Free Abandon: The Unloveable Series Book One by Michelle Lowhorn Page A

the girls.  I refused to press charges so he was eventually released from jail.  I didn’t hear a word from him until he showed up at the house a little more than a month ago.  He claimed he was clean and he wanted to visit with his daughters.  An hour later, he left and we never heard from him again.  So you see, your hatred toward me is founded.  If I had forgiven him, he might still be alive.” 
    Gage had a lot of thinking to do.  When he’d arrived back home, he’d convinced himself Garret’s death was Brook’s fault.  However, the more he learned, it was obvious the situation wasn’t so cut and dry.  He wanted someone to be responsible for his brother’s death and in his mind that someone was Brook.  But the truth was, Gage had to admit Garret never took any responsibility for his own actions even when he was a boy.  Everything was always someone else’s fault.  From what his parents divulged the night of the funeral, Garret had spiraled down a deep hole he couldn’t climb out of.  When he’d asked them about the night Garret was arrested, they refused to relay any information.  They felt like it was Brook’s secret to tell.  Now he knew what happened and deep down, he believed every word she said.  It didn’t change his course of action. He’d still hunt down and kill every last one of Garret’s killers and the people responsible for terrorizing his family, but the facts did change how he felt about Brook.
    Brook’s withdraw from his side jolted Gage out of his daydream.  “Don’t pull away from me,” he scolded as his arm pulled her back to his side.
    “When you didn’t say anything for so long, I thought you didn’t believe me.  I’m so emotionally depleted I don’t think I can handle any more rejection,” she whispered.
    “That’s not the case, baby.  I believe you and you’re absolutely not responsible for Garret’s death.  He was a grown man that made the wrong decision and it cost him his life.  You have nothing to feel guilty about.  Let me hear you say it,” he demanded as he squeezed her tight.
    It took her a minute but she finally said the words and Gage could tell she didn’t fully believe it but at least she said it out loud. It was a start.
    A couple of minutes later, Gage finally decided to ask the question his body and mind so desperately wanted.  “I need you, baby.  From the first time we met, I’ve wanted you.  Let me love you like I’ve wanted to all these years,” he begged as he flipped so he hovered only inches above her.
    The nod was so slight it was barely visible yet it was all the confirmation he needed.  With amazing tenderness, Gage kissed her lips then peppered sweet kisses over her face.  The sigh of pleasure she released was all Gage had to hear to know this was exactly what Brook needed.
    “You are so beautiful, inside and out.  I could make love to you every day for the rest of my life and it still wouldn’t be enough,” he whispered to her as he continued to kiss every nook and cranny of her body.
    As he trailed love bites down her neck, his hands grasped the bottom of her gown and quickly pulled it over her head.  Without hesitation he continued to explore her body, pausing on her breasts.  They were so plentiful, they more than filled his palms.  “An added bonus of breastfeeding,” he teased as he laved her nipple with his tongue before continuing it’s decent.  
    “I know my body doesn’t look all that great after three kids,” she admitted as she lifted her head to watch his reaction.
    “I’ve never seen a body that called to me like yours does.  I’m going to spend the entire night proving how desperately I want you,” he explained, stopping long enough to make eye contact so she knew he was serious.
    Both index fingers slipped under the band of her panties and tugged with deliberate slowness inch by inch down her legs.  When the material cleared her body, Gage let them drop to the floor.  Lifting