Lynette Vinet

by Wild Eden Wicked

“Cooling off, are you?” he said, a husky sound to his voice.

  “I … yes,” she stammered, flustered at seeing him. “Have you been here long?”

  Damon lifted his hat from his forehead. His fiery gaze raked over her, scorching her half-naked body with its heat. “Long enough, beauty.”

  An unwelcome flush consumed her face as she became horribly aware that her nipples, clearly visible beneath the wet chemise, were pebbly hard and thrusting toward him. Worst of all, the goldish-red down at the juncture of her thighs was not lost to his roving, hungry stare. Eden attempted to cover herself with her arms and made a dash for her clothes on the bank of the lagoon, but when she started past Damon, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  He pulled her slick body between his legs, settling her against the obvious bulge in his trousers. She squirmed in protest, not wishing to be so close to him, hating him for betraying her with Tessa but delighting in the very intimacy she fought.

  “I thought you were a water nymph when I first saw you,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck. “I couldn’t believe it was you, Eden, waiting for me.”

  She pushed ineffectively against him, feeling herself melt at his expert assault of her senses. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” Swallowing hard, she found herself barely able to speak when Damon’s hand brushed against her breast to knead the soft flesh beneath the gauzy material which clung so tantalizingly to her curves. Despite her brain pounding out the message that he should stop touching her, she moaned as his hand wandered across her hip. His fingers trailed wanton fire as they neared their destination. She caught her breath when they finally discovered the silken slit between her thighs. “Oh, don’t,” she pleaded. “Don’t touch me.”

  “But you love it, my darling. You love for me to touch you.” Damon pulled her head down to meet his lips. The kiss was filled with a sweet passion which caused Eden to grow dizzy with desire. She wanted him so much; every inch of her cried for his caresses. But she couldn’t give in to him, she wouldn’t. Tessa was his wife, not her. He’d forfeited a new life for both of them because of his lie about Tessa. And now he had a son, a child who needed him.

  No matter how much Damon’s very touch could stir her to distraction and desire, they weren’t free to love.

  Her hands pushed at his chest and she managed to break the kiss. “What is it, Eden? Don’t deny me. You want me as much as I want you. I’ve been through hell thinking about you. I lie awake at nights, imagining you’re in my arms. I love you, I need you. Don’t leave me. Spend the night with me under a blanket of stars.”

  God, she was tempted to stay with him! Did he think about her when he was with Tessa? Or had he sought her out because he was simply an insatiable lover? Did Damon want her because he sincerely loved her? Or did he want her as his mistress? He’d lied to her about owning Castlegate, he’d lied to her about Tessa. Could he be lying about loving her? Had he ever loved her?

  As much as she wanted to stay with him, she didn’t need any extra pain because of her love for Damon Alexander. He’d caused her enough anguish already.

  Lowering her head, her hair spilled across her face like a brilliant banner. Then she lifted her gaze to his. “If you love me as you claim, Damon, you’ll let me go. And you’ll understand why I can’t stay with you. Our being together isn’t right. We said our farewells in Mr. MacKenzie’s office. I’ve decided to return to America.” She hadn’t reached that decision until this second, but it was seeing Damon again, being in his arms, that caused her to realize she’d never know any peace. Loving him the way she did, she couldn’t be near him and not desire him. Perhaps if she wasn’t tempted by his virile presence, she could start to live again.

  “You can’t be meaning that.”

  Slowly, she nodded. “I do.”

  Damon’s grip tightened on her waist. “I won’t let you leave.”

  Eden gave a trembling smile. “What are you going to do to keep me here? Will you tie me to a tree, keep me hidden in a cave somewhere? I assure you I won’t make a willing prisoner. I’ll complain like a shrew…”

  “I don’t care, Eden. Without you, I’m not whole.”

  She choked on the lump that formed in her throat and gently brushed an errant curl from his forehead. How had she ever thought this man was crude? Maybe he hadn’t been educated as extensively as Jock, but he possessed the soul of a poet. At that moment, she loved him more than she had ever loved another person in her life. Her lips touched his, drinking in the sweetness of the man, telling him good-bye.

