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Aching for His Discretion: An Opposites Attract Medical Student x Mafia Boss Dark Romance
Teegan Monroe. The medical student. The sheer perfectionist. The chronic overthinker. Driven to help others and achieve her goal of becoming a physician, she has left her home to study in another city. Managing to stick her head in the books to keep to herself, nothing in her everyday life has been too exciting. That is, until she treated a certain patient in the ER.
Levi Amante. The mafia boss. The ruthless murderer. The master manipulator. Known for his crude and flawed nature, if Levi can’t get what he wants, he takes it. No matter how impulsive or hot-headed he may seem, he’s never let anything penetrate his tough experience. That is, until he’s treated in the hospital by a certain medical student.
Teegan is charmed by Levi, his alluring presence both a mystery and a temptation. Levi, too, finds himself infatuated with her beauty, intellect, and enticing vulnerability. As their lives become dangerously entwined, Teegan’s constant overanalysis clashes with Levi’s meticulous calculation. While she second-guesses his every move, he masterfully orchestrates the chaos he’s introduced into her life, pulling her deeper into his world.
And despite her better judgment, despite every instinct telling her to run, Teegan finds herself drawn to him, where she discovers her greatest fantasies and worst nightmares. With every lie told, every drop of blood shed, every ounce of trust tested and broken beyond repair, Teegan must choose between escaping the dangerous pull of a man willing to bend the world around her to his will, or surrendering to the chaos, putting her aching heart to the test.
Tropes/What to
Mafia Romance
Medical Romance
Anxiety-ridden/Damsel-in-distress female MC
Dark obsessive/Possessive male MC
Opposites attract
Dual POV
Fast burn
Emotional scars and betrayal
Humor
HEAThis is a dark romance featuring themes of mental, emotional, and psychological manipulation, along with complex interpersonal dynamics between the two love interests.
Levi Amante. The mafia boss. The ruthless murderer. The master manipulator. Known for his crude and flawed nature, if Levi can’t get what he wants, he takes it. No matter how impulsive or hot-headed he may seem, he’s never let anything penetrate his tough experience. That is, until he’s treated in the hospital by a certain medical student.
Teegan is charmed by Levi, his alluring presence both a mystery and a temptation. Levi, too, finds himself infatuated with her beauty, intellect, and enticing vulnerability. As their lives become dangerously entwined, Teegan’s constant overanalysis clashes with Levi’s meticulous calculation. While she second-guesses his every move, he masterfully orchestrates the chaos he’s introduced into her life, pulling her deeper into his world.
And despite her better judgment, despite every instinct telling her to run, Teegan finds herself drawn to him, where she discovers her greatest fantasies and worst nightmares. With every lie told, every drop of blood shed, every ounce of trust tested and broken beyond repair, Teegan must choose between escaping the dangerous pull of a man willing to bend the world around her to his will, or surrendering to the chaos, putting her aching heart to the test.
Tropes/What to
Mafia Romance
Medical Romance
Anxiety-ridden/Damsel-in-distress female MC
Dark obsessive/Possessive male MC
Opposites attract
Dual POV
Fast burn
Emotional scars and betrayal
Humor
HEAThis is a dark romance featuring themes of mental, emotional, and psychological manipulation, along with complex interpersonal dynamics between the two love interests.
- GenresDark RomanceRomance
461 pages, ebook
Published November 22, 2024
200 people are currently reading
297 people want to read
About the author
S.K. Angel
7 books43 followersAngel is an independent romance, fiction, and fantasy author, officially known as iiLoveydoveii on Wattpad. Here, you will find her published paperbacks and ebooks.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/authorskangel
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 2, 2025
Rating: 3/5 stars
POV: Dual, 1st person
Length: Novel
Relationship: MF
Primary Tropes/Features: Opposite Attract, Mafia Romance, Medical Romance, Medical student/Mafia boss, Dark romance, Fast burn, Anxiety-ridden/Damsel-in-distress FMC, Dark obsessive/Possessive MMC, He falls first
Secondary Tropes/Features: Emotional scars and betrayal, Humor, Touch her and die, Virgin heroine, Kink
Micro Tropes: Nicknames, Spicy mirror scene, Spicy study session
Content warning: A content warning is included at the start of the book which mentions the portrayal of the incidents and experiences relating to the triggers are for storytelling purposes only. This book includes:
Aching for His Discretion was an intense and dark romance with a complex dynamic between its two main characters that made for a somewhat captivating read.
