Page 127 of Lost & Found

It was all I dreamed about. Every fucking time my eyes closed. And she was one hundred percent right. We were a family. The idea of leaving her, of not being a part of her daily life, was unthinkable. But I couldn’t resist teasing her a little more.

“I’d have to travel, of course. But I would come home on visits,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

The easy warmth in her eyes shuttered like someone had pulled heavy curtains across them. Her mouth pressed into a thin, bloodless line. “Wow, really. Okay, I see how it is.”

I let the silence stretch for a minute, enjoying the way she was on edge. Finally, I took a step forward, my expression softening. “I’m not taking it. I wouldn’t do that without talking to all of you first. You should know me better than that.”

The rigid line of her spine softened. Her fingers, which had been curled tight at her sides, loosened one by one. She blinked twice, like her body had to recalibrate from fight mode.

Air left her lungs in a quiet rush, and she tried to disguise it as annoyance. Her breasts caught my attention once again. I barely registered the relief on her face with all the tantalizing flesh that greeted me.

Color rushed back into her cheeks. She pointed her pencil at me like a weapon. “You’re damn straight, you’re not taking it,” she exclaimed before adding, “I vote no and I will ensure every member of the house does, too. Your place is with us. In London.”

“I wouldn’t leave you guys,” I said. “Not to mention Kinsley would kill me. Speaking of her, I swear, she’s fired.”

Isabella’s beautiful blue eyes swung my way, and a slow smile spread across her face as she set the sketchbook down and stood. My eyes almost popped out of my fucking skull. Her ass cheeks were hanging out. The round globes swayed as she moved toward the railing.

“Is she now? I wonder what she did this time.”

“Fucking bloody hell. Yeah, she’s not allowed to shop for you anymore,” I breathed, taking her in, groaning in appreciation. “Are you serious right now?”

“What, you don’t like this one?” She turned and faced me. She played with one strap, knowing full well she looked amazing. “I was thinking about bringing it on our summer trip this year.”

“You look like a goddamn present. One not meant for me, and truthfully, that idea sucks. Hence why I’m firing your girl. And I’m voting no on you wearing that at the beach house.”

The contrast of the black fabric against her sun-kissed skin emphasized her beauty, and I seriously regretted agreeing to keep things platonic between us. As much as I was enjoying this time alone with her, it was pure torture seeing her this way. And don’t even get me started on lying next to her at night, watching her sleep and not touching her.

But we made an agreement, and I would hold up my end of things, despite how impossible her wardrobe was. The bikini top was strappy and featured a goddamn laced-up bow-knot design, framing her breasts with a peekaboo design.

No lie, I really did want to fucking unwrap her like a gift. I was momentarily speechless, and she played right into my torture. The intricate detailing added a touch of sophistication, but was still playful.

I openly stared at the contours of her figure once more, reminding myself that I could look as long as I didn’t touch. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. The triangular, high-cut bottoms showed the curves of her hips and thighs, and my hands itched to smack her ass.

And although the bottoms weren’t a thong, they were high cut. Jesus, she had me spellbound. Desire pulsed through me, and I wanted nothing more than to rail her from behind, right there for the entire beach to see.

I pulled out my phone. “May I document this one too?” I asked.

“Why, of course,” she breathed, a grin spreading across her lips.

Leaning back against the railing with a casual grace, she stretched, delicately crossing her ankles. The move was not subtle. With an air of confidence, she tilted her head back, letting her dark locks cascade behind her as she struck a pose.

The sunlight danced across her features as my phone snapped pic after pic. The way her head was thrown back accentuated her collarbone and neck. I couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation.

Just a few days ago, she’d been so nervous and uncertain, but now, or maybe because we were alone, she was embracing herself in a new way. It wasn’t lost on me. My princess was growing, and the radiant energy that poured out of her was everything.

“You’re breathtaking, Isabella.” I murmured. “Look at me.”

She brought her head forward with a seductive smile, knowing exactly what she was doing. Fuck, it was a privilege being a part of her journey. The evolution of her blossoming into a confident woman was humbling. I captured the final look, unable to shake the feeling that this moment would be forever etched in my mind.

I sent the photo to Kinsley with a message.

DANCER:

You’ve got amazing taste, but I’m not sure we can be friends anymore.

KINSLEY:

Awe, but I bought it with you in mind. Figured you might need a present. Love you. #dontwastetheopportunity #knockofflistitems #numberthree