12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

"You need ice on that."

"I'll be fine, beautiful. I've had worse. You forget this is what I do for a living."

"Ugh. Men," I tell Low as she hands me a plastic bag filled with ice.

"Tough guys. They are all alike." She shrugs. "I'll take this to Smoke. Unless you want to," she hedges.

"It's cool. You can go," Creed tells me, and I hate he knows part of me wants to check on Smoke.

"I'm good here."

"You sure?" His expression softens, and he winces at the cut on his bottom lip.

"I have nothing to say to him. Unless you're trying to get rid of me. "

"Never." He draws me in closer and I stand between his legs where he's seated on the counter in the kitchen. "I know what would make me feel better, though."

"I'll just leave you guys…yeah. There's a spare room upstairs. First on the left."

"Thanks, Low."

"Don't mention it." She takes off and I look back at Creed, noting the bruise forming on his cheek.

"You were saying?"

"What pushed him over the edge tonight?"

"I may have told him that we fucked in his bed."

His dimple pops out as he closes his eyes. "Answer me something."

"Okay."

"Are you here with me to piss Smoke off or because you're feeling this connection?"

"Honestly?"

"Talk to me."

"Part of me loves rubbing this in his face, but I'd be lying if I said that's all it is. I'm not looking to make you my boyfriend or anything. Too soon to be diving into something serious. I'm having fun with you."

"I just want to make sure we're on the same page. You want to make him miserable…I'll be happy to play that role. You ever want to explore something more, I'd be into that, too. What I'm saying is the more I'm with you, the more I want you." He licks his lips while gazing at mine.

Shoot. This wasn't supposed to happen. Neither of us is supposed to catch feelings.

"I don't want to lead you on."

"I'm a big boy. I know the score now. If I get invested, that's on me."

"I'll take it easy on you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mhmm." I nod and go in for a kiss.

"How about you take it easy on me after I fuck you, beautiful?"

"Bet."

"Right there, beautiful. You're taking my big dick down your throat so good."

Creed has me held in place with his fist wrapped around my ponytail as he fucks my mouth at a steady pace, inching further and further to the back of my throat with every powerful thrust. Using one of the couch cushions to support my knees, I'm kneeling at his feet as though he's the altar I pray too.

Creed's a tattooed God and I'm hopelessly devoted in this moment, eager to please him and hear more of his praise. With one hand fisted around the base of his shaft, I stroke his balls with the other, continuing to lick and suck the thick and veiny length of him.

"Keep sucking me like that and I'll spray my load all over your face," he warns.

The threat of the act only serves to encourage me to test his control. I've gone completely off track from the innocent girl I once was. Creed makes me want to be dirty and wild. Playing it safe hasn't gotten me anywhere. Landed me with a broken heart. Last time I let Smoke off the hook easily. This time, no way.

I'm going to get mine too. He wants to have fun with his whores. Two of us can play that game, and I'll let Creed treat me like a slut.

I suck him harder and faster, increasing the tempo of my movements.

His hips jerk erratically as he pulls my hair, keeping me right where he wants me. "Fuck, Ember. I'm going to come all over those pretty lips of yours."

Staring up at him through my lashes, my eyes beg for him to do it.

Popping free of my mouth, he grips his fat cock in his palm and beats the head against my lips as he does what he promised and ejaculates, painting my lips with his essence.

Licking my lips like a cat who got the cream, I stare up at him, wondering if maybe I could be falling for him, too.

At least in another life.

Maybe, just maybe.

Someday.

New Mexico

Since the fight, Smoke has been keeping his distance, and I think Creed and I are growing closer. I'm not in love with the guy. I think a lot of what I'm experiencing is lust. The thrill of something new and making Smoke want to eat his own heart.

Maybe that makes me a bitch, but I don't care. He hurt me. Tore my heart out of my chest and squeezed it until it burst. I want him to ache like I have. To know how deeply it cuts to see the person you thought loved you give themselves freely to someone else. First, I was in denial. Then came the sadness. The regret. Now I'm pissed off and the dry heat isn't helping my mood.

"Let me get your shoulders." Creed massages sunblock into my skin.

One thing I will say about him is he is more considerate than I would have given him credit for if we hadn't been spending so much time together .

"Thank you," I mutter as I slurp down my strawberry freeze drink. We're driving straight through the night until we arrive at our destination. Anarchy California.

My stomach grumbles and a wave of nausea rolls through me.

"You okay?" Creed tilts my chin up. "Your face just went really pale."

"Must have drunk this too fast." I toss the cup into the trash.

"You sure? Is the heat making you ill?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"I'll be fi––" I don't get to finish my statement because vomit shoots up the back of my throat and out my nose as I cap a hand over my mouth. The drink I consumed seconds ago sprays all over Creed and down the front of my clothes.

"I'm so sorry," I cry as Creed shoves me under the cool spray of the shower in the motel room he rented so we could get cleaned up. The rest of the club is making use of the inground pool while they wait. I feel terrible for throwing everyone's schedule off.

I know they wanted to get to Anarchy tonight.

"It's okay, beautiful. Shit happens or, in this case, puke." He chuckles, but I'm not laughing.

My head is throbbing and all I want is to take a nap in an ice-cold room.

"Not so sexy now, huh?"

"I'd still hit it even with the puke."

"Ew."

"Just telling it like it is." He squirts shampoo on the top of my head and starts lathering it up. The gesture is sweet, reminding me of the first time I took a shower with Smoke. Minus the throw-up.

Creed is attentive and doing all the things a boyfriend would minus the part where he's my boyfriend. He's different than I expected. Of course he loves to flirt and doesn't hide the fact when other women are around. He's been nothing but kind and respectful. He's always checking to make sure I'm comfortable before we mess around.

I figured he'd be more of a take what I want type.

Maybe he's usually that way and simply taking extra care with me this time around.