Surrender to the Sea (Lords of the Abyss Book 4) by Michelle M. Pillow

more alive than any other moment in her life. Strangely, she didn’t miss her other life. She’d spent most of her time planning a vacation, hoping for an adventure, only to go home and start the process over again. Now she was living an adventure, and she didn’t want the vacation to end.
    She led Brutus into the bedroom before pulling the shapeless gown over her head and tossing it aside. Instead of standing naked and on display, she instantly turned to resume kissing him. The attraction she had for him was unmistakable, and she saw no reason to deny it. The hesitance in his lips only made her want him more.
    His touch was gentle as if a feather was placed between his skin and hers. He skimmed his fingers over her sides and hips, tickling her flesh. She pressed more fully against him.
    Laurel tugged at his clothing, somehow managing to strip him. His lips left hers, and she gasped for breath. Energy hummed between them as if connecting his nerves to hers, making her flesh sensitive to the touch.
    Brutus looked down between their bodies. His hands touched her but didn’t hold her. She felt the arousal lifting against her, so she knew he wanted her. Yet, he still hesitated to hug her tight, to sweep her onto her back, to crush her in kisses, and press her in passion.
    The muscles of his arms were tense. His chest rose with heavy breath. He parted his lips as if he’d speak, but no words came out.
    “Brutus?” she asked, unsure.
    “You are so…”
    Every insecurity she’d ever had hit her at once. She loved her curvy body, but she wasn’t an exhibitionist. Her stomach knotted slightly as she waited for him to finish his thought.
    “Fragile.” He traced his fingers down her arms.
    Laurel gave a small smile. “I’m not so fragile.”
    “You’re delicate.” He continued to lightly touch her.
    “I’m not so delicate.”
    “I’m afraid I will break you.” He looked so sincere that she had to stop herself from laughing.
    “I’m not so breakable.” Laurel reached for his hands and pulled them to her hips. She pressed them firmly to her skin and inhaled sharply at the pleasure of his touch. As if he’d been waiting for permission, he grabbed her ass and lifted her up against him. His lips assaulted hers like a man starved. He moaned into her mouth.
    Laurel gasped in surprise as she fell backward onto the bed only to bounce on the soft mattress. Brutus came over her, not stopping his exploration of her body. Hot kisses and desperate hands made a haphazard journey over her flesh. Her breasts fascinated him, and he suctioned his mouth around her nipples. All coherent reasoning left her. Every place they made contact tingled.
    “You are so soft,” he observed. He squeezed her breast. “And moldable to my fingers.”
    Laurel could only assume it was a compliment by the breathless way he spoke. His legs had hers trapped shut. She hit her outer thigh against his until finally he lifted his legs to settle between hers. The first brush of his cock against her sex caused her to tense in anticipation.
    “You are softer than a nymph,” he whispered, still concentrating on her chest.
    Foreplay was great, but Laurel could hardly stand waiting for that perfect moment when his body would slide into hers. She wiggled her hips, trying to entice him to thrust. She hooked a leg behind his thigh to force him to her. It was no use. He was way too strong for her to maneuver.
    He licked a nipple and pulled away to see the response, only to do it again on the opposite side. When Laurel couldn’t take any more of his sweet torture, she grabbed his face and pulled his lips back to her mouth. Without meaning to hurt him, she clawed his hips and drew him against her. Her legs worked restlessly along his.
    She reached between their bodies and took hold of his cock. His mouth stopped as her fingers wrapped his arousal. Laurel guided him to her body. For all his brute strength, he was incredibly gentle. She slipped the tip of his