Free Viking Heart (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors Book 3) by Sky Purington

trying anything once.”
    Darn, had she really just said that? But deep down she knew why and it sort of surprised her. She was feeding into his sexual openness, perhaps even competing with it. Which was ridiculous. Still, she looked over her shoulder and met his eyes. “I mean you’ve slept with two women at once, right?”
    When his brow slowly rose along with the corner of his lip, she knew her count was off.  “Three?”
    His brow rose a little higher and a bit of sheepishness crawled onto his face.
    “Four?” she mouthed.
    His sumptuous lips settled into an even grin and he nodded once.
    “How on Earth did you keep them all satisfied at…”
    Her words trailed off and she tore her eyes from his. Did she really want the answer to that? Yet a wry chuckle bubbled up and she shook her head, impressed despite herself. “God, you’re such a player.”
    “I do enjoy playing during sex,” he agreed.
    “Not exactly what I meant but sure, that works.”
    “What did you mean then?”
    Her eyes drifted over the sun-speckled ocean as she contemplated how to phrase her explanation. “It means that you know how to work women.”
    She heard the frown in his voice. “I do not make women work. I give them pleasure. Some might say I’m doing all the work.”
    “Oh, I’m sure you are.” Amber again chuckled, enjoying the bizarre conversation. “Let me rephrase. What I meant is that you’re apparently very good at getting women into your bed.”
    No shocker there. Just look at the man. A definite hottie. Not only that, Kol was simply charming. The Casanova of Vikings. The way he looked at a woman made her feel truly special and that alone was more than enough for most. She’d been watching him closely and while the majority of women she knew would see one thing, she saw another.
    Like her, Kol literally adored the opposite sex.
    He enjoyed being around them and would do anything to make them happy. Which again made her wonder how they could ever fulfill this pact with the seers.
    Storm clouds had moved in fast and covered half the sky. An icy drizzle started and he steered Thorunn into the dense forest to their right. The sharp, fresh smell of pine hit her nostrils as they traveled. Towering overhead, thick foliage protected them, offering a stunning display of sunlit mist as the sky roiled with a variety of weather.
    “So beautiful,” she murmured.
    “The mountains provide the rapid shift in climate,” he explained, apparently understanding exactly what she referred to. “Nothing stays the same long.”
    Amber sensed the double meaning in his words much like she’d felt when he danced with his women earlier. They were another layer of protection. Kol guarded his heart closely and she totally related. In a strange way, it was comforting to know that he had no intention of loving her any more than she did him.
    They were two souls who were part of a bargain they had no control over.
    Or did they?
    Damned if she knew. But one thing was apparent. She related with him. Actually, she strongly suspected she might just genuinely like him. Not in a romantic sense of course but as a potential friend.
    He stopped the horse and swung down. Offering up a killer roguish grin, he held out his hand. “Would you like to go swimming?”
    “It’s freezing,” she reminded but was swept away by the dare in his rich brown eyes. “But sure. I’m game.”
    “Game?” He grinned. “Do the men from your time hunt women then?” A full smile blossomed as he helped her down. “Because I like the idea of hunting you.”
    “Just an expression,” she assured him, but again chuckled. “It means I’m good with the idea of swimming.”
    “Good.” He wrapped a satchel over his shoulder and pulled her after him.
    “What about Thorunn? Don’t you need to tie her?”
    “Tie her?” Kol frowned. “Why would I do that?”
    “So she doesn’t run off.”
    Kol grinned and shook his head. “My girls never run off.”
    Nope, she