Tempting Eden Read online

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered. And blushed when she realized she’d said it out loud.

  “Never. Not until you tell me to.”

  “Sabre.” Her mouth fused with his for a long moment. “Make me come again. I like when you make me come.”

  To see the lights fantastic behind her eyelids when he shattered her control and her body came alive. She craved orgasms with him as though he were a drug. And like any junkie she couldn’t get enough. She needed her next fix.

  “You’ll come,” he said, his voice whisper soft in her ear. “And so will I.”

  His thrusts increased speed. Their hands twined together over her clit. Fingers trying to dominate each other’s. She gave up finally and let him have his way with her.

  “Put your leg down,” he said in that commanding voice. The one she must obey.

  When she moved he rolled her to her stomach and slipped inside her from behind. Another new position for her. Another new way to enjoy sex. Her hands fisted in wet sand with every thrust and a few seconds later she climaxed.

  Bright. Beautiful. Fireworks. Shattering her to her soul.

  He stilled and all she heard was his jagged breathing and her thumping heart. He gathered her to him a moment later and cradled her against him. The dark sky had turned into a dusty color. Sunrise was upon them.

  “I must leave soon.”

  Dread clutched her. Instantly wide awake her body stiffened against him. “No. I don’t want you to leave.”

  “I must. When the sun appears on the horizon I have to be gone.”

  Eden rolled to face him, her hands on his cheeks. “Gone where?”

  “Back,” was all he said and he glanced out to sea.

  She sat up now tugging fingers through tangled wet hair. “No, Sabre. You can’t leave me again. I can’t bear the thought of it. I need you. You saved me.” From her dismal life. From feeling abandoned in every way. From the loneliness. She couldn’t give that up. Ever.

  “Ah, Eden.” He caressed her cheek, smiling. “It isn’t good-bye. I’ll see you again tonight. You belong to me. I claimed you. I marked you. Never forget that.” He fingered her neck where he’d bitten her.

  “I can’t go on waiting for you to come to me at night. I…I’m leaving this place tomorrow to go home.” The sudden realization hit her as though it were a ten ton weight. Tomorrow she would return home to her reality. Alone. Without him. Back to her miserable existence. No, she couldn’t go back to that. She wanted him with her. Always. Forever. “I can’t live without you, Sabre. I want forever.”

  His hand stilled and he peered at her intently. Something sparked in his blue eyes burning with need and desire.

  “You said I belonged to you,” she rushed on. “I believe you and I want you. I want to belong to you now and forever. Wherever you’re going take me with you.”

  It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. But it felt so right. She couldn’t face going back to that life waiting for her and she knew it. His expression drew serious.

  “You don’t know what you’re asking for, Eden.”

  “Yes, I do. I’m asking to be with you.” She splayed her hands on his chest and felt the quickened beat of his heart.

  She could see indecision in his eyes and knew his mind raced with the thoughts. He stole a quick glance to the horizon then back out to sea before his gaze returned to hers.

  “You don’t understand where I’m from.”

  Her heart tripped. “Then tell me. Please. I want to know everything about you.”

  “I’m from Atlantis.”

  He said it so matter-of-factly Eden blinked. Atlantis! I knew it! The lost continent that had sunk under the sea. She suspected he was from there. The book had been right in the hypothesis that it was under the Bermuda Triangle. He’d come to her from there. He’d come to her and must have sensed her presence on the beach. She was so glad. So very glad he was here and he’d found her.

  She remembered the book. She took a step back and looked him up and down searching for some tell-tale sign he was telling the truth. Even though she knew he was.

  “Do you not believe me? I can prove it.” He tilted it his head down.

  She gave a little gasp. There were the tiny gills behind his ears. She stared at them a long moment. Marveled at them. She wasn’t surprised she’d missed them. They were so small and inconspicuous. How…strange. And wonderful. Her brows knit with so many questions. She didn’t know where to begin.

  “How is this possible?”

