Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Creed

“You look amazing,” I said as soon as Jada opened the door.

Jada spun around, a worried look on her face. “You’re sure? You didn’t tell me where we were going, so I had to guess what to wear.”

She wore a long, flowy pale blue dress with small flowers all over it. The dress hugged her body in all the right places, accentuating her curves while still looking effortlessly elegant. Her black hair was styled half up and half down, with soft waves cascading over her shoulders and a few delicate tendrils framing her face. I had never seen a more beautiful woman.

“You guessed perfectly,” I assured her, unable to take my eyes off her.

She grabbed her purse and stepped toward me. I held up my hand. “I think you are forgetting something, gorgeous.”

She looked herself up and down, confusion flickering in her eyes. “Uh, I’m sufficiently dressed, and I have my purse.”

I shook my head, a playful smirk on my lips. “Did you forget the last thing I said to you earlier?”

“Creed,” she hissed, her cheeks heating with a blush. “I am not bringing an overnight bag.”

I shrugged and stepped back, giving her space. “Fine, you can sleep in one of my shirts.”

“I am not spending the night,” she insisted, her voice firm but her face betraying her uncertainty.

Yeah, she was.

I threaded my fingers through hers and tugged her out the door. “How about we just see where the night takes us?” I suggested. “And if you need clothes in the morning, I can always have Jax get you some.”

“Have you been drinking?” she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

“Stone cold sober, gorgeous,” I replied, feeling a shift within myself. Something had changed. I knew this was supposed to be fake, but it all became real the second my lips touched Jada. We were supposed to draw Candace out by pretending to be together, but it was all going to be real. The second we took out Candace, Jada would still be mine.

“Then why do you think I need an overnight bag?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

I looked up and down the hallway and then pressed Jada against the wall. I pinned her arms above her head and pressed my body against hers, feeling her warmth seep into me. “I know we first said this was all for show. Fake,” I growled softly, “but what you make my body feel is far from fake, Jada. I know you feel it, too. I hear it in your voice. The way your breath catches when you see me.”

Her eyes widened, and she took a shaky breath. “Creed, this is...”

“Real,” I finished for her. “It’s real for me, Jada. And I think it’s real for you, too.”

She didn’t respond immediately, her eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, she nodded. “It’s real for me, too.”

Hearing those words sent a thrill through me. I leaned in, capturing her lips in a fierce, passionate kiss. Her body melted against mine, and I felt the tension between us dissolve, replaced by something much stronger.

When we finally pulled back, both of us were breathless. “Let’s go,” I said, my voice husky. “We have a reservation to make. You won’t need a bag.” Once we were done eating and were out in public long enough, Jada was going to spend the rest of the night naked in my bed.

We headed down to my car, and I opened the door for her. She slid into the passenger seat, and I couldn’t help but admire the way the slit up the side of her dress parted, exposing her tanned legs. I got in the driver’s seat, need for Jada at an all-time high, and started the engine, glancing over at her with a smile.

“Where are we going?” she asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

“You’ll see,” I replied. Apollo had told me about a restaurant he took Greer to, and I was lucky enough to get a reservation once I dropped my name to them.

Being a Banachi had its perks.

We drove through the city, the lights creating a mesmerizing backdrop. Jada looked out the window, a small smile playing on her lips. I rested my hand on her thigh, and she shift to me. “This is nice,” she sighed.

It was.

This wasn’t something I had ever really done before.

Sure, I had dated, but I had never cared and put much thought into it.

This was different with Jada, and I liked it.

It wasn’t long before we arrived at our destination – an elegant rooftop restaurant with stunning city skyline views.

“This is beautiful,” she whispered as we stepped out onto the rooftop. “I’ve never heard of this place before.”

“I hadn’t either, but Apollo suggested it. I thought you’d like it,” I said, leading her to a table set up near the edge, offering the best view.

The ma?tre d’ greeted us and gave us a rundown of the specials. The evening was perfect, the air warm and filled with the soft hum of the city below.

As amazing as the view was, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Jada. The soft lighting playing off her features made her look even more stunning.

“Stop staring at me, Creed,” she whispered.

I leaned back but kept my eyes on her. “I can’t help it.”

She took a sip of her wine and turned to the sunset.

The waiter brought out a bread-and-butter basket, and Jada busied herself with a piece.

“How was the rest of your day?” I asked.

“Uh, it actually picked up. And I also had a visitor.”

I tipped my head to the side. “Was it…?” We had agreed that she would tell me the instant Candace contacted her, so I hoped like hell she wasn’t about to tell me Candace had come into the store.

Jada shook her head, frustration evident in her eyes. “No, it wasn’t her. It was Jax.” She eyed me closely, clearly looking for an explanation.

I might have forgotten to mention to Jada that if I weren’t around, Jax would be.

“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

I reached for a piece of bread, but Jada snatched it from me and handed me the piece she had buttered instead. “I don’t want you to be alone. If I can’t be with you, then one of my men will be. More than likely, it will be Jax.”

“Don’t you think that was something you should have told me so I didn’t look like an idiot when Jax walked in? I thought it was a crazy coincidence that he was there until he informed me he was tasked to keep me safe for the rest of the day.”

“He’s doing his job, Jada,” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm.

“I just would like to be told when I become someone’s job,” she reasoned, her eyes softening.

I nodded, conceding her point. “Noted, gorgeous,” I said. “My main focus was keeping you safe when I can’t be with you.”

She smiled softly, a small victory in her eyes. “Noted, handsome.”

We continued eating, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. There wasn’t an awkward silence or an uncomfortable moment. It felt natural and easy, and I found myself enjoying every minute of it.

As we finished our meal, a small band set up by the bar, and the soft sounds of a familiar song began to play. I stood and held my hand out to Jada. “Dance with me.”

She looked at my hand and then up at me, a mix of surprise and hesitation in her eyes. “Is this...”

I stepped toward her and grabbed her hand gently. “It’s real, Jada. Now stop thinking and just dance with me.”

I led her over to the small dance floor, the band playing a slow, melodic tune. As we began to sway to the music, I pulled her close, feeling her body press against mine. My hands caressed her back, and I could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her dress.

I moved her hair to the side, exposing her neck, and trailed soft kisses from her jawline down to the curve of her shoulder. She shivered in my arms, her breath hitching.

“Creed,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the music.

“Mmm,” I hummed, lost in the sensation of her body against mine.

“We shouldn’t be...”

“We should,” I growled softly in her ear, pulling her even closer.

Her breath hitched again as I straightened and cupped her cheek in my hand. Her eyes were heated with desire, and she licked her lips nervously. “Take me home,” she whispered.