Page 67 of Unmasking the Earl

“Yes.”

He kissed her again.

She didn’t struggle quite so hard. Especially when his grip softened and his lips turned seductive rather than angry.

He didn’t break the kiss.

She stopped struggling and melted into him.

Desire fizzed between them—a desire only heightened by their battle of wills, their profound attraction making a mockery of their harsh words.

Sometimes, Cassie thought as she surrendered to him, the demanding touch of an aroused man was a powerful aphrodisiac, not a punishment.

If it was the right man.

When he released her hands, she fastened them about his waist. She opened her mouth to the bruising pressure of his, tilting her head so he could deepen the kiss, and lost every ounce of decorum she possessed.

Then, just as brutally, he tore his lips away, and when she opened her eyes, she was momentarily blinded by the sunlight reflecting off a white marble monument in the churchyard.

Ned was no longer standing in front of her.

Where on earth had he gone?

Chapter Thirty

Another face swam into view as Cassie stood blinking in confusion.

It took a moment.

“Julian?”

“Cassie.” Julian’s usually cheerful face was dark as a summer storm, his eyes pallid with anger. “Are you all right?”

Why, what did he think had happened to her? Good lord, had he witnessed that tumultuous kiss? Embarrassment shot through her from her ears to her toes.

Not waiting for her answer, he turned around and hissed, “You insolent mongrel! If I had it with me, I’d use my horsewhip on you until your back was a sea of red!”

It took a horrified moment for Cassie to realize he was no longer addressing her. The kiss had unsettled her so much she still felt as if she were in a dream, or at the bottom of the sea, with everything swirling around her in a miasma of sensual, emotional strangeness.

“What the devil? Good God, Carnforth! Take your hands off me at once, sirrah!” Ned’s voice.

As Cassie’s world steadied, she realized the two men were standing just beside her, almost breast to breast, bristling with anger.

Julian said, “Wait, I know you! We met just the other day in Oxford, during that downpour.”

Ned scowled down at him. “We did. Now what the deuce is the meaning of this outrage against my person?”

Julian’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I came to find Cassandra. And not a moment too soon. I should call you out! In fact—” He started to remove his riding glove.

Still in shock at Julian’s sudden appearance, Cassie quickly stepped between the two men. “Julian, his lordship meant no harm. It’s not what you think.”

He turned to her in astonishment, glove half off, his fists clenching. “You mean you welcome the attentions of a man in full view of anybody walking past? I cannot believe it. He has importuned you, taken advantage of your innocence! I will call him out.”

She shot back angrily, “Don’t be a fool, Julian. You’ll be arrested. He is the Earl of Stranraer.”

“I know damn well who he is. A title doesn’t make him any less of a churl.”

“Julian, please. I didn’t mind him kissing me!” she cried in frustration.