Meat Gardener Venom

Two sisters enter the world of a book they read after purchasing it at a yard sale from a peculiar old lady. Little do they know that everything they read was real. And it was never a book, but a portal. A gateway hidden in plain sight which led to another world. A world of magic, demons and curses. A world they once lived in. Waking up in the bodies of people from a forgotten time, haunted by strange dreams of death and a voice which informs them that they must defeat a Demon Lord if they wish to survive. There is no mention of returning home. What could these ladies possibly do? Will they take action and fight? Or will they succumb to these most unusual set of circumstances? One thing is certain, they have far too much in common with the bodies they're possessing. THE COVER IS NOT MINE.

The Third World War happened. Countless lives bled and died, half of all life the world has to offer laid bare on the soil Mother Nature embrace. Pollution and wastes reaches all over the world. Humans and animals were sacrificed in the catastrophic destruction the humanity brought upon themselves. The people rioted and kill each other at the times where they should band together. The world is left with a tragedy that signifies the beginning of the end. A deadly virus roam all over the world and evolved to the point that the infected eventually loss all hope of seeing the next sunrise. It left the surviving life to desperation, the people’s will collapse at the sight of their doom. THE BETRAYAL HAPPENED AT THE VERY BEGINNING. The precious ends of time were spent in silence as the sun give its last rays of light to the Ruins of the Old World. A significant period to be witness by all before the precious hopes and dreams for salvation collapses. Remnants of families stayed huddled together — in life and death, at the darkness and dawn. The world shall be inhabitable for humanity will reach its extinction. However, the cosmos seems to have brought about different tale. Countless small meteorites showered its luminous rays upon the Earth. The meteorites rained all over the world days and nights, creating a havocs effect. The tenacious living survive to witnessed this phenomenon and the unyielding world shall thrive by creating and shaping the beginning of the New World.

Davina Dubois is a 27 year old virgin who has been working minimum wage jobs her entire life. Her current dead end job is a cashier at a drug store. Her life's trajectory is zero and she has long since given up on trying for anything better. All she can do now is drown her sorrows every time her heart starts to dream and remind her that she is a failure. She is a habitual procrastinator who lives a life of social isolation. When she's not at work, she's by herself. When she goes to mall, she's by herself. When she goes to a restaurant, she's eating for one. Her adult life has been filled with nothing but daydreaming, feeling bitter, struggling to control her anger, being selfish and living like she's an old lady in retirement. Her thoughts are her worst nightmare. They've brought her down to her knees and killed her spirit. She is always lacking sleep and always taking two steps back the moment she takes one step forward. Finally, the depression becomes too much for her. Filled with regret, fear and doubts she decides to take a leap for freedom....off a bridge. Rafael Hunt is a 30 year old global popstar. He has toured all over the world and enchanted millions with his hypnotic voice and dance. He tops the Billboard charts with each new album, has sold millions of copies of his music, holds 3 Platinum certificates and two Grammy Awards. His face grazes nearly every celebrity magazine and he is the hot topic of discussion on every music show nationally and internationally, known as the next Michael Jackson. He's the brand ambassador for countless clothing lines, has his own perfume and has starred in commercials for everything from handbags to fast food. He has donated to countless charities, opened up a hospital and even met the president. Unfortunately, his life away from the spotlight is filled with misery. Growing up, he was treated as nothing more than a tool by his parents. He was expected to always deliver the best vocals and the most sharp choreography or he would get beaten up by his father and placed on a strict diet by his mother. Rafe was also the child of a highly dysfunctional marriage. The only person who cared for him was his grandfather, who admired his grandson for being very disciplined and filial. So much so, that he decided to rewrite his will in Rafe's name only. Rafe's grandfather considers his son and daughter-in-law to be nothing more than leeches with no real value and an utter disgrace to the Hunt name. Naturally, he wants Rafe to carry the bloodline forward. Being treated as a windup toy expected to dance to satisfy his heartless parents greed took a huge toll on his mind. As a coping mechanism, he developed an addiction to cocaine. After secretly acquiring a large quantity from his secret dealer, Rafe snorts it all with the hopes of dying. Both Davina and Rafe have a near brush with death before ending up in the hospital expected to survive. Waking up, they cry and curse their circumstances before realizing that they're not where they're supposed to be. Davina looks at her herself and sees a skinny handsome man where her body should be. Rafael wakes up and sees a full some, curvaceous beauty staring at him from the mirror. Worlds apart, these two would never cross paths normally. Only a supernatural intervention could bring them together. But as they navigate their newly acquired identities, they realize that misery isn't the only thing that binds them together. Davina and Rafe are actually long lost siblings.

