Oasis of Eden

By Genella DeGrey

Heiress to the fortune of a world-renowned archeologist, Miss Jaden Poole accidentally defies time and space and stumbles upon the man of her dreams, but must conceal information that could unravel his world.

About to graduate from the University of Chicago with a degree in ancient history, flapper Jaden Poole has come to embrace the racy new breed' lifestyle. Heiress to the fortune of a prominent archeologist, the thought of following in her father's footsteps bores her to tears—until she's given the opportunity to decipher a room full of pre-dynastic Egyptian hieroglyphs. Amid the mystical walls, and with at least a fifth of bathtub gin in her belly, she missteps and suddenly finds herself sitting in the sand outside the dig site in the cool of the night.

Omari—Commander—Elydian Amun's priority is to control and protect the oasis that supports the city of Anuk-dye, and to keep peace among the people of his camp—even if it means doing the job of a lazy son of a politician and soothing an obstinate, jealous lambish (camp whore). But when a curvy, daring young woman who speaks using strange phrases wanders into his camp, he can think of nothing other than making her his.

Jaden knows that they have no place in each other's lives—and if she goes all the way with Ely, it will leave a scar on her soul that will last an eternity. After resisting his many passionate demands and experiencing his surprisingly solicitous nature, she decides to give him what he seeks. All too soon it is discovered that not only is Jaden miles from home, but that, through a debacle that is her fault, she may not be able to return.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Oct 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781784304942

Genella DeGrey

Born and reared in Southern California, Genella DeGrey longed to be your typical blonde, tanned, surfer girl but failed miserably. Unable to sit idle without falling asleep, she embarked upon several artistic endeavours. Make-up and set dressing for the entertainment industry, Resort Enhancement for The Walt Disney Company and writing sexy historical romance top the list of her favourite activities. A consummate closet goth and amateur music and (red) wine enthusiast, she is also a hopeless romantic awaiting the arrival of her very own Mr Romance/Soul Mate with whom to share the rest of her life.

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A Totally Bound Publication

Oasis of Eden

ISBN # 978-1-78430-494-2

©Copyright Genella DeGrey 2015

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2015

Edited by Sue Meadows

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 2.

OASIS OF EDEN

Genella DeGrey

Heiress to the fortune of a world-renowned archeologist, Miss Jaden Poole accidentally defies time and space and stumbles upon the man of her dreams, but must conceal information that could unravel his world.

About to graduate from the University of Chicago with a degree in ancient history, flapper Jaden Poole has come to embrace the racy ‘new breed’ lifestyle. Heiress to the fortune of a prominent archeologist, the thought of following in her father’s footsteps bores her to tears—until she’s given the opportunity to decipher a room full of pre-dynastic Egyptian hieroglyphs. Amid the mystical walls, and with at least a fifth of bathtub gin in her belly, she missteps and suddenly finds herself sitting in the sand outside the dig site in the cool of the night.

Omari—Commander—Elydian Amun’s priority is to control and protect the oasis that supports the city of Anuk-dye, and to keep peace among the people of his camp—even if it means doing the job of a lazy son of a politician and soothing an obstinate, jealous lambish (camp whore). But when a curvy, daring young woman who speaks using strange phrases wanders into his camp, he can think of nothing other than making her his.

Jaden knows that they have no place in each other’s lives—and if she goes all the way with Ely, it will leave a scar on her soul that will last an eternity. After resisting his many passionate demands and experiencing his surprisingly solicitous nature, she decides to give him what he seeks. All too soon it is discovered that not only is Jaden miles from home, but that, through a debacle that is her fault, she may not be able to return.

Dedication

Here’s to my readers who love a bit of sci-fi mashed in with their steamy romance scenes.

Here’s to sci-fi readers who don’t mind plot-driven romance woven into otherworldly narrative.

Here’s to readers who love to experience something new—

Cheers*

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Tiffany: Tiffany & Co.

Victrola: Victor Talking Machine Company

Coco Chanel: Chanel S. A.

Pomp and Circumstance: Sir Edward Elgar

Tarzan: Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Sheik of Araby: Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler

Cartier: Société Cartier

Chapter One

Just north of Karnak, Egypt, 1923

What Jaden wouldn’t do for a flask of gin and a hot Dixieland tune to erase the boredom right about now. Sadly, the only item available from her wish list was ‘hot’. The sun was relentless in the Sahara, even in February. She shifted in her seat, the backs of her legs sticking to the leather, and tightened the scarf that held her straw hat in place. The least they could have done was send a covered car. She never saw value in how the sun affected her skin, no matter what Coco Chanel and her golden-brown tan did for fashion.

What was I thinking? Jaden shook her head. She must have suffered a momentary lapse in judgment when she’d decided to leave Chicago for a trip to Egypt to pay a visit to a dig still subsidized by her late father’s bank account.

Oh, yeah. Now I remember. This little hobby of Pops’ was threatening to deplete his entire estate—her entire estate, of funds. Although Pops had provided her with an ample allowance in the four years before his death, now she was in charge, and this silly sifting around in the sand needed to stop.

Not long now, the weathered driver said in Egyptian. Another hour or so.

She shot a half-hearted smile in the driver’s general vicinity.