  Eden moved away from him and started to dress. She turned her back so he wouldn’t see the tears gathering in her eyes and know she was weak. If Damon touched her at that moment, she feared she’d relent and become his mistress with no thought to his wife and son.

  When she faced him, she was sufficiently composed to walk the distance to her horse. Damon followed her and helped her mount. For the space of a heartbeat his hand clasped hers. “I love you, Yank,” he said in such a hoarse voice that she trembled.

  “I love you, you wayward son of an Irishman.” And then she spurred the horse, unable to look at him again. It was a blessing that the animal knew the way to Kia Ora, for Eden’s eyes were so blinded by tears she couldn’t see.

  ~~~

  “A toast to you, my dear. Returning with the boy was a stroke of genius.” Jock lifted his brandy snifter to Tessa, who lay nude upon his bed. “How’d you think that up all by yourself?”

  Tessa grew uneasy. “I got me a brain, Jock. I can be crafty when I want, but Collin is me son. And I’m not lyin’ about Damon bein’ his father.”

  Jock’s brows lifted in surprise. “Are you certain?”

  “Of course he’s not Jacob’s lad.”

  “I didn’t think he was. Could I be Collin’s father?”

  “No!”

  “Good, just checking, my dear.” Jock joined her on the bed and slid his hand along her thigh, his eyes watching her face. “Has Damon bedded you yet?”

  “Heavens, Jock, do you need to know every thin’?”

  “Hmm, by your touchy response and from the way you nearly attacked me when you arrived here, I’d say he hasn’t. What’s wrong, Tessa, are your charms not appealing to your husband any longer?”

  Tessa sniffed. “Damon’s makin’ me suffer, that’s why he won’t bed me.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t want you.”

  “He does—he will … as soon as he gets that uppity American whore out of his system.”

  “Tsk, tsk. Don’t demean my future wife.”

  “You’d do well to marry someone else, Jock,” Tessa advised, not bothering to hide her jealousy of Eden. “She ain’t one to be tamed by the likes of you. She’s got claws, she has.”

  Jock laughed and pulled Tessa on top of him. His manhood sprang to life at the contact. “I’m partial to the tigress type myself. Now play the kitty and purr prettily for me. Pretend I’m your errant spouse, if you must, but when you finish with me, I suggest you return home and seduce your husband. The sooner you get him to bed you, the better off we’ll both be.”

  “I don’t have to pretend with you, Jock.”

  “I know, Tessa, you never did.” Jock suckled one of her nipples and closed his eyes, because he did have to pretend that the woman in his arms was Eden.

  Thunder rumbled across the gray sky, disturbing the tranquil morning. After finishing Bonnie Day’s delicious breakfast, Eden and Marjorie sipped tea in the dining room. Marjorie’s face showed her distress at Eden’s news that she would be leaving for America soon. “I’ll miss you terribly,” Marjorie admitted. “You’re the closest friend I’ve ever had.”

  Eden patted Marjorie’s arm. “I feel the same about you, but I have to resume my life. There’s no reason to stay in New Zealand any longer. Thunder Mine is what brought me here. Now that I’ve sold my portion to Damon, I must go.”

  “Because you can’t stand being near him.”

  Marjorie’s astute assessment of t
he situation caused Eden to nod sadly. “I love him so very much.”

  “I know that, but, Eden, don’t you think you might find Jock an acceptable husband? He has his faults, but I know he loves you.”

  Eden shook her head in disbelief. “I thought you and Jock were estranged. Why would you plead his case for him?”

  Marjorie stared at her from over the rim of her teacup. “Jock is lonely, and he’s my brother. No matter our differences, I still want the best for him.”

  “You never told me why you cut your ties with him.”

  “And I won’t, Eden. You don’t want to know.” Her tone grew frosty. “Sometimes I can’t believe he’s capable of certain things, but he has a brilliant future in Wellington. One day, he might even be governor. Any man so intelligent and charming can’t be all bad.” Her face softened. “Please reconsider staying so my brother can charm you into marriage. You’d be so good for him, I know your love could change him.”

  Eden stood up and walked to the window. Outside, lightning streaked a jagged line across the distant sky. A brisk breeze stirred the leaves on an elm tree. “There’s a bad storm coming this way,” Eden said, not wishing to discuss Jock with Marjorie. Her mind was made up; she was going home to America. She dreaded saying farewell to Jock, knowing he’d attempt to change her mind. When they had seen each other the past week, Jock had proposed but told her he’d wait for her answer. Jock expected her to accept, but she didn’t love him enough to marry him. Why wouldn’t he realize she’d never marry a man with whom she wasn’t in love? She’d married Shamus without being in love with him, but she’d been young and naive, content to go through life without passion and desire.

  She was older now, and she knew what physical love entailed. Damon was the only man she’d ever love in that way. He was the only man who knew how to make her heart sing, her flesh quiver with need. Being intimate with Jock—or any other man—was unthinkable. She wished she was already on the ship, headed for home. Maybe then she’d be able to stop tormenting herself with thoughts of Damon.

  Marjorie gulped down her tea and rose to her feet, grabbing her cane. “I have to find Tiku. He’s on the plain, seeing to a sick ewe. The poor little darling may not make it.”

  “The weather looks horrible. Stay inside, Marjorie.”

  “No, I have to tend to my sheep, see for myself that every one of them is all right.” Placing her oversized hat on her head, she tied the string beneath her chin. “They’re my children, they’re all I have.”

  As Marjorie limped away, pity and love for the woman swelled in Eden’s breast. Marjorie was living for her sheep, treating them like the children she’d never bear. She was alone except for Tiku, but she wouldn’t reach out to him. For all Eden’s unhappiness, she felt blessed for the life growing within her. She might not have Damon, but she’d never be alone.

