Page 76 of Mila: The Godfather

He then told me to wear another bathing suit and to rub more sunscreen on my skin.

Once I did all that, he brought me here.

To a private and empty beach where the sand is white and very clean.

Colorful seashells are everywhere to be found. Riagan even found me one so big I could hear the sound of the sea. I thought that was only a myth, but Riagan proved me wrong.

Looking all around me, from the crystal-clear water and the white sand to the little seashells buried in the sand, I find myself stuck in a dream. I’m awestruck and not just by this magical place, but by him too. “It’s hard to believe that one person owns all of this.” I breathe out, admiring our view. The sun is shining so bright that the turquoise water looks almost as if it has diamonds. “You’re so lucky, Riagan.”

“How so?” He asks in a husky tone, and I turn his way. God, sometimes staring at him is like looking directly at the sun. That’s why I look away. Sometimes his beauty overwhelms me.

“You have a piece of heaven here. You can easily escape the hectic chaos of everyday life in the city. You can hide from the world when it gets scary or too loud.” I whisper, trying to hold his gaze for as long as I’m able. Every time I last longer than the last, I find myself hoping I don’t ever have to look away. Hoping I could stare into those blue eyes of his that give me butterflies.

“I don’t wish to hide from the world, Mila.” He says roughly. I do. I want to tell him. I think I was meant to live in a place like this. Serene. Magical. Where everything seems so easy and so peaceful. “I’m not afraid of the world.”

That makes me look his way.

Of course, he’s not afraid of the world.

He makes everyone else seem like mere mortals in his presence. As if he could crush them just by snapping his fingers. He’s not only physically strong, but he has an aura around him. One that clearly says fuck with me, I’ll bury you. So easy. So simple.

But not for me.

I was built differently.

I made my peace with it.

That is why I find this man so fascinating.

Why I haven’t stopped seeing him in my dreams since arriving at the islands.

Before I space out and let my thoughts run wild, I look away and stare down at the stunning ring that now adorns my finger.

Riagan makes me feel like I’m strong too.

Like the world can’t touch me. Not if he’s near.

And that frightens me because he won’t be here forever. I’ll get attached to him, and what happens when this all ends?

I am back at square one.

Lonely.

Back in the shadows when I’m most comfortable.

“Mila.” I hadn’t notice I had been hiding my face with my wet curls until he lifted my chin between his fingers, lifting my face. I try my hardest to look into his eyes until I can’t hold his gaze any longer. I focus on his smile instead. Then his lips start moving. “You don’t have to fear the world, butterfly. One thing I learned is that you should make the world fear you. Our world, at least.”

I laugh, but there’s no humor. I know that he notices it. “Look at me, Riagan. What is there to fear?” It’s true.

“You have me. I got you. They should fear what I’m willing to do for you.” He says in a freighting tone. So quiet. So powerful.

Smiling softly, I blurt out. “You’re like my favorite cookie, Riagan. Hard on the outside, soft, and sweet on the inside.” I beam.

Riagan shakes his head and pokes my nose gently, causing my heart to skip a beat. And I wonder if friends look at each other the way he looks at me.

The way I think about him?

“Only to you, butterfly. Only you.”

---