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"You can come in,” he offered.

She stepped inside, clutching the sleeves of her oversized t-shirt. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't." His voice sounded closer now. "I wasn't sleeping."

She swallowed. "I just—” Her throat closed, and she couldn't explain why she'd come. She couldn't admit she'd been terrified of being alone.

The shower turned off, and a moment later Soren spoke again. "Lily."

"Yes?"

"Come here,” he ordered. She followed his voice to the bathroom doorway but stopped just outside. Steam curled into the bedroom. Soren stood in the shower with his back turned to her as he reached for a towel hanging nearby. He wrapped it securely around his waist before turning to face her. His damp hair was pushed back from his forehead, and droplets of water traced down his broad shoulders.

His expression wasn't intimidating—he looked concerned. "You've been crying."

She instinctively wiped at her cheeks. "I didn't realize."

"You had another nightmare." It wasn't a question.

She nodded. "I couldn't—” Her voice broke. "I couldn't make it stop."

Soren stepped closer, leaving little space between them. "You don't have to explain."

"I know it's stupid to be afraid of someone who can’t get to me here, but it seemed so real,” she said.

"It isn't stupid,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair that had escaped her messy bun back from her face. She couldn’t help but lean into his touch. For such a dangerous man, he was incredibly gentle.

"I woke up and—” She laughed weakly. "I didn't want to be by myself."

For a long moment he simply looked at her. He wasn’t judging her; she could see that much in his hazel eyes. He was just looking at her, as though seeing her for the first time.

"You came here,” he breathed.

"I don't know why,” she lied. She knew exactly why she had run to Soren. He made her feel safe, as crazy as that seemed, and right now she needed to feel that way.

"I do." His voice was calm and steady. "You were looking for somewhere you felt safe."

The truth of it made fresh tears sting her eyes. "How did you know?" she asked. Lily wrapped her arms around her body and shivered, suddenly feeling vulnerable. It was starting to feel like Soren could see directly inside of her mind—and even her soul.

He reached for one of the large towels warming on a nearby rack and unfolded it. "Lily." She looked up at him, feeling as though she couldn’t breathe. "Come here." She obeyed without thinking. As soon as she stood within arm's reach, he draped the warm towel gently around her shoulders. The heat seeped into her chilled skin. She hadn't realized how badly she'd been shaking until then.

"You're freezing,” he said.

"I’m fine,” she lied. She wasn’t fine at all, and that was why she was currently standing in Soren’s bathroom while he was half naked.

"I don’t like it when you lie to me, Lily,” he said.

He rested one hand lightly against her upper arm, his touch careful enough that she could have stepped away if she'd wanted to, but she didn't. Instead, another sob escaped before she could stop it.

"I'm so tired,” she whispered.

"I know, babygirl,” he said. She looked up at him, not sure why the nickname warmed her in all the right places, but it did.

"I'm tired of being scared,” she admitted. "And I'm tired of apologizing all the time."

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I know."

Those two words undid her. The tears came harder as she buried her face against his chest, mortified by her own lack of control.