Mom had passed on years ago. When Jaden had come of age, her father, ‘Pops’ as she’d dubbed him, had decided to stop bringing her along on treks across deserts and such, to dig up his trinkets and baubles formerly owned by people long since dead. So she’d been left to dawdle about at the University of Chicago—she grinned in retrospect—where she had taken her sweet time with her studies and danced at the rubs as often as possible. She’d burnt her corset, shimmied her way around campus, and made time with the boys. Ah, the carefree life of a flapper. Primly folding her gloved hands in her lap, she tapped her toe to a catchy ragtime number that popped into her head.

Jaden’s pleasant thoughts skidded to a halt like the needle of a Victrola scraping across a phonograph record. Her gaze focused on the desert and, pressing her lips together, she twisted them into a sour pout. Two things needed to happen during this impromptu North African excursion. She was determined to break up the current dig and send everyone home.

Her other assignment—given to her by her girlfriends—put a smile on her face every time she thought about it. You simply must have a bit of fun with some foreign cuddler. And take notes, Poolie. We’re dyin’ to know how they’re doin’ it in Egypt these days.

Each of their gang had a handle, a nickname—and ‘Poolie’ was hers.

But where, exactly, she would find a petting party full of acceptably handsome flaming youths here in no man’s land was beyond her.

Smothering a wicked giggle with her fingertips, she thought of the illicit parties she and her girlfriends had attended. Life had been utterly dull before college. There were few pleasures in life, and the sparse fare set before a body should be scooped up with both hands—at least, that had been her philosophy since moving into the girls’ dormitory her first year at U of C.

She glanced at her driver and suffered a shudder of revulsion. No pleasurable opportunities are to be had in the near future, that’s for certain.

* * * *

Almost an hour later, they pulled off the main road. It was dusk by the time she was shown to a private tent across the way from her late father’s former colleague, Doctor Harper. Looking out over the encampment, she noticed that it simply buzzed with activity, all paid for by her father’s estate. She really hated to be a wet blanket anywhere, but bringing an end to the dig was critical for her survival—and better sooner rather than later.

At a small porcelain basin in her canvas quarters, Jaden attempted to wash the desert floor from her skin then set out to find a bite to eat and, hopefully, some distillate libation in the mess tent. She wasn’t really a corn fiend—liquor, or giggle juice, as she and her little gang of gals called it, had a way of banishing the doldrums—and if there existed anything duller than this necessary trek across earth and sea, she’d be quite surprised.

Doctor Harper. So lovely to see you again. Jaden smiled, although she was bone-weary and too tired to chew the food set before her.

My beautiful Jaden Poole. I’m so glad you’ve arrived safely. Was your journey pleasant? He took the seat opposite her. The same age as her father, Doctor Edward Harper sported thin white hair over red, parched skin, with a set of fuzzy cheeks and chin to match. His kind brown eyes regarded her like a loving uncle’s.

Pleasant? Not remotely. More like boring. Yes, it was. And can we get this over with as soon as possible so I can get back to misbehavin’? Jaden considered herself an expert at saying one thing and hiding her real thoughts at the same time, which she considered a necessary evil in life. She didn’t do it to deceive him, merely to put the older man at ease. There was no reason to tell him that she craved more stimulating company than she’d suffered in the last week or so.

And how are your studies going? Hark! He cupped a hand to his ear. "Is that the familiar strains of Pomp and Circumstance I hear?"

She couldn’t help but smile at his dry, intellectual humor.

He chuckled then continued, Before your father passed, he told me you had not only excelled, but were filling in for professors here and there.

Darling Pops. Her father had never failed to talk her up. Aw, he exaggerated, really. I filled in twice for Doctor Grant in Egyptian, and only once in his hieroglyphics class. She shook her head. Truly, it was nothing.

He laughed and reached for a piece of flat bread. Not many people can do that, you know.

Jaden shrugged. Not many people learned their alphabet along with deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, either.

Yes, well, you were no ordinary child.

Her cheeks heated from his praise as if the sun was at its apex—something that normally didn’t happen unless hours of spooning were involved.

Dr. Harper reached out and took her by the hand. I’ll never forget the day you were born. Your parents and I were on a dig in China. Your father had found a Jade temple dedicated to the Buda. That’s when he decided to name you Jaden, you know. Jaden Poole. He said that with a name like that you would grow up to be a serene, lovely woman. And you have, my dear. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

She’d had no idea of the depths to which she adored and respected Dr. Harper until now. It had been years since she’d allowed herself to long for a father figure—she’d been furious with Pops when he’d told her that she would no longer be his travel companion.

Heavens. She was a grown-up now. This silly urge was merely left over from her childhood, rearing its ugly head just to taunt her.

Jaden pushed the feeling to the back of her mind and yet felt horrible that she was about to shut down what was likely this dear man’s only means of livelihood.

Every time we are separated for a significant amount of time, you tell me that story. Did you know that?

Dr. Harper chuckled. Do I?

Yes. She withdrew her hand and wagged a finger at him. For shame. It seems you think I would forget or something.

He shrugged at her feigned chastisement. "Well, blame it on my age, I suppose. When you are as old as I, one tends to hold fast to the brightest moments of one’s life.