Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

***THEO***

E den snuggled deeper in Theo's arms, shivering just a little. He knew that he had to find them some shelter, but he wasn't completely sure where they were. "We should try to get out of this rain, you're freezing," he said. "But I don't want to go wandering around in the jungle in this storm. Hopefully it will stop raining soon."

"I'm okay," Eden said, looking up at him. "As long as we're together, I can handle anything. Let's just wait the storm out here. It can't last much longer."

As soon as the words were out of Eden's mouth, it started to rain harder, and she groaned. "I guess I shouldn't have said that," she said. "I made it worse."

He leaned down and kissed her. "That's just the storm playing itself out," he said. "You'll see, it will stop soon."

They sat in silence watching it rain, then Eden let out a little gasp and pointed down at the beach. "Theo, look, there's Rose," she said. "She shouldn't be out in this storm. What's that she's carrying?"

He realized that Rose was calling out their names. "I think she's looking for us," he said. "Stay here, and I'll go find out what she wants."

Eden shook her head. "I'm going with you," she said. "She's my friend, Theo."

He got to his feet and held out his hand. "Okay, then come on," he said. "But stay close to me and keep your eyes open. This could be a trick."

"No way, Rose wouldn't do that," she said. "We can trust her."

A look of relief appeared on Rose's face when she saw them coming toward her. "We must hurry; I can't be gone long," she said, then shoved the basket she'd been carrying into his hands. "Take this and follow me."

She started up the beach but after only a few minutes, took a trail that led away from the shore and into the jungle, glancing behind her to make sure they were following. The path climbed steeply, making it difficult to navigate the muddy trail, especially with the large basket in his hands. However, after only a short hike, they emerged at the top of a cliff. Pausing to catch his breath, he looked around, surprised to see the ocean spread out below him. The full power of the storm was now evident, and he hoped Rose was leading them to shelter.

When he turned around, Rose was gesturing at him impatiently, and he hurried after her only to see her disappear into a cave he hadn't spotted before. It was dark inside, but a second later, Rose lit a torch, and the darkness faded, revealing a large chamber with a hard-packed dirt floor. They followed her to the middle of the cave, where there was a firepit filled with kindling. She used the torch to set the wood on fire, then stood back and looked at them as the flames began to dance .

"You are safe here. There's food in the basket," she said. "No one will come here. They think it's haunted."

"Oh, Rose, thank you," Eden said, giving her a hug. "I knew you wouldn't betray me."

"We're best friends," Rose said, smiling at her. "I'm sorry about what my brother did."

Eden stared at her for a second. "Sam is your brother?" she finally asked. "You never said anything, I mean…I guess I should have figured it out…"

"I am ashamed of him. I don't like to admit he's my brother," she said. "I stay away from him if I can. He's a terrible spoiled brat, has always been, but this time……"

"It's not your fault," he said, setting down the basket. "Thank you for helping us. I hope you don't get into trouble."

Rose shook her head. "Sam is disgraced. Father is losing control of the village," she said. "They're not worried about me right now, but I can't stay much longer."

"Are they going to come after us?" Eden asked, her face full of worry. "Theo was only trying to defend me."

"Everyone saw Theo become a dragon," she said, grinning at him. "They're all afraid of him now. They won't bother you."

Eden looked over at him, then stepped over and slipped into his arms. "But you're not," she said. "How come?"

"No, I'm not afraid. If Eden loves Theo, he must be good," Rose said, still smiling at them. "I must go. You'll be safe here. I'll come back tomorrow and check on you."

Eden rushed over and gave Rose another hug. "I have the strangest feeling I'm never going to see you again," she said. "I don't know what I would have done without you. I'm never going to forget you."

"We'll be friends forever," Rose said, taking off the necklace she was wearing and putting it around Eden's neck. "To remember me, just in case."

"Oh, Rose, it's beautiful," Eden said. "I'll treasure it always."

Rose looked over at him. "Take care of her," she said. "She's special."

He walked over and put his arm around Eden's shoulder. "Very special," he agreed. "I'll take care of her, I promise."

Rose slipped out of the cave, leaving them alone, and Eden turned to him and buried her face in his chest. "She's the only thing I'm going to miss about this place," she said. "I wish we could take her back with us."

