Lucifer's Rose

Lucifer's RoseJayda Blackstone Copyright © 2023 Jayda BlackstoneAll rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C4HP517ZCover design by: Warren DesignPrinted in the United States of America Contents Title PageCopyrightMocha and an Irish CoffeeDemandsWorld TourWhat The HellSpamIs This Love?Comfort of RoutineLies, Lies, LiesHunting High & LowThe Best Laid PlansHeavy ChainsDancing with the DevilEpilogueBooks By This AuthorAbout the Author Mocha and an Irish Coffee"Finally, Sierra and Pewter were together. She flushed as he looked upon her with burning desire; they touched lips in a salivating embrace of passion that had been denied until now—exactly what they'd hoped for, finally manifesting."Samantha threw down the glossy magazine, her eyes wide with amazement. Sierra and Pewter's tumultuous love affair had been the only thing occupying her mind for over three months. The highs and lows of their passion had kept Samantha glued to the pages of Rose Bolton's sleeping quarters and those of many other readers of "Weekly Guilds" magazine. Rose had become a household name in this small town of 10,000 residents due to her enthralling romantic tales. This was her first long-form story, preceded by a collection of short stories filled with flowery tales of love and enchantment. It was her devoted readership that compelled the Weekly Guild editorial team to commission her for a feature-length romance novel, and Rose did not disappoint.The following 15 weeks saw an awkward art theory student, Pewter, and a passionate painting student, Sierra, progress through a blossoming romance set against the backdrop of an art school confronting their inner demons. In the season finale, the town found itself utterly changed from what it used to be. Everyone had been broken by Pewter and Sierra's first breakup, and they cursed Rose for the pain they all suffered. But at last, their reunion brought the town the solace it desperately sought—a warm, calming feeling during the winter holiday season. Pewter and Sierra reunited, and the town rejoiced. Rose was nothing short of a miracle.Rose Bolton had been a resident of 'Eden Grove' since her birth, never venturing away from the place except for college. Once she returned, she decided to stay and become part of the peaceful, yet isolated life of the town. Everyone there knew each other and formed a close-knit family. Rose was a literature major in college, fascinated by romanticism. The raw beauty of nature captivated her, and it was during her final year that she made a resolution to keep her love for purity locked in her heart forever.The city was a place of immense opportunity, where success seemed to shine from every streetlamp. Her college professors told her of the potential she had and that the prospects of making it big would have changed the course of her life. But the bright lights and constant commotion were too much for her. She had always dreamed of a simple life, full of peace and happiness. Money and fame held no interest for her; she had everything she needed in life already. What mattered most were love and contentment. So without hesitation, she left it all behind upon receiving her degree and headed towards Eden Grove, never looking back.The home situation wasn't great for the type of writing Rose wanted to do. The only way she could share her stories with people was through the town's magazine, Weekly Guild—a publication mostly read by the elderly and full of bogus articles, advertisements, and news already shown on TV three days prior. Disheartened but determined, Rose proposed writing romantic short stories, much to the editor's comical apprehension. Knowing Rose and her family's decision to stay in Eden Grove instead of somewhere better made him give her a chance to show what she could do. Overjoyed, she tried her best and wrote her first romance, which proved to be a reader favorite.Letters of appreciation motivated her to write more, eventually leading to word-of-mouth recognition. Two years before the romance between Pewter and Sierra began, "Why Me?" had made her a local celebrity. She was most proud of the contentment it had brought her community. The story's success earned her a promotion—she was offered an editorial position for the magazine, which she reluctantly accepted, having held the same role in college for their school magazine. This put her on other towns' radar, and soon she was writing for multiple magazines. However, only the Weekly Guild got feature-length stories, while others featured short stories or republished her older works.Rose gazed off into the distance, lost in thought, as she often was. The question that had plagued her for years now crept back into her mind once again: "What's next?" Despite a few flings here and there, Rose had never experienced a deep, lasting connection with anyone. She yearned for that kind of relationship—one filled with passion and warmth that would make her life feel like an autumnal painting saturated in warm hues of sepia tone. She longed for the kind of beauty you'd see in maple leaves turned auburn or an overcast sky over a red brick tower. She longed for the solace found in the passionate kiss of a true lover.But that hadn't happened yet. She yearned for her dream guy to appear, but he hadn't shown up yet. Every day she'd imagine what it would be like when they finally met; their eyes locking, a spark igniting and igniting until it consumed them both. Dreaming of coffee dates, carnivals, arcades, and flower shows; watching him laugh so hard his stomach hurt when she turned red due to her severe pollen allergy; dancing until dawn in a jazz bar; staying in each other's arms till the sun comes up; and beyond."Aha! I