Tempting Eden Read online

  “Still doesn’t have a name, does he?” Gillian quirked a grin.

  “Nope. He’s still dead to me.”

  “Good. Now will you do something for me?”

  “Sure.”

  “Will you stop being depressed over him?”

  That was definitely something she could do. She was done with her wallowing. She now had something else to look forward to. Tonight she was going back to the beach. She’d wait all night for another glimpse of Sabre. Hopefully he’d come. And make me come too.

  “Yep. You bet I will. Now let’s get some food. I’m starved.”

  * * *

  The day dragged on forever. It took all her strength to paste on a fake smile and pretend she loved playing beach volleyball—she actually hated it—women against men. When the guys won for the third time, it was on to a game of beach mini-golf. Frisbee. Touch football.

  Eden was sick of being outdoors. She longed to curl up in her bed, cover her head with the blankets and fall into a sleep where all she dreamed of was Sabre. Her lover who made her weak in the knees, stole her breath, awakened her deepest fantasies.

  When the sun dipped toward the horizon finally her heart skipped a wild beat. It was nearly sundown. Sundown meant nighttime. Nighttime meant she could finally get back to the beach and wait for him.

  The gang grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. The beer and wine flowed freely. They all gathered on the beach, sitting on towels or blankets watching the sun set. Eden tried to eat, but her stomach was in knots with anticipation. Of course Gillian would notice.

  “Feeling all right? You haven’t touched your food.” She nodded toward her half-eaten hamburger and untouched fries.

  “I guess I ate too much at breakfast.” She gave her a shrug of innocence and flashed a smile. “I’m not that hungry.”

  “You keep looking down the beach. Are you looking for someone?” Gilly elbowed in the side and gave her a wink.

  “Maybe.” Eden found a string on her skirt and twisted it around her finger.

  “You want to go after him don’t you?”

  “A little,” she admitted. She wanted to be with him again, to feel his body press against hers.

  Mark, Gillian’s boyfriend, waved at her and called her over.

  “Go on,” Eden urged. “I’ll be fine.”

  Gillian jumped to her feet and hurried toward him. His face lit up when she headed his direction. Eden watched them and envied their happiness. She remembered the way Sabre had held her, talked to her, looked at her as though she were the most beautiful woman on the planet. Did she really think a relationship would work out with him? It was crazy. But there had been a connection between them and it went beyond him reading her thoughts. It was something more. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

  Mark grasped Gillian’s hand in his and then dropped to one knee. He looked up at her, his face soft. She couldn’t hear what he said but she knew. She knew he was proposing. Gillian’s eyes flooded with tears. She smiled, nodded. He sprang to his feet, hugged her to him and they kissed. Madly. Passionately.

  Eden couldn’t stop the tears misting her eyes. Her best friend was getting married. Mark put an arm around Gillian, held her close, kissed the top of her head.

  “I have an announcement, everyone,” Mark proclaimed.

  He smiled so broad she thought his face might crack. Gilly was tucked into his side, her arms around his waist giving him an adoring look.

  “Gillian and I are really happy you all decided to come here with us this week. It’s been very special.” He glanced down at her, his features softening. She beamed.

  “And Gillian made it even more special by agreeing to become my wife.”

  Squeals of joy from the women. Cheers from the men. Everyone rushed toward them with offers of congratulations. Eden stayed rooted in place her heart in her throat. Tears of joy threatened. She was happy for Gillian and Mark, thrilled they were finally tying the knot after being together so long. They deserved every happiness they could get.

  She joined the fray and wished the newly engaged couple well, hugging both of them. Once they were consumed again by their friends Eden quietly slipped away. All she could think about was finding Sabre and getting to the secluded beach. She had to see him again.

  “Where are you going?” Gillian panted, trotting up beside her. Her friend had somehow managed to get away from the throng to join her. “We’re about to pop the champagne.”

  “I’m so happy for you,” Eden said. She turned to her friend.

  “I worried about how you’d feel. Especially after all you’ve been through.”

  “I’m fine.” She smiled and hugged her tight. “Don’t worry about me, Gilly.”

  “I have to worry. I’m your best friend.” When she pulled away her eyes searched Eden’s face. Understanding dawned. “You’re going to find your man.”

  “Yes. I need to…see him again.”

  “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Eden.”

  So did she. “Go enjoy your party and your fiancé. I’ll be back by morning.”

  “You better be. And if you’re not I’m coming to look for you. Have fun with your mystery man!”

  It was a threat Eden didn’t take lightly. She grinned as Gilly gave her a quick wave and trotted back toward their friends.

  A cork popping sounded followed by another. Champagne flutes bubbled over and laughter filled the air. But all Eden could think about was getting to that beach.

  Chapter Seven

  Eden walked up the beach and stopped when she was out of earshot of the merrymaking. She plopped down on the sand watching the tide ebb and flow wondering where her life had gone wrong. She’d lost everything. Her love. Her career. She didn’t want to leave the island and return back to reality. Back to her dismal life. It was too depressing despite her brave face. She couldn’t face it.

  Shoving away the gloomy thoughts she turned them instead to Sabre. Where was he? Would he find her? This was much farther up the beach than last night and she worried he wouldn’t come.

