Bound to Us (Bound Duology Book#1)

The Morning After

Emma woke to the soft morning light filtering through the thin curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. For a moment, she forgot where she was, but the steady, warm presence beside her brought it all back—the stolen hours, the shared whispers, Ilario's arms around her, his breath steady and warm as he slept. She felt a thrill of happiness, a surge of disbelief that somehow, against all odds, they'd crossed that invisible line they'd both been skirting.

Careful not to wake him, Emma shifted slightly, propping herself up on one elbow to look at him. His usually sharp features were softened in sleep, the slightest hint of a smile on his face, as if he, too, had dreamed something that brought him peace. She reached out, tucking a stray lock of his dark hair away from his face, her heart doing somersaults. For all the challenges they'd been through, it felt like every moment had been worth it to get here.

But reality hit her quickly—she couldn't be late for the group breakfast, and if anyone saw Ilario leaving her room, it wouldn't take much for rumors to start spreading. The trip was halfway over, but the gossip mill among their classmates had only seemed to pick up steam each day. She sighed, reluctantly shaking his shoulder.

"Ilario," she whispered, leaning close, "we've got to get up. It's almost breakfast."

He stirred, grumbling a little as he opened his eyes, blinking sleepily at her before a lazy smile stretched across his face. "Mornin'," he murmured, his voice warm and husky. He reached out, pulling her back down to him for a soft kiss. "Breakfast can wait."

She laughed, while kissing him. "No, it can't," she teased, though she was tempted to let him keep her there a bit longer. "We're on a school trip, remember?"

He sighed dramatically, releasing her, but his smile didn't fade. "Fine, fine. Guess lets get going ."

As he slipped out of bed and made his way to the door, he paused, glancing back at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then he shook his head, a quiet laugh escaping him. "I still can't believe this is real," he murmured, almost to himself.

Emma's heart swelled, and she managed a small, shy smile. "Me neither."

"I'll be waiting for you downstairs."

With a quick, lingering kiss, he was gone, slipping into the hallway with practiced stealth, leaving her to get ready. Emma sat there for a moment, her mind replaying the night they'd shared. She'd felt close to him before, but now everything seemed to have shifted, deepening in ways she hadn't even realized she'd been waiting for.

At breakfast, Emma found herself glancing around the dining area, her pulse spiking slightly every time she caught sight of Ilario at the far end of the room. He gave her a secretive, knowing smile each time, making her laugh as she quickly looked away, hiding her grin behind her hand. Despite the crowded room, they shared a silent understanding, a hidden connection that no one else knew about.

But the bliss didn't last long. Just as she finished her coffee, she noticed Matteo glancing over at her from across the table, a curious, almost puzzled expression on his face. He leaned over, giving her a slight nudge.

"You seem different today," he remarked, his tone light but his eyes searching. "Did something happen?"

Emma's heart raced as she tried to keep her face neutral. "I guess I just slept really well," she said with a shrug, trying to brush it off. "Nothing much."

Matteo raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. Sure, Emma." He smirked playfully but let it go, though she caught him casting a curious glance in Ilario's direction once or twice.

The day passed in a blur of group activities, hiking, and lunch by the lake, but the whole time, Emma was keenly aware of Ilario's presence. Every time he caught her eye or flashed her a secret smile, she felt her cheeks flush, a warmth bubbling inside her that made everything else seem trivial. They managed a few moments alone during the day—once at the lake, where he'd reached out under the water to grab her hand, and again later when they'd paused near the end of the hike, standing just out of sight of their classmates for a stolen, exhilarating kiss.

But things grew tense by the evening, as their classmates started to take notice. Matteo, in particular, seemed to be watching her more closely, his usual friendly demeanor turning more guarded.

When the group gathered for dinner, he finally brought it up, pulling her aside as everyone filed into the dining room. "Emma, look, I know you can handle yourself, but is there something going on with you and Ilario?"

Her stomach tightened. "Matteo, why would you even ask that?"

He shrugged, not unkindly, but with a look of genuine concern. "It's just... I don't know, you two seem close, and he's been different since this trip started. I just don't want you to get hurt, okay?"

Emma appreciated his concern, but she didn't want to share the details, especially with Matteo. "Ilario's fine, really. You don't need to worry about me."

Matteo gave her a doubtful look but nodded, letting it go for now. She felt a pang of guilt for keeping her friends in the dark, but for now, she wanted to protect whatever she and Ilario were building.

Later that evening, as everyone started drifting off after dinner, Ilario caught her eye from across the room, giving her a small, questioning smile. She knew exactly what he meant, and her heart raced at the idea of sneaking out for more time alone with him. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, she nodded.

They met in the quiet hallway leading to the villa's garden. As soon as they were alone, Ilario slipped his arms around her, pulling her close, his eyes filled with warmth and something else she couldn't quite name.

"Thought I'd lost you today," he murmured, brushing his thumb along her cheek. "I hated seeing you with Matteo."

She laughed softly, resting her hands on his shoulders. "He's just a friend, Ilario. You know that."

He nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, I know. But this... whatever this is between us, it's not just a fling for me, Emma."

She looked up at him, her breath catching at the seriousness in his eyes. "It's not a fling for me either," she admitted, her voice a whisper. "I think we owe it to ourselves to figure out what this is."

His smile was tender, his hand brushing gently along her arm as he leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. "Then let's take our time," he murmured, "and enjoy every second of it."

They shared a lingering kiss, both of them filled with the quiet thrill of knowing they were choosing each other, even with the odds and their classmates' whispers. In that moment, nothing else mattered except the two of them, wrapped in each other's arms, ready to face whatever came next together.

How are you guys??

Bisou,