Sapphire Read Free

like to propose a renegotiation of our relationship. You know I believe in beginning with a strong mission statement.”
    Taylor sighed and stopped struggling. “You realize this is extremely creepy, right? I told you I’m not interested. Now you think, what, a hostile takeover method will work? I could ruin you for pulling this stunt.”
    “You probably could. I admire that about you, Taylor. You have this single-minded ferocity about you. I’m just getting your attention because I think I have something you want. This is a sample.”
    “Let me counter offer—assault, sexual harassment, possibly kidnapping…”
    “So many charges you could hurl at me.” Kirliss moved in closer. Taylor pressed herself against the rail, her heart pounding. “But I don’t think you will.”
    “Hell if I wouldn’t.” The thrill of the back and forth stirred her. Like negotiating in the board room, but the stakes…oh, these stakes went beyond the pale.
    “Oh, I know you would, but I think you don’t really want to. Ask yourself this—are you afraid right now?”
    Was she? No. Shocked and off balance, maybe. Filled with that weakening heat. She wanted him to touch her now, against all reason.
    Kirliss watched her, those tawny eyes seeing too much.
    “No,” she countered. “I’m angry.”
    “Are you?” Kirliss tugged at the blue silk of her skirt, fingers drawing up the material. “Tell me what you feel, M.”
    “Taylor. My name is Taylor.”
    “Not right now.” Kirliss slid her hem a bit higher, fingers brushing the side of her thigh. “I want to find out more about M. Is she the side of you who picked out this very sexy dress?”
    “Stop that,” Taylor whispered, growing more unsteady. Surely he wouldn’t really…
    “No. This is my presentation now. I have this theory, M, that you have so much to control in your life that you long for a little, shall we say, loss of control.”
    Taylor shivered. The air was cooling, she told herself. It had nothing to do with his words or the steady brush of his fingers against the long outside line of her thigh.
    “I think what you’re feeling is desire. You want this.”
    “I’m a big girl. I know what I want.”
    “Do you? Then tell me.” His hand brushed up the front of her thigh, stroking and teasing.
    Taylor bit down on a whimper. “Please.”
    “Sapphire.”
    “What?”
    “That’s your safe word. For this beautiful dress and for your extraordinary eyes. You may beg and plead all you like. This is what I offer you. Give up control, M. Sapphire pulls the plug. Nothing else.”
    His fingers trailed over her panties, touching the silk and lace while he waited. Taylor shuddered, drowning in the tumult of emotion. The cuffs bit into her wrists, and the helplessness pumped through her blood.
    She found she couldn’t speak a word.
    Golden eyes drilling into hers, Kirliss slipped his other hand under her skirt, hooked both thumbs into the string of her panties. Never breaking her locked gaze, he crouched, sliding the panties slowly down her legs. When he reached her high-heeled feet, he wrapped firm fingers around her ankle and lifted, like one would a horse’s hoof. Mesmerized, Taylor followed the suggestion. Kirliss slid the panties over her shoe and kissed the tender inside of her ankle. An arrow of pleasure shot up to her groin, grabbing her like a fist. Kirliss repeated the ritual with her other foot.
    Standing, he tucked her panties into his jacket pocket. Taylor stared at where they’d gone, riveted that she was letting this happen to her. She pressed her thighs tightly together, clenching the ache in her sex. Over his shoulder, beyond the deep night, the festivities rollicked on.
    Kirliss cocked an eyebrow at her. “Anything to say?”
    The word burned in her mouth. Sapphire. She should speak it aloud. End this nonsense. But her throat clenched around it, her darker self dragging the word down, holding it prisoner. She trembled with not saying it.
    She had to