Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(29)

Maybe because it was how they reacted when they saw their unexpected company.

Although she couldn't see Caleb's reaction over Bastian's dominating form, Sophie and Zane immediately tensed. Markus glared. And Bastian – well, he edged himself closer to her in an unexpectedly protective gesture. So close that that his muscular thigh pressed firmly against her slender one. She was also fairly certain she heard a low growl originate from deep within his chest.

The strange man only seemed amused, however, and actually chuckled at the less than welcoming reception – though it was clear that his laughter didn't stem from true mirth. "Honestly, a simple hello would have sufficed."

"What are you doing here, Rogue?" Bastian snarled and Katherine found herself thankful that she wasn't on the other side of the man's deadly glare.

This Rogue person, however, merely rose an eyebrow. "I see your manners remain as appalling as ever Bastian. Color me surprised." His wandering eyes met Katherine's. "But surely you're not so impolite as to not introduce me to your... friend. Who might this young lady be?"

Katherine wanted nothing more than wipe the fake smile straight off the man's face. His eyes were bright with something dangerous and the dark orbs disconcerted her more than she was willing to admit.

"You could use a little work on your manners yourself," Sophie snapped at the man at the same time that Bastian informed him that Katherine wasn’t any of his damn business.

The man's smile only widened in response to their outbursts. "Now, now. I was only asking an innocent question."

Innocent? The man came across as anything but.

"So did Bastian," Markus pointed out coldly. "Why don't you answer his question and tell us why you're here?"

"Council business," the man quickly responded. "I'm afraid I can't divulge the details. You know the rules." They may have, but Katherine certainly didn't.

“Did Cain tell you to trail us?” Bastian demanded, not sounding particularly enthused about the possibility. Not that Katherine had any idea what it meant.

The man, completely ignoring the question, inclined his head towards her. "Does she know-"

"Yes," Bastian snapped, not allowing Rogue to finish his question. But Katherine knew exactly what it had been. Does she know about us?

"Is she-"

"Yes," Bastian repeated sharply. Is she one of us?

Katherine didn't know what possessed her to open her mouth. "She is right here," she informed both men, though she immediately regretted it.

It was one thing to throw the snarky words at Bastian and the others, but quite another to throw them at this man.

Rogue's eye lit up with a positively feral glint. "Of course you are," he agreed with her. "And your name?" The man leaned over their table, reaching out to her with his hand as if offering her a handshake.

Before the man's limb could get near her, however, Bastian was up on his feet and this time Katherine knew she wasn't imagining the threatening growl. Rogue quickly snatched his hand back, but instead of looking startled or frightened – as any sane person would – his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I see," he murmured to himself, eyes glancing from Bastian to Katherine and then back again.

Bastian looked ready to throw himself at the man, but before whatever was happening could escalate any further, the waitress reappeared, balancing two large trays in her hands. She spared Rogue an interested glance. "Is there a problem here?" she asked between gum smacks.

The man flashed a smarmy smile at her – though Katherine was sure the woman thought it charming. "Of course not ma'am. I was just leaving." He locked eyes with Bastian’s once more before turning and making his way toward the door.

The waitress – Andrea, Katherine reminded herself as she once again spied the name tag – shamelessly watched the man's backside as he left. Then she turned her attention back on the men at the table – Bastian, in particular. She not-so-subtly winked as she placed his overflowing plate of bacon in front of him. "Big boys gotta' eat," she simpered.

After asking if the group needed anything else and getting a negative response, the waitress reluctantly took her leave.

Katherine glanced down at the plate in front of her and felt her mouth begin to salivate at the sight of thick slices of greasy ham. But despite her his stomach's demands for substance, she couldn't force herself to take a bite.

She looked across the table at the others, but watching them stuff themselves only churned her stomach. "Is anyone going to tell me what that was all about?" she demanded, determined to avoid eating the food in front of her.

"Eat," was her only response. It came from the man next to her and she realized quickly that no one was going to answer her.

She glowered at Bastian.

"I said eat," he repeated himself.

"No."

"No?"

"Are you deaf?" Katherine provoked, spitting out the words she'd only thought earlier. "No. As in I already told you I'm not hungry and am not going to eat just to please you."

The man swiped a hand through his hair in obvious frustration and grinded his teeth together as if his next words – or word, rather – took a lot out of him. "Please."