“Okay. My cousi......uh, sisters will make you their friend. Just because they’re my sisters doesn’t mean the rules don’t apply. Okay?”
“Kay.”
“I mean it.” There was an edge to his voice.
“I know you do.” My heart sank and my body stiffened.
So much for that.
He snuggled me closer, maybe in response to my tensing up, “I’m very pleased that you didn’t run away from me. Or that someone hadn’t taken you.” He sighed and played with my hair.
“I woke up early and I just wanted to explore, uh…….. You said I could go down and---”
“I know.” He nuzzled into my throat and then twisted me so that my face was buried in his chest, “But you need to know that running away, had you done it, would be bad, Claire. Real bad.”
Taken me? Who’d take me? The police? Was he worried Lily and my family were
