him. Why, he couldn’t say. But ruffling Doc’s feathers made the man seem more human and less a scientific genius with a limitless wallet.
They spent the rest of the meal as usual. Zack and Ace annoyed one another and flirted with Kelly, who ignored them in favor of someone else -- Caitlyn. Doc and Derrick talked baseball while Hale waxed on and on about the newest hottie waiting tables at The Ugly Mug, one of his favorite stops in town.
Under his breath, he described her with awe. “She has the nicest tits. Really full. Long-ass legs that wrap around a body just right.” Hale groaned and sucked down his beer. “But best of all, she’s actually intelligent under all that blonde hair. Likeable, too, especially while she’s blowing you. Friendlier gal I’ve yet to meet.”
“For God’s sake, Hale, you sound like you’re in heat.” Roane huffed in disgust. All this talk of long legs and big breasts made him think of Caitlyn when he needed to concentrate elsewhere.
“In lust, maybe. I think we already did ‘in heat,’ bro.” Hale smirked.
“You look in her direction again, and I’ll rip that smug grin right off your fucking face,” he whispered harshly, knowing the other Circs could hear him. Caitlyn, thankfully, seemed absorbed in whatever Kelly was saying.
“See, this is what I’m talking about,” Hale whispered. “You’re wrapped too tight. Easy, Roane. I’m just kidding around. I like Caitlyn. She seems like a nice girl.” My nice girl, the beast in Roane snarled.
“Roane, did you see the Cubs beat the Braves today?” Derrick shook his head. “If you’re not careful, you’re gonna lose a shitload of money to me. Betting on the Braves. Man. Then again, no one ever claimed you were the sharpest tool in the shed.” Derrick chuckled, and Roane reluctantly left Hale alone as he finished his dinner.
He caught Caitlyn eyeing him with uncertainty. The small smile he gave her didn’t seem to instill any more confidence.
“Wow, Kelly. That was great.” Caitlyn placed her napkin on the table by her half-eaten plate of food. “It’s been a long day, and I’m beat.” She smiled at Doc. “I really appreciate all you’re doing for me. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to get some rest now.” Doc stood, gentleman that he was. He glared at the rest of the table, and they shot out of their chairs to their feet. “Have a good night’s rest, Caitlyn. We’ll start more testing tomorrow. Sleep in and relax. You’re safe here.” She nodded her good night to the others but paused when she faced Roane. “Good night, and thanks.” Quickly turning on her heel, she joined Kelly and left the room.
Silence lingered. Roane glanced away from the women’s exit to find everyone watching him. “What?”
Doc narrowed his gaze. “A little possessive, aren’t we?” Not “we,” professor. Me. Roane ignored the taunting voice in his head. “Not at all.”
“Good. Because Caitlyn is very new to all this, despite her background. She’s a newly turned Circ, just maturing.” Doc waved them to sit and continued when they did. “I expect she’ll go into heat a few more times this week before she settles.” Roane’s internal temperature skyrocketed at the news.
“And that’s going to cause problems if you’re feeling possessive.”
“It’s just because we’ve found a female.” Roane lied through his teeth, not yet ready to announce how he felt when he didn’t understand it himself. As leader of this ragtag band of genetic anomalies, he was expected to be strong, in control. Battling his inner beast was hard enough. Fighting his new instincts to claim Caitlyn bore close watching.
“Uh-huh.” Hale rolled his eyes. “That’s why any of us even try sniffing in her direction and you’re ready to tear our heads off.”
“Not any of you. Just you, Hale, because you’re an ass.”
Derrick snickered. “He’s got you there. You are an ass.”
“Shut up.”
“No, really,” Zack
John Steinbeck, Richard Astro