Page 103 of Freeing Lark

Cormac looked away, jaw working. “You’re right.”

She hadn’t expected that. “What?”

“You’re right.” He rubbed a hand over his face and exhaled. “I know what control looks like. And I know what you’ve been through.” His eyes came back to hers. “But it’s only been a few days since I saw a woman I love walk into a situation that nearly killed her once already, and every instinct I’ve got is screaming at me to stop it from happening again.”

Her anger faltered. “A woman you love?”

Cormac froze. Apparently, he’d realized what he’d just said at exactly the same moment she had.

Lark’s heart slammed against her ribs. He looked almost annoyed with himself. “That’s what you heard?”

“It’s kind of difficult to miss.”

Despite everything, the corner of his mouth twitched. “Of course, that’s what you focused on.”

“Cormac.”

His expression softened. “Yes.”

One word. No hesitation this time. Lark swallowed hard. “I love you, too.”

His eyes closed briefly, as though the words had hit him somewhere he wasn’t prepared for. When he opened them again, the anger was gone.

So was the command.

He crossed the space between them and stopped in front of her. “I don’t want to control you.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to become another person telling you what you’re allowed to do.”

“You’re not.”

“But I can’t promise I’ll stop worrying.”

She smiled faintly. “I don’t want you to.”

He reached for her hand. “But the island isn’t safe.”

She sighed. “I know.”

“I’ll take you to your shop to work. But can we skip the island… for now?”

Lark considered arguing. Instead, she squeezed his fingers. “Fine.”

His eyebrow lifted. “Fine?”

“For now.”

A reluctant smile appeared. “I’ll take it.”

She pointed a warning finger at him. “But this doesn’t mean you get to make all my decisions.”

“I know.”

“And if you start acting like my overprotective caveman again⁠—”

“Caveman?”