Page 37 of Tomorrow's Never Promised

Her posture shifts as she takes in this information. I can’t tell if she wants to strangle me, slap me, or kiss me right now.

“Soo… are you going to introduce us?” I wave a finger between her and I. “Madison, I’d like you to meet my best frien—brother—Liam,” Killian says proudly, pulling me to him and slapping my back.

She turns to him, looking confused as ever. “Brother? I thought you were an only child.” Her hand reaches up to her necklace—a triskelion.She is fidgeting with it, like she needs something to do with her hands. Killian must have gifted her that.

He pulls her to his side so that we are now huddled together like a football team. Madison’s breath hitches at my nearness.

“I thought so too,” he laughs, giving me a firm tug closer. “We just found out on Christmas that we share the same Da.” Kil leans down and kisses the top of her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, sweetheart. It was a lot to take in.”

This is all too much. Seeing his hands on her is driving me nuts.

That should be me.

I inhale her scent, and her eyes flash with a second of lust before they harden again.She smells so fucking good. Her enticing perfume involuntarily draws me closer to her. The need to touch her is becoming a problem.

I stick my hand out to ‘introduce ourselves properly’…well, I guess just to touch her…since I have already been properly introduced to every inch of her body.

“Lovely to meet you…” I trail off knowing that I am unfairly making her squirm.

“Madison…Madison Marrone,” her grip is tight around my hand, basically telling me to stop fucking around. She shakes it and pulls her hand back like she’s been burned—but we both know that’snotwhat we just felt.

“It’s apleasureto meet you, Madison. Killian is a lucky guy to have a beautiful woman like you on his arm.” I suddenly feel overwhelmed. This whole situation issobeyond coincidental and crazy. I can’t be around her right now, or Killian will discover she is my‘a rún mo chroí’—secret of my heart.

I move out of Killian’s embrace. “Excuse me. The bar is calling my name.” I trudge back to the bar and don’t look back.

A few moments later, Kil and Maddy appear in my peripheral. I let out a silent sigh. So much for trying to avoid them. Killian places her empty champagne glass on the bar.Looks like we are both parched, darling.I stare at them. She is playing the nervous game, the one she’s good at. I canguaranteeyou she’s itching for a cigarette right now.I know I am.

“Would you like another drink?” Killian rubs her hand with gentle strokes.

“Actually, I need to use the restroom first before my bladder explodes,” she laughs, shakily attempting to mask her nerves.

I know now is my time to get her alone. I straighten my back, towering over her. “I’ll show you where it is. I have to take a piss anyway.”I bet her eyebrow is raised under that mask at my suggestion.

I hold my arm out to her—like the gentleman I am—or am supposed to be. She reluctantly wraps her arm around mine and my body buzzes with satisfaction.

Satisfaction I don’t deserve.

“Shall we, Ms. Marrone? Or perhaps you prefer Madison or maybe,Maddy?” I tease her some more. It feels good to get under her skin again.

“Madison or Maddy isfine.” Irritation radiates off her.She is pissed. Her black nails dig into my tux sleeves.

Oh my sweet spitfire,I’ve missed you. I can’t hold back a chuckle at the insanity of how the hell we got here. We make a few strides towards the house when she swivels her head back to Killian.

“If Lexi is looking for me, just let her know I went to use the bathroom. I hope she is okay. I don’t know where she went.”Oh Maddy. Always worrying about others.

He scans the crowd. Looks like Conor and his lady in blue are missing. A hint of a smile tugs on Kil’s lips. “I’m certain she isjust fine.”

She nods and I lead her to the doors leading to the house with more force.

I abruptly ripmy arm away from him nearly a second after we walk through the sliding doors. I wrap it around my center to control my shuddering and calm the butterflies swarming there. The worst part of it all isI can’t figure out why.Is it anger or desire?

I am so fucking angry with Liam for leaving me. And I’m furious with myself for not trusting my intuition—the one telling me there was a connection between Killian and him. Of course, I didn’t bother to ask about it.

I also feel like an addict right now.

My body is betraying me by responding to him—so easily turned on by a look, a simple touch,his smell.

He places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me through the kitchen and toward the staircase.I stop in my tracks. There is definitely a bathroom on this floor. I turn around and stare him down, my anger now escalating.What is his game?

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