Page 112 of Beautifully Wild

“I’ll keep my phone on me for now,” I tell Asoo. “I’ll give it to you to charge when you next visit.”

“Do you want me to wait? Samuel not expecting you.”

I shake my head. “No need. “I’m sure he’ll be alerted soon. I’ll stay over here at the small camp for now.”

He pushes the boat out into the water. “See you soon, Miss Eden.”

I wave goodbye and tread to the camp. Fresh new growth almost conceals it. It seems untouched in months. Pushing vines away, I walk to where I remember the passion fruit grows. Plump fruit covers the vine, and I pick several and tread back to the log seat where Samuel first took me.

I’m unsure of the minutes or hours that pass. I’m not prepared to remain out here alone with no fire or even with fire, now I’m pregnant. Isolation, I understand, only it needs to be in his hut.

Beyond the shades of green and brown, a rustling of leaves alerts me to a visitor. Slowly, I pad back toward the river in case it’s not human because I remember Samuel telling me jaguars have been sighted in the past. With my back to the water, I scan the green wall trying to see behind the trees.

Maybe I was imagining a presence. I walk up the small embankment to the camp to retrieve my phone. The sun is low, and I estimate another couple of hours before it’s sunset. Looking around, I search for sticks in preparation to make a fire, even though I’m not entirely sure how to create a spark.

“Shit.” I throw the sticks to the ground, glance up, and notice him standing by a tree watching me. In warrior stance, legs apart, balance equally distributed, arms by his sides near a spear in his twine band around his waist.

I meet his gaze, hesitant at first. I see it,feel it,the emotion where words aren’t needed for me to understand what he’s feeling because I feel it too.

54

Eden

Samueldoesn’tmoveasthough he’s processing. His knees flinch. Those long, tanned, and muddy legs don’t hide the faded red artwork that decorates his lean muscles.

When Samuel takes the first step, I forget all the rules and run to him, jumping into his arms kissing him hard.

“I told the kids to stop messing about,” he says against my lips. “I thought they were teasing me.”

“How are you?” I say in between breaths. My fingers catch in his knotted fair locks. “Asoo told me another tribe was after you.”

“I’m fine, even more so now.” He breathes heavy sighs into my mouth.

His earthy scent jolts me back in time. I slide down his body until my feet hit the sand. “I know I should be in quarantine, but honestly, I haven’t come all this way to remain out here. I’m happy to be isolated in your hut, so please don’t make me—”

“Not a chance.” His calloused hands frame my face, and he holds me there for a moment and just takes in every detail.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you. I thought it would be a nice surprise.”

He shakes his head in disbelief. “It’s a surprise. I’m just having trouble believing you’re here. That you came back to me.”

“We promised each other, remember?” I push up on my toes and kiss his lips. “I’ve had time to think, and I am sorry I’m breaking your quarantine rules. I’ll be mindful and keep a distance—”

He silences me with another kiss. “Don’t you worry. I can take extra measures.” He takes my hand and starts to lead me away.

“Wait.” I pull my hand from his to fetch my bag, run back to his side, and match his stride over the mangled roots and decaying leaves. “Will it be a problem with the shaman?” He takes my bag from me and throws it over his shoulder.

With his other hand, he takes my hand and squeezes it. “You’re my family.”

Family.

“You look well.” A little on the thin side, yet he still looks healthy. I smile at Samuel and instantly know I made the right choice in coming here.

“You look radiant as always.” He stops walking and pulls me in for a kiss. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

I’ve waited months for his kiss. I run my hands up his back, his muscles contracting beneath my palms.

“It will be different this time,” he tells me and leads me toward the village at a much faster pace.

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