Page 53 of His Sold Fated Mate

“Aubrey!” I yelled her name. “What are you doing?” I snapped. She jumped as she turned around.

“I heard something.”

I ground my teeth together. “Was it your sanity leaving the building?”

She crossed her arms. “No, I heard something. I thought it was one of you guys.”

“Aubrey, I told you to stay inside. What the hell are you thinking, going out here?”

“Don’t yell at me,” she snapped back. “I thought someone was out here.”

“I’m going to yell because you didn’t listen. Are you trying to get your ass kidnapped?”

Her body tensed, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. I took a breath and sighed. “Come on, it’s been a long day. Let’s get you home.”

We drove home, where Aubrey was quiet. She stared out the window, her fingers tightly wrapped together. I frowned, knowing I had only made the already tense situation even worse. “I didn’t mean to yell. I was… I just don’t want anything to happen.”

She glanced at me. “I know. I’m sorry. I thought I heard someone, and I went to look. I thought it was you.”

“Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I was just worried. Your ex is here, and anything could happen. I don’t want anything to happen.”

I pulled into the driveway, and she looked at me. “I know that. I just… It’s hard to be around you.”

I frowned. “It is?”

She nodded. “Not because you’ve done anything. It’s just… There is so much going on. I don’t know what’s going on, and I get overwhelmed. I just…” She chewed on her cheek. “I know there is so much going on, and I don’t want to waste your time.”

“Aubrey, nothing is going to happen. I promise.”

“I’m not saying anything is going to happen or that nothing can happen. I’m just…” she stammered, talking quickly. “I just… if anything happens, I don’t want it to be labeled as because of this and not because we wanted to, or that nothing happened, and it means I don’t want anything to happen.

“Aubrey, breathe. What are you worried is going to happen?”

She frowned. “Anything. I don’t want you to think I’m broken and untouchable.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t think you’re untouchable, Aubrey.”

She swallowed, and I watched the way her fingers settled. “I know we don’t have lines in the sand anymore… and that we aren’t exactly just two people living in the house. We’ve had sex, and I’m not saying I don’t want to have sex again, but I am saying I don’t want it right now.”

I reached out and grabbed her hands. “My top priority is you and keeping you safe. Aubrey, nothing will happen if you don’t want to do it.”

She slowly nodded, and I reached up, cupping her face. “Let’s get you to bed. You need sleep.”

We headed inside, where Aubrey didn’t let go of my hand. “Can you stay with me?”

“Of course,” I said as I locked the door. I hoisted her up and carried her upstairs. I took her into my room, where she crawled under the covers. I watched her sink into the sheets, finding she fit in them perfectly.

I crawled under them, pulling her close to me. She rested her head against my shoulder and sighed. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me for this, Aubrey.”

Chapter 16 - Aubrey

I didn’t want to say that I was going stir-crazy, but I was. Everywhere I went, Klaus followed. When I went to get groceries, he was there. When I went out for afternoon walks, he went with me. I knew that Klaus was doing this to keep me safe because they weren’t able to find Mike, and Klaus wasn’t taking any chances. But I was starting to miss my alone time.

I glanced across the deck where Klaus was standing with the hose. He was watering the garden bed while I sat at the kitchen island. I tapped my finger on the counter and sighed. I needed out of the house, but I didn’t think that was going to help. I knew Klaus would go with me, and I just wanted to clear my head. I wanted to turn my mind off of everything that was going on.

Klaus opened the screen door and stepped inside. “It’s hot out there.”