In der postapokalyptischen Welt verwandelte sich Luo Qiao, die mit einer besonderen Fähigkeit ausgestattet war, in ein bedauernswertes Mädchen, das niemand haben wollte. Durch einen glücklichen Zufall gewann sie einen Raum, was wahrlich ein Grund zum Feiern war. Doch dann entdeckte sie, dass sie nicht nur hinübergewechselt war, sondern auch in einem Buch gelandet war, in dem das Schicksal der Originalfigur tragisch verlaufen war! Haha, mit einer besonderen Fähigkeit und dem Raum, der ihr zur Verfügung stand, sagte Luo Qiao, dass sie niemanden brauchte. Doch dieser Dorfbewohner, von dem es heißt, er sei ein exzentrischer Behindertenführer, schien ihr auf Schritt und Tritt helfen zu wollen. Luo Qiaos Augen funkelten, hehe, sich an einen kräftigen Schenkel zu klammern, um Unterstützung zu bekommen, klang nicht nach einer schlechten Idee. Beobachten Sie, wie die zarte Ehefrau gepflegt wird, sehen Sie, wie Luo Qiao ihr Leben mit Xiao Yao genießt..........

Two women meet at a strip club and get hammered. 19 year old Rachel and 22 year old Jessica. Though strangers, they hit it off immediately as both are currently also working as strippers and occasionally hookers in other bars across the city. They decide to exchange numbers and stay in touch for the sake of opportunity. A few weeks pass, when Jessica calls Rachel saying that there are two spots temporarily opening up in a high end Gentlemen's Club in the neighboring city. They decide to fly out to dance and make a higher income by staying for two days. Rachel wants to get into the pants of the rich clientele who visit the club and hopefully make enough money to cover rent for a year. Jessica wants to get pregnant and extort the father. She is desperate for a proper Sugar Daddy. However, after dancing for one night the two of them get caught up with a criminal minded man and his sly fiancée. Rachel realizes that Jessica has a very messy past and now she's been roped into it by agreeing to accompany her out here. Fatherless kids, overbearing ex, concerned mother in law, sex trafficking, gang violence, murder.....as the next 24 hours unfold Rachel realizes she needs to get out of the city ASAP! And though she is resentful towards the crazy bitch who brought her here, she's also unwilling to leave her behind.

In a tranquil yet haunting garden untouched by time, Tagitsa Origumaru tends to the roots of a world caught between life and death. For centuries, he has lived in solitude, a silent guardian in a realm where only the restless arrive. These are souls burdened by regret, unable to move forward—lost voices seeking solace. Tasked with helping the dead find peace, Tagitsa confronts fragments of humanity’s most painful truths. Through encounters with children, elders, and strangers, he unravels the weight of their unfulfilled lives. Yet, as he delves deeper into their stories, he begins to question the boundaries of his own existence and the mysterious scars that mark his body. As the garden blooms with each passing soul, Tagitsa’s unchanging world edges closer to revelation. In this timeless place of sorrow and hope, what truths will emerge—and at what cost? Author's Note: Hey everyone! This is my first story. I hope you enjoy! Upload Schedule Day 1: Prologue + Chapter 1 Then: Sunday/Wednesday/Friday

One day, Su Qi suddenly discovers he has a peculiar ability: he can see Easter eggs hidden in the world around him. These aren’t just bits of extra information; by performing specific actions, he can unlock hidden rewards. While everyone else is fleeing in terror from a vengeful female ghost, Su Qi is already setting the table for a candlelit dinner, chatting amiably with her. [You acquire her husband's hat, a mysterious artifact that, when thrown, locks onto enemies and delivers a devastating mental shock.] When zombies overrun the streets, and survivors scramble for axes and kitchen knives, Su Qi confidently strides in, wielding a sound system in one hand and a heavy-duty machine gun in the other, casually clearing out the neighborhood. [No one can defeat me in my BGM.] This is the Abyss—the birthplace of despair and decay, where worlds crumble under fear and madness. This is also a paradise where countless seekers pursue the footsteps of gods. Myths of the past and epics of the future are written here in grand and tragic splendor. Until Su Qi shows up. With a mop soaked in the blood of a recently stunned god, Su Qi scrawls a few bold words onto the epic tale: "The Abyssal Garden: No Room for the Idle."