  “My people sunk the continent thousands of years ago to protect it from humans. But now our race is dying, Eden. Our women can no longer reproduce. We need human women to help us procreate. I’ve been ordered to bring back a female. That’s why I was sent here.”

  “Y-you seduced me. You intended to use me for that?”

  Disappointment and betrayal flooded her. Disappointment and a hint of rage. He’d seemed so sincere and now this?

  “At first yes,” he admitted and he closed his eyes in shame. He blew out a heated breath before opening his eyes and fixing his gaze on her. He grabbed her and held her in place. “But not now. Not ever. I’ll not take you there for that. Do you believe me?” He grasped her hands and kissed her fingertips. “I will never allow anything to happen to you. You are too precious to me.”

  A heartbeat passed. Two. Was it foolish to want to believe him? Probably. But she couldn’t imagine never seeing him again. He seemed to be telling her the truth. His words were so vehement she couldn’t doubt him.

  “I…I do believe you.”

  “I want you with me. Do you still want to come with me?”

  Even with that knowledge Eden couldn’t stop wanting him. He was everything she’d imagined a man could be. He made her feel alive and feminine and beautiful and sexy. She wanted to do anything and everything he asked. Shockingly she still wanted to go with him, despite her unanswered questions.

  “What happens to me if I do?”

  “I vow to keep you safe. Away from those…men who would harm you.”

  “What would…happen to me?” She had to know what she was getting into.

  “I’ve been ordered to turn you over to our scientists. They want to artificially inseminate you and monitor you until the baby is full term. Then they will assist with the delivery.”

  Shock followed immediately by disgust went through her leaving a bitter taste of revulsion in the back of her throat.

  “If that happened…” Her voice trailed off.

  “I will never allow that to happen to you.”

  “If it did…then what happens to the baby? Would I get to keep it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  It sounded so…cold. Since when was having a baby a science experiment? Bitterness swarmed her mouth. She didn’t want that. She wanted to have one the old fashioned way. With Sabre, she suddenly realized. His hands tightened on her arms.

  “I will never allow them to have you. Do you understand me? Never.” He said it through gritted teeth as though he truly meant it. “Even if I have to kill them to keep them away from you. I will find some way for us to be together.”

  “You could stay here with me,” she said, the hope rising within her.

  “I cannot. I have a sister I must protect. If I don’t return with a woman she will be killed.”

  A sister? God that was sweet. He wouldn’t abandon her. He had to go back to make sure she was safe. It made her love him all the more. “I—”

  “Knowing all that I understand if you wish to remain here.”

  He sounded so forlorn pain sliced through her heart. “Sabre…”

  He pulled her to him and hugged her tight. “I love hearing my name on your lips.”

  She loved saying it. “If I go with you will you protect me?”

  Surprise flickered in his eyes. “You would still consider going with me?”

  “Where you go I will follow.” As ridiculous as it sounded she knew it to be true.

  He kissed he
r fingertips again. “I will protect you with my life. As I protect my sister.”

  Another thought occurred to her. What if…no, that was crazy. But what if…? What if she were already pregnant with Sabre’s child? Then she could go with him and they couldn’t touch her. They wouldn’t be able to take her away from him. He could keep her by his side. Safe. Secure.

  “Could you be the one to…to…?” She couldn’t stay it aloud. Even in her head it sounded ridiculous. She placed her hands on either side of his face and looked him in the eyes. “I want to have your baby, Sabre.”

  “I don’t know if they will allow that.”

  “What if I’m already pregnant?”

  A heartbeat of silence passed, then, “Are you?”

  She doubted it. But after all the fooling around they’d done there was a possibility. Right? She did a quick mental calculation of her cycle and…heat bloomed all over her skin. “I don’t know yet. I won’t know for at least two weeks.”

  “You would know for sure by then?”

  Fourteen days from now she would. “Yes.”

