
Beneath the Surface
Chris Wilbur · Ongoing · 135.4k Words
Introduction
Chapter 1
In the vibrant heart of the city, where skyscrapers pierced the sky like metallic sentinels and the streets thrummed with the rhythm of life, Jake forged his path with determined steps. His backpack, weathered from countless journeys, hung comfortably over one shoulder, a faithful companion amidst the chaotic urban landscape. Surrounded by the ceaseless movement of the metropolis, he often felt like a solitary voyager navigating the ever-shifting currents of humanity.
However, on this particular day, a palpable energy infused the atmosphere, an electrifying anticipation that stirred Jake's senses. It was as though the city itself hummed with excitement, promising untold adventures and secrets waiting to be discovered.
Jake had never been one to put stock in fate or cosmic alignment, yet from the moment he swiped right on Peter's profile, a stirring had taken root within him. Perhaps it was the allure of Peter's polished exterior, the promise of a man who appeared to have everything under control. Or maybe it was simply the primal yearning for connection, a desire to escape the shadows of his past and find solace in another's embrace.
Their initial exchanges on the dating app had been light-hearted and playful, mere glimpses shared through the digital veil of technology. Yet, with each message, Jake found himself drawn deeper into Peter's orbit, captivated by his charm and charisma.
Tonight marked the culmination of their virtual courtship, a clandestine rendezvous set in the dimly lit recesses of a secluded bar nestled amidst the city's labyrinthine streets. As Jake crossed the threshold, the mingled scents of whiskey and cologne greeted him, wrapping him in a cloak of intrigue.
There, seated at the bar with an air of quiet confidence, was Peter, a vision of sophistication in his impeccably tailored attire. Jake's pulse quickened at the sight of him, his gaze locked on the magnetic presence before him.
"Jake," Peter's voice was smooth as satin, laced with a hint of mischief. "I'm thrilled you could join me." In that moment, time seemed to pause, the cacophony of the city fading into the background as their eyes met in silent acknowledgment.
As the evening unfolded, they shared tales and laughter, their words weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and unspoken desires. Jake found himself opening up to Peter in ways he had never dared before, shedding the layers of doubt and insecurity that had long weighed him down.
Their connection deepened with each passing moment, a delicate dance of vulnerability and trust unfolding between them. And when Peter leaned in to kiss him, a spark ignited between them, a flame that burned with an intensity that left Jake breathless and yearning for more.
Yet, beneath the surface of their burgeoning connection, lay secrets waiting to be uncovered, hidden depths that threatened to unravel the fragile thread that bound them together. Unbeknownst to Jake, as he surrendered himself to the intoxicating allure of passion, he stood on the precipice of a journey that would test his courage and resilience to their limits.
As the first light of dawn painted the city skyline in hues of gold and rose, Jake found himself enveloped in Peter's embrace, their bodies entwined in a silent symphony of longing and desire. Yet, even amidst their intimacy, a shadow lingered in the recesses of Jake's mind, a nagging doubt that whispered of danger and deception.
As he gazed into Peter's eyes, searching for answers in the depths of their shared gaze, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that their journey together had only just begun, with twists and turns yet to unfold in the intricate tapestry of their intertwined destinies. And so, with a silent prayer on his lips and a heart heavy with uncertainty, Jake prepared himself for the tumultuous road ahead, trusting that amidst the chaos of the city, love would ultimately prevail.
Little did Jake know, their meeting was not mere happenstance. Behind Peter's charming facade lay a web of secrets, and Jake's involvement would thrust him into a world far darker and more dangerous than he could have ever imagined. Unknown to Jake, Peter was not the man he appeared to be. He was entangled in a clandestine network of underground dealings, and Jake's unwitting entrance into his life would set off a chain of events that would challenge everything Jake thought he knew about himself and the world around him. As dawn broke over the city, casting long shadows across its streets, Jake's destiny was already set in motion, his path inexorably intertwined with Peter's in ways he could never have foreseen.
In the ever-shifting dance of time, days flowed seamlessly into weeks, and Jake found himself ensnared deeper within the labyrinthine web of his romance with Peter. What had once been fleeting encounters now blossomed into a steady routine, each rendezvous adding another layer to the intricate tapestry of their relationship. Yet, amidst the fervor of their passion, a subtle undercurrent of uncertainty began to weave its way into Jake's consciousness, like a shadow lurking in the corners of his mind, whispering of hidden dangers yet to be revealed.
It was on a crisp, autumn evening, with the city skyline aglow in the fading light, that Jake stood outside Peter's sleek, modern apartment building, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. The air crackled with the promise of possibility, tinged with the faint scent of fallen leaves. With a hesitant breath, Jake pressed the buzzer, the sound cutting through the stillness of the night like a clarion call. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Peter's welcoming smile, a beacon of warmth amidst the cool evening air.
