Ch-166

June 2006, British Virgin Islands

I lounged on the vast, sandy shore stretching as far as the eye could see, wearing nothing but a pair of sunglasses. The sun's rays tanned my body perfectly from head to toe.

"For the love of God, can't you at least wear some trunks?" a female voice said, irritation clear in her tone.

I tilted my head slightly toward the speaker, the girl I had met only recently. Nadia Anton, Evan's girlfriend, was undeniably beautiful, with a buxom figure and wavy blonde hair currently tied up in a bun. She wore a white bikini that complemented her frame. Though she and Evan had been together for quite some time, I'd only met her once before this trip. Usually, whenever she came over, I was away on business. This was the first time we'd spent more than a few minutes together, and now I felt so familiar with her presence that I didn't even bother covering up my junk.

"Chill out, will you?" I said rhetorically. "We're teenagers on an island without our parents. I'm surprised you're not in the buff either."

"I'm an adult," she retorted. "I don't need parental supervision. And neither does Evan."

Didn't I know it? Evan had turned eighteen just last month and hadn't missed a chance to gloat about his supposed superiority and maturity over me.

I gestured at the beach around us. "Enjoying the sun on your bare skin is the most freeing experience you can get, Ms. Adult. This is the only place I can do it without worrying about paparazzi, thanks to my father gifting me this island. If you have a problem with that, find a different spot to tan."

I loved sunbathing naked. It was nearly impossible to do anywhere else when you were as popular as I was. Whenever we visited a private beach, I always seized the opportunity. My father, conservative about casual nudity due to his American upbringing, didn't like it, but my mother was more liberal. Once, she'd even joined me. When Evan became part of our family, the two of us introduced him to the practice, and of course, he embraced it wholeheartedly. There was nothing remotely sexual about it—after the first few minutes, all inhibitions melted away, and sunbathing any other way felt impossible.

"Ugh!" Nadia groaned. "You're hopeless."

"No, you're a hypocrite," I shot back. "You don't seem to have a problem with Evan doing the same thing right there." I pointed to Evan, sound asleep beside her, in a similar state of undress, with an open book covering his face from the harsh sunlight.

"That's because I've already…" Nadia trailed off, refusing to finish her sentence. Eventually, she just huffed and turned away, clearly annoyed.

My parents couldn't join this vacation because of work commitments. They were busy with [Harry Potter's] post production, [Game of Thrones'] acquisition, and Mum's TV project at the BBC. Reluctantly, they let me bring Rihanna along instead.

Since I was bringing Rihanna, Evan had invited Nadia to join us as well. As per tradition, I'd also asked Jamie and Emma. Emma had declined, knowing it would be awkward with Rihanna here, but Jamie accepted and brought his girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood. To avoid confusion with Evan, we all called her Rachel. I'd also invited an American friend of mine, Benji Cooper, and his girlfriend, Ashley. Unfortunately, Benji and Ashley had broken up, but Benji was more than happy to join us with his new girlfriend, Sarah.

It went without saying that everyone on the island was at least 18 and had signed NDAs ensuring they wouldn't disclose anything that happened here. They also agreed not to take any pictures or videos without my explicit permission.

Jamie, Rachel, Benji, and Sarah were currently in their respective rooms, doing God knows what. Rihanna was still taking her sweet time getting ready.

Of the eight people on the island, only Nadia had an issue with nudity. The rest of us had spent plenty of time sans clothes, making her the odd one out. I didn't blame her—it was entirely her choice, and no one should feel pressured into doing something they're uncomfortable with. That said, she had no right to dictate what I could or couldn't do on my own island.

Choosing to ignore the tension, I went back to enjoying the sun. A few minutes later, my relaxation was interrupted by a shadow falling across me.

"Hey there, tiger," Rihanna greeted me with a sexy grin. "Got room for me too?"

Without waiting for a reply, she undid her bikini top, letting it drop to the sandy ground.

I was momentarily transfixed. Rihanna was as free-spirited as I'd always expected her to be. Her bare skin was glittering flawlessly in the sun. She wore only a sea-green sarong tied loosely around her slim waist, which accentuated her beauty even further. Through the side slit, it was clear she wasn't wearing anything underneath.

Before I could look up from the obvious distraction of her body, she stepped closer. Bridging the gap between us, she lifted one leg over the lounger I was using and perched herself on top of me, her butt just inches above my crotch. She didn't seem to care about my lack of clothing—or the disapproving looks Nadia was throwing our way.

