Rosto was waiting for me when I went to let Achoo out in the morning. He was laid out on the floor so I near enough tripped over him.
"Watch it," I snapped, though he'd already got to his feet, more graceful than Pounce when he had a care to be. "Did I miss breakfast or sommat?" I pushed past him; Achoo's business would wait for no cove, and I was pretty sure I didn't want to hang about to hear what Rosto had to say either.
No gillyflowers. I swallowed hard. Clearly I'd been a looby to think that, just because I'd stayed away from Rosto last night, he was going to let my dealings in Port Caynn slide. For one, I could give him information on the new Rogue there.
For another, there was Dale.
"You couldn't've warned me?" I muttered to Pounce, opening the door for my two animals.
You have eyes and ears enough, Pounce retorted. I thought you would be used to using them by now.
I pulled a face at him, knowing he was right to scold, and waited for Rosto to follow us out.
When he did, his dark eyes were unreadable, and he was flipping a copper in the air. Briefly, I wondered if he meant to bribe me with it - mayhap this visit had more business about it than I'd thought.
That thought was doused when he shoved his hand - coin and all - in his pocket. "Didn't really get a chance to talk to you last night. Thought you probably needed to relax, after the time you've had lately." Achoo leaned against his leg, and whined. Soft cove that he was, he fell for it, and dropped down to pat her affectionately. "Hope you don't develop a taste for hunting Rogues," he added, with a wink.
Usually that kind of expression from Rosto would set my insides all shaky, but they'd been turned every which way of late, from all my trips into the sewers. "Depends what they've done," I replied flatly.
"Wasted away for want of the love of a pretty mot?" Rosto asked lightly.
I was close enough to cuff him round the back of the head, but decided it wouldn't be proper, not in sight of his court. Mindful of that, I murmured, "Achoo, tumit," and led her indoors, not caring whether Rosto chose to follow or not. He did, though - I wasn't to escape that easy.
"I've got a lot on today," I said, not meeting his eyes. "I'll be about for breakfast, though."
"When I won't be able to get you on your own," Rosto said shrewdly. "Fine, Beka. I wonder what you're so afeared of me asking. Or-" I started as he slipped his fingers under my chin. I hadn't registered that he was so close. "What you're so afeared of happening."
I glared up at him. "I know what you're about, Rosto. Don't you go stealing kisses from me again."
His eyes crinkled with amusement. Had he been funning with me all along? "Will you report me to my lord Provost for it?"
That earned him a firm shove from me, and the smile dropped right off his face.
"Not in the mood to be toyed with, I see." His voice was low, and I remembered with a shiver, like I had never had cause to remember before, that he was the Rogue, at the end of the day. At the end of every day. "And yet you let Dale Rowan toy with you whenever he pleased." He stepped back from me, and looked me over. "See you over the road for breakfast, then."
I nodded weakly, feeling my knees all atremble.
"You needn't worry about my stealing kisses anymore," he added, no more than a step away from the door. "Next time I kiss you, you'll have asked me first. Nicely."
I caught sight of his smirk as he left for the Dancing Dove.
May I request you ask me first to avert my eyes? It does not even have to be nicely.
"You're going for cat meat after breakfast," I promised my constellation cat darkly, stalking up to my bedroom.