Claimed by Him (Second Chance Romances)

By Jen Katemi

A collection of steamy romance stories about women who've loved and lost… and the men who'll worship their bodies and heal their broken hearts.

TEMPT: A Second Chance Billionaire Romance

She'll do anything to save her life's work… Even tangle with the billionaire who broke her heart.

Addiction ravaged my body, battered my soul, and took my friend's life.
But I survived. Now I help others do the same.
My struggling charity has lost its funding. I'll do anything to save it.
Even tangle with a billionaire playboy—the man who stole my heart and ripped it to pieces.
This time I'm older, wiser. Immune to a man's charms.
But Riley Jaxx is no ordinary man.
His soulful eyes and sensual caress claim my heart once more.
Trusting again is a hell of a risk—one more crack and I'm bound to break.

MY ENEMY LOVER: An Enemies to Lovers Billionaire Romance

All's fair in love and war… So they're breaking all the rules.

I thought I knew who I was and who I could trust.
Then my world imploded.
Now I'm fighting for Cavanagh Cottage—the key to secrets of my past.
But a billionaire bad-boy wants it for himself, and he always plays to win.
He's my enemy, and seduction is his weapon of choice.
When lust turns to love, we've broken all the rules.
But will he break my heart?

EDUCATING ETHAN: An Older Woman, Younger Man / May-December Romance

A woman who thinks her best days are over... A man who'll prove they've only just begun.

I lost a lot in the divorce, but it's my libido I miss most.
Until Mister tall, tanned and horny arrives igniting my sexual spark.
He's too handsome, too naïve… too young.
He's impossible to resist—each touch makes my thighs quiver, my heart flutter, and my pulse race.
But his dreams are far ahead of him, while mine are a speck in the rear-view mirror.
This can't last. But as he worships my body he begs for my heart.
Can I trust him enough to love again?
Or will I lose him for good?

These steamy contemporary romances feature hot alpha-males, and emotionally guarded women who will need to risk it all for a second chance at love.

All three stories in the CLAIMED BY HIM Anthology Box Set Collection have been previously published individually, and offer a guaranteed happy ending with no cliff hangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flourish Books
• Release date: Oct 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393583929

Book preview

CLAIMED BY HIM

Second Chance Romances

––––––––

This Box Set includes:

TEMPT

MY ENEMY LOVER

EDUCATING ETHAN

by

USA Today Bestselling Author

Jen Katemi

Claimed by Him (Second Chance Romances) Box Set

Copyright © 2019 Jen Katemi

This Edition Copyright © 2020

This box set includes:

Tempt (A Billionaire Romance) Copyright © 2017

My Enemy Lover (An Enemies to Lovers Romance) Copyright © 2019

Educating Ethan (A May-December Romance) Copyright © 2018

All rights reserved

Published by Flourish Books

Edited by Deadra Krieger

Cover Design by Charmaine Ross

This eBook is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and events portrayed in this work are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any form whatsoever in any country whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

Table of Contents

TEMPT

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

MY ENEMY LOVER

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

EDUCATING ETHAN

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

About the Author

TEMPT

A Billionaire Romance

by

USA Today Bestselling Author

Jen Katemi

Chapter 1

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Kallie stood on the lightly undulating deck of the yacht and thanked her lucky stars she’d decided to wear comfortable flats today instead of the spiky heels she’d contemplated. The glass of sparkling wine clutched in her fist would likely have been all over the place by now if she’d added heels to this crazy mix. Even though the luxury vessel was still moored at the Melbourne Docklands marina, a fresh breeze had sprung up despite the autumn sunshine. Clearly, sea legs were not something she would ever possess.

She took another sip of her drink, savoring the delicious flavor and wondering how much it cost per bottle. Lots, I’m sure. Given the almost limitless financial reach of her host, it was no surprise that everywhere she turned the words expensive and extravagance sat at the forefront of her mind. She snagged a canapé from a passing waiter, feeling like she had more in common with him than with any of these guests. Everyone was dressed as if headed out for a night on the town, despite being early afternoon and a working day. At least, it was for Kallie. Her black pants and cream silk shirt seemed perfectly fine back at the office, but right now offered more affinity with the hired help than someone who’d been invited to meet the elusive Ryley Jaxx.

