Page 35 of His Sacrifice

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.

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