Iris - The Intended Series - Book 1(Reverse Harem, N.A, Brothers)

Chapter Twelve

"Keep your hands to yourself, perv!" I slapped Caleb's hands away for the fifth time as I tried to look in the mirror again. Whatever ointment Caleb had put on my face yesterday had worked wonders. The swelling, especially in my left eye, was nearly gone and the bruises were yellowing. My ribs, although still sore, felt stronger now they were strapped up. The butterfly stitches he'd applied to my forehead still held and the puckered red skin was starting to finally knit together. But what had me mesmerized was not the rat nest that sat on the top of my head; it was that my dull grey eyes now shimmered green like they had been sprinkled with glitter.

"They're beautiful." I spoke, my voice full of wonder.

Arms wrapped around my torso as Caleb rested his head on my shoulder "Yes you are."

"You're so cheesy." I groaned.

He turned me around in his arms so that I was looking up into his eyes. "I just can't stop touching you. It's like I've wanted to do it for so long that now I can, I just don't want to stop." His mouth pressed against mine with a few short, playful kisses "Which is why I am absolutely devastated that I have to go to work right now." I groaned as I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him as I rested my head on his chest. "Do you have to?" I whined, making him chuckle.

"I'm afraid so, We all took the morning off but Trav and I have to go back to work."

"Booo!" I sulked, I was just getting used to having attention from them and now I had to share them with the world while I'm alone again. "What about Preston, Corey and Brent?' But I already had a feeling what he was going to say. "They have to go too, to keep up appearances. Look, there's something we need to tell you and you're not going to like it. It's best if Trav tells you, he knows all the details." Ice rolled down my spine. As a sense of foreboding fills me. "Let's finish up here then we will head down to the kitchen to explain."

I gnawed on my lip the entire way through my bathroom routine fully aware that my safe little bubble will be bursting soon. Caleb had left me to shower to get ready himself. Luckily he had one of those huge walk-in ones that came with a built-in bench otherwise I would have needed help. Not that he would have complained about it.

When we were done, we both walked down to the kitchen for a heavy dose of reality. Well, Caleb walked. I hobbled behind him with my crutch and my eyes on his pert ass. He must've known I was watching because I swear he added a little extra swing to his hips. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that we were bonded. That he was mine. What would happen when he got bored of me because it was sure to happen. And not just with Caleb but with all of them. They were all completely out of my league and at this moment I was a novelty. They had spent twelve years chasing a boyish dream, what would happen to me when I failed to meet their expectations like I had everyone else in my life. I'll be discarded once again and I don't think I could cope with that right now. But what other choice did I have right now other than leave and I'm not even sure I can do that anymore.

We walked into a bustle of activity when we entered the kitchen. The remaining four brothers were talking animatedly while sitting around a huge breakfast bar, set in a white top granite island. The centerpiece of the professional kitchen that surrounded it. My mom would have loved this room. She absolutely loved to cook and there wasn't a recipe she couldn't whip up in a kitchen like this. Or was all that a lie too? Did I even know who my mother was anymore?

My thoughts were broken when I was pulled into the lap of Brent, his strong arms holding me close to his chest. "What's with the sad face?' He spoke softly into my ear, not to draw the attention of the others. "Are you okay?"