Page 44 of Creed

I can’t wait to wash her. Caring for her and cleaning her in the shower the last time filled me with a fulfillment I didn’t understand or appreciate then, but I do now. I want to care and do everything to dote on this woman, so she knows I worship her.

However, I can’t rush this and freak her out. Instead, I let the peace of the moment cascade over me and lie with her, relaxing against me.

She swirls her hands gently in the water in front of her. Then she takes one of my hands in hers and lifts it. “Why do you have so many tattoos?” Her voice still sounds sleepy and hoarse.

“Do they bother you?”

“I love them.”

I smile against the top of her head. “I got my first ones on my neck and hands because I was trying to be different from my brothers. They have tattoos but none that are visible. It was a way to claim my own identity, I guess. Once you meet them, you’ll understand. They have big personalities.”

“How many brothers do you have?”

“Two. You?”

“Only child, but with lots of cousins that are like siblings.” Before I can ask more about that, she says, “Tell me more about the tattoos.”

“Once I started, I kind of got addicted.” Thinking of what Vito had said about ‘when I got in a mood, I reach for the gun,’ I add, wanting to be open with her as we explore and learn about each other, “Sometimes they’re a way for me to deal with shit.”

“A coping mechanism?”

“Hmm,” I murmur into her dark silky hair.

“Have you gotten any tattoos because of joy or something that’s made you happy?”

“I will.”

“You will?” She tries to twist around to me, but I hold her flush against me.

I intuitively sense that as much as she is here with me now, she’ll run if I rush things too fast.

I will be getting a tattoo for her on my flesh: angel wings with her name scrolled in as the feathers. The perfect place for it will be on the un-inked head of my cock. Not only because that is one of the untouched sections on my body, but because my cock belongs to only her now—and has since I laid eyes on her.

“I have,” I correct, mostly to distract her from asking more about my future planned tattoo and bend my left leg so my thigh pops out of the water. I point at the building inked amongst the other designs. “This tattoo is of the first building I built.”

Her finger traces over its outline. “It’s beautiful. Where is it?”

“San Francisco. I’ll take you there sometime.”

She’s quiet before she responds, “I’d like that.”

“You okay, angel?”

She draws in a deep breath, then releases it, with a shudder. “I can’t be distracted, Creed.”

“From your education?”

She nods, not turning to look back at me.

“I’d never impede your goals, Sophie. Whatever you want to achieve, I only want to help you.”

She twists, and the streaks of copper blended in her dark brown eyes are stark. “Do you promise?”

“I promise.” I gently kiss her lips. “Tell me about your goals.”

Her eyes flick between mine. “Really?”

“Really. I want to know everything about you.”

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