars that cut deepest are the ones beneath the surface…. Detective Addison Hale is a survivor. The armor she uses to hide her scars keeps her safe on the job, and holding people at arm’s length is a small price to pay when there’s a stalker on the loose. Especially since he’s after the sister of impulsive firefighter Ryan Dempsey, who she had a scorching-hot fling with two months ago...Categorized as:
friends to lovers suspense contemporary mystery dark firefighter military length-medium -
![Live for Me by Ember Nicole]()
Live for Me by Ember Nicole
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s hell bent on settling the score. He’ll do anything she asks. This is the third book in The Broken Bounty Series. It is not a standalone. The building blocks for this story begin with Break for Me by Ember Nicole. This is a dual perspective, dark romance and is intended for readers over 18 years of age. There are trigger/content warnings listed within the first pages of the book... -
![Avenging Azalea by Brooklyn Cross]()
Avenging Azalea by Brooklyn Cross
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMF, Mafia, Age Gap, OW Drama (No Cheating), OTT/JP, Family Drama, Found Family, Interconnected Standalone. I promised that I would avenge her, and I always kept my promises. I, Titus Mikhailov, am the calm that holds back the storm in my family. For years, I’ve kept the peace, negotiated, and found common ground between those I love most in this world...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers mafia age difference dark contemporary abuse alpha male -
![Mine to Love by Kennedy L. Mitchell]()
Mine to Love by Kennedy L. Mitchell
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhen a decade-old one-night stand converges with a current high-profile case, can the three of them work through their differences to stop her from being the serial killer’s next victim? Running from a secret past and now a deranged killer, Remington Dotson and her nine-year-old son need protection to survive...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity secret child tortured hero dark alpha male tortured heroine contemporary -
![The Night Blossoms by Leylah Attar]()
The Night Blossoms by Leylah Attar
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Leylah Attar returns with a page-turning romantic suspense/thriller that careens down an emotional highway toward a chilling finale. Dark, thrilling, and ingeniously unpredictable. “Do you ever really know someone, or do you just know the parts they want you to see? ”...Categorized as:
suspense friends to lovers mystery dark pregnancy contemporary multicultural length-medium -
![The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid]()
The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis partner’s most trusted informant is his only hope…and his only weakness. When Detective Liam Hollister is assigned to an assault-turned-murder, he brings his signature three “C”s: control, calm, and composure. The “C” he wasn’t counting on? His partner’s informant, Carmen Desoto, who’s not only the key to unlocking his case... -
![The Three Week Deal by Hannah Shield]()
The Three Week Deal by Hannah Shield
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s a smoking-hot firefighter with a wild side. And now, my obnoxious new roommate. When my apartment catches fire, I know I’m in for a hell of a day. It only gets worse when I meet my temporary new roommate—the same grouchy firefighter who just yelled at me. Matteo De Luca is a tattooed, loud-mouthed, alpha hunk of a man...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity friends to lovers humor dark multicultural military mystery -
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![Crown of Bliss: A Billionaire Mafia Romance by B. B. Hamel]()
Crown of Bliss: A Billionaire Mafia Romance by B. B. Hamel
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis obsession. Her salvation. At my lowest, I accept an unimaginable clean up a murder scene to earn one-hundred-grand. Problem is, my employer doesn’t plan on letting me survive the night. That’s when I meet Lanzo Torrent. He’s gorgeous, chaotic, frustrating, and my only salvation. He says he can save my life, but I have to trust him first. Lanzo drags me into his war...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity contemporary new adult vengeance mafia age difference length-medium -
![Her by D.V. Fischer]()
Her by D.V. Fischer
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI have something to prove. My weight. My worth. My life. Not only am I a woman fresh out of the police academy, but because of my father’s reputation, I have to prove I’m worthy of my badge. And then an opportunity arose, one I couldn’t pass up. Men and women are being abducted from another country to be trafficked for horrific purposes...Categorized as:
forced proximity suspense dark contemporary found-family mystery length-medium standalone -
![Because of Me by Katie Pearson]()
Because of Me by Katie Pearson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShe aspires to be the girl he deserves. Becca Mills is desperate to give her son a better life. To do that, she heads to a new town where nobody knows her, except her mother and her mother’s dealer. When Becca meets Dereck, a tatted mechanic who enjoys making her blush and earning her smile, things get complicated...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers suspense dark contemporary cruel hero length-epic standalone -
![Mafia Billionaire's Surprise Baby by Vivy Skys]()
Mafia Billionaire's Surprise Baby by Vivy Skys
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI didn’t expect to fall for a ruthless mafia billionaire but he claimed me before I even met him. Now, I’m his fake wife and expecting his baby. Sal De Luca is a brooding shadow that my brother sent as my bodyguard. I should know better than to fall for my brother’s underboss. I try to avoid him, but I’m addicted to the way he worships my body... -
![The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Three by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor]()
The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Three by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Three. What would you do for three million dollars? Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future... -
![Of Lilies And Lies by Margaux Porter]()
Of Lilies And Lies by Margaux Porter
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsWhen the past refuses to stay buried, can I trust him enough to protect me? Kit. After my abusive husband vanishes, I move home, hoping to heal my wounds and find myself. Instead, I find Greer. He's different; calming, and soothing in a way I’ve never experienced. He invades my senses with every contact. It makes it hard to stop thinking about him. He makes me want his laugh, his hands, his kiss...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity dark contemporary new adult dual-pov alpha male length-long
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