Chapter 15 Creed
CREED
Everything about this day has sucked. I never should have ignored Emmie’s text. She deserves better than that. Dammit. I didn’t need to hurt her while trying to figure this all out. I could have at least talked to her.
I drop a pan, cussing as it hits the floor, its echo carrying throughout the house.
“Dad, you ok?”
I look up to see Bart standing there, looking a lot older than I remember him being.
“I’m fine.” The gruffness in my voice catches me off guard. It’s not the kids’ fault I’ve had a shitty day.
“When are we gonna see Emmie again, Dad? She makes you really happy.”
“I don’t know, son. I’m sure we’ll see her around town at some point.”
“Dad, that’s not what I mean. She’s good for you. When will you be seeing her again?”
I look at my son, really taking him in. He’s shot up about four inches in the last year, there’s a couple tiny pimples on his nose, and I think his jawline is more defined than it was even last week.
“I don’t know, kiddo.”
“Did you mess it up, dad?”
I don’t know whether I’m ready to hit something or cry, but Bart’s words hit me like a punch in the gut. In that moment, I realize Emmie is right. I don’t have to choose. My boys can see me happy, and I can be a great dad.
“I might have, son. But I’m going to make it right. Somehow.”
With that, Bart helps me finish making supper. I still have no idea how Emmie will take an apology after everything I said, but I know I have to try. My boys deserve it. Hell, so do I.
The next day, I ask Chuck if he can watch the boys for a little bit after work while I take care of something.
I swear he knows something is up because he not only agrees to watch them, but he tells me he’s buying Rita’s Spring Creek famous pizzas for supper for all four of us.
After thanking him profusely, I tell them not to wait up when the pizza is ready.
Emmie closes at 5:30 tonight. I don’t want to interrupt her last client, but I also know I have to apologize in person. As I see what I assume is the last client walking out, I head into Claws & Curls.
“Emmie?”
She almost drops the cash she’s counting behind her register.
“Creed. Is everything ok?” I can’t tell by her tone if I’m welcome or not, but it’s now or never.
“I’m scared. I don’t know how to do this. I’m so sorry I pushed you away the other day. You deserve so much better than that. If you’ll give me another chance, I promise we’ll talk through everything. You deserve that, at a minimum.”
Emmie crosses her arms, her face calculating my words.
“I’m scared too, Creed. I told you I’m new to all this. I never thought someone like you would be in Spring Creek. But then what you said at the shop…” Her voice trails off.
“I’m an idiot. I got scared. I’m terrified about doing right by my boys.
And the idea of not having any weekends off scares the shit out of me.
Right now, I know I get at least one kid-free weekend a month.
But now I’ll lose that, and they’re all but losing their mom. I don’t know how to do any of this.”
“Neither do I, Creed.” Emmie walks from behind the counter. “But I’d like to try. Together.” She gives me one of her bubbly smiles, and I realize whatever part of my grinch-like ways that are currently inside of me have all but vanished.
“What if we mess this up?”
Emmie laughs. “You know we will. Almost daily. We will screw up, time and time again. But together, I’m sure it’ll be easier to figure it out. We can take it slow for both of our sakes, and the boys’. We will be thoughtful about how we introduce the idea of us to them.”
I can’t hide my smirk. “I think Bart’s already catching on. He already likes you.”
“He seems like a smart kid. I’m not surprised. And Rowan adores your boys. That snowball fight was the highlight of his week.”
I sigh, reaching for Emmie’s hand across the counter. “I’m so sorry. I was terrible to you at the shop, and before. I promise to talk it out— no matter how painful the conversation might be. I just couldn’t ask you to step into this mess with me.”
“You will never have to ask. I just want to be part of it. The mess can be beautiful.”
I can’t help but smile. She’s right. Even in the mess, life can be really beautiful if we allow ourselves to see it.
I step around the counter, needing Emmie to be in my arms. She doesn’t hesitate to reach for me, and we hug in the sweetest embrace I’ve had in my life.
“Thank you, Emmie. I don’t deserve another chance, but I’m so glad you were willing to talk this out.”
“Under all that grinchy-ness, I’ve always known there was a really good guy.”
I fake denial. “Me? Grinchy? I’m offended by the very idea.”
Emmie tosses back her head and laughs, exposing her neck. Without even thinking about it, I start kissing the exposed skin. Her moaning is immediate, and I feel like everything is back on the right track.
Without warning, Emmie pushes me away and I momentarily worry that I’ve done something wrong again. But she flashes me a grin as she walks toward the entrance. She locks the door and closes the window blinds.
“Make love to me under the twinkle lights.”
My dick immediately begins to harden at the idea. “I don’t know,” I joke. “I’ve heard grinches can spontaneously combust if they have sex with Christmas lights on.”
Emmie rolls her eyes and seats herself on the chaise lounge in the corner by the magazines and Christmas tree. “Shut up and come kiss me.” She smiles.
