Kristen Du Chein was a businesswoman and former Olympiad with a strong love for hockey and her distressed team. She was willing to do almost anything to win the coveted "Emerald Cup Trophy" and regain good press. She was also eager to regain face with her team after her late husbandÔs sexual scandal regarding other team players. When she realized her options were limited, she turned to her late husband's sworn enemy Brian Corrigan for financing and got more than she ever bargained for by agreeing to an arranged marriage. The deal was: he'd help the team with financing if they won the trophy and she'd get her divorce no questions asked; if they lost, she'd remain his wife. During the course of the marriage he basically owned and controlled her every move--which proved very powerful and overwhelming at times for both of them.

This arrangement not only kept her team afloat and financially sound for the year but also awakened her sexual desires toward Brian. Brian's motives were based upon revenge and he thrived on retribution toward Kristen. He was cold, callous and harsh. He made Kristen face her deep, dark, hidden, sexual, sensual nature. The longer they were together the more she discovered she was rather enjoying and beginning to fall in love with him and his requests. Although Brian was enjoying tormenting and humiliating her with his dark desires and lusts, he found himself slowly falling in love with the woman he had sworn revenge on. Kristen was having problems with her late husband's brother who was also on the team. He actually got into cahoots with Brian to throw games so she'd have to lose the bet and remain married to him.

These two characters were headstrong and determined to get their way no matter the cost. They were drawn together over the course of the story against their will. As they went on in the relationship Brian discovered that although Kristen's late husband had caused him a serious knee injury that ruined his own hockey career, she essentially knew nothing about what had happened. Kristen just protected his actions out of duty and obligation. Because of her innocence in the matter, Brian gradually fell for her and came to regret his bad choices, shady dealings and degrading requests.

Brian is a man you love to hate with a strong, insatiable sexual appetite making me somewhat wish I could be Kristen just for a day! One moment you could kill him, the next you wanted to be the one in bed with him. This story has many layers, as do the characters. I was drawn into it and found it hard to put down, as I wanted to read more. There were many sexual scenes that still had me wanting more! This is the first book I've read from Erica De Quaya and I really enjoyed it.