Misty Eats Ash

*Kieran Alaric was a survivor in a world of ash and blood—a man who clawed his way to the top through betrayal and sacrifice. But when his death marks the end of Earth’s final battle, he wakes up in the past, trapped in the frail body of a dying man. Armed with memories of an apocalypse yet to come, Kieran must outsmart an indifferent world, build alliances, and prepare for Judgment Day. But as he digs deeper into the cause of humanity’s downfall, he uncovers a terrifying truth: he wasn’t the only one sent back in time. In a world teetering on the edge of annihilation, where blood powers the strongest and betrayal runs deep, Kieran must fight not just to survive—but to rewrite destiny itself.

In a realm ruled by powerful vampire clans, centuries of uneasy peace are shattered when an ancient curse reawakens, threatening to engulf the world in darkness. Lucian, a proud and dominant warrior of the Crimson Fang Clan, finds himself drawn into a deadly conflict where trust is a luxury and betrayal lurks in every shadow. Burdened by his past and driven by duty, he becomes entangled in a complex relationship with Lyra, a fierce and determined warrior with secrets of her own, and Dorian, a manipulative rival with dangerous ambitions. As forbidden desires flare and old rivalries resurface, Lucian and Lyra must confront not only their growing feelings for each other but also the dark magic spreading across the land. Together, they form uneasy alliances with other clans, but as ancient prophecies unfold, a greater enemy rises—one that could destroy them all. In a world of blood and ashes, where power is everything, Lucian must choose between love and honor, vengeance and redemption. The fate of the clans—and his heart—rests on his final decision in a war where only the strongest will survive.

What would you do if you found yourself in the body of a woman married to a prince? What's more, he isn't just any prince—he's a beast, cursed by the moon. --- Aveline, a rising actress in 2024, finds herself thrust into an unfamiliar world after a stage 'accident.' All she ever wanted was the spotlight, not a husband or a lover. But everything changes when she wakes up in the body of a woman who looks exactly like the person who caused her accident. Now, she's married to a cursed prince who's out for her blood. The only way back to her time? Make this ruthless, feared prince fall genuinely in love with her! How can someone who's never believed in love conquer the heart of a beast? Lord help her if she fails. -- Welcome, dear readers, both new and old, to my latest novel! I hope you enjoy this thrilling journey with Ave and Prince Lucian. If you haven't already, be sure to check out my other books: - Wife Of The Demon Prince - Bound To The Ice Dragon King - Loving The Temperamental Adonis Happy reading!

This isn't your ordinary tale of heroes and happy endings. Instead, it’s the story of Roe—a boy whose life is defined by pain and a relentless hunger for power which shows over time . As he navigates a world that has shown him no mercy, his choices and sacrifices lead him down a darker path. With every step, Roe drifts further from the light, transforming into something far more sinister than the hero he once aspired to be. Witness his descent into darkness, where survival means embracing the villain within.