Below the nine setting suns lies the remains of the Golden Crows. By chance, a young man arrives in the world of Journey to the West, attaining enlightenment using the bodies of nine Golden Crows, leading to a different journey. Summary for this book: "Living in the Journey to the West, I started off by roasting nine Golden Crows." Yet another summary is, "My days of collecting bodies in the Journey to the West. When it comes to body collection, no one's better than me. Three hundred years of professional body collection experience, skilled at cooking braised meat, and never adds sugar in it."

Reincarnated into an eroge brimming with cunning and seductive women, Shia quickly learns this world is no paradise. His childhood friend? A manipulative beauty with a penchant for control. The maid? A silver-haired, venomous tsundere. Even the elegant motherly figures hide sharp fangs behind their kind smiles. Fortunately, Shia knows this world’s secret: a unique system that only he can use. From making alliances with snake-like in-laws to hosting wild parties in the elf kingdom, Shia takes charge as the self-proclaimed administrator of chaos. But taming bad women isn’t easy, and Shia’s life quickly turns into a whirlwind of power plays, unexpected friendships, and wild nights.

At just 12 years old, Devor, a curious and bright-eyed boy, steps into the awe-inspiring world of the Azure Sky Sect, a place where immortals are made. With an innocent face and a heart full of dreams, he gazes in wonder at the grand buildings, lush gardens, and the graceful disciples who move like ethereal beings. As a newcomer, Devor and four other children are introduced to the sect's Spiritual Garden, where they learn to tend to powerful and mystical plants. Though they are mere mortals, their deep connection to nature makes them invaluable. Devor, with his unassuming love for spiritual plants, quickly captivates the attention of Senior Sister Yulin, a revered cultivator. When tested on his knowledge of plant lore, Devor impresses with his detailed understanding of the delicate balance between spiritual energies. His insights into plant pairings—such as the harmonious relationship between the Golden Sunflower and Silver Moon Vine—show his potential far beyond his years. Senior Sister Yulin, recognizing his potential, offers him a chance to prove his abilities over the next month, setting Devor on a path toward becoming an extraordinary gardener, or perhaps even an alchemist. As he embarks on this journey, Devor realizes that his first step into the Azure Sky Sect is not just a beginning—it’s the weaving of his own destiny. "Art of Creation" is a tale of growth, knowledge, and the quiet power of an ordinary boy destined for extraordinary things.

“Oracle” – A groundbreaking game emerges, silently transforming the world. When the game’s powers can manifest in reality, does it inspire excitement or instill fear? Ethan Carter, an ordinary office worker, falls victim to food poisoning after accidentally consuming expired groceries. However, upon logging into "Oracle," he unexpectedly acquires a unique ability known as the "Venom Source." Turning his misfortune into a blessing, Ethan embarks on an extraordinary journey to the pinnacle of power.

"In a World ravaged by monstrous creatures from the abyss called, Venom, humanity's survival hinges on the Aura System - a mystical power that awakens within select individuals. But Dera, orphaned and Aura-less, is an anomaly. Deemed an ordinary mortal, his fate seems sealed. That is, until he stumbles upon the ancient tomb of a legendary Shadow Venom. Defying the odds, Dera awakens a forbidden power - the Venom System. Embark on Dera's perilous journey as he transforms into a Shadow Venom Hunter, navigating treacherous landscapes, rival treasure seekers, and the blurred lines between good and evil. Will his newfound abilities be humanity's salvation or its downfall?"

Dark Sapphic Bully Romance - Glyndon Walton: The Waltons, my family, are on top of the world, and very conservative. I’m a good girl who goes to church every Sunday to confess my sins. I’m loyal to my boyfriend aka my future husband. + Katherine Andrews: Since the rumor about me being a lesbian was spread around school, Glyndon and her group never stopped bullying me at school. I just had to bear the bullying a little longer, But I couldn’t… I needed to break her, to hurt her, to make her beg and cry, to destroy her, to make her desperate for me, to show her how much she wants and needs me… I needed her… ______ This book contains. + Good Girl (Bully) X Disrepute biker Girl (The Victim??) +A hint of sport romance +Gay awakening +Biker Girl + Crawling back to her +Height difference +Dark Romance + Stalking

In the world of outstanding ability users, Zeros gained the ability quite unique... Home garden. In the world where nobody could survive without strength or someone's protection he had to survive now with this non-combatant ability and also protect his cute lil sister.

