Genevieve.
“I have.”
“She’ll bounce on any Thorne dick. After Damien broke it off with her, she made sure to befriend his brothers. Granted, Finn is a sucker for a woman with big tits, I know he’s fucked her.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you asked me what I’m like.” He smiles, the corner of his mouth is the only thing that tilts upward, and in that single second, I notice how haunted his gaze is. “Gen is one of those girls who crave status. Damien offered it to her for a short while, because he thought she was decent. I, on the other hand, broke her down until there was nothing left. Your boyfriend tried to fix her.”
“Is that why you two aren’t friends anymore?” I ask, drawn into his words like a moth to the flame, and I wonder if his confession will burn me or if it will merely singe.
“Damien didn’t agree with my methods, my need to control and claim. I wanted to test the limits of our games, and he got scared.”
“What did you do?” I ask, my voice low, a whisper laced with fear. I have a feeling that I’m not going to like the answer, but I’m here now, so I may as well learn what happened.
“Let’s just say that terrible things happen in the dark.” Creed smiles, his eyes blazing with the threat of sinister actions. A shiver takes hold of me, and he notices my hands shaking. “Perhaps you should go find your boyfriend.” He gestures to the door with his chin. “Unless you’d like to join me next door.” This time, his eyes glance toward my left, to the door that he mentioned leads to his bedroom.
“Can I ask you one thing before I go?” I don’t know why I’m still standing here, but my feet don’t move. He lifts a hand, signaling for me to continue. “What happened to you to make you like this?” My question is also an answer. When I was trying to decide what I’d like to study, I never really knew where my passion lies. But it’s in this moment, with Creed, that I realize what I’d like to major in. It may seem silly, but for the longest time I thought I should go with a safe bet like marketing or business, but as I study the man before me, I ponder people’s actions because I’m curious as to why they do certain things. Like the satisfaction in Creed’s gaze when he notices my nervous energy and fearful stance.
Even my own addiction to a blade comes to mind. I cut myself to ease the anxiety that twists inside me. To allow the emotions I can’t voice to flow from me, to release me from the bindings of things that most people can easily talk about. I have never truly thought about the why, but watching Creed, I realize I need to know.
“Because I learned from a very young age that life doesn’t always give you what you want and need. That people will lie to your face, and when you turn your back, they’ll stick the knife in so deep, that while you’re writhing in pain, they’ll twist it until you’re nothing more than a broken mess. I vowed never to be that broken person again.”
I regard him for a long while as I soak in his admission, knowing I shouldn’t ask my next question, but also realizing he won’t hurt me; not here and now, “So, you turned into a monster?”
Creed pushes to his feet, but he doesn’t come near me. Thankfully, because I’m still trembling from our encounter. He offers a small smile before he shakes his head. Then he tells me, “I turned into the one holding the knife.”
He takes a step toward me, which has me retreating. But the more I move, so does he, until my back hits the cool glass. Creed’s hands cup my face, his thumbs resting on my cheeks, the heat of him searing me.
He is good looking, rugged, brutal, with ink on his hands and peeking out from the collar of his shirt, but he’s not Damien. I want to scream, but when my mouth opens, his lips steal the sound, and he kisses me deeply.
The whoosh of the other door has Creed breaking our connection, and I turn to lock my gaze on blue eyes so volatile, I feel faint.
32
Damien
I watch him kiss her through a cloud of rage. I know I shouldn’t be jealous because she wants me, but I can’t stop the toxic emotion from racing like a poison through my veins.
My body moves, and without thinking, my fist connects with Creed’s face before I have time to think. Nesrin’s squeak of surprise bounces off the walls, but I don’t even look at her.