Page 58 of Sweet Poison

Somehow the coral reef reminds me of my mother’s garden. It’s full of vibrant colors like bright yellows, electric blues, and fiery reds.

The ocean feels like another world— one with rare creatures and lovely colors.

When I’m unable to hold my breath any longer, I swim towards the surface taking a big gulp of air. Once, there I’m suddenly approach by a baby shark that looks curious and unafraid. The little guy circles around me, its tiny black eyes sparkling with mischief. The shark kind of reminds me of the grumpy millionaire currently mumbling obscenity as more sharks play around him.

For a second, I contemplate swimming over to help him deal with the shark's attention but knowing him he would probably hate that so I choose to let him be.

Going under water again, I smile wide, watching as the shark wiggles its little fins playfully at me. Oh, so he wants to play. I reach out slowly, not wanting to spook it and to my delight, it brushes against my hand. I’m surprised when it’s softer than I expected. It’s a gentle reminder that even the fiercest and scariest creatures can have a sweet side.

Just like the man who is afraid of sharks yet he’s here with me now…

“Look at you, you little cutie!” I whisper, my voice bubbling in the water. The shark swims away for a moment, then returns, as if inviting me to follow and join in its game.

Come on… how are people so afraid of them!Okay I get it, the images online and the movies paint them as these evil sea monsters but how could something so sweet be that evil?

I think not.

With a happy heart, I kick off the bottom and follow, diving and twirling in a playful chase. In this moment I’m transported back to the times I swam in the ocean with my mom pretendingto be mermaids. She told me once that when she and my aunts were little they had a tough childhood and didn’t get to do things normal kids did because of their parents but that didn’t stop them from using their imagination. Mom said that they played mermaids in the shower and she one day dreamt of swimming at sea and years later my father made that happen. He made all her dreams happen.

And then he made sure she never had to daydream a day in her life with him. Every dream and goal he helped her achieve them and made real for her— for us.

As I dive deeper, caught up in a game with the baby sharks, I suddenly hit something solid. The unexpected thud sends a jolt through me, and I surface with a gasp, my heart racing. Blinking away the salt water, my heart settles when I realize it’s Madden—well his massive tattooed chest.

“Oh, I’m sor—” I start, but the words are lost as he instinctively draws me closer, our faces inches apart. His grip is firm but gentle, and I can feel the warmth radiating from him even through the cool water.

I’m suddenly caught in his spell as his black eyes penetrate my soul.

Like everything he looks at me, the world around us fades into a blur, the baby sharks swirling gracefully like little shadows beneath us, completely unaware of the moment unfolding above. Madden’s eyes lock onto mine, and for a heartbeat, everything else disappears—the sparkling water, the silly and happy sharks, even the awkwardness that usually fills the air between us.

“Are you real, Willow O’Sullivan?” he quips, frowning at looking all grumpy. But there’s that softness in his gaze that makes my heart flutter.

I gulp suddenly feeling out of breath as he holds me closer in his arms. We’re so close that I can feel the beat of his heart and the heat of his skin under my wet palm.

I’m so lost in the moment that I forgot that he asked a question. What did he ask? My brain scrambles to remember.

“Uhhh.”

Madden’s gaze deepens, and his expression not only looks serious but focused as if he’s trying to memorize every detail of my face, and it sends a flutter of butterflies swirling through my stomach. Will the sight of him ever stop making my heart flutter? I don’t think so. His eyes search mine, and I can almost hear the thoughts racing in his head.

I wonder what he’s thinking right now? Is he as affected with my closeness as I am?

“Are you real, Willow?” he asks again, his voice low, almost breathless.

I nod, feeling the butterflies multiply inside my stomach. “Y-Yes, I’m real. Just ordinary me.” I flash him a playful smile, hoping to lighten the weight of the moment.

But his expression shifts, a frown creeping onto his face as he glances at my lips. “There’s nothing ordinary about you, fairy,” he says, his voice almost a whisper. “You could never be ordinary because you’ve never felt real.”

Real?

What does he mean by that?

I frown, confused.

His words hang between us, heavy yet… sweet.

As if under this man’s spell, I lean in slightly, my heart racing. I’m nervous. More than that actually but there’s also this strange pull I can’t fight against. I don’t want to either.

Madden’s gaze drops to my lips, and I can feel the heat between us building. The world is a blur; it’s just us, floating in this perfect, blue paradise.

---