Eden

by Bobbi Smith

  As if sensing her regard upon him, Logan looked up, and their gazes met across the distance.

  Even from this far away, the power mirrored in the depths of his dark eyes moved Eden, and a shock of sensual recognition trembled through her.

  Logan devoured her with his gaze. She looked more lovely than ever to him right now, and he found he wanted to take her in his arms and never let her go.

  And she was his wife.

  "Ready?" Logan asked.

  "Yes."

  He came to her side and took the small bag she had packed for herself.

  "I'll have her back in the morning, Jenny. I promise," he told the other woman with a grin.

  "Good night."

  Jenny sighed romantically as she watched them go.

  Logan escorted Eden to the buggy and helped her climb onto the bench seat. He joined her there, and they started off.

  "Where are we going?" Eden finally asked.

  "We'll spend tonight in my hotel room. Then tomorrow we can start thinking about where we're going to live when Adrian gets back, and you don't have to stay at the Haven anymore."

  Logan's thoughts were racing as he guided the buggy through the streets to his hotel. He was trying to figure out how their marriage was going to change his handling of the investigation, but Eden's presence so close beside him wreaked havoc on his usual logical thinking. There was absolutely nothing logical about his feelings for her.

  He wanted her.

  He desired her.

  She was his wife-

  For now.

  They would be together until the time came for him to end it. They would be husband and wife, and they would have to find a place to live together.

  They reached the hotel, and after seeing that the horse and buggy were tended to, they started upstairs to their room.

  Logan realized he was very lucky that Adrian wasn't back yet. He needed a few days to get things in order. If he and Eden were together all day, every day, he would have no chance to get away and meet with Sam or Jim.

  Jim.

  The very real possibility that the other operative might be waiting for him in his room tonight jolted through Logan. He knew a moment of true concern as he and Eden made their way down the hotel hallway. There was no way to escape seeing him if he was there, unless...

  An idea came to Logan, and as he stopped before the door to unlock it, he knew what he had to do. It wouldn't give the other man much time, but it would divert Eden's attention for at least a moment or two, and give Jim the opportunity he needed to escape if, indeed, he was in the room waiting to meet with him.

  Logan unlocked the door and left it slightly ajar. Before Eden could walk in ahead of him, Logan swept her up into his arms to carry her across the threshold. As he held her close, he kissed her, full and flaming on the lips.

  Logan had meant the kiss to be a distraction for Eden. He had not realized it would distract him, too. The moment his mouth moved over hers, all the powerful emotions that had warred within him the night before returned. He wanted her. He had to have her. And now she truly was his.

  Backing into the room, Logan kicked the door shut behind them without interrupting the kiss. As much as he hated to do it, he opened one eye to take a quick look around the darkened room. Relief rushed through him, for there was no sign of Jim. Logan's secret identity would remain just that for now-secret.

  Walking straight to the side of the bed, Logan carefully bent down to lay Eden upon its softness. He forced himself to break off the kiss so he could go and lock the door. Her intoxicating kisses had the power to make him forget himself, and if he hadn't left her right then, he might not have left her at all-at least not until the maid walked in on them in the morning.

  "Do you want me to light the lamp?" Logan asked as he walked slowly back to the bed.

  "No, I only want you," she answered, and she meant it. The pleasure of his embrace had ignited the fires of her passion. She wanted him back with her, his arms around her, his lips upon hers. She wanted to forget everything except that they were together, and they were husband and wife.

  Her words sent a surge of excitement through Logan, and he wasted no more time. Stripping off his shirt along with the coat, he joined her on the bed and took her in his embrace. He held her to his heart as his lips sought hers in a rapturous exchange. Each kiss and each caress stoked the fire of their passion. Their souls were aflame in a searing testament to their desire.

  It was their wedding night.

  They came together in perfect union there in the hot, velvet darkness. Driving passion consumed them through the long, dark hours of the night.

  Gentleness surrendered to power, but in surrender, gentleness became the conqueror.

  Eden and Logan clung to one another, cherishing the pleasure that had been theirs and would be theirs.

  They were one.

  In the early morning hours Eden stirred in Logan's arms and slowly awoke. She lay quietly, marveling at the wonder that this man was her husband. Her gaze traced his features. Unable to resist, Eden rose up to press a soft kiss to his lips.

  "Be careful," he warned with a chuckle in a low voice. "You're tempting me again."

  "Ah, but this is different," Eden told him as she ran one hand over the hard plane of his chest. "A wife can tempt her husband. There is no sin in our loving."

  Desire pounded through him at her sultry, inviting words and her touch, but so did guilt over his deception. He had married her, but everything she knew about him was a lie.

  If Eden knew the truth-

  Logan did not allow himself to dwell on that thought. He turned to Eden and possessed her again. Burying himself deep within the hot, satin depths of her, he sought what forgetfulness he could find through fulfillment in her arms.

  Eden clung to him as he took her to the heights of ecstasy and beyond. She treasured the bliss of his touch and kiss, and the joy of being one with him. Though he still had not professed to love her, Eden could not deny her own feelings. She loved Logan.