There were plenty of sun loungers around, but Rihanna chose to ignore them all. Not that I was complaining.

"Hi," I whispered, finally meeting her eyes. A loose strand of her hair had fallen across her face, so I gently tucked it behind her ear.

"Hi," she whispered back, leaning even closer. Her lips met mine in a kiss that felt like everything I needed and more. I lost track of time, unable to tell how long it lasted, but I didn't want it to end.

Not hesitating, I pulled her closer, my hands trailing along her smooth back from the nape of her neck to her perky bottom, hidden by the thin fabric of her sarong. Before long, I reached for the knot holding it in place, ready to remove the only barrier between us.

Rihanna pulled away from me, her gaze shifting to where Nadia and Evan had been sitting just a few minutes ago. They must have left when things heated up between us.

"Where did they go?" she asked, bewildered, her loose hair cascading down her bare back, enhancing her beauty even more.

"I don't fucking care," I growled, tugging her sarong away completely. "I've been wanting to do it on the beach for a while now. You game?" My hand gripped her ass possessively.

"You don't care that the others could probably see us from the house?"

"Let them," I said boldly. "As long as they know you're mine and don't get any funny ideas, I don't care." With that, I pulled her back into another kiss.

(Break)

"That was phenomenal," Rihanna moaned, her voice soft with delight as the hammock we shared swayed gently in the breeze. The palm tree above cast the perfect shadow over our intertwined, naked forms. I had lost the count of the number of times we did it. On the lounger, on the sand, in the water, even this hammock.

"Every time I'm with you, I question why I go back at all," she said wistfully.

"Then don't." I looked down at her face, resting on my chest, and lifted her chin until our eyes met. "Come to London. You don't need to stay in LA."

"I have a contract with Jay-Z," she argued weakly. "I can't abandon it."

"Your contract doesn't dictate where you live when you're not working," I countered. "You can record songs in London, and the label can publish them from anywhere in the world. It's not the '80s, love, anything's possible with the internet."

"I…" She hesitated, her gaze dropping as she rested her cheek back on my chest.

Silence hung between us, heavy and unspoken. When it grew unbearable, I broke it.

"Remember when you said I could cheat on you when you're away?"

"It's not cheating if you have my permission," she countered.

"It is for me. I love you way too much to do that to you."

Rihanna stilled immediately. I felt the tension ripple through her body as her muscles tensed. She hadn't expected me to say that. Neither had I. It was the first time I'd ever confessed my love for her. To date, there'd been only one other girl I'd said those words to, but now I realized that what I'd felt for Emma wasn't even in the same league as what I felt for Rihanna. This was something else entirely—something indescribable.

"You do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes met mine, a little misty, though it could've just been the sun.

"Of course I do," I said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I love the way you always think about me before doing anything. I love your killer personality and sense of humor. It doesn't hurt that you're drop-dead gorgeous and wicked good in bed. I've never met anyone who feels so perfect for me like you do. I—"

Before I could finish baring my soul, a quiet sob escaped her lips, cutting me off.

"Hey," I cupped her cheeks gently in my hands. "None of that." I wiped away her tears with my thumbs.

Through her tears, she braved a small smile and said, "No one has ever said anything so sweet to me."

"Thank God they didn't," I replied, utterly serious. "How else would I have bagged you?"

She giggled, the sound light and heartwarming, before leaning up to plant her lips on mine. I didn't need an invitation to deepen the kiss. Our tongues met in perfect harmony, no words required as I poured all my love and devotion into that single moment.

When the need for air became too much, she pulled back slightly and said, "Okay."

"Okay?" I repeated, a wide grin spreading across my face as I began to suspect what she meant.

"I'll move to London to be with you," she said softly.

My eyes lit up as the realization struck. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she confirmed with a nod. "I want to because I love you too. I don't want to be away from you any longer. I love my career, but I'm sure I'll find a balance that works for us."

"Don't worry about your career," I assured her. "I'll make sure you're on top of the music world by the time I'm done with you."

"No," Rihanna said firmly, her expression leaving no room for debate. "I'll come to London, but on one condition—you won't interfere in my career, just like I won't interfere in yours."

I gave her a puzzled look. "Why?"

"I feel good when I achieve something on my own," she explained. "I already feel inadequate next to you. If you helped me on top of that, it would be…" She shook her head. "Do you promise?"

"Alright," I conceded with a small sigh. "I won't help your career."

She nodded, satisfied, before resting her head on my chest once more.

I knew she didn't really need my help, but sometimes, all someone needs is a little assurance from the person they love. Rihanna was too proud to take my help so openly, but that didn't mean I couldn't find subtle ways to support her if she ever needed it.