"Come in, Jake," Peter's voice was like a siren's song, drawing Jake into the embrace of the unknown. Crossing the threshold, Jake was enveloped in the opulence of Peter's abode. The sleek lines of modern furniture, the soft glow of ambient lighting, all spoke of a life of luxury and sophistication. The air itself seemed to shimmer with possibility, carrying with it the heady aroma of exotic spices that tantalized Jake's senses.
Settling onto the plush sofa, glasses of wine in hand, Jake couldn't shake the lingering sense of disquiet that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. There was an unspoken tension hanging in the air, an intangible weight that seemed to press down upon them, begging to be acknowledged. And then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, Peter leaned in close, his breath warm against Jake's ear as he whispered, "I have a surprise for you."
Intrigued and slightly apprehensive, Jake followed Peter to the bedroom, his heart pounding in anticipation of what lay beyond the closed door. What awaited him in the depths of Peter's desires? A surge of excitement coursed through his veins as Peter unveiled a collection of silk ropes and leather restraints, laying them out before him like a forbidden treasure trove.
As each restraint was delicately positioned, Jake felt a rush of adrenaline course through him, his pulse quickening with a heady mixture of anticipation and desire. "Tonight," Peter murmured, his voice dripping with seduction, "we explore the realms of pleasure and pain."
With trembling hands, Jake surrendered himself to the intoxicating allure of their shared desires, allowing Peter to bind him in a delicate dance of dominance and submission. Each touch, each caress, sent shockwaves of ecstasy coursing through his veins, igniting a firestorm of passion that consumed them both in its fervor.
Yet, as the night unfolded and their boundaries blurred, a lingering sense of unease began to gnaw at Jake's consciousness. Beneath the surface of their passion lay a shadowy realm of uncertainty, a darkness that threatened to eclipse the fervor of their connection.
As the night wore on, they delved deeper into the depths of their desires, exploring realms of pleasure and pain with an intensity that bordered on the surreal. Each moment was a whirlwind of sensation, a symphony of ecstasy and longing that swept them away into uncharted territories of passion.
But amidst the euphoria of their shared exploration, a subtle unease lingered in the recesses of Jake's mind, like a whispering shadow that refused to be ignored. As Peter's touch ignited fires within him, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that there was something lurking beneath the surface, something dark and mysterious that threatened to unravel the delicate balance they had forged.
And as the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of soft pink and golden amber, Jake found himself grappling with the unsettling realization that their journey together was far from over. What hidden truths lay shrouded in the darkness, waiting to be brought to light? Only time would reveal the answers to the questions that lingered in the hushed whispers of the night.
As he lay tangled in Peter's embrace, the faint stirrings of doubt gnawing at the edges of his consciousness, Jake knew that their path forward would be fraught with challenges and obstacles. Yet, in the warmth of Peter's touch, he found solace and strength, a beacon of hope amidst the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Together, they would navigate the twists and turns of their shared destiny, confronting their demons head-on as they forged a bond stronger than steel. And though the road ahead was uncertain, Jake faced it with courage and determination, knowing that as long as they had each other, they could weather any storm that came their way.
Their love was a force of nature, a flame that burned bright even in the darkest of times. And as they stood on the threshold of a new day, Jake and Peter embraced the future with open hearts, ready to embrace whatever challenges lay ahead.
Last Chapters
#111 Chapter 108: The Edge of Deception
Last Updated: 3/11/2025#110 Chapter 107: A Fractured Alliance
Last Updated: 3/10/2025#109 Chapter 106: Shadows Closing In
Last Updated: 3/10/2025#108 Chapter 105: The Enemy Within
Last Updated: 3/10/2025#107 Chapter 104: Shadows Within Shadows
Last Updated: 3/11/2025#106 Chapter 104: Into the Inferno
Last Updated: 3/10/2025#105 Chapter 103: Into the Lion's Den
Last Updated: 3/11/2025#104 Chapter 102: Tangled Alliances
Last Updated: 3/10/2025#103 Chapter 101: The Journalist’s Edge
Last Updated: 3/10/2025#102 Chapter 100: Unraveling the Veil
Last Updated: 3/10/2025
You Might Like 😍
The Biker's Fate
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Dani," he pressed. "Do you get me?"
"No, Austin, I don't," I admitted as I pulled my robe closed again and sat up. "You confuse me."
He dragged his hands down his face. "Tell me what's on your mind."