She glanced at her watch. Where is he? Twenty-five minutes past her scheduled appointment and she was yet to lay eyes on the owner of this water-bound establishment. Instead, she’d been welcomed on board by Ryley’s frighteningly gorgeous executive assistant, and then left alone to watch as a horde of mostly young, tanned, and truly beautiful people mingled, ate, and drank aboard this superyacht aptly named Temptation.

She knew this was a so-called superyacht, because she’d looked it up at the office, when the instruction arrived to meet Ryley Jaxx here instead of at his city office. Thanks to her quick research, she discovered that, at almost fifty meters in length, Temptation was at the larger end of the scale for Australian superyachts. Certainly, looking out over the water, Kallie could see it was by far the largest moored here today. What a waste. We could have set up a whole new division with the money he spent on this.

Kallie had come directly from her organization’s head office in South Melbourne. After today’s meeting—if it ever eventuated—she planned to head back to finish up paperwork, and then home to her apartment and her two cats, and probably more computer work until she fell into bed exhausted. That’s how it usually went for her. The work remained never-ending, and at times the number of people who needed help seemed almost limitless.

Her fingers tightened on the wine glass as a wave of fatigue washed over her. Do any of these people here today know what bone-weary feels like? Did any of them even need a job? How did one get so wealthy that hanging out on a billionaire businessman’s boat—albeit a very big, impressive one—became a regular afternoon activity? Come to think of it, what sort of man conducted business on a yacht during what was clearly a social occasion? A financially successful entrepreneur who places too much value on fun? A flutter of panic threatened. I’m so out of my depth here. This was a mistake. I should find some other way to save—

Mister Jaxx will see you now. The smooth tones of Ryley’s assistant interrupted her thoughts.

Crap. Too late. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her pulse rate, then turned to follow the perfectly coiffed woman down a short flight of stairs and along a corridor lined with dark paneled wood. Now that she was about to face him, the nerves were kicking in harder than ever. Her stomach roiled up in a knot so tight it felt like burning acid, and she pressed a hand to her middle as she walked. You can do this. They’re all counting on you...

Yeah, that thought was not conducive to relieving stress. She bit her lip as Miss Perfect Assistant opened a door at the end of the corridor and gestured her inside. Your two o’clock is here, the woman intoned. "Miss Smith. The Impact Program."

Okay, try again. Positive thoughts only. You can do this. You’re strong and smart, and it’s a damn good cause.

It was a damn good cause. Now that was a thought she could focus on. She straightened her shoulders and stepped into the room, expecting an office, but finding instead a superbly fitted-out lounge area. Miss Smith. The voice that greeted her sounded smooth yet remote, and caused a strange frisson across her skin. Take a seat and join us. Have a drink.

Kallie frowned. I already have a drink. He wasn’t even doing her the courtesy of looking in her direction. Instead, he sat on a leather chaise with one arm resting lazily across the shoulders of yet another tanned young beauty. A beauty who still clearly held his attention. This one had impossibly long eyelashes and blonde hair so smooth it looked like it’d been ironed, except for the stray lock currently curled around one of Ryley Jaxx’s long fingers. Kallie automatically raised a hand to smooth her own messy brown locks. Unfortunately, it was the hand still holding her forgotten drink. "Oh my God. Damn it!" Wine spilled everywhere, dripping down her face, even into one of her ears.

A female snicker from the direction of the couch compounded her embarrassment and her cheeks started to heat uncomfortably. She wiped said cheeks and tried a smile anyway, stepping forward to meet her host’s curious gaze. Finally. Pity it took spilt wine to get his attention.

Hello Ryley, she said, pleased that her inner tension was not evident in her voice. Long time no see. Don’t suppose you could get me some paper towels or something to clean up?

Even in her wine-drenched state of discomfort, she experienced a peculiar sense of satisfaction at the start of shock from the man on the couch. He abruptly untangled his fingers from the blonde woman’s hair and removed his arm from her shoulders, leaning forward to study Kallie properly for the first time since she entered. Those clear green eyes straight out of her memory widened with astonishment and his lips parted slightly. "Kallie? Is that...Kallie Smith?"

The one and only.

