Fallen God Duet #1 | Dark Romance | 2024
By Gabrielle Sands
About This Book
Pretending to date my handsome new housemate was already a bad idea, but then I discover he’s no ordinary guy — he’s a mobster in hiding. And in this story, he’s not the hero, but the wicked villain.
Rowan Miller isn’t used to hearing the word “no.” I guess when you’re 6’5, gorgeously tattooed, and sculpted like a Michelangelo masterpiece, women tend to throw themselves at you. But in a small town like Darkwater Hollow, a reputation as a womanizer will catch up with you — and your business — eventually. Which is why Rowan needs a fake girlfriend to prove he’s reformed.
When my house goes up in flames, I agree to Rowan’s offer in exchange for a place to stay. After my last brutal break up, I’ve sworn off charming, smooth-talking men. But the way Rowan looks at me — hungry and possessive — makes my pulse race and my skin sizzle with heat.
The longer we pretend to be in love, the more real it feels. Just when I think I’ve broken my unlucky streak, I discover Rowan’s hiding secrets. Big ones, like his real name.
Will his dark past bring us closer together? Or will it destroy everything we’ve built?
When He Desires is book 1 of the Fallen God duet. This book ends on a cliffhanger. Nero and Blake’s story concludes in When He Takes.
Content Warnings
Sexual assault (not between main characters), kidnapping/abduction, mentions of past trauma (emotional abuse, death of a parent), violence, gaslighting.
Reader Reviews
Amazon Reviews · Goodreads Reviews
Quick Facts
| Author | Gabrielle Sands |
| Series | Fallen God Duet #1 |
| Genre | Dark Romance, Mafia Romance |
| Tropes | Mafia romance, Fake dating, Obsessed/possessive hero, Reverse grumpy/sunshine, Slow burn, Hidden identity |
| Spice | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 out of 5 |
| Format | Ebook, Paperback, KU |
| Published | 2024 |
Series Reading Order
| # | Book | Couple | Key Tropes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | When She Unravels | Valentina & Damiano | Enemies to lovers, forced marriage, revenge |
| 2 | When She Tempts | Martina & Giorgio | Bodyguard, age gap, slow burn |
| 3 | When She Falls | Gemma & Ras | Forbidden love, enemies to lovers, abused heroine |
| 4 | When She Loves | Cleo & Rafaele | Arranged marriage, virgin heroine, slow burn |
| 5 | When He Desires (this book) | Nero & Blake | Fake dating, hidden identity, slow burn (Part 1 of duet) |
| 6 | When He Takes | Nero & Blake | Forced marriage, possessive hero (Part 2 of duet, cliffhanger resolved) |
| 7 | Be With Me | Romolo & Mia | Forbidden romance, he falls first, good girl/bad boy |
Meet the Characters
Nero De Luca
A former mafia underboss living under the alias “Rowan Miller” in the small town of Darkwater Hollow, Nero is dangerously competent, effortlessly charming, and in the middle of a deep identity crisis. Stripped of his power and purpose, he’s a man who once commanded an empire now struggling with civilian life — and the boredom is driving him to reckless decisions. When he meets Blake, his possessive instincts find a new target.
Blake Wolfe
Fiercely independent and deeply lonely, Blake is a woman who has been left behind by everyone who mattered — her father disappeared, her brother moved away, her mother died, and her boyfriend cheated. She works for her cheating ex because there are no other jobs in town, and she’s trying to sell her house to escape. Beneath her sharp tongue and guarded exterior, Blake is a secret romantic who dreams of owning a bookstore.
Readers Who Loved This Also Loved
- Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score — A small-town romance with a heroine starting over and a grumpy hero hiding a protective streak, capturing the same blend of charm and emotional depth as Nero and Blake’s story.
- The Fine Print by Lauren Asher — A slow-burn romance built on a fake arrangement with a hero who is more than he appears, echoing the constructed relationship that drives When He Desires.
- Painted Scars by Neva Altaj — A mafia romance with a dangerously powerful hero and a heroine who refuses to be intimidated, delivering the same tension between a criminal world and the normalcy Blake craves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is When He Desires a standalone?
No. When He Desires is Part 1 of the Fallen God Duet and ends on a cliffhanger. You’ll need to read When He Takes (Part 2) for the complete story. Nero and Blake’s story concludes in the second book with a happily ever after.
Does When He Desires end on a cliffhanger?
Yes. This is Part 1 of a two-book duet, and it ends on a significant cliffhanger. When He Takes picks up immediately where this book leaves off and completes the story.
Do I need to read The Fallen series before the Fallen God Duet?
It’s strongly recommended. Nero is Rafaele’s best friend and appears throughout The Fallen series. Major events from those books — especially When She Loves — directly set up Nero’s story and his exile to Darkwater Hollow.
What tropes are in When He Desires?
The main tropes are fake dating, hidden identity, and slow burn. You’ll also find a possessive hero, small-town romance, forced proximity, and a heroine who challenges the hero at every turn.
What is the spice level of When He Desires?
When He Desires is rated 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 out of 5on the spice scale. The fake-dating setup creates a slow burn that finally combusts with scenes fueled by Nero’s possessive intensity and Blake’s refusal to simply submit — their chemistry is a push-and-pull that makes every intimate moment feel earned.
About the Author: Gabrielle Sands is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling dark romance author with 148,000+ Goodreads ratings across 8 published books.
More from Gabrielle Sands
- Complete Reading Order — All 8 books across 3 series
- All Books — Browse the full catalog
- About Gabrielle Sands — The story behind the stories
- FAQ — Spice levels, content warnings, reading order questions, and more