Teegan was an intelligent and bubbly individual; she had a fierce perfectionist streak within her where she thrived on academic and professional success but it caused her to be a chronic overthinker who was riddled with anxiety and was often her own worst enemy. She had a likable personality but her eagerness to please others made her desperate for validation and it sometimes presented her as a character without a backbone. Throughout the book Teegan was very much characterized as an innocent and malleable individual but she went through a transformation where she became headstrong and fierce and very much capable of protecting herself and her independence through her intelligence and use of words. Her character growth was easy to see when you compare how she was presented in the first chapters to the last and I enjoyed how as readers we were able to see her protect her independence and self-worth. Whilst there is no denying that the men in her life continued to hold some position of power over her she was able to put herself in a position where she had an equal level of power, if not more, in some circumstances which was extremely important when it came to her relationship with Levi.
Levi was an imposing individual with a formidable and scary presence. There was an air of danger that surrounded him not just because of the position he held in life but also from his personality. He was the embodiment of a morally grey hero and this was the kind of dark romance where he often pushed things too far. Levi's obsessive nature was his driving force and it's something that he struggled to control and acknowledge but what made him different was that throughout the course of the book he did start to realize the error in his ways both by himself and through the reactions that he was getting from Teegan and those closest to him. His ability to start making changes, even if at first it was reluctant, showed his character growth because he was recognizing his misdeeds and we started to see more of the good that was in him and this gentle side that came out in addition to the vulnerability that perhaps as readers we weren't expecting from how he was initially characterised. He became a complex character who had both likable and loathsome moments and one where you really had to consider whether or not he was someone that you could become invested in and if he was someone that you wanted to see succeed.
Teegan and Levi had a complex interpersonal dynamic when it came to their relationship. They met in the hospital when he was her patient and he was consumed by her from that very first moment and how much he wanted to claim the innocence pouring out from her which contrasted against his darkness. They were a fast burn romance and by approximately 35% into the book were together and giving things a genuine try. I did like the connection that was between them. I thought the contrast of her light innocence to his dark depravity was depicted and developed as I became invested in where this relationship was going considering the consistent tension and highs and lows of their interactions. There was also an intense sexual chemistry that was enhanced by the frequency and level of kink within their spicy scenes. Sex was very much driven by Levi and his wants and needs but it was something that Teegan got off on. There was a level of power play and amount of experience that further highlighted the level of control Levi had but given his frequent reassurance and putting aside what he was getting out of it to make sure that she was okay and was in control gave them a more acceptable and likeable dynamic.
However, given the dark nature of the book and their romance there were moments that were uncomfortable, mainly for Teegan and for the reader but I think Angel depicted these scenes well and when you can consider them and the character development together you can see why as a reader you were invested. Levi realised from almost the first scene the power that he had over Teegan and throughout the book he did manipulate, gaslight, and in some way or another hurt her and it very much played into their complex interpersonal dynamic. Levi wanted to remain a perfect vision of a man within her eyes and to maintain her innocence without her being drawn into his world but in doing so he scared her and it was obvious that he over stepped without realising. However what I did like was because of her intelligence and the level of fear that she didn't have when it came to him Teegan was able to call Levi out on his manipulation and the detrimental effects that was or would have had on her as a person and her mental health. Being called out for his actions angered Levi but it did become a light bulb moment to him and he realized that he was going to have to apologise, make it up to her, and change. The battle of manipulation and independence very much became the embodiment of their relationship and continuously evolved eventually becoming complex as secondary plots evolved and influenced their relationship. The darkness to their relationship never really went away but as Levi learned to control his obsessive and possessive nature and Tegan stood up for what she wanted there did become a time where she was no longer being harmed in any physical, emotional, or psychological way. The book ended with them on equal ground and both accepting of every aspect of the other and how to maintain a relationship that was healthy for the both of them within the context of their relationship.
The secondary plots of this book, like the romance, was very fast moving, and did mainly revolve around Tegan and Levi, however the outside influences of these plots on their relationship were interesting and I do think they were of benefit to the book as a whole. A few moments came across as if they were added just for shock factor or to tick off a box when it comes to dark romance but on some level it did continue to work to enhance the book. There were also a handful of secondary characters who we were either meant to like or loathe and I think they all enhanced the book too. My favourites were obviously Elliott, Micah, and Nico (Levi’s closest men) who came to be fiercely protective of Teegan, saw her as a sister and gave her the kind and teasing sibling relationship she wasn’t given from her own family. Teegan’s pet cat (Grayson) is also worthy of a mention for the humour it brought to the book given Grayson’s human-like characteristics and the role he played within Teegan’s relationships with Levi, Elliott, Micah, and Nico.
