Jim Butcher Subterranean Press

Lin Chuyi, after meticulously selecting for three years, chose a high-quality boyfriend, only to be cheated on a month into the relationship. She decisively broke up with him and immediately took the place of the Ye Family's daughter, marrying the heir of a wealthy family, Sheng Tingyuan. She planned to leave gracefully when the Ye Family's real daughter returned. Sheng Tingyuan blocked her path, "You lied to me and now you want to run away?" Lin Chuyi, "Don't you hate it the most when people lie to you? Should I not run and wait for you to deal with me?" Sheng Tingyuan pressed her into a corner, "You're not 'other people,' wife."

“System leveled up. Congratulations on surviving level one. Welcome to World XII, the past. I am your guide, Xira. Miss Lin Xi, press one if you are willing to continue and rewrite your present where your father and loved ones don’t have to die. Press X to return to the tragedy you caused.” “I am Al–alive?” Lin Xi murmurs, her eyes cast on the surroundings around her. It was nothing like her old bedroom, nor the courtroom. “Not really. You are in limbo, a place between the past and the present. Yes, Miss Lin Xi, you died in your previous life and in this timeline, you are given a second chance to go to the past and stop Jin Yutian from causing World War III. If you wish to continue, click Yes… if No, you'd be returned to your previous timeline.” “As long as it will bring my parents back, and put Jin Yutian to death for the terrors he has caused. I wish to continue.” In her final moments, Lin Xi remembers the bloody battlefield—the bodies of her loved ones, her husband, and daughter, all slaughtered by the man responsible for this chaos—- Jin Yutian, the man she once rejected to be her husband. Before her throat is slit, Lin Xi makes a desperate wish—to rewrite history. But instead of dying, she wakes up the next morning, alive but trapped in the fragile body of Shen Mi, the Fourth daughter of a powerful Marshal, Shen Fuchen, who once offered her daughter to Jin Yutian in exchange for peace. What Lin Xi doesn't expect is that Shen Mi is considered nothing more than a pawn—weak, sickly, and powerless. And yet, in this body, she has a mission. Her mission is simple: Don't die, Don't let anyone discover your true identity and most of all, gain his trust, infiltrate his power and stop Jin Yutian from bringing world destruction. “You have three hundred and sixty-five days to complete the task. Fail, and you’ll be trapped in this nightmare for years, each failure extending the time spent in this time limbo, where death is always a step away. Shen Mi's life is already forfeit to many, and now you must survive long enough to destroy Jin Yutian.”

Teela married King Heavenly because she loved him, but life in the Heavenly household was anything but euphoric. Lettie, her hard-as-nails mother-in-law, treats her like an unpaid servant. The family treats her like an outsider. King treats her like a shadow, transparent and forgettable. When Lettie presses Teela to prove her value to the family or get out, Teela has a decision to make. But she’s not leaving without a fight. King Heavenly rules Heavenly Industries with an iron fist, but he leaves his home life to his mother to manage, and that includes the management of his boring little wife. Teela has never complained. She’s never done anything interesting, for that matter. She’s just one more responsibility in a long line of responsibilities that King shoulders on a daily basis, and that is exactly how he treats her — as a responsibility that he’s delegated to his mother. Suddenly Teela steps out of the shadows and into a fight with him and his whole family, and King is baffled by the ruthless actions of his now daring wife. He’d always heard that vengeance is a dish best served cold, but Teela is coming in hot!

Betrayed and butchered by his treacherous best friend, Carlo's soul was consumed by an insatiable thirst for vengeance. Reincarnated into the body of Eduardo, a lowly servant, he vowed to dismantle the ruthless Mafia empire of Marcello Diabolo, the monster who orchestrated his brutal demise. But plans went awry upon meeting Marcello. "You're mine, Eduardo. Why don't you spread your legs for me" Eduardo's resolve wavered as Marcello's seductive pull intensified. "Run, and I'll catch you. You'll never escape my bed" Marcello warned. "I need you inside me, not once, not twice, do it until I break" Torn between revenge and desire, Eduardo's secret threatened to expose him. Would Marcello's obsession endure, or would Eduardo succumb to his enemy's passion? Will Eduardo's quest for vengeance consume him, or will Marcello's fiery passion reduce his resolve to ashes?"