"Come on," I said, patting her back lightly and motioning toward the ocean. "Let's go skinny-dipping again."

The wicked grin she gave me was every guy's dream come true.

(Break)

As far as the eye could see, the island belonged to me. It was a stunning paradise of lush greenery and expansive, pristine sandy shoreline nestled in the heart of the British Virgin Islands.

Dad had gifted me the island for my birthday this year. Two years ago, he'd purchased a pair of undeveloped islands for less than a million dollars. At the time, they were untouched by human presence. Over the last couple of years, a beautiful mansion had been constructed on each island. At our latest birthday, Evan and I were each gifted one island.

Evan's island wasn't furnished yet, so we'd chosen mine for this trip. My mansion was perfect, equipped with a solar-powered energy system and a reverse osmosis water purification setup. It had seven fully furnished bedrooms with all the luxuries that money could buy. The beach was pristine, like something straight out of paradise, untouched by pollution and tourists. No single-use plastics littered the shoreline—just endless stretches of clean sand and crystal-clear waters.

As much as I wanted to spend a few more weeks here, I knew it was time to head back. It had already been a month since we arrived, and I was starting to miss my parents. The island didn't have internet, and the only way to contact anyone was through a satellite phone. This digital detox had been refreshing. Though the world wasn't as glued to screens as it would be in a few years, I enjoyed the uninterrupted time with Rihanna and my friends.

"Thanks for inviting us here, Troy," Benji said gratefully when it was just the two of us. "I really loved being part of your group."

Our boat off the island was set to arrive in a few minutes, and everyone else was busy double-checking their belongings to make sure nothing got left behind. Benji and I were the only ones who had finished packing early.

"No problem, man," I said, clasping hands with him in a brotherly fashion. "I loved having you and Sarah here."

"Well," he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "there won't really be a 'me and Sarah' once we leave. It was just a summer fling. She's heading to Columbia in the fall. Honestly, I only brought her along because everyone else had someone, and I didn't want to be the creepy loner here."

I glanced over his shoulder where Sarah had just stepped out of the house with Nadia. The two girls had hit it off and were deep in conversation, animatedly laughing at something. Sarah had that girl-next-door charm—the kind who blossoms over the summer. While her figure wasn't as developed as Nadia's, Rachel's, or Rihanna's, there was an undeniable innocence to her face that couldn't be faked.

"So she wasn't a rebound from Ashley?" I asked.

"In a way, yeah," he admitted. "But she knew what it was from the start. We both did."

I nodded, understanding. "So, what's next for you? What are your plans since you're not going to Uni?"

Benji ruffled his hair—a nervous tic I'd noticed before.

"That's the thing, man. I don't know!" Frustration bled through his voice. "Everyone else seems to have their life figured out already. I don't want to go to college. I just… don't. And on top of that, my parents took a huge hit with their business. They can't afford to send me, and I don't want to graduate drowning in debt."

I thought for a moment before responding. "You should go to Uni," I said firmly. "If that's what you want, I'll sponsor your education."

His eyes widened in shock, but I kept going. "Seriously, if I weren't as renowned as I am, I'd jump at the chance to do something like that. You deserve it."

"Thank you for the offer, but I can't ask that of you, man," Benji said with a grateful smile. "Besides, I don't want to go to college. It's just not for me."

"If that's what you want," I said, conceding the point. It was clear he was uncomfortable, probably having heard the same advice from countless people over the past year. Still, I couldn't shake the thought of how great it would be if he were in London. I could give him a job and—

An idea struck me. I turned back to him. "Would you like to work for me?"

"What?" he asked, caught off guard.

"I'm serious," I said, my tone firm. "I need someone I can trust implicitly."

"You trust me?" He sounded genuinely surprised.

I chuckled. "Man, you've seen me butt naked and in more than a few compromising situations this past month. Do you still have to ask?"

His face immediately flushed at the memory. There had been one particularly awkward moment when he and Sarah had accidentally walked in on Rihanna and me… on the beach. Of course, we hadn't stopped for their sake, but it had left them visibly uncomfortable for a few days.

"You'll have to move to London," I added, "so think carefully about it. I don't want you to feel rushed."

He looked conflicted, his expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty. For a few minutes, he seemed lost in thought, then closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Fuck it! Let's do it! I don't really have anything tying me to New York besides my parents, and I'm sure they'll understand."

I couldn't hide my grin. "Welcome to the team, Benji."

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