Page 40 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

“Stars.”

Twice.

“Yes!”

The third time, she hissed.

He took the nipple into his mouth, alternating between licking and sucking as he squeezed her breast. “Do you know what you do to me?” He moaned before drawing a line with his tongue to her other nipple. Desperate groping replaced his gentle touch. “Like perky rose buds ready to bloom.”

Gentle caresses and flowery words were lovely. Rough, needy hands and filthy utterances were beyond delicious. And the combination… Oh, my!

He pulled back to gaze into her eyes. His emerald irises had glazed over, cloudy intoxication darkening them. She brushed her finger over his now puffy lips. His deep rumble landed in her core.

“Katrina, we have to stop.”

But she did not want to stop.

“I cannot fuck you in your brother’s library in the middle of the afternoon.”

For the first time in her life, fuckingheld a lot of appeal. But since she was uncertain what all that entailed, this was nice, too. Although perchance, just maybe, he could be persuaded to—what had Beth said?

“He places his mouth on your quim and licks and sucks and does all sorts of wonderful things.” Because that sounded a hundred shades of colorful, and her quim pulsed with need. If only she were brave enough to request her wants out loud.

Mayhap she’d settle on her second choice.

“Kiss me,” she demanded as she tugged on his lapel.

Instead of obliging, he rested his forehead against hers. “I must be at the field soon.” He pulled back. His gaze traveled to the wooden clock above the fireplace, and he sighed. “I did not sleep last night.”

Maybe because he’d been sketching amillionpictures of her. Stars. That meant he’d been thinking about her the way she’d been thinking about him. Therefore, they should embrace until the world ended. She lunged for his lips.

With a quick turn of his head, the incubus evaded her. “Please don’t make this more difficult for me.”

Difficultfor him? Every inch of her hummed and ached.

He untangled one of her hands from his coat, then the other. It was as if she were a ragdoll as he pressed on her shoulder until she faced away from him. Neither of them said a word as he laced her stays, situated her dress on her shoulders and fastened her buttons.

He rested his chin on her shoulder to whisper in her ear, “Katrina, you turn me inside out. I do not understand my own mind right now. I must sleep, then think. But first, I must change into my whites and play bloody cricket.”

For a moment, she was too stunned to move. By the time she’d swiveled to face him, he’d departed the library, leaving her with a shameful dampness coating her inner thighs.

Chapter eighteen

July 1st, 1818

The sun beat on Evan’s back, and sweat dripped down his forehead as he and his party traversed the bustling street on their way to the cricket match. Once they reached the road leading to the grounds, a canopy of trees shielded them from the heat, and the occasional gust of sea breeze kept the air from being oppressive.

Evan adored cricket, and on any other day, he’d relish his position as bowler. He rather enjoyed finding the perfect throw to baffle each batter. It was just this particular day, at this very moment, that was the problem. Only because he’d prefer to be sleeping. Or fucking. Fucking Katrina Harrington, to be exact, although a woman of her temperament required kissing and making love. Which oddly was fine by him. He’dmake love to every inch of her and her pouty lips, responsive curves, and rosebud nipples. And the things he’d do to her pussy… Which was probably tight as hell. And as tasty as honey cakes.

“We are going to beat The Queen’s Castle this year,” Harrington declared as he slapped Evan on the back with one hand and Wellspring with the other. “Now that you two are here, we stand a chance. Last year, they annihilated us.” He looked over his shoulder to call to Buttons, “How are you at batting, mate?”

Buttons grinned from ear to ear.

“Ah,” Harrington said. “With the four of us, we are loaded. Eaton was the best damn bowler at school, and Aunt Justine’s got a pair of footmen who field as if they are league players.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask, why are we playing on her team when we are not staying at your aunt’s inn?” Wellspring asked.

“William, Katrina, and I used to cheer on our father and uncle when we were children. So we have been involved for as long as I can remember,” Harrington said. “My uncle and the owner of The Queen’s Inn were childhood friends, so it originated forever ago. And although we get quite competitive, ’tis all in fun. One hotel against another. Everyone, from guests to groundskeepers. The winner keeps the chalice in their hotel for the year.”