Little Red (Jacob Seed)

7. The Incident

Once Jacob had finished his rounds he returned to his truck and actually smiled slightly to himself when he saw Red sleeping in the passenger seat. He climbed into the truck and drove them back to his cabin.

Red slowly woke up but didn't open her eyes and she found herself with a warm and safe feeling. She sighed softly in content and nuzzled further into what ever it was that was emitting so much heat before drifting off to sleep again.

Jacob's eyes widened and heat rose up his neck, his ears turning red. He had just picked Red up, bridal style, and was carrying her sleeping figure towards the cabin. Thankfully there wasn't any cultists around. Red had just buried her head in Jacob's chest and her small, delicate hand gripped his jacket lightly. He tightened his grip on her, afraid of letting her fall, and she let out a content sigh. It was like music to his ears.

Jacob tried not to focus on the beautiful woman who was now clinging to him in her sleep. He carried her into the cabin and upstairs, laying her on her bed. He sighed when he noticed how her hair was a mess and covering her face. He brushed her hair backwards, surprising himself with the gentle act. Red smiled and leaned into his touch, letting out an affectionate hum of approval. Nobody has ever looked at Jacob like that, not even in their sleep.

Jacob pulled his hand away and quickly exited the room, closing the door behind him as quietly as he could. He wandered into the kitchen to grab something to eat and thought back to Red's kindness when she cooked him breakfast, he wondered whether he should make her dinner as a way to say 'thank you' and return the act of kindness. Jacob has never been good with words and was a believer that actions spoke louder but he couldn't figure out how to respond to Red in any situation. She is just so different.

Red woke up and her eyes fluttered open, she took a moment to take in her new surroundings. Her bedroom in Jacob's cabin. She sat up and stood up before slipping her coat off and waking down the stairs. She smiled as she walked into the kitchen just in time for Jacob to place the two plates down on the dining table. He acknowledged her with a small nod and sat down, she smiled at him and sat opposite him.

She looked down at her plate and saw that he had attempted to cook a steak and some vegetables. The steak was undercooked to say the least and the blood from the meat was basically drowning the vegetables. Jacob noticed that Red didn't find the meal appealing as he ate, he was about to take it away from her and let her make herself something. The sight of Jacob eating the undercooked meat gave Red the confidence to eat her own, Jacob was shocked when she took a mouthful and smiled at him. It was obvious that she wasn't impressed with his cooking skills and it was obvious to her that he didn't cook often. He was amazed that Red would even think about eating it, of course the food didn't bother him but he could see that it bothered her slightly. She is just too damn polite.

Jacob couldn't help but wonder if she was eating it to make him happy, but why would she do that?

They ate in silence and afterwards there were two empty plates, Jacob still couldn't believe that she ate it. "Thank you Jacob, I will clean up" she smiled as she stood up and took the plates, carrying them over to the sink.

"You didn't have to eat it" Jacob blurted out. "I know that it was awful" he shook his head and walked over to her.

"It wasn't that bad, a little undercooked, but it's the thought that counts" she shrugged, smiling sweetly at him.

"The thought?" Jacob asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, you made dinner and it was nice of you. Thank you" she smiled again. Jacob loved that damn smile, caring and shy.

"Whatever" Jacob mumbled and turned, beginning to walk away.

"Jacob" Red sighed and turned around to him, reaching for his arm. Her fingers grazed the rash on his forearm and she quickly retracted her hand. Jacob noticed her reaction and stormed out of the room. Red was left in the kitchen wondering what she did wrong. Jacob cursed quietly to himself, she is disgusted by him. Why wouldn't she be?

After finishing cleaning up Red walked into the living room where Jacob sat on the sofa, cleaning his gun. She bit her cheek nervously before sitting beside him, noticing him tense. "D-did I do something wrong?" Red asked quietly, hanging her head.

Jacob glanced at her and huffed, placing his gun down and turning to her, he hated that sad and sorry look on her face. "You didn't do anything wrong" he assured her with a mumble and pulled his folded sleeves down.

Red watched as he covered the scars and rashes on his arms and realisation slowly sank in. "Oh...oh Jacob I..." she couldn't even think of what to say, she felt guilty for making him even slightly self-conscious about his blemishes. 

In reality the soldier wasn't self conscious about his scars and rashes even a little bit, they made him strong and intimidating. But the thought of disgusting Red made him want to shiver.

Jacob ignored the girl and stood up, making Red panic. She reached up and grabbed his sleeve, of course he was much stronger and could've walked away from her but he stopped. Red stood up cautiously but he stood with his back to her. She bit her lip before gently lifting the sleeve up one of his forearms, moving around to stand beside him, he looked down at her with an unreadable expression.

She glanced up to meet his eyes before looking back down at the rash on his arm, gently she folded the sleeve on his elbow and then brushed her fingers down his arm. Her gentle touch was soothing against his rough skin, he watched her with a burning intensity and she smiled softly to herself amazed that he would let her do this. She looked up at him with those innocent doe eyes and Jacob's stone heart melted. "What are you doing?" Jacob asked lowly.

"Does it hurt?" Red asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Jacob shook his head and squinted at her slightly, she smiled at his response and wrapped her small hand around his arm. "I didn't want to hurt you" she whispered again, thinking back to what happened in the kitchen.

Jacob suddenly pulled his arm away, did she do something wrong again? He then turned to look at her, looking down at the small woman who looked up at him with curious and concerned eyes. When her soft fingers brushed against the rash on his arm again, something inside Jacob snapped. He grabbed the arm, that she reached out with, in a firm grip making her eyes widen in shock but not fear. Why not fear?

He pulled on the arm a roughly and caused Red to fall into his chest, using her other hand to rest against his toned chest and steady herself. Her eyes were still wide when his other hand cradled the back of her head and he brought his lips down to meet her own. There was a moment of shock in Red, she didn't move or respond, so Jacob began to pull away. As if Red was clinging onto her life she clenched her fist and grabbed a fistful of his army jacket, leaning up and into him as she kissed him back.

Jacob growled as he grabbed her waist firmly and practically slammed Red against the wall behind her, she didn't mind. Actually, she didn't mind at all.