Burning DesireA Tale of Love and Betrayal

Dear Reader,

What you are about to step into is not just a love story. It's a tangled web of passion, betrayal, secrets, and the quiet ache of discovering the truth behind the people we think we know.

Jacqueline's journey is one many of us know too well, the journey of holding on when we should let go, of chasing stability while craving fire, of mistaking comfort for love. Her story unfolds in layers: through the haunting grip of her dreams, the unraveling of a once-promising engagement, and the magnetic pull of a man who exists both in her subconscious and in the shadows of her waking life.

This book explores the power of instinct, the destruction that lies in deceit, and the healing that only truth, however painful,can bring.

You may find pieces of yourself in Jacqueline. In her strength. In her silence. In the storm she learns to survive.

This is a story about second chances, about trusting the unknown, and about the dangerous beauty of a love that finds you when you least expect it, and refuses to let go.

With heart,

[Dee-Jay]

Jacqueline's POV

"Ugh!"

By the time I finished reading the chapter, a warm flush surged through me. My pulse beat slowly and steady between my thighs, and I could feel the ache spreading like wildfire.

I reached for my phone, fingers trembling, and dialed Derek. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing.

"Why aren't you picking up?" I whispered, breathless the embers of longing, I rested my head on the desk. The warmth between my legs was unbearable, my body alight with a hunger only he could soothe.

Sleep found me fast.

And in that dreamworld, he stood there. A faceless man in a black game suit, his body built like temptation, his aura thick and magnetic. He didn't need a face; his energy alone undressed my sanity.

"Hey," I breathed, fingers finding his chest. My touch drifted to his nipples, watching the rhythm of his breath falter. As if responding to a secret chord in my body, his hand found my thigh, sliding upward beneath my silk-black mini gown.

The air vibrated with need. My breath hitched. I was seconds from surrendering completely

A blaring ringtone shattered the moment. My eyes snapped open.

Damn. Just a dream.

I exhaled sharply and picked up. "Hello?"

"Hi, Ms. Jacqueline, this is Sophie's Bridals. Just calling to confirm your final wedding fitting this weekend. Will you be available?"

"Yes. Yes, I'll be there," I said, voice scratchy.

"Great. Goodbye."

Even after the call ended, my body still buzzed with the ghost of that dream. The ache hadn't gone, if anything, it had grown worse.

I was lost in thought, still drenched in the remnants of my dream, when I was jolted by the feeling of warm hands slipping around my neck, followed by a soft kiss pressed to my left cheek.

"I called," I said, realizing it was Derek.

"Yeah, sorry. Didn't realize my phone was on silent," he replied, his voice distant, cold.

His tone stung more than I cared to admit. I should be used to this by now, his indifference, his detachment. But still, a small part of me clung to hope. That one day, Derek would look past my skin and see the woman inside. The one who craves not just his body, but his heart.

"I'm sorry. The meeting took longer than I thought," he added, this time with a flicker of remorse in his voice.