Joey W. Hill is well known for her character driven stories. I, for one, will read anything written by this lady, and her Knights of the Boardroom series is a smorgasboard of  yummy alpha men and fabulous BDSM elements, but if you think that’s all there is to her stories, then you’re in for a surprise. I don’t think I’ve ever read a Joey W. Hill story that hasn’t also and brought me to tears at some point, touched my heart,  and left me full of hope that everyone will have their own Happily Ever After in life. Â
  Janet Albright prefers her men submissive, her relationships confined to a club environment. Which is why her attraction to former Navy SEAL Maxwell Ackerman doesn’t make a lot of sense. There isn’t a submissive bone in his honed, muscular body, suggesting that her interest in Kensington & Associate’s head limo driver is best indulged as a private fantasy. The problem is, after a crisis situation reveals a different side of them both, the attraction becomes mutual and undeniable.
They take the plunge, willing to see if the give-and-take of their unexpected relationship can satisfy their deepest desires. Unfortunately, ghosts from their past might take the reins from them both, destroying the balance of power before their love can find a way to tip the scales.
EXCERPT
Background: In this scene, Max and Janet are in the room where she teaches ballet dancing to teenage girls. It’s after hours, the girls have all gone home, and they’re alone. Janet and Max have gotten tangled in an erotic embrace on the floor that is rapidly becoming more intense…
He shed his T-shirt. He’d never thought too much about his body from an aesthetic viewpoint. It was a tool, a weapon to keep honed, but he found he responded strongly to how much she appreciated it. Her avid gaze said she wanted to touch, so he came down to her, closing his eyes as those demanding fingers caressed and scraped his upper torso. They lowered to the jeans, tugged on the belt. As he was unbuckling it, she dipped into his back pocket to retrieve his wallet.
Bemused, he sat back on his heels, watched her open it. She flipped past his commercial license, his concealed carry permit, his single credit card. Then she dug into the interior pocket and retrieved a condom, giving him a sultry look. “Always prepared?”
“Always. There are a couple more in my coat.” He nodded toward where he’d left it hung on a hook on the wall.
“Hmm. And ambitious. When was the last time you had sex, Max?”
“Not so long ago that I don’t need that.” He regretted having to say it, but though it had been infrequent, there’d been the occasional hook up with other lonely people. Always protected, but he wouldn’t risk Janet for the possibility of error.
She handed the wallet back to him with a reserved expression that made him wonder if he needed to make up for lost ground, but then she dispelled that concern. “Get tested, and you won’t need to use it while you’re with me. My tubes were tied long ago, and sex…” She paused. This time, he wondered if her imperious look covered something more vulnerable. “You’ll be the first in quite a while,” she said at last.
“Then I’m honored. Mistress.”
He pushed the jeans to his thighs. She didn’t object to him not taking everything off, her eyes dark and lips parted, eager. Though urgency beat between them like a bass rhythm, things had slowed down as well. He lowered himself down onto her, and her legs slid around his hips, heels caressing the backs of his knees beneath the jeans. She put her hands on his chest like bird wings, spreading her fingers wide and making him feel like she was learning him, tugging his chest hair, tracing the shallow indentations between ribs as she worked her way downward.
He took care of the necessary evil of the condom, but he was going to do as she’d said. He wanted to feel her without that barrier. When he guided himself to her wet cunt, he led with two knuckles, rubbing against the labia, feeling the slick give before he moved his hand out of the way and pushed inward, lifting his gaze to focus on her face.
She was staring at him. In that hushed silence, his gradual progression into her body, he felt something indescribable. With every inch he sank into her, it was as if he’d found something he’d lost. She’d unclipped her hair and it waved around her face, softening it. It gave him a momentary pause, her parted lips, the yearning expression. Then he was all the way in and her eyes closed, her body lifting up toward him in reaction.
