All

After three years of loveless and suffocating marriage. Alice finally realizes she can't warm Lucas's heart no matter what she does. Besides, the marriage between them was just a contract.The words that he had written on the contract were very clear: "Don't ever expect anything from me, in the future if I want, you must give me a divorce without any questions and you are not allowed to conceive my baby"Alice chose to marry him because she needed money for her father's surgery. She was the one who proposed the idea of marriage in the first place, and as a result, she was the one who suffered the most. As time passed, she discovered that he was having affairs with other women, she also discovered that his first love had returned. This broke her heart and she finally decided to divorce him.She had suffered enough and it was time for her to move on with her life. But fate had a different plan for her. She discovered that she was pregnant after leaving Lucas's house. However, even though she was carrying his child, she didn't want to stay with him because of his infidelity. When Lucas found out that Alice had left and was furious."You belong to me, I'll never let you go"He forcefully pushed her against a cold wall and punished her with a deep kiss as a way to assert his dominance over her. It was only after she left that Lucas began to comprehend the profound impact Alice had on his life. He found himself unable to imagine anyone else filling the void she had left. 


The fiancee of Kason Louise, the richest man in New York, died in a car accident. Giana Kelsen, who caused the accident, was sentenced to three years in prison. After she was released from prison, she accidentally provoked Kason. She knelt on the ground and begged him. "Kason, please let me go." But Kason smiled, "Giana, I will never let you go." Everyone said that Kason was cold-hearted, but he fell in love with a woman who had been in prison before. However, the truth of the car accident that year destroyed all her love for him, and Giana ran away from him. Many years later, Kason begged her while on the ground, "Giana, as long as you come back, I will do anything for you." Giana only stared at him coldly. "Then, I want you to die." 
The famous Gregory Sutton of Bircanda City is married! The thing is, not only is his wife ugly and fat, but she's also a country bumpkin!
Two years later, Gregory is still cold and distant toward her. He doesn't want to have anything to do with her at all.
However, Veronica Walsh keeps holding onto the marriage simply because she loves him. After all, he was the beacon of light in the darkest times of her teenage life.
When Gregory's first love, Camelia Sandoval, returns to the country, Gregory forces Veronica to donate blood to Camelia. After the transfusion, he even leaves her with a divorce agreement.
That's when Camelia finally gives up on Gregory. She also snaps out of her lovesick trance and drops her signature on the divorce agreement. After that, she leaves the country and starts her life anew.
Three years later, the ugly and fat bumpkin makes a glorious return to Bircanda City.
Apparently, she's the internationally-renowned top surgeon who everyone admires. The best hacker in the world worships her. The award-winning actor refers to her as his boss. She even has a royal princess backing her up when needed. All the patriarchs of the most elite families in the world rush forth just to claim her as their goddaughter.
Needless to say, Veronica shines bright like a diamond and has countless admirers flocking to her. Naturally, Gregory, that scumbag of an ex-husband, regrets divorcing him.
In the middle of the night, a certain noble-looking and arrogant man pins Veronica against the wall. He begs pathetically, "Veronica, let's get remarried. Please." 
DARK ROMANCE "Sir, I am in a dire need of loan. Its very important, my friends life is at stake. I assure you I'll try my best to return the loan asap." She breathlessly said it all. Her eyes were filled with hope and expectations. He was her last hope.
"Miss Sheharzaad," Shehryaar said, while standing up from his chair causing her to instantly stand up.
"Yes sir" she replied, her voice troublesome yet confident.
He walked towards the other side of the table and sat on the chair parallel to her.
"Keep sitting, please." He said, like a gentleman and she sat down. She tightly held her hands together. A life could be saved by his single yes.
"Sir please," she pleaded.
"I agree. You can have the loan, but I have a condition."
"I agree to your every condition sir" she replied with a little smile of victory on her face.
"Think before you speak, Miss Sheharzaad."
"I trust you."
"I want a one night stand with you." He dropped the bomb.
............
"Every women is nothing but a , a and you're also one of them." He said making her wriggling double against the ropes, which tied her.
"You're wrong." She replied with a sheer determination in her eyes.
He harshly gripped held her chin and bobbed her head up towards him.
"Oh, I'll prove it to you then." He spoke with an immense intensity and a promise in his eyes.
"You'll now serve me as my personal escort, Sheharzaad." He declared and threaded his fingers into her silky locks, pasting his lips on hers, her brutally.
He didn't trust womankind and she was a strong woman.
He wanted shatter and break her into pieces so he could satisfy himself. 
[MM STORY]
My darkness meets a darker soul.
I’m a golden boy.
A genius law student, the heir to the Carson empire, and the dutiful son.
Or, at least, that's what it looks like from the outside.
Deep inside, I have the urge to set the world on fire.
I keep these impulses in check, rarely indulging in mayhem.
Until one night of debauchery backfires, and I'm caught by a villain.
I bury the entire ordeal with the rest of my skeletons.
That is, until that night walks into my classroom in the form of my new professor.
Kayden Lockwood.
A criminal who’s teaching criminal law.
I can't expose what he's done without unmasking my secret life.
What I can do, however, is force him to taste the poison he gave me.
In the clash of titans, Kayden and I break and crumble.
And I'm starting to realize this dangerous game may have no winners.
Kiss the Villain is a dark MM romance. Please check the author's note or visit the website for content warnings before diving in. While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, diving into the Legacy of Gods series will give you a deeper connection to the characters. 


