The sounds of beach goers faded as Maverick led me to a secluded cove at the other end of the beach. A simple wood dock stretched out to a small boat floating on the waves.
"See that?" Maverick asked, nodding towards a landmass on the horizon. "That's the private island."
"Is it part of the resort?"
Maverick winked. "No. It's all mine."
My heart flipped. Maverick was taking me somewhere nobody else was allowed. Just the two of us on a private island.
Alone.
He boarded the boat and held out a hand to me. I took it. My skin tingled where my fingers touched his palm. Maverick helped me aboard and started the boat engine, which purred to life.
"Ready?" he asked.
I'd never been more ready for anything in my life.
6
Maverick
My heart skippeda beat when Leo accepted my invitation. I'd never shown my private island to anyone before. Ever.
The island was my own personal getaway when I needed to escape humanity. All of my days and nights were spent among humans, guests and staff, and though I enjoyed being in their presence, sometimes I needed to be on my own. I didn't know many other shifters, and the ones I did know lived far away—too far to pop into my gryphon form and fly to meet for an afternoon tea.
The island was the only place I could be myself. Mytrueself. Behind the cover of trees and brush, I was safe to shed my human skin and shift into my gryphon form. I could spread my wings to their full span, shred tree bark with my talons and unfurl my paws in the sand.
But as lovely as it was to be free, it was also lonely. No one else had ever stepped foot on the private island or seen the reality of what I was.
I killed the engine as we arrived on the island's shore. There was no dock here to disturb the island's natural beauty, just a large tree stump that functioned as an anchor point. I tied up the boat securely, then helped Leo out onto the sand.
"It's so quiet," he all but whispered as he looked around.
The island was almost silent. The voices and noise from the resort didn't reach this far. There was only the rustle of the breeze in the trees, the gulls, and the lapping ocean waves.
I hiked the tote bag over my shoulder, making sure the weight within it was safe, and walked across the sand. "Come, Leo. There's more to see."
Leo followed me like an excited puppy. He raised his head to view the swaying leaves and exotic fruit. He was clearly awed by the island's natural beauty.
"This place is unreal," Leo murmured. "Like it's straight out of National Geographic."
I smiled as I watched him. I could see the cogs working in his photographer's mind as he gazed at his surroundings, analyzing the best angles and lighting to take photos from.
"Ah, that reminds me," I said. "Leo, could you do me a favor and close your eyes?"
Leo blinked once, then shut them. "Uh, sure."
"Hold out your hands."
He followed my instructions.
I reached into the tote bag and pulled out the box, placing it carefully in Leo's hands.
"Don't drop it, unless you want me to spend another morning getting a new one," I teased.
"A new what?" Leo asked with his brow furrowed. His eyes were still closed.
"Open your eyes."