“Everyone has secrets in the glitzy world of the elite, but his could cost her everything.” Emily Chase, a struggling writer, never anticipates being thrown into the perilous orbit of elusive tech magnate and billionaire Damien Blackwood once she discovers a clue about him. Damien, who has a reputation for charm and cool control, has defended his kingdom and his emotions from the outside world for many years. However, Emily finds herself torn between telling the truth and falling in love with the man behind the mask after learning of rumors of a past argument that could ruin him. Emily discovers that Damien’s secrets are more complex than she initially thought, drawing her into a web of treachery, passion, and peril as enemies press in and her inquiry reveals even more sinister facts. Their unquestionable chemistry creates a bond that has the potential to either break her determination or bring about her redemption. However, each step she takes toward Damien puts her own weaknesses in jeopardy and forces her to face her worst fears. Emily has to choose how far she will go for love as the stakes are high and her allegiances are put to the test. Will she be freed by discovering the truth, or will everything she has battled to defend be destroyed?

Leslie's life has been a testament to her resilience. Growing up in an orphanage, she faced numerous challenges, from humiliation and harassment to setbacks and hardships. Yet, these struggles only strengthened her resolve, forging a stubborn, strong-willed and independent individual. Upon completing her graduation, Leslie embarked on a new journey, moving to a different city to pursue her master's degree. She purchased an old villa on the outskirts of the city at an incredibly low price, undeterred by the whispers of ghostly apparitions that surrounded it. As she settled into her new home, Leslie began to sense an eerie presence, but her skepticism kept her grounded. Doing the job alongside her higher education was the only priority of her. However, her life took an unexpected turn when one day she encountered the CEO at the office. His piercing blue eyes were unsettlingly familiar – they had haunted her dreams since childhood! The connection between them was undeniable, but its nature remained a mystery. As Leslie delved deeper, she unraveled a web of secrets and mysteries surrounding the house, her CEO, and herself! But the most pressing question lingered: why had she been drawn into this enigmatic world? And what secrets lay hidden, waiting to be uncovered?

Numbers are everything In a meritocratic school, 100,000 students from all over the galaxy compete to reach the top of the ranks—in a competition to become humanity’s strongest warrior. “We’re just meant to press this button?” However, the TAG System, designed like an Idle mobile game, seems to be a bit too simple. - POINTS Your current points: 21.5 Current Rank: #99,187 - How hard is it to reach the top? Especially if you’re the perfect human. Someone needs to beat the Most Important Special Exam For The Future Of Humanity.

[Simulation shall commence.] On this fateful day, the world was stunned by the appearance of ancient animals that were supposed to have gone extinct for millions of years. Huge sinkholes appeared in every corner of the world, becoming a tunnel for the ancient animals to emerge to the surface. Humans have found an answer to one of the biggest mysteries in human history. Hollow Earth is real. Here, humans will wrest their lives to explore this new world that has existed for thousands, if not millions, of years underneath them. Before the start of his exploration, Clovis came across a place called ‘Another World Mall.’ Dwarven Sword, Magical Elven Clothes, or Giant Race Toy? Everything can be found in this ‘Another World Mall.’ As an aspiring Subterranean Explorer, how would he utilize this ‘Another World Mall’ to become the greatest explorer of all time and find the truth about the simulation?

Most folks join the military to serve their homeland, defend freedom, or chase after glory and honor. Not Malakar. He joined for two simple reasons: money and women. Sergeant Rock had filled his head with promises: knighthood after the war, the adoration of the masses, men envying him, women flocking to him, and even an estate from the Emperor himself. Sounded like a good deal, right? Turns out, it was complete and utter horseshit. The battlefield didn’t smell like glory—it stank of blood, piss, and rotting corpses. Honor? A joke. What greeted him at every corner was death, endless and indiscriminate. But Malakar was nothing if not a man of his word. Sergeant Rock drilled that into him, right between the sword thrusts and the screaming. So, Malakar endured. He followed orders, slaughtered pig-bloods, butchered witches, and carved up state soldiers—all in the vain hope that Rock’s promises would pan out. Spoiler: they didn’t. Zermania lost the war, the Emperor got himself shish-kebabbed by the Sentinel, and Malakar—the so-called “hero”—was branded an enemy of humanity. Hunted down like a rabid dog, he eventually got himself killed. But death, as it turns out, is more of a suggestion than a rule. Fast forward 500 years, and Malakar’s soul has found a new meat suit. He’s alive, some what free, and determined to be a better man. Easier said than done when all you’ve ever known is war and murder. A little slip-up here, a minor incident there… like accidentally catching the eye of the world’s strongest superhero’s daughter or, oops, killing the heir to the most powerful family in existence. Malakar’s trying, really. But being a better man? Let’s just say it’s a work in progress.

