“So,” he spoke, breaking my thoughts and bringing me back to the moment, “you going to tell me why you’re staring at me?”
“Just wondering when I should break the bad news to you.” I suddenly felt nervous. I hadn’t mentioned Dad’s offer to Creed yet, as I didn’t want to force him to have dinner with the Kincaids.
His gaze ripped from the road again, his expression serious. “What happened?” Concern painted those two words.
I felt uneasy when Creed turned onto a side street. Our family house was just up the road.
Being the daughter of the Mother Chapter president meant that nothing was normal. Not even where we lived. When Mum was pregnant with us kids, Dad built a semi-mansion on the land behind the club. It had a driveway to the house, but it was basically considered “inside” the club lines. I think Dad made it so everyone had that impression so people would think twice before coming to the house.
As for members visiting, it wasn’t allowed. In fact, members, even when drunk, knew better than to stumble up the path towards the house.
“Holly! What happened?” he snapped at me, slowing the car down as if trying to keep me in the car longer. I was sure he thought as soon as he pulled into our open gravel driveway, he wouldn’t get an answer.
“You’re having dinner with us,” I said firmly and watched his expression drop. Then he recovered quickly.
“Holly, I just got on speaking terms with your old man again. I’m not in a position to be at the table and to piss him off.” Creed brought the car to a stop but didn’t turn off the engine.
I swallowed sharply. “Come on, Creed, for me?” I had my eyes locked on him when he turned to face me. I could see his expression tighten, his jaw clenching slightly. Right now, he thought I wanted him to join our family dinner against his president’s wishes.
He ran his hands through his hair and looked at me. “The last table member that sat down with your family isn’t at the Mother Chapter’s table anymore.”
I frowned for a moment.
“Are you talking about Taron?” I asked, and then when realising Creed was indeed talking about Taron, my automatic reaction was to correct him. “Taron and Ivy didn’t work out. Him leaving had nothing to do with my dad or the fact he had dinner with us.”
Creed scoffed like I was missing information about what happened with Ivy and Taron. But that wasn’t the case. I was with Ivy when Taron stopped answering her messages, and I was there when Ivy walked into the house a complete wreck.
For the first time in Ivy’s and my relationship, the roles were reversed. She wasn’t helping me function and keep my shit together. I was the one helping her.
I sighed, seeing Creed’s firm expression. I could say Dad invited him, but Creed wouldn’t believe me because it was basically unbelievable information.
“Fine, don’t worry about it,” I said, grabbing my handbag from the floor and opening the car door. “I’ll see you when I see you.” With that said, I closed the car door and walked towards the house.
Creed valued my friendship, there was no doubt about that, but even he knew where the line was drawn. And apparently, that was with dinner.
It was then I heard a car door open and close. Turning around, I saw Creed storming towards me with a pissed-off expression.
He came to a stop beside me on the porch.
“You just had to be the daughter of a man that makes Lucifer look merciful, didn’t ya?” he snapped at me while looking uneasy. The sideways glance he gave me told me that he was furious with me.
“Dad told me to invite you,” I innocently said, and he scoffed, not believing me.
Opening the front door, the sound of music hit my ears, and the smell of the meat cooking meant Dad was in charge of tonight’s dinner.
“We’re here, and Creed decided to crash our family dinner,” I sang out.
Creed gripped my wrist. Immediately, lust poured through my body at his touch. I swear he felt it too because his eyes locked on mine with not just rage, but some other emotion flashing through his smouldering grey eyes.
Creed didn’t roar at me. It was as if him suddenly touching me had sent him speechless too.
“You guys got in just in time.” Mum walked around the corner, and I saw Creed’s face clear of any expression. “Nice seeing you, Creed. What are you drinking?”
Creed let go of me as if I had burnt him. But he was stunned and that caused me to giggle.
“I’ll get it, Mum,” I said, shaking my head and walking through the lounge. When Creed didn’t follow me, I glanced back and arched my eyebrows. Then he snapped out of it and followed me. I saw him taking in the house.
