Page 32 of The Call of Crimson
“Yes,” Aurelius interrupts smoothly, “Because as much as you crave being watched, Ayden enjoys watching.”
“Fuck,” Ayden finally says. He refuses to meet my gaze, finding a patch of dirt rather interesting right now.
“Is that so?” I tilt my head, looking Ayden up and down. My eyes lock on the outline of his very obvious erection.
“Yes,” he admits, finally meeting my eyes once more.
“Intriguing,” I say, brushing past both of them on my way back to the group.
Charlotte gives me a strange look when I make it back. I didn’t bother to brush off the twigs or grass on my clothing, and I’m positive my braid was disheveled from being wrapped around Aurelius’ fist.
When it all clicks for her, the look shifts to a knowing one. “Well, I can see the prince found you,” she snickers. “Have a nice moment with him?”
Internally, I’m laughing because I know she’s referring to Ayden when she says prince. Aurelius hasn’t been formally recognized as such, and Ayden only calls him that to provoke him. It seems Charlotte is trying to do the same to me now.
“Oh yes,” I saw sweetly. “The prince definitely found me. My moment with him was most… pleasurable.” The word rolls off my tongue, intentionally drawn out. “But, you already know how pleasurable time with him can be.”
I watch her features shift to confusion first, then realization as she pieces together that I’m referring to our shared history, Aurelius, and not her cousin Ayden.
The males join us a second later as Charlotte’s face heats. “But you’re engaged to my cousin!” she hisses.
I chuckle. “I was, in fact, aware of that.” I cock an eyebrow at her when Ayden shoots me a look I can’t read. “Speaking of cousins, if you’re Ayden’s cousin, does that also make you Aurelius’ cousin?”
Her face heats, but it’s Ayden that answers, “No. Charlotte is my cousin through my mother. Thank the gods, Aurelius and I don’t share her.”
I mount Luna, tone airy. “Oh, well, at least there’s that.”
Charlotte curls her lip in disgust. “Says the female who fucked her mother’s fiancé.”
I shrug. “You left outmyfather’s adopted brother. If you’re going to insult me, at least get all the facts.”
“Breyla,” Aurelius says. His tone is meant to chastise me, but I also see the amusement he’s trying to hide in the slight curl of his lips.
“What? She started it.”
I know I’m being childish, but I also know it drives them all crazy. And they all deserved that as far as I am concerned.
Aurelius reins in his horse. “I’m finishing it. Charlotte, stay out of it.”
She rolls her eyes, turning away from me and leading her horse to the front of the group.
Ayden comes to a stop next to me, leaning over to whisper, “Despite how much I may have enjoyed your display in the woods, I would very much urge you not to flaunt your previous relations with Aurelius. I know you do not want this marriage, but could you at least grant me that respect?”
I flush slightly at the realization of just how disrespectful my actions were. I wouldn’t ever apologize for fucking Aurelius, but I could be discreet. “Don’t worry, it was a one-time thing.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Turning to Aurelius, I snap, “No, we won’t.”
He raises a brow. “We won’t what?”
“You just said…”
Ayden cocks a brow at me. “He didn’t say anything, love.”
I sigh. “Never mind, then. Let’s go.”
The setting sun bleeds orange and red across the sky as we reach the outskirts of Caedel. Despite the...detour, we’ve made good time.
