Page 66 of A Shadow of Betrayal

“Soooo, like right now? Or…?” I laugh and grab the pillow next to me, throwing it at his face and watch as he catches it with a raised brow.

“I’m not against pillow fights first,” he says, eyeing the pillow before looking back at me with a challenge in his eyes.

“No!” I hold a hand up, trying to stop what I know is coming, but it does nothing. The next thing I know, Creed launches the pillow at my face, smacking me with so much force that I have to brace myself with my free hand while I toss my now-empty bowl down on the ground. He quickly reaches to his side, snagging the other pillow on the bed, making me giggle as I pounce; grabbing the pillow he launched at my face, and beat him over the head with it.

“You filthy cheater,” I say, punctuating each word with a thwack of my pillow.

“Wait… No fair!” he hollers, lifting an arm up to protect his head as he whacks me in the side with the new one.

“Totally fair! I was still holding my dinner when you attacked. How was that fair?” I ask, pelting him a few more times for good measure. Creed growls and dives at my midsection, making me topple back on the bed as his big hand moves over my smaller one.

“Ha!” he smirks in victory, then moves my hand with his, making the pillow I’m still holding smack me in the face. “Say Uncle,” he calls out as I scream and push at him with the hand he’s not holding.

“Creed!” I shout, wiggling under him, trying everything to throw him off me as he continues to assault me with my own pillow.

“Yes, Lemon Drop?” he asks, grinning in victory as he stops beating me with the pillow. My free hand inches toward the one Creed abandoned when he started to use mine, and I smile sweetly up at him when I feel the satiny smooth fabric between my fingers.

I bite my lip and lift my head closer to his, watching as his smile falls away, his eyes darting to my lips as I run my tongue over them. When his grip on my hand softens and he leans toward me, I take advantage, bucking my hips up and making him shout in surprise as he falls forward. Twisting, I break free of his hold and wrap my legs around his hips, yanking him to the side. I twist, then sit up. Shifting my weight over him as I bring both pillows down on his shocked face.

“Say Uncle,” I repeat his words, smacking him several more times over the head and laughing when his big hands wrap around my waist, spinning me back to the bed, regaining his control. I hadn't been trying to keep him pinned. I'm not stupid. Creed is a full-blooded Umbra Hunter, and I’m still learning how to be a Ranger. But I had taken him off guard, which was my goal, so I’m counting it as a win.

Creed grabs the pillows from me, tossing them back up to the head of the bed before his strong arm winds around my waist, and he lifts me up, straightening us so that I lie comfortably on the pillow with him looming over me. Curly brown hair falls over his forehead, and I smile, reaching up to brush it back. Creed closes his eyes, leaning into my touch, making butterflies fill my belly. Our bodies are pressed together, his heavy weight like a soothing balm over my frazzled nerves from the day, grounding me in this moment.

“There’s something about you, Lemon Drop. Something that makes me feel free… feel human,” he admits, opening his eyes to look down at me. “I think I forgot what it felt like to be normal.” Creed raises a hand and brushes some of my wild hair away from my face, his eyes falling to my lips. “Can I… can I kiss you?” he asks, voice soft and a little hesitant like he’s afraid I’ll say no.

I reach up, cupping his jaw, then lift my head in response, sealing our lips together in a feather-light kiss. Creed moans, his lips parting just a little, so I take advantage, licking into his mouth and deepening our kiss. I bring my other hand up, tangling it in his thick, curly hair, and bring him closer to me, my body lighting up like a firework on the Fourth of July.

“Meyer,” he rasps against my lips, making me shiver as he shifts his weight, rolling to his side and binding his arms around me. Slowly he takes control of our kiss, one hand resting possessively on my hip, the other moving to cup my cheek, his lips moving against mine in a perfect rhythm.

“More,” I beg, arching into him, wanting to feel him everywhere.

“Fuck,” His hips thrust forward, grinding his rock-hard cock into my thigh as I cling to him, the taste of him on my lips like a drug.

“Creed,” I whisper his name like a plea, my hips rocking against his, arousal pooling in my center. He groans, then tears his lips from mine, mouthing kisses down the column of my throat before latching onto the sensitive skin there and sucking. I hiss out in pleasurable pain, bucking against him as he forces his knee between my thighs, letting me use it for the friction I’m so desperately craving.

“Why do you taste so damn good?” he asks, kissing back up my neck, running his unusually sharp teeth along my skin, making me tremble in his arms as my release builds. I grind my clit against his thigh, using him unashamedly as he captures my mouth with his, kissing me with a passion I’ve never experienced before.

“Creed, please… I need—” My words break off as he keeps kissing me, his hand gripping my hip, controlling my movements, and grinding me down even harder on his thigh. I gasp into his mouth, and he grins.

I reach down for the edge of my sweatshirt and start to yank it up, desperate for the touch of his tawny skin against mine. Creed curses, his fingers digging into my skin before abruptly pulling back. “Lemon Drop…” he groans, his fingers releasing me and moving to my hands. I watch him closely, his eyes dilated, his chest heaving as he laces our fingers and brings them to his lips, dusting the softest of kisses over my knuckles.

Confused, I pull back a little, worried I pushed too far. Was this not what he wanted?

“Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea that you seem to have." His reluctant words slowly make their way out of his gorgeous mouth. "And I’d be lying if I said my mind isn’t there too, but you don’t owe me anything. And I don’t want you to regret this. If we were to…” His eyes dart from my lips and then trail down our entwined limbs.

“Do you want me to stop?” I ask, then smile when his eyes widen, and he shakes his head so damn hard I’m worried he might injure his neck.

“Fuck no!” he nearly shouts, then blushes when I laugh. “I mean… no, Lemon Drop. I really don't want this to stop. But I also don't want you to do this because you feel indebted to me,” he rasps, and while I truly appreciate that he is trying to be a gentleman, now is not the time. I smirk at him while taking his hand, unfurling his fingers, then slowly slide it under my top.

“Creed, I’m not doing this because I think that I have to. I’m doing it because you are kind, strong, and sexy as hell,” I purr, guiding his calloused hand toward my chest. “Plus, I don't know how long I'll last out here.” He scowls at that.

“I would never let—” he grinds out.

“I know,” I cut him off and smile. “But you don’t know what could happen. We aren't together all the time, and I have to be able to do the Ranger games on my own.” I catch his conflicted gaze with mine. “I just know that I want this… I want you. If there is anything I have learned in the last couple weeks, it is that life doesn't wait for anyone. One moment you may be a waitress at a small town diner serving coffee, and the next, you're taken to a mountain and taught how to kill Demons.” I chuckle, and Creed slowly relaxes into me, pressing his forehead to mine. The arm that isn't up my shirt pulls me snugly to his body, and I reach up, brushing a dark lock of hair off his forehead. “I don’t want to look back and regret that I never did something.”

There’s a long pause. Shit, what if I read this wrong? He lets go of my other hand. I quickly look away, and my stomach drops. But then he gently grabs my chin, guiding me to look at him again. His eyes are focused, burning with an intense need.

“But what happens when we take this step, and you regret it anyway? You don’t know me, Meyer,” he rasps, his voice barely a whisper. “What if I mess everything up?”

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