I didn’t know why, but when people walked into our house, they expected it to be covered in vests hanging upside-down from Dad. Sure we had upside-down vests, but only the important ones. And Creed’s eyes were on one of them right now.
“Downtown South Vipers,” I said, and his gaze came to me. “Dad was proud of it because it was his first takeover as president. He did it in trying times and to answer the obvious question you have—there are only two other upside-down vests in the house.”
He took the beer.
“Countless Chiefs and Headless Few. Dad took over both out of vengeance, and the reasons those vests hang in our house and not the clubhouse like the rest is because Dad did those takeovers without having a full table behind him.”
Creed stared at me like I was some magical creature. I just smiled as Kobra walked in.
“Food’s on the table,” Kobra said with his typical cold, hollow voice. His eyes were on Creed. Kobra did a polite thing and gave him a head nod before turning and walking back outside.
“Holly,” Creed spoke my name before I went to walk outside. “You sure this is okay?” he asked, waiting for me to freak out. Because it was a big deal that Dad was acknowledging Creed’s and my friendship.
But it was okay, wasn’t it? Creed and I? We were just friends, and this was what friends did, had dinner with their family.
“Holly?”
I blinked as I came back to the moment, my eyes on Creed. “Just try, okay?” I asked of him. Creed was a stubborn man. Not hot-headed, but he hated authority. He respected my brother and father, but I wasn’t sure if that was because the club expected that of him.
“You two coming?” Mum asked as she walked past, holding a whiskey glass. God, Dad was on the spirits. That answered my question to how he was coping with West out, and I couldn’t lie to myself and say that I wasn’t a factor of why Dad was drinking straight tonight.
Following Mum out, I saw Dad working the barbeque grill. His gaze left the meat and looked to Creed and me. My dad was many things—a biker, a ruthless man, quick to react, but he loved hard and always protected his family.
I couldn’t stop the smile as I walked to the outdoor table, which was set for dinner. I have learned that my dad is my strength. He got me through the dark days. He got me through what I thought I couldn’t survive. All my family did.
Dad’s expression showed shock at my smile, and he gave me a smile in return, but it disappeared when his eyes landed on Creed.
“Where’s the vest?” Dad barked from the barbeque
Oh, shit. Why the hell didn’t I remind Creed! I opened my mouth, ready to explain.
“Went to the valley. Didn’t want to bring extra heat on Holly by wearing it.” Creed didn’t back down from a confrontation. “Thought a couple of hours without it outweighed the trouble.”
Dad’s eyes remained locked on Creed. It was as if he were debating whether to make this physical. Kobra was standing at Dad’s side, and due to history, he was ready to get in the way of Dad and any target.
“Well, you’re not in the fucking valley now,”
“I’ll get it.” I was quick to speak before anyone said another word. I turned and walked back inside because I knew it was going to be tense until I got back. I opened the front door to head to Creed’s car, only to find the last person I wanted to
see.
Fear flooded my body. I swallowed sharply. Dad and Kobra’s bikes weren’t out front, but I couldn’t stop thinking how West was fucking bold coming here. I wanted to scream. I went to slam the door in his face and lock it, but instead, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me out the door.
“Dad’s here.” My words trembled.
His grip on me tightened. “You fucking cost me everything.” It was as he pulled me down the porch that my fear kicked up a notch.
So I fought, trying to get out of his grip.
Just as I went to scream, the front door opened. It took Creed two seconds to react.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” As Creed’s words came out, he could see the tears in my eyes. I was quick to wipe them away, but Creed snapped. Before I could step in and tell Creed not to react, he had West by the shirt collar, forcing him against the boot of the Chevy.
“Maybe Hades hasn’t said anything, but I fucking will. Stay the fuck away from Holly.” Creed had this murderous tone in his voice as his knuckles went white and his grip tightened on West’s shirt.
“Creed, stop,” I said to him. But he wasn’t going to back down.