Not getting enough sleep has deadly side effects. And not just in the physical sense. That's for those lucky insomniacs. If you fall sick and die from lack of sleep then consider yourself lucky. If you recover from your insomnia and go back to being a normal human being, then you've won the lottery. Unfortunately, most of the human population have sleeping problems. And for those who do not fall under the two previous categories, something far more sinister awaits them. There are those whose minds become so disoriented and debilitated from the exhaustion of insomnia that it leaves them vulnerable to demonic entities. Ones which feast on despair and trauma. And do so with a bright smile on their faces. Faces only the infected can see. You leave your mind weak enough just about anything can step in. And who's mind is more enticing to a nightmare demon than a mind which is already crumbling and hallucinating from a lack of sleep. Be wary. Be cautious.

Orphaned at a young age , Layla Llewellyn feels like the luckiest girl in the world after she moves in with her uncle Bill , a gardener who lives on the scenic Arvis estate in the Berg Empire . To Layla Arvis seems like paradise ; she loves to explore the vast forest , always bringing her notebook to record the wildlife she encounters . She especially loves the birds , watching them with awe as they hatch and grow from fluffy chicks into beautiful birds . Duke Herhardt , the young , handsome lord of Arvis , is also interested in birds--- and Layla . But the difference is , he's interested in birds because he likes to hunt them.... and he's interested in Layla because he likes to make her cry . If a lovely bird is trapped in a golden cage , which will she choose : a life of luxury , or freedom ?

General Julius Draken hates all humans. After an abusive childhood, gore filled military campaigns, and navigating American Imperial Politics in 3083 he has simply had enough. His future has devolved into a constant state of world war. After finding out the next Top-Secret plan of the elites Julius jumps into action to stop the evil humans with a strategy fit for the one called the Mad Dog.

Daphne Roasis is a modern day woman who travels back in time and wakes up inhabiting the body of a woman living in the middle ages. A noble born woman by the name of Lady Mariam of House Erayer. She's just gotten married is about to betray her new husband to please her secret lover who plans to kill her and her new husband once he's secured the man's station and fortune. Lady Mary is cruel, vain, selfish, stupid and gullible. She fully deserves her bloody end. But now Daphne is wearing her face. And her head is filled with memories as well as visions of the bloodbath that awaits them should the coup not be halted. Recognizing her circumstances and further struggling to understand them, Daphne realizes she was brought here to stop Lady Mary from committing an act of betrayal that would devastate the lives of hundreds of citizens. Her own people as she is now the wife of a Lord. At first, Daphne just wants to return home. Her circumstances are dangerous and she doesn't wish to bear this burden. She is in a foreign land, surrounded by people she does not know, a culture she doesn't understand, problems she did not create and in the body of a stranger. Each interaction with Mary's husband proves that he is a man of honor and would make for a very good partner for any woman lucky enough to bag him. She couldn't understand how Mary wasn't able to see his value and chose to hurt such a good man. Plus, he was insanely attractive. Daphne knows that Mary has already left a bad impression on her new husband with her rotten attitude and as such, he is not fond of her. Nor are any of the servants and knights. She decides the only way to create harmony and go about disrupting the coup is to come clean to the husband about who she is. Sir James Hamstead is completely baffled by his wife's sudden change in attitude. He doesn't know if she's trying to make amends for her mistakes or just playing games with him. He notices she's become much kinder towards his servants and no longer just yells at them. When she finally reveals her true identity, he's tempted to laugh it off as a bad joke. But she is adamant. She also reveals the coup that is about to unfold and the key players involved stating that Mary was one of them. She tells him of what will happen to his people should he fail to stop the takeover. Sir James is even more baffled, but now with a level of hostility. He doesn't believe Daphne's claims about her identity, but he does believe that she was indeed sent to be his weakness and destroy him. In a fit of rage, he has her thrown in the dungeons as he investigates her claims. The pair get off to a bad start, but Daphne knows she must be patient and understanding. It doesn't take long before Sir James comes down to interrogate her. At the persuasion of his personal knight, he agrees to move her from the dungeons and instead confine her to her bedchambers. Again. Soon credence of her claims come forward. It takes a while for James to believe she is not the woman who planned to betray him. It take even longer for him to believe that she wants to help him save his people. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and before long romance blooms. James becomes very much attached to Daphne and acknowledges her as his real wife. He no longer sees Mary in her and hopes the other woman's soul never returns. Daphne too is having a conflict of interests. She's not here for love. Nor is she a hero. But now, it appears fate has thrust both upon her. How will she manage it?

