Page 7 of The Rake Desires the Diamond

He leaned forward. His heated breath blew across her cheek. “Your body betrayed you,PrincessKatrina. You liked those wicked things. If I recall correctly, you are the one who asked me to repeat them.”

How did he know her stupid nipples had tingled? Or, perchance, he was referencing how she’d moaned when he sucked on her tongue. How mortifying.

“Stop calling me princess,” she growled at him.

“Stop being such a stick in the briars. You did not seem to mind it when my tongue was down your throat.”

She’d deny that to her grave. Besides, his tongue had never actually beendownher throat. It had been in her mouth, on her neck, licking her shoulder, tickling her ear…

“My brothers have warned me to stay away from you,” she hissed. “Now, excuse me while I try to make recompense with my cousin.” She turned her back to him and closed her eyes.

“And every man in England knows you are…” His unsaid words hung in the air between them.

She spun to face him. “Knowswhat?”

Was he about to mention that men talked about how spoiled and uptight she was? Because she was not uptight. Firstly, she wanted to teach art to young children, and children were messy little urchins. However, they were still quite cute. Not that any of that mattered, because she would never be permitted to follow her dreams due to her standing as a duke’s daughter. More importantly, she’d whispered the wordarse.Flitted along the path breathlessly. Kissed a stranger…

He sighed. “Please allow me to escort you and your cousin back to safety.”

“She is no longer here.” Kat waved a hand at the path stretching in front of them. “And the only unsafe thing out here isyou.”

That probably wasn’t true. There might be wolves, or bears, or ghosts…and Greyson. She balked.

Evan kept his distance, but the clonk of his footsteps echoed, and the light from his candle bounced about, letting her know he was behind her. Thankfully, Greyson no longer stood by the gardener’s hut. She passed by Yardley Manor, then traipsed along the street to her Aunt Justine’s inn. Still, he followed her.

As infuriating as Evan Eaton was, she should thank him for seeing her home. She turned to tell him she was sorry for her harsh words, but he was gone. Mayhap it was for the best. The man was a notorious rake.

She sneaked through the back door in the kitchens, then slunk to Beth’s chamber. The inn was packed for the season, so where would she lodge if her cousin no longer shared her room? She’d have to stay with Ethan, which on any other occasion would be delightful. It was one of her childhoodresidences, after all. But currently, Evan Eaton might be there. Stars no! Please don’t let him be staying there.

Kat inhaled, then exhaled long and slow. Please let Beth be in for the evening, so she could grovel for forgiveness.

Crossed fingers, four-leaf clovers, and wishes upon a star—Beth would hug her and say all was forgiven, Alexander would never hear of her indecent behavior, and Evan Eaton would leave Brighton in the morning, never to be heard from again.

She cracked the chamber door and stepped inside.

Chapter four

June 28th, 1818

Damn, Evan disliked Katrina Harrington. So why did he spend most of the night fantasizing about burying his face between her thighs?

Despite his restless sleep, he awoke early. He downed three cups of tea and ate a plate of sausages. Then, he met his lovely subject in the drawing room and concentrated on his task. Let everyone mock his short attention span; he focused like a monk when interested in something.

Two hours later, he compared the blonde curl hanging over Anna Harrington’s shoulder to the one he’d painted on the canvas. Perfection. In a few more days, he’d be ready to present the piece to her besotted husband. He’d pat his own shoulder once he was alone.

“Are we finished for the day?” Anna asked.

Evan nodded. “Can you sit tomorrow at the same time?”

“Yes. You are joining us for the seaside picnic tomorrow, are you not?”

“Indeed I am. I’m looking forward to it,” Evan said.

There was something about the waves pounding against his skin and the salt air that made him feel alive. Doctor Russell’s popular cure that included drinking sea water seemed suspect, but splashing in the ocean usually cured Evan’s ails, which currently included anxiety over seducing his friend’s sister.

His friend’s beautiful, delectable sister, whom he might seek out and kiss again. Bloody hell! What kind of fool sought attention from a troublesome brat? He needed to kick this attraction to Katrina all the way to hell.

As he cleaned up his work area, Anna came up behind him to peer at her portrait.