I enjoyed Aching for His Discretion more than I thought I was going to and I do think it's the first dark romance I've read in a while that had me debating for some time whether or not this was a romance I could get behind because there wasn't a sudden shift in the morally grey characters personality and actions. It's been my first book by Angel and I don't think it will be my last because the book was well written and felt like there was an adequate amount of character and romance development. If I was looking for a book similar to this in the future she is an author that I would return too.
Favourite Quote(s):
POV: Dual, 1st person
Length: Novel
Relationship: MF
Primary Tropes/Features: Opposite Attract, Mafia Romance, Medical Romance, Medical student/Mafia boss, Dark romance, Fast burn, Anxiety-ridden/Damsel-in-distress FMC, Dark obsessive/Possessive MMC, He falls first
Secondary Tropes/Features: Emotional scars and betrayal, Humor, Touch her and die, Virgin heroine, Kink
Micro Tropes: Nicknames, Spicy mirror scene, Spicy study session
Content warning: A content warning is included at the start of the book which mentions the portrayal of the incidents and experiences relating to the triggers are for storytelling purposes only. This book includes:
Aching for His Discretion was an intense and dark romance with a complex dynamic between its two main characters that made for a somewhat captivating read.
Teegan was an intelligent and bubbly individual; she had a fierce perfectionist streak within her where she thrived on academic and professional success but it caused her to be a chronic overthinker who was riddled with anxiety and was often her own worst enemy. She had a likable personality but her eagerness to please others made her desperate for validation and it sometimes presented her as a character without a backbone. Throughout the book Teegan was very much characterized as an innocent and malleable individual but she went through a transformation where she became headstrong and fierce and very much capable of protecting herself and her independence through her intelligence and use of words. Her character growth was easy to see when you compare how she was presented in the first chapters to the last and I enjoyed how as readers we were able to see her protect her independence and self-worth. Whilst there is no denying that the men in her life continued to hold some position of power over her she was able to put herself in a position where she had an equal level of power, if not more, in some circumstances which was extremely important when it came to her relationship with Levi.
Levi was an imposing individual with a formidable and scary presence. There was an air of danger that surrounded him not just because of the position he held in life but also from his personality. He was the embodiment of a morally grey hero and this was the kind of dark romance where he often pushed things too far. Levi's obsessive nature was his driving force and it's something that he struggled to control and acknowledge but what made him different was that throughout the course of the book he did start to realize the error in his ways both by himself and through the reactions that he was getting from Teegan and those closest to him. His ability to start making changes, even if at first it was reluctant, showed his character growth because he was recognizing his misdeeds and we started to see more of the good that was in him and this gentle side that came out in addition to the vulnerability that perhaps as readers we weren't expecting from how he was initially characterised. He became a complex character who had both likable and loathsome moments and one where you really had to consider whether or not he was someone that you could become invested in and if he was someone that you wanted to see succeed.
Teegan and Levi had a complex interpersonal dynamic when it came to their relationship. They met in the hospital when he was her patient and he was consumed by her from that very first moment and how much he wanted to claim the innocence pouring out from her which contrasted against his darkness. They were a fast burn romance and by approximately 35% into the book were together and giving things a genuine try. I did like the connection that was between them. I thought the contrast of her light innocence to his dark depravity was depicted and developed as I became invested in where this relationship was going considering the consistent tension and highs and lows of their interactions. There was also an intense sexual chemistry that was enhanced by the frequency and level of kink within their spicy scenes. Sex was very much driven by Levi and his wants and needs but it was something that Teegan got off on. There was a level of power play and amount of experience that further highlighted the level of control Levi had but given his frequent reassurance and putting aside what he was getting out of it to make sure that she was okay and was in control gave them a more acceptable and likeable dynamic.
However, given the dark nature of the book and their romance there were moments that were uncomfortable, mainly for Teegan and for the reader but I think Angel depicted these scenes well and when you can consider them and the character development together you can see why as a reader you were invested. Levi realised from almost the first scene the power that he had over Teegan and throughout the book he did manipulate, gaslight, and in some way or another hurt her and it very much played into their complex interpersonal dynamic. Levi wanted to remain a perfect vision of a man within her eyes and to maintain her innocence without her being drawn into his world but in doing so he scared her and it was obvious that he over stepped without realising. However what I did like was because of her intelligence and the level of fear that she didn't have when it came to him Teegan was able to call Levi out on his manipulation and the detrimental effects that was or would have had on her as a person and her mental health. Being called out for his actions angered Levi but it did become a light bulb moment to him and he realized that he was going to have to apologise, make it up to her, and change. The battle of manipulation and independence very much became the embodiment of their relationship and continuously evolved eventually becoming complex as secondary plots evolved and influenced their relationship. The darkness to their relationship never really went away but as Levi learned to control his obsessive and possessive nature and Tegan stood up for what she wanted there did become a time where she was no longer being harmed in any physical, emotional, or psychological way. The book ended with them on equal ground and both accepting of every aspect of the other and how to maintain a relationship that was healthy for the both of them within the context of their relationship.
