Chapter 14
SHELBY
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The next morning, the guys surprise us girls with breakfast.
During the meal, Luke suggests we go down to the beach. “We put the towels and umbrellas out for you.”
“The Knights only have two jet skis, so Dom, Luke, Sam, Mav, and I will rent some.” Cam puts away the last dish.
“If the girls can pack the cooler and take whatever you want down, we’ll meet you on the beach,” Dom says.
Mav bounces up to me. “Shelby, can I please talk to you.”
“Sure.” I walk away from the kitchen and over to the steps. “What’s up?”
“I don’t want to ruin our fun today, but I won’t be able to enjoy my time until I talk to you.” His hands move a mile a minute, and this is the first time I’ve noticed how restless he is.
I lean on the back of the couch. “I’m listening.”
He run his hand through his black hair, almost to the point of pulling it. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“Breathe, Mav.” Without hesitating, I reach out and touch his arm. “Just say what you need to say.”
He takes a deep breath, then lets it out. “I swear on my life I didn’t kiss Maddy. I turned away, and she kissed right here.” He points to the corner of his mouth. “The rest were on my chin around here.” He taps his jawline.
“I heard you that night when you were talking to Cam,” I admit. “Since then, I’ve thought about what it’s like to be under that asshole’s control. They say that when you’re under hypnosis, deep down, you have to want to do whatever command you follow, but that’s bullshit.”
I shake my head in anger. “If you saw a hypnosis show, they make fools out of the audience. There’s no way those people want to go up on stage in front of hundreds of people to be made fun of.”
His shoulders relax. “So, you forgive me?”
“I won’t lie, Mav, it hurt, and we have a lot to talk about.” I squeeze his arm. “But I still love you.”
“Here, I want you to have this.” He hands me a notebook.
I stare down at it in confusion. “What’s this? Notes from class?”
He chuckles. “No. Since you weren’t ready to talk to us, I wrote down what I was feeling and what I wanted to say to you. I’d like you to read it.”
My vision blurs. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Hope fills his eyes. “Can I have a quick kiss?”
I swallow. I can do this. “Yes, stay still.”
I take a step closer to him and stand on my tiptoes. His eyes are closed. With his lip puckered, he’s so damn cute. My lips touch his, and a zing runs through me. Neither of us moves, and neither of us changes the kiss.
“I love you, my queen.”
“And I love you, my Knight.” I tilt my head up to gaze at him. “Wait, wasn’t I a princess?”
“I thought about it, and you’re more than a princess. You’re a queen.” He beams.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Cam comes up and kisses my cheek.
Dom walks over. “Can I kiss your other cheek?”
I smile and tip my face toward him. Luke does the same thing.
The guys leave, and as Cin and Paige place water and pop in the cooler, I go back and put Mav’s notebook on my dresser, then I make sure we have snacks and sunscreen.
As we make our way down to the beach, Paige groans.
“What’s wrong?” I glance around for what could upset my friend.
She points toward the beach, where the guys set up a volleyball net. “Great, it’s gym class all over again.”
I giggle. “Oh, Paige, it’s friends playing volleyball, no big deal.”
“Just wait until I hit the ball into your face or the water.” She points to my face, then the water. “You remember, don’t you?”
Cin’s head bounces between the both of us.
“I was in gym, and we were playing volleyball,” Paige stares at the sand. “I went to serve, and instead of going over the net, it curved and hit the teacher.”
I demonstrate with my hand.
Cin covers her mouth and tries to hold in her laugh, but it doesn’t work. When we both laugh, Paige stands with her arms crossed.
“It’s nice to see you laughing again.” Cin shakes a bottle. “Do you need some sunscreen?”
“Yes, please, or I’ll be a lobster by tonight.” I take the bottle off Cin, sit down, and put it on.
“Can you do my back, please?” I ask.
“Only if you can do mine.”
“Deal.”
When she moves behind me, I stiffen when she touches me for the first time, but as she continues, I calm down.
We switch, and I put it on her. Then she helps Paige.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand. I search the row of houses for anyone who might be out of place.
“Shelby, you all right?” Paige moves the cooler closer to us.
I fidget in my seat. “Yeah, just not used to having people around me.”
I’m used to the beach being empty, but since this is spring break, more people lounge near us.
“You couldn’t have picked a more relaxing spot,” she says.
“I didn’t pick it. Frank did. I told him I wanted something warm. But since being here, I can tell you the ocean has a way of healing you.” I stretch out to help calm my nerves.
The sun is about two-thirds of the way through the morning sky, causing the surrounding foliage to cast into the shadows. Small birds dart along the sand, picking up insects and beach crabs before flying off with their bounty.
Like the many times I’ve been here, groups of people play in the sand, but they’re farther down the beach. Sailboats and catamarans float in the distance.
“Did I tell you Cam’s teaching me to surf?” I ask.
“No way.” Paige laughs.
“I’m pretty good at it,” I say.
“Good at what?” Cin adjusts her umbrella to block more of the sun.
“Surfing,” I tell her.
One of her brows lifts. “You’re surfing?”
Laughing comes from the water. On Jet Skis, the guys race around each other before they cut the engines, their momentum and the force of the wave behind them pushing them onto shore.
Nick and Cam dart past us and back up toward the house.
Mav runs up the beach, slowing as he gets closer to me. “Do you want to ride with me?”
