Page 39 of Beautifully Wild

“You live by the ocean?”

I smile, sensing it pleases him. “I do. Have all my life and can’t imagine not living there. It has a sense of calm and excitement, depending on the time of day and the seasons.”

“I know what you mean.”

We’re interrupted when our food is delivered.

“What’s your favorite food?” Samuel continues.

“Depends,” I say with a mouthful of pizza. I wait a moment before answering. “If I go out, I love Greek or Thai. Japanese, too. At home, I snack on avocado and tomato on toast and other times fruit.”

“What fruits?”

“Anything really. Depends on what’s in season. We have some of the best stone fruits in the country. Apricots are one of my favorites.”

“Do you like exotic fruit like acai, pawpaw, and dragon fruit?”

“Absolutely, but they can be expensive. What about you?”

He holds my gaze when he answers, “I live mainly on fruit.”

“Ah, that’s why you look so fit.” His brow pulls tight. It seems he missed the compliment I intended.

The waiter places the dessert menu on the table, and Samuel declines and asks for the bill.

“You don’t want dessert?” Damn, I could go for something chocolaty tonight.

“I’ll be having dessert in my room.” The seriousness behind his eyes has my insides tightening with anticipation.

Dropping the napkin on my plate, I push up from the chair. “Ready when you are.”

Walking hand in hand to his apartment, it seems like we’ve been together our entire lives. I was meant to take this holiday and find him. Even from the moment I saw him in Salvador, I knew he had come into my life for a reason. My gut tingles with a strange sensation—anticipation and acknowledgment equally. I’ll be getting to know him better once we reach his room, only I can’t help thinking what happens after tomorrow. I don’t want this to be the end of us.

I used to mock people who fell in love at first sight. Lovers who thought they found their soulmate after a couple of dates. I believed they were fools, yet here I am, feeling the same pull of need to be with someone beyond a few weeks. I need more time because after moping around the last eighteen months, I’ve come all this way to discover someone who’s everything I have wanted in a man.

Samuel opens the door and stands aside like the gentleman he is. He follows me into the room, and the door lock clicks. He takes my hand and tugs, so I’m pressed up against him. He kisses my neck and sucks gently on the nape. “So sweet,” he murmurs. “One taste, and you could put chocolatiers out of business.”

“Ha.” I smile at him. I overlook the excitement growing between my thighs for a moment, so I can talk to him before we spend all night making out. “Can I ask you something?”

He pulls away and stares down at me as though he’s missed something. “Sure.”

“You seem familiar with Venezuela and Peru.”

“I have traveled there…” He steps back and gives me a quizzical look. “Why is that?” He pours two glasses of cold water from the fridge and hands me a glass.

“You seem to know the best places to visit, so I hoped you might like to be my personal tour guide?”

His arm freezes with the glass halfway to his lips. “I thought you were going straight to Margarita Island?”

“Well, yes. But with the latest protests, we’re avoiding Caracas and instead flying to Guayana City for one night before heading to Margarita Island. I’m hoping you could show us some of the sights and then come with us to the island?”

“Guayana City.” The crease relaxes between his brows. “It’s the gateway to the tepuis and a great river system. Pity you’re not staying longer. You’d love the Angel Falls tour.”

My stomach flutters with a window of hope. “If I stayed longer, would you take me?”

“Eden, I—” His lips are on mine. His kiss has me losing my train of thought. Strong arms tighten around me as though he doesn’t want to let go. “Let’s talk in the morning. I’ll glance over my plans then. I don’t want to waste tonight with us going back and forth.”

“So, you’ll try to come to Margarita Island with your friends?” I rasp against his lips.

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