“I don’t answer to you, little boy.” West fought back, shoving Creed. My stomach dropped at West’s words. He didn’t know Creed, but I did, so I wasn’t even surprised when Creed’s fist connected with West’s jaw, and West being West, didn’t back down from a fight, either.
“Stop it!” I roared at them.
But these two, they were punching each other like they were trying to prove something and like they were made of steel because they weren’t stopping.
“Fucking stop it!” I screamed this time, but they didn’t listen. However, when a gun went off, they were forced to stop.
Dad was standing on the porch step, his eyes on both men. Then his expression tightened when he saw West. He lowered the gun, but I stepped into the path.
“Dad, he’s not worth it,” I said quickly, hoping and praying he’d listen to me and not his raging mind right now.
“Creed, Holly, head inside.” Dad’s eyes were locked on West. But I saw them flick to me, and for a split second, I saw it—pain and guilt blended into one appeared in my father’s eyes. The tears were gripping me, emotions flooding my body. The shame I felt in those moments was unexplainable.
I turned to look at West. “You said I ruined your life. Yet it’s my life that was torn to fucking pieces.” I said it low, hoping only he would hear me. I felt the tears burning my skin, and I knew this was as close as I was going to get. “You nearly killed me,” I added, and then I stared into West’s eyes. “And you know what is worse? Some days, I wish Dad hadn’t found me. Because what I feel every day is suffocating, and that’s all thanks to you.”
I turned, and I saw Creed’s eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him. I knew Creed had heard my peace with West, which left me unable to look at him at all.
I spun on my heels and headed inside. Pausing beside Dad, I reminded him, “Kill him, and you kill this family.” Dad’s eyes didn’t lift from West as I spoke. I hoped he listened. But as Kobra stepped out the door as I headed in, I knew there was no chance they would handle this with a level head.
As I sat in my room, staring at the carpet, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and someone cracked it open.
“Invite me to dinner, and your old man ends up having to host me,” Creed said as he leaned against the doorframe with a small smile on his face. He scanned the room before looking back at me. “Don’t know what shocks me more—Hades telling me to go to his daughter’s bedroom or that this is my first time in here.”
He opened the door wider, casually walking in. His shirt ripped, dirt on his jeans, and his lip bleeding, I couldn’t stop myself from getting up, my hand going to his cheek as I examined the cut lip before meeting his eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” I didn’t even know how to express how sorry I was for dragging him into my mess.
He removed my hand from his cheek. “I threw the punches, Holly, not you. And for the record”—his eyes stilled on mine—“I’d do a lot more to any bastard that hurt you.” Still holding my hand, I saw nothing but pure honesty in his eyes.
The reasons I shouldn’t let Creed into my heart, well, they were disappearing.
And that was when I felt it, my lips parting, as he brushed my cheek with his other hand, using the back of his knuckles. Moving my hand in his, I linked our fingers, his rings cold against my skin, surprise rising in his eyes. Then I moved slightly closer to him.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I whispered. I didn’t even know why I said it. It wasn’t like we were a couple, and it wasn’t like I had just proclaimed my love for him. But, still, I felt like I had to say it. Though I said it so slowly, I was unsure if he had heard it when he dipped his head, forcing his eyes to stay locked with mine.
His knuckles paused on my cheek. “I’m sorry.” He said two words that caused my chest to tighten.
“For?” I asked the one word, expecting to hear him saying he can’t promise that.
“This,” he said before his lips crashed to mine.
What was fucking wrong with me? Why were her words ringing in my ears? It was driving insanity through my blood. My eyes locked on her sea-blue eyes, and I saw uncertainty in them mixed with fear. And I was causing those two emotions to drive through her body while she was causing me to question whether I was fucking losing my sanity. My eyes dropped to her lips—how many fucking times had I imagined kissing them? Now was not the time. Her family was downstairs, waiting for us to eat.
Yet my dick was throbbing. I’d had to deal with her being in that white dress all day. I told myself to keep a fucking grip on it. Don’t fucking act.
