Excerpt: 'Forever Mine' by Monica Burns

Monica Burns shares an excerpt from a favorite scene in her new release, Forever Mine.

Monica: I'm a geek. Not just because I love books and history, but science is cool, too. I discovered Einstein's Theory of Relativity late in life, which suggests time travel is possible. How cool is that? Naturally, writing a time travel is, sort of, realistic. Then there's the issue of past lives. Are they real? So the geek in me decided a time travel with a twist on past lives beliefs would make for a good book. Forever Mine is that book.

Here's the blurb:

Thrown back to the year 1897, Victoria Ashton must impersonate the Countess of Guildford. Despite Victoria's attempts to convince the earl she's not his wife, her counterpart's infidelity and ill-tempered personality make it difficult. Worse, Victoria is falling in love with a man who loathes her. Only when the earl begins to believe her story does she realize her future lies in the past. But love comes at a price, and she makes a painful sacrifice for them to be together.

For three weeks, Nicholas Thornhill, Earl of Guildford has searched for his missing wife. When she returns, rumors he's guilty of murder make him unable to believe Victoria's story. But Victoria's changed behavior surprises him, and the past fades his wife enthralls him once more. But when danger threatens to separate them forever, he must forge a bond with her that crosses the boundaries of time.

"Forever Mine is the best time-travel romance I've ever read, rivaling Jude Deveraux for intensity and chemistry between the hero and heroine." — Lucy Monroe, Paste BN bestselling author

Intrigued? Here's an excerpt …

"I agreed to listen to your story, Victoria, with the understanding I would not divulge what you shared with me. I did not agree to believe." Uncomfortable beneath his cold, hard gaze, Victoria struggled not to flinch.

"As far as I'm concerned, nothing's changed. You are still my wife. Now open the letter."

This time Victoria did flinch at the harsh command. She flipped the letter over, broke the wax seal, and pulled the letter out of its envelope.

My dearest darling, Vicki.

I cannot express my relief and joy that you are safe, my heart of hearts. I have thought the worst since that terrible night. I have missed you unbearably, my darling, and I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again. Come to me as quickly as you can, my beloved.

Yours forever,

Terrence, Viscount Darby

"Oh my God. She's cheating on you." At her revelation, she saw humiliation flash in Nicholas' green eyes before his features became hard as granite and just as unreadable.

"So you are, madam wife."

"No. I'm not. Because, I'm not your wife. I'll be damned if you're going to punish me because your wife is sleeping around."

"You're actually going to deny having an affair with Darby?" Bitterness made each and every one of his words brittle.

"You're damn straight I'm denying it," she snapped as she flung the letter into his lap. "The more I learn about your wife the less I like her. I seem to recall telling you that your wife must be a real bitch for you to hate her so much. Well, this letter explains a lot, doesn't it?"

The muscles in his face remained inflexible as she glared at him. No wonder he was so ticked off. His wife wasn't just cheating on him. The woman was doing it for the whole world to see. Nicholas remained silent, his penetrating gaze never straying from her face. She was certain he was trying to figure out a reason not to believe her, and Victoria shook her head in a pessimistic manner.

"You don't hold the market on truth and honor, Nicholas," she said with a sigh. "I'm not a liar, and I think your wife is a fool."

The moment she uttered the words, her mouth went dry with embarrassment. Oh God, what the hell was she thinking? She might think the countess was crazy for playing outside the sandbox, but she damn well needed to keep her mouth shut. Just the thought of his kiss and those few blissful moments in the dark, here in her bed, told her she was in over her head.

Her gaze flitted to the firm line of his mouth, and a knot formed in her throat, making it hard to breathe. She needed to stop thinking about how much she'd enjoyed being in his arms. Nicholas frowned as if aware she was nervous, and he tilted his head slightly as he studied her. She could almost see the wheels spinning in his head, and she prepared herself for him to dismiss her with icy disdain. Suddenly his hands were on either side of her as he leaned forward until the heat of his body pressed erotically into hers.

"Why is it you sound so damned convincing," he murmured as his gaze bored into hers. "I know I shouldn't believe you, and yet those soft, pink lips of yours bewitch me with your truths."

Dark and seductive, his voice sent a frisson dancing across her skin. Instinctively, she pushed her body deeper into the pillows to put distance between them. Her reaction made him study her like a hawk. Victoria's heart pounded in her chest as she stared up into his green eyes. A strange, undefinable emotion swirled in the moss-colored depths.

Despite the way he unnerved her, it was impossible to avoid noting how wonderful he smelled. It was a spicy, potently male scent. Deep inside her, a voice cried out for her to press her fingers against his beautiful mouth. The thought made Victoria suck in a quick, sharp breath of air. Nicholas' eyes darkened with an emotion she didn't even want to consider defining.

Slowly, he lowered his head until his mouth lightly touched hers. Fire streaked across her skin, its warmth sinking into her pores until it heated her blood like molten lava. She sighed then parted her mouth to lace his lips with the tip of her tongue. A dark sound rumbled in his chest as his tongue swept its way into her mouth and imitated an act her body suddenly craved as if she were starving.

Pleasure swept its way through her. The fiery sensation of it settled into every inch of her body. He said she'd bewitched him, but she was the one under his spell.

Find out more about Monica and her books at monicaburns.com.