　　As a melon eater in the new era, Jiang Youtao is like a melon in the melon field. She is there wherever there are melons. So on a thunderstorm night with lightning and rain, she traveled through time and became a poor little girl with the same name in the 1970s. 　　The poor little girl lost her mother at an early age, and her scumbag father remarried. Not only did she not have enough food to eat and warm clothes to wear, but she also had to do endless housework and endure endless beatings and scolding. 　　The time when Jiang Youtao traveled through time was the moment when the poor scumbag father forced the original owner to go to the countryside to take over his stepbrother's place in order to have someone to take care of him in his old age and to smash a pot after his death. 　　Thinking about the environment of hunger and cold in this era, Jiang Youtao's eyes went dark. In the last second before she lost consciousness, a voice appeared in her mind: 　　[ Ding ~ The melon-eating system is at your service. As long as you complete the melon-eating task, you can exchange it for supplies~~] 　　In order to have enough food and clothes, Jiang Youtao tried hard, so she ran around in the bloody world that was a fusion of many contemporary literatures, either eating melons or on the way to eat melons. 　　A certain educated youth from the same educated youth point traveled through time with space supplies, but ended up being a poverty alleviation stepmother; 　　"The mission is here ~ Watch and mess up the first meeting between the male and female protagonists, and the rewards are: 3 meat buns, 500g beef jerky, 1kg butter melon seeds." 　　A young wife in the village who had just been married for one day woke up and wanted to divorce her husband and marry her ex-husband's uncle; 　　"Ding ~ Watch the famous scene of the heroine getting divorced and applaud in public to receive 5kg of rice, 250g of pork, 5 feet of cloth, and 1kg of salt and pepper melon seeds." 　　The accountant's eldest granddaughter is a well-known lucky bag, while the second granddaughter is a jinx who is plagued by bad luck; 　　"Ding ~ Watch the jinx star commit suicide and help her, and you will get 5kg of white flour, a chicken drumstick, and 1kg of green tea flavored melon seeds." 　　Jiang Youtao enjoyed eating melons, and the melon seeds in her hand kept increasing. She had to go out to sell them. Before she knew it, she had made a fortune by selling melon seeds and became a famous roasted food king after the reform and opening up. The courtyard houses in Beijing and the small houses in Haishi were no longer a dream for her. She could go wherever she wanted. 　　But while she was eating the melon, a figure suddenly appeared beside her. Jiang Youtao reluctantly grabbed a handful of melon seeds and gave them to him: "Big brother, do you want some melon seeds?" ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤ One-sentence summary: There are too many melons, and the melon-eating crowd is very busy. Theme: Grow in adversity and strive to face the sun. ♤♤♤♤♤ Brief review of the work: This article has positive values, a fast pace, and never lets up on face-slapping stories, satisfying everyone's appetite for gossip. The author's writing is fluent, and he truly depicts the customs and style of the 1970s. The plot is compact, and it is a masterpiece of the era that is worth reading. ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤ No. Of Chapters: 183 Chapters ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤ Alternative Name/s: I Became Rich by Eating Melons in 1970s ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤ Original Author: Rainfall Curtain ♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤ nerdygangster14's Note: This book is not mine. All the content are all credited to original author and the publisher of this book where I have read this book. I just want to share this story to you guys cause this book deserved to be publicized and loved by others. I'm a fan of this book and the author of this book.

To the world Lucas was the perfect CEO. He led the family company to become the biggest in the country. He also had the most beautiful woman for a lover and with gorgeous looks that would make anyone fall for him, he had it all. However, it all came crashing down one day when he got that letter. A letter that made him question his very existence. A letter that unhinged him.

In the realms above, supernatural beings of unfathomable magnificence exist, far beyond mortal comprehension. These divinities wield unimaginable power, capable of obliterating worlds with a mere breath. However, what unfolds when these gods meet their demise? Set in a remote corner of the vast universe, long after the apocalyptic Thousand Millennium War of the Heavenly Beasts and Deities, this tale delves into a forgotten world. Here, the ashes of fallen gods descend upon an insignificant pebble, adrift amidst the cosmic tapestry of space and time. Their impact alters the life of a proud young man, who embraces the abrupt changes thrust upon his world. Refusing to yield to the clutches of fate and karma, he dares to defy the heavens themselves. Will he triumph over an insurmountable destiny, or succumb to fate like gods of unimaginable might did before him? The dreams of a deceased deity and the fate of a dying world hang precariously, hinged upon the future of this young man. He treads upon an endless bridge, forged from the corpses of the fallen. Unlock this epic saga of death, sorrow, war, blood, love, vengeance, and triumph with your own eyes. *** You can also reach out to: Discord:https://discord.com/invite/QQ3vybav Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=9xjl0tq1cs3e&utm_content=qx5nrdu

Love, Betrayal, Blood, but not Hatred. Only cold revenge, and a son to complete the family. "D" Section, a nonexistent military unit. "D" for dark, "D" for depth, "D"... for death. It demanded no attachment, and Daemon sacrificed love for it. Years later, the death of his teammates made him feel that he had done enough for the country, so he came back to the city he grew in. But can what has been forsaken be gained back? Because now Evelyn, the one to have breathed vitality in his numb, orphaned heart, had her own life, and a little boy calling her mother. Also, while he left his life full of dead bodies behind, did that life really let him go? From the ashes, will it love or... ? _ _ _ Two lovers who still love each other even with scars left behind by past events. They narrowly miss a chance to meet again and rekindle the lost spark, with him left with an empty heart, and her with her pain renewed, only buried because of the sun of her life, her son, their son… that he knew nothing about. They each continue with their own life in their own way. Their paths even almost become parallel to each other, almost taking the opposite direction with new commitments. But fate be damned, even if it now seems to push them toward each other. From the ashes, their love shall blaze anew. Or maybe not. Find the answer yourself. ___ First draft of characters image on my discord, a channel for fans to get together: https://discord.com/invite/C86EJvCJdd Comment and review, don't forget.

