“Dude, we’ve frightened Caia with our non-existent manners,” Aidan explained smiling at her.
“No, no-” she tried to protest.
Lucien frowned. “We’re just eating.”
“Caia’s not used to eating at the watering hole.” Irini giggled and smiled flirtatiously at Aidan, who winked in response.
“You will get used to us, Cy,” Ryder assured her pleasantly. “Eventually.”
Caia squirmed, hoping she hadn’t made anyone uncomfortable. But as their amusement lingered she was put at ease enough to turn to her own plate.
“This is delicious Ella, thanks,” she said politely between bites.
“Why thanks, honey,” Ella preened, and then flicked her fork at the others. “This lot never say thanks.”
A rumble of muted ‘thank you’s’ swam towards her as the men spoke with meat in their mouths.
“Ugh, guys,” Irini groaned, “Save the thanks and just chew.”
“I don’t remember you being so cheeky.” Aidan smiled at her. Caia watched his eyes light with appreciation as they washed over Irini.
“I grew up.” She shrugged.
“I noticed.”
Magnus cleared his throat meaningfully, his eyes darting to Lucien, who had now stopped eating and was watching his sister and Aidan with a darkening suspicion. Caia snorted in her head. It had taken him long enough to realize they were flirting with one another.
“Sooo,” Ryder drawled, breaking Lucien’s scrutiny and saving his brother, “Caia, you like movies?”
Everyone except her and Irini groaned.
“What?” He laughed.
Lucien turned to Caia with an exaggerated look of weariness. “When Ryder isn’t mutilating rogues with his bare hands, he’s strapped to an armchair in front of his Blu-ray player.”
“I love movies.” Ryder shrugged, smiling at her.
Caia smiled tentatively back. She liked this lykan. “I like movies,” she offered, grasping an opportunity to maybe bond with another member of the pack, particularly one who was so highly regarded by everyone else.
Ryder’s eyes lit up. “Yeah?”
She nodded, stupidly pleased with the warmth in his gaze.
“Who’s your favorite director?”
She mused for a bit as she chewed on a piece of exquisite beef. “Truth?” She smiled shyly.
He nodded expectantly.
“I can’t quite make my mind up between Tarantino and Tony Scott.”
The lykan let out a delighted laugh. “Well, I think I might be in love.” He sighed dramatically, his eyes twinkling over mutual film love. Caia felt her cheeks go red with embarrassment at his attentiveness. She had never been a blusher before she returned to the pack. She bit the inside of her cheek willing the redness to go away and realized that, while she was blushing, Lucien had growled at Ryder.
Ryder ignored him. He smirked. “Have you seen Underworld?”
She chuckled, realizing where he was going with this, her eyes dancing with pleasure. “Yes, I have. I swear it was written by one of us.”
“I think we could take those CGI lykans.”