Tempting Eden (8 page)

“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 her 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.”

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.”

Two weeks later

Eden sat on the cold tile floor clutching the
pregnancy test in her hand. She was too scared to look. What if it
wasn’t positive? What if it was? What if he didn’t come for her?
What if he did?

If he did would she really go? She didn’t
have anything left for her here. Not really. No job, no apartment,
no car. Bills stacking up every day. She was estranged from her
mother—her dad had split when she was a kid—so there would be no
love lost there. Her only regret was her best friend. She wouldn’t
be there when Gillian got married. Could she live with herself if
she left her to be with Sabre?