I sighed. "You're everything my parents warned me against. You're secretive, but you're also honest. I feel wholly protected by you, but then you scare me more than anyone I've ever known. You're a bad boy, but when I dated a so-called good one, he turned out to be the devil, so, yeah, I don't get you because you're not what I expected. You drive me crazier than anyone I've ever met, but then you make me feel complete. I'm feeling things I don't quite know how to process and that makes me want to run. I don't want to give up something that might be really, really good, but I also don't want to be stupid and fall for a boy just because he's super pretty and makes me come."
Danielle Harris is the daughter of an overprotective police chief and has led a sheltered life. As a kindergarten teacher, she's as far removed from the world of Harleys and bikers as you could get, but when she's rescued by the sexy and dangerous Austin Carver, her life is changed forever.
Although Austin 'Booker' Carver is enamored by the innocent Dani, he tries to keep the police chief's daughter at arm's length. But when a threat is made from an unexpected source, he finds himself falling hard and fast for the only woman who can tame his wild heart.
Will Booker be able to find the source of the threat before it's too late?
Will Dani finally give her heart to a man who's everything she's been warned about?
The Prison Project
Can love tame the untouchable? Or will it only fuel the fire and cause chaos amongst the inmates?
Fresh out of high school and suffocating in her dead-end hometown, Margot longs for her escape. Her reckless best friend, Cara, thinks she's found the perfect way out for them both - The Prisoner Project - a controversial program offering a life-changing sum of money in exchange for time spent with maximum-security inmates.
Without hesitation, Cara rushes to sign them up.
Their reward? A one-way ticket into the depths of a prison ruled by gang leaders, mob bosses, and men the guards wouldn't even dare to cross...
At the centre of it all, meets Coban Santorelli - a man colder than ice, darker than midnight, and as deadly as the fire that fuels his inner rage. He knows that the project may very well be his only ticket to freedom - his only ticket to revenge on the one who managed to lock him up and so he must prove that he can learn to love…
Will Margot be the lucky one chosen to help reform him?
Will Coban be capable of bringing something to the table other than just sex?
What starts off as denial may very well grow in to obsession which could then fester in to becoming true love…
A temperamental romance novel.
I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis
Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now—billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn’t mind. I’d crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one?
Wrong.
One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That’s when it hit me—he didn’t love me. He didn’t even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn’t even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup.
So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster—my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise.
Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol.
Enter him.
Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I’d met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes.
It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised.
But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life.
And, as it turned out, the best decision I’d ever made.
Because my one-night stand isn’t just some random guy. He’s richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with.
And now, he’s not letting me go.
Badass in Disguise
"Jade, I need to check your—" the nurse began.
"OUT!" I snarled with enough force that both women backed toward the door.
Once feared by Shadow Organization that drugged me to replicate my abilities into a more controllable version, I had escaped my restraints and detonated their entire facility, ready to die alongside my captors.
Instead, I woke up in a school infirmary with women arguing around me, their voices piercing my skull. My outburst froze them in shock—clearly they hadn't expected such a reaction. One woman threatened as she left, "We'll discuss this attitude when you get home."
The bitter truth? I've been reborn into the body of an overweight, weak, and supposedly dim-witted high school girl. Her life is filled with bullies and tormentors who've made her existence miserable.
But they have no idea who they're dealing with now.
I didn't survive as the world's deadliest assassin by allowing anyone to push me around. And I certainly won't start now.
The mafia princess return
My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate
My drunk stepfather remained indifferent, his weight suffocating, making it hard to breathe as my heart raced.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and two figures burst in.
"Get off her!" a deafening roar echoed.
I didn't expect the twin brothers who'd bullied me at school to come charging in like gods to save me.
After my grandmother passed, I had to move in with my mom and stepdad, who treated me like a servant. I prayed every day for my 18th birthday to come, so l could leave and escape this broken home.
However, on my first day at my new school, l encountered the legendary twins everyone feared.
To make matters worse, the Moon Goddess revealed they were both my mates!
After helping me out with my stepdad, my twin mate cornered me, played with my hair, and whispered possessively, "You belong to us, our little mate..."
Omega Bound
Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life.
Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
Mr. Ryan
He came closer with a dark and hungry expression,
so close,
his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine.
His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely.
His tongue left me breathless.
“If you don't go with me, I'll fuck you right here.” He whispered.
Katherine kept her virginity for years even after she turned 18. But one day, she met an extremely sexual man Nathan Ryan in the club. He had the most seductive blue eyes she has ever seen, a well-defined chin, almost golden blonde hair, full lips, perfectly drawn, and the most amazing smile, with perfect teeth and those damn dimples. Incredibly sexy.
