Short Game

Nothing is as it appears when Nightshade, a deadly samurai assassin, accepts a seemingly easy contract on his brother. Who can he trust when he is betrayed by his employer? A Samurai Cyberpunk Saga.

First Meetings is a collection of three novellas (plus the original "Ender's Game") that journey into the origins and the destiny of one Ender Wiggin.

Ten excited guests arrive at the Westlake Estate, expecting a lavish retreat. They are the winners of a sweepstakes to "Live Like a Billionaire for a Week." But what was supposed to be a promising escape soon turns into a horrific nightmare. Within hours of arrival, the guests sit down for an extravagant dinner. When they pull their party poppers as instructed, a loud chorus of bangs resounds, followed by earsplitting screams as the guest seated at the head of the table bursts into flames and slumps to the floor.

Derek Brighton has become one of Dallas's finest detectives through a combination of discipline and obsession. Once he has a target in his sights, nothing can stop him. When he isn't solving homicides, he applies the same intensity to his playtime at Sanctum, a secretive BDSM club. Unfortunately, no amount of beautiful submissives can fill the hole that one woman left in his heart.

For over a month, he's been counting down, anticipating the promise circled in red Sharpie on their calendar. In a marriage that's evolved from vanilla beginnings into something far more complex, Ben has learned to serve, to watch, and most painfully, to wait. Dana enjoys her freedom, her rotating cast of impressive lovers, and—most of all—her husband's unwavering devotion through it all. She rewards his patience just once a year, on his birthday, with the ultimate gift: herself. But first, she makes him earn it. When Dana's favorite lover arrives unexpectedly on Ben's special night, ...

Heather and Adam don't just need a babysitter, they desperately want the babysitter too! Little does poor innocent Freya know that she's just walked into the most warped babysitting job of her life. But Adam and Heather have intended it to be that way, for they know far more about Freya than she could ever imagine. Will the adorably cute babysitter cotton onto their game? Can Adam's acting skills last long enough to keep Freya inside the house? and how can Heather make sure that the babysitter adheres to her strict instructions? Find out only inside this darkly comical, extremely taboo ...

“This country wasn’t built on good—only fought for with good intentions.” Jack’s dying mother told him, “Run and never look back.” He spent his life amassing wealth, but after losing his family, he has no one to share it with. Alone with his demons and a backpack, he heads to South America, where people with nothing teach him what matters. After thrashing his dog-abusing boss, Hunter learns of his father’s death in a mysterious fire. Biker buddies Nugget and Itch ride with him from North Carolina to California.

Nurse Nina: Filled Deep It's my very first day on the job working for the rich Mr. Manner. My boss Dr. Ardeen embarrasses me by performing an intimate physical exam. I'm stretched and probed. But that isn't the worst, my employer Mr. Manner is present and is watching my dirty initiation. Later that night, I'm given my first night watch over Mr. Manner. It's supposed to be easy and uneventful but Mr. Manner has one of his episodes and needs my help. Dr. Ardeen directs me on the intimate therapy I have to administer. I am not sure I can submit to such behavior. But he won't let me get away ...

Showcasing the best of Ernest Hemingway’s short stories including his well-known classics - as featured in the magnificent three-part, six-hour PBS documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick - this new collection is introduced by award-winning author Tobias Wolff.

Investing in short-term rentals can seriously boost your cash flow and accelerate your path to financial freedom. In this book, I'll take you through a step-by-step process to find and set up profitable properties in top markets. No matter what your budget looks like starting out, you'll find a strategy that works for you. We're diving deep into each approach to get your short-term rental business up and running successfully.

On a far-off colony, humans tower over the local species who grow the plants they need. Narr keeps the workers in line—someone has to. But when Narr learns just how short-lived their species is, the little alien embarks on a big mission: to find out why their people die and how to stop it. Stubborn and hopeful, Narr has a plan for the locals, for humans, and for the future.

Games are everywhere: Drivers maneuvering in heavy traffic are playing a driving game. Bargain hunters bidding on eBay are playing an auctioning game. The supermarket's price for corn flakes is decided by playing an economic game. This Very Short Introduction offers a succinct tour of the fascinating world of game theory, a groundbreaking field that analyzes how to play games in a rational way.

Binding Pleasure and Pain I am Dr. Jennifer Palmer, a psychiatrist, and I am here at the Northwest Penitentiary to meet with the notorious and brutal inmate, Jeremy Miller. Jeremy is brought to me naked and in chains. He is huge and muscular. I must admit that I have difficulty focusing on his face. The guards leave, and it is just us. I need to gain his trust, but I’m not quite ready to unlock the chains. We compromise and to put us on even footing; I take off my clothes. But I know I must unchain him to prove he can trust me. As soon as he’s loose, his mouth is on mine and his hands ...

I am paralyzed with dread and uncertainty as I stand in the cold and bare examination room. I turn to face the metal contraption, a strange combination between a table and a chair with leather restraints at the foot and head area. I shiver and look at the large mirror covering almost half of one wall. The door opens with a squeak. I turn to face the person who has purchased me. I suck in a sharp breath. I know the man, everyone knows him. His name is Darian Brandt. He is tall, has broad shoulders, and has an aura of authority surrounding him. He is wearing a black suit that is tailored to ...

Nick Antosca's The Girlfriend Game is a tumble through the looking glass into a vortex of violence and desire. The 12 stories in the newest collection by the Shirley Jackson Award-winning author are brutal, urgent and unforgettable. In "Predator Bait", a decoy in a sex-sting news show questions her job and the man who shares her bed. An undependable son watches his mother become a creature he hardly recognizes in "Amphibian". A young man plots the death of his girlfriend's killer in "Winter Was Hard".

If you're just starting to learn Mandarin Chinese and want a fun, natural way to pick up the language, this audiobook is the perfect companion. Instead of dry grammar drills or memorizing lists, it immerses you in everyday situations through short stories, interactive games, and practical conversations—just like how you learned your first language as a child. Picture yourself navigating a busy subway, bargaining at a lively market, or sharing tea with family—all while effortlessly absorbing vocabulary and phrases.

"The things you're having me do… I was such a good girl before you came along." Abbi and her hunky older neighbor have always shared a close bond, playing all manner of friendly games with one another. Now that she's full-grown with some lovely adult parts, it's time to up the ante of their playtime… What begins as a perverted round of peekaboo leads to a risky game of pull-out, and they'll keep playing until her bumped belly spells game over. ~5900 words

The Most Dangerous Game, a short story written by Richard Edward Connell in 1924, is a thrilling tale that explores themes of survival, morality, and the nature of human cruelty. Set against the backdrop of a remote island, the story combines suspense, adventure, and a touch of philosophical inquiry, making it one of the most widely anthologized short stories in American literature.

Maxine was made to do one thing: die. Except the minor non-player character in the world Riley is building makes her own impossible decision - veering wildly off course and exploring the boundaries of the map. When the curious Riley extracts her code for closer examination, an emotional relationship develops between them. Soon Riley has all new plans for her spontaneous AI, including bringing Max into the real world. But what if Max has real-world plans of her own?

I'm Dr. Rachel Williams a female doctor who works with the US Military. I offered the opportunity to learn more about aliens and I could not resist the temptation to learn more about them. Currently I find myself naked and bound by a futuristic metal spider. Open and helpless to the alien that is performing the most disgusting experiments on me. There is so much pain, but also an incredible amount of pleasure... when he allows it.