'Kill monsters, eat meat' 'I mean, Kill monsters, save lives. Got it.' 'Tut, I could've sworn that the first one sounded better.' She wasn't a girl looking for freedom or self-righteous liberation by a hero, or whatever shit a girl who suffered for almost all her life would crave. -the shit of a life she was living was horrible, but it was bearable, and so she got used to it. Rather, instead of freedom, what this little missy wanted was money. Lots and lots of them so she never has to worry about the next day. Money - bountiful enough that when she has to spend, she doesn't need to look back or calculate her assets to see how much she has left. Money - bountiful enough to get all the fried chicken she could ever dream of. Yeah, you heard it, fried chicken. For those who did not have money to spare leisurely, getting fried chicken was like a pipe dream to them and she had been one of those unfortunate souls. A comfortable roof above her head and no worries as to when she would get ordered around to steal. No worries about when she would get her next meal-- That was her liberation. And she got it. Just that, she got it most absurdly. Awakened! Those were the people ruling the world, alongside beastly and deadly monsters who threatened the safety of average human beings. And those awakened call the shots. Alice never dreamed she would one day be awakened, and compared to others with their game-like system displaying their attributes and strength; she had a full-grown man whom only she could hear, watching her back at every turn and telling her what to do. He was kinda a pain in the ass but she couldn't complain. It was this gift he had bestowed on her that made her the most powerful Awakened there was with stats that even S-class awakeneds couldn't compare to. She was the boss, now. Mwa-hahahahaha. But life didn't go as easy and leisurely as she planned. With great power comes great responsibility, right? Well, in her case with great power comes great hunger. She couldn't go a moment without getting hungry and her stomach had become a bottomless pit. And to get food, she needed money, and to get money, she had to hunt monsters. The monsters plagued humanity, causing catastrophes and taking lives mercilessly. Those monsters, as scary as they may be, were her target and she had to face them head-on. The bigger the monsters the more money she would gain. Yeah, that was the plan, but... This guy acting as her system seemed to have other plans, putting her at the forefront of 'justice' and having her clean the mess he somewhat created. 'Ugh, I can already sense a shadow of foreboding. Someone, please tell me I'm not acting the main character role. I just want to eat, okay?'

Duncan Abnomar was transmigrated to a magical world. Most of the lands of the world had sunken, and the surviving humans could only live on islands. Due to an unknown reason, the world was also contaminated and strange phenomena and things would randomly appear. Humans had developed steam gear technology, and the islands were connected through boats. They survived by studying strange phenomena that happened all around the world. However, as the captain of a scary-looking ghost ship, Duncan was facing a huge challenge. "How the heck do I steer this ship?" Highly recommended by experienced editor: MC is transmigrated to a world mostly covered in water and far from civilization. He becomes the captain of the ghost ship, the 'Homeloss'. He steers through the fog and adventures through the broken world and the unknown deep sea. As he discovers the ruins of abandoned civilization, he would also stumble into the war between the strange phenomena and the devil gods. The story takes place in a combination of ocean and Chutly mythology world, a new and interesting background. It’s an attractive story to read due to the author’s sense of humor and mastery over the ambiance of the story. --------------- Another-style introduction: "On that day, a thick fog engulfed everything. On that day, he became the captain of a ghost ship. On that day, he crossed the dense fog and faced a completely overturned and shattered world – the former order was completely gone, and peculiar phenomena dominated the endless seas beyond civilized society. The island city-states and the fleets challenging the sea have become the only lights of civilization left, while the shadows of old days still lurk in the deep sea, waiting to devour this dying world again. But for the new captain, there's only one pressing question – Does anyone know how to sail this damn ship?!"