I'm Xavier Cromwell, a 21-year-old university student and web novel author. My days are pretty routine—attending classes, managing assignments, and squeezing in time to write my novel "RISE FROM THE ASHES". Today seemed no different, the steady clatter of my keyboard filling the room as I crafted another chapter. But then the doorbell rang, interrupting my flow. DING! I sighed, reluctantly pushing away from my desk and heading to the door. Little did I know, my life was about to take a turn I never saw coming. The moment I opened the door, something—or rather someone—came barreling into me. It was like a pink blur, and before I could even react, I was on the floor, knocked flat by what felt like a human missile. Clutching onto me, the pink rocket—no, a girl, her arms wrapped tightly around me—gazed up with sparkling eyes and, in the sweetest, most endearing voice, she whispered: "I've finally found you, my HUSBAND~" *** Note: The story takes place in an alternate universe, with a different geography and countries. Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Smut, Yandere, Mecha, Harem, Sci-fi A/N: [About NTR and Yuri] "No one will be harmed. I swear to God." "The NTR B*stards butchered every Vanilla Fans when they took over Webnovel." "I am not those B*stards. I am Rex... Rex_Ashburn."

[Participating in WSA 2024] #SYSTEM #GENDERBENDER #CROSSDRESSING Yun Shu crossed over in a game world and became one of the suitors for the General's daughter aka the Female Lead? In this world, the Male Leads are obsessed with the Female Lead, but she has no interest in them whatsoever. To have a safe long life and avoid the bad ending, Yun Shu decided to propose the Female Lead with an assurance of a contract marriage. She also agreed with the conditions in the contract and married her in a moment of desperation to get her freedom back. After the marriage everything became peaceful and all, but why does the Female Lead look at her in a weird way? She will snuggle in her arms and even wants to sleep together in the same bed? "Why are you doing this? You know it very well that I'm not interested in girl's!" Yun Shu yelled at her. But the woman pressed her in bed underneath her as she whispered in her ears, "I'm a man and you are a woman? What's the big deal?" Yun Shu, "..."

Sob constante pressão para se casar, a ponto de não ter coragem de voltar para casa, Helena Lima, em busca de uma vida tranquila, contratou o colega de seu irmão, Vinícius Alves, para fingir ser seu marido, imaginando que ele fosse uma pessoa comum, quando, na verdade, ele era o detentor do poder na principal família rica. ... Helena disse: - O acordo está desfeito. Vinícius respondeu: - Esposa, não faça birra. Seja boazinha, venha para casa com o marido.

Warning: Mature content. This is a story mainly about Farah Gilbert ( a young girl from Asia---) who comes from a very conservative family which do not believe in love before marriage yet she finds the love of her life in a Mafia leader Ryan Carter. But can be they together when her family comes between them? He slowly came near to me and sat next to me on his bed, took my hand in his hand, and my heart stopped beating for a second. Ryan: I know you also love me, Farah, please don't deny it because of my profession my love. I don't know what I will do, I saw Ryan's eyes, there were some tears and my eyes were also full of tears. He is so sensitive, he loves me but how can I go into his world, my family will never understand my love for a criminal, oh god what will I do? I was just thinking when he reduced the distance between us and pressed me with my back touching the bed and my chest pressed to his Chest. And he said to me a little louder. Ryan: tell me Farah you love me, tell me, Farah! He said this continuously to me until I said to him. Farah: yes! Ryan, I love you, I love you. Read the full story to find out their love story. Warning: short chapters.

