Page 18 of Save Me

“Want a beer or a soda?” Colt asked.

“Beer, please,” I said.

Smiling, Colt put a hand on Ethan’s slumped shoulder. “You were bound to lose at something one of these days. Come on, let's go get a beer.”

Ethan threw an arm over Isabelle’s shoulders and the three of them headed out onto the back patio.

Creed’s arm wrapped around me and his hand flattened on my lower stomach, pulling me against him. I leaned back against his chest and tilted my head so I could look up at him. He was frowning toward the living room. I looked in that direction and saw Gabe standing with some of his teammates from the baseball team. He was smirking at Creed. As if feeling me staring at him, Gabe’s gaze shifted to me and his eyes turned predatory as they slid down my body. I knew it wasn’t because he found me attractive. It was to taunt Creed.

I caught sight of Cassy sitting with Amber on the couch a few feet away from her cousin, Gabe. She was watching Creed’s unease with disturbing smugness.

The need to slap that smugness off her face bubbled inside me. I spun to face Creed. “Will you indulge my need to be petty?”

He stared down at me with an unsure look. “What?”

My cheeks warmed, but I could blame it on the alcohol. “Will you kiss me?”

His brows shot up before his mouth stretched into a smile. “Alright,” he said, leaning close.

I put my fingers on his mouth, stopping him. “Kiss me like you’ve never kissed her.”

He pulled my hand away. “I’ve never kissed her like I’ve kissed you.” He slid his hand behind my neck, pulling me even closer until my head was tilted back and his lips hovered over mine. “She was just to pass the time. When I’m with you, time doesn’t exist. There’s just you.”

Cassy and everything around us ceased to exist. I wanted to smile or gush with happiness, but I kept my cool. “Good.” I pushed up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. I got to have my way with him until my tongue touched his. Then he took over, kissing the crap out of me. His tongue was skilled and the way it stroked mine made my thoughts wander to the memory of when he’d had it between my legs.

My head was a little dizzy when he eventually pulled away. Staring down at me, he whispered, “You’re flushed.”

I cleared my throat. “It’s the alcohol.”

He huffed a laugh. “Sure it is.”

The moment was ruined when I looked over at Cassy. She was standing, hands fisted at her sides, and by her expression, she was fuming. I gave her the same smug look she had given Creed and that sent her stomping away.

“I should encourage you not to stoop to her level,” Creed said as he pressed his lips just below my ear.

I shivered. “I blame you.”

He pulled away. “Me?”

I smiled up at him. “You called me your girlfriend.”

He smiled down at me. “Caught that, did you?”

“You know, we haven’t discussed what we are—you, me, and Colt. Or how this relationship works.”

He frowned a little. “I thought it was obvious.”

“Maybe it is.” I stepped back, needing a little space. “I’ve never done this before, let alone with two people.”

A red plastic cup appeared in front of me. Colt was standing next to us. “If that’s what you need, babe, we can talk about it. Later, though.”

“That’s fine.” I took the cup from him. “You should know that since you’ve already called me your girlfriend, I’ve claimed the title and there are no take-backs.”

They both smiled.

6

“I have to pee!”Isabelle shouted over the music.