Page 111 of Three Irish Kings

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God, I love her. So much it physically hurts.

But I can’t tell her when her face is covered in me, so I pull up my sweats and turn to grab a cloth from a drawer, wetting it at the sink behind me and gently wiping her face off, thumbing her bottom lip after I’m done.

Isla smiles widely and stands up, but it quickly turns into a frown as she grabs my right hand.

“Dare.” Her tone is almost scolding, and I feel ashamed for punching the doorjamb like a moody teenager.

“It’s nothing.”

“You’re bleeding. Stay here, I’ll be right back.” She heads into the other room, and when she returns, she’s holding a small first aid kit.

She takes my hand, and I know I’m looking at her like she’s the sun, but I can’t help it.

“Isla.”

She doesn’t respond, just wrapping my knuckles with gauze.

“A ghrá, I need to tell you something.”

My heart races.

I’m risking death by telling her that I’m in love with her because Liam isn’t going to like it one bit, but I can’t keep it in anymore.

Her eyes shoot to mine as she finishes bandaging my knuckles. “Don’t.”

I frown, my brow furrowing. “But?—”

She shuts me up with a kiss, pressing her lips quickly against mine. “Not today, okay? I just want to be with you tonight.”

I grin slowly. “You do?”

Isla grins back. “Of course, I do.”

But her smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

I was so angry before that I didn’t notice it, but she’s acting different. There’s an expression on her face that I can’t quite read.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she says, quickly. Too quickly.

I put my hands on her shoulders, bringing her closer to me. “Don’t lie to me, Isla. I can tell something’s bothering you. Are you upset with me because I’m jealous?”

She shakes her head. “No, baby.”

Baby.

I love it. The pet name makes my heart ache.

“Then what’s going on? You can tell me anything,a ghrá.”

She gives me a small half-smile that seems more sad than happy and takes my hand.

Confused, I follow her, and she leads me to the bedroom. I watch as she slowly takes off her clothes and gets into bed.

“Isla?”

“Come, lie with me.”

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