Page 43 of Creed

“You should probably call and cancel the lock change and just terminate your lease.”

“I will.”

“Did you just agree with me?”

“Don’t gloat,” she warns.

“Hmm.” I nuzzle her neck and kiss the base of her throat, tickling her skin with my tongue.

“Love you, Seth.” Her words warm my soul and everything in my world feels right as rain on a hot summer night.

“Back at you.”

“Ugh. Don’t say it like that.”

“So now you want to argue about how I say I love you.”

My chest rumbles as I erupt with laughter.

“I hate you.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah,” she sneers, trying to roll away from me.

“Well, baby. I love the hell outta you. Let me show you how much.” I roll over her on my bed, looming over her. I go in for a kiss and she bites me on the lip. “Fuck, you’re cute when you’re pissed.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are. Look.” I angle her head and force her to take in our reflection in the mirror on the back of my closet door. Her eyes soften and she melts beneath me. I hold her gaze there in the mirror. “I love you, Charlotte Rae Pierce.” A tear rolls down her cheek. “Don’t cry, baby.”

“I never thought I’d have this again.” She laces our fingers together. “I only ever want to do life with you. No matter how messed up or crazy it gets, as long as I have this. You. Every night.”

“You’ve got me. Always.” I press my lips to hers and I spend the rest of the night making soft and sweet love to my woman.

Epilogue

Sometime later

My heart thumps wildly in my chest as I exit the diner to see Creed parked across the street on his Harley looking every bit the devil I know him to be.

His dark shades mask his eyes, but I know he’s staring at me full of love. His leather jacket is unzipped to reveal a black tee that clings to the sculpted muscles of his chest. The rugged beard that frames his lips is new, giving him a dangerous appeal that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Hey handsome,” I comment, keeping my voice steady as I approach him, hoping I’m hiding how nervous I am.

He grins at me, a flash of white teeth against his tan skin. “You ready?”

I look back at the diner, having worked my last shift seeing Tonya watch us leave while probably trying not to cry. She’s a hormonal mess, but she’s also five months pregnant with Ghoul’s baby. I guess some people really can change. Since he found out that he’s goingto be a father, he’s really stepped up for her and for Kaydence. I’m glad she has him. He’s not as bad as I thought.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mutter under my breath before turning back to Creed to accept the helmet he’s holding out for me.

“That makes two of us.”

“Are you having second thoughts?”

“Nope. You?”

“No.”

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