"If the world stands in my way, if people threaten me or those who are dear to me, then I shall become the true darkness, the fear in their hearts that haunts them forever!" Lee Gaon was a professional gamer until one day she was framed as a cheater by a big gaming company and betrayed by those she held dear. Now she is known as Death Eater, a powerful dark entity in the game system world, slicing her enemies in half if they dare mess with her. Her path is now filled with blood and adventure as she desperately tries to find all who were dragged with her into this world—those who destroyed her life. She has only one goal now... "Revenge!" Content Warning: This work contains scenes of gore, violence, and strong language. Reader discretion is advised.

Post-nuclear war Britain: an alternative reality where superpowers exist

When 19-year-old leukaemia patient Rose discovers an urn in her father's basement, she's flipped out from believing the ordinary. Her life would have been perfect if she had left in ignorance of the unknown. Out of her curiosity, she had woken him. Emmett, of history, an ancient werewolf who was said to be the last of the three originals. He possessed a strong black magic that threatened the existence of the werewolves, was drugged by his lover, and was burnt alive by the Alpha of their time. His remains were stored in an urn Civilization had come. The history of Emmett had faded. No one believed in werewolves anymore. But Emmett’s ashes remained locked up in an urn. His urn is passed on from the hands of his lover to her last generation as a special art piece. Rose has six months to live, but she's a fighter; she learns more about Emmett while fighting for her life. She felt like she had a purpose she could fulfil in a short-term life. They both set out on a mission that will reveal the hidden things Rose didn't know of. What could be Rose's fate to live past her limited lifetime? What would happen when Emmett finds out who Kayla, his former lover's last blood is?

Bakar Naharrio is an orphaned Nomad living among the great Orguzh steppe. A harsh and cruel world awaits him but unimaginable power awaits those who can but reach out and grasp it.

The endless war has ravaged the world for centuries, leaving it in flames and ashes. Cedar, a nameless foot soldier, struggles to survive as nothing more than a disposable pawn. But the age of war is ending—not in peace, but in chaos. Ancient beings awaken, their return threatening to shatter the world itself. As Cedar uncovers forgotten truths about the world’s origins and the forces at play, he must rise from the ashes—or be consumed by the coming storm. ————————— A chapter a day keeps the haters away. Missing chapters on days that I’m busy will be filled out later…somehow

Lee Hyunwook, the steel emperor, was the last savior of mankind, but died. In order to change the future, the place he regressed to was... The military?!! "Why here of all places?!" The start of Corporal Lee Hyunwook, who gets stronger in a special way, by doing a steel mukbang!

Marcel Aelric had everything he ever wanted: a loving family, and a brilliant career as a chemical engineer. But the night an unnatural inferno consumed his home, his perfect world was reduced to ash. His wife and children were taken from him, leaving only questions and a burning rage in their place. As Marcel searches for answers, he uncovers a harrowing truth: the fire was no accident. It was the first strike of a larger calamity—a rift in reality that has unleashed monstrous entities upon the world. If you’d like to support me further and be part of this journey, please consider joining my fan club on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Augustus_Ceasar. Your support means the world and helps bring this story to life!

"Wild Desires, Tempting Him to Lose Control" is out with a new story, babies, show some love! It wasn't until her death in her previous life that Lin Anning realized she was the fake heiress, the antagonist in the 'Genuine and Fake Rich Girl Era' literature. Her birth mother was a shrew, her brothers were delinquents, and she herself was sickly. They were a vile family, courting disaster at every turn. In paving the way for the true, kind, and beautiful heroine, they ended up with the entire family wiped out. Given a second chance at life, Anning stepped aside proactively, everyone returning to their own homes, finding their own mothers. By accident, the whole family rose to success. Her birth mother became a major breeder, her eldest brother's restaurant chain spread nationwide, and her second brother's real estate business flourished. The family declared that Lin Anning didn't need to make money for the family, she just needed to be beautiful and, with her medicinal store space, promote traditional Chinese medicine and culture. The fierce big shot grabbed her hand and placed it on his abs, "Marry me, and you can touch as much as you want." Anning's fingertips grew hot, watching the herbs in the pharmacy shoot up in value excited her. "All eighteen abs for me to touch?" The big shot gritted his teeth, "Eight is plenty, eighteen, that's a damn centipede..."

