Free Seducing the Viscount by Alexandra Ivy

the past four and twenty years. It was the niggling horror that he might actually be right.
    â€œPlease.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “Stop.”
    â€œMercy . . .”
    She gave a desperate shake of her head. “No, it is bad enough that I must soon return home, without having you make it even worse.”

Chapter 5
    Ian sucked in a deep breath. He was not quite certain why the thought of some selfish old vicar crushing the life from this sweet, vulnerable woman made him long to track down the sod and wrap his fingers around his neck. Or why he wanted to grasp Mercy by the shoulders and shake some sense into her.
    He only knew that the mere thought of this maiden being hurt stirred a dark, primitive need to protect her.
    It was a new and decidedly disturbing sensation. One that, when combined with the pure lust that had flooded through him the moment he turned to see her regarding him with those midnight eyes, left him feeling . . . combustible.
    â€œForgive me.” Even to his ears the words sounded stiff. “I did not mean to upset you.”
    Her brows drew together. “And how did you think that I would react to having you speak of my father in such a manner?”
    Ah, direct and utter honesty. It was no wonder the innocent country miss managed to keep a hardened sophisticate off his guard.
    He shrugged, deciding that she deserved honesty in return.
    â€œI allowed my dislike for having love used as a weapon to overcome my discretion.”
    Her annoyance faded as she regarded him with a searching gaze. “You believe love can be used as a weapon?”
    Christ, but she was an innocent if she did not yet realize the utter devastation that love could produce.
    â€œYou read of history, Mercy. Surely you of all people must appreciate that it is the most powerful weapon known to mankind,” he drawled. “Can any saber or pistol ball equal the pain of unrequited love? Can any torture be as painful as a love that smothers a person until they lose themselves?” His lips twisted. “Or love that is withheld as punishment?”
    â€œYou are very cynical.”
    â€œYes.”
    With a slow, deliberate step she moved forward, the fading light slanting through the glass ceiling to bathe her in a soft rosy glow.
    He hissed as a savage need twisted his gut. He had never seen anything so exquisite. Surely not even a wood sprite could possess such magical beauty.
    â€œThat does not trouble you?” she demanded, that low voice spreading through his body and tightening his muscles along the way.
    He should have left the moment she had interrupted his search of his father’s desk. Had he not spent the entire day avoiding the temptation of her company? He might not comprehend why he reacted to the chit as if he were still a randy school lad, but he was intelligent enough to know it was imperative that he not test his dubious control by being alone with her.
    Besides, he could hardly search for his father’s secret if the damnable woman kept trailing behind him and popping up without warning, he acknowledged sourly.
    Perhaps it would be best if he gave her a taste of just how dangerous this game she was playing could be.
    Bypassing the opportunity to ponder the sheer stupidity of his plan, Ian reached out to grasp her upper arms, his gaze deliberately skimming down to study the soft swell of her breasts.
    â€œIt is who I am, and why tender young maidens should do their best to avoid me.”
    Rather than struggling, Mercy tilted back her head to regard him with her sweet, dewy innocence.
    â€œAnd if they choose not to?”
    With a growl, Ian had her pushed back against the nearby workbench. Damn the wench. Why would she not flee from him as every other proper maiden had the sense to do?
    His hands shifted to lightly encircle her neck, his thumb absently testing the satin softness of her chin. His head lowered, his lips finding the small hollow behind her