3. Chapter Three

Kat should have guessed that Beth's mystery rendezvous was with the well-built man in green. Not only did he have the physique of a Roman warrior and a wicked grin that landed in a woman's core, but he also smelled of citrus and mint. And currently, he clutched Kat close to his hard, warm body.

What type of rake didn't know he held the wrong woman? She would push him away and tell him what a reprobate he was as soon as she finished inhaling his alluring, fresh scent.

"So you could not resist me, Luv?" he said, his voice a seductive drawl that made her want to punch him in the patrician nose propping up his mask.

It also made her want to rest her ear against his lips and listen to him whisper sweet sentiments. However, that was ridiculous wantonness and a product of her recent dream about kissing Alexander.

"Were you dreaming of me, Luv?" he asked.

What the dickens? What a presumptuous, pompous rogue

"Nay, I was dreaming about…" She whimpered and clamped her lips together. How did he know she'd been dreaming of kisses?

His chuckle slapped her in the heart, then tickled its way to her fingertips, which were currently pressed against his muscular chest. She'd intended to push him away but was instead glued to him.

Good heavens. The intoxicating sea air must make one prurient. Unless someone had slipped some type of herbal elixir into her punch. For what else could be making her behave this way? She needed to pull herself together.

"Unhand me," she demanded.

He peered down at her fingers pressed against him and chuckled. "You first."

"Bah."

She reluctantly ripped her hands from him and then stared down at his. Masculine tendons and thick veins protruded from the long fingers cinching her waist. She swallowed.

Instead of letting go, he pulled her closer, squeezing a breathy gasp from her lungs. His lips cupped her ear. "Do you remember the things you whispered in my ear outside the ballroom? For I do. Every last libidinous utterance."

Kat would strangle her cousin the next time she saw her. She opened her mouth to tell him that he had the wrong woman. But for some inexplicable reason, curiosity got the better of her. "Remind me. What did I say?"

His chuckle was filled with wicked intent. "Do you mean the part where you—" his lip brushed her ear, and his voice deepened "—asked me to suckle at your luscious breasts?"

She gasped as her nipples tingled. Actually tingled! What the blazes?

"Or, are you referencing"—their masks scraped as he nuzzled her nose—"the part where you asked me to drink from between your thighs?"

Did that mean what she thought? The tingles shot from her nipples to her most intimate area, as her cheeks heated at the indecent suggestion.

She needed to end the farce, but then she would have to admit she'd allowed it to get this far. Why hadn't she just told him the second she'd awoken that she was there to relay a message? Never mind that. If she could rewind the clock, she'd never have come in the first place.

"Shall we remove our masks?" he asked, his lips twisting into a crooked grin.

"Absolutely not. I must go." She meant to pull from his embrace. She truly did, but the second his lips touched the corner of her mouth, she moaned.

He smiled against her skin. It was as if he knew his touch was awakening lustful sensations. He trailed gentle kisses along her jaw before returning to her mouth. His tongue gently nudged between her parted lips and tapped, then circled hers.

Tilting her head back and cupping his cheeks in her hands, she encouraged him to swirl and explore.

He tasted of mint. And decadence. And desire.

His slow, sensual kisses trailed to her ear, where he gently nibbled. Her legs grew weak, and she trembled.

"Princess," he whispered in her ear.

Did he think her a princess, or was it a term of endearment? Not that it mattered.

"Yes," she panted.

He placed an open mouth kiss on her neck, then blew. Kat gasped as a pleasurable shiver sent her body reeling. His firm grip steadied and grounded her.

"Katrina! How could you?" someone behind her bellowed.

She pulled from the man's embrace and stepped back.

Beth stared at them, her eyes wide, her chin practically at her ankles.

Kat's heart crashed. This was the absolute worst moment of her life. "I am so sorry, Beth."

"Huh?" the mystery man mumbled as he scraped his fingers through his hair.

Beth stomped to them. "You were supposed to tell him to wait for me."

"Wait for you?" he repeated, his brow furrowed.

"'Twas a-um-an accident," Kat sputtered.

What kind of flimsy excuse was that? She'd behaved like a Jezebel. She dropped her forehead into her hands and moaned.

"I hate you, Katrina Harrington. I cannot wait until you return to London." Beth turned and fled down the path.

"Katrina Harrington?" The man groaned. "Bloody hell. Anyone but Katrina Harrington."

He seemed so horror-stricken that panic filled her. She turned on him. "Who are you?"

Please don't let him be one of Alexander's friends.

He exhaled and removed his mask. "Evan Eaton."

Egad! Not only was he Alexander's friend, but he was also her brother Ethan's dearest mate.

However, the youngest Eaton sibling was her sworn enemy. She hated him even more than her brother William did. How Ethan could stand him was anyone's guess.

She whimpered and then stabbed her finger in his chest. "My cousin hates me because of you."

It was an absurd declaration since she shared responsibility for their indiscretion. But if he hadn't been so dashed… God help her. The man was alluring.

A wide-legged, angry stance replaced his cocksure demeanor. "Because of me? You are the one who showed up here pretending to be her. As if I could be fooled. Pfft. You don't even wear the same perfume."

"You knew I wasn't her, and yet you…" Kat threw her arms in the air. "You said the most wicked things to me."

He leaned forward. His heated breath blew across her cheek. "Your body betrayed you, Princess Katrina. 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 been down her 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. "Knows what?"

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 word arse. 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 is you."

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 childhood residences, 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.