Swedish hockey player, Anders “Iceberg” Berg, is counting the days until he’s an unrestricted free agent and can land the contract he’s worth. Yet, instead of recovering and resting at home so he can play to impress his dream organization, he’s in Denver for his brother’s wedding at a gin distillery, watching the pretty brunette who organized the whole thing.

Olivia Dyer can’t wait to put the year behind her. Her father died, and the event hall she ran at her family’s distillery was destroyed. The cost to the business and her mental health more than she could ever afford to repay. Rebuilding both takes all her effort leaving little time for anything else. Except for a single night of fun with the hot hockey player who’s been watching her every move.

When a kitchen catastrophe throws Anders and Liv together, it ends with an evening neither of them can forget. It was only meant to be one night. But when Anders is unexpectedly traded to see out the rest of his contract with the Denver Rush, and his plans to leave as quickly as possible are disrupted by the sultry brunette who defines courage, their only option is to give to the attraction they feel for one another.

Yet with Liv stuck in the past and Anders firmly focused on the future, can they put aside their differences and allow themselves to find love in the present?

She hadn’t felt this turned on in…hell, she’d never been this turned on. And, as a woman with an ex who had repeatedly told her that she was ‘hard to get off’, the news that she could get so close so quickly was new. 

But as the thoughts hit her, she lost the feeling, lost the edge she was riding. 

“What?” Anders said, suddenly. 

“It’s nothing.” She tried to find where she was, trying to find her way back to the woman in the mirror about to ride out an orgasm thanks to the man behind her. 

Anders slid his fingers from her underwear and outrageously slipped them into his mouth. “This,” he said. “It’s honesty. Your body can’t lie about being turned on.” He turned her to face him. “Answer me honestly, Älskling, where did you go?” 

Her cheeks burned red with a heat she could feel, but for some reason, she felt the urge to be completely honest with Anders. If it all went south, she wouldn’t need to see him again anytime soon. 

Embarrassment raged within her, but she had nothing to lose. She looked down at her shoes, but his erection obstructed her view, making her wish the ground would open up and swallow her whole. “I was right there with you, and then a voice from the past reminded me that I’m not the…I’m not the kind of…that I don’t…” 

“Don’t what?” 

“I don’t come easily. And I was so close, but…” 

Anders stepped back and for a moment, she thought he was going to tell her to forget the night and send her home, but then he reached for her chin and tipped her face to look straight at him. 

“Keep your eyes on me.” He let go of her chin and removed his jacket. He threw it over the chair near the door and then began to open the buttons on his shirt. “You know what defines a professional athlete? An Olympian?” 

Olivia shook her head. “Being the best at the sport?” she offered weakly. 

Anders shrugged. “Yes. But it is so much more than that. It requires massive reserves of physical stamina.” He pulled the shirt from his trousers and slipped his arms from the sleeves.  

Holy-freaking-Christ-on-a-cracker. His body was Michelangelo-level perfection. Chiseled, muscular, a smattering of chest hair, and dear lord… his pants hung low on his waist. How could he even think they were on the same playing field? The orgasm she’d been close to disappeared completely. 

She bit her lip as he reached for his belt and removed it in one swift move. “And on top of physical stamina, there is a mental toughness, a don’t-quit-no-matter-what-the-costs mentality. With those two, you can do anything.” 

Anders unbuttoned his trousers, lowered the zipper, and then, after kicking off his shoes and socks, he let them and his underwear slide to the ground.  

“Oh my gosh. Your leg.” She reached for him. The bruise spread across his hip and thigh. 

Anders gripped her hand, holding it away from him. “It’s fine, Olivia. It doesn’t hurt. You know what does though?” His erection was hard and heavy, thick and long. “This.” He grasped it, and she felt the feelings of arousal begin to bubble to the surface again. For a moment, he didn’t say another word. He just stood in front of her, lazily palming his cock. A slow back and forth motion. Then he approached her like a wolf about to eat its prey. “Tonight, sweet Olivia, I’m going to use every ounce of physical stamina and mental toughness to do whatever it takes to make you come and come often. I’m going to drive out of your mind the reckless words of a man who didn’t realize you were worth every effort, and that every orgasm you found at his hands was even more precious than if it had been given easily. You are a challenge that I am going to spend the rest of this night conquering.”

Scarlett Cole is a contemporary romance author that calls both Toronto, Canada and Manchester, England home. A born city dweller, she periodically quashes the urge to live in the country by hiking up a mountain to remind herself that living away from people would terrify the pants off her.

She believes everybody deserves their love story to be told and loves her heroes on the rough and rugged side…and usually tall (because she married one of those 6ft 6” men you read about in romance!). She’s an A-type personality and Scorpio star sign, so good luck getting her to do anything she doesn’t want to.

When she isn’t writing, she’s happy to talk hot men and expensive shoes while drinking a cold gin and tonic. Don’t bring up olives. As far as Scarlett is concerned, they are the devil’s food. As long as you don’t bring up olives, she’s happy to hear from any time.

Start #BingeReading the Second Circle Tattoos series by Scarlett Cole with the new box set containing all four novels and an exclusive extended epilogue with your favourite heroes! Get all four books in the series now for a discounted price!

 

Exclusive excerpt:

Jordan Steele’s life began when he was ten. When he was taken from his parents and a house that was never a home. When he met his brothers, the other lost and abandoned boys in his group home. When he learned what friendship and family and love looked like.

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Scarlett Cole is a writer of contemporary romance and a two-time RITA finalist. Her debut, THE STRONGEST STEEL, has already become an Amazon best seller in romantic suspense, was a Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015, and Authors On The Air Global Radio Network Contemporary Romance Pick of 2015.

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