"Well, fuck. Kallie’s eyebrows rose at the expletive but his slow grin softened the curse, transforming his face from remote to stunning. So you’re the Impact woman. Okay, you can leave us."

Kallie blinked but he’d changed the direction of his gaze and that last peremptory sentence appeared to be addressed toward the younger woman next to him. Oh, honey, don’t let him talk to you that way. Kallie would have told him to eff off if he dismissed her like that, but this woman didn’t seem to mind beyond an initial pout and frown.

When he patted her thigh briefly and said, This is brain stuff, little one. Nothing to bother yourself about. I’ll catch up with you later, the woman finally rose and left the room without comment.

Brain stuff? Kallie’s lips twitched. Is he for real? Somewhere through the years, it seemed as if Ryley Jaxx must have misplaced his manners. Still, that had nothing to do with why she was here. If these people wanted to talk to each other in such a dismissive way... She looked around for somewhere to put her empty wine glass. The coffee table seemed like the best option. She stepped forward to deposit the flute, realizing as she did so that some of the alcohol had stained the thick white carpet lining the room. Oh gosh, I’m so sorry, I—

It’s nothing. Ryley waved a dismissive hand. Tania will organize to have it cleaned. And here she is with a towel. Right on schedule as always.

Kallie turned and saw Ryley’s assistant holding out a moist washcloth and a fluffy white towel. She must have run off to retrieve them the second the drink was spilled. Kallie didn’t know whether to be grateful or annoyed. A stray drip of wine rolled down the side of her face and gratitude won.

Thank you, Tania. Her grin was rueful as she accepted the towel. The other woman shot her a startled look, and then a tentative answering smile. Almost as if she wasn’t used to being thanked. Ryley, Ryley, what the heck sort of person have you become, that your own assistant gets a shock when someone shows common courtesy?

Avid curiosity lit Tania’s gaze as she watched Kallie dab away the wine. She kept shooting glances between her boss and back again, as if trying to figure out how they knew each other. But she was polite enough not to ask, and a couple of minutes later she left, taking the wet cloth and towel, and leaving Kallie alone with Ryley Jaxx.

Billionaire playboy. Australia’s most eligible bachelor, according to the media. And the only boy ever to steal her heart.

Chapter 2

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"I can’t believe it’s you! Ryley ran a hand through his dark hair, mussing it up in a way that made him look even more attractive than he already was. He shook his head with a bemused air. Come here, gorgeous."

He bounded quickly up off the couch and swept her into a huge bear hug that she couldn’t help but return wholeheartedly. Ry might be one of Australia’s wealthiest men, and way out of her league in a social sense, but he was still someone from her past that she’d once cared deeply about. Someone she had once...loved.

"Why didn’t you let me know earlier it was you? I’d have seen you in a heartbeat, Kal, instead of making you wait. I thought you were one of those annoying do-gooder types that turn up on my doorstep every second day. Either that or someone trying to swindle money out of me. I get those every day."

She laughed a little self-consciously, trying to disentangle herself from his embrace. "I’m certainly not trying to swindle you, Ry. And I don’t know about any do-gooders, either. I wouldn’t say any of us on the program are that. We’re just a bunch of people trying to make a positive difference in whatever way we can. Besides. Finally, she managed to step back at least partially, straightening the shirt that had rucked up when he hugged her. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to take advantage of our past connection. You move in different circles now, and I wanted my application for a continuation of our funding to be considered on its merits, without anything from yours or my past muddying the waters."

She gazed up into his face, fascinated to be this close to someone she’d only seen in recent years on a television screen or in a magazine. The eyes were the same as she remembered—an intense green ringed by luscious dark lashes that automatically gave him a sultry air, whether or not he intended it. Though, looking at the mischievous quirk of his lips as he stared back with undisguised curiosity, she suspected he knew exactly what effect his gaze had on the recipient’s pulse rate.

Yes, Ryley. Even mine. Even after all this time. She bit her lip to stop the nervous giggle from escaping as they continued their combined stare-off. Who would blink first? The thought automatically made her blink and she read the flare of satisfaction in his gaze. Clearly his competitive streak hadn’t changed.