Scarlett Taylor looked at the test report saying she had a last-stage cancer, and the news of her husband, Everett Robinson, and his ex-girlfriend Amelia Martin getting married soon, and her world crumbled.At that moment, she realized that her three years of marriage and love for Everett were nothing more than a joke.Clenching the test reports in her hand, Scarlett decided to give up on this loveless marriage and live the remaining days of her life for herself.At the gate of the divorce office, Everett sneered, "Scarlett Taylor, I am waiting for the day when you regret this!"Scarlett looked at him and smiled mockingly, "The only thing I will regret is marrying you!" and left.Two months later when Scarlett came back, Everett kneel in front of him, begging, "Scarlett, I regret it, Please forgive me and let's get back together."Scarlett looked at him and sneered, "Get lost! I don't know you!" 

She could feel the pain slowly overcoming her soul. The agony, the grief, taking over all that she once thought was alive in her. She felt so empty that she was sure her whole body will echo if someone was to shake her. But she stood, rigid as though a hundred years old tree, clinging onto the only thing that made her alive; her eyeglasses.
Through those glasses, she had seen things she had wished she could erase. She had hated the things she once loved, places she once cherished and the man she grew up to love.
It didn’t matter who he was to her, his role in her life or even the title he possessed. She was going to take revenge, she was going to make him regret, she was going to make her father cry right before her eyes!
But what if he chose to add more pain to her aching wounds? The day he declared her married to a gateman, the strings left attaching her with him were forcefully cut off. And she was certain even if it would take her till eternity, so long as she stayed married to the gateman, her father would never know what happiness felt like! 

I've loved Chris Gildon for a decade, but all he says is, "You're boring as hell. I couldn't be any less interested in you."He turns and spends his days and nights with another woman.We've known each other for ten years, but nothing comes from our relationship. I decide that I don't want to be his second choice anymore.Later, I get engaged to someone else. Chris knocks on my door in the middle of the night. "Maddie…""What can I do for you, Mr. Gildon?"As soon as the words are out of my mouth, a man's sexy voice rings out from the bedroom. "Babe, where did you put my underwear?"Chris staggers and spits a mouthful of blood before me. Sometime after that, I see that he's posted a story on his Instagram. It writes, "Once you miss out on someone, it stays that way for life. She might love you now, but that doesn't mean she'll love you forever. So, appreciate her while you have her." 