  While she didn’t need a man to fulfill her, she needed that man to fulfill her fantasies. She couldn’t explain this new wild obsession to have him, to be with him. She didn’t know him. Had no idea where he came from. The sea? Come on.

  Atlantis? That thought niggled at her again. Could he really read her mind? Did he really know her innermost thoughts?

  “Yes, I do know your innermost thoughts.”

  She jumped at the sound of his voice. Sabre stood before her, naked and glorious and dripping. He smiled that devastating smile. Her heart tripped in her chest, the joy singing in her veins at his sudden appearance. She quickly got to her feet, brushing sand from her hands.

  If he could read her thoughts then perhaps he could project into her the truth of where he came from? Again she thought of the fabled lost city.

  “You’re here.”

  “You wanted me here, right?”

  Did she ever. Still, she blushed. “Yes. I’m glad you came back.”

  He took unhurried steps toward her closing the gap between them in slow motion. “Me too, Eden. All I thought about was you. Making love to you again.”

  Her heart tripped. He stood in front of her now gazing down at her with his shimmering blue eyes that pierced her to her soul. His damp hair rested on his powerful shoulders. She could smell the saltiness of his skin, taste him in the back of her throat. And they hadn’t even kissed yet.

  “Who are you really?” she whispered. “Do you live in the sea?”

  He tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. “In a way.”

  “What do you mean? I really want to know who you are.”

  He looked thoughtful a moment before replying. “You do know me. Intimately.”

  “More than that,” she said. “You. The heart of you.” She pointed to his chest. “Where you live. Who your parents are. If you have siblings. How you grew up. I want it all.”

  “There will be time
for that. But now I want you.”

  Mm. She liked that. Smiling, she slipped her hands up his chest. “I want you too. Kiss me, Sabre.”

  He took her chin in his hand and turned her face up to meet his. “As you wish.”

  His lips found hers and pressed against them. Exploring tentatively at first. Until his velvet mouth finally overtook hers with demanding mastery. His tongue delved deep into her dark recesses tasting every bit of her. She slipped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his damp one. He pulled her close deepening the kiss and sending her stomach spiraling to her toes.

  “You’re wearing entirely too many clothes.”

  As he said it he pulled the straps off her shoulders. She wanted Sabre to do these things to her. She wanted him to undress her.

  “Yes,” she agreed. “I am.”

  She shimmied out of her sundress and let the cotton pool at her feet. He swept down the length of her body, pushing her panties to her ankles. With the heat pounding between her legs she stepped out of her clothes and into his arms.

  Sabre pulled her toward the sea, toward the waves. He seemed to crave the water. She wanted to know why but she was too timid to ask. She didn’t understand her shyness—her nipples stood erect and at attention waiting for his mouth. Or his hands. Either one would do.

  “I waited for you all day,” she heard herself say. Why would she tell him this? He didn’t need to know her desperation.

  He merely gave her a knowing smile as he turned her in his arms. Eden closed her eyes wanting to memorize the way his body fit against hers. The way his hard edges molded against her soft curves. The way his hand moved down her flat abdomen and between her legs, pushing between her wet folds.

  “Already wet.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

  “For you.” Her words were raspy, quiet.

  “Good. Would you like me to lick you again?”

  Did he really have to ask? He tugged her to the ground. She willingly melted at his feet, laying back and propping up on her elbows. This time she wanted to see. She wanted to watch him as he worked that magic tongue over her.

  Sabre settled between her legs. He pressed her right leg straight holding her calf with one hand and placing gentle kisses behind her knee. Her belly quivered. She whimpered. He smiled. He licked his way down, her leg bending over his shoulder. He placed feather soft kisses along her inner thigh making the heat spread. He repeated his performance with her left leg. Kisses behind the knee, leg over shoulder, kisses on her inner thigh. She thought she might explode.

  “You like this?”

  She whimpered. “You know I do.” She wanted to shout it at him but it came out a weak mewl.

  “Are you ready for me, my little vixen?” She nodded. “I want you to lay back. When I go down on you play with your nipples. Squeeze, pinch, touch. Will you do this for me?”

  If he asked her walk to the ends of the earth barefoot on hot coals for him she would say yes. Licking her lips she nodded again and lowered to the ground, her back against the damp sand.

  His powerful hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her flesh. He slipped his tongue between her lips, running it up and down several times. She thought her head might explode. His tongue swiped over every crevice.

  “Pinch your nipples, Eden,” he commanded.

  She’d already forgotten her promise. Her hands palmed her breasts pinching the taut pebbles between thumb and forefinger. He went back to licking, this time his tongue penetrated her, deeper and deeper. With every pinch of her nipple it sent zings of pleasure right down to where his tongue worked its magic.

  She’d thought of this while in the shower. She’d touched herself, imagined him watching.

  As she was on the brink of orgasm, he pulled away. He nipped her inner thigh and sat back on his heels looking down at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. She’d never stopped touching her breasts—he hadn’t commanded her to.

  “Why did you stop?” she asked.

  “I enjoy the view. Your hands touching your breasts.” He swiped a tongue over his lips. “Now move your hands lower.”

