He reached inside and yanked out a part of me I didn’t even know existed. It was hidden right beneath the surface, waiting for a natural disaster of Creighton’s caliber to finally show itself.
I tiptoe inside the apartment I share with the girls, then stop just past the threshold. Why do I need to sneak around as if I’m doing something wrong?
Truth is, a sense of corruption reeks from my every pore, not to mention that I’m a little bit filthy in the best ways possible.
“Anni!”
I jump slightly, then school my reaction and smile as Ava waltzes in my direction, holding something in her hand.
“Someone dropped this in the mailbox with your name on it. Do you think it’s poison?”
My lips part and my vision fills with the tube of ointment in her hand. No one else would know I need this except for the one person who gave me a reason to use it.
“Earth to Anni?” Ava waves a hand in front of my face.
“Uh, I don’t think so.” I subtly pull it from between her fingers. “I’ll throw it away, just in case.”
“Yeah, good call. Looks fishy as hell.”
“I’ll go change.” I step past her, thankful that she doesn’t see the emotion on my face. Hell, I would’ve sworn she’d comment on my crumpled dress and possibly see the handprints her childhood friend gave me.
“Wait.”
My breath catches in my throat. Please don’t tell me she’s seen something more incriminating.
I hold on to my cool as I turn around to face her with my usual smile. “What’s up?”
“I know I’m supposed to fix something for dinner, but I don’t want to. Can we order instead?”
Phew. “Sure thing. I can cook if you want.”
“No, definitely not, I mean no.” She’s quick to wave my offer away.
I narrow my eyes. “My food is edible, you know.”
“Not to humans. Seriously, Anni, I love you, but you’re not made for cooking. Just stick with your fresh salads.”
“Creighton ate my food just fine,” I grumble. Though it was only once and not in front of me.
“That one eats anything, including dog food if he finds it.”
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Do you know why he has that weird fixation about food?”
“Not really. It’s been there since we were kids.”
Sometimes, I envy Ava and the others for having known a younger Creighton. But then again, Cecily said his personality isn’t drastically different, so on second thought, it’s probably better that I didn’t meet him back then.
He would’ve either friend-zoned me to death or broken my heart into irreparable pieces.
He could still break it now.
I smother that thought in the dark corners of my mind and focus on Ava. “Like his silence, I assume.”
“Totally. Creigh is a man of few words because he simply doesn’t feel like talking. And I know he might seem standoffish and cold, but he can be super caring.”
My ass throbs and I mutter, “You must be talking about a different Creighton than the one I know.”
“Nope.” Ava leans against the wall and tilts her head back, eyes seeming lost in another universe. “He was there for me during a dark moment. He didn’t say anything, just sat beside me and let me use his shoulder to cry my eyes out on, like a brother would, and I will never forget that.”
This is the first time I’ve seen Ava so pensive. In pain, even. I want to ask what that dark moment was, but I don’t want to come on too strong or to intrude.
My friend shakes her head and narrows her eyes on me. “Wait a minute, you flirt. Why are we talking about Creigh when you wanted to fake date Bran last night? Ces and I even put in a good word for you, you know. Bran doesn’t like dating that much, since all the girls go to him because they can’t get Lan. And if they actually liked him for himself, they’d change lanes to the evil twin as soon as they meet Lan. I’m on a mission to stab those blind little bitches in the eyes for hurting Bran.”
I bite the corner of my lip. “So…uh, I’ve thought about it and I don’t want Bran hurt by my brother, after all. He doesn’t deserve it.”
And he’s definitely not the one who haunts my nightmares. Last night, I texted him and told him that he doesn’t have to be my fake boyfriend, and he replied that he’s always around if I need him.
Seriously, the world doesn’t deserve such a gentle soul like Brandon. Now, if his cousin were a bit similar, things would be way easier.
But no, I had to be interested in the resident mute of the King family.
“Bran is, like, the most eloquent ever,” Ava argues. “He could totally convince Jeremy.”
“That means he’d be dragged into the Heathens’ games.”
“So? He’s a big boy. He can handle himself.”
“Have you seen the way Nikolai looks at him?”
Ava visibly shudders. “That psycho looks at everyone like they’re on his shit list.”
“Yeah, but it’s different with Bran.”
“Different how?”
“Bad different. Nikolai has a serious thirst for blood and violence, and he might be my brother’s close friend, but I keep as far away from him as possible. I’m simply not putting Bran in his path. I’d never forgive myself if he were to end up being hurt because of me.”
“Aww. You’re like the sweetest.” Ava strokes my arm, then steps back. “I’m telling you this because I really love you, Anni. Creigh is like the hardest nut to crack, after his stone of a brother, but I think you’re getting there.”
“I-I am?”
“Hello? He was super pissed when you didn’t consider him for the fake boyfriend position and then picked Brandon.”
“That’s nothing.”
“That’s interest, bitch. And believe me, Creigh never shows that in anything that isn’t food.” She caresses my arm again. “Not sure if gaining his interest is a good or a bad thing. Scratch that, totally bad. He’s a King, after all, and they kind of have a twisted family aura, except for Glyn and Bran.”
The handprints on my ass tingle in pain as if agreeing with Ava’s words.
“Good luck. You’re totally going to need it.” She steps away from me and grins. “Be right back. I’ll go convince Cecily to let us order in tonight.”
As she jogs to our friend’s room, I disappear into mine and close the door behind me. I let my bag fall to the ground and stand facing the full-length mirror with a neon purple frame.
I lift the skirt of my dress and wince when the fabric rubs against my sore bottom. Turning sideways, I inspect the angry red handprints Creighton left on my ass and my upper thighs.
My fingers subconsciously ghost over them and I wince again when my cold skin makes contact. I continue to touch them, gently poke at them, reveling in the small bursts of pain and the memories they trigger.
I can still smell him, that spiciness and clean scent. I can feel his weight, his sheer size, and the absolute dominance he held over me.
My core pulses back to life, recalling the methodical way he brought me pleasure I’ve never experienced before.
Hell, I didn’t know that type of carnal claiming even existed.
I flinch when I touch an especially painful spot. It’ll hurt like a mother to sit or sleep on my backside for days to come.
And yet, for some reason, I’m looking forward to it.
The ache will bring back those fresh memories that somehow refuse to leave my subconscious.
I stare at the tube in my palm, open it, and apply some ointment on my ass. The pain becomes too much sometimes and I get on my tiptoes, inhale deeply, and then continue.
By the time I’m done, I think I’ll either cry or come again.
After changing into comfy pajamas, I grab my phone and lie on the bed on my stomach with my legs in the air.
I check my notifications, reply to Mom’s daily text and to a few others, then I open my Instagram.
After sending a few likes and typing some comments, I click on Remi’s profile.
Since Creighton is completely, absolutely, and irrevocably against having any sort of social media, Remi’s account is the closest thing to getting updates on him.
Considering Remi’s religious nature about posting updates, I’m sure there’ll be something there…
Sure enough, he shares a selfie where he’s in the middle of three guys. Two of them are the twins, Landon and Brandon. One is smirking, the other is smiling. The fourth is the mysterious Eli King, Creighton’s oldest brother and the reason Ava gets defensive whenever his name is mentioned.