Painful Pleasures

April Skye agrees to a contract marriage with Ethan Griphen, believing she can suppress her own heartache by soothing his. But one unforgettable night shatters her carefully constructed walls, igniting desire where she expected only duty. As pleasure blooms amidst the wreckage of their wounded hearts, April struggles to navigate these dangerous new feelings while keeping her old scars hidden. Ethan offers solace and passion, yet his own pain runs deep—can he truly help her heal when trust feels like a liability? As their fragile bond deepens through stolen moments and vulnerable confessions, the ghosts of their past threaten to detonate everything they've built. In this high-stakes romance, two broken people must choose between the safety of their secrets and the terrifying possibility of genuine love.