  “Lower?” she gasped. She knew what he meant. He couldn’t be serious.

  “You wanted me to watch you, yes? You thought about it while in the shower.”

  Her body flared hot, her cheeks burning. How did he know that? She swallowed hard, her heart hammering so loud it muffled the sound of the waves. It had been nothing more than a fantasy…

  A fantasy. And he knew them. All of them.

  Eden moved one hand from her breast to between her legs. The other hand she kept pinching her nipple. He pushed her knees open to watch her fingers. He let out a small groan of approval.

  “Yes,” he urged. “Like that.”

  Her fingers moved inside her, back out, made little swirls over her clit. Her body tensed and a second later she climaxed. He was on top of her a second after that raining kisses over her face.

  “That was beautiful. You’re beautiful. My beautiful little vixen.”

  She swooned, glad she was laying down because she might have fainted. His mouth was hot and sweet, passionate and demanding. Kissing her from her earlobe down to her shoulder and back again. His erection pressed against her thigh growing harder with every kiss. She wrapped her legs around Sabre’s waist opening up to him. She thought he would understand the invitation and push inside her but instead his hands pressed against her buttocks and he pulled her up to a sitting position.

  Now her legs straddled his lap. He had one hand wrapped around her waist, another on her breasts gently pushing her back. His mouth latched onto her nipple. Gasping with pleasure she arched her back to give him more access. His tongue proved it was suited not only for her clit but also her nipples. He nipped. He sucked. He licked. He gently clamped it between his teeth pulling back until the nub slipped out of his bite. Then he started all over with the other one. It sent sharp spirals of bliss curling down her belly to her core.

  As Sabre continued his onslaught, she grasped his waist with her legs locking them together behind his back and scooting closer to his cock. She wanted him. Inside her. Now.

  He grasped his thickened length with one hand and pushed her toward him with the other at the small of her back. He guided his cock to her wet opening and pushed inside her sheath until he was all the way to the hilt. She arched her back more, wiggled her hips over him to take him all in. His length filled her completely as he pushed deeper into her. More new sensations. Every time he touched her it sent her reeling. It didn’t take long before her muscles tired and her legs weakened.

  Eden pushed against him shoving him to the ground flat on his back. She straddled him never losing contact with him. Her hands splayed on his chest as she pumped up and down.

  “Taking control. I like that,” he said.

  His hands tangled in her long hair as he brought her face down to kiss her. Their bodies meshed together so perfectly. As though they were made for each other. He held her close, his lips never leaving hers. Then he rolled taking her with him. They landed in the surf with the water splashing over their heated bodies.

  He was on top of her now. She locked her ankles around his waist as he thrust hard inside her. She rocked her hips back to meet him thrust for thrust.

  “Harder,” she whimpered.

  “I can’t hear you, Eden. Tell me. Louder.”

  “Harder, please.”

  “Louder.”

  His gaze never left hers, those eyes boring into her. She bit her lip. “Harder, Sabre. Fuck me harder.”

  “That’s better.”

  He complied, pounding her into the sand. The waves crashing over them. The salty taste in her mouth. And that gaze never leaving hers. Another orgasm wracked her sore body sending rippling waves of pleasure to her fingertips and toes. Her chest rose and fell with every heated breath as he continued to thrust inside her. He wasn’t finished yet.

  Another second later his body clenched. He moaned with
one last push inside her as he climaxed, held it there and then lowered on top of her. He nuzzled her neck licking her damp skin.

  She never wanted it to end.

  Eden tangled a hand in his long locks enjoying the feel of his body on top of hers. Gazing up at the night sky she could see all the stars winking in and out. Her eyelids grew heavy. She was drowsy. Sated. Completely satisfied. He had fulfilled her every wish.

  “Sleep now, Eden. Sleep.”

  She yawned. “No. I want to stay awake with you.”

  His hand caressed her face. “It’s all right if you sleep. I’ll be here when you wake.”

  “Promise?” she said around another yawn.

  “You have my word.”

  Chapter Eight

  Sabre hadn’t lied. He was still with her when she woke. She’d somehow ended up on her side with him nuzzled behind her. His hot mouth was on her neck. Tasting. Nibbling. Nipping. It sent spirals of desire through her body. She’d never tire of that. She was acutely aware of his hard cock pressing between her cheeks. Moaning she rocked her ass against him.

  He thrust his hips against her as his hand slipped between her legs to finger her clit. Oh but how she loved the way this man touched her. She turned her head and met his mouth for a kiss. Lifting her top leg, she latched it over his hip to give him better access. He slipped his cock inside her while his fingers still danced on her clit. His tongue still in her mouth.

  “Sabre,” she breathed his name into his mouth.

  “Feels good?”

  “Yes. Oh yes.”

  “Rock your hips for me.”

  She complied. He groaned, a deep rumble in her ear and through his chest. Her hand joined his between her legs. Her fingertips grazed his thick cock thrusting in and out of her. Their juiciness mingled with each other. A light breeze tickled her rosy peaks making them pucker into even harder pebbles. His big body shielded most of the surf from her but every now and then sea water would splash over him onto her. It sent a chill through her.