Page 9 of Creed

“Fair enough.”

“Are we done here?”

“Not even close.”

Chapter Four

“We’re done.” Lottie throws me her sass. Used to, her bitchy attitude rubbed me wrong. Tonight though, I’m finding that attitude of hers hella sexy.

“Come back to the clubhouse. Have a drink with me.” I thought I’d worked her out of my system years ago but seeing her face to face. Nah. All those old wounds are still fresh.

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“What else are you going to do?”

“Get a good night’s sleep.”

“One drink, hellcat.”

“I told you to stop calling me that.”

“What’s the matter? Afraid you might have a good time?”

Her pretty blues roll heavenward. “What’s the point? We’re not friends. Hell, I’m not sure if you even like me. We’re strangers now, you and me.”

“Been years, Lottie. I’m sure we’ve both changed.” She’s certainly changed physically. Not that she needed to. Even when she had some weight on her, she was just as beautiful.She was my greatest temptation. My heaven and hell. I wanted her but couldn’t have her. Not in the way I wanted back then.

She blows out an exasperated laugh. A soft but sweet noise that warms me in places, the honeyed sound shouldn’t after all this time has passed. “Fine. One drink.”

There’s no way she’s climbing on the back of my bike with that slip of a dress she’s wearing. For one, it wouldn’t be safe. Second, I don’t want her flashing her ass to everyone.

“Bring your friend. She knows the way.”

What the fuck am I doing? Am I really flirting with Charlotte? The girl I’ve loved to hate.

No one knows her better than I do. I don’t care if it’s been ten years since we fucked each other over. I had to walk away. I was nineteen, and she was only sixteen at the time. Everything about the two of us was wrong.

But that was then, and this is now.

I watch her as she saunters over to her friend, swaying her hips, having no damn clue how good she looks doing it. I must be losing my goddamned mind. This is a terrible idea. Nothing good will come from this. She’s always been off limits and too damn good for me. So why does that make me crave her? Want to consume her. Act out every filthy fantasy playing through my mind each time I stare into her big blue eyes. What I wouldn’t give to taste herforbidden lips once more. My blood rises to the surface as she laughs at something Havoc just said to her.

Her gaze meets mine and her cheeks bloom a pale shade of pink.

Lottie is the one who got away. I’ve told myself it was for the best, but now I’m not so sure.

At the clubhouse, Lottie sits next to me. Eyes downcast, she grips the neck of her beer bottle, doing her best to avoid having any close contact with me. When she looks at me, it’s almost as if she’s afraid I’m going to disappear. Does she feel the electric current pulsing all around us?

I can’t explain it. This instant attraction. This urge to claim her. To protect her. To make her mine. To go back in time and take back every mistake if it meant getting a do over with her.

This primal instinct to throw her down right here and claim her as mine in front of the club consumes my thoughts.

There was a time when she wasall I ever wanted.

Desperate to make sense of the hectic and feral stream of emotions churning inside me, I keep stealing glances at her, wondering if she’s a witch who’s put a spell on me.

Does she have any idea how much I’ve missed her?

How deeply I crave her touch?

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