Viking's Temptation, A Prequel Novella, Called by a Viking

A time-traveling modern woman, a fierce Viking warrior, and a love that defies time itself.

Austin, Texas, 2018. Rebecca is prepared to settle for a loveless marriage, seeking the stability she's always craved. But fate has other plans when an ancient golden spindle unexpectedly transports her centuries into the past and into the arms of a fierce Viking warrior.  

Norway, 869 AD. Jarl Magnus, the alpha Viking, is captivated by the mysterious beauty who appears in the midst of his raid of an enemy village. Terrified and vulnerable, Rebecca trades a passionate kiss for the warrior's aid to help her return to her time. But with a deranged berserker in pursuit, her conflicted craving for more may not be enough to keep them alive.  

When a chance to return home arises, Rebecca's heart is torn between the safety of her old life and the exciting promise of a future with her Viking protector.

She must decide: Will she choose the security or risk everything for the love of a Viking warrior?

Austin, Texas, June 14, 2018

Techno music thumped in Rebecca’s chest. It made her whole ribcage vibrate as if her heart was racing, and she wanted it to stop. The cheap, worn-out faux leather of the VIP booth that had undoubtedly cost her maid of honor a fortune to book felt too hot. She sat at the table with her friends as they bounced to the rhythm and threw flirtatious glances at the hot guys sitting at the next booth. The whole club smelled like stale beer, too much perfume, and raw body odor.

“Come on, one more!” Rebecca’s best friend, Christine, yelled into her ear so loud it hurt.

Red, yellow, and blue lights flashed in the shot glass of vodka clenched between her friend’s fingers. Rebecca’s head spun, her knees wobbly in Christine’s Manolo Blahnik high heels, which she’d insisted Rebecca put on in the pink limo on the way to the club.

“No way. You made me drink more tonight than I have drunk in my whole life.”

Christine hammered the shot glass on the table, and half of the vodka spilled onto the glossy surface. The rest of the group glanced at them.

“She doesn’t want to drink!” yelled Christine to Rebecca’s friends.

The girls responded with mock outrage etched across their faces. Jenny took the veil lying on the table and put it on Rebecca’s head. Rebecca rolled her eyes. Gigi took the shot glass and shoved it into Rebecca’s hand.

“Girl, you are getting married tomorrow. Better enjoy the last exciting night of your life!”

“Yeah!” Jenny took her glass. “With Ben, you won’t have nights like this anymore.”

Was that judgment in Jenny’s voice?

“Well, some of us crave stability,” Rebecca said. “I can’t wait to have a house, kids, and a quiet, predictable life.”

Christine stabbed her finger at Rebecca. “You think you want it, but it’s not what you need.”

Anger boiled in Rebecca’s stomach. She jumped to her feet, the alcohol hit her hard, and the world shifted around her. “How do you know what I need?”

She wobbled and had to steady herself on Jenny’s shoulder. Damn these high heels, damn these skinny jeans, and damn Christine’s red silk top. They were not her style, not to mention uncomfortable.

“Everybody has such opinions about me! A high school history teacher is not the most exciting job, and I must be bored to death with an accountant. Yes, he lives a stable life. Yes, I’ve known him since college. And yes, he was my first boyfriend. That may seem dull to you, but I value these things. And he has always supported me. Always.”

Not like the five foster families she’d gone through in her childhood.

“Why wouldn’t I want to marry him?” she said.

All of her friends were staring at her.

“Screw this.” Rebecca threw the veil on the table, picked up her tote bag where her normal, heel-less shoes were, and marched away.

“Where are you going?” Christine’s voice carried over the music, but Rebecca did not stop.

She pushed her way through the sweaty, bouncing crowd to the exit. Outside, she gulped fresh air, the breeze pleasant on her skin.

“What the hell, Becca?” Christine appeared to her right.

Rebecca squatted to undo the straps of the Manolo Blahniks, her head spinning. She felt lightheaded and angry and brave. She wasn’t going to hold back the truth any longer...