Bound to Us (Bound Duology Book#1)

The Trip Begins

The bus rumbled along the winding roads of the Tuscan countryside, carrying a busload of excited students deeper into rolling hills and endless vineyards. Emma watched out the window, captivated by the scenery—a patchwork of green and gold dotted with olive trees and ancient farmhouses. She felt a flutter of excitement; despite her earlier doubts, she was starting to believe this trip could be exactly the adventure she needed.

Ilario, seated beside her, nudged her shoulder with a grin. "See? It's not so bad, is it?"

Emma smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I admit, the views are stunning."

"Just wait until we get to the villa. They say it's haunted," he added, his voice dropping to a dramatic whisper.

She shot him a skeptical look. "Haunted? Really?"

"Supposedly." He leaned in, his voice low. "There's an old legend about a woman who roams the halls at night, waiting for her lost love."

Emma stifled a laugh. "You're terrible at ghost stories."

"Oh, we'll see," he teased, leaning back with a smug smile. "But you're going to be the one knocking on my door when you hear footsteps."

She tried to brush it off, but his words planted a small seed of curiosity and anticipation.

As the bus pulled up to the villa, Emma's breath caught. The old building rose up before them, majestic yet weathered, with ivy creeping up its stone walls. It was charming in a rustic, haunting sort of way, standing proudly on a small hill, surrounded by a sea of golden vineyards.

The students filed out, and Emma and Ilario grabbed their bags, following the group into the grand entrance hall. The air inside was cool and smelled faintly of aged wood and lavender, and every creak of the floorboards echoed off the high, vaulted ceilings. Their teacher, Signora Bianchi, welcomed everyone with a few instructions, reminding them to behave and, of course, stay out of any "restricted" areas.

Emma gave Ilario a sidelong glance as he smirked at the mention of "restricted areas." She knew that look too well by now.

After they were assigned their rooms, Emma wandered the villa's halls, soaking in the atmosphere. A bit later, Ilario found her in the garden, where she was sitting on a stone bench, taking in the view of the setting sun.

"So, what do you think?" he asked, sitting beside her.

She looked over at him, the warm light of the sunset casting golden shadows on his face. "It's beautiful," she said softly. "I almost feel like I'm in a different world."

"Well," he murmured, his gaze drifting over the vineyards stretching to the horizon, "maybe we can make the most of it."

They sat in a comfortable silence for a moment until voices in the distance caught their attention. A group of girls was walking toward them, including Giulia, who noticed them and promptly made a beeline in their direction. Emma's heart sank slightly—she'd hoped to avoid any confrontations on this trip.

"Oh, look," Giulia sneered as she approached. "Didn't take long for you two to sneak off alone."

Emma could feel her cheeks flush, but Ilario just rolled his eyes. "Take a picture, Giulia. It'll last longer."

Giulia narrowed her eyes, giving Emma a cold stare. "Just remember, straniera, Ilario's only going to get bored eventually. Maybe faster than you think."

Emma clenched her jaw, refusing to let Giulia see she was rattled. "If he gets bored, I'll know where to find him."

Ilario put a hand on her arm, his touch steadying. "Don't waste your energy, Em. Let's go."

They walked away, heading back toward the villa. As they reached the entrance, Ilario glanced at her, his voice low.

"Don't listen to her. Giulia's been like that since forever."

Emma nodded, but her thoughts lingered on the encounter. She was still getting used to all the drama that seemed to follow Ilario, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Giulia's words were meant to get under her skin—and maybe they had, just a little.

Later that night, after a dinner full of laughter and storytelling, the students had some free time before curfew. Emma found herself wandering the villa's dimly lit hallways, feeling the thrill of adventure as she explored the ancient corridors. She turned a corner and nearly bumped into Ilario, who looked like he'd been waiting for her.

"Fancy meeting you here," he said with a grin. "Looking for ghosts?"

She laughed. "I thought maybe I'd catch a glimpse of that lady you mentioned, haunting the halls."

"Then you're in luck." He held up a flashlight, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "I know just the place. Want to explore?"

Emma hesitated, her heart racing with excitement and nerves. "We're not supposed to go into the restricted areas, remember?"

"Rules are just suggestions," he replied with a shrug. "Besides, how often do you get to explore a place like this?"

With a grin, she gave in. They crept through the hallways, taking care not to make too much noise, until they found a staircase leading down to what looked like a cellar. Ilario held the flashlight steady, and they descended into the dark, cold space below.

The cellar was filled with ancient barrels and dusty shelves lined with old bottles. The air was thick, and every small sound echoed in the silence. They moved carefully, their footsteps muffled by the cool stone floor.

Emma was captivated by the mystery of it all, and every glance exchanged between her and Ilario felt charged, as if the darkness around them only magnified the tension.

Then, as they turned a corner, Emma's foot slipped on a loose stone. Ilario reached out, grabbing her arm to steady her. They stood there for a moment, her heart pounding as his hand lingered on her arm.

"I've got you," he murmured, his voice soft, almost a whisper.

Her gaze met his, and in that moment, with the air heavy between them, it felt like all the teasing and tension over the past weeks had been building up to this. She could see the same question in his eyes that she'd been asking herself: Was this real? Or were they just caught up in the thrill of the trip?

But before either of them could say anything, a loud noise echoed from somewhere above. They both jumped, and Ilario grabbed her hand.

"Come on," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "Before they find us."

They raced back up the stairs, her hand still in his, and by the time they reached the main hall, both of them were laughing, breathless, as if they'd just shared some grand secret.

"Not bad for a first ghost hunt," he said, his eyes bright with excitement. "Think you'll ever trust me again?"

She laughed, catching her breath. "Probably not. But I'll admit... it was fun."

As they stood there in the dimly lit hall, something had shifted between them, something unspoken but undeniable. It was a connection that went deeper than just the thrill of sneaking around—something that felt more real than she'd expected.

And as they headed back to their rooms, Emma found herself wondering if maybe, just maybe, this trip would change things between them forever.

how are you guys doing??

Bisou,