Free A Certain Wolfish Charm by Lydia Dare Page A

Lily," Prisca said, her eyebrows drawn together in concern. "You'd best do as he says. He looks ready to devour you right here and now."
       Only Prisca would make such an incendiary statement in such a public place. Though Simon supposed his behavior warranted her waspishness.
       "I'll send a coach for you tomorrow, Lily, so we can prepare for the ball," Prisca continued as Simon pushed Lily around the corner.
       "Thank you," Lily called back as he led her into his study and slammed the door. Then she glared at him, her pretty, hazel eyes darkening. "Honestly, Your Grace!"
       "Simon," he said absently, running a hand through his hair in desperation, trying to rein the beast back under control, trying to figure out why it drove him to distraction to see other men fawning all over her.
       "Simon what?" she asked, confusion on her face.
       "I'm tired of you 'Your Grace-ing' me. You call Will by his name."
       "Is that what this is about? Why you manhandled me in front of your neighbors?"
       "I did not manhandle you."
       "You most certainly did. That had to be one of the rudest displays of temper I have ever seen." Lily rubbed her elbow.
       Had he harmed her? Simon looked over her person. Her chest was pink and rosy, a symbol of her anger. Her cheeks were bright red, and her breasts rose with every agitated breath.
       Her breasts. Her breasts rose with every breath. His gaze danced across her décolletage, willing the flesh to rise a little more so his eyes could greedily devour her skin. She noticed his stare and covered her chest with her hand.
       "Perhaps, Simon , you should just undress me and get it over with, instead of simply undressing me in your mind."
       Simon instantly hardened at the thought. He took two steps closer to her. "Perhaps I shall."
    ***

    Lily immediately forgot the pain in her elbow as he walked closer. What was he doing? She hadn't really laid down a challenge. She held up one feeble hand, as though that would hold him off.
       It didn't.
       Lily danced sideways, putting a chair between them. Simon pushed it over. As it thumped against the rug, she fled to stand behind his desk.
       "Simon, what has come over you?" she shrieked. Her voice sounded painful to her own ears. Though it did not affect his, not if his present conduct was any indication.
       "I want to see if I hurt your elbow, Lily," he said quietly, his voice no more than a low hum.
       "Then why are you stalking me?" she asked, happy that the desk was still solidly between them.
       He laughed mirthlessly. "What an odd thing to say, Lily. I am not stalking you."
       However as he advanced toward her, all Lily could think was that she was about to become his dinner. What a silly notion. Though at times, Simon did remind her of a wild animal. Now was no exception.
       He reached one hand across the desk and said
    quietly, "Let me see if I hurt you." Did a bit of guilt cross his face?
       Lily extended her elbow, pointing it at him as she rolled her eyes. "You really should have worried about this before you grabbed me in front of everyone. In fact , you shouldn't have grabbed me at all," she rebuked him.
       Simon took her elbow in his hand and regarded it quietly, noting the redness of her skin where his brutish hold had clasped her so roughly. He lowered his lips to the spot and touched it gently.
       His dark eyes rose to meet hers, and she saw remorse in their depths. But she also saw… hunger ? She batted at his hand. "That's enough, Simon. I'm fine."
       His gaze never left hers as he said, "Never pull away from me, Lily. I can't bear the torture."
       "What has come over you?" One moment he was standoffish, offering to pay her dowry to the first available man who would take her off his hands. Then he was trying to devour her. And what of his comment about undressing her? It was best left forgotten.
       Lily jumped as Simon suddenly leapt over