Cassian
"I see why you’re complicated, because tell me why my wife is put to bed and you’re not here," Julian’s voice blared through the speaker.
I rubbed my forehead, letting out a sharp breath. The fuck was wrong with Julian?
If I had known the endless calls he spammed me with were going to be something this childish, I wouldn’t have answered. I had genuinely thought something serious happened back home when five missed calls popped up on my screen back-to-back, only for him to yell into the phone that his wife’s water broke.
I shifted my stance, looking out across the dock where Elvie was standing. She was getting ready with the boat instructor, wearing a bright yellow safety vest over her top. She was listening to the man, her face lit up with that soft, genuine excitement I was quickly becoming addicted to seeing.
My whole goal for this trip was simple: make her enjoy Bora Bora. I wanted her happy, relaxed, and safe. Looking at her now, smiling as the instructor pointed out at the ocean, that was exactly what was happening.
My mind wandered to the call I had taken earlier at breakfast. The man I paid to keep an eye on Asher had reported back. Asher was seen wandering around my street yesterday. He didn’t stop by the house, but he was clearly lurking around, trying to find a way to mess things up. But Asher was harmless now. I had enough dirt on him to lock him away, and it turned out he didn’t have any backup copies of the videos Elvie deleted—even though the girl had risked her life to get rid of them.
"Are you even listening to me?" Julian’s frantic voice snapped me back to the present. "When are you coming back?"
"That is none of your concern," I said coldly, my eyes never leaving Elvie’s figure. "And for the record, I am not the one married to your wife. Don’t call me again. I’m on a break, and I will talk to you when I’m free."
"What the—"
I cut him off before he could finish, tapping the screen to end the call and shoving the phone straight into my pocket.
I took a slow breath, shaking off the annoyance, and began walking down the wooden boardwalk toward my little birdie.
As I closed the distance, Elvie turned her head and saw me coming. Her face instantly brightened, a brilliant smile breaking across her lips that made every bit of tension left in my chest completely vanish.
"Cassian!" she called out, waving her hand.
"The instructor was just explaining how the boat ride works. He says we’re going out to a spot where we can see the stingrays!"
I stopped right beside her, sliding my arm around her waist and pulling her tight against my side. The boat instructor gave me a respectful nod, sensing immediately that his time explaining was done.
"Is that so?" I murmured, looking down into her wide, eager eyes. I reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and letting my fingers linger against her soft skin. "And are you ready to jump into the middle of the ocean, little birdie?"
She looked out toward the sparkling turquoise water, taking a deep breath before looking back up at me with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.
"With you keeping hold of me? Yes," she said softly.
A possessive warmth bloomed in my chest. I bent down, pressing a kiss against her temple, letting her smell the scent of my cologne mixed with the fresh sea breeze.
"Good," I growled softly against her ear, my hand squeezing the side of her stomach through the life vest. "Because I’m not letting you out of my sight."
I turned to the instructor, giving him a brief, commanding nod. "Get the boat ready. We’re leaving now."
The man hurried to untie the lines from the wooden dock, and I guided Elvie carefully onto the boat, keeping my hand anchored to her back the entire time.
The boat cut smoothly through the water, spraying a cool mist over us as we headed deeper into the lagoon.
Elvie sat close to me on the leather bench, her eyes scanning the passing views with pure wonder. Every time the boat bumped gently over a wave, her grip on my arm tightened, and I pulled her just a little bit closer against my chest, letting her feel my weight and strength so she knew she was completely safe.
After about fifteen minutes, the captain slowed the engine down. The deep blue ocean gave way to a shallow, crystal-clear sandbar where the water was so see-through you could count the ripples in the white sand below.
"Here we are, Sir," the instructor announced, dropping the anchor into the shallow water. "This is where the stingrays gather."
Elvie leaned over the side of the boat, gasping softly as dark, flat shapes glided effortlessly beneath the surface.
"Cassian, look!" she whispered, pointing down into the water, her eyes wide. "They look so huge. Are they... are they going to bite?"
"No," I replied, standing up and offering her my hand. "They’re harmless if you stay calm. And I’m right here."
I lowered myself down the small ladder on the side of the boat first. The water reached up to my chest, warm and clear. I looked back up at Elvie, stretching my arms out toward her.
"Come on, little birdie. Jump to me."
She took a deep breath, trusting me completely, and stepped off the ladder. I caught her easily around the waist, bringing her body flush against mine as the ocean water splashed around us.
She let out a quiet giggle, her arms wrapping tight around my neck as her feet searched for the sandy bottom.
"I’ve got you," I murmured, holding her steady as a smooth, velvety stingray brushed right past her ankles. She let out a small gasp and buried her face into the crook of my neck, her body shivering slightly against mine.
It didn’t take long for her fear to melt away. As the stingrays continued to glide harmlessly around our legs, Elvie slowly lifted her head from my neck. Her grip on my shoulders loosened, replaced by pure awe as she looked down into the water. She reached out a hesitant hand, her fingers brushing against the smooth, rubbery back of a ray as it swam past us.
When the creature didn’t hurt her, a bright, beautiful laugh burst from her lips—a sound so full of pure joy that it made something deep in my chest tighten in the best way possible.
Before long, she was fully relaxed, splashing lightly in the shallow water and watching the colorful fish swim around her feet. She looked completely free, completely at ease, without a single worry on her mind.
Watching her play around like a child, her skin glowing under the warm island sun, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was exactly what I wanted for her. Just her, safe in my arms, enjoying every single second.
After spending some time in the water, we headed back to the resort to change before heading out to one of the local open-air restaurants right by the beach.
The place was beautiful, built with wooden pillars, thatched palm roofs, and soft lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The scent of grilled fish, coconut, and rich spices filled the air, mixed with the sound of local live music playing softly in the background.
I led Elvie to a private table right at the edge of the sand, pulling out her chair for her before taking my seat across from her.
Her eyes were bright as she looked over the menu, taking in all the authentic Bora Bora dishes.
"Everything smells so good," she said, looking up at me with a wide smile. "What should we get?"
"Whatever you want, little birdie," I said softly, leaning back in my chair as I watched her, completely captivated by the excitement in her eyes. "Today, we are trying everything."
She scanned the menu with excitement, her tongue poking out slightly between her teeth as she read the names of the local foods.
"How about this raw fish in coconut milk?" she asked, pointing at the top item. "The instructor mentioned it earlier. He said it’s the main dish of the island."
"Poisson cru," I said, nodding. "We’ll get that. And we’ll get the grilled mahi-mahi with vanilla sauce, plus the roasted pork."
A waiter stepped over to our table with a friendly smile, and I placed the order for us, adding two tall glasses of fresh tropical fruit juice.
While we waited for the food, Elvie leaned her arms on the table, looking around the beach lanterns. "Cassian?" she called softly, turning her gaze back to me.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you. For taking me away from everything. For making me feel... so safe."
My chest tighted at her words. I reached across the table, wrapping my hand over hers and giving it a possessive squeeze.
"You don’t ever have to thank me for that, Elvie," I said, my voice dropping into a low, quiet rumble. "Keeping you safe is my job. Making sure you’re happy is just a bonus."
A soft blush crept up her neck, making her smile widen as the waiter returned, placing a table full of colorful, steaming plates between us.
"Let’s eat," I murmured, watching her pick up her fork with pure delight.