Taming the Viking

by Aurelia St. James

Love Hits Hardest Outside the Ring

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THE STORY

About the book

Themes

Healing

Kerrington has a sharp eye for numbers, but when it comes to love, she doesn’t trust her instincts. After surviving an abusive relationship, she’ll never ignore red flags again.

And Logan “The Viking” Caswell—a dangerously charming MMA fighter—might be a walking red flag. But, he awakens desires she’s fought hard to bury, and he seems hell-bent on breaking through her defenses. She knows he could ruin her, but maybe some risks are worth taking.

As fear and passion collide, Kerrington is forced to confront her deepest wounds if she wants a future with Logan. But in a world where love can hit as hard as any opponent, can they survive the final round—or will her scars cost them everything?

Taming the Viking is the first in a series of interconnected standalones. This opposites-attract steamy romance features found families, an OTT alpha hero, and a guaranteed HEA.

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Large calloused hands stroked down her ribcage, leaving a trail of heat in their wake as soft lips pressed into her shoulder. Teeth grazed along the sensitive skin, nipping at her flesh before soothing the sting with a swipe of his tongue. Each nibble felt possessive, as if he were marking her, claiming her. The sensations became too much, causing a moan to fall from her lips as his warm breath danced around her ear.

“Mine,” he growled.

Kerrington’s eyes shot open, startled by the screeching alarm on her nightstand. Slapping her phone several times, the noise ceased, and she threw her arm over her eyes. “What the hell?” she mumbled, her voice raspy from sleep.

Her body was ready to unravel from the intensity of her latest dream, so real she had to peek beside her to confirm the bed was empty. Her skin pebbled as she thought about his touch, causing her pulse to race.

The star of her dreams? She didn’t know his name, but he was all tattoos and muscles and gorgeously tanned skin, with piercing blue eyes and messy dirty blonde hair. Oh, and that beard.

A new wave of desire struck as she thought about his beard brushing against her inner thighs, causing her body to shudder. Sighing, Kerrington raked her fingers through her hair, feeling utterly frustrated.

The man—no, the sex god—reminded her of a Viking warrior. And he was far from a figment of her imagination. For the past several weeks, she’d spotted him every morning at her favorite coffee shop. After the second sighting, she went to pay for her coffee when the barista mentioned it’d been covered by a ‘secret admirer.’ As Kerrington turned to leave, her Viking sex god was nowhere to be found. Since then, she hadn’t paid for coffee at all.

Kerrington wasn’t usually one to shy away from making the first move, so starting a conversation should have been easy. But, she’d recently sworn off casual encounters, and as her dreams about him intensified, she feared approaching him might open the door to desires she’d desperately want to turn into reality. Besides, the Viking had player written all over him; she was sure other women were also enjoying free coffee.

No, Kerr, she thought. No more hookups.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled herself from bed and headed for the bathroom, hoping a cold shower would douse her body’s inferno.

***

Forty minutes later, Kerrington stepped into Brewed and joined the line, subtly glancing around the shop while silently cursing herself for hoping to see the Viking. But then, a strange energy prickled her skin and she found his ice-blue eyes locked on hers.

Damn.

She held his gaze for a moment before her eyes drifted to his lips, her own parting slightly as she imagined them brushing her skin. Heat flooded her cheeks as the corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk, and she quickly turned her attention back to the line ahead, trying to calm her racing heart.

Aurelia St. James