  Logan lay awake as the coming dawn brightened the eastern sky. He should have been exhausted, for he'd gotten little sleep through the long, passion-filled hours of the night, but he wasn't. The time he'd just passed in Eden's arms had been pure heaven.

  Logan savored having Eden slumbering peacefully beside him. He looked over at her, his gaze a visual caress. Eden was such a beautiful, amazing woman. She was brave and intelligent and passionate. His thoughts drifted as he watched her sleep. He remembered the fear that had gripped him when he'd thought she'd been in danger that night at the Haven. His fear for her safety had been real, and as he mentally relived the moment when he'd climbed through the or phanage window to save her, it was even more powerful now.

  The fierceness of his emotions startled him. Logan frowned into the darkness as he reminded himself that he was there on assignment. He had a mission to complete. As attracted to Eden as he was, his brother's life was at stake. He didn't have time to get involved with anyone.

  Even as he thought it, though, Logan knew it was too late. There could be no denying it. He was involved with Eden. He cared about Eden. He cared enough to have made her his wife, rather than let her reputation be put at risk.

  He loved her.

  The thought came to him in a flash of insight.

  Did he love her?

  His frown deepened. He couldn't afford to love Eden. If it turned out that she was involved with the spy ring, they would be sworn enemies.

  But would his enemy have gone to his brother's aid on the riverboat?

  "Logan?" Eden said his name softly as she came awake and saw his dark expression. He looked as if something serious was troubling him. "Is anything wrong?"

  Logan quickly smiled at her. "No-no, there's nothing wrong."

  "But you look so worried."

  "I was thinking about your run-in with the Yankee soldiers, and I was worrying because something might have happened to you," he responded, drawing her near. "I don't
ever want you to put yourself in danger that way again. I want you to be safe, always."

  Eden was touched by his words and pressed her lips to his in a cherishing kiss. Then she nestled back down against him. "I don't think they'll be bothering anybody anymore-or at least, I hope not." A small smile curved her lips.

  "What did you do to them the other night?" Logan had to ask.

  "Are you sure you want to know?"

  "I think I need to know, if I'm going to be able to keep track of my wife."

  Eden remembered his sermon and knew she owed him the truth. "I found out the name of a bar Layton and Moran frequented, and I watched and waited for them to come out. When they did, I got them to come into a nearby alley and-"

  "You did this all by yourself?" Logan knew how violent those soldiers could be, and he was shocked that she'd put herself in such a dangerous situation.

  "I wasn't alone. I had help."

  "You did? Who?"

  Eden found herself in a quandary. She wondered if she dared tell Logan everything about her involvement with the Confederate resistance. He was her husband, and he did deserve honesty from her, but she wasn't sure just how much honesty she could afford him. She didn't want to put Adrian and the others at risk.

  "There are people around who can find out these things for you and who don't mind helping out a good Cause."

  "What did you do once you got them into the alley?"

  She told him how she'd made the Yankees shed their pants and then tied them up and left them stranded with the note pinned to them. "I just hope someone took notice."

  "And I just hope Moran and Layton didn't figure out it was you. I don't want either one of them coming back to the Haven looking for more revenge.

  "Neither do I.But if you didn't recognize me when I was dressed that way, I'm sure they didn't, either. We were very careful that night."

  "I pray to God you're right." Thinking about her being in harm's way tore at him. "And thank heaven it's over now, and I'll never have to worry about you doing anything like that again."

  Logan kissed her hungrily, wanting to reassure himself that she was safe within his arms. Eden responded fully. She pressed herself against him in open invitation and let him know by her kisses and caresses that she wanted him, too.

  As she was loving him, though, Eden struggled with her conscience. Logan's assumption that she would never be part of a risky mission again worried her. She was involved with Adrian's work and she didn't want to give it up. Adrian needed her help. The Cause needed her help. She agonized over whether to trust her new husband. She abandoned all rational thought when Logan moved to make her his own. Eden surrendered herself to his passionate mastery.

  Their joining was fierce and powerful, and they reached the heights of pleasure quickly before collapsing, sated, into each other's arms.

  As Eden lay nestled against Logan, the memory of his sermon returned again.

  The truth shall set you free.

  Silently she argued with herself that it would be all right to tell Logan about her involvement with Adrian. Logan was a minister, and he obviously had Southern sympathies, for he had come to the Haven specifically to help the orphans of fallen Confederate soldiers. Logan had saved her from the attack by the Union soldiers, and he had married her to protect her _eputetion. He had proven himself to be a wonderful man, and there was no reason not to be honest with him. She would swear him to secrecy and confide the truth to him so he would understand how she was trying to help the Cause-and her father and brother-in her own way.

  "Logan," she began quietly. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

  "You sound so serious."

  "I am," Eden said, shifting away from him so she could think more clearly. There was something about being close to him that distracted her.

  "What is it?" he asked, surprised by the sudden change in her mood.

  "Well, I keep thinking about the sermon you gave at church and how you believe telling the truth is always best. That's why I think it's important I start off our marriage by being completely honest with you."

  "About what?"

  "Can I trust you, Logan? Really trust you?"

  "I am your husband. You can trust me," he lied.

