Page 18 of Creed (Satan’s Fury MC- Little Rock #6)

CREED

“ O h, I’m in. I wouldn’t still be here if I wasn’t, but we need to tread lightly with all this and not rush into things.”

I let out a low laugh, but not in a funny ha-ha kind of way.

It was a laugh out of frustration, because there wasn’t a damn thing funny about us treading lightly.

I could tell by that doubting look in her eyes that she was about to put her guard back up just when she’d finally started to let it down. I was done backtracking.

I raked a hand over my jaw as I told her, “Dev, we’ve wasted too much time as it is.”

She inhaled a quick breath, but I didn’t give her a chance to argue.

“I get it. I know your kids come first. I know you’ve got your life and your plans and a hell of a lot to lose if this goes sideways.”

I paused, giving her a moment to let my words sink in.

I wanted her to know that I understood her concern.

“But I’m not gonna sit here pretending we don’t both feel this, like we haven’t been carrying this shit around for years.”

She opened her mouth, but I shook my head again, cutting her off.

“You want to take it slow, fine. We can do that. But don’t call it treading lightly, Dev.

Don’t act like we’re two strangers trying to figure out if this is worth it.

We already know it is.” I slipped my arm around her waist, inching her closer.

“You know it. I know it. We’re not kids anymore, and we’re not gonna get back all the time we’ve already lost.”

I reached over, brushing my thumb along her jaw, letting it linger just long enough to see her eyes soften as I told her, “I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to finally get it right.”

Her lips parted, and for a second, I thought she would argue, but she didn’t. She just looked at me like she was seeing me for the first time, and I swore to God, I’d wait however long it took to see that look again.

“Okay. Full steam ahead, but you’ll have to give me some discretion with the kids. I want to tell them my way and when I get ready.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Without saying another word, I stood and held out my hand to her, letting her know the conversation was over.

She hesitated for a breath, but then she slid her hand into mine.

I pulled her to her feet and slipped my arm around her waist, drawing her in close.

The second I felt her body against mine, warm and soft and right, it was like the world finally stopped spinning for a damn minute.

I breathed her in, taking in the scent of vanilla and something that was just her, and it hit me how long I’d gone without this.

Without her . I didn’t give myself time to think before I took my free hand and looped it behind her neck, pulling her to me as I covered her mouth with mine.

I kissed her long and hard, letting everything I’d been carrying pour into that moment.

The feel of her lips against mine was like coming home. I could feel her relaxing into me, letting go, and for the first time in a long damn time, I let myself believe that maybe we hadn’t lost this—that maybe, just maybe, what we’d once had was still there.

Her arms came up around my neck, pulling me closer, and I let my hands trail down the curve of her spine, feeling her shiver under my touch. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Not the years we’d lost. Not the shit waiting for us outside that door.

It was just us, right here, right now.

When I finally pulled back, I kept my forehead pressed to hers, catching my breath. My hand was still resting at the small of her back like I couldn’t bear to let her go. I looked into her eyes and saw that storm I’d loved for as long as I could remember and whispered, “Stay with me tonight.”

She didn’t respond. She just stood there looking at me like she was trying to convince herself that it wasn’t a good idea. I could see the fight in her eyes. The fear tangled with hope. I didn’t push, but I didn’t back down. I just waited silently for her to process whatever she needed to process.

Finally, she let out a breath and nodded. “Okay.”

That one word hit harder than any yes I’d ever heard.

I removed my arm from around her just long enough to place the lid over the fire pit, smothering the last of the flames. Once I had it secured, I reached for her hand and led her back inside.

Neither of us spoke as we made our way down the hall to my bedroom, and we remained silent as we crawled back into bed. She curled up next to me, and we spent the night tangled up in each other’s arms.

I drifted off with her hand resting over my heart, and for the first time in a long damn time, I felt like I could breathe.

The next morning, I woke early. She was still sound asleep and curled into my side, and I let myself watch her for a minute, memorizing the way she looked in my bed.

As far as I was concerned, she was right where she belonged.

I did my best not to wake her as I eased out of bed to make my way to the kitchen.

Quietly, I eased out from under her, pressing a kiss to her forehead before I slipped out of the room.