  She could see his quickened pulse in his throat as he glanced out at the horizon again. His mind worked to form a plan. The first pale rays of morning peeked over the edge.

  “I must return to Atlantis for those two weeks. If I’m to keep you safe and away from those who would harm you, I will need to make preparations. I don’t want anyone to get their hands on you.”

  Her heart fluttered. “And then you’ll come back for me?”

  “Yes.” He pulled her close and kissed her. The fervor in his kiss took her breath away. When they broke he brushed his hand over her face. “Eden, you must realize if I take you there will be no coming back.”

  “Why?”

  “The trip to Atlantis is difficult. And we’ve kept our land secret from humans for a very long time. I cannot allow you to return.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “Ever?”

  “Ever, Eden. Could you…remain with me? Would you…do that for me?”

  Hope and longing lingered in his eyes. And even though she would be giving up her world, her life and everything she knew—and he knew it too—she realized it was the easiest choice she’d ever had to make. She could easily leave this life behind. She had nothing she wanted to go back to.

  She nodded, her heart beating erratically with joy. “Yes. Yes!” She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him close.

  “I will come for you then in two weeks then. We’ll meet again on this beach at sundown.”

  “Good.” She pulled him to the ground. “In the meantime you better make love to me again. Just to make sure I’ll get pregnant.”

  He grinned. “Wish pleasure, my little vixen.”

  Chapter Nine

  It took all his strength to leave Eden standing on that beach. He hadn’t wanted to leave her. But then he didn’t want to bring her back and turn her over to Dr. Franco, either.

  As he followed the current to his home under the sea, he knew he would have to bring a woman to the doctor eventually. Perhaps he could find one as a substitute. One that would serve the purpose. He cringed at the thought. It was the last thing he wanted to do but if he didn’t his sister would die.

  He made it to the gates of Atlantis which opened as he approached. He swam through and they closed behind him, sealing him into the chamber. A moment later the area pressurized and the water drained. The sanitizer kicked on to cleanse and dry his skin. He’d left his clothes here before going up to the surface. He snatched his pants and pulled them on, then his uniform jacket and boots. As soon as he was fully dressed, the chamber door swished open. Dr. Franco waited for him on the other side. He stifled a scowl.

  “You are alone?” he asked. “Again?”

  “I told you. I’m trying to win the female’s trust,” he snapped.

  He hated referring to his beautiful Eden as “the female” but he wanted the doctor to think he wasn’t emotionally attached to her. Sabre knew he was playing a dangerous game. The doctor knew he had been going to the surface to see a woman. Thankfully Eden’s identity was still concealed though he knew it was a matter of time before Franco started searching for her.

  “It’s been two days. How much longer am I to wait?”

  “Two days is hardly any time and you told me she should come willingly.” Sabre clenched his fists. She was his and he wouldn’t let this slimy man get his hands on her.

  “Time is of the essence. I have a handful of women. Not enough to begin the experiments. Your men disappoint me, colonel.”

  Experiments. His stomach turned. This man was sick. Using women as nothing more than a host made Sabre ill. He clamped down on his acid retort. He didn’t want the doctor to know he had no intention of bringing him Eden.

  “My men are doing the best they can.”

  “The best clearly isn’t good enough. I expect more women brought to me in the coming days.”

  How many did the sleazeball need?

  It was abundantly clear to Sabre he would have to find other females to bring to Franco to get him off his back. He shoved by the doctor. He needed to see General Bastian. He could count the number of men he trusted on one hand and Bastian was on that list. He needed advice about Eden. He had no idea how he was going to get her here without the doctor knowing.

  “You have one more day to bring me your female. If you fail then I will dispatch my men to find her. And your sister will die.”

  That stopped him cold. He slowly turned on his boot heel. “You do that and I will kill you.” He wouldn’t allow his Eden to be hurt and he’d promised to take care of her. Nor would he allow his sister’s life to be taken.

  “Feeling protective of the female, colonel?” His oily smile left Sabre feeling dirty and disgusted. He knew. He knew he’d already found a woman. Damn him. “Or your precious baby sister?”