  ~~~

  An hour later, the wind howled outside the house like a banshee. The trees swayed and branches broke, dropping heavily to the earth. The pale gray sky had turned a dark purple. The thunder grew louder as each jagged strike of lightning split the heavens.

  Marjorie knelt beside Tiku as he buried the ewe. None of his ministrations could save it. “You did your best,” she told him. “Let’s be grateful the rest of the flock is healthy.” Her braid whipped around and stung her face as a vicious gust of wind pushed her slight frame against him. Tiku felt so strong when he caught her in his arms, a bulwark against the approaching storm.

  “We better head back to the house,” Tiku advised, but it seemed he held her longer than necessary before finally helping her to her feet. They mounted their horses and rode into the path of the storm. But with each streak of lightning and thunderous roll, the horses became harder to control. Finally Tiku pointed to an outcropping of rock. Marjorie couldn’t understand what he was saying to her above the wind, but she urged her horse to follow behind him.

  The rain broke before they reached their destination. Cold drops of water beat mercilessly upon them, instantly soaking their clothes. Tiku grabbed Marjorie’s reins and quickly tethered the horses to a tree. Then he lifted her down from her horse and carried her into the small, dark cave. Placing her on the ground beside him, he realized Marjorie hadn’t broken her hold around his neck. She was shivering and her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

  “I’m so, so cold,” she told him.

  With her small face just inches from his, the feel of her body pressed close against him, Marjorie stirred the passions within his soul. He’d never wanted to be near to her, ashamed of the way his body always responded to her, frightened she’d sense the pent-up longing inside him. To have Marjorie laugh at him or pity him for loving her would be terribly humiliating. As long as he held himself aloof from her, he was safe. But now, Marjorie, his pretty and sweet Marjorie, was trembling in his arms and he was more afraid then he’d ever been in his life.

  She lifted her beautiful brown eyes, the dark lashes fringing them like sable. Tiku caught his breath, unable to look away. Some people might call Marjorie plain, and many did. Some called her a cripple. Tiku had never thought of her as either plain or crippled. In his heart, Tiku knew Marjorie Sutherland was special. To him, she was a lovely, fragile doll he feared to touch, because he worried he’d hurt her. Yet now she stared at him and touched his wet face with gentle fingers, tracing the lines of his mouth, and he felt as if fire danced across his lips and ignited the flame inside him.

  “Kiss me,” she pleaded in a soft whisper, drawing closer to him. “Kiss me just once.”

