Surrender to the Sea (Lords of the Abyss Book 4) by Michelle M. Pillow Read Free Book Online Page B

endeavored to defuse the situation. “I thought he was you.”
    Demon’s expression fell, but she still saw the sparkle of mischief in his eyes. “So you are not giving me permission to pursue you?”
    “Pursue? No. I don’t wish to be pursued.” Laurel eyed the brothers helplessly. Brutus frowned. Demon gave her a devilish smirk behind his twin’s back.
    “You have your answer.” Brutus opened the door and grabbed his brother by the arm to shove him out of the house.
    Demon laughed. “Ah, come on, let me try again. I—”
    Brutus slammed the door in Demon’s face.
    “Welcome to the family, Lady Laurel,” Demon yelled through the door. “You will make Brutus a fine wife.”

Chapter 10
    B rutus had never wanted to punch his twin so much in his life. He should have known Demon was up to mischief when the tailor said the man bought every piece of clothing he had available—down to the new style of lady intimates. Such a purchase was unlike Demon. He wouldn’t buy elaborate gifts for a woman who had not officially agreed to accept his suit.
    “Did he say we’re married?” Laurel’s voice was a soft whisper.
    Brutus couldn’t bring himself to answer her. How could he trust himself to speak? He didn’t wish to lie, and yet somehow confessing that she invaded every one of his thoughts seemed imprudent.
    “Are we married?” she asked louder.
    “No.” It wasn’t a lie. They weren’t married, but he wanted to be. Desperately. If anyone should have been able to sense just how much he wanted Laurel, it would have been Demon.
    “Why would he say that?”
    Brutus wished she’d stop asking questions.
    He knows I want you.
    I can think of nothing else. I want to kiss you. I want to see you smile. I want to touch you as I did in the ocean, the press of your body to mine, the touch of your mouth, the air from your lungs entering me as I breathe for us both.
    I want to breathe you inside me once more. I want that connection.
    I want to marry you.
    I want to breathe you in for the rest of my eternity.
    The surety of his feelings surprised and frightened him.
    Let me love you.
    Please, let me love you.
    “Brutus? Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t know the gifts came from your brother. He stood behind the seamstresses or had his back turned. He sounded like you. He looked like you. I thought he was you. He came with clothes. You left to get clothes.” Laurel inched closer. “When I saw his face, I knew it wasn’t you.”
    “Please, let…” Brutus tried to express what he was feeling. He moved to stand before her.
    “Let?”
    “Please, let me…” Brutus couldn’t finish with words, so instead he cupped her face and drew her mouth to his. For a long moment, he held her to his lips, not moving, unsure how she would react. When he pulled back, he found her eyes wide as she stared at him. “Please, let me.”
    Slowly, Laurel nodded. She lifted her hands to his cheeks and pulled him down so he could kiss her again. This time her mouth stirred, prompting him to mimic her movements. The gentle crush of her lips, the moist tip of her tongue, the soft moan in the back of her throat—all of it enthralled him.
    He started to touch her but then stopped. She was not a mindless pleasure nymph to be controlled by him. Plus, she was soft and delicate. He remembered how her body pressed into his as he swam the ocean.
    “Are we breaking some kind of cultural rule?” Laurel asked against his mouth.
    Brutus shook his head in denial. “No. You are my ward, but you also said your intention to be with me.” He took a quick step back. “Unless you are feeling forced to decide?”
    Laurel gave a small chuckle. “Forced?”
    “You laugh?”
    “Trust me, Brutus, the last thing I feel is forced.” Laurel took his hand and led him toward his bedroom.

Chapter 11
    L aurel wasn’t sure what she was thinking. Everything that had happened was so surreal. She was in an underwater world with a man who made her feel