Page 86 of To Catch A Rogue

Charlie squeezed her tighter.Sweet Jesus. Despite her denials, he could feel how much she wanted to believe. What would it be like to spend years alone, and finally discover you had family out there?

Lena and Honor drove him crazy at times—apparently it was the preordained role of sisters everywhere, according to Honor—but if anyone ever tried to take them away from him....

"So you're not going to tell him," he said slowly.

"I just want to wait a little longer. I want to make sure. I want to know what proof Balfour thinks he has."

He could understand that. "Fine. I won't say anything to the others."

Not unless it became apparent they needed to know.

They stayed locked together for God knew how long, until Lark finally drew back. Charlie dragged her down into the blankets, tugging on a strand of her hair. "Stay here with me tonight."

"I shouldn't," she whispered.

Again that invisible line between them.

Sometimes he hated being an adult.

"You're not going anywhere."Charlie hauled her back into the curve of his arms. "Nobody will notice. And just this once, I'll allow you to put those little icicles on me. I won't even complain about it too much. You know you want to stay here in my arms."

Lark burst into a startled laugh, but she didn't rub her feet against his. Instead, she let her head rest on the flex of his biceps as she traced little circles on his forearm. "Maybe. At least there's some use in you turning into this overgrown lout."

"I give great hugs?"

"They're quite adequate."

Silence fell.

"You know," she whispered, "I really did miss this."

Charlie grunted, shifting a little as a certain part of his anatomy made itself known. Now was most definitely not the time. "I know." He tucked his face into the crook of her neck. "Who else would let you steal half the bed?"

Lark poked him in the arm, but he smiled as she softened again.

"I thought you'd be angry I'd kept all of this from you," she whispered.

"No." He brushed a kiss against the back of her neck. "I understand why you did. And I'm a little relieved you trust me enough to tell me now."

She stroked his arm, as if to try to tell him more.

"Go to sleep, Lark. I'll protect you."

Nothing would ever hurt her again, if he had anything to do about it.

Chapter 16

Lark lay awake for long minutes as the afternoon sunlight moved across the floor, barely daring to breathe as sleep slowly sloughed off her.

At first she'd thought she was dreaming—there were warm arms around her, and someone's breath stirred across the back of her neck—but each second brought back flashes of the night before.

The sudden yearning she'd felt to run to Charlie.

Curling in his arms after she told himeverything.

Spilling her secrets like that went against everything Tin Man had ever taught her, but she'd felt so desperately alone, she hadn't been able to stay away. It was nice to fall asleep in Charlie's arms. More than nice, if she were being honest.

Just one little problem with the situation....