I posted this on the Brava Authors blog, but thought I’d share here, too!
Simon stood in the entryway of his home and pulled of his gloves one fingertip at a time, his movements deliberate and evenly paced. The action was meant to calm him, but it was taking too long. His breath heaved with his anger and his neck ached with tension.
Edward James had been visiting Lysette while she was “indisposed.†The man had stood in the window sans coat and waistcoat as if he were at home, his posture both defensive and possessive.
Simon had played this game before, coming to a head with a man over a desirable female. It was a diverting activity and Simon rarely had a true stake in the outcome. If he won the lady’s regard, the sex was wild and hot. If he lost it, he conceded with a smile and caught another.
This time, he was incensed. He would like to think it was only his pride that was bruised, but the truth was more disturbing than that. He had been happy those brief, passionate moments in the library. Not merely content or distracted but happy. To know that it had been nothing noteworthy to Lysette was a bitter realization to reach.
And then there was the feeling that he was losing his mind. He had disliked Lysette until last night. Now, suddenly, he felt murderous over the thought of her with another man.
Right now.
He growled and bounded up the stairs to his room, determined to change from his riding clothes to something more suitable for a night of bawdy delights. A hard fuck would get her out of his blood. Tomorrow he would be clear headed and ready to deal with her as he must.
“Mr. Quinn, you have a caller.â€
Simon paused in the act of removing his cravat. He met his butler’s gaze in the mirror attached to the inside of his armoire door. “Who is it?â€
“She would not give me her name, sir.â€
Tensing at the news that his caller was female, he asked, “Would she happen to be blonde and beautiful?â€
The butler’s mouth twitched. “Yes, sir.â€
All of Simon’s simmering anger and frustration reheated to boiling. He yanked off the loosened linen and tossed it on the floor. She must have come haring directly after him in order to reach him so soon. Perhaps she realized how James’s show of propriety had ruined her plans for him, whatever they were.
For a moment, he debated sending her away without seeing her just to aggravate her in kind, but the thought of Eddington’s hold over him stayed his tongue. The sooner he knew what she was up to, the sooner he could be rid of her and away from the damnable lot of mischief makers.
“Where is his lordship?†he asked.
“Out for the evening, sir.â€
With a long, rapid stride, Simon quit his chambers and descended to the lower floor. He was vaguely aware of his butler scrambling after him, but he paid the man no mind. He would not be needing tea or refreshments. If anything, he needed a stiff drink.
He paused on the threshold of the receiving parlor and found Lysette seated delicately on the edge of his yellow brocade settee. She was dressed in a bold burgundy gown, another color choice he would not have anticipated her to select but one he found potently alluring against her creamy skin. An elaborately decorated hat rested on the carved wooden side table and she twisted the strings of a matching reticule in her lap.
She was the picture of elegance and gentility…
…until she looked at him with the blue eyes that had lured him across a ballroom and into her arms.
Something akin to lightning raced across his skin. Burning. Tingling. Making him perspire. His heart rate picked up its pace and his chest lifted and fell unevenly.
As he entered, her expression of hesitation and wariness was swiftly replaced with heated feminine appreciation. Her gaze lowered to his bared throat and her tongue darted out to caress her lush lower lip.
When her eyes met his again, the raw, carnal hunger he saw in the crystalline depths hardened every muscle in his body, tightening his frame with coiling lust. A quarter of an hour ago he had wanted to strangle her. Now, he wanted nothing more than to lift her skirts and ride her to a screaming climax.
Again and again.
He growled and snapped, “Bah! You are not worth the trouble.â€
Pivoting, he left the room.
* * * * *
Hitting shelves tomorrow…
Bah! I cannot wait to read this one!
by Stacy ~ March 24th, 2008 at 3:52 amYet another great teaser, Sylvia - I can’t wait fro this book!
by limecello March 24th, 2008 at 5:57 amFabulous!
by HelenKay Dimon March 24th, 2008 at 9:59 amCan’t for to get my hands on Simon.
by Jane March 24th, 2008 at 12:59 pmI hope you all enjoy it.
Thank you for picking it up!
by SylviaIt is wonderful and I give it my very highest of recommendations!
by Laurie March 24th, 2008 at 8:00 pmAh… soon, oh so sooooon…
by Fedora March 24th, 2008 at 10:21 pmI got my copy Sylvia - thank you!!!
by Stacy ~ March 25th, 2008 at 3:35 am