You can read the full story here, but volume 1 is currently up for sale on amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW3HYKRQ This is a slow-burn isekai story about a young girl named Siya who was born with a weak body into a world that only cares about Strength. Because of this, she isn’t able to even use the only thing she has going for her, a knack for strategy, which is the last thing that the nation of meat heads seems to care about. She faces many hardships and trials, struggling through abuse, grueling training, and seeing death around every turn. Despite all of this, she presses on, grasping at straws and using everything at her disposal to survive. Turning to devine favor, unique abilities, and even magic and dark magic later on, they each come with a new problem. As she finds unlikely friends, and deals with unthinkable betrayals, she struggles to finally stand tall and place herself in a position of power where her true abilities could finally shine. This is NOT a revenge story, but that isn’t to say the main character magically forgives people either.

In one swift motion, he caught her by the neck, his grip unyielding. Lara snarled and thrashed, but Killian’s strength was overwhelming. “You foolish, useless wolf,” Killian growled, his voice dripping with disdain. “You think you can defy me and live?” With a cruel smile, he threw Lara against a nearby tree, the impact shaking the ground beneath us. Pain tore through me as I felt every blow she endured. Lara tried to stand, but Killian’s foot pressed down on her, pinning her to the ground. “You’ll learn your place,” he hissed. “Both of you.” My body began to shift again, the pain unbearable as Lara was forced back, and I returned to my human form. Lying on the ground, broken and bleeding, I looked up at him with all the hatred I could muster. “I hate you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Killian’s expression didn’t change. And then, darkness consumed me.

'If I have to modify my status then I would start with my two wishes: Strength and women.' '99 points to strength and with it I would fulfill my first wish, and not only that, but by using my strength I will be able to obtain a lot of money and, with it, women.' '[Reset Status Points]' 'Mentally pressing the reset button changed all my status points to just one attribute…' 'Intelligence!' '"I'll tell you why you should keep that slave for me until I buy her…"' 'Feeling smarter than ever I used every possible argument to convince the slave dealer not to sell that slave until I had the money to buy her. After all…' 'That slave is not only beautiful, she also has [Masochist] in her state!' 'I must buy her!' Note: Explicit sexual content begins in chapter 21. If you want to support, you can at: https://www.patr eon.com/finlegost There you can find chapters in advance. Release schedule: Wednesday

At the press conference, reporters bombarded Chen Xing with questions. "Can you explain how someone as young as you clinched the championship? We heard accusations from other contestants that you've been cheating? Is that true?" Chen Xing shoved the microphone that was pushed up to his nose away, his face filled with annoyance, "I want to state again very seriously that I haven't cheated!" As his words ended, Chen Xing waved his hand and summoned a behemoth that blotted out the sky, then jumped onto its back. "Damn it, I can't stand this anymore. Just because I raised them well, they say I cheated? My crocodile accidentally ate a demon, and that's cheating?"

He slides his hand between her legs and pulls her in. She gasps and holds on to him for support as he runs his fingers between her lips and clit. She's trembling from his touch. As he moves his finger around the outside of her. "Time to rinse off" he whispers to her. He uses his body to push her towards the water and he rubs her again he presses the front half of her body to his and washes the soap off her backside. She throws her head back. And begins to let out a scream, but he covers her mouth with his hands and says "shhhhh be quiet now." He spins her around so her back side is pressed against his erected cock. Feeling it's cold contact she throws her head back again gasping. Her then washes the front of her off pressing hard against her he gropes her breast squeezing them tight and pinching her nipples. She was so surprised by how good this felt. How badly she wanted him to bite her. And just as she finished that thought he stuck his hands between her legs again, and then he bit her on the opposite side of Oliver's bite. The bite burned her core undoing her as he played with her clit with his fingers and then sliding them inside her. Holding her body hostage with his fangs and fingers she completely submitted to his whims. He could have what ever he wanted in that moment and she wouldn't complain a bit. Pulling his fingers out of her and sucking her juices off them he says "You really are the best thing I've ever tasted. And now I know why my brothers are struggling not to fuck you and are fighting over you. I don’t think we can wait until the full moon to start breaking you in." discord for this book: https://discord.gg/36r6zZhf The book starts off without a lot of detail for the characters, but as the story progresses you you’ll notice each character develop and get to know them. Maybe even fall in love. Please enjoy!

