“Well, he still made me feel like an idiot in class for no reason,” I pout and start to cross my arms across my chest but realize I’m still holding my drink.Damn JP for making me question things.
“And I’m sure there’s a reason for it,” he counters, receiving an annoyed look from me. “Look, I doubt it was a good one, but at least give him a chance if he comes looking for a opportunity to explain, okay? That’s all I ask. If he doesn’t, then he’ll have bigger worries than embarrassing you. He’ll have us to deal with.” JP gives me a grin that I can’t help returning.
“Okay,” I relent, giving him a slight nod.
“Wonderful, now let’s dance,” He says excitedly, taking my cup as well as his and placing both down into the sand. I trail behind him as he pulls me onto the makeshift dance floor close to the DJ stand.
Chapter Forty-Two
Groveling is the new sexy
Rez
Ineed a break. JP has energy for days, but after so many drinks and dancing by the bonfire, I need a breather. Leaning back on my hands in the sand, I watch and giggle while Moni dances with a hula hoop as JP shoots little bursts of water at her.
“Do you mind if we talk?” A husky voice says over my shoulder, making me jump. Swallowing back down my heart that tried to escape out my mouth, I look over my shoulder and see Knox standing there in all his sexiness. Damn, when did he lose his shirt? I can see the faint sheen of sweat marking his chest and trailing down to his happy trail. Gah, why do supes have to look so fucking delicious? He’s like the equivalent of the s’mores I just ate, except he needs to be the chocolate that melts over my fingers.NO, Rez. Mind out of the gutter.
“What about? You gonna try and make me look like a fool again?” I glare at the sexy as sin shifter. The look of shock that appears on his face is enough to make me rethink my attitude… barely.
He runs his hand through his messy hair and looks down at his feet that are digging into the sand. “No. Just wanted to apologize,” he confesses.
Ohh! I can get on board with a little groveling at my feet.
I push a curl behind my ear and give him a cocky smile, “Okay. Apologize.”
A faint blush reaches his cheeks as he looks around at the surrounding group. “Do you mind if we go over there?” He asks and points down the beach away from the fire and the trail we came down to the party.
I give him a nod, and he lets out a breath as his shoulders relax. Getting up, I brush the sand from my ass, pick up my flip flops, and follow Mr. Sexy down the beach. We walk through the sand in silence until the party slowly drifts away, allowing us to step into our own separate bubble. We stop when we reach a massive log lying on the beach, and I sit down. Placing my flip-flops next to me, I take in our surroundings. The bonfire is still within sight, and I can see the moonlight shimmering over the ocean waves, making it glitter like diamonds have been sprinkled through them. The faint music from the party, along with the ocean surf, creates its own soothing melody that I find myself slowly rocking along with.
Expecting Knox to sit down with me, I’m surprised when I look up and see he’s still standing next to me with his hands in his pockets, and a frustrated look on his face.Oh shit! Did I just walk out here for him to only kill me and throw my body into the surf? Damn. I have a fucked up imagination. I might need to get that checked.
His look quickly changes to one of nervousness, and I watch as he fidgets. Before I can ask what’s wrong, he blurts out, “Do you want to dance?”
Taken back, I’m momentarily shocked, and my jaw drops. That’s not what I was expecting, and it’s clear that wasn’t the reaction Knox was looking for when he hurries to explain.
“Look. I’m not really a big talker, and I normally have something to dist—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupt. “It helps to be doing something while you grovel at my feet… I get it.” I give him a sly smile and a shoulder shrug, then hop off the log. He takes in a deep breath and when he exhales, his shoulders drop. He stands tall as he holds out his hand to me, but he’s nervous as hell as his adam’s apple bobs up and down in his throat. I duck my head to hide my knowing smile, and he takes my hand, pulling me into him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I can feel the warmth that radiates from his body, and it helps stave off the slight chill in the air. He places his hands on my hips as we begin to slowly move to the beat of nature’s music playing in the background, and I can’t help but admire how beautiful he is. His broad, muscular chest is within my touch, and I notice his nipples are pierced with black barbells.Oh, hot damn! Quick! A distraction.
“Does this help? With your… is it anxiety?” I hesitate. Most people I ran into who have bad anxiety find it easier to talk when they focus on something else.
“It’s not anxiety, or at least, not the way you’re thinking,” he says, pulling me in closer. “As a shifter, we tend to have a lot of emotions built up, and it’s hard to distinguish all of them, so our beasts tend to focus on rage.” When I look up to find his eyes on me, he quickly looks out over the ocean as he continues. “Instead of focusing on the rage, I try to funnel it into something more manageable, and this is the result,” he adds and shrugs.
“That makes sense. So, let’s get back to your apology and groveling at my feet.” I say and beam up at him.
He gives me a sly smile, and a dimple pops.Oh, holy baby Jesus and bunny poppers. Did I just say bunny poppers? It’s official, Moni is rubbing off on me.
“Never said I would grovel at your feet,” he growls, but there’s a sparkle in his light green eyes. He suddenly spins me away from him, and I almost trip in the sand, but when I catch my balance, I look up, and my breath catches in my throat. Knox is on his knees in front of me with his hands in a prayer position.
“Please forgive me, Rez. I’m not much for words, but I am begging you with all my heart and soul to find it in yourself to forgive me. I listened to others and their opinions about you instead of getting to know you myself. I’m sorry that I allowed myself to be easily swayed by people I knew had questionable morals. And I’m sorry for going along with your prick of a professor that couldn’t like the idea of you being a badass.” He starts to shuffle over to me on his knees, and I’m shocked to my core. He wanted to apologize, but crawling on his hands and knees never crossed my mind. I honestly didn’t imagine this gorgeous man, this apex predator, on his knees in front of me giving me puppy dog eyes.
Flapping my jaw like a fish out of water, he buries his head in my stomach and wraps his arms around my waist. My brain momentarily short circuits as I look down and see this man at my feet. My dirty perverted mind immediately pictures how it would look with him between my legs, groveling in other ways.Down girl… we need to do business.
I grab his hair and make him look up at me, his big green eyes still begging me. “I forgive you. What you just did, it goes a long way in my book to make amends, but you still have to prove it. Ever heard the phrase, actions speak louder than words?” He nods, and I release his head and place my hands on his shoulders. “Good. That’s what you’ll have to do. Show me that I can trust you and that you meant every word.”
He jumps up and wraps me in his arms for a quick hug, whispering, “Thank you.” Proving his point, he walks back over to the log and grabs my shoes for me for our walk back to the party.
Aww, look, he fetches. Now let’s see how good he is for keeping his word.