He looked down at her. "You seem convinced we're leaving," he said. "I sure hope that you're right, but maybe we should get settled while we wait. If you're up to it, we probably need to talk."

She looked up at him. "You mean about you turning into a dragon?" she asked. "I already told you it doesn't matter to me."

"But I'm sure you have some questions," he said. "I don't want any secrets between us, Eden, I want to make sure you understand."

"I understand everything I need to right now," she said, stretching up to give him a kiss. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. I think Rose said something about there being food in that basket."

He watched her walk away, realizing again just how lucky he was, a wave of desire washing over him. "Woman, wait for me," he called. "I'm going to put some more wood on the fire. We both need to dry off."

***Eden** *

Eden watched Theo eating, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach as the food slowly disappeared, the love she felt for him making her feel warm all over. There was no doubt in her mind that he felt the same way even if they hadn't said the words yet, and she knew that before the night was over, she would finally understand the magic that could happen between two people when they were meant for each other. It was clear to her now why Theo had refused her for so long, even if he hadn't known himself. They were meant to be so much more than just a vacation romance.

There was no predicting what would happen the next day. They could be stranded on the island forever or be sent back overnight, but what she did know was that she was never going to give him up. No one was going to come between them, not the villagers, not the real world. They were supposed to be together, and she was going to make sure that Theo knew it too before the sun came up.

When they were finished eating, she packed the leftovers back into the basket, then got to her feet, not a single doubt in her mind about what she was about to do. She carried the basket over to the side of the cave away from the fire, then turned back to Theo, who was watching her, his eyes full of desire. Emboldened by the hunger she saw in his eyes, she walked over to the blankets she'd spread on the ground, then slipped her dress over her head.

Theo's eyes widened, and he sucked in a breath. "I was trying to figure out how to seduce you the entire time we were eating," she said, her cheeks flaming, thrills rushing through her as his eyes slowly roamed over her naked body. "But I learned my lesson about playing games. I want you, Theo; I want you more than I've wanted anything in my life. I don't just want to have sex with you, I want you to make love to me. I understand the difference now. "

Theo rose slowly to his feet, then took a couple of staggering steps toward her. "You're even more beautiful than I imagined," he said, his eyes glowing in the darkness. "I want to make you mine forever, Eden."

"I'm already yours," she said, holding her arms open to him. "I was yours the moment you held me in your arms the first time."

After tearing off his loincloth, he closed the distance between them in only a few steps and pulled her into his arms. A second later, his mouth came down on hers in a kiss so full of promise it took her breath away. The feel of his naked skin against hers sent thrills rushing through her, and when his erection pressed against her stomach, she gasped as something deep inside her began to tingle and tighten. For a moment, she thought there must be something wrong with her, then Theo's hands found their way to her breasts, and the tingling became waves of pleasure when he began to massage them.

Her nipples hardened under his palms and he let out a groan, then began to tease the stiff peaks with his thumb and finger, sending more waves of sensation shooting through her. This time her legs began to tremble, forcing her to hold onto him, and he slowly lowered her to the blankets by the fire before kissing his way down her neck, then sucking one hard nipple into his mouth. She cried out as feelings she'd never had before raced through her and she dug her nails into his shoulders, sure that she was spinning out of control.

Moisture blossomed between her legs, and she instinctively opened them for Theo, a craving deep inside her beginning to make her desperate for more, she just wasn't sure what. Theo switched to her other breast, and for several seconds that was all she was aware of, then she felt his hand sliding down her stomach between her legs. When he parted her folds and slid a finger over her swollen pleasure button, her hips came up on their own and she cried out his name unprepared for the onslaught of sensation that overtook her.

It only took a couple strokes of his finger to send her flying into a world of pure sensation, and she cried out his name as wave after wave of pleasure rushed through her. When the storm finally passed, she lay panting, her eyes closed, her entire body quaking with the power of what she'd just experienced. Only seconds later, she became aware of a throbbing need deep inside her, in a place Theo hadn't touched yet, and opened her eyes to look at him.

He was looking down at her, his eyes pulsing in the darkness, but it didn't frighten her, it only made her want him more. "Take me now, Theo, I need you inside me," she pleaded, not sure where the words came from. "I can't wait any longer, I've waited long enough to feel you inside me."