He trades in foreign goods, not love-but when his greatest rival offers an erotic education in exchange for a truce, both their hearts may be captured in the bargain.

In the Roman port city of Ostia, a fierce rivalry wages in the world of trade. After losing her husband to a shipwreck, Lucretia has devoted herself to keeping his shipping business afloat, clinging to the independence it offers her. Felix, her scheming rival, strives for total control over commerce in Ostia, which requires toppling Lucretia's enterprise and seizing her ships for himself.

Unfortunately for Felix, it's not just Lucretia's ships he desires. Her cool smile and calm competence shred his focus and scramble his thoughts, even as he plots sabotage. Even worse, he's been too busy building his business empire to dally with women...ever.

When Lucretia discovers both how much he wants her and that he's as inexperienced as a Vestal Virgin, she decides to use this to her advantage-proposing a truce in exchange for initiating Felix into the ways of the flesh. Their heated encounters blur the line between business and pleasure, and soon pleasure turns to something deeper. Despite never wanting to remarry, Lucretia finds herself contemplating a partnership with Felix, in business as well as life.

But when Felix uncovers a secret that could vanquish Lucretia once and for all, he realizes the unthinkable has happened: he's falling for the woman he should want to destroy. His dream of ruling trade in Ostia is finally at his fingertips, but he must decide what he wants more: Lucretia's ships, or her heart.