Forever As One — Jackie Ivie

WE KILL FOR PROFIT
WE NEVER MISS

THE VIKING

Terminally young, gorgeous, and ripped, Dane Morgan hides out tending bar at the SEX AND SUNBURN club. He's almost forgotten his Viking past. If only he didn't attract so much attention. Then one day, when he least expects it, his mate walks in. And his berserker comes to life.

THE BUSINESSWOMAN

Evangeline Harper's a complete introvert. College educated, she works hard to appear cool, poised, and all business. Negotiation is just part of her resume; her job is acquiring beachfront property. This Dane Morgan looks easy. He's young, rich, gorgeous, and drops everything the moment he spies her. Easy money. Easy deal.

THE ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES

She's out of her element the moment she hits the sand. Sticks out like a penguin in a flock of pink flamingoes. Nobody wears business attire to a beachfront club. Despite their differences, everything clicks. That is…until he spots her wedding ring.

EXCERPT

“We have to talk.”

Vangie jerked, dropped the picture, and then tried to spin. The carpet height combined with her new heels tripped her. She'd have fallen if Dane hadn't reached out and pulled her right to him, breast to abdomen, hard arms about her back, his mouth just above her forehead.

“I see you found my Byron sketch.”

The words rumbled through where she was pressed to him. Byron sketch?

“I thought I'd lost it.”

“What?”

Her mind wasn't working. It had something to do with how he'd lifted her without a bit of argument on her part, fitting her breasts right against some very hard pecs, while his mouth hovered somewhere at her temple, touching and then sending a riot of goose bumps with every pulse beat against his lips.

“My sketch. Forget it. It doesn't matter, anyway.”

“It was in the…book.”

“Oh.”

“How can you own…something so rare?”

His lips slid, trailing what felt like a kiss to the side of an eye…to her ear. Vangie might as well be melting. Nothing on her was giving him the slightest fight.

“Don't ask me. I can't answer that yet.”

“You need…to put me down.”

“What? Why?”

He moved his head, matched his forehead to hers and locked gazes. She'd heard of this kind of contact, seen it in movies, but never experienced it. Her heart almost hurt as it lurched, feeling like it closed off her throat.

“Dane…I -- ”

He grinned, putting little lines about his eyes. She gulped.

“You just called me Dane.”

“You…really need to put me down.”

“Why?”

“Because…uh. Oh! We're playing chess. And this is against the rules.”