Page 81 of The Call of Crimson
Esme disappears, leaving us alone. I stare at the steam rising from the cup as I try to think of something to fill the silence.
"Ask me anything," Ayden says suddenly, watching me over the rim of his cup.
I raise a skeptical brow. "Anything?”
He nods. “This is your chance to get to know me. I’m an open book.”
I lean back, pretending to consider. “Did you sleep with Violet?”
He smirks. “Would it make you jealous if I had?”
“Hardly,” I scoff.
“No—” he starts.
“I find that hard to believe,” I cut in.
“I slept with her sister,” he finishes. “Twice.”
“There it is,” I say, laughing.
“And her brother,” he adds shamelessly. “Three times.”
“Not at the same time, I hope.”
“Heavens, no,” he exclaims, laughing. “I didn’t even know they were related until much later. I went through some… dark times following my father’s death. Liquor and warm bodies became a coping mechanism.”
“That would explain why Violet is immune to your charm.”
“Nah,” Ayden says with a grin. “She’s always been immune. Rowina’s more her type.”
“Ah,” I say, understanding clicking into place.
Esme returns with our food, placing the dishes in front of us.
A rich, decadent scent rises from the plates. A poached egg glistens atop a fluffy biscuit layered with ham, all drenched in a creamy yellow sauce.
Beside it, the cinnamon roll towers, so thick with icing it’s threatening to melt off the plate.
Ayden bats my fingers away from the sweet treat, leveling me with a stern look. “You have to try that first,” he says, nudging the egg dish toward me.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes, stabbing my fork into the egg.
When the first bite hits my tongue, I have to choke back a moan because,holy hell, that’s good.The sauce on top is somehow creamy and tangy and perfectly balances the sweetness of the ham. Egg yolk spills, deepening the flavor profile of the dish.
“This is delicious,” I mumble around a mouthful.
“It’s my favorite for a reason,” Ayden says smugly.
“Why don’t you hire her to work for the castle?” I ask, going in for another bite. “I would eat this daily if I could.”
“If you want it every day, I’ll make that happen,” he promises with a wink. “And to answer your question, I’ve tried. Sadly, she can’t be bought.”
“That is sad,” I agree, taking another bite. The yolk dribbles down my chin, and I let out a soft groan of satisfaction.
Ayden reaches across the table, his thumb swiping up the golden trail before brushing lightly over my lower lip.
“You missed some,” he says, bringing his thumb to his mouth to suck it clean.
