Revealing Eden (33 page)

T
HERE, AT Heaven’s Gate, Eden nestled into Bramford’s embrace with fire-pitch excitement as well as languorous ease. He leaned over her, hesitating. The questioning look in his eyes reminded her of all the secrets that lay between them.

Why didn’t he just kiss her?

He sounded serious as he began. “Eden…”

“Yes?”

Then, in response to some mysterious signal, Bramford jerked his head towards the hillside behind them. Eden followed his gaze and, as she stared into the shadows, spied ancient, fortress-like stone terraces, partially hidden by drapes of fuchsia and red bougainvillea vines. In some sections the boulders rose to a man’s height. In fact, the masonry reminded her of the ledge under the waterfall.

Taking her cue from Bramford’s alert posture, Eden kept her voice low. “Who do you think built that?”

“The Aztecs,” he said.

“Then it’s thousands of years old. I wish my father could see it.”

“They don’t like visitors.”

She assumed Bramford meant it in a mythical sense, as the Huaorani might.

“So their spirits still guard the place?” she asked.

“A distant branch, actually.” His voice dropped a notch. “They’re very much alive and watching us now.”

“Have they watched us before?”

“Yes.”

So that must explain the unseen presence she often had felt in the forest.

Eden scanned the terraced area again but saw no one. “Why aren’t they excited to see you like the Huaorani?”

“Because you’re here.” Bramford gave her a wry smile. “You’re
cowode.”

“Non-human, right?”

“I can smell their fear. It’s your skin.”

Imagining a poisoned blow dart landing in her chest, Eden flattened herself against the ground.

“Are they like you then?” she said.

“Not quite. But more like me than you.”

“So you’ve seen them?”

“Yes. Deep in the jungle.”

Bramford’s head twitched. Eden caught a flash on the hill where tissue-thin bougainvillea leaves fluttered. She stifled the impulse to run when his calm hand restrained her.

“Let’s move,” he said, pulling her to her feet.

Her back stiffened as they headed downhill.
An easy target
. Bramford gave her a sidelong glance.

“Just relax, Eden.”

He led her to a promontory that jutted out over a glistening lake fed by the waterfall. In the distance an endless river
twisted and turned like a silvery ribbon that trailed deep into the Amazon. Shimmering rays of sunlight streaked behind billowy clouds that cabled across the sky.

They stopped among a patch of drab, gray plants near the edge of the cliff. He held her hand in his, as they silently took in the wondrous view.

Eden felt as insignificant as a dust mote, but not unhappily so. She believed that she and Bramford always were meant to be there because the world revolved around them. If only she could express her feelings to him. A kiss would do, she thought, recalling the crush of his lips on hers.

She turned expectantly just as he squatted down to examine the dreary foliage, which appeared out of place in that wonderland.

“Oh, that’s it.” Eden recognized it as the hoped-for cure.

Bramford nodded and she wondered how he had discovered it.

“Be glad it’s unknown,” he said, yanking out a plant with a flick of his wrist. “Or man also would have ruined this place by now.”

“But if Maria is right, it could save many lives.” Eden realized that her father probably would be the first non-native to take its medicine. “We could call it Newman’s Cure,” she said, hopefully.

Bramford added another root to a growing pile, then looked up at her, radiating intensity. His broad chest and shoulders formed an irresistible triangle above the slim hips.

“The Indians also believe it has power over death,” he said. “What if you could have that, Eden? Would you stay as you are, or risk change?”

She wanted to stay forever with Bramford at Heaven’s Gate. Nothing else mattered but this deep, simple happiness. She held his intent gaze as the answer teased the tip of her tongue. But old fears crowded in on her. What did he mean by change? Did he think she needed to improve?

“I guess it’s the proverbial Fountain of Youth,” Eden said, breezily.

He turned back to his task with what sounded like a dissatisfied grunt. She suspected she had missed something, as if a lock had turned, but the door remained hidden. She dropped to her knees beside him, wanting another chance.

“Do you think it’s possible, Ronson? To have whatever you want?”

“I don’t know,” he said, yanking out another plant. “I didn’t think so before. But now, I’d like to believe it.” He paused and looked at her again. “Did you ever wonder why I put you on probation instead of Ashina?”

Eden decided to forgive the small injustice. “You wanted to keep the peace at the lab,” she said plainly.

“No, I tried to protect you. I expected something to happen that night and wanted to keep you out of harm’s way.”

“I swear I didn’t know about Jamal.”

“I believe you, now.”

Eden sighed with relief. Still, she had to confess the worst of her crimes, even if Bramford already knew, even if she lost him now.

She looked him in the eye and said, “You were right. I let things slip—Jamal used me to learn about my father’s plans. I guess I was showing off. Stupid to think…” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“We all make mistakes,” Bramford said. “And yet, being
here with you makes me think that maybe things were supposed to happen the way they did. Do you understand?”

Eden nodded, though she wondered exactly what he meant.

“I just wish a beautiful girl like you hadn’t gotten mixed up in such a mess,” he added.

Me?
She stared blankly at him.

He laughed. “Don’t tell me you don’t know how beautiful you are, Eden?”

