Viking Claim (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 2) by Sky Purington Page B

hers, determined to swallow her whole. “We will all be happy. Even your sister Amber.”
    Fire crackled. Drums beat. A harp. Flute. Yet it all faded away the moment his eyes locked on her lips. The moment the heat of his hand came against her vulnerable flesh. Fire flared beneath her skin. God, she could only imagine what he’d taste like but knew kissing him wasn’t a good idea. Not yet. Maybe not at all. Still, she licked her traitorous, throbbing lips even as she shook her head.
    Thankfully, or not, Kol chose that moment to reappear. This time he didn’t ask but came up behind her. When his arm slipped around her waist, Raknar’s fell away. For a bizarre, heated moment, she was between the men before Raknar faded back into the crowd.
    Just like that her skin cooled, chest tightened and she struggled for breath. The warmth, peace, even excitement vanished.
    At that moment she knew.
    If she was here for anyone, it was Raknar.
    A shiver raced through her and she gulped hard. She didn’t want to be here for anyone. She didn’t want to be here period.
    Before he could press too closely, Veronica turned in Kol’s arms and put a little distance between them. She couldn’t help but smile at the devilish intent in his eyes. “You’re nothing but trouble.”
    Dimples erupted as he grinned. “That’s what they say.”
    Already entirely comfortable with Kol, she shook her head. “I’m not your type.”
    “Type?”
    “Not the sort of woman you’re usually drawn to.”
    “How would you know what sort of woman I’m usually drawn to,” he murmured and pulled her closer.
    Hand to his chest, she pushed him back a fraction and shook her head. “Trust me, I have a good head for that sort of thing.”
    Perplexed but not overly fazed, he grinned and shrugged. “You have a beautiful head. Nice shape.”
    Veronica chuckled. “Thanks…I guess. Your head isn’t so bad either.”
    “Thank you.” His grin faltered, as though he sensed something. “Are you comfortable dancing with me, Veronica?”
    “Absolutely,” she answered honestly. But he knew, just like she did. “Just dancing though.”
    Kol was unbelievably handsome with a killer sense of humor yet being around him was like being around Sean, an instant feeling of friendship and comfort without any physical attraction. Which brought her thoughts to what the three stones were supposed to mean. Three women from her time were meant for three Viking men.
    But Kol and Amber?
    Scandinavia would never be the same. She couldn’t imagine the sexual havoc the two would wreak on one another. More than that, she couldn’t see how anything sustainable could remain between them if they were meant for one another. They grew bored quickly. Both needed the next hot body to assuage whatever emptiness existed within them. She loved her little sister with all her heart but recognized that her spirit wasn’t just free-flying but lost and lonely, desperate for something.
    Much like Kol’s.
    “How do you like it here?” he asked.
    She was about to answer when Naðr came alongside and held out his hand. “Veronica, a dance?”
    Kol downright scowled but sighed and backed away. Where Raknar still wore his fur cloak, Kol and Naðr didn’t. Right now, the king wore nothing but a sleeveless black leather tunic and his usual intense look when he brought her into his arms.
    Unlike his brothers, he kept distance between them…at least with his body. Yet there was something overly intimidating about him, even though his eyes remained soft when they met hers. “How do you fare?”
    Loaded question. “I’m hanging in there.”
    “Your sister is worried about you.”
    “And I’m worried about her.”
    “Why?”
    “Because of this.” Her eyes covered the room before returning to him. “And because of you.”
    His brows arched. “Me?”
    “Of course you.” She frowned. “You came out of nowhere and now she lives over a thousand years in her past. If you can’t understand my