Page 19 of A Vow to Set the Virgin Free

“That is a story for another time. Until then, I wish to tell you the rules of the house. You may go anywhere you wish. The library, the gardens, the stables. You may eat whatever food you wish. If you need something, you simply need tell me over the intercom system, and I will procure it for you. Anything can be brought here by helicopter from the outside. You can have whatever your heart desires in less than an hour.”

She was overwhelmed by that. “Oh. Well, that’s...”

“You are never to go to the north tower. It is my domain. And you are not allowed. Am I clear?”

There was the ice again. It should repel her, and yet it only made her more and more curious about him. Who he was. Why he hid. Why he collected things.

And why should she care?

Was it only that he was the first person she’d been able to truly get to know in years?

“I... Yes. You made yourself clear.”

“It does not give me anything to be cruel to you, lass. It would bring me no joy. I do not make rules for my own amusement. But you will remember who is in charge.”

“Yes. How can I forget.”

“You will be given whatever you need to be comfortable. All I ask is that you respect the boundaries that I have given you.” He made an attempt to warm his voice, and she was disappointed with herself for caring he had done so.

“Yes,” she said, feeling frustrated. “I wish that you would...”

“It is not up to you to decide how this arrangement will play out. Tell me. What is it you want? What is it youneed.”

She felt increasingly frustrated by the distance between them, and she knew she shouldn’t think about him at all. He was offering her protection so she could get out into the world safely. So she could be free. So she could find out who she was. If she had a family.

She should care about that.

Not that she had grown attached to the man’s voice, and yet somehow felt lonely for having not been in his physical presence since the day he’d picked her up and...

“Nothing,” she said. “Nothing now.”

“Good. I will be making arrangements behind the scenes as needed to. Until then, make yourself comfortable. Neither of us is familiar with what waits for us outside. It has been too many years for me, and a lifetime for you. We must be ready.”

“In that case, I need something to watch TV on. I must familiarize myself with the culture.”

“Whatever you wish, as I said.”

She decided to test him. “I should like an assortment of chocolates. To choose from whenever I wish. And I would also like a horse. I am an accomplished rider, you know. It was a skill...it was a skill that my mother prized.”

Naya had been excellent with horses, and so should Athena be.

“It will be given to you.” He paused for a moment. “You test me. You think I am not as good as my word.”

He knew exactly what she was doing. The bastard.

“I shall also need a trousseau,” she sniffed. “Fit for your bride. I shall put in my order when I have the chance to gain access to the internet and look at what I wish.”

“That you cannot have.”

She spread her hands wide. “Why not?”

“Because you can’t.”

“You’re maddening.” She had to stop herself from stamping her foot. “You said that I could. You said that I’d...”

“And I have changed my mind. You do not make the rules. I do.”

“You are a petty tyrant,” she said.

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