Page 161
"But as long as you're under my protection, there are rules."
Her expression immediately became defensive. "I don't do rules."
"I've noticed,” he grumbled. He reached into a drawer and removed a plain sheet of paper. He wrote eight short lines before sliding it across the desk. She frowned as she picked it up.
House Rules:
1. Do not leave the estate.
2. Tell me where you are at all times.
3. Eat three meals a day.
4. Sleep in your room unless you need help.
5. Do not lie to me.
6. Do not hide injuries.
7. If I tell you something is unsafe, you will listen.
8. If you're frightened, you come to me.
She looked up at him and slid the paper back to him. "These are ridiculous. You seriously expect me to follow these?"
"Yes, I do,” he said.
"I don't even know you. Why should I follow your rules?”
"You'll learn to know me, and you should follow the rules because they’ll keep you safe.”
She laughed. It was a sharp, humorless sound. "I've spent my entire adult life with men telling me what to do."
"I'm aware,” he said.
"No, you're not." She slapped the paper onto his desk. "My ex had rules." Soren's expression didn't change. "My boss had rules." She took another step back. "My father had rules." Her voice cracked. "Every man I've ever met thought he knew what was best for me." She pointed at the list. "I'm never doing that again."
Soren remained silent until she finished, and then he stood. His full height made him an imposing figure, but he deliberately kept his hands at his sides. He wouldn't crowd her and wouldn't intimidate her—not physically.
"Your ex's rules were about control,” he almost whispered.
She glared at him.
"Your employer's rules benefited him, but my rules have one purpose." He picked up the paper and folded it neatly. "They will keep you alive." Her anger faltered, just for a second, but Soren saw it. "You don't have to like them."
"I don't,” she breathed.
"You don't have to agree with them."
"I won't.” Lily crossed her arms over her chest, and he thought that it was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.
"But you will follow them." She opened her mouth to argue. Instead, she did something that caught him completely off guard. She burst into tears. They weren’t loud sobs, but silent tears that rolled down her cheeks while she stood perfectly still, looking embarrassed by every single one. Soren's chest tightened.
She immediately wiped her face with her hands. "I'm sorry."
Shit. Now she was apologizing for crying. Without thinking, Soren crossed the room and offered her a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket. She looked at it as though no one had ever offered her such a simple kindness.
"I—I don't want to ruin it,” she sniffled.
