Page 100 of Creed

I liked the idea of being a little throuple family. A little Collins sandwich.

Gotta do something about that.

That morning, I’d also explained to her that because of Lachlan’s warning, we’d probably have to disguise her a bit so that she’d not be recognized on stage, in the hopes that the piece of shit who’s been harassing her wouldn’t recognize her. I didn’t have it in my heart to tell her no, because while a part of me knew that if this guy was smart enough to scramble his phone signal, he’d surely have enough brains to put it together that we suddenly had an aerial artist performing with us at the same time Collins disappeared from his clutches, he also wouldn’t be stupid enough to try and come near her on or backstage with so many people surrounding her. I refuse to let this sad sack of shit force my girl to live in fear, to live in hiding and always looking over her shoulder. Collins is excited to perform tonight and I will do every-fucking-thing in my power to make it happen. She actually got excited and told me that she had an idea that would help to hide her face.

She’d gone shopping earlier with Ayla, getting whatever it was she needed for tonight and she’s been holed up on Bear’s bus with his sister ever since they got back after lunch. I love how fast my friends accepted her, not that I was worried about it. To meet Collins is to love everything about her.

I’d called and set up extra security, too. Though it’s rare for Ayla to be recognized, I’d sent an extra guard to keep an eye on them. He’d reported nothing amiss while the girls shopped and it eased some of the tension brewing in my chest while we’d set up and rehearsed. Granted, Bear had to drag me away from their bus three times and tell me to knock it the fuck off, so, ya know…baby steps and all that. I’d given our security team the name and picture of the shitbag that Collins is pretty certain is responsible for her misery. The only instruction they were given was to detain him if they spotted him entering the arena and to hold him until we arrived. I wasn’t sure if he was even following us, but nothing is impossible with this guy, it seems.

“Earth to Creed,” Steve waves his meaty hand in my face, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I scrunch my nose at the close proximity and slap it away. “You going to tell me what the fuck this thing is that my crew is putting together?”

I sigh at the audacity of this motherfucker and take an intentional step away and hold up a finger. “First of all, Steve, you might be the manager, but you don’t fucking own us or anyone working for us. This is the crew of Dark Sins, not you.” A second finger goes up as he opens his mouth to protest, his jowls jiggling with the motion. “Second of all, this frame is for a special performance during the encore.”

He looks at me like I just told him the sky is pink. I feel like I can physically see the gears sputtering and grinding together in his mind as he tries to put things together. He mutters under his breath, running his fingers through his greased back hair before he speaks again, his eyes wide with whatever conclusion he’s come to.

“Is it that girl? The one on the bus?” He asks, stuffing his hands into the giant pockets of his suit jacket. “She some kind of stripper you found in that club? What did Tony call them?”

I take a threatening step toward him but try to keep some distance because I know others are watching. I fight to keep my expression neutral but instead I shoot him a grin that promises violence. Ah, fuck it. Close enough. “She’s not a fucking tag along, Steve. Yes, this thing is for her, but she’s not a fucking stripper you short dick. She’s a dancer and if you speak about her again we’re going to have a fucking problem.”

“Jesus Christ, Creed. Who is she?” He asks, his face red-flushed and flustered.

“She’s fucking mine. That’s who she is.”

“We talking about Collins?” Tony swaggers up to Steve because he can’t go a day without his head shoved so far up his wannabe daddy’s ass.

Steve grins with satisfaction and I want nothing more than to find out if my hands can fit around his neck and squeeze until the light in his eyes goes out. Permanently. I shoot Tony a glare as Steve opens his mouth. “So she does have a name.”

“Sure does, just like every other human being on this planet. And you’re going to keep it out of your fucking mouth.” I point a finger in his direction, then look at Tony. “Same goes for you, motherfucker. You leave her the fuck alone and we won’t have a problem. Yeah?”

