Sapphire: An intense erotic romance novel

By Jeffe Kennedy

A successful executive, M. Taylor Hamilton is on track with her ten-year plan. Too bad her personal life consists of hitting the gym and grocery shopping. Enter the seductive Adam Kirliss. They may have a working relationship, but everything changes at an office party when he handcuffs her to the rail of a yacht.

Taylor writes off the adventure as too much champagne, but when Adam challenges her to a date, she agrees to meet up with him. And follow his rules. They share a night of exquisite intimacy, brimming with both pain and pleasure. But afterward, fearful of losing her heart, Taylor pulls back emotionally.

Adam is determined to prove that she longs for the loss of control he can give herand the passionate release it provides. How can he make her see that he wants her, and not just her body?

32,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carina Press
• Release date: Oct 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426892493

Jeffe Kennedy

Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning, best-selling author who writes fantasy with romantic elements and fantasy romance. She is an RWA member and serves on the Board of Directors for SFWA as a Director at Large.She is a hybrid author, and also self-publishes a romantic fantasy series, Sorcerous Moons. Books in her popular, long-running series, The Twelve Kingdoms and The Uncharted Realms, have won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance, been named Best Book of June 2014, and won RWA’s prestigious RITA® Award, while more have been finalists for those awards. She's the author of the romantic fantasy trilogy, The Forgotten Empires, which includes The Orchid Throne, The Fiery Crown, and The Promised Queen.Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.She can be found online at her website, every Sunday at the SFF Seven blog, on Facebook, on Goodreads and on Twitter. She is represented by Sarah Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

Book preview

Sapphire

By Jeffe Kennedy

A successful executive, M. Taylor Hamilton is on track with her ten-year plan. Too bad her personal life consists of hitting the gym and grocery shopping. Enter the seductive Adam Kirliss. They may have a working relationship, but everything changes at an office party when he handcuffs her to the rail of a yacht.

Taylor writes off the adventure as too much champagne, but when Adam challenges her to a date, she agrees to meet up with him. And follow his rules. They share a night of exquisite intimacy, brimming with both pain and pleasure. But afterward, fearful of losing her heart, Taylor pulls back emotionally.

Adam is determined to prove that she longs for the loss of control he can give her—and the passionate release it provides. How can he make her see that he wants her, and not just her body?

32,000 words

Dear Reader,

What do you get when you cross summer with lots of beach time, and long hours of traveling? An executive editor who’s too busy to write the Dear Reader letter, but has time for reading. I find both the beach and the plane are excellent places to read, and thanks to plenty of time spent on both this summer (I went to Australia! And New Zealand!) I’m able to tell you with confidence: our fall lineup of books is outstanding.

We kick off the fall season with seven romantic suspense titles, during our Romantic Suspense celebration in the first week of September. We’re pleased to offer novella Fatal Destiny by Marie Force as a free download to get you started with the romantic suspense offerings. Also in September, fans of Eleri Stone’s sexy, hot paranormal romance debut novel, Mercy, can look forward to her follow-up story, Redemption, set in the same world of the Lost City Shifters.

Looking to dive into a new erotic romance? We have a sizzling trilogy for you. In October, look for Christine D’Abo’s Long Shot trilogy featuring three siblings who share ownership of a coffee shop, and each of whom discover steamy passion within the walls of a local sex club. Christine’s trilogy kicks off with Double Shot.

In addition to a variety of frontlist titles in historical, paranormal, contemporary, steampunk and erotic romance, we’re also pleased to present two authors releasing backlist titles with us. In October, we’ll re-release four science fiction romance titles from the backlist of C.J. Barry, and in November four Western romance titles from the backlist of Susan Edwards.

Also in November, we’re thrilled to offer our first two chick lit titles from three debut authors, Liar’s Guide to True Love by Wendy Chen and Unscripted by Natalie Aaron and Marla Schwartz. I hope you’ll check out these fun, sometimes laugh-out-loud novels.

Whether you’re on the beach, on a plane, or sitting in your favorite recliner at home, Carina Press can offer you a diverting read to take you away on your next great adventure this fall!

We love to hear from readers, and you can email us your thoughts, comments and questions to [e-mail]. You can also interact with Carina Press staff and authors on our blog, Twitter stream and Facebook fan page.

Happy reading!

~Angela James

Executive Editor, Carina Press

www.carinapress.com

www.twitter.com/carinapress

www.facebook.com/carinapress

Dedication

To Mom and Stepdad Dave,

for being proud and enthusiastic, even about the very naughty books.

Acknowledgements

I’m fortunate to have the support of so many people. Many heartfelt thanks:

To my sister Word Whores, critique partners and occupiers of the Cone of Silence:

Allison Pang, who was the first to tell me I write a smoking dom scene and encouraged me to write more.

Marcella Burnard, who always asks me the right questions and helps me discover how to end the story.

KAK, for being my POV Nazi and plot-twist advice-giver.

Laura Bickle, for reading and loving my naughty stories—and for her unflagging support and virtual hugs.

Kerry Schafer, for reading and saying she’d give feedback, if only she could make notes under a cold shower.

Linda Robertson, for always being ready to tell me I kick ass.