I rush for the lounger, getting my body on top of Emmie’s and kissing her. She opens her mouth, deepening our kiss and desire for one another. My fingers find her waist and pull her into me.
“I missed you,” she whispers against my lips.
“I missed you too,” I admit, surprising myself with how true my words feel.
Emmie sits up, pulling her sweater over her head in one fluid motion. The Christmas lights cast a soft glow on her skin, making her even sexier than before. I reach up to trace the edge of her bra, watching the goosebumps that appear where my fingers had been.
“Beautiful,” I murmur.
With our mouths again exploring each other and our tongues gently dancing into one another’s mouths, Emmie starts tugging at the bottom of my greasy t-shirt.
As she pulls it off, I decide it’s time for all my clothing to go.
I stand up and with one swoop of my hands, I’ve dropped my jeans and underwear.
Emmie wastes no time moving toward me. Before I can fully process what’s happening, my erection is in her mouth. She has my balls cradled in her hands, making the most intimate eye contact as she goes back and forth on my dick.
“Fuck, baby.” I gently place my hand on the back of her strawberry blonde curls.
This isn’t what I expected to happen, and it’s definitely not something I deserve after the way I treated her.
I decide then and there that this woman will be my wife, and I will do everything in my power to keep her happy.
As she continues to pleasure me, I know I can’t come like this. “Baby, not like this.” I pull myself back, forcing her to stop.
“Everything ok?” I can see the concern in Emmie’s eyes.
I smile. I don’t want her to think anything is wrong. I bend over, swoop her up, plant my own ass into the lounger, and place her on top of me.
“This will be better for both of us.”
After the shock of being flipped around settles, Emmie smiles.
I reach back and unclasp her bra, releasing her gorgeous breasts to my mouth and hands.
As I start sucking on her nipples, Emmie starts trying to wiggle out of her jeans.
When she finally succeeds, I can feel her wetness and my dick immediately gets harder.
“You’re so wet for me.”
Emmie moans as I slide my dick between her slit, letting it rub against her clit.
There’s no need to rush our release when there’s so many amazing ways to feel pleasure before we get there.
She starts grinding on my dick, and I can see her face light up— reflective lights from the Christmas tree somehow making this even hotter.
“Damn, Creed, this feels good.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that Emmie will come like this before I even enter her. Hell, she needs to come before I enter her. I grab her hips, helping her steady herself and maintain whatever pace she chooses.
“Come for me, beautiful. Then I’m making love to you.”
Emmie pushes herself into me and continues to grind on my throbbing dick. Watching her face contort as she climbs higher is super satisfying for me.
“Creed, I’m coming.” Emmie speeds up and holds onto my chest for leverage.
I watch her body and face to see how I can help her have an amazing orgasm.
As she slows down, I reach between us, gently lift her up, and slide my dick inside of her.
Emmie’s eyes go wide, first in a bit of shock, then I can see the pure delight.
“I didn’t expect…” I pull her into me, trying to be as close to her as possible. She leans down, kissing me, which makes my dick throb even more as I moan into her mouth.
The sex is slow. Intentional. Between kisses, the eye contact is super sensual, and the Christmas lights glow, casting soft shadows across both our naked bodies. We find the perfect rhythm together, both of us moaning out in pure delight.
“Emmie…” I can tell I won’t last much longer. “Ride me hard, baby. I’ll come with you.”
She leans up, holding onto my chest for leverage. Instead of riding me hard and fast like I expected, she starts slowly rising and lowering herself onto my throbbing dick. I don’t know how long I can last, but I will myself to wait for her release.
After another minute of this slow teasing build up, she finally gives me what I wanted.
She firmly plants her knees and starts grinding against me, faster and faster than before, allowing me to feel every inch of her inner beauty on my dick.
I can tell she’s getting close by the intense look on her face.
“Creed!” Emmie grabs onto my chest harder than before, letting her orgasm wash over her in waves. My own release is immediate, especially with her pussy squeezing around me like never before.
I try to use my hands to help her prolong her orgasm, but I am at a loss. This orgasm is so intense that it’s all I can do to hold onto her hips.
As we ride out the final waves of pleasure, Emmie leans down, her hair creating a curtain around our faces as she kisses me deeply.
“Thank you, handsome.”
“No, baby. Thank you.” I wrap my arms around her, letting us both catch our breaths as we lay together and enjoy each other.
After a few minutes, Emmie sits up, finally having caught her breath.
She gasps. “Creed, I’m so sorry.”
I follow her gaze, and my laughter is immediate and much louder than I expected.
“What’s so funny?” Poor Emmie looks confused.
“I didn’t know you took the name Curls and Claws so seriously!”
Emmie playfully swats at my cheek before gently leaning down and kissing the claw marks she left on my chest.
“Just love wounds, beautiful woman.” I smile, pulling her in to kiss me. “I honestly didn’t even feel it, but you can do that to me every day for the rest of our lives.”
Emmie leans down again, kissing me sweetly. I wrap my arms around her. This is a feeling I could get used to.