The secondary plots of this book, like the romance, was very fast moving, and did mainly revolve around Tegan and Levi, however the outside influences of these plots on their relationship were interesting and I do think they were of benefit to the book as a whole. A few moments came across as if they were added just for shock factor or to tick off a box when it comes to dark romance but on some level it did continue to work to enhance the book. There were also a handful of secondary characters who we were either meant to like or loathe and I think they all enhanced the book too. My favourites were obviously Elliott, Micah, and Nico (Levi’s closest men) who came to be fiercely protective of Teegan, saw her as a sister and gave her the kind and teasing sibling relationship she wasn’t given from her own family. Teegan’s pet cat (Grayson) is also worthy of a mention for the humour it brought to the book given Grayson’s human-like characteristics and the role he played within Teegan’s relationships with Levi, Elliott, Micah, and Nico.
I enjoyed Aching for His Discretion more than I thought I was going to and I do think it's the first dark romance I've read in a while that had me debating for some time whether or not this was a romance I could get behind because there wasn't a sudden shift in the morally grey characters personality and actions. It's been my first book by Angel and I don't think it will be my last because the book was well written and felt like there was an adequate amount of character and romance development. If I was looking for a book similar to this in the future she is an author that I would return too.
Favourite Quote(s):
‘Just looking at her was a fucking privilege.'
Of course I do, Tesoro. I want to be your everything... because you...you are my life, the air I breathe. You are my everything."
November 27, 2024
💚💜💙💛
Wow what a roller coaster of a romance. Loved it. Wish it was longer. Ending so sweet, which is a surprise but not. Worth the read.
Wow what a roller coaster of a romance. Loved it. Wish it was longer. Ending so sweet, which is a surprise but not. Worth the read.
May 18, 2025
All characters are sooo cliché, it actually irritates you while reading. The FMC is a third year medical student who is sooo smart, even smarter that her seniors, and the attending doctor at one point even says that she can take his job as well if she wants, beacuse you know, she is the main character so she has to be perfect, but she also cant know about her apparently genius mind because that would just make her a haughty bitch, so she keeps crying at the slightest inconvenience. The thing with her brothers just seemed weird, the mom is as brainless as the FMC because her father and brothers have been a part of the mafia or something,(seriously, it is never explained what exactly they do, they are just shown to be big bad men😒) and she or the FMC never found out, at all. At one point, the brothers, father and the MMC have a argument of sorts at the dinner table and the father tells them to go to the room, and both ladies just get up and leave😮💨. I just hate when female characters are shown as doormats like this, beacuse it is completely possible to have at least basic common sense and a hot MMC at the same time. And talking of clichés, she is also smol and petite and loves to cook for other people but often forgets to eat herself, because you know, she is smol and petite. The MMC is obsessed from the start for no apparent reason at all, they meet while he has a gunshot wound in his shoulder and the dialogues at that point are just cringe. He has no regards for her comfort because he is soo obsessed, so I guess that forgives his faults. I was seriously questioning how did this get publised, but then I found that the book was previously published on wattpad, so, I guess things like this makes sense.
Not going to read any other books for sure because it is going to be the same as this, definitely.
Not going to read any other books for sure because it is going to be the same as this, definitely.
December 24, 2024
Teagan was annoying
This book lasted too long. The fmc was too weak crying at every moment and was meant to be smart but was so gullible. I almost dnf 3 x the spice was hot but I read better. I liked the action and violence.
Maybe i read another book in the series.
Tropes
Touch her and 💀
He falls first
Mafia
Spice
Long story spans 4 years
Virgin fmc
This book lasted too long. The fmc was too weak crying at every moment and was meant to be smart but was so gullible. I almost dnf 3 x the spice was hot but I read better. I liked the action and violence.
Maybe i read another book in the series.
Tropes
Touch her and 💀
He falls first
Mafia
Spice
Long story spans 4 years
Virgin fmc
October 6, 2025
time…. jumps
This book had a lot of things I usually like. An over the top mafia man is usually a fun escapist but somewhat problematic ride. This took that to 11 and mixed it with a SUPER naive girl with a ton of therapy speak mixed in. I was feeling it until the back half of the book had a time jump of 2 whole years? She makes new friends and lots seems to be left off-page. But I did enjoy it overall it just didn’t have the same dive-in and stay there type world I like in books.
