Page 105 of Creed

Bear offers for my crew to join him for a late night dinner, but I decline because I’ve got a fucking stunning girl to ravage and a throuple relationship to establish.

I hope like fuck they’re both receptive and honest with the hand I’m about to force. In reality, nothing is changing between the three of us, except the fact that there will be more intimacy. We’ll still be us, our little family unit, just with the emotional and physical freedom to love and kiss and fuck to our heart’s content without feelings of guilt or shame involved.

Neither one of them would ever betray another human being so that last part is irrelevant to our situation, but the principle and reasoning behind the sentiment remains the same.

“Creed?” Bear calls out as I approach the line of tour buses.

“Yeah?” I turn to see him walking back up to me with his phone out.

“You know I don’t meddle in people’s personal shit, but are you and Riley okay?” He asks as he turns his phone to where I can read it. It’s a text from Ri.

Graves: Can we talk later? I think I need to find a new sleeping arrangement.

“The fuck?” I’m so fucking confused. It’s barely been two days and he wants to leave? Fuck that. I look at Bear. “Don’t answer that. I’ll talk to him.”

“Everything okay with you two—three?” He asks again, correcting himself.

I nod. “As far as I’m aware. I’ll talk to Ri. Give me tonight to talk to him and if we’re not one happy fuckin’ family by tomorrow morning, then you can talk to him.”

He eyes me with suspicion, likely knowing I’ve got something abnormal planned to fix whatever is going on with my best friend. He nods as he rips the tie from his hair, his wild long locks falling loosely around his shoulders and rubs at his scalp with a sigh. “Alright. Just keep me updated. I’m going to take Ayla to some restaurant where her boyfriend is going to meet up.”

“You gonna be her chauffeur for life?” I tease as he pockets his phone.

“And let her out of my sight? Not a fuckin chance.” He meets my eyes and winces. “Sorry.”

I shake my head. “All good. I get it. No way Collins is ever going anywhere again without me, Riley, or one of Asher’s security.”

Bear nods and seems to contemplate something for a minute before he looks at my bus, then back to me. “He know?”

I know in an instant that he’s talking about Asher and whether he knows I’m obsessed with his sister. And that answer is, “Sure does.”

Bear’s phone starts to ring before he says anything else and pulls it from his pocket only for his expression to shift entirely when he reads whatever name flashes across his screen. “Your sister impatient?”

“Yup.” Lie. But I ignore it and decide to be nosy in his business later. He waves me off as he turns toward his bus and I turn back to mine. Loud music filters out beyond the walls of our bus as I round the corner and approach the door. A huge grin damn near splits my face in two at the sight before me as I open the door and step up into the living space.

Chapter 36

Creed

Igo unseen and unheard for several minutes as I watch Riley and Collins laughing while he twirls her around in the kitchen. She’s wearing nothing but one of my worn out, oversized t-shirts with another tiny pair of shorts underneath it. The moves are soft and sweet in contrast to the Snow Wife song that’s currently playing at volumes that rival that of the concert we just wrapped up. I slink to the couch and sink into the cushion, wishing I had popcorn to watch the show in front of me.

She’s got her hands clasped in his as they twist and turn, dancing and bobbing to the beat. Collins surprises me when she drops down, her back straight and her knees spread wide. The move isn’t overly sexual, but it’s got me hard in an instant. She says something about being stuck and holds her hands out for Riley to help her up. They both stumble when he yanks her upright and they embrace each other while laughing.

I swear I feel my heart melting within my chest cavity. Riley wants to leave this?

When the song ends, I start to clap, only that seems to have broken the happy spell because they fly apart like they’ve done something wrong and that just won’t do. I’ve got to fix this shit, tonight.

Collins has the nerve to look guilty and it pisses me off. Not at her, but at the fact that she thinks I would ever judge her for creating her own happiness, even if it’s with my best friend.

They both stand stock still as I approach them and step up to Collins first. Careful of my movements, I give her my most genuine smile, cup her face, and give her a quick, soft kiss. I tell her to go pack an overnight bag and to meet me outside the bus in twenty minutes.

She looks hesitant but nods and disappears to the back of the bus. When I turn to Riley, the poor guy looks like he’s about to throw up and I’m not even certain he’s breathing right now. The fact that I’ve made him feel this way feels like a stab in the gut. I reach for him but he flinches and my heart cracks. Wanting him to feel reassured and to get rid of that god-awful fear that I see in his eyes, I softly grasp his face between my palms and offer him the same smile that I gave to Collins, hoping like fuck he can read the intention without me having to spell it out.

He releases a harsh breath that I fucking knew he was holding in and his whole body deflates in relief when I press my lips against his forehead and hold him there for a moment.

After tonight there’ll be no more of this fear bullshit. None of us should be living in fear.

Speaking of?—

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