  “Stay away from her.” He wasn’t sure if he meant Eden or Helene or both. Either way they were his to protect.

  “As long as you bring the woman to us tomorrow then there won’t be a problem.”

  “I’ll bring her tomorrow.” He clenched his jaw so hard it ached. He’d bring a woman all right, but it wouldn’t be Eden. Never Eden. Not for this scumbag.

  “Good. It’d be a shame to destroy Helene as well as throw you into a holding cell.”

  Dr. Franco slipped by him and disappeared down the corridor. How he’d wanted to snatch the man by the throat and crush the life out of him. Clenching his fists, Sabre stalked toward the detention center ignoring anyone and everyone who got in his way. Once there he demanded to see Bastian and waited in a meeting room for his general. A few minutes later he was brought in cuffs.

  “Release him,” Sabre demanded.

  “We’ve been ordered to keep him cuffed, sir. He’s dangerous.”

  “He’s no more dangerous than I am. Release him.” But the soldier made no move to do it. “He’s the leader of the Guardians, for the fucks sake. Release him or I report you to Dr. Franco for mistreatment.”

  The soldier hurried to remove the cuffs on the general and then stepped back.

  “Now get out,” Sabre said.

  “But I’m not allowed to leave him unguarded.”

  “Get. Out. Now. That’s not a request.”

  The man glanced between Sabre and Bastian. Finally Sabre sighed. “I’ll take full responsibility for him. Now go.”

  Finally the soldier left them alone. Bastian rubbed his wrists clearly grateful to have the cuffs removed.

  “Thank you, Sabre. It’s a relief to get rid of those things.” They each took a chair in the dimly lit room. “What’s happening?”

  “Can we speak here? Is it safe?”

  “There could be listening devices. We must be cautious,” Bastian said. “Now give me an update.”

  Sabre leaned toward the general and dropped his voice. “Franco threatened Helene if I didn’t help him. He told me he’d kill her.”

  “That bastard.”
Bastian bared his teeth in a fierce scowl. “Did you bring him a female?”

  Images of Eden flashed in his mind. “Not yet. But I’ve been ordered to do so by tomorrow or Helene dies.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  Sabre exhaled a deep breath and sat back in his chair. “I have to bring someone to him.”

  “Sabre—”

  “I know. I don’t want to do it but I have no choice.”

  “Gods. Is this what we’ve come to? Kidnapping humans and destroying their free will?” Bastian scrubbed a hand down his face.

  “What would you do, sir?” he asked.

  “I’d do whatever I could to keep my loved ones safe.”

  Sabre nodded. “Then that’s what I have to do. And…there’s something else I must ask you.” He dropped his voice and leaned closer. “I did find a woman. One I want to bring back. She is…special. But I don’t want to turn her over to Franco.”

  “Ah…you’re fond of her, I see.” Bastian smiled. “Is she very beautiful?”

  Beyond beautiful. She was gorgeous. And his. “She is. How can I bring her here without turning her over to that man?”

  “You can’t. He’s monitoring every guard who comes and goes.”

  “I know.” Sabre pressed his lips in a thin line. “I want her. I intend to keep her. And…she may already be with child.” My child.

  Bastian stared at him in disbelief. “You had sex with her?”

  Oh, did he ever. Many, many times. They did things Eden had dreamed about. He knew that by reading her thoughts. Thinking about it made his cock hard again.

  “How can I get her back?” he asked, ignoring his superior’s question.

  Bastian looked thoughtful, running a hand over his three-day growth of beard. His skin bristled against the stubble. “You’ll need help. A distraction for Franco. A place to keep the girl safe and hidden. Anyone you trust?”

  Raven and Lucian were the two that immediately came to mind. He would trust them with his life. And had on many occasions. “Yes.”

  “Good. Here’s what you do.”

  Chapter Ten

  Two weeks later