  Lost beyond caring, Tiku claimed Marjorie’s mouth in a kiss that expressed all of the longing and devotion he’d secretly harbored for this woman. Wild desire swirled through him when she arched against him, expressing a need to be fully loved in return. But he broke away, breathing raggedly and afraid to see the contempt on her face for a momentary weakness. His body ached to possess her, but he wouldn’t dishonor her, couldn’t live with her hatred.

  Marjorie made a startled cry and she buried her face on his wet shirt. “I’m sorry,” he heard her say. “Forgive me for—for making you … kiss—me.”

  Tiku lifted her face and discovered her face was pink and she no longer was shivering. He’d never seen her more beautiful. “You didn’t make me kiss you. I wanted to kiss you,” he admitted.

  “Oh!”

  He smiled at her startled reaction. “It’s natural to want to kiss a beautiful woman.”

  Marjorie’s eyes grew large. “Do you think I’m beautiful?”

  He might as well be truthful. “Yes.”

  “But … but I’m a cripple and I’m plain, everyone knows that. Why would you want to kiss me, why do you think I’m beautiful? Why don’t I repulse you?”

  “You’re not repulsive, don’t ever say that about yourself again,” he commanded. “And as far as your limp, you can’t help that. But you’re a graceful woman and so very lovely that I could sit and look at you all day. You’re not plain, not at all plain. And as far as what everyone thinks, they’re wrong, and not in love with you. I am.”

  “You’re in love—with me?”

  His hand smoothed down the wet strands of her hair. “Very much, but I shouldn’t tell you. Perhaps it’s because the wind and rain have made us prisoners for a short time; maybe I’m telling you how much I love you because it seems as if we’re the only two people in the world for the moment. But, Marjorie, I do love you. Don’t hate me for admitting the truth to you.”

  For a few anguished seconds he thought he had insulted her. She was so quiet, her eyes so large and filled with what he thought was pity. Then amber specks like gold dust began to dance within them, and she did the most unexpected thing, the most endearing thing. She kissed the tip of his nose and smiled at him. “I love you, too. I’ve loved you since the day you first came with your mother to High Winds. For the rest of my life, I’ll love only you.”

  “Really?”

  “Really, truly, sincerely,” she whispered. “I want to ma
ke love to you. Would you mind—if I made love to you?”

  How unexpectedly daring she was, how much he loved her! “Only if I can make love to you at the same time,” he said, and breathed in the intoxicating sweetness of her hair. “But when we leave here, nothing will have changed as far as society is concerned.”

  “I know, but I don’t care,” she admitted, and began kissing his neck. “Everything though, will have changed for us. And we’re all that matters.”

  We’re all that matters … we’re all that matters. Tiku’s heart thumped out the words like a chant. Marjorie was right. They were all that mattered.

  ~~~

  Eden rode across Kia Ora, unprepared for the harsh weather conditions. She knew searching for Marjorie was a foolhardy thing to do, but she’d been worried when Marjorie hadn’t returned at the storm’s imminent approach. She started after Marjorie before the first raindrops but found herself caught in the driving downpour. Marjorie was a good horsewoman, but in weather as vicious as this, she didn’t believe the frail young woman could control her mount. The fact that Tiku was nowhere to be found, either, gave Eden some consolation that Marjorie might be safe. Deciding that both of them must have taken refuge from the storm, Eden started back to Kia Ora.

  Large raindrops streamed down her hat, and she couldn’t see where she was headed. The strong winds pushed her horse in the opposite direction. It wasn’t long before Eden realized she was lost. She glanced frantically around her but, blinded by the deluge, she didn’t have a clear idea of where she should go. The landscapes were no longer familiar. She’d have attempted to find cover, but she was on the open plains, without benefit of a tree or protection of a ramshackle hut the stationhands sometimes used for refuge.

  There was nothing left to do but hope the horse found the way to Kia Ora.

  After Eden rode for what seemed like hours, the unthinkable happened. Lightning struck the ground very near to where she rode. Her horse reared up in terror, and Eden, frightened also from the blinding bolt, couldn’t control the animal. Without warning, she fell from its back and hit the ground with a painful thump. Somehow she lifted her head to see the horse running away, and then everything grew black.