Liang Sheng transmigrated into the alternate world, starting off with the talent "Dull Cultivator". A "Dull Cultivator" referred to someone with a sincere heart, unyielding perseverance, and extremely slow cultivation speed. There was no bottleneck in his cultivation. But what did it matter if there was no bottleneck in his cultivation? Having an extremely slow cultivation speed made everything difficult. However, when he reached the ninth realm of Profound Eternity and broke through to the tenth realm, extending his lifespan by twenty years, he suddenly realized that this was the true meaning of "no bottleneck in cultivation". Any cultivation method could be pushed to its limits and be continuously cultivated. Since that was the case, if one method of cultivating longevity was not enough, then he would practice ten methods! If ten methods were not enough, then he would practice twenty! In short, he wanted to achieve immortality!

The Apocalypse is in full swing. Defiled - powerful creatures corrupted by the Great Collision - prowled the lands in search of prey. Unfortunately for them, the human race had long since retreated behind the secure walls of the Sanctuary of Everlast. During one of his regular excursions outside the Sanctuary, Alden is separated from Celeste. - his childhood friend and crush. In that moment, he came to regret never summoning the courage to confess. Somehow managing to survive thanks to some trickery, Alden awakens as a mage. Instead of receiving a normal power, he gains the ability to decay. What's more, during his ascension, he received a vision from his future self advising him not to trust the Asterons - celestial beings who had saved his race from inescapable doom. Normally... such a revelation wouldn’t faze Alden. However, there was only one major problem with the declaration, though. Celeste was bound with an Asteron. And not just any normal Asteron... She had made a pact with one of the Divine Sovereigns. ________ Cover is not mine. I found it on Pinterest. Link to discord server: https://discord.gg/VPEtsc4c

In 2024, the protagonist, an expert in global policy, visits the ruins of Nalanda University and discovers an ancient artifact, the Chakra of Eternity. A cryptic figure, the Time Sage, warns him of a critical moment in the past that must be corrected to ensure the future. The artifact activates, sending the protagonist to 1914, at the dawn of World War I, where he wakes up in the body of a young, idealistic revolutionary in India.

Trinity Grove has everything you want. From rich parents to parties to very expensive things. She literally has everything money can buy, but still she feels empty inside. it's almost like something is missing, but what? After her parents divorce, when she was 7, she moves in permanently with her mother, and stepfather. The last thing she remembered of her birth father was him telling her this would happen. She finds out shes a human-dragon hybrid, and things start to seem normal, but that's when she finds herself between a war; a war between dragons and knights and humans. what will happen? will she survive? This is my 1st novel. I hope you like it. I'm looking forward to your feedback.

Robert was once a scientist who should've gone down in history as the modern day prometheus. The man who brough the power of the atomic bomb from the mere imaginings of men to reality. However something went wrong during the first test, and the entire world was devoured by the powers they sought to tame. But that was not the end. Robert wakes up almost a thousand years later, to a world deformed and reshaped by radiation. Concepts like magic, once thought impossible, now roam this new Earth as common fact. And what is his role in all this? He has become a creature —the only creature— capable of consuming the radiation that plagues the earth. And he will soon find that none of this is a mere coincidence.

in a world where there are powerful people with unique Technics called drill with transformations called locks and a boy named hakishi has to fight for life.hakishi's life is turned into a nightmare his family is slaughtered then his master who trained him died then he tried to bring him back to life but it went wrong now he is in a perfect team called FRB:full reck of blood. to tried and help him to defeat all d villans and his old master

[Disclaimer: Explicit Content and Profanity +18] Author: 인생뉴비 -------------------------------- OnlyFans. It's a platform where famous influencers sell exclusive content for money. Could be photos, videos, or even drawings. While it was originally used for all sorts of things, it’s now mostly known as a place to sell explicit adult material at a premium. "I hear people are making bank on OnlyFans these days." "Really?" I had no idea why they were talking about this. I stayed glued to my corner, trying not to draw attention to myself. Who knows what they’d do if they noticed me. I needed to be invisible. I am air. I am air! ""But who would they even shoot it with?" "Well, you need a guy, right? Some dude to be in it." "A guy? Hmm..." Who, though? The gal bullies started brainstorming, trying to figure out where they could find a guy for this. Then the conversation died. Uh oh. What’s with the sudden, creepy silence? "Hold on… don't we have one right here?" "Oh shit, yeah." Every single eye in the group turned to me. Ice ran down my spine. "This loser's a guy, right?". --------------------------------------- This work is a personal translation of the original novel "여자 일진들이 나를 먹음" authored by 인생뉴비. The book cover isn't the original set by the author, but an AI generated one mimicking the original. The real cover was denied by Webnovel, but you can check it out by searching the novel Korean name. #ModernFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Harem #Sliceoflife #Delinquents #TteokFantasy #Schoollife #smut #+18 #koreannovel #bulliedMC #LuckyMC #Beauties #Campus #Fantasy #Romance #Romancy #genuisMC

