Page 47 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

Hence, the frog in her tea? But more importantly, he remembered what she’d worn on a summer day over a decade ago.

The mattress squeaked, and his feet thunked on the floor. Before she had time to open the door, he reached around her, pressing both hands against it and holding it closed.

“Now that Alexander knows, there is nothing to keep us apart. Except for you, Lady Katrina.” His words tickled the back of her neck. “And I promise, I won’t allow Greyson to hurt you or any other woman… ever again.”

He sounded so sincere that Kat froze, her arm reaching toward the door as Lady Chisolm’s words slapped at her resolve. “I’d have preferred to live my life to the fullest, to experience love and passion.”

“Please don’t go,” Evan whispered in her ear.

Holding her breath, she turned to face him. Not a hint of arrogance in his lust-filled eyes. No mockery in those kissable lips. Only the hunger that radiated from his every pore. She sighed in resignation. No way was she going anywhere.

His body weight caged her against the door as his lips crashed against hers. His kisses were urgent. Raw. Overpowering. Dizzying.

She pressed her hands against his chest. His heart beat beneath her palms, and his hard bulge jabbed her throughlayers of fabric. The urge to rub her bits and pieces up against his cock had become an all-consuming primal need radiating from deep within her.

He broke from their kiss to stare into her eyes. “Tell me what you want, my princess. Whatever you desire, it is yours. I am your slave, Katrina Harrington. I’d conquer the heavens to bring you a star. I’d climb the highest mountain to catch you a rainbow. I’d make you a throne of a million rose petals so that you could lounge upon it and rule my world.”

Oh, how she’d love this man to gift her stars, rainbows, and rose petals. She rested her hand on his cheek. “Might you simply make love to me until the first light of dawn peeks through the windows?”

He stepped back and blinked.

Why had she said something so brazen? What in the dickens was wrong with her? She whimpered as her cheeks heated.

With a feral growl, Evan hoisted her over his shoulder and tossed her onto the bed. She landed in the center with an unladylike squeal. He was instantly on top of her, his lips on hers, one hand dragging her skirts up her legs as the other cradled her neck. Need and fear mingled, leaving her breathless.

“I’ve never made love,” she said between her gasps of pleasure.

“So innocent,” he whispered. “I will take good care of you.”

Yes. That is what she wanted.

His scorching hands were everywhere. Pulling out her hair ribbon. Unbuttoning her dress. Tugging her free from fabric. Caressing her bare flesh.

He sat back on his haunches and studied her naked figure as she squirmed beneath his assessing gaze.

“Heavens above, you are beautiful,” he said.

She reached for him. “You should be naked, too.”

His deep chuckle was the ultimate aphrodisiac. “In a moment, princess. First, there is something I have been longing to do since I found you asleep in the grass. Do you trust me?”

Was she insane? Because she did trust thisimmature, scandalousrake. With her life. She nodded.

He smiled in between the hot kisses he trailed down her body, eventually seating himself between her thighs. Was he about to lap up the liquid dripping from her core? Because although she desired it more than anything, the notion also terrified her.

He bent forward, inhaled her secret scent, and moaned. “Heaven, roses, and sin.”

His heated breath blowing across her quim sent her self-consciousness to the far ends of the world. Surely, if a man desired her this much, she must be as sensual as a nymph. Or a mermaid.

He ran a finger through her curls, parting her folds. She undulated, lifting her mound closer to him, hoping the bold move tempted him.

Cupping her bosom in his hands, he squeezed and grinned wickedly.

Just wait until she cradled his naked arse. She might just send him back that same Mephistophelian smirk. She’d taunt and tease and… “Oh, my.”

He licked along the seam of her inner thigh. First one, then the other, occasionally grazing her clitoris with his nose. Until, finally, thank the stars above, he gently pushed his tongue inside her.

Her moans and groans and little mewls of pleasure were probably disgraceful, but she couldn’t help it. His long, leisurely licks were so very indulgent.And with each pass, his tongue came closer to the twitching orb growing in her center. She could take it no longer. She needed himtherein that whirling vortex.Now! She grasped the back of his head and pressed his face to her quim until their bodies were inseparable.