Cusp of Darkness
Author: Olivia Preya
Series: The Cusp Series, #1
Publication date: January 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Mafia, Romance
Valerius Cafarelli
In my world, we live and die for our family. We brand our skin with symbols of loyalty and rank that bind us together. It’s time to step from behind the scenes and claim my birthright, leader of the Cafarelli family. But the mafia is nothing if not set in tradition. Marriage is the only way to claim what’s rightfully mine.
When the angel I’ve protected from a distance suddenly needs me as much as I need her, I make an offer she can’t refuse.She is a candle in the night.
She is a prayer to the gods.
She is the knife that brings me to my knees.—
Adaliya Solarin
I took an oath to save lives, trying to redeem myself from a bloody night where I played judge, jury, and executioner. I worked hard to erase all traces of the night I claimed revenge, but my mind can’t forget the man who ensured I’d never be put away for my crime.Now I need someone to help me save my father from himself. When I’m left desperate and defeated, the man who saved me once offers one last chance at survival. What can I do but make a deal with the devil?
He is the bump in the night.
He is my darkest temptations come to life.
He is my salvation.Cusp of Darkness is book one of the Cusp series but can be read as a standalone. It has a guaranteed HEA, swoon-worthy anti-hero, and badass heroine. This is an interracial mafia romance containing explicit sex scenes, graphic violence, and is recommended for readers 18+. Please check the author’s website for the full list of content warnings on the author’s website.
an excerpt
“What is on your mind, angelo?”
“The fact we are in a metal death trap,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You’ve been off all morning.” He ignored my comment. Anger flitted in my chest again. “What’s bothering you?”
I shook my head and gave a tight smile, bringing my eyes to his briefly. “Nothing.”
The leather groaned as he got out of his seat and rested his hands on either side of my armrests. He leaned his face in close and I looked up at him through my lashes. I wetted my lips, and his gaze followed the movement before holding mine again. His proximity was making me a little lightheaded.
“I’m going to have to do something about your bad habit of lying. Tell me what’s wrong.” He demanded. His breath was warm across my face. I wanted to break the intense eye contact, but I was trapped by his emerald gaze. Valerius looked surly. Oh, that was rich. Who did he think he was, getting to order me around right after calling me a liar?
I steeled my expression. “I won’t stand for you fucking other people while we are married.” I realized the hypocrisy in my statement; if I wasn’t doing him and I wouldn’t let him do anyone else, then I was demanding a pretty tall order. Especially for a man who oozed sex appeal and likely had a different woman in his bed each night.
His eyebrows shot up. “Such dirty words for an angel.” He eased back into his seat and casually rested an ankle on his thigh. “Where is this coming from?”
I kissed my teeth. I could use bad words, although even my referring to them as ‘bad words’ was kind of childish. “You and Salvatore went out last night, you didn’t come back until early in the morning, and I won’t put out. I can put the pieces together.”
Valerius’s expression morphed one of consideration. He cocked his head and I squirmed as he watched me. He was silent for a moment. “You’re jealous.”
“No,” I spluttered. “I don’t want to play the pathetic wife who sits pretty and is the laughingstock as her husband has sex with anyone and everyone.”
Valerius smirked and I wanted to wipe the cockiness off his face. I backtracked. “You know what? I actually don’t care if you want to sleep around. I guess because we aren’t truly together, I can’t make any rules. Ignore what I just said; I’ll have my own fun as well.”
He narrowed his eyes and a dark look passed over his face, but his body remained lax. “Have your fun?”
I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. Why can’t we have one of those marriages where it’s totally open and each of us has multiple sexual partners? It would be a win-win for both of us. We are in a rather particular situation so maybe it would make sense. We both have needs,” But even as I said it, my stomach churned. I couldn’t have meaningless sex; I wasn’t wired to have multiple casual partners. And if Valerius called my bluff, I would be gutted. But it was out there, and I wasn’t backing down.
“You’re not fucking anyone besides me, angelo. If you feel like you need to get your cunt stretched, you come to me.” He snarled. The look on his face was downright murderous. I should have recoiled at his words and been offended but my body betrayed me. My lips parted and I pressed my thighs together in a failed attempt to dull the throbbing in my core. He caught my movement, and a cruel smirk covered his face. “Your body knows who it belongs to. It knows who it wants, so don’t even think about trying to fulfill your needs with someone else. Your curves, your mouth, your pussy, it’s all mine.”
I wanted to be offended but the emotion didn’t come. I just wanted to come.
Oh my god.
I didn’t say anything because I didn’t even know what to say. I was conflicted because I loved what he said, but I wasn’t supposed to. My mind was clouded with lust.
Valerius gave a satisfied nod at my lack of response and his expression turned calm once again. “I didn’t fuck anyone last night and I won’t fuck anyone unless it is you.”
about the author
Olivia Preya is a romance fanatic and author living in Toronto, Canada. She writes about what she loves—love, spice, and panty-dropping men with a soft spot for the love of their lives. When life gets a little tough or bland, she finds that fictional men are the best medicine.
Olivia considers herself to have two personas, like Wonder Woman, but with a pen––corporate marketing specialist by day and spicy romance author by night. She also likes to embrace all forms of sensuality, from pole dancing and erotic novels to good food; she believes that sometimes the best things in life are a little sinful.
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