At first, I was just an ordinary student attending the inauguration of a new member in the Taekwondo Club. However, things took a strange turn when a mysterious object suddenly dragged my friends and me into a forest in the middle of nowhere. I quickly realized that I had entered a world completely different from what I remembered. There were so many oddities in this place, including horned horses, meat-eating white rabbits, and three-meter-tall giant mushrooms. Although I found it hard to believe, I soon understood that I had become one of those oddities. My name is Anggi Nandatria, and I am a Haier-Elvian—a rare mixed race of human and fairy in this world.

Five lifelong friends - Benjamin, the extroverted thrill-lover. Brittany, the kind-hearted manipulator of empathy. Jeremiah, the carefree confusion-maker. Karina, the justice-seeking boundary tester. And Sybiel, the cunning go-with-the-flow individual - have always seemed inseparable. When Benjamin proposes a ruthless "game" that challenges their wits and deception skills, the friends are lured into his fiendishly constructed Garden of Lair. This labyrinth of lies, betrayals, and shifting alliances plunges them into a twisted reality where nothing is as it appears. As they navigate the treacherous maze, the true cost of victory becomes clear-the potential destruction of everything they hold dear. In the end, only one can claim the prize, if they're willing to sacrifice. "Garden of Lair" is a haunting tale that probes the delicate threads of human relationships. This mind-bending psychological thriller explores the allure of deception and the extremes individuals will go to shield their darkest truths. Welcome to the Garden of Lair, a den of playful snares where the boundaries between friend and foe blur, and the price of triumph may shatter the very bonds that once united them.

House Viper and House Wolfram stood poles apart in terms of nature and magic. Their union shook the world, Lilith Viper and Helios Wolfram their scandalous marriage was all over gossip magazines. Lilith is a woman known for her venomous nature and even colder heart. Helios the man with a warm gaze a living embodiment of fire itself and just as passionate love when he loves. How in the world did the two even end up married?

"Betrayed by his own blood, Cai Ren-the youngest prodigy of the Cai Clan-was left crippled and cast out. His once-promising path to greatness shattered when his jealous brother poisoned him and destroy his dantian, leaving him powerless and forgotten. On the brink of death, Cai Ren stumbles upon the Venomheart Totem, an artifact born from the Scorpian King's legacy. When assassins sent by his family strike the final blow, the totem awakens a system tied to venom cultivation. His human frailty shatters, replaced by the evolution of a deadly apex predator. With the Apex Venom System guiding his rebirth, Cai Ren embarks on a path of vengeance. Every kill fuels his growth, every defeat tempers his resolve. His enemies will learn-true strength is born in venom, and the apex predator never forgets his prey. The hunt begins.

Death for seven times. Different choose and different experiences. Even though Antoine want to die he couldn’t so why don’t made a choose to have peaceful life in his eighth life. In his eighth life he will know the truth which he missed in his other seven lives. Warning: this is a bl novel that means boyxboy. If you don’t prefer this kind of novel don’t read my novel. Thank you.

One day, a crack opened on earth. From it, appeared flesh-eating monsters that wreaked havoc all over earth. They were such monsters that were immune to modern weaponry, and it was too late when humanity learned how to fight back. 500 years after the destruction of earth, humans have built forts to protect them from the nightmarish monsters that lurk on the earth's surface. Kian was born in the slums of such a fort. In an eventful journey full of both fortune and terror, he finds himself fighting against monsters, and inheriting the legacy and mission of an ancient serpent king.

(End of the World + Rebirth + Space + Stockpiling Supplies) Suddenly, natural disasters hit and the world changed drastically. First, it was extreme heat, then extreme cold, followed by earthquakes, thick fog, eternal night, and acid rain. Liu Ruyan, who had struggled to survive alone in the apocalypse for ten years, finally died in the pouring acid rain. When she opened her eyes again, Liu Ruyan found that she had been reborn, and there were still three months before the apocalypse. After discovering a huge portable space in her family heirloom, Liu Ruyan set herself the first small goal after rebirth - spending 2.1 billion yuan to fill the space with supplies! From then on, Liu Ruyan started the stockpiling mode. Rice, flour, cooking oil and salt? Buy! Chickens, ducks, fish and meat? Buy! Clothes, hats, shoes and socks? Buy! Dried meat, chicken feet, mini hot pots, potato chips, spicy strips, and luosifen, none can be missed! (A survival story in the apocalypse, the male lead will be absolutely unexpected!)