He is popular, hot, ruthless, and fierce, Jayden King has it all: that makes him untouchable. But when his relentless bullying drives a classmate to death, his perfect world shatters in a way he could never have foreseen. Haunted by his actions, Jayden unknowingly awakens a curse—a dark force binding him to a fate that defies his control. Now, his only chance at redemption is to face a chilling new destiny, a path laced with danger, mystery, and haunting shadows of his past. With each step, he realizes the stakes are far higher than he ever imagined, and the cost of finding peace may be more than he’s willing to pay. 
Kayla is a smart, focused, top-mark student in her last two senior years of high school in a private facility for rich kids in Florida. All she wants is to get accepted to Harvard and graduate with top marks to follow the career she has set for herself. Her entire life is about becoming an independent and successful vet. She has micro-managed it and planned it to the tiniest detail. Leaving no room for a social life or living her teen years like her peers. This year has had its ups and downs, with her stepbrother of almost ten years coming to live under the same roof after being raised apart after their parents married. The chaos and drama his appearance has brought since he despises not only his father but Kayla's mother too, has made home tense. He's a rude, defiant, and arrogant pain in her ass who is hellbent on causing trouble and listens to no one. Dane is the polar opposite in every way - Vain, oversexed, a playboy who takes nothing seriously except booze, girls, and his motorbike while he rebels in every way against his father for ripping apart his family. Looking like a teen idol, acting like someone who doesn't need to take accountability for anything in his life, Kayla honestly cannot stand him. She sees a loser who will live on daddy's money and drink away his youth while sleeping with every girl in the county. At 17, they have known one another most of their lives and never had any kind of friendly relationship. They have always been classmates but never friends and definitely not siblings. - but all that is about to change. 


Mercity's richest man, Adam Alvarez, has been comatose for three years. His wife, Celine Tate, cares for him throughout. But when he wakes up, she finds a flirty text in his phone. His first love is back in the country.
His friends, who have always looked down on Celine, laugh about the matter. "It's time for the ugly little duckling to get kicked to the curb now the swan is back."
Only then does Celine realize Adam has never loved her. She's nothing but a poor joke.
So, one night, Mr. Alvarez receives a divorce agreement from his wife. The reason for the divorce—there's something wrong with his health.
Adam goes after Celine, his expression dark. That's when he discovers her standing under gleaming lights, looking gorgeous in a long dress. She's suddenly become a medical expert.
When she sees him, she smiles. "Are you here to see an andrology specialist, Mr. Alvarez?" 

