Page 72 of Bound to You

“Ah,” the boys wince as a unanimous look of discomfort fills the room at her volume.

May gives her a sideways glare. “Isla,” she fixes her gaze back on me. “My lovely best friend who agreed with my impulsive plan to come to the other side of the world,” I smile at her words, she’ll never know just how grateful I am for her dragging me here.

“I’m endlessly grateful for chance throwing us in the same room our first year. For bringing a ray of sunshine into my life at the exact moment that I needed it. I hope I never let you forget how much I appreciate you and everything that you’ve done for me, and I hope I can repay you in the next seventy years of our lives.” Everyone chuckles around the room. “May twenty-four treat you well. I love you, sunshine.”

Everyone cheers as she sits back down. I look around the room at the people surrounding me and a sense of peace settles over me, this feels like home, they feel like home. But most of all, the man that has come to feel like home the most is missing. He’sat the bar waiting for me, and I want to feel at home in his arms more than anything right now.

chapter thirty

ISLA

My legs arewobbly as I walk arm in arm with Marina and May along Main Street as we head towards Marina’s.

Rafael suggested we get a taxi, but I wanted to walk, wanted to feel the cool breeze against my warm skin.

There’s something about the way I can hear the waves even though I can’t see them that’s making me feel even more unsteady on my feet.

We left the studio in an absolute state. There were paintbrushes everywhere, and all of us left our paintings there, but I’ll make sure to go down in the morning to clean up.

When I sat down in front of that easel, I planned to do a landscape like I’ve been practicing with my pastels. But as I sat there, I couldn’t resist capturing the picture playing out in front of me, wanting to hold on to that moment forever.

I painted the smile lines at the corner of Marina’s mouth, the hint of amusement in Rafael’s brown eyes. I painted the focus drawing Heath’s eyebrows together, and the shine in Leo’s raven black hair in the dim light of Nora’s studio. I painted my family, and I can’t help but feel like it’s the most treasured painting I’ve ever done.

We reach Marina’s and my mind is clearer after a walk in the fresh ocean air. All I want to do is see Caio, and my eyes lock onto his as soon as I take a step in the door. He’s sitting at the bar cradling a beer, waiting just like he said he would.

I can’t help myself as I run over to him launching myself into his arms, and he doesn’t hesitate before wrapping his arms around me letting out a low chuckle. “How’d it go?”

“Thank you,” I say. “Thank you so much.” I press what I hope is an appreciative kiss to his lips. His arms tighten around my waist as he kisses me back.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I realize the wind probably tangled it up, so I try to smooth my hands over it, but Caio grabs my hands. “Stop. I like you like this.” His eyes adoring.

“Like what?”

“Free.”

I feel my cheeks flush. I’ve never felt free before. Not until now, not until here, until him.

Caio makes me feel an addictive combination of utter freedom while also feeling grounded. Like I could do anything I ever wanted to, go anywhere, do anything, but all I want to do is stay right here in his arms.

“You better get out there,” he nods behind me towards where May and Marina are hijacking the karaoke machine. “I’ll be watching.”

I nod giving him another kiss before taking off in the direction of my friends.

Caio is protective, and possessive in a quiet kind of way. In the kind of way where he collects the ribbons that I leave lying around at his house. In the kind of way where he whispers “mine” when it’s just me and him and our bodies tangled in his sheets. But not in the way that he needs to be involved in everything I do, and it makes me feel just like he said, free.

I’ve been dancing for hours, and my throat is scratchy from screaming a Britney Spears medley into the microphone. I could see Caio and Rafael standing at the bar, chuckling at May and I’s karaoke rendition of Toxic.

I’ve embraced the feeling of freedom and completely let go, knowing Caio is here, he’s looking out for me and so are the others. I feel a warm kind of security knowing there’s a flock of men looking out for me at every turn. Being with Caio didn’t just give me him, it’s given me three older brothers that I’ve got whether I like it or not.

But I like it. It eases the sting of missing Miles.

I skip over to the bar, on a mission to get another round of limoncello for all of us when a hand grabs my arm and I’m quickly pulled into a kiss by Caio, but it’s weird.

It feels all wrong.

I step away, and any feeling of contentment quickly escapes my mind as I look into cold eyes I recognize all too well.

I immediately sober up as I take in Brandon standing in front of me.

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