Page 103 of Filthy Little Games

“Yes. And we have a few things to discuss.” He avoids looking at me as he removes his jacket, hanging it in the foyer for someone to come along and take it to be laundered for him. “I’m starving. Let’s talk while we eat,” he suggests, heading straight for the kitchen to give the chef his late order for dinner.

I go on to the dining room to wait for him, sitting not so patiently and trying not to think about what happened last night and how amazing it was until he kicked me out of his bed.

Creed enters the room with a wooden board full of cheese and crackers, some already in his mouth as if he couldn’t wait the few minutes for dinner.

“Are we going to talk about last night?” I ask him quietly.

“No. I’ve got everything arranged for you to leave tomorrow,” he says as he takes a seat at the head of the table, completely brushing aside what happened between us. It takes a long momentfor his words to seep into my skull because I’m so annoyed with him.

“Tomorrow?” I repeat in surprise. “Wow. That was fast.”

“The sooner the better.” He focuses on piling cheese atop another cracker rather than look at me.

“And were you able to find space for the nannies too?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I mean, thank you. I think I would be fine with Oriana, but I know she would be happier to have them along until we get more comfortable with each other.”

“How did she do today?”

“Great. She was a little fussy at breakfast, but after she got some food in her belly, she had so much fun playing with the things you had sent over. Especially the princess crowns. Thank you for doing that.”

He nods but doesn’t respond. He just continues snacking on the cheese and crackers as if they require his complete attention.

“So, where are we going?” I ask to fill the silence.

“Lisbon, Portugal.”

“Portugal? Fun,” I say, meaning it. I’ve always wanted to travel but never thought I’d be able to actually afford a trip out of the country, since I can barely afford the gas to drive to New Jersey.

“You’ll need to make sure all your things are packed and you’re downstairs, waiting for your ride, at four o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh. Okay. Four tomorrow.”

There’s a long pause where neither of us says anything. The only sound is the crunching of crackers, one right after another. Unable to take another second of the awkwardness, I reach for Creed’s tattooed hand that’s resting on the table. “Thank you for everything. I wish... I wish you could come with us.”

He quickly pulls his hand from underneath mine. “You’re welcome. Another thank you fuck tonight isn’t necessary.”

“A what?” I ask, his rejection so badly stinging throughout my chest that I don’t think I heard him clearly.

“Last night when you thanked me with your mouth and pussy. A repeat is unnecessary.”

“You... don’t want to be with me again? Is that what you’re trying to say to me so crudely?”

“I don’t want you to fuck me because you feel obligated to do so.”

I shake my head, swallowing past the knot in my throat, my eyes burning. “That’s not...”

“Don’t lie to me, Zara.” The don’s tone is harsh, cruel, just like when we first met, and he wanted to kill me. And even after weeks together, he still doesn’t trust me. I don’t think he ever will because of Carmine.

“I’m not lying, Creed! You’re the first man I’ve ever been with who I chose!”

He lifts his dark blue eyes to hold mine. He blinks at me, as if in surprise, but there’s still some distrust in them. “You choose me for the wrong reasons.”

“What?”

“Emilio and Izaiah ruined you. And I hate them for that. But I forced you into a marriage to keep you close, which isn’t much different. It was wrong, and for that I’m sorry. You don’t owe me any obligatory pussy.”

---