He caught the back of her head, bracing his weight with his other hand as she moaned softly against his lips. The feminine noise set him on fire, the hushed moment giving way to something more edgy and dark, needy. He parted her mouth with his own and plundered, taking over with tongue and teeth. He lifted his hips, partially withdrawing, but only to increase the friction, push into her harder. This time when his eyes opened, hers did as well, and he saw the challenge in her gaze. He dove back into that kiss.
She reached for the stick, sliding it across his upper thighs to grasp the other end, notching the length of it into the crease between his buttocks and thighs. When she tightened her grip on it, he surged back into her, plunging deeper, harder, feeling the insistent pressure of the bar as it pushed against his ass, urging him on.
“Fuck me,” she muttered against his ear, taking a sharp bite. He caught his fingers in her hair, tightening enough to pull on the scalp, and her nails dug into his flanks. He plunged forward again as she met him, impact for impact. Pressing his mouth against her temple, he pinned her down with his body, working himself in her like a man determined to stake his claim. He had no idea when the need to possess her had taken root in him, but now it was here in full, raging glory.
He kept kissing her even as he thrust and she urged him on with the pressure on that stick, but then her mouth broke away. “Stop,” she whispered.
Complying with such an outrageous request was like sawing back on the reins of an eight-horse stagecoach heading full tilt toward a cliff. He was enough in tune with her that he managed it, however, pushing his body up off her with one arm, breathing heavy, everything tight with lust. When she lifted a hand to his face, he sucked on her fingers, kissed them, nipped.
“After you went down on me in your truck the other night, did you jack off?”
“No.” He adjusted deeper, not a thrust, but a response of its own. When she swallowed, he locked on to that reaction. Did it again.
“Stop,” she said, a bare whisper of reproof. “Have you given yourself relief since?”
“No.” He could tell that surprised her, because he wasn’t what she was used to having, and she’d expected him to act according to his nature, not hers. But just because he wasn’t a sub didn’t mean he didn’t understand what she wanted, needed. “I wasn’t going to come until I was inside you.”
“What if I commanded you to pull out now, tonight, before that happened? What if I don’t want you to come inside me until there’s no condom between us?”
“I’d say you’re a sadist.” His cock pulsed inside her, rebelling against the idea quite adamantly. A quiver ran up his arms when she slid her hand over one of them. The edge of the stick now followed the back of his thigh, to his knee, his calf. She tapped him there, lightly, then harder, making him flex in reaction.
She let it roll away with a clatter, replacing it with her hand on his ass, her nails scraping him. “I’m imagining you being flogged while you’re inside of me,” she whispered, her pupils dominating her dark eyes. “A Mistress is standing behind you, striking on every thrust, the strands of the cat sliding off your gorgeous back and ass. It would be a barbed cat, but I know you wouldn’t even feel it, Max. You’d only feel my cunt, squeezing down on your cock. You wouldn’t notice the people watching, everyone in the dungeon coming to watch this magnificent, muscular male animal fucking his Mistress.”
He dropped back down on her, elbows on either side of her face, his fingers curling into her hair to hold her. He worked his hips in deeper, earning a parting of those glossed lips, a tiny, shuddering breath. “Does that idea excite you?” he rumbled, teasing between them with the tip of his tongue.
“You know it does. The question is, does it excite you?”
“Yeah. Because while you were talking about it, your pussy rippled around my cock and your nipples got tighter, harder. I want to see you fucking mindless, Janet. If being a Mistress gets you there, sends you flying, I’ll take that trip with you. But it’s you, everything about you, that gets me hard.” He paused, locking gazes with her. “And if it keeps you from doing it with other men. Fair warning, I’m moving into that zone. I’m not the sharing kind.”
“You want to see me mindless? Then pull out of me and take that thing off. I want to see you jack off over me.”
He shook his head, moved his mouth down to her throat. “No. I want you too damn much like this.”