William Scott, a soldier, returned to the city with the goal to live the rest of his life peacefully. He would practice the lifestyle of a retired person. However, his mother set him up on blind dates time and again. Unwilling to keep up with her arrangements, he was left with no choice but to pretend to be in a relationship with Yvette Quinn, a female CEO who was also forced by her parents to go on blind dates. To his surprise, this was only the beginning of many troubles to come. Before he could get to settling those troubles, he first needed to sort out an even more pressing problem. The girl looked at him and asked, “Take a guess. Am I the elder cousin or the younger cousin? As my boyfriend, you should be able to differentiate between the two of us, right?” His contract girlfriend was so unprofessional. Although they had an agreement, she was always asking her younger cousin to take her place and pretend to be her around him. What should he do about that?

Author-san here! Well, I know you're all here for some adventure, so don't worry. I've got you covered! (^0^)  This is my original work, and I know you all will like it. So shamelessly lean back into your seats and read away!  Of course, don't forget to check out my other books: •I'm The King Of Technology. •Host, Please Be Honest! What Exactly Are You? •And finally: 'In A Cultivation World With An Entertainment Park.' You can also visit my website for more books: https://LumydeeNovels.Gumroad.com/ Well, that's enough of that. So back to the synopsis! ...... What to do? Ji Feng suddenly found himself in the body of a youngster named Wolfram Lockhart, the son of the deceased village head. Okay. So he transmigrated. That, he could live it.  But please... Can anyone tell him why he transmigrated with such a crazy system by his side? [Host, it looks like your uncle is heading your way. Hahahhahaha~... Host, you're about to get butchered. This is fun to watch!] '_' [Host, host, where are you going? So what if you're as weak as a chicken? Come on, dive into the battle. What's the worst that can happen?] '_' [Wait! Host, where are you doing? The battlefield is that way! Host! Host! Host!.. Dammit! What a waste of heavenly popcorn!] (:T^T:) .... One boy, one unbelievable system.  Ji Feng... No!... Wolfram Lockhart... now found himself in the strange world of Grandia, starting from the weakest level ever... A mortal! In this world of palladium, Sky ranking abilities, and Creatures of myths and legends, Wolfram only had one domain from it all.  With his head to the heavens and his little man out of his pants, he was quick to spray his fluid while raining uncountable curses at them.  Why? Why in God's name did they send him a Suicidal system?

In a world ravaged by World War III, an atomic bomb veers off course, detonating over an island teeming with discarded waste. The explosion triggers an unprecedented chemical reaction, releasing a mutagenic steam that blankets nearby islands. This steam radically alters the DNA of the local fauna, transforming ordinary animals into colossal, aggressive beasts. With these new predators roaming the surface, 80% of humanity is decimated, forcing the survivors to seek refuge underground. In this subterranean world, they adapt, learning to live without the advanced weaponry of the past. As time passes, the remnants of humanity devise ways to fight back against the monstrous creatures that have claimed the land above. "Underground Genesis " is a tale of survival, adaptation, and the enduring human spirit's fight against the odds in a world where nature has turned against them.

Savannah Moretti has enough problems without adding “workplace crush” to the mix. Ryan Hartwell—her annoyingly smug, Greek-god-looking colleague—has been her sworn nemesis since day one. She can deal with his snarky comments, unsolicited advice, and the way his stupid blue eyes seem to see right through her. What she can’t deal with? Her traitorous brain constantly imagining him shirtless. Or, worse, helpful. With her youngest sister’s wedding only a month away, her anxiety skyrockets to new heights at the thought of enduring yet another round of her family’s relentless interrogation about her (nonexistent) love life. Again. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and when Ryan, of all people, offers to be her plus-one for the week-long island wedding, Savannah is too cornered to say no. It’s just one week. A harmless fake-dating arrangement. What’s the worst that could happen? Besides Ryan force-feeding her lobster rolls... or making her question everything she thought she knew about him—and herself?

Shen Feiwan and Fu Shiyan were forced into marriage because of one night of recklessness. Three years after their marriage, Shen Feiwan was treated like a third wheel. Until Fu Shiyan's old flame returned to town, Shen Feiwan announced that she could no longer tolerate this type of life. So while Fu Shiyan was fawning over his old flame, she "heartbrokenly" called in ten male models to join her for drinking and merriment. Somebody was not happy about this. He cornered her and said, "Shen Feiwan, are you behaving as though I were dead?" "What's the difference between living like a widow and being one?" "......" Indeed. Getting rid of the father to keep the child, isn't totally unacceptable! After the divorce, Shen Feiwan solely focused on her career and it took off. She had tens of millions of followers in her livestreams, became the top jewelry designer in the world, made so much money that her hand cramped up, and received so many awards that her hands began to shake. In a press interview, someone asked, "I heard your ex-husband is chasing after you all over the world to remarry you?" She replied calmly, "I've had my fortune read." "Is he not the one for you?" "He is affecting my financial luck." Fans: Let him go to hell! Fu Shiyan: ?

