Rules

Wren

“We need to set some ground rules if we’re going to do this,” I announced.

Ryan placed my duffel bag on the floor of my new room, which was, unsurprisingly, the one closest to his, before turning around to face me.

“Rules?” He arched an eyebrow

I nodded. “Yes, rules.”

He tilted his head, watching me intently, and every nerve in my body lit up in awareness.

I cleared my throat, tore my gaze away from his, and refocused it on the wall behind his head.

We reached his place shortly after the rain stopped, and he spent the last ten minutes showing me around. I hadn’t noticed yesterday, but his place was huge. It was a two bedroom apartment which was four bedroom apartment which made no sense to me since he was just one person and when I asked what he needed the extra space for he simply shrugged.

“Okay, let’s hear them”

Oh.

I half-expected him to argue with me.

“Rule number one: We don’t bring up last night for as long as I’m here.”

“Do you regret it?”

The question caught me off guard.

I wanted to tell him no, but instead I said, “It doesn’t matter if I do. The point is, I was in a vulnerable position, and you were obviously not thinking straight with the whole mate thing so I—”

“I don’t regret it,” he cut in, his voice holding a certainty of unshakable truth, “But if me pretending like I don’t know what you taste like” His voice dipped to a delicious timbre, “or how you sound when you come on my tongue.” He took a step forward, closing the distance until barely four inches separated us. His piercing blue eyes slowly traced down my frame before drifting back up again. “If me pretending like I don’t know how pink your cheeks get when you’re flustered, much like right now, is what you need me to do, then I’ll play along.”

My throat went dry. I blinked. “I’m not flustered.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Sure you’re not.”

I bit my lower lip, ignoring the overwhelming swarm of butterflies that were now fluttering around in my stomach.

“Rule number two,” I blurted out, needing to take back some control, “No more doing that.” I gestured to all of him. “No more comments about last night, no more leaning into my personal space and definitely no more using that voice.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “What voice?”

“That one.” I pointed at him. “Right there.”

“You mean my regular speaking voice, sweetheart?”

I shot him a look. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“Rule number three: no more nicknames.”

That raised both hands in surrender. “Anything else?”

“No walking around the house half naked or completely naked.”

“I’m afraid that rule won’t work. Werewolves run naturally too hot, so keeping a shirt on all day in my own home is practically a torture method.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “The shirt can come off, occasionally, but the pants stay on at all times.”

“How generous of you.” He said dryly.

“Rule number five isn’t technically a rule, but we do need to discuss it. Chores. Usually we’d split them and—”

“No.”

I blinked at him. “You want me to do them all?”

I guess that would be fair considering he was the one sacrificing his space and comfort. The least I could do was everything else.

“Honestly, I’d prefer it if you didn’t do any chores.”

I arched a brow. “But you’re already letting me stay here for free. Even if it’s only temporary, I can’t just freeload.”

“You being here is helpful enough.”

“I don’t get it.”

He took a small step forward but caught himself and retreated to where he stood. “The mate bond affects me in ways you’ll never understand. When you left this morning, every primal instinct I had screamed for me to shift and hunt you down. My wolf can’t stand being away from you, so having you close helps with that. A lot.”

I guess that made sense.

“I can’t just do nothing. I already feel bad enough for imposing.”

“Fine. How about we talk about chores later. Next.”

Seeing that there’s no point in arguing, I continued, “Rule number six: We don’t tell anyone about the mate bond.

He lifted a brow.

Based on what little research I’d done, the mate bond looked different for every supernatural.

Vampires had a blood-drinking ceremony where mates drank blood from each other during what was called the Tethering. In contrast, werewolves had an initiation rite in which humans or non-wolf mates were formally introduced to the pack.

Not only was I not ready to meet his pack, but I also didn’t need news about a bond I wasn’t even sure I wanted yet, reaching my father.

“I just don’t think it’s necessary.” I shrugged, “Besides, what’s that point?”

He arched a brow, his eyes darkening instantly at my words.

This time, when he stepped in, he didn’t bother to retreat. I tilted my head back to meet his eyes as they flashed amber. He cupped my chin, lightly brushing the underside of my bottom lip.

My lips parted, and I let out a shuddering breath at the contact.

I wanted to remind him about the rules, but I doubted he cared enough to stop.

“The point,” He gritted out, “would be for everyone to know you’re mine.”

“What if I don’t want that?” I swear I heard him growl.

“You can make up all the rules you want. Lie to me, hell, lie to yourself that this bond won’t happen, but the fact remains that it will. You were made for me.” his grip on my chin tightened, and his gaze dipped low. “And I’ll be damned if I let you deny it.” He leaned down and ran the tip of his nose along my cheek, inhaling deeply.

Crap.

I shouldn’t like this.

“I’m not denying it,” I said. “I just need time to figure my shit out. I’m supposed to be heartbroken, remember?”

He pulled back and tilted his head, a mocking smirk curving his lips. “He doesn’t deserve to have you feeling heartbroken over him.”

Fuck.

I let out a breath; I really needed to stop this.

I stepped away, and surprisingly he let me,

“That’s two rules you’ve broken now.” I lifted my chin. “If I’m going to live here, Ryan, I need to be sure you can respect my boundaries.”

He sighed and returned to his spot against the wall. “Of course,” he said, then added, “But I want to add a rule.”

I lifted a brow. “What is it?”

“There will be no disrespecting our bond.”

“Ryan—”

“I get that you need time. I do, but you have to understand that I am an alpha. I will not be disrespected, nor will I ever disrespect you or hide how I feel. But I also need the same reassurance.”

I bit my lip, not sure how to respond.

I’d only known Ryan for a day, and yet I knew deep down what he said was true.

I knew he would never disrespect me, so I needed to give him the same courtesy.

I opened my mouth to respond, but a knock coming from the living room interrupted whatever I wanted to say.

We both looked at each other, and I lifted a brow.

“Are you expecting company?”