“I’m a Pearl.”

“So was my mate.”

Stunned, she searched his eyes for the lie but only detected a warm glow. But was he really thinking of her?

Eden began, haltingly. “You said Rebecca didn’t trust you. When you drank the
bejuco de oro.”

“She was weak,” Bramford said, with a trace of disgust. “It started one unguarded, drunken night. When Rebecca got pregnant, I decided to commit myself, for the child’s sake. It was time to mate, anyway.”

He seemed tentative, as he went on. “I wanted you to be strong. From the beginning, I wanted you to be different.”

“Because I look like her?”

“At first the resemblance both attracted and irritated me. It wasn’t easy to be around you. I feared you’d betray me like she had…if I loved you.”

Unsteady, she sat back on the ground. She could hardly believe he cared.

“You are different,” Bramford continued. “When I took the medicine, you stayed by me. And you want to learn, don’t you?”

“Very much.”
About love mostly
.

“What else happened in the jungle?” he asked.

Eden felt her skin flush at the memory of their stolen passion, the burning kiss.

“You mistook me for Rebecca and kissed me, or rather, her,” she said, too sharply.

“Yes, I remember that. Did our kiss frighten you?” Bramford waved a hand over his body. “Did this?”

“No.” Eden’s voice hitched. “I liked it.”

He scooped her into his arms. “And now?”

“I like it,” she repeated, hugging him.

“That’s because you’re my she-cat.”

Bramford nuzzled her neck then traced a line up to her lips. With soft licks he parted her mouth. Heat blazed like wildfire through her body. Her mind went blank as he kissed her, deeply.

Eden closed her eyes, giving in to his hungry demands. Their limbs intertwined until her body molded to his. She sank into a river of bliss that swept her outside of time, outside of any barriers—real or imagined—and into a place where she thought anything was possible. Even a future together. When he released her, she knew she would never be the same.

“We should leave before we wear out our welcome,” Bramford said, hoarsely. “I’ll cut vines to carry the roots.”

Breathless, Eden watched him walk back up the slope. Her path never had been clearer. She wormed her fingers into her bandages and pulled out the Life-Band. She heard Bramford working inside a grove of trees that hid him from view.
Do it now, Eden
.

She hurried to the edge of the cliff, praying that the river would carry the device far away so no one would ever find
them. But as she reached back to throw it, something caught her hand and violently spun her around. She stood face to face with Bramford, who must have moved like the wind.

“What’s this?” he said, snatching the wristband from her.

“It’s not what you think,” Eden said.

His jaw twitched, the impenetrable mask returned. “Did you use it? There’s no point lying now to protect your lover.”

“I thought you believed me.”

“Tell me the truth.” His fingernails cut into her skin. “Did you send a signal? This isn’t about us anymore, Eden.”

“Only to Shen—he’s coming. You told me he’s your half-brother. I thought I could trust him.”

He looked stricken. “Good Earth, there’s no time.”

He flung the Life-Band high into the air. Eden watched it sail out over the cliff and twirl like a ballet dancer before it dropped fast as a stone. She sank to the ground, defeated.

Bramford bound the plant roots to his chest, wrapping the vines as tightly as he held his anger.

“I should leave you here,” he said.

Eden muttered. “Go ahead.”

“I already have enough crimes to pay for.”

He hefted her onto his shoulders and sprinted across the plateau. She longed to command him again with her body movements, but the subtle communication between them had slipped away.

How fleeting her happiness had been. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as they left paradise behind. And yet, despite the pain, Eden didn’t regret loving Bramford. Not for one second.

Only Aunt Emily had understood this exquisite burden.

Proud of my broken heart since thou didst break it
,

Proud of the pain I did not feel till thee
,

Proud of my night since thou with moons dost slake it
,

Not to partake thy passion, my humility
.

F
OR ONCE Maria wasn’t there to greet Eden and Bramford when they arrived at the quiet, moonlit compound. Eden imagined the worst.
Father?

Bramford pulled her from his shoulders as soon as they reached the main hut. They hadn’t spoken a word since they had left Heaven’s Gate. How on Blessed Earth would Eden ever win him back?

She hurried inside and found her father asleep in the hammock, his open mouth loudly sucking in air. Maria kept a vigil beside him, her face drawn. She looked past Eden and brightened when she saw Bramford enter with the plant roots. With a definitive nod, she seemed to tell Eden there was a chance. Then she hurried from the room, moving faster than Eden thought possible.

Eden brushed a hand against her father’s fevered check. “I’m here, Father.”

“Eden,” he whispered, slowly opening his eyes.

“We found the medicine you need.”

“We?”

“Bramford and I.”

Bramford came up beside her, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

“Hello, doctor,” he said.

Her father glanced from Eden to Bramford and back again with a knowing look. “You were gone a long time,” he said, with great effort.

She quickly shook her head, trying to discourage him. “It was far, that’s all. Please, you’ve got to hold on.”

“For some things, you cannot wait.”

Bramford knelt down beside the hammock and spoke to him in a firm but gentle voice. “By this time tomorrow, you’ll be stronger. How long before the procedure is ready?”