Page 67 of Wild Irish

He takes a step towards me, and I back away.

With a heavy sigh, he combs his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t come here to fight with ye.”

“I know why you came.” This time my voice is louder, dripping with disgust.

“Ye don’t.” He grabs my arm and pulls me out of the room, shutting Kiersten’s door behind us. “Ye’re going to listen to me.”

“No. You’re going to listen tome.” I shrug out of his grip, then push on his chest with all my strength, but he doesn’t even budge. “I can’t believe I wasted even a minute missing you, wishing you’d call or write. But I get it. It was just sex. I knew the rules when we started, and I can’t be angry at you for not wanting more.”

When I push on his chest again, he captures my wrists. I hate that even now, his touch affects me. The way my body betrays me, the heat of desire mixing with the flames of rage.

“But Idoget to be angry for how you treated me. For acting like I’m your enemy. Like we didn’t have one amazing month together. For believing Matt over me.” I’m crying now, tears streaming down my cheeks, but I can’t hold them back. “And you also don’t get to sleep with my roommate.”

His nostrils flare. “I didn’t come here to–”

“I hate you.” He’s still holding my wrists, so I fist my fingers and pound them against his chest. “I hate you so much.”

He sucks in a harsh breath, but he doesn’t let me go. Instead, he tugs me closer, and presses his forehead against mine. “Are ye done?”

I gulp in air, fighting the sob that’s caught in my throat.

“Yes. I’mdone.”

“I know I don’t deserve for ye to hear me out, but I’m asking for five minutes.” He releases my wrists, but before I have the chance to step away, his hands cup the back of my head, fingers tangling in my hair, forcing me to meet his intense gaze.

I hold on to my anger, knowing it’s the only thing separating me from melting into his touch.

When I don’t say anything, he sighs. “I knew Kiersten was yer roommate when I came here tonight.”

My chest constricts. “You knew? So you were trying to hurt me?”

“No. God, no. She was drunk and making a fool of herself. Emer told me she was yer roommate, so I offered to bring her home.”

I narrow my eyes at him, not sure what to believe. “Why?”

Forehead pressed against mine, he strokes his thumb across my cheek. “I’m sorry, Delaney.”

“For what?”

“Everything. For pushing ye away. For not calling. I don’t want ye to hate me, but I understand why ye do.”

Silence stretches between us.

I want to hate him. I need to hate him. And part of me does for breaking my heart. But there’s such a fine line between hate and love.

“Is that all?”

He exhales roughly, then drops his hands. “Yeah.”

There’s a war going on inside him. I can feel it. See it in his face, the way his jaw flexes and contracts. The agony in his eyes as they watch me.

I take a step back, needing to distance myself. I can’t think when he’s this close to me. And I’ve already suffered the consequences of listening to my body and heart when it comes to him.

He rubs the back of his neck. “I never wanted to hurt ye.”

But you did. You shattered me. You’re still shattering me.

He moves towards me. “Delaney, I–”

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