I walked quietly to the kitchen and turned on the coffee pot.

I leaned against the counter, and I thought back over our night and everything that had been said.

My chest tightened when I remembered her saying there was a story behind why she quit the force.

My curiosity had me reaching for my phone. I promised I wouldn’t, but curiosity got the best of me. I just wanted to know if Shep had anything about what had happened in her file. I pulled up the file Shep had sent me on Devin and started flipping back to the last few pages.

I thought I’d gotten everything I needed to know when I saw that she was divorced and was teaching nearby, so I stopped reading.

I started flipping back and had almost reached the ending when I heard the soft pad of her feet coming into the kitchen.

I looked up and found Devin standing in the doorway.

I shoved my phone into my back pocket and smiled. “Morning, beautiful.”

“Morning.” She was still wearing my old T-shirt and her hair was a mess, but she couldn’t have looked more beautiful. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she grumbled, “Still an early bird, I see.”

“Afraid so.”

"I don’t get it… The sun’s not even up yet.”

“Early bird gets the worm.”

“Screw the worm. It’s too damn early.”

I let out a low chuckle as I set a cup on the counter for her. “You look good in my shirt.”

“Yeah, well, it’s too damn early for compliments, too.” She picked up her coffee and took a sip as she cocked her brow. “It’s also too early for snooping.”

“What makes you think I was snooping?”

“You said you would wait.”

“You’re right. I’ll wait.”

“Thank you.”

She tried to hide her smile behind the mug as she took a sip. I leaned back against the counter and took her in for a moment before letting reality set in. “I gotta head to the clubhouse. You should go back to bed and get more sleep.”

“Too late for that. I’m already awake now.” She glanced at the clock, and her expression shifted. “Besides, I need to get back home. The kids will be wondering where I am.”

“You got plans for tonight?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t really thought past this morning.”

“Come with me to the clubhouse tonight?”

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely,” I said, watching her reaction carefully. “It’s time you met the guys.”

“Even Preacher.”

“Even him.”

Her brows lifted, and a soft smile tugged at her lips. “I’d like that.”

“Good,” I said, pushing off the counter and stepping closer. “I’ll pick you up around six.”

“Okay. Sounds good.”

Her smile widened, warming something deep in my chest. We moved around the kitchen together, quiet and easy, as we finished off our coffee.

We got dressed and made our way outside.

As we walked to her car, she looked up at me with a contented expression. “I’ve missed mornings like this.”

“I’ve missed it, too.”

I leaned in and kissed her, slow and deep, letting her feel everything I didn’t have the words to say just yet. When I pulled back, I let my forehead rest against hers. “I’ll see you at six.”

She nodded as she opened her car door and got inside.

After a quick wave, she started backing out of the drive and was gone. Half an hour later, I was sitting in Preacher’s office, finishing off my second cup of coffee. He was going over some final numbers and seemed pleased with how well things were going.

We were discussing plans for the month when he announced, “I’ve decided to keep things cool at the Vault for a while. No product moves until we’re sure our buddies in blue don’t come sniffing around.”

“It’s a hit, but it’s a good call.”

“But that’s just it. We haven’t taken a big hit.

Things have been going really well at the Vault and the casino.

Money is rolling in, which is why we don’t need to take any unnecessary chances.

” He took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly.

“I have Shep monitoring the lot, twenty-four-seven. If a cruiser so much as rolls down the block, we’ll know. ”

“Good move.”

Preacher fell quiet as that watchful look slid across his face. I knew then he was done talking business but wasn’t done talking. I stayed silent, letting him get there in his own time.

After a beat, he cocked his brow and a smirk crept across his face like he already knew the answer when he asked, “So, when you gonna bring your girl by the clubhouse?”

“Planning to tonight.”

“Oh, really? Hmm.” He cocked his brow. “That didn’t take long… It’s been what? A day?”

“Preach—”

Before I could finish, there was a tap on the door, and Grim stepped in. He walked over and dropped down in the seat next to me before saying, “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

“You’re good, brother.” Preacher chuckled as he put out his cigarette. “Creed was just about to tell me how he’s gone soft over a woman.”