Janet let out a cry as he covered her breast with his lips, pulling on the nipple hard, even as he thrust into her again, underscoring the point. He could take over a woman’s senses. He was good at it, could overwhelm her, take her flying, and he wanted her helpless, screaming his name and raking his back with her nails.
That had been the goal with every woman he’d ever had beneath him. Giving them both what they wanted. At least for that one moment.
As that thought sunk in, he let go of the nipple, but gave it a teasing lick before he lifted his upper body once more, bracing his other hand on her hip. Her skin was flushed, breath rapid, but her eyes hadn’t changed focus. She wouldn’t fight him. She understood that this was a give-and-take game between them, not the prescribed boundaries she had at the club. But his expanding knowledge of how her mind worked in moments like these, what she might truly want, was a potent form of self-restraint.
Still, he had his own desires, and he wasn’t yet ready to withdraw. Sliding a hand beneath her waist, he put a palm on her buttock and brought them into a sitting position, her straddling his lap and him still inside her. It changed the angle and thrust, winning him another gratifying gasp, a lovely shudder through her toned body, but he forced himself to focus, cupping her face.
“How about a compromise? You want to use that stick on me, I can tell. How about you do your worst with it, and then you can sit me down on my sore ass in one of these straight chairs, and ride me until you climax.”
She arched a brow. “How about you?”
“My Mistress says she wants me to come inside her without a rubber.” He lifted a shoulder, gave her a tight smile. “Sounds like I won’t be coming tonight, then.”
“And if you do anyway? If you can’t hold back?”
“Then she gets to dish out another punishment sometime in the future. That’d be a win-win for her.”
Janet managed a wry chuckle, but when he tightened his arm around her waist, holding them even closer together, her face folded into a more serious expression. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing her face into the side of his where he couldn’t see her face. Brow creasing, he cupped her skull, holding her with cock throbbing but heart tilting at the sudden desperate measure.
“You’re a rare combination, Max,” she whispered. “You’re caring for me, even as you offer to serve me. Protector and servant both. You’re a new experience.”
“Same goes, Mistress.”
She smiled against his temple. “You’re also the first man who’s ever called me that as an endearment instead of an honorific. I can tell the difference, you know.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“If it was, I would have told you. I’m not shy.”
Would you like more? Visit Joey’s website to read Chapter One!
Note: Willing Sacrifice is part of the Knights of the Board Room series, but can standalone.
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Wow, thank you for that intro, Sasha! I’m very flattered. Can’t wait to play with you at Authors After Dark in August! Hope you all enjoy the peek at Max and Janet (smile).
Definitely interesting this will also be added to my wish list
Everybody get this book, Absolutly Fantastic!!
OH Hi Joey!! See you in August!!
Putting this one on my to buy list!
Joey Hill I like the bluntness, just get down to business 😉 and say it like it is!
You’re very welcome Joey, I only speak the truth. 🙂
And yes, I can’t wait for AAD, it’s going to be a blast!
I love Joey W. Hill! This was an excellent book she always puts so much emotion into her stories!
I Love Joey W. Hill too. I met her last year at Romfest. She is an amazing author. The Knights of the Board Room series is “Fantastic”. My all time favorite is Hostile Takeover… I Love, Love, Love Ben…
I feel a Ben reread coming on… LOL
Hey Joey, Let me know if you want me to make you another fan mask to give away at AAD.
Bettie Lou
Oh man. That was hot. This definitely sounds like something I want to be reading…and soon. 😀
Love Love Love Joey W Hill. Her books are always on my must read list. Violet and Mac are my favorite, but I’m always looking for more.