“She should ride with one of us first. You’re not the safest driver.” Dom approaches at a more sedate speed.
“I’ll be safe with her on with me.” Mav sticks his tongue out at Dom.
I rest my hand on his bicep. “I’d love to ride with you.”
Nick and Cam return from the house with a bunch of life jackets.
When Mav grabs one and holds it out to me, I turn around, slipping my arms through the holes before turning around again, and he zips it up.
Mav hesitates for a second. “You’re going to have to hold on to me. Are you okay with that?”
I nod. “I should be. It’s like riding our bikes.”
He reaches out to take my hand, and it surprises me when I don’t flinch.
We head over to a jet ski, and he pulls it out into the water before climbing on. I swing my leg over and straddle behind Mav. He turns it on and glances at me before he takes off.
I scream, but not in terror.
I’m wrong. It’s nothing like riding my bike because of the bouncing. Mav jumps the waves and turns this way and that way.
In the distance, Paige screams as Sam takes off. I can’t help but start laughing.
Mav stops in the open water.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing.” Mav turns to me. “Would you like to drive?”
“Hell yeah!” Before he can say anything, I curl around Mav to sit in front of him. “Hi.”
Mav backs up a little, chuckling. “Hi.”
His eyes move to my lips, and I squirm in anticipation.
“I want to try something. Don’t move.” I lean forward and kiss him. It’s a hard press of our lips together, not erotic, but damn, I’ve missed him. I pull back a bit. then nibble on his lip.
“It’s hard to kiss someone when they don’t reciprocate,” I murmur.
“Huh, what?” His hard cock presses against me. “But you told me not to move. So, I didn’t.”
“I appreciate that. Now, kiss me.”
He puts his hand behind my neck and pulls me toward him. My ass slides across the wet seat until our bodies are flush and our mouths meet, tongues probing, tasting each other after a long hiatus.
I break the kiss, panting.
Worry clouds Mav’s face, and he lets go. “Sorry if I got a little forceful.”
“I’m all right.” My cheeks heat from the exchange.
Luke uses his Jet Ski to spray us, and suddenly, we’re soaking wet. “If you’re done making out. You’re it.”
I push my wet hair out of my face. “Oh, it’s on.”
I spin around and take off.
Mav wasn’t ready for me to shoot off, so he tumbles off the back. “Hey, come back here.”
I peer over my shoulder at him in the water. “Sorry, I can’t right now. I’m it!”
Cam picks up Mav while I chase after Sam and Paige and tag.
We play a bit longer, then pull up on the beach.
“That was super fun.” Paige opens the cooler. “What can I grab for you, Shelby?”
“Dr. Pepper.” I fall into my beach chair.
“Who wants to play volleyball?” Sam tosses the ball in the air.
The teams are Dom, Mav, Luke, and me against Sam, Paige, Nick, Cin, and Cam.
It’s a close game, and Paige is serving. She bites her lip. Her first two tries went out.
“Come on, Paige, you can do this,” Cin cheers her on.
Paige bumps the ball over the net. Mav dives for it and misses. Their team wins.
“I won. Holly shit! I won!” Paige hops around and kicks sand up.
Dom sits beside me. “You’re exhausted, aren’t you?”
“How can you tell?”
“You’re pale, and your eyelids are drooping. But the main thing is that you were dragging on the volleyball court.”
“I’m out of shape,” I huff out.
Six guys walk down the beach toward our group. I stiffen, and my guys form a barrier in front of me.
“Hi, I’m Jason. We’re staying down there.” He points down three houses. “We wondered if you want to play a set with us.”
My guys turn to me.
“That’s up to you. If you want to, go for it.” I hold up my can of Dr. Pepper. “I’m fine cheering you on.”
Dom eyes his friends, who nod. “Sure.”
Some girls walk toward us. They came out of the same place the guys did. I say a little prayer that they are friendly and not bitches.
“Hi, I’m Julie. We’re with those guys. This is Betty, Alexis, Anna, and Val.” She points to the other girls as she says their names. “Do you mind if we sit with you?”
“Go ahead,” Paige says, and introduces us.
I’m glad I’m sitting on the end. None of them come down this far. They seem fine when they ask Paige questions.
When the game starts, I cheer on my guys.
The game is a close one.
“Are any of them available?” the redhead asks.
“I’m dating that one in the tie-dye shorts.” Paige points to Sam.
“I’m dating the one with glasses,” Cin answers, then points to me. “She’s dating the rest of them.”
They lean forward to glance at me.
Here it comes; I’m waiting for it.
“You go, girl,” Betty says.
“You’re my hero.” Alexis has her hands gripped together.
“Maybe your guys can talk some sense into ours,” one says.
My eyes go wide. This is not what I expected. I relax and enjoy the game.
My guys are down by one point. It’s the other team’s serve, and he hits it right to Luke, who bumps it for Sam, who spikes it over the net. Our ball.
I cup my hands over my mouth to make sure they can hear me. “Come on, Cam, you can do it.”
He serves it, and they hit it back and forth. The guys have a couple of close calls, but they always hit it back over.
Then they miss, and the ball bounces down on our side.
The guys shake hands, telling each other good game.
“Rematch?” asks the main guy.
“Another time, we’re beat.” Dom pants.
“Sounds good. Thanks for letting us play,” he says as they walk away.
After a while, we head up to the house, rinsing off in the outdoor shower before heading inside to shower and change.