Despite the similarities, there were also plenty of differences from how she remembered him in high school. Faint laughter lines fanned out from his eyes, and thick grooves ran down from nose to mouth, giving his face a harder, less compromising air than his younger self. They certainly hadn’t been in evidence twelve years ago. He’d always been tall, at least six or seven inches above her own five-foot six-inch height, but he’d filled out in a way that proclaimed man instead of boy. The subtle strength in those arms when he wrapped her into his embrace, and the hard muscle of his chest against her cheek, caused her breath to hitch unexpectedly in her throat. The Ry she once knew spent most of his time sitting at a computer rather than engaged in regular exercise. Obviously, that wasn’t the case for this new and physically improved version of Ryley Jaxx.

The changes went deeper than the physical. Caution, even cynicism, was evident in his gaze as he continued to stare at her, despite that lurking spark of humor. In the past, he’d always been so full of excitement and hope. That was definitely missing from the man in front of her. She almost reached up a hand to cup his cheek in sympathy, and had to curl her fingers tightly into a fist to prevent the instinctive action.

What happened to you, Ry? Where’s the romantic boy I knew? Why are you known in the media these days as the billionaire playboy voted least likely to marry and most likely to break a woman’s heart?

Was he noticing differences in her? She’d put on weight in the past few years, mostly from stress eating after the accident, and her brown hair wasn’t dyed blonde the way it used to be when she was eighteen. But her changes also ran deep. Could he read the heartache she’d been through? The guilt? Could he see the emotional scars left by her best friend’s death? Did he know that’s why she’d established Impact, to honor Lena’s memory?

She glanced away, disconcerted by his continued regard. Were his thoughts, like hers, recalling their last time together? It was a beach party under the stars to celebrate the end of their studies, and the first time either of them had ever made love. For that one night, right before he left for the United States, she felt as if she’d finally connected with her soul mate.

Did he think about her at all, over the years? Of course not. Why would he? He’d disappeared from her life to follow his dreams and hadn’t kept in touch. He likely wouldn’t know anything about her, even though the Jaxx Corporation provided the main funding for Impact for the past two years. His Philanthropic Division dealt with things like that, probably so he could have more time for fun. That’s why she was here, to challenge their decision to cancel the funding. The email she’d received was signed by one of his directors, a Gavin MacDonald, and the reasons he’d given for the withdrawal didn’t make sense. She wanted to find out whether the man in charge, Ryley Jaxx himself, had been involved in that decision.

She tried to slip fully out of his embrace, but he held on a moment too long and it became almost awkward. Her heart began to pound, impossibly fast, and she fancied she could also feel his heart beating at an equally frantic pace. But that couldn’t be right. Why would he be as on edge as her? It must be her own pulse, strong enough to vibrate through the both of them. For some reason that was more embarrassing than dousing herself in wine. The latter was sheer clumsiness. The former...exposed vulnerability.

Finally, with a crooked little smile that she couldn’t read, he let her go. She breathed a sigh of relief and stepped away, trying to regain some equilibrium. So much easier to concentrate on the purpose of her visit with a bit of distance between their bodies.

And if it was still a little hard to breathe, as if someone had sucked most of the oxygen out of the room, she would put it down to concern about the meeting outcome. Not to that coiled strength in his muscled embrace. Nor to the delicious familiarity of his touch. Definitely not to that heady masculine scent that rose around them both for a few brief seconds while her cheek was pressed against the silken shirt covering his chest. A scent both achingly familiar, yet intriguingly different.

She cleared her throat, trying to rein in her thoughts to a more professional level. Business. Bring it back to business. "Did you read our application for a continuation of funding, Ry? The Impact program is wonderful, and the team so deserves the chance to keep going with their amazing work."

He watched her as if she were an exotic creature in an exhibit. Intense. Indulgent. Insatiable.

Her woman bits sprang to immediate life, aching in a way that was as far from business as she could get. Just like that, with one blink of those dangerous emerald eyes, and she was back to being a horny teenager. All butterflies in the stomach and slick moisture between her legs.

Settle down. I’m sure he has a million women at his beck and call and he’s not interested in me. Bloody hell, I’m not interested in that. Not with him. Not anymore. Her hoo-ha ignored the silent reproach, throbbing again in an enticing ache that rolled slowly through her belly. Even her nipples were now standing to attention, the sensitized nubs rubbing against the inside of her bra every time she shifted. Ai, ai, ai. This is not how I want this to