Sounds good
Okay, so I was cleaning my house today in prep for a family visit for the 4th and hadn’t had a chance to say anything today (anyone who knows anything about my once-in-a-blue-moon house cleaning habits is not at all surprised that it took me all day to make the house presentable for a guest. A backhoe and the CDC were involved. That’s all I’ll say (snort)). Anyhow…ahem. I was blown away by all the lovely comments I found here! Since really, for the purposes of entering the drawing, you could have put “Grunt”, “Whatever” or “I like Starbuck’s coffee”, the fact you guys took the time to say nice things is REALLY appreciated! (beaming)
Darci, it was reading Nora Roberts early in my career that enamored me of the “get right to it” relationship dynamic. And I don’t just mean the sex part. She turned away from the whole dumbass “misunderstanding” type of romance, and instead let the two characters work together through emotional issues, giving the reader the pleasure of way more sexual tension and romance, and I LOVE that. So glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
Selena, Jaime, Bn100 and Jean – thanks for the encouraging response, and I hope you get a chance to enjoy Janet and Max’s story.
Moira and Pyper, thank you!! (I really didn’t pay them to say that – grin). I love having you both as readers – you keep me trying to do better with every story. And Moira, definitely counting down to August.
Bettie Lou, we missed you this year! Would have loved to see your reaction to the band Gunslinger singing Purple Rain, country western style. It was awesome! lol… Hope all is well in your world, and thanks for the kind words. I’ll keep the mask in mind – I know my table went crazy over it last year – not sure if the person who won it made it out of the ballroom without being mugged (grin). It would be nice to add it to the basket…hmm. I’ll email you, see what your timeframe is. Ben sends his love. :>
Cathy, thank you!! I retain a particular fondness for Natural Law (Mac and Violet’s story), because their story was really the one that launched my career, and I just love the two of them. You’ve probably already read it, but in case others haven’t, anyone else who loves Violet and Mac, there’s a free download short story about them called “The Baby Shower” on the fan forum under the Vignette section (wink). Forum access info here – http://www.storywitch.com/community.
Sasha, you are too good to me! Get ready to partay…can’t wait to do our trivia game with our readers. Of course, some of my forum members will be there. and I swear they know my books way better than I do. They’ll probably have to correct some of my answers (lol).
Okay, back to getting ready for the arrival of my sister-in-law, but thank you guys for giving my night such a lift. Good luck in the contest!
Absolutely loved Janet & Max’s story. Joey’s stories never disapoint. 🙂
Terry, hey girl!! Glad to see you here, and thank you for that! :>
This is on my wish list!!! Can’t wait to read Janet and Max’s story!!
Ohh, I have to go read The Baby Shower. I admit Natural Law is the first of your books I read, and I quickly became addicted.
The Trivia Game is gonna Rock! I’ve no doubt everyone will know your answers, but I been out of things for a while, so we might manage to stump a few there. 😉
Hi Joey! Happy early 4th of July! *waives*
I just adore Max and Janet in Willing Sacrifice!I could read this book over and over and over again. And each time I read it I fall in love with them even more. *smile* And you know that cleaning you are doing for company would be much more fun if you would have your personal assistant Chris Hemsworth helping you with it. Oh that’s right you haven’t hired him yet. *sigh* Maybe pencil that in on your to do list! lol
Love The Knights of the Boardroom series. Can’t wait to the read this one!!
I love all of Joey’s books and wait anxiously for the next ones to come. 🙂
One of these days I’ll get to AAD.
Brittany, I attended AAD last year for the first time and loved it so much I had to plan to go back this year. It’s a great convention for readers and authors to spend time together at in many fun ways.
Love the intensity of the relationships in your books, Joey. Janet and Max’s story was awesome, I totally recommend all your books as “must reads”! Hoping to meet you at AAD Savannah.
WOW!!!! Stories like this is main reason Ms Hill remains one of the most read authors on my book list!!
