The Viking Wants Forever by Koko Brown

himself forward, intent on going after her, but Bjarni stopped him with a hand on his arm.
    “What are you doing?” Eirik growled, snatching his arm out of the other’s grasp.
    “What are you doing? You’re acting like a lad in heat. If you go after her now, you will have lost the upper hand, let alone your pride.”
    Unable to contain his angst, Eirik began to pace. “She has bewitched me. I walk the floors at night. I can barely stomach anything beyond ale or mead. My thoughts are always centered on her. She’s driving me to madness.”
    Bjarni stroked his dark beard as if considering his condition. Desperate for a solution, Eirik found himself waiting for his opinion.
    “The best way to get over one woman is to bed another.”
    “Tried and failed,” Eirik spat in disgust, remembering his ill-fated attempt to extract his thrall from beneath his skin. He’d invited the buxom thrall Reina to his chamber and despite her lusty ministrations, his cock didn’t stir. Eirik glared down at his hands, noting the scars and calluses. How could he be so strong and yet so feeble of mind and spirit over a woman?
    “I have lost this challenge.” Eirik balled his hands into fists. He wanted to pummel something. “I am so hot for her I’ve decided to concede to her demands just to get her to share my bed again.”
    “You will do no such thing!” Bjarni hissed. “Has her dark beauty cast that much of a spell over you?”
    “ Ja . She is like no woman I have ever known. I am at a loss at what to do.”
    Bjarni waved his excuse aside. “It’s only because she’s a woman. Everyone knows you have never had much luck with them. Didn’t you learn anything from Oo—”
    “Do not bark up that tree,” Eirik warned. Oona had given him a merry chase. And ever since, she’d been a touchy subject. So much so, his people had taken to not mentioning her name lest they provoke his wrath.
    “I’m only trying to make a point. You’ve led us successfully into battle more times than I can count. Now you are zero to two when it comes to women you fancy.”
    Finished with his daily exercise and Bjarni’s wayward advice, Eirik accepted his tunic from Thoren. Not taking the hint, Bjarni fell into step beside him.
    “Women are not men. They seem soft and delicate, and yet they are cunning and strong here,” Bjarni said, pointing to his head.
    Interest piqued, Eirik gave his best friend his undivided attention. “Go on.”
    “We know them no better than our enemies before engaging them in battle. If you follow my lead,” Bjarni smiled slightly, “you will have her wanting you as much you want her.”
    “What do you want in return.” Bjarni never did anything for free. It was one of the reasons he’d made a fortune as a mercenary.
    “I seek only a small token.”
    Eirik snorted. The last token he’d forfeited had been one of his long ships. “If you’re able to pull this off, I will grant you anything.” Still wifeless, Bjarni’s luck with women was only slightly better than his.
    “ Anything ?” Eyes glittering, Bjarni stroked his dark beard.
    Eirik felt a cold shiver crawl its way down his back and curl in the pit of his stomach. “Yes, anything,” he agreed, yet already fearing the terms.
    “I want you to share her with me.”
    Even though he wasn’t surprised, Eirik still wanted to tear Bjarni’s throat out for asking. It wasn’t as if they’d never shared a woman before. But this one was different. Thus, the reason why he had not sought her out and forced his attentions on her. He wanted her to come to him of her own free will. He’d chased after one woman, and been left holding the bag, and he refused to make the same mistake twice.
    Still, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t stop at anything to have her. Even going against his baser instincts. “I will share her only once,” he conceded. He reached out, grabbed the front of Bjarni’s tunic, and hauled him forward. “But only if she accepts. I will not