With unknown history Mikeru Gebara is trying to piece everything together in order to achieve his goal. Having The same dream every night, he must uncover the mystery of this supernatural phenomenon using logics and technology that his time possess.

When Miko accidentally crosses paths with Bai Shezhuan Lao during a hunt gone awry, she discovers that her parents’ deaths are tied to an ancient prophecy involving half-demons and hunters. Reluctantly teaming up with Bai, Miko and Mei find themselves pulled into a web of conspiracies, where nothing is as it seems. As they navigate battles against rogue demons and corrupt hunters, they must confront their own prejudices and uncover the truth about Bai’s intentions—and Miko’s own destiny.

Rowan sees beauty in death. The Order he has sworn to obey only sees defilement. As the reviled Caretaker of the Order, Rowan has accepted his role as a dutiful outcast because he believes it is the only way to prove his worth to the man who holds his sisters’ souls as collateral. With his magic and his voice, Rowan can absorb death and transform it, but only in ways the Order deems acceptable to maintain the stability of the reality it claims to protect Order must subdue Disorder. Reality must triumph over illusion. He is tainted and always will be. Rowan has never questioned those lessons, but that changes the night he harvests a crimson soul that is more than human and chooses to keep it a secret. When Rowan’s song transforms that soul into a beautiful and mysterious man he names Wren, he is forced to accept that sometimes duty is a lie and illusion is the only thing you can trust. As the fabric of the Order begins to unwind and a new kind of Disorder takes hold, Rowan will need to choose again, stand with the Order that held him down, or forge a new path with Wren at his side. He may be the only one who can restore balance to the worlds, but only if he can find balance within himself first. ************************************* Updates 3-4 times per week. Note: This story focuses on relationships. I promise an epic romance, lots of swoon-worthy moments, and a healthy amount of fluff. When it does get steamy…you might get burned. Fair warning for explicit content. I don’t shy away from my spice. There are lots of side characters and couples to fall in love with, in addition to the main couple. If you love the idea of found family, you will be happy. This book is set in a non-heteronormative world, so you will see various gender identities/expressions and types of love. ************************************* Excerpt (if you want the full steamy version, you will have to read the book!): Still reeling from the new magic that coursed under his skin and unsure of how to react to the desire that threatened to take control of him, Rowan froze. Wren's hot breath against his mouth sent a jolt of pleasure through his body, and he choked back a groan. A different kind of panic flared in Rowan's chest, burning him as if he were the one on fire. This was what he wanted, what he'd thought about every night since Wren left. But wanting more was one thing. Acting on it was another. He'd spent so much of his life hiding, he didn't know how to do anything else. One corner of Wren's mouth twitched as Rowan pulled away. When he attempted to free himself from Wren's grasp, Wren just hauled him closer. Rowan liked that he didn't have to think about what to do next. His bare chest thudded against Wren's torso, and the heat from Wren's body merged with Rowan's skin, melting him from the inside out. "What did you just do to me?" Wren's deep voice vibrated against Rowan's chest. "The Disorder of your illusion was holding you captive. I…I absorbed it." "Oh? Where did you learn to do that? Have I been gone that long?" Wren's grip loosened slightly on Rowan's wrists as if he was satisfied now that Rowan was practically sitting on top him. Rowan stared at Wren's lips. He opened his mouth to protest, but immediately closed it again. "I know you aren't going to say that I shouldn't touch you." Wren's free hand splayed over the small of Rowan's back. "Not when you started it." Rowan's breath hitched. "No. I'm not going to say that anymore. Not to you." "I thought you were afraid to be touched." Wren's fingers traced a circle over the curve of Rowan's spine as if testing for a reaction. "I know that I'm not afraid of you." Rowan waited for the panic to set in, but all he felt was desire. "With you, I want…" "You want what?" "I want more." Triumph flared in Wren's gaze before he narrowed his eyes. "Really? Then why are you still trying to get away from me?"