Lydia Dare - A Certain Wolfish Charm

Simon pulled his thigh from between her legs and adjusted to free himself from his trousers. Effortlessly, he lifted her, pushing her against the wall as he slid into her in one hard, fast thrust.

Lily cried out. Simon pushed her face into his shoulder. "Someone will hear you," he said. "They'll know that I'm taking you like an animal in the library."

She watched his face shift as he realized what he'd said and began to withdraw from her. Lily leaned forward and nibbled his neck, lightly abrading his skin with her teeth.

He growled and filled her again. She pressed her face into his shoulder as she lifted her legs to wrap around his waist. She took him deeper. He slammed into her again. And again. And again. And finally, when she could take no more, he allowed her to splinter into a million pieces and then followed.

***

Simon held her there against the wall while he caught his breath. What had he done? He'd lost control. He'd hurt her. He'd used her. He'd taken her in a

library

with the door open like she was a common whore.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"Why?" she asked, her legs still wrapped around his waist.

"I was out of control," he said.

"No…" she began, but he refused to let her speak.

"I was. I was out of control." Simon dropped her legs to the floor and let her stand. "And I ruined your dress." He tried to pull the edges together. But the damage was too severe. He took off his jacket and slid it around her shoulders. He righted his trousers and picked her up in his arms to carry her up the steps. Simon wondered absently where the rest of the household was. But he paid little attention to their absence. He had to get Lily upstairs before someone saw what he'd done to her.

He took the stairs two at a time. He laid her gently on the bed and took her face in his hands. "You deserve better than me," he ground out.

He shushed her protest and lay with her for a moment, until her breaths became regular and quiet.

Once she slept, he got up, dressed, and left the room.

"Billings!" he called once he reached the bottom step.

"Yes, Your Grace?" The man appeared as though magically summoned.

"Have two horses readied and find Maberley. We'll be leaving tonight, instead of tomorrow."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Simon needed to get far away from Lily before he hurt her. Before he went too far and she ended up hating him.

Forty-Four

"You wanted to see me, Blackmoor?" Oliver asked, rubbing his eyes as he stepped into the study.

Simon stared up at the lad, his vision clear, his memory of losing control still fresh in his mind. "We're starting for Surrey tonight. Grab your satchel and meet me in the stables."

"Tonight?" Oliver covered a yawn with his hand. "I thought we were going to leave in the morning. I didn't get to say good-bye to Aunt Lily, and Cook said—"

"Tonight!" Simon snapped. Then he closed his eyes and tried to maintain his temper. After all, it wasn't Oliver's fault that he had lost control with Lily. He took some calming breaths before slowly opening his eyes.

Oliver looked frightened, standing with his back against the wall, his brown eyes focused like beacons on Simon.

"We're close to the full moon, Oliver. We have to go. I'm afraid I may hurt Lily if we stay another night."

Before he could finish his statement, the lad rushed from the room. At least he now understood the urgency.

Simon awaited Oliver in the stables. Abbadon was saddled and ready, as was Erebus. Simon never would have thought the boy could handle the Anglo-Arabian, but he apparently had Daniel's skill with horseflesh. The gelding adored Oliver, which was nothing short of a miracle.

After only a few moments, Oliver entered the stables, his eyes red-rimmed and with a leather satchel slung over one shoulder. His furious glare brought Simon up short. "If you ever hurt her, I will kill you."

Simon nodded. If he ever hurt Lily, he'd kill himself. There was no need for Maberley to bloody his hands. "Well, that's why we're leaving."

In one fluid move, Oliver mounted the AngloArabian with the grace of an expert horseman. "What are you waiting for, Blackmoor?"

The lad's protective qualities were admirable, especially in a boy so young. Simon mounted Abbadon, all the while keeping his eyes locked with his cousin's. "Follow close, and don't get lost."

Oliver nodded. Then a look of doubt entered his eyes. "Are you not afraid of highwaymen?"

Simon threw back his head and laughed. He needed that release immensely. "God help the highwayman who thinks he can stop two Lycans."

With that, they rode into the night under the bright light of a nearly full moon.

***

Lily sat at the breakfast table, slowly sipping her tea. A plate of baked eggs and sausages sat in front of her, but she couldn't find her appetite.

It was quite a shock to wake up and discover that her husband and nephew were already gone. No note. No good-bye. Nothing.

Into the woods

. That's what Cook had said. Had they even gone to Surrey? Or were they hiding in the woods? Waiting for the moon to wane?

She shook her head. Did she

truly

believe her husband was a werewolf? That Oliver was a werewolf? It sounded insane. Yet everything she'd read seemed to indicate that the impossible

was

possible. It would have been nice to discuss the Lycan book with Simon before he disappeared.

But he hadn't given her that chance. Blast him!

"You should eat something," Alice said as she entered the room and sat across from Lily.

"Apparently I'm not hungry."

Alice frowned, raking her gaze across Lily. "Are you feeling ill?"

Ill tempered

. "That depends. Are you not allowed to discuss Lycans with me today?"

A ghost of a smile lit Alice's lips. "Sweet Lily. I told you, only Simon is able to reveal such secrets."

She wasn't denying it though, was she? "I see." Lily drummed her fingers on the breakfast table. "But is that just in regards to Simon? Can you tell me about Will? Or your husband? Oliver perhaps? Is my nephew a… a Lycan?"

Alice took a deep breath. "Dear, after Simon reveals everything to you, we can have as many conversations as you'd like on the subject. For the time being, you are on the correct path. I can't say more than that."

Lily leapt to her feet. This was among the most bizarre conversations she'd ever had. "Why not? Are there werewolf spies that would know if you told me? Will they suddenly appear in the middle of the room in a poof of smoke and drag you off to some wolfy prison for revealing their secrets?"

"I know it's difficult, Lily," Alice began softly.

Lily punched her hands to her hips. "Difficult, Alice, is reading fantastical books about werewolves and starting to believe that the man I married and the boy I raised are such creatures. I should be locked away in Bedlam for even entertaining the idea. Then I woke up to find the two of them gone. And the only person who can give me answers refuses to do so."

"I would if I was able."

Lily started from the room, but Alice's words halted her. "Do you remember when I asked you if there was anything Oliver could do to make you stop loving him?"

"Yes," she answered, looking back over her shoulder.

Alice nodded. "What if he is a Lycan, Lily? What if everything you're entertaining is true? Simon, Will, Oliver… Would you love them less? Or stop loving them all together?"

What if it was all true? What if Simon transformed under the light of a full moon and became a wolf? A memory flashed in her mind of the wolf on the hill she saw the night she spent at Langley Downs. It had seemed as if the creature had called out to her.

Was it Simon?

***

The sun was barely in the sky when Simon spotted Reston House from atop a hill outside of Guilford. The Elizabethan home was of modest size and settled nicely in the woods, just as Lieutenant Schofield had described. Oliver would be safe here, which was a relief.