Dang I so wish I could channel Janet *grins* She is amazing I love the way she handles all of the Knights. OMG!! The scene you open the book with… talk about grab you by the heart and not let go, excellent!!! It was great to get to know Janet and Max better. They have always been there playing their parts (employee/care takers/friends) so well. This is just one of the things I love about your writing, you give all of your characters even the “secondary” ones the chance to have a HEA. Including Dale, Max’s friend who almost had to handle a determined Mistress and two alpha subs when the shit hit the fan! I love all your character but I have to admit your Mistresses are amazing *wink*
Terry, I agree 100% about the opening scene in this story. It brought tears to my eyes, and I thought “Ohhh, here I go again. Love the Joey ride. ” 😉
Sorry I’ve been MIA. Have family in for holiday so can’t answer anything directly until late Saturday or Sunday, but looking forward to putting in my two cents then! 🙂 thanks for all the great comments!
Aza, hope you get your wish soon (grin). Enjoy Max and Janet! Oh, and if anyone wants a little extra taste of the book, you can get the Prologue on the fan forum, http://www.jwhconnection.com (access info – http://www.storywitch.com/community). And of course as Sasha mentioned under the excerpt, Chapter One is on my website (it’s also on the fan forum, if you want to read the Prologue and Chapter One in the same place, under the Excerpt section).
Sasha, that’s okay – we want to make it challenging (grin). Hope you liked the Baby Shower vignette!
Delilah -lol – yep, I’m still considering Chris’s resume. But I think he probably has the qualifications for the job. Maybe I’ll have to have him out for a follow up interview (grin). Thanks for sharing the love about Max and Janet!! :>
Linda, I’m so glad you love my Knights. We’ll try to have Leland and Celeste’s story out there next year (wink). And Brittany you should definitely try to get out to one of the cons. They’re so much fun, and I’d be delighted to see you there! Sasha’s right about how much fun AAD is. Readers and authors alike never want to go home (lol).
Christi, thanks so much for sharing your feelings about my books with others. It’s the best marketing an author can have. :> I’m also so pleased you like the emotional intensity of my books, because I don’t seem to know how to go any other way. They say authors tend to write what they love to read, and that’s very true for me. If I’m not drawn deeply into who the characters are, and what they have to overcome to find a fit with that other person, I’m not interested enough to write OR read the story (wink).
Tuffy, thanks so much!! I hope that will always be the case. Let me know if ever that changes, because I rely on feedback from my readers to keep me on track.
Terry, I love Janet! I love a woman who can be tough without being bitchy, whiny or man-hating. She might be a bitch sometimes, but she’s never bitchy (grin). And Dale’s story comes out in December, Unrestrained – a guy who could handle that scenario just had to have his own book, right?
Awww, Sasha, that compliment gave me a warm glow. You’re a dear! Thank you!
Good luck in the drawing, everyone!
O I always wanted to go to the parties and party with yall
I’ve just starting Jody and this sounds like another great one!!
Tami, hope you’ll get that chance. And Barrie, hope you’re enjoying what you’ve read so far! Thanks for coming by, both of you. Good luck in the drawing.
I loved, loved, loved Janet and Max! The KOTB is one of the very best series out there today hands down!! I have all of them in print, except WS, and on my Kindle!!
Now, Joey, lets talk more about Master Ben and that wedding shall we? LOL! SM
SM, you’re back! Awesome – and with a wonderful compliment for KOTB and Janet and Max – thank you, girl!! And at the risk of boxing myself in – remember, none of it’s a done deal yet because I haven’t even started outlining it yet – it’s starting to look like Ben and Marcie’s wedding may happen in Leland and Celeste’s book. Leland has been invited and just happens to have a plus one invite…
Joey W Hill, your stories always leave me gutted. I can’t stop coming back for more though. You’re just that good!
Erin, thank you! Though it’s a weird comment to thank you for, considering I’m saying: “Yay, Erin feels gutted by my books!” (laughter) But I hope you know what I mean. It means so much to me to hear that my work pulls a strong emotional reaction from a reader – one that keeps them coming back for more. I appreciate you sharing that! Let me know if ever my books don’t meet that expectation.
It was meant as a compliment 🙂
Erin, I took it that way, no worries! :> Thank you!