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“I’ll be quiet because I got me a free trip and it’s not even my birthday.” She unbuckled, fixed her wild hair, and then grabbed her purse.

I did the same, as we exited the jet. Landon held his hand out as I came down the steps and pulled me behind him as we walked to the SUV. I could see a gun poking out from behind him, and I took a deep breath.

Greene squeezed my shoulder. “Relax.”

I took a deep breath, knowing that my cousin wasn’t tripping so I shouldn’t have been either.

If she felt uncomfortable, she would have given me the look and let me know something.

Landon pulled me in front of him and helped me get into the truck before getting in behind me.

The driver closed the door, and I watched as Beans and Greene got into the truck behind us.

We exited the private airport and the moment we started driving through the island, I pulled my phone out and snapped pictures. I couldn’t believe how beautiful this island was. My hand was halfway out the window as I watched us drive up different hills and through mountains.

This was the start of my parents’ marriage. The place they came and celebrated being one with each other. The pictures they showed me from years ago did it no justice. This was a place that you had to come and see for yourself. You had to experience this, and take everything in.

“Have you ever been?” I broke our silence and looked over at Landon.

“Nah. Didn’t realize we owned a villa on the island until I hit my brother’s assistant up,” he explained, and I nearly choked.

“Your family owns a villa on the island, and you’ve never been. I would be here every weekend if my family owned a villa here.”

He took my hand into his and kissed the back. “Speak your shit into existence.”

I blushed and looked away, as we continued the drive to the villa. My body wanted to burst with joy because this was exciting to me. Being able to come here was a dream, but getting to experience it with Landon felt special.

Like a moment in time that was reserved for us, that we both would share. Even if things never worked out with us, we could look on this experience and know that it was special for the both of us.

When we pulled into the gates, and a rounded driveway, my jaw dropped at how the villa appeared to be tucked away in the mountains. Nestled away from everything but having the backdrop of everything. Even with the beautiful view, the villa was the main character.

The air smelled like fresh air and morning when I stepped out the truck.

The front of the villa was all stone, perked high in the mountains of Soufriere, it looked like it had been carved into the mountain.

One side opened completely to the view and the world.

No walls constricting it, just open air and that amazing view.

We were so high up that my ears popped as we came up the mountain, and I felt like I could reach up and touch a cloud if I wanted.

The mountains rose from the water, their peaks kissing the clouds.

Below them, the waves shimmered like diamonds in a jewelry store.

It was so quiet up here. The kind of quiet that made you feel like time had stopped.

I felt Landon’s arm wrap around me as he kissed my temple. “You like?”

My words refused to come out because I had so much going on at the same time. “Is this even a question? Thank you for this, Don.”

He spun me around and peered down into my eyes. “Landon.”

I hugged him tightly, as I felt his body melt against mine. “Mine.” I stared into his eyes, and he smirked.

“Yeah?” he mocked me.

“Uh huh.”

He took my hand, and we entered the villa.

Inside was a blend of modern but still keeping the raw island roots.

The dark wooden floors, hand-carved furniture, and white linen curtains blew in the wind with the doors opened, exposing the beautiful infinity pool, with the water softly rippling.

It was calling me to come jump into it, and I wanted to desperately.

“Welcome home, Mr. Caselli. I’ve made some fresh passion fruit juice for you and your guests.” An older woman came from the kitchen carrying a tray of juice.

We all took one and sipped it slowly. Well, not me, because I guzzled my entire cup and then went for a second one. She explained that she was our cook for the week and then introduced us to the housekeeping staff.

The staff gathered our bags, handling everything without needing any of our input. Landon scooped my hand into his, as he led me upstairs to where we would be staying. The moment he opened the door; I forgot how to use my lungs.

It wasn’t just a room; this was like we had been transported to another world.

The two-story bedroom was filled with seduction, but peace, too.

It had endless blue stretching beyond the open glass doors.

The massive bed, draped in white linen, was perfectly centered, facing that view.