Akondo’s life was ordinary until the day after his 18th birthday, when everything changed. What first seemed like a heart attack turned into a nightmare when he discovered an overwhelming power: the ability to consume souls by taking over another person’s body. His first victim, tragically, was his own mother. Struggling to understand the terrifying ability that now controls his life, Akondo realizes he must consume a soul every 24 hours to survive. While he initially tries to resist the temptation, each day that passes chips away at his humanity. As he uses his power more and more, Akondo starts to lose himself to the darkness within. What begins as an effort to survive slowly turns into something far more sinister. His compassion fades, and the once kind-hearted young man begins to feel nothing but hunger. The weight of each consumed soul warps his mind, pushing him toward madness. Akondo’s moral compass shatters, and soon, he crosses a line—becoming a remorseless serial killer. This is the story of Akondo’s descent into darkness, as his struggle for survival leads him down a path from which there may be no return and only his death can stop him completely but who will stop him? maybe someone has counter to stop him.

Loosing all of his memories before the entrance exam in "Zivryan spirit Academy" , before he could even awoke his spirit abilities he had lost every thing, completely oblivion from his own existence

(CONTAINS R18+ CONTENT) Enemies to lovers- check Slow burn- check A cute naughty dog- check Spice? (The author is keeping her mouth zipped) No third-party breakup or misunderstanding. But there are lots of banter and witty comebacks. (The story is planned to be around 200 chapters. No drag) Mu Yiren I never imagined I'd be faking a relationship with my biggest enemy—the untamed, ridiculously charming Feng Junjie, known throughout the city as the "golden boy" of business and a billionaire playboy with a reputation for breaking hearts. But when he dangles a life-changing offer in front of me, the kind that could secure my inheritance, I find myself agreeing to be his "girlfriend." But the thing is….. What if I start seeing the real him? Pretending to be Junjie’s devoted partner is like walking on a razor's edge. He’s everything I can’t stand—sexy, cocky, and devilish, and yet a sweetheart by heart that leaves me flustered by his actions. I know better than to fall for a man like him; my mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s has convinced me to never fall in love. But Junjie isn't just any man. Beneath his easygoing charm is an intensity that leaves me breathless, and he knows exactly how to crack through the walls I have built around me, awakening a passion I never felt before. JUNJIE I need my life back. A sorry attempt at love had me question everything and forced me away from my brothers. Since my ‘ex best friend’s’ constant accusations had gotten out of control, I might as well pretend to date someone and shut her mouth. My definition of a fake date- Beautiful, sexy, tempting…..umm…. insufferable, annoying, and with a mouth that won’t stop running. The mouth with red lipstick. The mouth I want to…. This arrangement was supposed to be simple: fake dating, clear boundaries, no feelings. But the more he plays the role of her devoted partner, the more the lines between fake and real start to blur. And now, he’s no longer sure where the act ends and his true feelings begin. The catch? Mu Yiren doesn’t believe in love. And she certainly doesn’t believe a man like Feng Junjie is capable of anything but heartbreak. But Feng has never been one to follow the rules. Boundaries? He’s about to break them. Deals? They were made to be rewritten. He’s going all in, and this time, he’s not playing pretend. ******* "Are you saying you'd let any man get this close?" "ABSOLUTELY NO!" The words burst out of me, too quick, too honest. His smirk deepens. "Tell me, if I leave you like this, all wound up and aching, will you be sneaking off to use one of your little toys?" "Yes," "Tell me, were you waiting for me to initiate something this past week?" he tugs my shorts more and kisses my navel. My heart hammers and my voice comes out shaky. "N-No." I won't give him the satisfaction of knowing he's right. He chuckles darkly. "Wrong answer. Let's try again." ****