  "I was hoping you'd say that. Now that we're married, there's something else I need to tell you. Something you need to know about me, because I want you to understand." She paused.

  "Understand what?" he urged, not wanting her to change her mind.

  Eden forged ahead. She hoped that by confiding in him she could possibly win his support. "You know I had help when I went after Layton and Moran."

  "Yes." Logan waited. He held himself unnaturally still, willing his body not to betray the surge of excitement that coursed through him. Was there any chance Eden might have information to help him find his brother?

  "Well, I'm involved with a group that is trying to help the Confederacy."

  "You're working with spies?" Logan had never expected to find out the information he needed so easily. In a moment of cold detachment, he told himself that marrying her had been the right thing to do, for everything she was revealing to him confirmed what Sam and Jim had said. Her testimony would be the proof he needed to bring in Adrian. For now, he pushed aside the disturbing thought that followed: If he used her that way, she would have to be arrested, too, for her involvement.

  "I'm trying to see this war ended. I hate all the killing and destruction," Eden told him earnestly. "Look at how the children are sufferingMark and Paul and Connie and the others, and all because of the war."

  "These are very dangerous times, and it's not a good idea for you to be involved." The news didn't sit well with him.

  "I know these are dangerous times, and that's precisely why I'm involved." Eden had been afraid he would ask her not to participate in the resistance efforts anymore. "You are my husband, and I respect your wishes, but I can't stop trying to help. I can't quit as long as my father and brother are away fighting. I couldn't go to war with them, but I can help them here. And I will. It's the least I can do until the fighting is finished and they're back home safe and sound."

  "But I don't want you putting yourself at risk this way." Logan found as he said it that he truly meant it.

  "You don't have to worry. We're always careful."

  "Who's always careful?"

  "I'm not going to name names."

  "Why not?"

  "They trust me with their lives, but they don't know you. It's not my place to reveal anyone else's identity."

  Logan fell silent, for there was no point in pressing her any more right then. He didn't know what he would do if she was involved with the spies.

  "You're not angry, are you?" Eden asked, his silence troubling her.

  "No, I'm not angry, Eden," he answered slowly. "But you are my wife. I want you safe."

  "None of us will be safe until this war is over."

  "I know. I know." He hugged her close and silenced her with a kiss. She was absolutely right: danger and intrigue did surround them.

  "Eden."

  She awoke slowly to the sound of Logan saying her name. Opening her eyes, she found him already up and dressed, standing over the bed and gazing down at her.

  "Good morning," she said in a sleep-husky voice.

  "Yes, it is," he answered as he leaned down to kiss her. "But you might not want to linger in bed too long. I've already gone downstairs and ordered a bath to be brought up for you. The maids should be here shortly."

  The thought of a nice hot bath brought her fully awake and made her smile. "Thank you."

  Looping her arms around his neck, she drew him closer for a kiss. When she did, the blanket that had been covering her slipped down. Logan needed no further invitation as he sought that silken flesh with a knowing caress. The embrace would have turned into even more if the knock hadn't come at the door just then.

  Eden suddenly realized her state of undress and flew from the bed to don her wrapper. Logan
waited until she was discreetly clothed to admit the servants.

  The maids scurried into the room with everything she'd need for a bath, and they left just as quickly.

  Alone once more, Logan was tempted to finish what they'd started, but he knew the bathwater would cool while they were otherwise engaged, and she'd seemed so pleased with the idea of bathing that he wanted her to enjoy it fully.

  "Turn your back, please," Eden said primly as she was ready to get into the tub.

  Logan couldn't suppress a chuckle. "I've already seen you in many various states of undress, wife."

  Eden actually blushed. All their intimate lovemaking had taken place at night. "But it's daylight now."

  He gave her a rakish, knowing grin as he turned away. "I'll honor your delicate sensibilities."

  He walked to the window to look out at the street below. It was a quiet morning, and that was good. He liked quiet days.

  Logan heard a splash behind him and knew Eden had gotten into the tub. He was tempted to turn and watch her, but he controlled himself. Even so, he realized the mirror was close by and he could see the back of her as she bathed. He decided to enjoy the view. Eden had tied her hair up, and Logan watched her hungrily, admiring the graceful line of her neck and the soft curve of her shoulders.

  Heat stirred within him.

  Temptation lured him.

  But he denied himself. He took pleasure in her pleasure, and found he was glad that he'd made her happy by ordering the bath.

  "You could have given me no better wedding gift," Eden sighed as she rose from the tub. She quickly dried herself and dressed. She'd been completely unaware of his covert scrutiny.

  "My pleasure," Logan told her, and he meant it. "Is it safe to turn around now?"

  "Yes."

  "Good." He faced her. "After we have breakfast, I want to take you shopping before we go back to the Haven."

  "Shopping? What for?"

  He smiled tenderly. "A wedding ring. You're my wife now. I want everyone to know it."

  A thrill went through Eden at his possessive claim upon her, and her hope grew that she could win his love. She immediately worried about his finances. She knew ministers rarely made a lot of money, and he didn't even have a congregation here in New Orleans. "But can you afford to buy a ring right now?"