The balcony flowed around toward the pool we had passed downstairs.

The ocean glistened in the distance, like it was welcoming us and letting us know this week would be one to remember.

I stood there in silence, holding my juice and too overwhelmed to speak or take another sip.

The clouds moved slowly, and the longer I remained here, it felt like they moved faster.

A reminder that if you sat still every once in a while, you noticed just how the world moved.

Landon came behind me, his hands sliding around my waist, and his lips brushing against my ear.

“All for you, Pooh.” His voice was low, steady, and certain.

Like he would do it all again just to see this reaction from me. My reaction filled his soul, making him happy because he had made me happy. “Baby, this is amazing… like I cannot even speak because this feels fake.”

He kissed my lips softly and then held my chin. “Bleu, I always wanna keep you on your toes. Never want that smile to leave your face and see the world with you.”

I blushed as I looked away, back at that view that continued to steal my breath away. Landon turned me back toward his view. “I wanna know you, Bleu… really know you. The world knows Navy Bleu. I’m trying to be the only person that knows Bleu.”

“That means letting me in to know who you are, too, Landon. I want to know you, explain this world you are in. It’s more than money for me; I don’t ever want anyone else to tell me something about you that I don’t know.”

He cocked his head back and licked his lips. “I know how to fuck.”

“That you do.” I ran my hand around the waist of his sweatpants and looked up at him, my body wanting to feel him inside of me.

He yawned, as I continued to mess with the strings on his sweats. “Take a nap with me.”

“Should have slept on the jet… you wanna be working.”

“Gotta make sure business remains handled.” He kissed my cheek, and then went out onto the balcony, taking in the same view I was so smitten with.

On the balcony, there was a day bed that faced the water. It was already made up for us, and had decorative towels shaped like animals sitting on it, as the wind pushed the bed slightly. Don stood there staring out at the view, lost in his thoughts as I came behind and wrapped my arms around him.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Could stare at this forever and never get tired.” His hands came down and rubbed mine, as I laid my head on his back.

“Yeah, I feel the same way.”

The quietness surrounded us as we listened to the waves and wind, while being in our own head. As I was about to speak, he grabbed me up and tossed me over his shoulder as I laughed.

“What are you doing?”

“We taking a shower and then a nap.”

I didn’t bother to protest because a shower and a nap didn’t sound half bad in this moment. It was still early, and we had the entire day to check out the island. Landon sat me on the sink in the massive bathroom and went to turn on the shower.

Everything was laid out for us, never having to open our mouths to ask where something was.

Fluffy white towels were placed on the ottoman in the middle of the bathroom.

The expensive bath soaps and shower gels were already in the shower waiting to be used.

Off to the side, hung and freshly prepped, there were white robes with the family crest on them.

Landon snatched his shirt off, and I bit my bottom lip as I took in his body.

It was fucking perfect, with tattoos covering every inch of his body, except his midsection.

His beard was neatly groomed, my favorite thing about him.

His pink lips poked out with no expression on his face as he prepped the shower for us.

His face was relaxed, showing his laugh lines, or better yet his scowl lines.

His chain rested around his neck while he walked back and forth across the bathroom while I watched him. The few beauty marks and freckles donned his face, near his eyes. As much as he looked like his brother, he had his own uniqueness about him, too.

As the shower ran and the bathroom filled with steam, he came back over toward me.

Leaning both of his hands on either side of me, he stared me in the eyes.

I watched as he looked away, as if he had something to say, but wasn’t sure if he could say it.

I gave him the space to mentally battle without the added pressure.

Allowing him to say what he needed to say without me forcing it out of him.

When he was ready, he kissed my lips softly and pulled back as he admired me.

How did I know he was admiring me?

I had seen this look before. Dozens of times when my father looked at my mother.

It was never just a simple glance or stare, he admired her.

Every piece of her, he admired. This was the woman he loved, married, and built a life with.

They had gone through so much together, raised a child, and even through all of that, he still admired her.