Page 29 of Pretend You're Mine

“What?” Creed’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why not?”

I shrugged, avoiding his intense gaze. “Being the only gay kid in my family has its challenges. I didn’t want to stir the pot by openly dating guys, so I’ve stuck to casual flings instead. And then, after the conversion camp... even after coming out, I guess a part of me believed I didn't deserve a real relationship. Like it was too risky to let myself hope for more.”

Creed's expression shifted, softening as he reached for my hand. “But you deserve a real relationship... you deserve to be loved.” His words washed over me like a gentle wave. As he brushed his thumb gently over my skin, my breath caught in my throat, the weight of his sincerity washing over me.

"But things changed when my father passed away," I continued, trying to tamp down the way my body was responding to Creed's touch. "Mother became more adamant than ever about wanting to see me settled down. The issue is, no one has ever caught my interest enough to consider a real relationship."

In the quiet corners of my mind, where thoughts were free to roam unchecked, I found myself considering Creed. If he didn't think he was as straight as a ruler, he would have been someone worth pursuing a deeper connection with.

"Ever think about settling down yourself?" I asked him, determined to divert his attention away from me. “You know, the whole shebang—marriage, 2.5 kids and a white picket fence?"

Creed chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the horizon as if lost in thought. "Settling down, huh?" Despite his lighthearted tone, a hint of wistfulness lingered in his expression for a fleeting moment. "I never stayed in one place long enough to have any serious relationships."

I nodded, understanding his sentiment. Creed was a lone wolf, untamed and free-spirited. It was one of the things that drew me to him in the first place.

Time seemed to stretch on and before I knew it, we were only inches apart with water flowing between us. I couldn't help but wonder if Creed was aware he was still holding my hand. I cleared my throat. It was all I could do to hide the fact that I was hyper-aware of our proximity to each other.

A heavy quiet settled in the space that separated us. Creed watched me, his eyes soft and affectionate, making him feel all gooey inside. Tension built up to a steady crescendo inside of me, till I felt like I would explode if I didn’t do something about it.

I inhaled a long breath, struggling to turn off my brain. Anything to stop thinking about the rules I was about to break. It wasn’t like I cared anymore about those stupid boundaries.

The need to taste, kiss and nibble on the hollow of Creed’s powerful neck drove me crazy. Without saying a word, I steeled myself against the possibility of a rejection. I wrapped my arms loosely around his waist, smiling as Creed’s throat bobbed when he swallowed.

He gazed at me, clearly not as startled as I had imagined he would be.

Convinced that he was on board with the whole thing, I let myself relax and enjoy our closeness as our bodies glided against each other. Creed shut his eyes for a split second, leaning into the sensual motions. It felt better than any scenario my head had come up with.

“I want to— It's been on my mi—" He huffed out a breath. "It's okay if you're not on board...”

I nodded. “Go ahead. Stop talking already. Just do it.”

His fingers traced a path along my back, and I tingled with anticipation as they reached the nape of my neck. I ran my hands through his thick hair, feeling the strands between my fingers as he pulled me closer to him. Our bodies pressed together, our breaths mingled, and our lips collided in a fiery embrace.

CHAPTER 16

CREED

My heart slammed against my ribs as Ave’s lips met mine, his comfortable and invigorating scent overpowering my senses.

For a heartbeat, he leaned back, his gaze locked with mine, uncertainty clouding his eyes. But then, as if some invisible barrier had been shattered, he succumbed to the magnetic pull between us. His lips were hesitant at first, like the delicate brush of a butterfly's wing against my own—soft and unsure. But then he gently took control, guiding me with the subtle pressure of his mouth against mine. The world around us seemed to fade away as we lost ourselves in the slow dance of our lips. The faint scent of his cologne—a soothing blend of cedarwood and spice—mingled with the natural steam from the hot spring and produced an erotic fragrance that was stimulating and made my heart race faster.

His breath, a soft whisper against my skin, caused delightful shivers to dance down my spine. I could feel the tension in my body, tension I wasn't even aware of, slowly melting away from under my skin.

His hands found their way to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. Blood heated my veins as our bodies moved in sync with each other—two pieces findingtheir perfect fit. His taste was intoxicating—a hint of mint from the gum he'd been chewing earlier mixed with something uniquely him. It left me craving for more.

What was happening between us... this... this all-encompassing feeling left me wanting to break the rules I'd imposed on him about how we were to act as fake boyfriends.

I didn't know what the hell I was doing and what my end goal was, but all the sensations I felt were incredible.

Ave’s tongue met my hesitant one, playing gently at first as if to gauge my reaction, then growing more confident and demanding. I heard the soft slurping sound as my lips parted, allowing him deeper access, our tongues tangling in a slow dance of exploration. His hands traveled up my spine, sending shivers down my back, while his hips pressed against me, our overheated cocks grinding softly. The heat of the water felt comforting against my skin as we rocked together in the hot spring.

My fingers dug into his wet hair, pulling him closer still, needing more of his taste—more of his mouth. He moaned into the kiss, the vibration tickling my bottom lip. Our breaths grew ragged as we broke apart for a moment to catch our breaths.

"Ave," I whispered between pants. "Ave, I can't..."

His eyes burned with desire. "It's okay, Creed," he murmured back, his voice just as rough. "Just let go." He nipped at my lower lip before kissing it gently, and he groaned again.

The water splashed as he leaned forward to kiss along my jawline before trailing his mouth down to my neck... and then lower. He took a nipple between his teeth and sucked gently, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my groin. I felt myself grow hard in the water's embrace and knew it wasn't an act anymore. This was real.

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