As I approach, thunder returns and Rez giggles. “Oh, stop it. That’s just Knox. He’s a friend and he’s here to help.”
Ouch! I was hoping I was more than just a friend or at least a contender, but I guess I can’t be too concerned right now.
“He doesn’t care if I’m a friend. He thinks I’m an ass, a neanderthal shifter,” I inform her, rolling my eyes.
“Wait, what?” Rez pauses her belly rubs and gives me a confused look. “You can talk to him?” she asks.
Hiding my smirk, I take this as an opening and slowly sit down behind her. Handing her the splint and some dressing; I go on to explain how I can pick up some emotions and words depending on how intellectual the animals are, and apparently this one is highly intelligent.
And fixated on my girl.
I watch as Rez bandages up his hind leg despite not seeing any obvious problems with him.
“How did you know he was hurt? He’s not even complaining about his leg,” I finally ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Of course, he wouldn’t,” Rez replies. The Stag stands up and gingerly puts his back leg down before snuggling into Rez’s shoulder after she gets up also. “He’s too proud to ask for help.” She laughs as she gives him a hug. “Go play. I’m gonna check on the other babies.” Turning back to me, she continues. “I noticed a small twinge when he kicked off and his weight went to his left leg sooner than it should.” She shrugs as my jaw drops. Maybe I really am a neanderthal for not picking that up. All I saw was him charging and I wanted to protect Rez. “It’s really nothing. I’ve always been able to notice small things like that. It’s a stronger pull here it seems,” she admits, a slight pink reaching her cheeks as she blushes. “I wish I could explain how I know that, but it just comes to me.”
“So you mentioned other babies?” I ask, hoping to get away from the protective stag still eyeing me.
“Oh yeah!” she perks up. “They are so cute.” Jumping up and down, she lets out a girly squeal and I laugh at her antics. The Stag bumps into her back and she spins around and gives him another hug. “Oh, I meant nothing by it, Bestica. You’re more handsome than cute.”
I can’t help but snort at his name.
“What?” she demands and pins me with an annoyed look.
“The name you gave him is hilarious andwrongI might add,” I say, feeling cocky as hell.
“Okay you, cheeky asshole. Are you going to stand around and gloat or help me out?” Placing her hand on her cocked hip, she gives me a sassy look to rival my own. “Or did you forget already that actions speak louder than words?”
Her words and attitude are like an aphrodisiac to my senses. All I want to do right now is pull her into me and slam my lips against hers. Push my rapidly growing cock into her soft stomach and watch her blush, knowing what she’s doing to me. But I doubt the feisty little kitten would appreciate that right now. Especially since she just reminded me that I’m making up for my past transgressions.
Holding my hands up in defeat, I give her my award winning smile. “I didn’t forget. His name is actually Basilicus.”
Turning back to the stag, she repeats his name and he…purrs? Is that what he’s doing? The low rumbling of thunder rolls out of him as she pets him for hopefully the last time. She might be best friends with him, but it’s obvious I'm not his favorite person.
“Okay, let’s go. I’ll show you the new additions Taffy got.” She leads as I follow behind her, trying to check out her ass but her sweats are too baggy. They actually look like JP’s sweats, and it takes a moment to realize the pain in my jaw is from clenching it at the thought of her wearing his clothes and not mine.
She brings us to a paddock where a baby Wolf Hawk and a Moon Dust Wolf are curled up together, grooming each other. It’s kinda cute.
“Do they have names?” Rez asks, pulling my attention back to her.
“No, they are too young and they are more or less lower on the totem pole for intelligence, unlike the stag,” I explain, and she gives me a curious look that sparks my wolf and gryphon.
Hold it back boys, I’m busy here.
It’s not the first time the boys have been interested in what I’m doing, but it is the first time theybothare.
“So does that mean most shifters can communicate with their animals also?” She leans her back against the small fence and I mimic her position, trying not to stare down at her chest that’s pushed out from her posture. “If you go by what you said, it would make sense that your animals talk to you. If they are a part of you andifthe shifter has some intelligence to them, their animals would too.”
A gruff laugh leaves me as I catch onto the little dig at my expense.Touché, my feisty kitten!
“You would be correct withmostshifters. Like I mentioned before, I’m a little different in how I can pick up emotions and some vague words from all animals. I don’t have the same connection with my own.”
“You mean, you guys don’t talk?” she says, her distressed tone puts me on edge, and I find myself reaching for her arms only to pull back at the last minute. I don’t think she would appreciate the contact.
“No, I mean we communicate by feelings.” Taking in her expression of sadness, I try to soothe her the best I can. “Don’t worry, my little kitten. You don’t have to feel bad. We’ve never thought of ourselves as missing out.”
That seems to calm her down as she nibbles on her bottom lip. “Okay, so you don’t talk to them like other shifters would. So how did you learn their names?”
