Scarlet Rogue (Book One)

Chapter Seven: The Green Monster called Jealousy

Kaelynn

Caleb laid next to me as we watched the sky. We found another spot where the sky was in full view. The earlier cloudy sky was now turning into a midnight blue with stars appearing.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" I say to Caleb.

"Yup. Now if we only had a firepit and marshmallows, it would be just like when we use to go camping."

Those memories seemed so distant now, almost like they weren't real. Knowing I had those memories would be enough for me to live a rogue for the rest of my life.

"We should go back, dinner will be soon," Caleb says.

I could stay here forever but he is right, we should go. As we get near the house, we see an angry Ayden and Mark outside. What's going on? My face drops as I feel ashamed for some reason; I don't know what I've done wrong but Ayden's eyes are telling me it's something.

"Where the hell have you guys been? Do you know how worried we all were?!" Mark says.

I mumble an apology, as does Caleb. Looking down, I feel guilty for having worried everyone. It makes my heart ache to see Ayden looking so mad. Ayden rushes off to the woods whilst the rest of us walk to dinner.

I move my food around with my fork noticing Ayden's empty seat. My stomach feels sick, I barely eat before excusing myself for the night. Avery and Caleb look worried but I assure them that I just need some rest which seems to appease them.

I know trying to sleep will be a waste of time. The only thing that will put my mind to rest is to apologise to Ayden. My plans to avoid him have completely backfired! I just can't bear to see him frustrated and hurt like today.

Where is he?

It's hours later, everyone must be asleep by now but Ayden is not back. I advance towards his room wondering if he slipped in without me noticing. His door is open and I can't help but enter.

His scent hits me in waves. Everything smells like sweet cinnamon and apple pie. I walk in and wrap myself in his blanket for comfort. The smell takes me back to cooking with Father. The first thing he taught me to cook was apple pie. We burnt down the kitchen the first time. Father was a terrible cook but by our tenth attempt we had perfected it.

Ayden will be back soon, surely. I decide to wait in his room, the comforting smell is hard to move away from.

---

As my eyes open, the smell hits me.

Shit, I fell asleep in my mate's room.

I get up abruptly wondering how I drifted off so soon. Looking towards the clock, I realise I've been asleep for hours. I need to get out of here before Ayden sees me. But his scent hits me harder and I know he is close.

"Sleep well?" Ayden says as he walks out the bathroom.

Shit, how do I explain why I am here?

I look towards him mortified at myself. That's when I notice, he is wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. My eyes start tracing down his body wanting to trail my hands down every spot. I lick my lips wanting to taste him. I see him studying my reaction and I suddenly look down in shame but it's too late, I can feel myself dripping in lust.

"Like what you see, princess?"

He grins at me as I melt with his words. He pulls on some clothes and I am relieved to see him clothed. I can finally think straight and rush up to get out of the room. All thoughts of apologising to him have escaped my mind as I go back to my original plan of avoiding him.