Regret soon consumed Stefan after the divorce. He never expected that his boring ex-wife would move on overnight, and be living her best life. Not only did a young heir of an influential family claim to be her underling, but a famous celebrity confessed to being her fan as well. Even one of the wealthiest people in the country referred to her as their senior…‘I don’t care how strong your background is, Renee Everheart. I’ll make sure to tear down your walls!’ With that, the second son of the Hunt family set out to protect the woman in secret. Stefan: “My ex-wife is so fragile that she can’t even stand on her own two feet, you mustn’t take advantage of her.”To which everyone replied, “Who would dare to mess with her? She’d rip our heads off if we ever get into a minor disagreement!”Stefan: “My ex-wife is far too naive, you shouldn’t toy with her feelings.” And yet people would say, “I’m sorry? We’ve never seen a naive woman act so unapologetically!”Stefan: “Come, darling. Let me introduce you to this powerful figure!”To which the powerful figure responded with a deep bow, “No, no, she’s the boss around these parts! I hope you accept my sincerest admiration!”Since then, Stefan has had to live a double life. He was an almighty CEO during the day, but come night time, he’d be sobbing on his knees, hoping to win Renee’s heart back. 
Behind closed doors, Jessica Lockman is a top designer.
First, her boyfriend, Derrick Quinton, cheats on her. Then, her best friend, Celine Leroy, takes her place, and she ends up with her boss, Zachary Jones.
When he asks, "Do you want to be Mrs. Jones?" Jessica finds herself in a flash marriage with her supposedly celibate boss.
But when night falls, his mask comes off. Celibate? Yeah, right—he's more like a wolf who has been starving for decades! 
After five years of marriage, Leon Quigley announces to everyone that he wants Victoria Smith to accept that she will never be his only woman. He will have affairs, and that's that.Victoria doesn't kick up a fuss. Instead, she gives him a divorce agreement, which she's already signed.Leon thinks she'll come back and beg for mercy soon enough—thanks to the Smith family's ruin, Victoria has been a housewife for the past five years. She has no income and is used to living a comfortable life. There's no way she can survive without him. He's sure she'll return in less than three days and grovel.However, the days pass without any news from Victoria. Leon can't take it anymore.He pins her to the wall, his eyes rimmed with redness as he asks huskily, "Can we put an end to this tantrum now, Vicky?"Victoria smiles. "It was only after leaving you that I realized how bright my future was, Mr. Quigley." 
When Emelie Hoven was hopelessly in love with William Middleton, she almost ended up losing her life. But to William, she was only someone convenient who he thought couldn't live without him.And so, she decided to stop loving him.William didn't like that Emelie was too calm, too rational, and too independent. Later, his wish came true—he got to see her relying on someone and being gentle.He wasn't the recipient, though.On the day of Emelie's wedding, she smiles brightly as she sits on a chair and waits for her groom and his groomsmen to pass the test she and her bridesmaids have set up for them. The atmosphere is lively. Suddenly, William shows up out of nowhere.He gets on one knee before her and holds her hands, looking like he's almost worshipping her. "Leave him, please. Come with me. You loved me first, didn't you?" 
In the third year of their marriage, Lynette Sterling and Zachary Wright have their worst fight yet.
On their wedding anniversary, Lynette presents forensic evidence of non-consensual intercourse and reports Zachary to the authorities. "I'm reporting my husband for forcing himself on me," she tells the police.
At the police station, Zachary remains the picture of composure in a tailored suit, his fingertips still faintly stained red. Even in custody, he carries the cold weight of a man who owns the room.
An officer approaches, casting an uneasy look at the legal predator looming nearby. "Mr. Wright, how would you like to handle this?"
Lynette's heart sinks. They aren't asking how to deal with Zachary; they are asking Zachary how he wants to deal with her.
Zachary lifts a brow, a captivating yet dark smile playing on his lips. He hooks a finger under Lynette's chin, his voice a low purr.
"Nettie, you really didn't hold back on trying to destroy me. But how can you tell such a bold lie? You weren't this heartless before. You used to do everything you could to match my freak in bed." 
I used to believe love was enough. That being the perfect Luna, the perfect wife, would make my mate love me back.
I was wrong.
My name is Kara Henderson, once the cherished daughter of a proud Alpha, now the Luna everyone pities.
My husband, Alpha Ryder, broke every vow he made. He humiliated me, cheated on me, and crushed every piece of dignity I had left.
The night he brought another woman into our bed was the night I finally snapped.
I ran.
I left behind the pack, the lies, the pain…. everything. I built a new life in the human world, hiding under a new name. I thought I could forget. But fate… she’s cruel.
Because the stranger I spent one night with, the man who made me feel alive again, turns out to be Lucien, Ryder’s estranged half brother.
He’s gentle where Ryder was cruel, protective where Ryder was arrogant. He says we’re fated… and the bond between us only grows stronger every day.
But how can I love the brother of the man who destroyed me? 






I received a pornographic video."Do you like this?"The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts."Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response."You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!"The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed.I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella.************************************************************************************************************************“I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly.He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!"The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him."I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster.He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table.I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house. 





Alden Crestfall remains cold and distant to his wife, Thalia Marquette, even after two years of being married to each other. Furthermore, they only have sex once a month as previously agreed.
Thalia smiles and accepts Alden's condition out of love for him. She trusts that one day, she'll make Alden love her in return.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Thalia catches Alden and his sister-in-law, Kiera Hollindale, getting it on in his office. As Thalia watches them going at it like wild, lustful beasts, she realizes Alden isn't as sexually disinterested as he claims to be.
It's just that Thalia isn't the woman Alden loves.
Any hope that Thalia had dies in an instant, and she divorces Alden before taking control over her family business once again.
When Thalia's name is listed in Fortune Global 500 and becomes her country's first female billionaire, Alden shows up with a bouquet of 999 roses to beg her for forgiveness.
"I was wrong, Lia. Please give me another chance," he says.
In response, Thalia takes a step back.
Meanwhile, the famous and prestigious scion, Darius Backshaw, suddenly appears and pulls Thalia into his arms.
"Screw off, you piece of scum! Don't you dare taint my wife's eyes with your presence any longer!" Darius exclaims. 

