Page 47 of Creep

“Listen to me. We can’t control other people’s actions. What they do is on them. And I’m sure you tried to save him. You tried your best to make sure he was okay. He made his choices. They weren’t good choices, but he was in a shitty situation, and that is just the reality of it. And that is all it is. Got me?”

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I know what you’re saying makes sense. It’s just hard to convince myself of that sometimes.”

I nodded. I could understand that. I could understand watching someone you love hurting and, as a result, hurt themselves. I even understood the guilt and the self-hatred. But I would be damned if Lia felt that as well.

She let out a small chuckle before I could say anything more. “I don’t really think this is an appropriate first-date kind of conversation.”

I smiled at her. “No? Then what is an appropriate first date conversation? Should I ask you what your favorite color is?”

She giggled, the sound like a fucking prayer to my ear.

I bent down, letting my lips run up and down the side of her face. She smiled slightly, her skin flushed.

“Mine’s black, by the way,” I said, my voice soft. “What’s yours?”

She shivered against me. I smiled.

“B-Blue.”

“Blue, huh? Favorite flower?” I pressed my lips against her cheek, so close to her lips. Fuck, but I really wanted to kiss her.

She took in a deep breath. “White—fuck—white rose.”

I suckled the skin of her neck into my mouth, taking in the taste of her. I fucking knew that already. It had been a while since I gave my girl flowers, hadn’t it?

“White roses represent innocence. Tell me, baby. Are you innocent?”

She didn’t need to answer me. One look at Lia and anyone could tell she was an innocent one. A beautiful angel sent down to drive men like me into temptation.

“Mael.”

God, my name coming from her lips was a dangerous thing. I would destroy anything, kill anyone, just for her to say my name again.

“Say my name again,” I said, bringing her skin back into my lips, using my teeth.

“Mael.”

“Such a good girl.”

“Fuck,” she said through gritted teeth when I bit her, leaving my mark.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“I-I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. Tell me, baby.”

She licked her lips and turned to look at me through half-lidded eyes.

I watched as her throat bobbed up and down on a hard swallow. “Kiss me.”

I smiled. “Your wish is my command.”

Before she could change her mind, I brought my lips up and kissed her. The kiss was sweet. Controlled. I didn’t want to scare her by giving her too much, too soon, but there was a fucking limit. Even now, I could feel the beast inside trying to claw its way out and demand I take what was ours.

I reined in my emotions and continued to kiss her.

She hummed against me, causing a small vibration to jolt between us.

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