Chapter 6

6

OLIVIA

P aul is one scary fellow, and I'm mighty glad he eventually came around. He and Oliver spent the next few days discussing plans, but my neighbors already knew they wouldn't force us to sell our homes. Besides, it's a good thing that some of them won't need to go every day to the mainland to sell stuff or work. They can stay right on the island and still make money.

I haven't seen Oliver in two days, and I miss him. I know, I know. Who is this woman trapped inside my body? Maybe he was right. I'm a needy girl. Oh God. The way he said that has my core tingling. And yes, I'm needy and clingy.

Welcome to my life.

I've just arrived on the island after an exhausting ten-hour shift when Mom and Sammy rush from the terrace, waving a small piece of paper.

What the heck?

"You need to take a shower. It's almost seven! Why did you get home so late?" Mom's face is flushed, and she's giddy with excitement.

"There were more customers than usual. Why? Am I supposed to be home at seven?"

Sammy shoves me toward the house, and for an eight-year-old, she's pretty strong. Giggling while trying to maintain my balance is quite a challenge.

When we get inside, Mom drops a small box into my arms. "Go shower and change."

"Can someone please explain to me what's going on?" I ask, and they both look at each other and smile.

Sammy grabs the small card from Mom and puts it over the box. "Oli the second is taking you out to dinner. He dropped that box and note earlier, but you weren't home, and you weren't answering your phone."

"Wait, why are you calling him Oli? I'm Oli."

Sammy beams. "He said his mom used to call him Oli. So now he's Oli the second."

Oliver's relationship with Mom and Sammy does something to me. He doesn't easily warm up to other people, which is why it's easy to mistake him for being cold and arrogant. The fact that he hangs out at home even when I'm not here speaks volumes.

"Olivia, what are you waiting for? Go shower." Mom pushes me to the bathroom, and Sammy helps her.

"Go, Oli. You stink. You smell like dead fish!"

Fifteen minutes later, I check myself out in the full-body mirror in my bedroom. My hair is curly and messy no matter how much I tried styling it. Whatever. I can't do anything about that anymore.

The dress Oliver sent me flatters my petite frame. I don't have curves, so I try to avoid anything form-fitting. But this one, with the white and blue floral print? It's perfect.

The halter top shows off my tan and freckles. It hugs my body, cinches around my waist, and flares out at the hips. It only reaches up to my ankle, so I don't have to worry about stepping on it. There's a smaller white box under the dress, and when I flip it open, I gasp.

It's a jewelry set—a necklace, bracelet, and a pair of earrings. Made with white gold and deep blue sapphires in a round cut. Small diamonds surround the sapphire.

My hands tremble as I try to clasp the necklace, and I almost jump out of my skin when I feel Mom's hands behind me, clasping it for me and fixing my dress.

"You're beautiful, Olivia."

I spin on my heel to find her wiping her cheeks. "Mom, what's wrong?"

She shakes her head and interlocks her fingers, as if in a prayer. "Nothing. I-I'm just so happy for you."

"Mom…" I toss my head back and blink rapidly to stop my own tears from falling. I just did my mascara and eyeliner. I'm going to mess it up!

"Oh, just don't mind your old lady." Mom puts both hands on my shoulders. "You've been working so hard, and you deserve this. M-maybe your dad sent him to you."

"I hope not."

Mom and I laugh softly. Our shoulders continue to shake when Sammy yells, "Oli the second is here! I repeat, Oli the second is here!"

Oliver in a three-piece suit will be the death of me. White shirt with one button open, black suit jacket, and black pants. Goddammit, how can he look this irresistible? I realize I never really stood a chance.

"Hey."

"Hey, love." His gaze sweeps from my hair to my black slingback shoes, and whatever he sees has him clenching his jaw. "You're so unbelievably beautiful."

"Thank you for the dress." I do a pirouette for him, and Mom and Sammy clap behind me. "And the jewelry."

Oliver smiles and steps closer, brushing his lips along my temple and whispering, "Thank me later."

His voice is so full of dark promise that I almost rub my thighs. I plaster a smile on my face and kiss Mom's and Sammy's cheeks. "I'll be back later."

Mom makes a shoo-ing motion, which Sammy copies.

"Where are we going?" I ask him as I loop my arm through his.

"You'll see."

"No way!" I exclaim when I see where he's planning to take me out on a date. I can't believe my eyes.

Oliver's filthy rich, but even when he shows off like this, it's still hard to wrap my head around that fact. The yacht before me is a picture of elegance—all sleek lines and polished wood, decorated with fairy lights and fresh flowers.

A violinist stands by the bow, his soft music playing in the background and mingling with the gentle sound of the waves lapping against the hull.

Oliver leads me to a table for two and pulls out a chair for me. He sits and reaches across the table to take my hand in his, brushing his lips across my knuckles.

A lump of emotion lodges in my throat. It's so strong, intense, and overwhelming. I love him. I'm so freaking in love with this guy.

