Page 23 of Creed

Shutting the shower off, I grab towels and dry her off. After wrapping her hair in a towel, I wrap one around my waist, then stride to the foyer and elevator to collect her clothes. She’s still in the bathroom when I return and hand her the clothes. Then I go into my bedroom to grab a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. After I'm dressed, I turn around to find her dressed and leaning against the bathroom doorframe, watching me.

“You look sinfully good in everything you wear, don’t you?”

I know I’m attractive. The tattoos aren’t for everyone; however, for many women, they’re kryptonite. But even without them, I have my father’s attractive looks, unique eye color, and tall, broad, muscular frame. I don’t care about any other women’s opinions, though; only Sophie’s matters.

“And you look innocent and sweet.” A wicked smile blooms on my lips. “But you and I know what’s hidden underneath that sweet innocence, don’t we, angel?”

Her cheeks pinken, and I walk to her. Dragging my thumb over her bottom lip, I lower my mouth to hers, unable to help myself. “It was my pleasure to give you everything you wanted and needed.”

And it will be my pleasure to continue giving you everything I ever possibly could.

“Come,” I say. “We’ll have breakfast, then I’ll drive you home.”

She steps back from me, and I swallow my growl of displeasure. “My Uber will be here any minute.”

It takes everything in me to keep my face and body relaxed as I nod, and she turns from me. I walk behind her, studying her gait, her form, and how her hair swishes as she walks. She looks at me shyly when she gets to the elevator.

“Thanks for a night I’ll never forget, Creed.” She reaches up on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek.

I wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her to me, no longer able to help myself. If I didn’t know without absolute confidence and certainty that I’d see her again, I’d be hard-pressed to let her walk away. But as it stands, there won’t be much time before I see Sophie Demeanus again.

“You’ll always be my angel,” I whisper, my mouth a breath away from hers. She sucks in sharply, then I kiss her gently.

She pulls away before the kiss takes a more heated turn and steps into the elevator. Her eyes hold mine as the door closes.

Sophie thinks she’s taking the elevator to the lobby, hopping into an Uber, and returning to her normal life. But what she hasn’t realized is that everything has changed.

Solely and absolutely because she ismine.

Chapter 7

Sophie

“You got laid.”

That’s my greeting as soon as I enter the dorm room.

My roommate, Ollie, sits on her bed, studying me as I shut the door. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail, with her unruly curls exploding behind her head.

The dorm room has single beds and a desk for each of us. It’s a small, nondescript room, but Ollie has decorated the walls with colorful tapestries. I don’t spend much time here; I often do my work in the library, preferring the regulated quiet there instead of the booming chaos in the dorm hallways.

Ollie crosses her legs and pulls her comforter up over her lap, so I’m not gifted with the sight of her underwear. Her blue eyes fill with glee. “Tell me everything.”

Heat blooms on my cheeks, and I toss the maroon-colored suit jacket on top of my still-made bed.

“Come on, Soph,” she grouses at my silence. “Which boring, stuffy, stick-up-their-ass boy from the industry mixer did you shag?”

As my blush deepens, her eyes widen, and she sits up on her knees. “Oh. My. God. You shagged someone from the business mixer thatwasn’ta student.”

Her high-pitched squeal assaults my ears, and I grab my shower bag from my closet. Hearing Ollie get off the bed, I’m not surprised to find her behind me when I turn around.

“Who was it?” She jumps up and down, making her curls bounce.

I roll my eyes. “Come on, Ollie. It was just a one-night stand.”

Her eyes get more impossibly huge. “Just… A one-night…” she sputters. “Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my roommate?” She laughs, then grabs my hands. “You've evaded all advances since you got here. This is huge, Soph. You’re—”

“I’m here to get an education, Ollie.” I haven’t been the most social since arriving here, and yes, I have shut down any guy showing any interest in me—either outright or by using my innocent-I-have-no-idea-that-you’re-hitting-on-me schtick. “I have goals—”

---