Betrothal's Price

Chapter 30: Handled

Liam and Isla readied to go to sleep… well, they more procrastinated talking about it, than readying for it, both feeling too awkward about the idea of sleeping in the same bed to bring it up. They’d done it once, but it didn’t end as well as they’d originally thought.

Liam was reading a book from his bag, and Isla was struggling to comb through her curly hair, a bowl of water sitting on the bed beside her to keep her hair wet enough to comb through. While reading halfway into his book, Liam began feeling small jumps on the bed. He looked to his slight left and noticed Isla pretty much in combat with her hair, grunting as she got to large knots in it.

She was practically red in the face in irritation. Liam silently chuckled and scooted closer to her. He moved the bowl from the bed to avoid a water mess on the bed. He then gently placed his hand over Isla’s hand that held the comb. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Mind if I help?”

Isla stopped and turned her head ever-so-slightly towards him and found herself closer face-to-face with Liam than she'd assumed she would be. Her breath caught and the tips of her ears colored and shot up - like they always did when he flustered her - without audible response.  Isla released the nit comb from her hands, letting it fall into Liam’s hand.

Liam had almost paused moving completely as he got lost, gazing into her eyes, “Your eyes really are like rubies.” He muttered under his breath.

Isla glanced to Liam’s lips, before she raised an eyebrow and smiled, tilting her head in a tease, “Enchantin’, too?”

“Would there be a problem if I said yes? I stand by what I said.” Liam smirked.

Isla shrugged ever-so-gently, “I don’t know- No. There isn’t a problem. I just don’t see what makes red eyes so ‘enchantin’.”

Liam moved backwards and began slowly combing through her hair. “You know I hope that one day you’ll realize just how truly gorgeous and amazing you are.”

Isla’s shoulders relaxed and she took a steady breath with a smile. He had no idea how much he’d been changing that.

Liam soon finished combing her hair, and Isla turned around, facing him. Before another moment passed them by, Isla stood on her knees on the bed and wrapped her arms around him. “Thanks, Liam. You may not know it, but you’ve helped me change that. It means so much to me. So thanks… for bein’ the most wonderful person I’ve met.”

Liam smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her waist. They stayed like that for several long moments, until Isla pulled back and smiled at him.

Then, Liam gained a goofy smile, “Hey, has your strength softened? You weren’t hugging me as tightly. Or is there something you’re not telling me?” He teased.

Isla pushed him to the bed in a tackle. “How’s that for softening strength?” She pinned him, with a sly grin on her lips as Liam just laughed.

“I don’t know….” Liam let his laughter die down. He seemed thoughtful for a moment, then suddenly began tickling her.

Isla stood her ground for a few moments, before she gave into laughter and cracked. Her grip that had been pinning him fell weak and she turned to Liam’s left. Lllum took the advantage and rolled on top of her, pinning her.

Isla’s laughter began to fade and they stayed in that position in silence. In only a few seconds, their eyes gravitated to places they knew they shouldn’t go.

To fill the void of imaginative silence, Isla looked him in the eyes, “You know, you talk highly of my eyes, but yours.. “ She trailed. “Yours are radiant.” She began to sit up, using her arms to prop herself up, but Liam didn’t move. Their faces once got closer.