"Oliver…"

"Do you like this, love?"

"I do. I love it."

"Good. I always aim to please you."

A waiter fills our glasses with champagne, and I take a sip, the bubbles tickling my nose.

"I have a job offer."

I raise my brow at him. "Oh, is that what this is? An interview? I'm sorry but I already have a job."

Oliver flips my hand and traces circles on my palm. It shouldn't arouse me, but it does, and I feel my panties getting uncomfortably wet. "Well, remember when I proposed hiring locals for the resort? I wanted to go all in. Instead of the chef whom we had to fly across the country, I suggested to Paul that he might want to consider hiring you."

My heart races, a feeling of euphoria washing over me. "You're joking."

Oliver shrugs. "I'm not. You have restaurant experience, and we decided that part of our marketing will highlight the culture and the people. You are very well-versed in both."

I feel as though I stepped into a dream.

"Please say yes, love."

"Yes! How can I refuse? Yes, Oliver."

Oliver grins and takes out something from his pocket. He stands and walks to me. "One more thing." Before I know it, he sinks to one knee.

My whole world stops, my heart pumping so loudly I can hear it in my ears. My palms moisten with sweat, and I have to resist the urge to wipe it on my lap.

"These past few weeks have been nothing short of magical to me. Meeting you, getting to know you and your family, being a part of it, enjoying the island, falling in love with you." He lets those words hang in the air before he opens the small box, revealing a white gold ring with blue sapphire and small diamonds—the exact design of what I'm wearing. "I love you, Olivia Lang. My heart belongs to you. I've spent thirty-four years on this earth, wandering, looking for a place where I belong, only to find that it's right beside you."

My vision blurs as tears threaten to spill over. His words echo like a beautiful melody, filling me with a joy I've never felt before.

"Will you marry this man, Olivia? I won't let you go. You're my home."

I spring to my feet. "Yes, Oliver. It's a yes!"

Happiness wraps around me like a warm, comforting blanket as Oliver slides the ring onto my finger and pulls me in for a kiss.

For what feels like an eternity later, we pull apart, and he rests his forehead on mine. "I love you, Olivia."

"I love you, Oliver."

After dinner, I'm so full I feel the need to walk around the yacht. We're in the middle of the ocean, and I stand at the bow, my dress fluttering in the breeze. The cool air kisses my cheeks as the yacht glides smoothly through the water.

Some things don't feel real, and this is one of them. I can't wait to tell Mom and Sammy about the two good news.

Oliver slides his arms around my waist and kisses my bare shoulder. "Hi."

"Hi. Where were you?"

"Told the staff to stay in their bedrooms and ignore any sounds they hear."

I whirl around and search his handsome features. "What? Why?"

The devilish smirk I know so well is back. "Because you'll be screaming my name in no time."

"You told them what?!"

Oliver doesn't respond, but he sweeps me into his arms and carries me to the cushioned seats on the deck. He lowers me gently and stands, taking off his jacket and rolling his sleeves, showing his corded forearms.

"You've had your dessert, right?" he asks me.

My head is full of cotton, so I nod stupidly. "Y-yeah. The pudding with edible gold."

"Good. Now let me have mine."

"W-what do you?—"

Oliver drops to his knees and parts my legs, sliding my dress to my waist until he's at eye level with my pussy. Only my thong covers me. He doesn't say anything as he hooks his fingers on the waistband and tugs it down my legs.

Without taking his eyes off me, he brings the thin fabric to his face and inhales deeply. "This is mine now," he declares and slips it into his pocket.

"Y-you have three of my panties already. What? Are you starting your collection?"

His face splits into a smug grin. "You noticed just now?"

"Oliver, I?—"

I lose my train of thought when he grips my thighs and drags his tongue along my slit before flattening it on my clit. I almost fly out of my seat but grab his head instead.

Oliver drapes my legs over his broad shoulders and leans forward until he's eating me with everything he's got. Just when I think nothing can top the way he alternates between licking my pussy and teasing my sensitive nub, he parts my folds with his thumbs and shoves his tongue inside me.

"God, yes. More. Don't stop. Please don't stop."

He hums his approval and saws his tongue in and out of me, my hips jerking in response. And when he rubs circles around my clit with his thumb while he fucks me with his tongue, my breaths come in short bursts and I come.

Oliver doesn't give me another chance to breathe. He lifts me into his arms and deposits me on the table. I lift myself on my elbows to watch what's going to do next, only to find him dropping his pants to the floor and fisting his rigid cock.

"Oliver, can they hear us below?"

He only smiles. "Yes."

The next thing I know, he's pounding me into a screaming, trembling mess. Hard, merciless thrusts that have me gripping the edge of the table, every nerve in my body singing in pleasure.

My thighs continue to shake until Oliver growls and pulls out, spilling his come all over my dress, legs, and stomach. The animalistic gleam in his eyes intensifies, and he leans over to kiss me. "I love you."

"I love you too, Oliver. You crazy man."