Warnings for lots of violence and manipulative behavior.
This book had a lot of things I usually like. An over the top mafia man is usually a fun escapist but somewhat problematic ride. This took that to 11 and mixed it with a SUPER naive girl with a ton of therapy speak mixed in. I was feeling it until the back half of the book had a time jump of 2 whole years? She makes new friends and lots seems to be left off-page. But I did enjoy it overall it just didn’t have the same dive-in and stay there type world I like in books.
Warnings for lots of violence and manipulative behavior.
November 5, 2025
Levi and Teegan
Keegan is an innocent 24 year old medical student. Her life changed completely when one day she took care of a patient in a busy ER that had came in with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
He had left as mysteriously as he had arrived and from that day on, people started to dissappear,people that scared her, bully her and made her life difficult.
Little did she knew that she had caught the attention of o Diablo, a ruthless man, known to not hesitate to get rid of people tgat stand in his way.
Keegan is an innocent 24 year old medical student. Her life changed completely when one day she took care of a patient in a busy ER that had came in with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
He had left as mysteriously as he had arrived and from that day on, people started to dissappear,people that scared her, bully her and made her life difficult.
Little did she knew that she had caught the attention of o Diablo, a ruthless man, known to not hesitate to get rid of people tgat stand in his way.
December 11, 2024
🤦♀️
Fmc is a cry baby, honestly, this chick is just out there crying about literally everything. She's in her 3rd year studying medicine but she's so stupid and WEAK. Everyone is so mean to her. Boo-frickin-hoo. I hate this kind of fmc.
Mmc is... boring. No chemistry with fmc. I have no idea how old he is? And he treats the fmc like an infant. Kinda icky since she also acts like a preschooler.
Fmc is a cry baby, honestly, this chick is just out there crying about literally everything. She's in her 3rd year studying medicine but she's so stupid and WEAK. Everyone is so mean to her. Boo-frickin-hoo. I hate this kind of fmc.
Mmc is... boring. No chemistry with fmc. I have no idea how old he is? And he treats the fmc like an infant. Kinda icky since she also acts like a preschooler.
March 19, 2025
I enjoyed the premise but I really struggled with the prose.
The author leaned into the naive fmc trope a bit too hard for me. It became comical how the fmc could be that dumb and naive and completely unaware. Had to force myself to finish as I don’t like to dnf but I came pretty close.
The author leaned into the naive fmc trope a bit too hard for me. It became comical how the fmc could be that dumb and naive and completely unaware. Had to force myself to finish as I don’t like to dnf but I came pretty close.
December 31, 2024
Dark! Struggled to put this one down!
January 16, 2025
Love hate relationship with the characters
Both the main characters made me love them in parts of the book and hate them in parts of the book but I really enjoyed this read
Both the main characters made me love them in parts of the book and hate them in parts of the book but I really enjoyed this read
January 17, 2025
3.75⭐️/2🌶️
It's a bit wattpad-y but enjoyable if you want a doormat,shy heroine, and an alpha mmc.
It's a bit wattpad-y but enjoyable if you want a doormat,shy heroine, and an alpha mmc.
February 2, 2025
The cat was absolutely adorable. 100% the best part!
February 3, 2025
Okay, I haven't finished the book yet, but I find it extremely annoying that characters say hmm after every sentence. Did anyone else notice it?
did-not-finish
March 6, 2025DNF about 20%
Didn’t find this one very compelling, main tropes or mafia MMC but slightly cartoonish when coupled with a very childlike FMC.
Didn’t find this one very compelling, main tropes or mafia MMC but slightly cartoonish when coupled with a very childlike FMC.
March 29, 2025
I understand why people wouldn’t like this book. But I genuinely loved this book. I loved how both of the characters grew along the way. It is pretty toxic and manipulative but over all just good
Read
June 20, 20253.75⭐️
Read
October 12, 2025DNF - reads like a wattpad fan fiction. Very two dimensional characters
November 7, 2025
dnfd at 14%
fmc is TSTL (too stupid to live). the story was all over the place and it also didn't make a whole lot of sense.
fmc is TSTL (too stupid to live). the story was all over the place and it also didn't make a whole lot of sense.
November 9, 2025
Dnf, definitely not for me.
January 3, 2025
A medical student gets babied by a man twice her age. Thank the lord she develops a backbone by the end!
November 4, 2025
I honestly forgot about this book ngl i jst seen that I haven’t reviewed. I forgot what half of what was abt but it is insta love at first i thought it was cute and shit it no not for me just another 2 star read
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews