Page 60 of Beautifully Wild

Home.

My stomach drops.

I owe my family and friends a call.

Lathering soap over my body, I cringe when soap stings the small scratches on my shins.

Securing one towel on my head and another around my chest, I check if my phone is still charged. My room is closer to the reception area than the previous one, and it picks up the Wi-Fi, albeit slow. I flop on the bed and send a text to my friends to confirm my safety. While I’m waiting for the little blue line to cross the top of my screen, I open the last message I sent to my father. It will probably take a while for all the replies from my previous texts to come through.

“Eden.” Knock. Knock.

I spring up to open the door.

Tormented blue eyes lock with mine. A slight breeze carries his freshly showered scent into my room, and it jolts my memory of us together in Ilhéus. His Adam’s apple bobs. “May I have a word?”

“Sure.” I widen the door for him to enter.

“I see you’ve showered.” He turns in a slow circle as though assessing my room.

“I did. There was room for two.”

When his gaze shoots to mine, I turn away and casually towel dry my hair. “Are you heading to dinner? I’ll be ready after I call my friends and arrange my flight out for tomorrow.” I hate talking about leaving him, especially not knowing where we stand makes the effort in finding him somewhat pointless. I understand his commitment, but it doesn’t have to be forever.

I push the comb through my hair with extra force. “Ouch.” My knots are glued together since I haven’t used a brush in two days. The wind factor from the river ride was a formula for hairspray.

“Is it what you want?” he questions and takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

I stop combing. “I’m sorry, what?”

“To leave?”

I shake my head. “I don’t have a choice.”

He stands and walks to the door. “I’ll wait in your hammock while you make the calls.”

I’m gaping at the closed door. He walks by the window and slides into the hammock on my porch with the slightest rock. He folds his hands behind his head and stares out at the lake.

I yank open the door. “Don’t put this on me. You said I wasn’t allowed in your village. There are restrictions, and you can’t touch me.”

He flies out of the hammock and pushes me inside. “Yes, we have limitations.” He spins me. His lips caress my bare shoulder. His hands wrap around my waist, so I feel the length of him pushing into my back. “We don’t have any here.”

“Here,” I repeat.

“What did you expect when you came searching for me?” His lips are close to my ear, hot breath caresses my neck.

“To find out if you cared about me as much as I you,” I rasp out.

“You knew I did. I showed you my feelings in Ilhéus. You’ve complicated everything in a way I’ve never felt before.” Hands tighten around my stomach and travel down and touch me where heat builds. “I don’t want you to go. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Yes,” I grate out. “Of course, it is.”

“Then, you’ve won. You drive me crazy. I hope you’re satisfied that I’m a mess.”

I attempt to turn because I want to take him in my arms and kiss him. Only he halts my action, his strong arms keeping me still, my back to his front. We’re both peering toward the window to the view of the rainforest beyond the lake and waterfalls.

“You honestly believe you could survive out there?” He raises an arm and points. “Live like me?”

After my short experience—no. I couldn’t do it. If it meant giving us a chance, an instinct tells me it’s a place where I could find myself and truly question my happiness, challenge my abilities, overcome fear, and grow. It’s what this trip is meant to be—a journey of growth. Finding Samuel and love was a bonus. Then it dawns on me why I wanted to find him so much. By finding him, I also found my strength.

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