Chapters 1 -3 of Best of Friends 1 - Settling In “All Jack said was I look pretty. It was just a little comment, Noah.” Rachel inspected herself in her oversized vanity as she spoke, adjusting her black pushup with delicate fingers. “Jack creeps me out,” Noah said as he scrolled through the endless reels on his phone. He sprawled across Rachel’s bed, feeling the warmth from the sun streaming through the bay windows. “I th...

The sky rumbled. It was about to rain. I must hurry back. I was on an errand to buy some titbits and knick-knacks. It was just a casual detour from my otherwise routine Indian housewife schedule. I did most of my grocery shopping online, but whenever my husband was away on a business tour for two or three days, I eloped on such errands. The weather was hot and humid. So, I had tied my lush, waist-length long hair in a sim...

It had been three weeks since we said our goodbyes off the cruise and back to reality. Still, I caught myself checking my phone, waiting for their names to light up the screen. I missed him. I missed that connection, the way it had swallowed me whole. I would never want to break up a family; the thought alone made me sick. It was wrong—morally, painfully wrong—yet I couldn’t shake him. We used to talk about forever. About...

On Lushstories' stage, where hearts dare to meet, Our words dance in rhythm, a fleeting, sweet beat. But oh, how it stings, this cruel, fleeting bound, A handful of messages, then silence is found. I’m not just here for tales that endlessly scroll, But for you—your laughter, your spark, your soul. Each chat ignites fire, a warmth that feels right, Yet the limit slams shut, like a door in the night. It’s torture to pause w...

I kneel on the bedroom floor, blindfolded and silent. I brought this upon myself, but I’m not sure how. My arms are bound in front of me with a silk scarf, the insides of my wrists are pinned together, which makes my hands useless for anything. My body is exposed, naked except for the heels he chose and the panties I wasn’t allowed to remove. The rug beneath my knees provides some comfort, but I’ve been here long enough t...

Drifting in the ocean of friends and lovers. The temptation within becomes a dance of desire. Every word Laced with Provocation, every breath a hope for more, every heartbeat a longing for release. Wisdom keeping us grounded, focused, assuring us that less is more. More fulfilling, more erotic, more desirable than what carnal pleasures can deliver. Sending us into a state of euphoria that even sex itself cannot provide. I...

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, the air buzzed with anticipation in the upscale Manhattan hotel. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a stunning view of the glittering skyline, adorned with a tapestry of lights that mimicked the stars above. Sophia adjusted the strap of her sleek black dress, its fabric hugging her curves just right, paired perfectly with the sparkly heels that made her feel unstoppable. She could feel...

Introduction I have yet to encounter anything quite as exhausting or more brutal than trying to fall asleep on the pavement at the height of a Johannesburg winter. The benefits are few, and the nights are long, but for me, there is nothing more distressing than the extreme loneliness that comes with the territory. I actually envy the junkies on these streets because they all have something that binds them together. While...

In the humdrum of mundane existence, where lives are subdued by the tyranny of routine, there exists a realm where fantasy and reality collide, blurring the lines between the two. A realm where desires, once deemed taboo, find liberation in the realm of art. It is within this sphere that I, an unwilling participant, must delve into the depths of depravity to appease your insatiable curiosity and satisfy your morbid fascin...

Walking into the house, I drop the keys into the dish, by the door, a little louder than characteristic. She walks in behind me, obviously uneasy. I close the door, lock it, and head to the kitchen. Pouring myself a glass of water I quickly chug it, trying to settle my nerves. It doesn’t work. Only one thing will. I turn around. She is standing at the bottom of the steps. The hem of her shawl in her hands, she shuffles it...

My lover nude and knowing my heart's whims Wore nothing more than a few bright-flashing gems; Her art was saving men despite their sins— She ruled like harem girls crowned with diadems! She danced for me with a gay but mocking air, My world of stone and metal sparking bright; I discovered in her the rapture of everything fair— Nay, an excess of joy where the spirit and flesh unite! Naked she lay and offered herself to me,...