Lurin's Surrender Read Online Free PDF

excuse for her appearance. She was, after all, taking a break, as her men did, though in a decidedly different way.
    Upon reaching his cell, she opened the small viewport on the door and saw Vez exercising. He continued to push up on his arms, his biceps bulging and his breath constant as he exhaled deeply with each repetition. She could almost see him moving over her with such intensity and blinked to remove the sudden and unwelcome vision.
    As if he’d sensed her, Vez stopped and glanced up, his eyes shuttered but no less impacting. He stood and rubbed his body slowly with a towel, wiping the sweat from his broad chest, then sat on the bed. Mara kept her face composed as she watched him watching her. She licked her dry lips and couldn’t help wondering if his chest felt as smooth as it looked.
    “Captain Mara,” Vez said softly, a grin tugging at his mouth. “Please, come in.” He licked his lips, mimicking her earlier action, and she wondered if he too felt the heat blazing between them.
    She would have to be completely insane to open the door. And why is that? Because he’s a man and I’m a mere woman? Firming her resolve to stand strong, she studied Vez. He still wore shackles on his wrists and ankles, and the chain Nu had rigged to allow him some movement off the bed. Despite his movement, she would be able to sit on the chair across from the bed and still be out of his reach.
    “Don’t tell me you’re afraid?” he mocked, his brows arched in disbelief.
    Mara squared her shoulders. Knowing she shouldn’t, she nevertheless responded to the scorn in his voice. Control. I control my actions and the situation. I can handle one unruly male.
    She touched the keypad and opened the door then closed it behind her, locking them securely inside. The door seal sounded loud in the sudden silence. Mara waited under Vez’s regard, aware of his intense gaze that lingered over her chest.
    When his gaze rose again to meet hers, he smiled, like a predator having successfully lured its prey. “Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable.” Mara snorted at his attempt at manners but sat anyway.
    “I don’t suppose you could see fit to remove these?” He motioned to his shackles.
    “No, Vez. Look, it’s probably--”
    “Don’t you think you should call me Lurin? Vez is so cold.” He gave a mock shiver and grinned. “Come now, Captain. You won’t remove my constraints. Won’t you at least consent to calling me by my given name?”
    Mara sighed. “Fine, Lurin . Now that I’m here, why don’t you explain how you found yourself in this mess in the first place. Let’s just say I believed your story earlier. If that’s the case, and you escaped, why are the nobless and her daughter still after you? Why not leave you to the law?”
    “I can’t say,” he murmured and scooted to the edge of his bed . “You really have the most beautiful mouth.”
    “Lurin,” she warned.
    “You know, Mara, I had the most extraordinary dream the other night.”
    She tensed, unable to help it. The air around her seemed to thicken, and she didn’t like sitting so near her nearly naked prisoner. She stood to leave and shocked herself when she wavered on her feet.
    “No, don’t go yet,” he said softly, his words a caress. Mara sat back down, her mind urging her to leave even as his words relaxed her already sluggish body. “Come closer,” he whispered, his eyes electric as he stared at her.
    He licked his lips again, his tongue grazing the soft pink flesh of his mouth. Mara barely stifled a moan. She felt hot and feverish and didn’t know why her body refused her commands. She stood slowly and walked towards him, her mind screaming at her to back away and leave the room.
    When she stood within an inch of him, she stopped, conscious of his rapid, shallow breathing that matched hers.
    “Mara,” he crooned. He grasped her about the waist. One of his palms spanned her hip, and he tightened his hold on her flesh. “You are too