Then her lips parted. “Please don’t hurt me,” words so low, but so much pain attached to them. I felt a sickness rise in me. She thought I’d hurt her? She was right. I would be the reason for tears in her eyes one day. I wasn’t a man to be counted on. I wasn’t the man you turned to.
Yet I was standing here, questioning myself on it.
My knuckles paused on her cheek. “I’m sorry.” Just two words I honestly meant, but I knew not enough to stop myself from acting.
“For?” I heard her anticipation of pain in that one word.
“This.” And my lips were on hers. Part of me wanted her to push me away. Part of me wanted her to slap me. Part of me wanted her to be happy. But I knew I would bring more sadness to her life than happiness.
Yet nothing but pure pleasure rolled through my body when her lips moved back against mine. My hand unlinked from hers, and I gripped her hips, then pushed her back. I wasn’t a man with control.
She wrapped her hand around my neck, and I was kissing her as if I’d never kissed a woman. Fuck, how long have I waited for this moment? I wanted it the moment I laid eyes on her years ago.
I lifted her in one fluid movement, pushing the dress up. If she wanted me to stop, she’d say something, wouldn’t she?
I moved her back against the bed, but I didn’t want her to stop clinging to my body, so I didn’t let go of her. It was her hands on my belt that sent pure excitement through my body. Did she want this as much as I did?
I ran my hands over her ass. When I didn’t feel any fabric under the dress, my eyes widened, and I pulled my lips from hers.
“You been wearing nothing under that dress all day?” I couldn’t stop my words coming out slightly growled. All fucking day. She looked up at me, but I didn’t wait for a reply, because when she freed me, I couldn’t stop myself from bringing her down on my cock, watching her lips part and her breathing sharpen.
I’d always loved sex, but this was different. My heart didn’t usually beat like this, and I never used to wonder about how to finish who I was with, but my mind started racing. How the fuck could I get her off when her family was downstairs, waiting on us?
Suddenly, I realised my biggest fuck-up. I was only going to get one chance with her, and this was it.
Fuck, and I had picked a time where there was no way I could take my time with her. I was furious with myself but also questioning if I was suicidal. Fucking Hades’s daughter, under his roof, while he waited for us.
My lips were back on hers, and I couldn’t stop myself from picking up the speed. I was losing myself in her. I knew my control was slipping, and it was taking everything in me not to finish. She was tight, her moans soft, and I wanted to lay her down on the bed, watch her come undone, but I couldn’t.
I loved the feel of her body clinging to mine. I was tormenting myself, getting myself to the edge, then stopping, and I felt like a selfish bastard. I wanted this to be as good for her as it was for me.
I held her up with one arm and went to rub her off, but she stopped my hand, her lips pulling back from mine.
“My family is waiting. We—” She gasped because she tried to stop me mid-movement. Then her eyes locked with mine. “Finish in me.” I froze. She placed her hand to my cheek. “We’re safe.” And I believed her. I usually wouldn’t believe a woman saying that to me, thinking they were out for my money or trying to baby-trap me.
But I believed her. I cupped her cheek with my hand, bringing her lips back to mine as I fucked her, freely, her soft moans encouraging me. And when I finished, I realised I’d found it—I found the meaning of addiction. As I stilled, her head fell to my shoulder. My breathing was fucking sharp, and my heart raced.
She kissed my neck as I pulled out of her, helping her get steady on her feet, wanting an excuse to keep my hands on her.
Then I didn’t know what it was, but I needed to kiss her. So when she was steady, I cupped her face, bringing my lips to hers, and this time, I kissed her softly, as if she were made of porcelain.
She didn’t say anything as she pulled back. A soft smile graced her lips before she walked towards her adjoining bathroom.
I cursed under my breath as I pulled my jeans up, doing my belt. What the fuck had I done? I was positive I had just fucked up my one shot with her and ruined our friendship. I heard the toilet flush, and I told myself to get some sort of fucking control. Then she walked out, and my eyes went back to her. I was reminded at this moment the reason for my insanity—Holly Kincaid.
Creed's Honor: Satan Bastards MC Book 1 Page 3