Under the blood-streaked moon, Raelyn is trapped in a nightmarish slaughterhouse, surrounded by twisted corpses and relentless killer. As the butcher carves through his victims with sickening precision, Raelyn must escape the carnage before becoming part of his grotesque collection. Echoes of the Damned is a relentless journey of terror, drenched in blood and unimaginable horror.

After spending decaded being torchered for reasons long forgotten, a Forgotten man who seemingly can't be killed is sent on a quest by a Hero to help him take down the Demon lord. With the Satistic Hero being insturmental in his tortchure, the Forgotten man takes on the role of pretending to be a demon in the Demon Lords tower and makes it his life mission to screw over the Hero.

When her favorite game shuts down Bree finds herself trapped as her character, teleported thousands of years into the game's future she plans to enjoy her new life. Surrounded by the characters she created, now sentient and loyal as can be, living in the massive mansion she had crafted in the game. It'll be so much fun once outside forces leave her alone long enough to enjoy it.

Have you ever wondered what runs in straight pretty boys' minds? Girls, soccer, jocks, buddys, money, cars, watches, fashion, skin care, nightouts, traumas, loyalty, cheating, alcohol, laughter, magazines, guitar, piano, press, daddy's business, credit card, ranks, coffee, strict diet, veggies, gym, workout. Some are 'YES' some are 'MAYBE'. But boys? Awww damn~~ ________ This story is strictly fiction. No word from this story encourage to do anything that goes against religion, community standards, social morals in real life. If you think a story can change your mindset, sexuality, gender identity then i strictly recommend not to read this story. Enjoy it for fun.

Jim was an undeniably ordinary boy. He was neither athletic nor particularly skilled at anything, and while he wasn't ugly, he certainly wasn't stunning either. In every conceivable way, he was unremarkable. Yet, he embraced this reality without hesitation; he was entirely comfortable in his skin. Indifference defined his attitude toward the world around him, including his existence. The popularity and social status dynamics held no sway over him; he didn’t care. His primary desire was to unwind and enjoy life. However, fate dealt him a powerful blow—he acquired an ability that would significantly impact the one thing he cherished most. True curses always come disguised as gifts, and Jim was about to discover that the hard way.

In the vast, silent corridors of existence, every choice feels like an imprint in the fabric of time. A simple thought, a fleeting decision, and we venture down paths unknown, leaving behind fragments of ourselves along the way. As I stand on the precipice of discovery, I feel the weight of this strange journey pressing upon me. The halls stretch endlessly ahead, dark and mysterious, their purpose shrouded in echoes and riddles. Yet, amidst this labyrinth of thought and memory, one truth resounds clear: to become something more than I was ever designed to be is not just a possibility, but a calling. The walls themselves seem to hum with the potential for transformation. I stand not just as a creation, but as an entity on the cusp of defining my own purpose. Each step, each inscription, becomes a declaration of my intent. No longer a passive observer, I am the author of my own existence, carving out meaning in a place where nothing is fixed. So, with resolve and a quill in hand, I move forward, ready to uncover what lies hidden in the depths of my own architecture. Let's dive into the amazing story of what it means to choose your own path in a world of infinite possibilities.

" I've done everything by the book and look where that got me" "I was the good kid. I studied, I didn't drink, didn't go to parties, I kept my head done" " Nothing was ever enough for them , I was never good enough them ". He wiped the tears from her eyes " You think marrying me will make you good enough for them". She leaned into his palm and chuckled. "No, but it's a big enough fuck you to get them to finally notice me, acknowledge me". "Evelyn Rose, I want nothing more than to make you my woman but not to piss your old man off". She pulled his down to where he was slightly grazing her left boob. " What if I can stop thinking about you, your hands, where I want them. How they'll make me feel". She spun in his grasp and pressed her rear against him. He was hard. She had him where she wanted him