Craving Crimson: A steamy age gap billionaire romance

by Vara Firestar

Kennedy, a fiercely independent and whimsical artist, unexpectedly captures the intense interest of Derek, a billionaire CEO accustomed to commanding everything he desires. She finds solace and strength in her art sold at the local farmers market while carrying the weight of a difficult past, determined to forge her own path and support her struggling mother. Derek, a possessive and undeniably attractive force in the high-stakes world of investment, is unaccustomed to resistance. He operates in a realm where fortunes buy access and influence, leaving him utterly intrigued and challenged by Kennedy's ethereal nature and unwavering spirit.
As Derek sets his sights on Kennedy, he navigates her world with the same unwavering focus he applies to his business deals, determined to possess her attention. For Kennedy, Derek's forceful entry into her life is both unsettling and undeniably magnetic. His sharp intensity clashes with her gentle nature, yet beneath his commanding exterior, she glimpses into his true heart.

Craving Crimson is a steamy billionaire romance with an arrogant CEO and a whimsical, shy artist. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.

This series can be read in any order.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2025

About the author

Vara is an author of adult romance novels, known for her ability to weave profoundly emotional stories that linger long after the final page. Her unique approach to "mood writing" allows her to channel the authentic depths of human connection and vulnerability into every story. Beyond the keyboard, Vara's world is filled with the quiet joy of tending to her plants, the immersive escape of reading, and the love of her four children and husband.

Reviews

[Katelyn M ChaosBookReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craving Crimson pulled me in fast and kept me hooked the entire time. It’s a dark, obsessive billionaire romance with that perfect mix of tension, mystery, and heat. Kennedy is a soft, artistic free-spirit just trying to survive her life, and Derek is this commanding, intimidating CEO who becomes fixated on her the moment he sees her. Their chemistry is instant, magnetic, and absolutely explosive.

I loved the push-and-pull between them (his intensity against her gentleness) and the way their worlds clash in the best (and messiest) ways. The story moves quickly and stays addictive from start to finish. (Good pacing) The spice? Hot. The obsession? Even hotter. Derek is 100% the “gets what he wants” type, and Kennedy becomes the one thing he refuses to let go of.

If you like dark romance, billionaire romance, possessive MMCs, secrets, tension, and high-stakes emotions, this one is definitely worth it. 🔥📚

[Mrs. Morally Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶 🌶 🌶
Review: Craving Crimson was such a fantastic read! 🖤 If you love dark romance, mafia tropes, and delicious tension-filled spice, this book delivers. The story follows Kennedy (our FMC), who starts working at Unholy (an adult club) for some extra cash and soon catches the eye of billionaire CEO Derek (our MMC). Their chemistry is instant and so intense, but there’s a secret air to Derek that Kennedy just can’t seem to figure out. 🔥 She doesn’t know whether to let him sweep her off her feet or keep her distance from the one man who lights her on fire, both heart & body. As their passion grows, pieces of Derek’s life make Kennedy question whether or not he is someone dangerous. But it’s too late—Derek always gets what he wants, and Kennedy is now his newest obsession. 😈 I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers who enjoy dark romance, mafia stories, or a possessively hot billionaire they can sink their teeth into. 👏🏻

Tropes:
🖤 Mafia
❤️ Touch Her & 💀
🖤 Billionaire CEO X Whimsical Artist 🎨
❤️ St@lking
🖤 Secrets
❤️ P0ssessive / 0bsessed MMC

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craving Crimson was a captivating read. Derek and Kennedy’s motivations were clear and understandable, and the plot moved quickly even if it was a bit fantastic. But the important part is the romance. The interpersonal scenes were hot, steamy, and explicit, so don’t feel ashamed if you skim ahead looking for them. The author has a great perspective and a lot of fun ideas, and I’m looking forward to whatever she comes up with next.

[Brenda A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of misleading

This book was not what I was expecting I was looking for a romance. Not sex clubs and the heroin to be prostitute. How can a heroin has going to sex clubs and signed up to be an escort be called innocent makes no sense? The anal scene was cringe-. wasn't my cup of tea it could have been so good if she just been working at the club serving drinks and mistaken for a working girl. What man was a prostitute for a girlfriend? Did not finish

[Mandy]

Made it 2% and the number of grammatical errors and bad sentence structure had me twitching.