To the enthusiastic Twitter gals, lovers of all things smexy, whose delight in my stories encourages me and keeps me wanting to write more: @sparklybearsy, @jaymzangel, @megancrane, @pattyblount, @smokinhotbooks, @katiebabs, @PennyRomance, and @susanmpls.

To more of my Twitter crew who talk to me daily and make me feel loved: @abbymumford, @arzai, @BarnestormJohn, @bcmystery, @branli, @CDefThom, @cynthiarreese, @DanicaAvet, @GretchenJones, @harleymaywrites, @janellealexandr, @JillianChantal, @jsmithready, @juliabroadbooks, @LaTessa25, @linda_grimes, @michellemiles, @quickmissive, @readmistyevans, and @victoriadahl.

To Leanna Renee Hieber, who made me feel welcome when I knew no one and who opened doors for me.

To Tawna Fenske, for stretching her reading horizons for me and expanding my world of readers.

To Cynthia Eden, for her unfailing charm, support and good advice.

To some fabulous gals who’ve read my work and given me advice, referrals and support: Catherine Asaro, Danielle Poiesz, Suzie Townsend, Michelle Wolfson.

To K. L. Grady and Lisa Kessler of the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter who set up the pitch opportunity that let this story see light.

To my truly excellent editor, Deb Nemeth, who picked my pitch out of a vast lineup and gave me a perfect critique. It’s truly been a pleasure working with you. And to Executive Editor Angela James, for making me feel welcome and special.

And finally, forever and always, David, my friend, lover, life’s companion.

Contents

Copyright

Begin Reading

About the Author

Taylor brushed a rebellious wisp of hair out of her eyes for the umpteenth time and sighed. Why her CEO insisted on having the entire staff out on his yacht for these little shindigs, she didn’t know. Better to be behind her glass-and-mahogany desk, working the numbers.

Numbers had a nice way of adding up.

Taylor!

Ah, and there was J. C. Worthington himself. Taylor squared her shoulders, plastered on a smile and strolled over to her beckoning boss. She’d feel more confident in her usual suit, but Worthington had decreed cocktail attire for this celebration. Nothing that smells of the office. Ha-ha.

Taylor. He smiled in his grandfatherly way that fooled no one. You look like you’re still at work. This is supposed to be fun!

I’m having fun, she assured him, tugging the hair out of her eyes. Your yacht is lovely, as always.

So is the sunset and the view. Worthington gestured at a tuxedoed server and pressed a flute of champagne into her hand. And we’re celebrating tonight.

Oh, I don’t really—

Do I have to tell you to relax and enjoy yourself? Worthington gave her a mock stern look, then laughed. You worked hard for this contract. Live it up a little—I’ll make it an order if I have to.

She smiled, but it felt thin. She gave the orders in her life and she liked it that way. But she also knew how to play the corporate game. She tipped her glass to Worthington and sipped, the champagne sliding cool and sparkling down her throat. He smiled his approval.

That’s better. Now where’s Kirliss? Ah, there. Worthington beckoned to the long-legged man in black lounging by the rail. With his sleek dark hair and the impeccable lines of his suit, probably Armani, he reminded her of a jungle cat. Adam, I’d like to raise a toast to you and Taylor. You two make an excellent team. To a bright and lucrative future!

They obediently raised their glasses and clinked. Adam Kirliss sipped at what looked like whiskey, watching her over the sharp crystal rim with eyes nearly the same color. She’d become accustomed to his steady regard. The man negotiated like a predator, which she understood and appreciated. He’d hit on her once but had taken her cool refusal on the grounds of business well. She respected that too. Not every guy managed to be gracious about it.

We’re also celebrating Taylor’s promotion tonight. Worthington slipped a brass strip out of his jacket pocket and displayed it with a broad smile. The new doorplate gleamed in the late evening light. M. Taylor Hamilton, Vice President of Development. "I’m hoping this might hold you off from taking my job for a few years."

That, and the comfortable raise that goes with it. Taylor raised her eyebrows. Of course, becoming CEO was on her ten-year plan. At year eight, to be precise.

Well done, Taylor. Kirliss shook her hand in congratulations. He held it just a bit too long, his long fingers strong and strangely hot against her skin. "You know, I’ve been wondering—what does the M stand for?"

Mad Dog, Worthington inserted with crowing laugh.

Taylor returned the grin easily at the company joke. The guys all found it funny and she figured it only added to the image she wanted to project. Plus, she had no intention of ever revealing that the M stood for Molly. Her mother had named her Molly Taylor, so she could choose either an earth-mother image or go with M. Taylor for a more businesslike name.

She’d been Molly until third grade. Then she ditched the name, along with pigtails, dirty dresses and the naïve hope that her mother would change. M. Taylor she’d been ever since.

Worthington wound down from laughing at his own joke and clapped Kirliss on the shoulder, clinking their glasses a final time. I can’t tell you how delighted we are to be working with Jaguar Enterprises. And now I’ll leave you two to enjoy the party. Remember, Taylor. He pointed a finger at her. I want you to have fun.

With that, Worthington strode off,

Reviews for Sapphire

[Nib · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book was too​ rapey for me. The heroine has known the 'hero' for a while and has turned him down in the past. she says no several times and he ignores her, handcuffs her to a railing during a yacht party and takes her panties off. It's a work party, all her colleagues are close by and she works in a male dominated environment. This scenario might work in humiliation kink erotica but definitely not romance for me.