When Iris was a child, she discovered an earth-shattering secret. Ever since then, her relationship with Hugh had taken a turn.After a fire, the woman he pined for suffered severe burns and his identity was exposed. Overnight, the man who once adored his sister had made her his enemy and threw her into prison!After five gruesome years behind bars, the wounded girl who had fallen from grace no longer loved him.However, she ran into him yet again after her release from prison!The truth of the incident was then brought to light. With knees on the ground, he was beyond remorseful when he said, “Iris! Lock me up for five years too, would that be enough to win your heart again?”Her rejection was firm and vicious, “I will never love you again!”He had her locked up and begged her to give him one more chance but she had forsaken all affection for him. She only had escape on her mind.The turning point was when he saw her soaked in a bloody bathtub and that was when he finally let go.Victorious, she vanished shortly after. As for him, he went mad… 

Bella Thompson assumed a new identity and entered into a three-year marriage contract with Justin Salvador, hoping to win his heart with her unwavering devotion.To her dismay, Justin hastily presented her with the divorce papers as soon as their contractual period expired. Heartbroken, Bella signed them and returned home, resuming her identity as the heiress of the Thompson business empire.From then on, Bella no longer hid her remarkable talents. She was not only a billionaire heiress, but also a medical prodigy, a world-class hacker, and a fencing champion.Determined to get her revenge, Bella went all out to humiliate her ex-husband’s childhood sweetheart at an auction. She also became her ex-husband’s biggest business rival.Finally, Justin confronted her, saying, “Bella Thompson! Must you be so ruthless?”Bella sneered and retorted, “How I treat you now is only a fraction of the cruelty you subjected me to back then!” 
Six years ago, she was framed by her wicked sister and was abandoned by her then husband while she was pregnant.Six years later, she started anew with a different identity. Oddly, the same man who abandoned her in the past had not stopped pestering her at her front door.“Miss Gibson, what’s your relationship with Mister Lynch?”She smiled and answered nonchalantly, “I don’t know him.”“But sources say that you were once married.”She answered as she tucked her hair, “Those are rumors. I’m not blind, you see.”That day, she was pinned on the wall the moment she stepped in her door.Her three babies cheered, “Daddy said mommy’s eyes are bad! Daddy says he’ll fix it for mommy!”She wailed, “Please let me go, darling!” 
Elaina Gainsford had been a married woman for two years, yet the only chances she got to see her husband were the times when he was on TV. Therefore, she divorced him later.To her surprise, the day after the divorce, he frequently came into her sight. He first asked her to help his girlfriend, and then he claimed to woo her."Jalen Halton, do you know who I am?" she asked him."Of course. You are the internationally famous Dr. Gainsford, the renowned painter, Damon Dorthea's last student, the top hacker Elevan, and the founder of a high-end clothing brand. What other identities do you have? Tell me. I'm all ears." Jalen was so confident. He thought that he already knew everything about Elaina."In fact..."Elaina leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, "I am also your ex-wife." 

