Seducing Simon Read Free Page B

his hands moving over her body.
    His strong arms holding her as he made love to her. The same dream that tormented her sleep since that fateful night two months ago. She woke up bathed in sweat…and longing.
    Closing her eyes once more, she conjured up the memory of that night…

    Toni sank onto the couch, her heart heavy. The knot in her throat had grown until it was difficult to breathe around it. Tears pricked her eyelids, but she held them at bay, determined not to give into the overwhelming despair she felt.
    The man she loved, had loved forever, was asking another woman to marry him. Even now, they were probably reveling in the joy of their commitment.
    She blinked furiously as the ache in her chest grew. Matt and A.J.
    were working, thank God. There was no one to witness her misery.
    Simon should be working too, but he’d taken the day off. This was one time she regretted the fact they were all roommates. She wanted nothing more than to bury herself away from Simon.
    She hugged her legs to her chest then rested her chin between her knees. If only she’d done something, anything, to make Simon realize her feelings for him. She’d never even given things a chance to see what might blossom between them. And now she was too late.
    -20-

    Seducing Simon
    A slamming door jerked her out of her wallow. Her feet thumped to the floor, and she whirled around to see Simon standing in the kitchen, fury blazing in his eyes.
    She stood up, half in dread, half in hope. He should be ecstatic, not angry.
    “Simon?”
    His fist thumped on the bar as he slapped his keys down.
    Toni stood across the room, unsure of whether she should approach him. She’d never seen him this angry.
    “She was in bed with another man,” Simon bit out.
    Toni’s mouth rounded to an O, and her breath escaped in a whoosh of surprise. She hurried forward, stopping in front of Simon. She reached a shaky hand to his arm.
    “I’m sorry,” she said softly.
    How could she feel this much relief when Simon was obviously in so much pain? But her heart beat a hopeful rhythm.
    He let out an angry sigh. She wrinkled her nose as the smell of alcohol reached her.
    “Simon, have you been drinking?”
    He grinned crookedly at her. “You could say that.” Before she could respond, he stumbled over to one of the cabinets and pulled down a bottle of Jim Beam and a juice glass.
    He looked back at her and raised a glass in question. “Wanna join me?”
    “Simon…”
    “What?”
    “Don’t do this. She’s not worth it.”
    He nodded his head. “I completely agree.” He walked around the bar and headed into the living room, the bottle dangling from his fingertips.
    -21-

    Maya Banks
    He set both on the coffee table and poured a generous amount of the liquor into the glass.
    Toni eased onto the couch beside him. As much as she didn’t want him marrying another woman, his pain was nearly her undoing.
    Simon drained the glass and plunked it back down, quickly pouring another round. His fingers clenched the glass as he brought it to his mouth, the tips white with the pressure he exerted.
    “I went over there to surprise her, to ask her to marry me, and I find her fucking another man.” He shook his head, his lips twisting into a snarl. “What an idiot I am.”
    “She’s the idiot,” Toni said through clenched teeth.
    Simon quirked an eyebrow then his mouth relaxed into a smile. Some of the darkness receded from his green eyes. He reached out a hand to cup her cheek. “Thank you.”
    She worked to keep from nuzzling into his hand. “For what?”
    “For being here,” he said softly.
    She edged closer still to him. She rubbed her cheek against his palm.
    How much had he had to drink already? He’d just consumed two large glasses of Jim Beam, and apart from the occasional beer, Simon wasn’t a drinker.
    He stared at her, his gaze slightly unfocused, but intently rested on her. She put her fingers out to touch his lips, wondering how he would react,