Tony just lifts his hands in mock surrender but his eyes flit behind me and widen a little before he can say anything. I turn to see Collins with two large brown paper bags and a tray of drinks in her hand, making her way to Riley from backstage. All the air leaves my lungs when I take her in. She’s a fucking vision. She’s wearing a sheer long sleeved crop top with a plaid pattern printed in the fabric. You can see her black bralette beneath, and a spike-studded harness strapped over the whole top ensemble. She’s wearing a black latex -looking skirt that sways and plumes when she walks and I catch sight of a leather garter strapped to her thigh. She’s wearing sheer black tights with her new Doc Martens that she bought when Riley took her shopping. She looks like a fucking fashion model… but shorter. Her hair has me stopping in my tracks, though. It looks like a kaleidoscope of cotton candy colors. The ends of her hair are a mixture of pinks, blues, and purples and I’m blown away. It looks so damn good on her.

Riley takes a curled strand in his fingers, thumbing it softly before releasing it and taking a drink from her hand, several rings adorning her fingers and her nails looking dangerously sharp.

Wanna feel those scraping down my back deep enough to claw her way inside and make a home there.

With my focus on her face, I notice that her makeup—as usual—is minimal but even from a distance I notice she’s added a simple eyeliner and a deep purple lipstick that I’m already making a plan in my mind to see it smeared all over my cock later tonight.

Their fingers just barely brush and I take great delight in the way both of their cheeks flush at the tiniest of contact.

She looks like a vision and it seems like everyone’s eyes are on Collins as she pulls a chocolate chip muffin from the bag and gives it to Riley. My cock twitches behind my jeans when I watch my best friend tear a piece off and offer it to Collins, but her hands are too full to take the bite. So instead of reaching out to take it from him, she leans forward and eats the bit of muffin directly from between his fingers. She’s careful in taking it but her lips brush his fingertips anyway, leaving a dot of purple. Riley’s face flames as he takes a nervous step back and bites into his own muffin. His eyes find mine and they widen in what looks like fear. I feel awful that he feels this way, so I shoot him a wink and a grin that hopefully tells him how not pissed I am that her lips are on him in some way. His shoulders sag in relief before he takes another bite and a drink from his cup and makes his way back over behind his drum set, but instead of sitting down, he takes off backstage.

I don’t have time to analyze his quick escape before I hear Collins’ sweet voice call my name and I swear that nothing has ever sounded sweeter.

I make my way over and the closer I get, the more stunning Collins is. Her outfit is fucking perfect for the concert and I can tell it’s going to be a massive distraction, knowing that other people will be seeing her like this. I won’t ever stop her from dressing how she wants, but I also won’t be stopped from using a dirty, rusty spoon to pluck out the eyeballs of anyone whose eyes linger on her for too long. I know tonight is going to be torture.

“Stardust,” I say as I approach her and wrap an arm around her, pulling her flush against my chest. She smiles up at me and I’m fucking gone for her. I dip my head down my lips brushing against the shell of her ear. “You look absolutely fucking edible.” I pull back to see her cheeks flush, the freckles becoming more prominent on her face. “And I love what you did to your hair.”

“Thank you,” she says, her cheeks still pink as she hands me a drink from the tray and holds the open bag toward me. “Ayla helped me with my hair, but I picked the outfit. It looks okay for the concert? I’ll change before the encore, but I’ve never been to a concert before and wanted to go all out.”

“Baby, you look like a fucking wet dream.” I say low enough that she can hear, but quiet enough that no one else can eavesdrop. “I want nothing more than to fuck you up against the wall in this sexy as fuck outfit, but I don’t want to mess up your makeup…yet.” Her breathing is coming a little faster and it fills me with sick satisfaction that I’m getting her as riled up as I am before the concert tonight.

What she doesn’t know is that I booked a hotel suite for the two of us tonight so that I can fuck her properly and make her scream the way I want. I’ve got a plan in place and it’s time to start planting the little idea seedlings into her and Riley’s minds. I pull a muffin out and feed her a bite, just as Riley did. Her lipstick leaves the faintest mark on my fingertips but it’s not enough.

I bend down so that I’m eye-level with her and cup her face gently. “I want to see that purple lipstick all over my cock, but I wouldn’t dare smear it before tonight.” She looks at me, her jade eyes as quizzical as they are filled with lust and desire. “But I want that color on me somehow for the concert.”

“You—you want me to kiss you?” She asks, her expression brightening at the thought of leaving the claiming evidence of her lipstick on my skin.

“Mhmm,” I say, pulling her closer to me. “Pick a spot, Stardust. Mark me as yours. I want everyone to see that I’m yours, even if they can’t know who you are right now.”

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