Page 65 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

He mumbled a half dozen ungentlemanly epithets as her chemise dropped to her ankles. The moonlight dappled off her bare skin, silhouetting her hourglass curves and long legs. The wind whipped her hair in every direction. Theton’s perfect darling looked positively feral. As if she ran with wolves, seduced demons, and needed to be fucked good and hard.Luckily, he was just the man to commence with her thorough tupping.

Intending to throw her onto the blanket, he rushed toward her. She toed off her slippers and met him at the water’s edge. Shoulders pulled back, and bosom thrust forward, she strolled right past him. He gawked after her and her swaying peach-shaped arse as she fought through the surf. Once she was immersed up to her armpits, she dropped into the water, disappearing beneath its surface.

Was this the same woman who had been terrified of a sea dip just days ago? Damn, she was a fascinating enigma.

When she resurfaced, she threw her head back, and water splayed from her hair. His mermaid grinned as she curled her finger, calling him to her.

“Bloody hell.”

Katrina was beautiful.

He dove, then kicked as fast as he could to reach her side. He had her cradled against his torso, more quickly than he could whimper another “Bloody hell.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and covered his chest and shoulders with tender kisses.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. Please, Poseidon, let her confess she was there to see him.

“I sneaked into your room, and you were not there.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “And I know you swim here at night.”

It seemed she missed him as much as he’d missed her these last few hours. And how flattering that she licked her top lip as she stared at his physique—his pectorals, to be exact—as if he needed any more reason to preen.

“Did you, by chance, spy on me one night as I swam?” he asked.

Only an imbecile would embarrass a lady by asking such a question. Just call him Emperor of the Fools because arrogant shite-bag that he was, he needed to hear she desired him. He winked, then inclined his chin to the overlook.

She exhaled the indignant gasp of a guilty woman. “I would never…”

Chuckling, he reached for her.

Katrina evaded his grasp and splashed him in the face.

Before he’d even wiped the water from his eyes, she splashed him again. Wearing a devilish grin, she shoved armful after armful of water in his direction.

What a playful little wench. He should toss her over his shoulder, carry her to the shore, and tup her senseless. And he would have, except she squealed with delight as she dashed away from him.

The chase was on!

He navigated the water as if he had fins. Once he caught up to her, he pretended his fingers were shark teeth, clasped her legs, and pinched. When he bounded from the water, he expected her to continue their game and run away—not that she stood a chance of escape. Instead, she spun to face him.

“I win. I win.” She leaped upon him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Apparently, their game of shark chases fish was over. Thank heavens since his cock had hardened the second her warm flesh rubbed against him in that cool water.

Clinging to him, she angled her lips over his.

He tilted her head back and devoured her. Fucking delicious. Even the salt water on her skin did not detract from her sweetness.

Unfortunately, a wave caught them off guard, knocking them over.

He was instantly on his feet. She was nowhere to be found.

“Katrina,” he called, searching the dark and stomping about in the water. “Katrina!” His erratic heartbeat seemed to thump louder than the sea gurgled. If only she were a more experienced swimmer.

At last, a flailing arm, then a long leg, stuck out of the water. Fighting the tug of the tide, he rushed toward the shore.

By the time he reached Katrina, she sat on the beach, the shallow waves washing over her, her head in her hands. Her sobbing ripped his heart in two.

He crouched beside her. “Katrina, are you hurt?”