Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(35)

"Why are you insisting we share a bed?" she demanded again.

"So you don't get any stupid ideas, that's why. Someone needs to babysit you tonight."

Katherine saw red at the word babysit.

She was so mad that she almost didn't hear Sophie's mumble. "Sure, that's why."

The blonde's comment prompted Katherine to take note of her. Wouldn’t she make a much more appropriate bedmate?

"If you really think I need to be babysat," Katherine spat the word out, "then why can't I sleep with Sophie?"

Zane's amused snort made Katherine turn her eyes on him. "Yeah, perhaps that'd be possible if the woman didn't sleep like the dead."

The man was smacked across the head by the woman in question, but she offered Katherine a sheepish shrug. "It's true. I'd be little use as a babysitter."

Katherine continued to seethe. "Why not Caleb then? Zane? Even Markus?"

Bastian had tensed as soon the name “Caleb” had spilled from her mouth. His hands clenched at “Zane”. And by the time “Markus” had had been said, a dark red color was slowly creeping up his neck.

"No," the man answered through his teeth.

"Why not?" Katherine commanded Bastian to tell her despite the voice in the back of her head telling her not to mess with the man who looked mere moments away from having steam burst from his ears.

"They’re men!" he exploded, his eyes fierce as he glared at her.

"So are you!" Katherine shouted back.

"It’s different with me!"

"How?" Katherine demanded incredulously.

"It just is!"

Katherine made a face, pushing a lock of dark hair behind her ear. Then she crossed her arms, making it very clear that she wasn't going to move unless she got an explanation.

In response, Bastian took a deep breath, seemingly trying to get a hold of his wiry temper. "Just get over here," he finally ordered after a minute of silence and neither of them moving.

"Make me," Katherine shot back, not backing down for a moment.

"Fine," the man growled before stalking over to her. "Have it your way."

Katherine froze at the predatory growl and couldn't quite react in time to dodge him as he lifted her by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. It was like she weighed nothing.

After letting out a surprised squeak, Katherine was able to contain her shock. "Put me down!" she yelled, absolutely infuriated. She also landed a few forceful punches to his back – which she couldn't help but notice was very firm. The punches, in fact, probably hurt her more than him.

Within moments, she was rudely tossed onto the mattress of the bed in question. It was surprisingly comfortable. But that didn't stop Katherine from immediately sitting up and glaring at Bastian, who remained towering over her, his arms crossed over his chest. It was eerily similar to the pose she had held not two minutes earlier.

Katherine was only vaguely aware of their audience, having almost completely forgotten about the rest of the people in the room, who were no doubt more amused by than sympathetic of her situation.

"Why are you doing this to me?" The words were supposed to come out as an angry demand, but came out sounding defeated to even Katherine's own ears.

"Because I don’t trust you to stay," Bastian said simply.

And what could she say to that? He was right. Her intentions were to leave – to escape from these people as soon as she was given the opportunity.

"I don’t like you," Katherine snarked, for lack of anything else to say. But even she could tell the words lacked any real malice.

Bastian must have known as well because he remained unimpressed. "You’ve made that perfectly clear. Now scoot over and lay down."

Rolling her eyes, Katherine finally did as she was told and perched herself at the very edge of the queen-sized mattress. She buried herself under a blanket. Her whole body tensed when Bastian lay beside her, but she relaxed when he remained on top of the covers.

She stubbornly faced the wall, but could hear the others as they made themselves comfortable – with lots of groaning from the two men forced to brave the floor.

Katherine couldn't help but think it ironic that they were jealous of her sleeping arrangements and she of theirs.

Soon the man beside her shut off the lamp on the nightstand and the room was cast into darkness.

Despite her exhaustion, Katherine forced herself to keep her eyes open. She wasn't willing to believe that her plan had been completely thwarted. She concentrated on breathing as evenly as possible, hoping to be able to convince Bastian of her slumber. She nearly dozed off twice, but managed to keep herself awake by pinching her arm whenever she felt like falling asleep.

When what had to have been close to an hour had passed, she finally put her plan into action. She slowly shifted her body until she was on the verge of falling off of the bed. Then, holding her breath, she carefully sat up. The bed frame squeaked when she moved and she immediately tensed. And waited. When nothing happened, she let out a soft sigh of relief and continued.

She placed one foot on the carpet. Two.

And then a hand latched onto his wrist.

Katherine just barely managed to swallow a scream. Her eyes immediately turned to meet those of the man holding her wrist. Much like the long fingers enclosing her small hand, the man's eyes were gentle.