Siren | Caden Archeron

Chapter Nine

let's be alone together, we can stay young forever

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The following morning came all too fast and Stella groaned in annoyance as Caden shook her shoulder lightly, pulling her from her blissful slumber.

"Stel," he murmured, stroking her cheek softly. "Wake up, come and have breakfast." She groaned, opening her eyes, blinking in annoyance.

"Can we not just go back to sleep?" She yawned and Caden laughed lightly, dragging her up.

"Do you want me to bring breakfast in here?" He offered and she shook her head, clambering to her feet even though she'd swear she only slept a few hours.

"Why so early?" She yawned again, reaching for one of his shirts to throw on and pulling a blanket off the bed.

"It's mid-morning." He laughed. "And I'm expected at Uncle Rhysand's for lunch." He told her as she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. "But you're welcome to crawl right back in after you eat." He told her, kissing her lightly on the temple.

"Mmm...tempting." She hummed, leaning into him. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay?"

"I'm sure you probably could," he looked her up and down salaciously. "But I really don't think you want my cousin showing up in the middle of it, wondering where I am." That she agreed with wholeheartedly. "Good point." She shook her head, huffing out a laugh.

When she made it to the living room there was bacon, eggs and toast as well as fried potatoes on their plates and she looked back at him questioningly. "What's this?"

"I told you I was going to make it up to you," he lifted her chin so he could kiss her softly on the lips.

"You can cook?" She leaned back to glance at the kitchen where sure enough there were used pans by the sink.

He laughed. "Stella...I'm forty four years old. I live alone—of course I can cook." She supposed that made sense but then there were plenty of well off fae who didn't bother, who hired maids and chefs and whoever else to do the small tasks for them—she would know.

"Alright old-timer." She pushed him to the side, taking a seat, laughing as he followed. "But this isn't how you're making it up to me."

He blinked, looking at her strangely. "What?"

"I already decided how you're making it up to me." She shrugged.

He frowned, "you were asleep the whole time!"

"Yeah," she nodded, "but I've been thinking about this for a while, so the minute you screwed up and said you would make it up to me," she clicked her fingers, "I knew."

He shook his head in amazement. "Alright then." He sat down his knife and fork, leaning back in his chair. "What is it?"

She looked up at him nonchalantly, swallowing a mouthful of bacon. "A full-body massage." She continued cutting up her eggs, ignoring the way his mouth fell open. "I really like your hands," she said. "I thought we could do it this morning but since you're busy..." She shrugged, shoving some toast in her mouth, looking at him innocently.

He ran a hand over his face, groaning. "Do not do this to me." He shook his head.

"Do what?" She smiled, reaching for the juice. "I understand you're busy. I would never ask you to stick around for something so trivial." She moved her bare foot under the table, sliding it up his calf slowly.