Giselle Whitman's stepsister, Chantelle Whitman, sends Giselle's husband, Gavin Farrell, explicit photos. But Giselle is the one they send to a psychiatric hospital. For 180 days, Giselle suffers inhumane abuse every single day. The day she finally gets discharged, she decides she wants nothing more to do with her old life.Gavin favors Chantelle over her? Fine, Chantelle can have that trash of a man.Penelope Farrell, her own daughter, prefers Chantelle over her? Well, Giselle wishes them a perfect little mother-and-daughter bond.Her brother, Dylan Whitman, dotes on Chantelle? Then they can all stay together for good.When Giselle appears with Reagan Simmon, the most powerful and revered man in all of Kingswell, and sweetly asks him to put her shoes on for her, everyone loses their minds.…The head of the Simmon family, Reagan Simmon, is a man of dazzling brilliance and noble bearing. Though devastatingly handsome, he is notoriously known for keeping women at a distance. As a result, everyone speculates that the Simmons bloodline may very well end with Reagan.Until one day, he is seen chasing after a young woman on the street, his eyes filled with affection. He coaxes her softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "Baby, get some rest tonight. Let's go home and sleep. No funny business. I promise."…Gavin, now Giselle's ex-husband, watches the woman who once had eyes only for him being cherished by another man now. Once dejected and miserable, Giselle now blossoms once more, becoming more vibrant and alluring than ever. All Gavin can do is watch from afar, stealing glimpses of her happiness. And that is already more than he deserves. 
Life, they say, is not a storybook but life unfolds in chapters; good chapters, bad chapters. What happens when the chapters of Jasmine’s life were not only bad but terrible?***In a world where only the strong gets what they want, and where women are only considered toys, Jasmine, an omega wolf, is thrown into the furnace of life to burn by her mate whom she loved but now loathed.She was abused day and night, lost countless pregnancies in the hands of her toxic mate, and was used as a mere pleasure toy. Life seemed hopeless, and fate played a quick one when she discovered she was pregnant again.To protect herself and her baby, she ran away from the pack and ended up in the arms of another Alpha.What happens when she discovers this Alpha was her second chance mate?Is she finally going to be happy or has fate tricked her yet again? 



“You chose them over me. She became your focus because of the pup she was carrying! You ruined me! You broke me! Promises shattered!” Edeline yelled.“I had to protect my pup. There were wolves out to hurt him, and you were one of them! I didn’t want to leave you, but you were a threat to my pup!” He snarled. “But I don’t care what kind of wolf you are... you’re my mate! I won’t lose you too!”“You already lost me, Percival... When you picked that blonde bitch and her pup over me, your mate. You had a chance to fix things and didn’t take it. No more chances. I’m leaving.”Edeline’s world shatters when her mate, Percival, returns with a child from another woman. As secrets unfold and betrayal strikes, she fights to reclaim her future. Percival struggles with his new reality, testing their bond. Full of twists, emotions, and unexpected humor, this story will take you on a rollercoaster of love, mystery, and redemption, ending with a satisfying resolution. Dive in—you won’t regret it! 



On the day of our wedding, Justin had someone take off my wedding dress. He wanted to personally put it on my younger stepsister. He cut me an icy look, claiming, "I'll make you my wife, but my love belongs to Felicia. We'll get our marriage license after the wedding."The people around us laughed. They made a bet that I wouldn't wait around for Justin like I had before, considering that I had been holding on for five years to keep the engagement.Yet, the moment I left the church, I made a call. "Elizabeth, about your proposition the other day? It's a yes from me."…That night, I took a private jet and flew to my new home.From that moment on, my world was completely cut off from Justin's.…After not seeing him in five years, I ran into him when I attended a banquet with my daughter. The moment he sees my daughter in my arms, he gives us a humorless smile."So, you've come crawling back after five years. Why not put the child under Felicia's care from now on? I might just let her call me 'Dad'," he commented in a sneer.He had no idea the child wasn't his. 
Three years ago, I had my positive cancer diagnosis in one hand as I consoled Anderson Graham, whose eyes were red and teary.
"It's just cancer. I can beat this."
However, he continued crying until he was almost out of breath. He hugged me so tightly that I thought my bones would crack.
"Yvonne, promise me that you'll beat this. I'll wait for you to return so I can marry you!"
In order to live, I had to remove most of my stomach.
Every single day, I was faced with handful after handful of pills and never-ending chemotherapy.
Three years later, I'm finally healed and can return to Anderson's side.
During my return party, his female best friend chuckles as she raises a glass.
"Andy was as celibate as a priest while you were overseas. I kept a close eye on him every single night and made sure nobody else was in his bed.
"I practically tattooed the words 'Do Not Touch' on him to make sure nobody else would go for him!"
The noisy room suddenly becomes so quiet that I can hear a pin drop.
I do my best to ignore the prickling ache coming from my chest.
With an equally bright smile, I raise my glass and reply, "Should I give you an award for keeping his bed occupied, then?"