Page 11 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

Susanna and Martin had wandered close to the house and silently seemed to make the mutual decision that they would continue to walk until they reached the front door to the manor, where they would head inside and wait for Mary and Luke to return.

At least, Susanna assumed that was the plan, but before she could get much further, Martin held his arm out to halt her in her tracks.

Because Susanna was not expecting this, she lost her footing and tripped forward, falling against his arm a little too hard, knocking the air right out of her lungs.

But somehow, Martin was prepared, and he snapped into action. It was almost as if he expected this to happen. He enveloped her in a tight embrace and pulled her upright, pressing her close to him while she caught her breath once more.

It was only when Susanna glanced upright to perhaps call him out on his actions, because it was his strange behavior that had made her fall, that she realized just how close they were.

They were so near to one another, their faces almost touching, which knocked the air right out of her lungs.

“You should be more careful, My Lady. You wouldn’t want me to think that you did this on purpose, now, would you?”

Susanna forgot all the arguments that she was about to make because all she could see washim. His beautiful hazel eyes and all the emotions dancing on the flames of his gaze.

The heat that always surged between them seemed to intensify. It was so powerful that it actually left Susanna weak in the knees, and it most certainly did not help that Martin’s eyes appeared to darken with desire as well.

“No,” was all she managed to utter.

The passion that always made her argue with him seemed to become something new as she became acutely aware of his fingers brushing against her skin and his breath tickling her face.

Never had Susanna been so self-aware. Never has she been flooded by fizzling tingles like this. She truly did not know what to do with herself.

It was as if the rest of the world had simply vanished, and she and Martin were the only ones left in it. She could only see him, only feel him, and despite herself, she could not resist the magnetic pull that seemed to be drawing her closer to him.

I should tell him to let me go.

With her heart thundering against her ribcage, Susanna’s eyes fluttered half closed as if she were about to kiss him. Her very first kiss, which she was supposed to save for her non-existent wedding day, was about to happen right here in front of Luke’s home.

Talk you fool!

But before she could bring herself back to reality, Martin pulled her closer to him, taking her breath away, only to put her back on her feet a moment later. She shivered from the lack of his touch. But Martin didn’t step away from her. He was still standing an inch away, just to torture her.

“Aren’t you thankful, Susanna?”

She could feel the rest of their party coming closer. Yet their voices were not enough to pull her out of her trance. All she could process was the unforgettable feeling of his firm chest pressed on her and the hand that felt like an iron grip around her waist.

“Th-Thank you, My Lord.” She whispered, breathlessly and she felt her knees weaken.

“Such a good girl.” He whispered.

And that was all she needed to snap back into reality. What had she just said? What had just happened to her? This man was dangerous. She felt her fury rising and her cheeks heating up.

“What do you think…” Susana’s attention was forcefully pulled away from the man standing in front of her when she heard voices close by. All she could hear was a snippet of conversation without seeing clearly who was talking.

“I hope this time, Lady Mary has better luck than her last betrothal.”

“Maybe it was not luck.” Susanna thought that she was already angry from the first comment. Until she recognized the person talking next.

Edwin!

“Maybe it’s deserved punishment.” Edwin finished his statement and Susanna felt a shiver run down her spine. Her bizarre interaction with Martin only minutes before, almost forgotten.

Poor Mary had been through so much that she most certainly did not need to go through anything else. So she dismissed all thecutting retorts she had for the earl and only threw a glare in his way before looking around for her sister.

Edwin knew what Mary had been through as well. How could he be so cruel?

Then again, Susanna knew that this was a cruel man because of the way he had hung around their home ever since Duncan died, offering his assistance but doing nothing.

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