Harry’s fingers were in her hair, stroking, as he kissed her back.
“Should we go upstairs?” he asked, huskily, against her skin, as his mouth left hers and pressed against her neck, all the way down to her collarbone until a hiss of pleasure escaped her lips.
Elise came crashing back to reality then, realizing how easily she’d fallen into his arms, how willingly she’d kissed him with so little encouragement. But staring at Harry, at those eyes that seemed to see her for who she was, she knew her answer was yes.
She glanced at the dishes on the table and, for the first time in her life, thoughtto hell with it.
One night I get to do something for me, something reckless, something forbidden.
“Yes,” she whispered, taking his hand again and tugging gently.
But when he stood, he didn’t move, instead pulling her against him and wrapping his arms around her. She was careful of his shoulder, pressing her face to his chest and embracing his waist.
“I meant what I said before, Elise, about not leaving you,” he whispered into her hair. “I’ll see the others to safety with you, but I won’t leave you behind. I can handle a gun well, unlike Jack, if we need one.”
She didn’t tell him that he didn’t have a choice, because maybe he did. Maybe he could help the underground resistance; maybe there was a place for him here? Or maybe she was getting carried away with a fairy tale that simply couldn’t happen.
His hands stroked her hair, her back, all the way to her waist, then beyond, and she shuddered against him. They could debate logistics in the morning.
“Take me to my room,” she murmured, standing on tiptoe as she spoke into his ear.
“If you tell me I can stay,” he whispered back.
Elise shut her eyes, knowing in her heart that she could never force him to go.
“You can stay,” she whispered back, as his hand slipped into hers and she led him toward the stairs.
In the morning light, Elise pulled the covers around her bare skin as she stared at Harry in the bed beside her. The night before came flooding back, and she shut her eyes, partly embarrassed and partly proud of herself for being so bold. Harry’s eyes were shut, his lashes thick and dark against his cheeks as he slept peacefully.
Not for the first time, she wondered how she’d live if he were discovered in her home. She’d lost so much already to the war, butto see someone she cared deeply for taken, injured or ... she swallowed,killed. She could almost see an SS officer marching through her home, looking for someone, looking for Harry, and shooting him dead right in her attic.
She refused to listen to her thoughts and instead rose, finding her clothes and dressing. She’d never had the chance to see Adelaide when they’d arrived home, and suddenly all she wanted to do was wrap her sister in her arms and hold her.
Elise tiptoed from the room, not wanting to wake Harry, and went to look for Addy. The sun was already up but she had no idea what time it was, and she expected to find her either in bed or downstairs fixing breakfast.
“Addy?” she called softly, knocking on her bedroom door and nudging it open. She wasn’t there, although her bed was already made.
The bathroom was vacant, so Elise padded downstairs.
“Addy?” she called again.
But downstairs she found Cate sitting at the table, coffee cup in hand. Alone.
“Have you seen Adelaide?” Elise asked.
Cate shook her head. “I presumed she was still in bed. I’ve been up for an hour or so.”
Panic rose within Elise as she ran back up the stairs. “Addy!” she called, louder now, not caring who woke. Where was her sister?
Elise ran from room to room, pushing doors open, and then hurried up to the attic, startling Jack who was sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Has my sister been up here this morning?” she asked.
Jack frowned. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
Elise looked out of the window, scanning for her, but not catching so much as a glimpse of her sister’s blonde head.
She walked slowly back down from the attic and found Harry standing in the door to her bedroom, his shirt buttons undone and his hair all mussed.