She and he had a beautiful and hot one-night stand...
Katherine thought she might not meet the man again.
But fate has another plan
Katherine is about to take on the job of assistant to a billionaire who owns one of the biggest companies in the country and is known to be a conquering, authoritative and completely irresistible man. He is Nathan Ryan!
Will Kate be able to resist the charms of this attractive, powerful and seductive man?
Read to know a relationship torn between anger and the uncontrollable desire for pleasure.
Warning: R18+, Only for mature readers.
Alpha Nicholas's Little Mate
What? No—wait… oh Moon Goddess, no.
Please tell me you're joking, Lex.
But she's not. I can feel her excitement bubbling under my skin, while all I feel is dread.
We turn the corner, and the scent hits me like a punch to the chest—cinnamon and something impossibly warm. My eyes scan the room until they land on him. Tall. Commanding. Beautiful.
And then, just as quickly… he sees me.
His expression twists.
"Fuck no."
He turns—and runs.
My mate sees me and runs.
Bonnie has spent her entire life being broken down and abused by the people closest to her including her very own twin sister. Alongside her best friend Lilly who also lives a life of hell, they plan to run away while attending the biggest ball of the year while it's being hosted by another pack, only things don't quite go to plan leaving both girls feeling lost and unsure about their futures.
Alpha Nicholas is 28, mateless, and has no plans to change that. It's his turn to host the annual Blue Moon Ball this year and the last thing he expects is to find his mate. What he expects even less is for his mate to be 10 years younger than him and how his body reacts to her. While he tries to refuse to acknowledge that he has met his mate his world is turned upside down after guards catch two she-wolves running through his lands.
Once they are brought to him he finds himself once again facing his mate and discovers that she's hiding secrets that will make him want to kill more than one person.
Can he overcome his feelings towards having a mate and one that is so much younger than him? Will his mate want him after already feeling the sting of his unofficial rejection? Can they both work on letting go of the past and moving forward together or will fate have different plans and keep them apart?
Goddess Of The Underworld.
When the veil between the Divine, the Living, and the Dead begins to crack, Envy is thrust beneath with a job she can’t drop: keep the worlds from bleeding together, shepherd the lost, and make ordinary into armor, breakfasts, bedtime, battle plans. Peace lasts exactly one lullaby. This is the story of a border pup who became a goddess by choosing her family; of four imperfect alphas learning how to stay; of cake, iron, and daylight negotiations. Steamy, fierce, and full of heart, Goddess of the Underworld is a reverse harem, found-family paranormal romance where love writes the rules and keeps three realms from falling apart.
The Son of Red Fang
Alpha Cole Redmen is the youngest of six born to Alpha Charles and Luna Sara Mae, leaders of the Red Fang pack. Born prematurely, Alpha Charles rejected him without hesitation as weak and undeserving of his very life. He is reminded daily of his father’s hatred for him paving the way for the rest of his family to become the same.
By adulthood, his father’s hatred and abuse towards him has spilled over into the rest of the pack making him the scapegoat for those with the sadistic need to see him suffer. The rest are simply too afraid to even look his way leaving him little in the way of friends or family to turn to.
Alpha Demetri Black is the leader of a sanctuary pack known as Crimson Dawn. It’s been years since a wolf has made their way to his pack via the warrior’s prospect program but that doesn’t mean he’s not looking for the tell tale signs of a wolf in need of help.
Malnourished and injured upon his arrival, Cole’s anxious and overly submissive demeanor lands him in the very situation he’s desperate to avoid, in the attention of an unknown alpha.
Yet somehow through the darkness of severe illness and injury he runs into the very person he’s been desperate to find since he turned eighteen, his Luna. His one way ticket out of the hell he’s been born into.
Will Cole find the courage needed to leave his pack once and for all, to seek the love and acceptance he’s never had?
Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of mental, physical and sexual abuse that may trigger sensitive readers. This book is intended for adult readers only.
The Alpha Of The Shadow Pack And His Mute Luna
Vanessa, the mute runt of a cursed litter, has only ever known cruelty and abuse. Her voice stolen by a witch’s spell, her freedom crushed by a brutal father, she’s been promised to a monster she doesn’t want. But fate intervenes when she’s left for dead—bleeding, broken, and bound—only to be rescued by Alpha Alfred of the Shadow Pack.
Alfred, fighting against a generational curse that has doomed his brothers to remain wolves forever, never expected his fated mate to be a fragile girl on the brink of death. But the moment he breathes in her scent, everything changes.
Together, they must confront the past, survive betrayal, and uncover the true key to breaking the curses that bind them. Will their bond be strong enough to save them both?












