Page 9 of The Virgin's Chosen Dragon

“That’s what friends are for,” Barbie said, giving her a quick hug. “Now, let’s talk about Theo. You haven’t mentioned him once all day.”

She felt a blush rising on her cheeks. “There isn’t really much to say,” she said with a sigh. “I think that kiss last night was just a mistake. He was very polite this morning, but that was it. But it’s okay, really. It was still the most exciting thing that’s happened to me; ever.”

Barbie looked at her suspiciously. “Liar,” she finally said, then shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re going to give up that easily. A kiss like that shouldn’t be ignored. There’s heat between the two of you, and you’d be a fool to walk away without pushing it just a little bit. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I could humiliate myself,” she said. “I could make a fool of myself chasing after him. He probably thinks I’m just a kid, and in a lot of ways, I am.”

“Well, there’s only one way to change that,” Barbie said, wiggling her eyebrows at her. “But I’m not going to push you into doing something you’re not comfortable with. I am saying, however, that there are ways to get a man if you really want him.”

“You mean seduce him?” she asked, her eyes wide. “I couldn’t do that; I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I really would make a fool out of myself.”

“You would not,” Barbie said, shaking her head. “And I could give you a few pointers.”

The thought of kissing Theo again made her body begin to warm in a pleasant way. “I’m not exactly the seductress type, in case you missed it,” she said, then lowered her voice. “I don’t know anything about sex; I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Barbie waved her hand in the air. “Just follow your instincts; that’s lesson number one,” she said. “Besides, a man like Theo isn’t going to let you take the lead for long.”

“Is that a good thing?” she asked, then sighed. “See, I don’t even know that.”

“Just relax, Eden,” Barbie said. “It’s not a test you have to pass. All you have to do is let him know that you’re interested, he’ll take it from there.”

“I hope you’re right,” she said. “This all seems very complicated to me.”

“Sometimes it is, but in this case, I think it’s very simple,” Barbie said. “An island romance, no strings attached, no expectations for the future? What man could say no to that?”

“I guess you’re right,” she said, but still wasn’t convinced she was up to seducing Theo. “I’ll give it a try, but if I make a fool of myself, I’m going to blame you.”

“I’m not worried. I think you’re going to surprise yourself,” Barbie said, then leaned in a little closer. “There’s a woman under all those layers. You just have to let her out.”

Eden would remind herself of those words a few hours later when she stood in front of the mirror in her cabin, looking at her reflection, not recognizing the woman looking back at her. Feeling a moment of panic, she thought about changing back into her other clothes, then looked hard at herself, being more critical than a stranger would be, and saw nothing wrong with the way she was dressed. Ignoring her mother’s voice in the back of her head, she turned away from the mirror, slipped her feet into the new sandals, and left the cabin.

CHAPTER 6

***THEO***

Theo threw one more piece of driftwood onto the pile in his arms, then turned and headed back to the firepit, trying to pretend that he wasn’t looking for Eden as he scanned the beach. There must have already been forty people milling around, but there was no sign of the petite blonde or her friend, and he had to fight back a wave of disappointment. Telling himself that it was for the best, he could enjoy himself without worrying about getting too close to the tempting beauty, he headed for the woodpile.

He'd only gone a few more steps when he noticed the back of a head that looked familiar, but he instantly dismissed the possibility that it was Eden. The woman was dressed in a skimpy pair of shorts and a tank top that revealed an enticing glimpse of flesh. A wave of desire washed over him as he watched her, and he was a bit relieved to find himself attracted to another woman. His problem might be easier to fix than he thought.

The feeling was short-lived when the woman turned around, and he was looking into Eden’s blue eyes. The wood went tumbling out of his arms, landed with a crash on the topof the pile, and he backed up a step, unable to stop himself from staring at her, all the desire he’d felt the night he’d kissed her welling up inside him again. Sucking in a deep breath, his eyes taking in the low cut of her shirt that revealed a tantalizing view of her pale breasts, the swell of her hips under the tight fabric of her shorts, and her long shapely legs, the irrational urge to run settled over him.

He’d never felt such a powerful need for a woman, had no idea how to temper the feelings thundering through him except to give into them, and he didn’t think it was wise to march across the beach and kiss her. Instead of running, he tore his eyes away from her, bent down, and started restacking the firewood, hoping that when he stood up again, she would be out of sight.

“Well, it looks like I might have been wrong,” Max said, bending over to help him. “I was as shocked as you were when I saw her. That must have been one hell of a shopping trip. I think we both owe Barbie a thank you.”

He stood up and gave Max a dirty look. “Don’t be getting any ideas,” he said. “Eden is off limits to both of us.”

“Oh, I would never sleep with one of my guests, although, believe me, it’s very tempting sometimes,” Max said, waving him away. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a beautiful woman when I see one.”

“Well, just make sure you’re doing it from a long way away,” he said, then let out a long sigh. “I think I’ve lost my mind. I don’t know whose idea of a cruel joke this is, but I wish it was over.”

“That bad, huh?” Max asked, an amused look on his face. “I’m almost starting to feel sorry for you, but it’s a noble thing that you’re doing.”

“Oh, stuff it,” he said, then stalked off to cool down. “I need to take a walk.”

“Don’t be gone long. We’re going to start digging for clams soon,” Max called after him. “You won’t want to miss that.”

When he came back fifteen minutes later, Pierce was handing out buckets and shovels. “This is the best time of day to dig. The heat of the day is gone; the tide is starting to come in, so the clams open up,” he said. “All you have to do is look for holes in the sand. They’ll be a few inches down, just be careful not to damage them while you’re digging. We need to cook the little buggers alive.”

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