Page 43 of Isla

"I'm fine! I had a run-in with a rock wall, that's all."

"You don't look fine," Dylan says, inspecting Theo's bandaging job. Satisfied, he meets my gaze, relief softening his eyes. "I'm so gladyou're here. I missed you." He kisses me softly, sliding his hands over my back and giving me a tight hug.

"Don't hog her," Henry grumbles, not so patiently waiting his turn. Dylan releases me, our gazes locked until Henry's massive body blocks his view. "I fucking missed you, Isla." Those big arms wrap around me, and I melt into the safety of his chest. "Why didn't you answer our texts?"

I pull back so I can look him in the face. "I had my phone turned off. I'm so sorry."

"Never fucking again, I swear to God. I won’t survive it." He buries his face in my neck, his grip tightening.

"I had a lot of time to think the last few days while I was helping Jack reconstruct the roof," I say, pulling away from Henry and facing all three of them. The look on Theo's face would have made me laugh if I wasn’t nervous over what I’m about to say. "We need to all sit down and talk about how this is going to work."

"Isn't it fine how it's working now?" Theo asks.

I roll my eyes. "Obviously not. I just had to fly halfway around the world to find you. You're each your own person, and because of that, we need to be forming separate relationships. Each of them equally strong. It's the best way for us to ensure this is going to work. We also need to talk about what will happen if one of you chooses to leave again. I refuse to be in a relationship that will be torn apart because one of you has a tantrum."

Theo's mouth falls open, but he only snaps it shut, accepting the criticism.

"Also, I want to move back into the Manor House. The cottage is too freaking small to live in long-term."

"I have plenty of room in my bed," Henry says, smirking.

I cut him a glare. "I'll be moving into the fourth bedroom. I'll deduct a quarter of the rent to make it fair."

"Anything else, princess?" Theo drawls, looking like a goddamn supermodel leaning against the wall.

My mouth goes dry. "Yes, we need to talk about sex."

Dylan swallows hard, then coughs, his eyes watering. "Sex?" he wheezes, his cheeks coloring.

"You'd think you're a virgin with the way you're acting right now," Henry laughs, hitting him on the back.

"Yeah, because we're talking about having sex withIsla,"he fake whispers.

"You guys are making this so awkward," I groan, covering my face with my hands.

"Here's the plan," Theo says, pulling on a shirt. "I'm going to go into town and grab some groceries for dinner and a case of beer. We can get drunk, eat good food, and talk about sex all night long. Deal?"

"Deal."

19

By the time Theo gets back with the groceries, Dylan and Henry have built a fire, and I'm sitting there feeling like I'm going to throw up. My earlier bravery has worn off, making me wonder what I was thinking when I suggested this talk. It would have been a hell of a lot easier to type out a text or email. I could have taken my time and said everything I needed to without all this tension clogging my throat. If it were up to my body, I would just fuck all three of them right here in the woods and be done with this nonsense.

"You're awfully quiet," Henry says, sitting in the Adirondack chair beside me.

I glance over at him, my response evaporating from my tongue. He's wearing shorts and a tank top that show off his incredible muscles. Smooth skin for days. God I want to touch him. Lick him. I lick my lips instead, desire coursing through my bloodstream. I slide my gaze along the veins on the back of his hand, up his forearm to his bicep. I want him to manhandle me. Hold me down. Fu–

"Isla."

I drag my gaze to his face, to the color rising up his cheeks, hishooded eyes. Fuck. "Yes?" His tongue slides along his bottom lip, and I nearly combust.

"If you keep looking at me like that..."

"You'll what, Henry?" Kiss me? Touch me? Fuck me? God, I wish I had the guts to just say it.

"What Iwoulddo or what Iwantto do?" he asks, eyes dark.

"Both."

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