Page 22 of The Virgin's Chosen Dragon

It took her a second to answer. “Offer the fruit to your father and mother first,” she said, feeling her cheeks turning pink. “Then give the platter to Theo to distribute to the rest of the tribe.”

“Good, then everyone will know he is who you want,” Rose said, nodding her head. “Very important.”

“I know what you want me to do, Rose,” she said. “I just don’t understand why. Isn’t it obvious that Theo and Iare……. together? He introduced me as his girlfriend, that should be enough.”

Rose shook her head. “Not enough; men get ideas,” she said. “You’re very pretty and different. Some might think they want you.”

“And if I don’t want anyone except Theo?” she asked, getting angry. “Don’t I get a say in this? I’m not a piece of property, you know.”

Rose shrugged her shoulders and looked away. “You have a choice, but…” she trailed off, then looked back at her. “Just give the fruit to Theo, and everything will be okay.”

When she walked out of the cooking hut with the rest of the women, all eyes settled on her, and she was suddenly more nervous than she’d ever been in her life. After her discussion with Rose, the looks she was getting from the men had taken on a more sinister feel, but she told herself she was being silly, overreacting to a threat that wasn’t there. One by one, the women presented their contribution to the meal to Peter and his wife, then either handed it to their husbands or took a seat themselves and passed the platter on.

Her legs were shaking when her turn came, and she was sure the whole platter was going to go tumbling into Peter’s lap, but she managed to hang on. “You found the last of the sun fruit. What a clever girl you are,” he said, taking a few pieces. “This is a wonderful treat so late in the season. You have done well.”

A blush spread across her cheeks at the praise and there were encouraging murmurs around the fire behind her, calming her a little as she turned to face Theo seated next to Peter. She held the tray out to him, hoping he knew what to do, then sighed with relief when, after the slightest hesitation, he reached out and took the tray. Slipping into the open spacenext to him, she looked over at him and smiled, wondering if he understood the gesture she’d just made.

Theo took a piece of fruit from the dish, handed it to her, then took one for himself and passed it on, a pleased look on his face. “Are you staking your claim on me?” he leaned over and whispered. “Because it sure felt like it.”

“Maybe something like that,” she said, then looked over at him. “Do you mind?”

“Mind?” he asked, grinning at her. “I can’t think of anyone I want to share fruit with more than you.”

She laughed, “Theo, now you’re just being silly,” she said. “Rose told me to do it, she said……well, there might be……some of the men……”

“Peter warned me too,” he said. “Don’t worry, I meant what I said earlier. You’re mine, Eden. I’ve been fighting the truth for long enough; I’m not going to fight it anymore. I don’t know what will happen if we find a way home, but I think that will take care of itself when the time comes. I just want to enjoy the time we have here together.”

“Oh, Theo, I feel the same way,” Eden said. “I’m sorry I pushed you so hard before. This is so much better, but just so there’s no confusion, I still want you to make love to me.”

“And that is a request I’m going to be happy to fulfill,” he said. “But I think that you’re still going to have to be patient a little longer.”

CHAPTER 13

***THEO***

When the fruit was gone, Theo got to his feet with the other fishermen and, following Peter’s lead, helped set a huge screen of bamboo over the coals of the fire. Then, one by one, they laid the butterflied fish over the heat, sprinkled them with seasoning, then stood back to watch them cook. In only minutes, the fish was light and flaky, sending up a delicious aroma that made his stomach begin to growl, but he understood that there was a certain amount of ceremony involved in the meal.

Each of the men took a dish and heaped it with the cooked fish, then one by one repeated what the women had done, starting with Peter. When his turn came, he walked up to Eden and, with a big smile on his face, handed her the platter. Then, ignoring the villagers' twittering, he sat down next to her. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then took a piece of fish off the platter and presented it to her with a flourish.

She laughed, handed the platter back to him, took the fish, and then selected a piece for him, her eyes locked on his, fullof so much promise that it was hard to breathe for a second. “I think we should pass it on,” Eden finally said. “Other people might be hungry.”

He laughed, “I forgot there was anyone else here for a second,” he said. “You have that effect on me.”

Eden opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, one of the other fishermen was standing in front of her, offering her the fish from his dish. She hesitated, a surprised look on her face. “Please, take fish,” the man said. “I share with beautiful Eden.”

A panicked look appeared on Eden’s face, and she looked over at Peter. “You must take it, or you will insult him,” he said. “That would not be good.”

Biting his tongue, giving the other man dirty looks, he watched as Eden took a very small piece of fish. “Thank you,” she said. “It looks delicious.”

The man smiled at her. “Sam knows island, be good provider,” the man said, then looked over at Theo and waved his hand at him. “Much better than newcomer, you starve with him, eat well with Sam.”

Eden was silent for several seconds, clearly not sure what to say. “Oh, that’s nice to hear,” she finally said. “But I think I can feed myself, thank you.”

Sam shook his head. “I win you, you see,” he said, then gave Theo another dirty look. “He doesn’t deserve you; Sam does.”

Eden clearly felt trapped, but Peter came to their rescue. Sam is our best hunter,” he said. “All the women have been trying to catch his attention, and it looks like someone finally has, but we don’t trade women like property here. I would ask that you respect our tradition and give him a chance.”

“You mean……go on a date with him?” Eden asked, a horrified look on her face. “I don’t……want to offend him, but……”

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