Page 18

"You always did have a thing for athletes," she murmured. "Let’s just hope this one doesn’t disappoint you like the last."

I stiffened, a venom laced comeback on the tip of my tongue before my dad cut in.

"Sienna." My father’s tone was a quiet warning, but she just smiled, like she hadn’t just taken a jab at my past relationship.

Creed glanced at me, and for the first time, his jaw tightened slightly. But he still didn’t respond. Because he knew… he knew Sienna and I’s history. He knew that no matter what I did, she’d always find something wrong with it.

"I think I’ll get some air, enjoy the rest of your night" she announced, finishing her drink before stepping away.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Creed turned to me, and placed my face between his hands, his eyes searching mine.

"You good?" he asked quietly.

I swallowed, nodding. "Yeah. She just…" I trailed off, shaking my head. "She’s so damn infuriating."

He studied me for a second before nodding slowly, placing a kiss on my forehead and releasing me. "I see."

My father sighed, running a hand down his face. "She’ll come around Serenity."

"We both know she won’t" I muttered rolling my eyes. “I’m over it. Over her.” I turned back to Creed, reaching for his hand. "Come on. Let’s get another drink."

He gave my father a respectful nod before following me across the ballroom, his fingers tight around mine.

And even with Sienna’s words hanging in the air like a ghost, I felt it— This thing between us wasn’t going anywhere.

I was glad he was by my side, and I was glad he protected me, especially in front of my daddy, showing that he would be there no matter what.

The party was still going strong as the clock neared midnight, and I felt my stomach flip as Creed pulled me toward the balcony, away from the crowd.

The cold New York air wrapped around us, but I barely felt it—not with Creed standing so close, his body heat keeping me warm.

"Ten… nine… eight…"

The countdown rang from inside, but I wasn’t focused on the clock anymore. I was focused on him. He was already staring at me, his light brown eyes intense, burning, his fingers brushing my waist.

"Three… two… one… Happy New Year!"

And then, his lips were on mine. The kiss was deep, slow, hungry. Like he had been waiting for this moment as long as I had. Like he was claiming me.

I melted into him, my arms winding around his neck as he deepened the kiss, his hands gripping my waist, pulling me closer, my body pressed against his. Fire spread through me the longer our tongues explored one another, the anticipation, the weeks of tension finally bubbling over.

When we finally pulled back, my lips swollen, my breath shaky, I whispered the words that had been sitting on my tongue all night. "Wanna get out of here?"

Creed didn’t hesitate. "Hell yeah."

We went back inside, saying our goodbyes before making our way outside.

I called for the car and it didn’t take long to come.

The entire time, my mind raced, heart bumped and I became anxious thinking about what was to come.

My body ached for him and had been aching since the moment I bumped into his solid body at that party almost a year ago.

The second we were through the door of the apartment; Creed’s hands were on me.

His lips were back on mine, urgent, demanding, pushing me backward until my back hit the nearest wall.

I gasped against him, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth, kissing me like he was trying to consume me whole.

My fingers gripped his shirt, then slid under it, feeling the warm, solid muscles of his back. He groaned, pressing me harder against the wall, his breath ragged as he pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes.

"You sure?" he murmured, placing his forehead against mine, voice rough.

I swallowed, my heart pounding. "Yeah," I whispered.

His jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring slightly. Without hesitation he lifted me in the air, and I wrapped my legs around his waist carrying me to my bedroom, kicking the door closed behind us.

He threw me on the bed breaking our kiss long enough for him to lift my dress over my head.

With the dress off, our lips locked again, and my hands were free to explore the pants he was wearing.

His suit jacket fell from his shoulder seamlessly and I snatched his shirt open, buttons flying every which way.

Soft moans filled the air as his lips explored my body.

My skin tingled beneath his lips. With one swift move, he had my bra unclasped and his tongue swiped my pebbled nipples.

The sound of the moan that escaped my lips made his dick jump.

Again, his lips went to mine, sucking my bottom lip while savoring my tongue.

Every moment I had thought about this happening was nothing compared to the real thing.

“You sure you want to do this?” he asked breaking our kiss. His left hand roamed down my body, sliding inside of my panties and his fingers ran through my slick essence. I gasped as he fingered me, before dipping into my center. “We can stop.”

“No, don’t stop.” I begged just above a whisper. The ache displayed on my face seemed to replicate the ache in my heart. If he wanted me half as much as I wanted him, then he already knew the answer to that question before he had even asked it.

There was no turning back for us.

Instead of responding with words, he placed his mouth over my nipples, sucking each one before licking it then alternating to the other one. As he rubbed my pussy, I could feel my juices coating his fingers. I yearned for him to taste me, to fill himself with my sticky essence.

His lips left my nipples, placing a trail of kisses down my body. He placed his hands on both sides of my panties before slowing pulling them down tossing them on the ground. I opened my legs, wide, waiting for him to feast on my pussy.

“Keep them open just like that.” With his tongue outstretched, he swiped between my folds and a throaty gasp escaped from my lips immediately causing my legs to close.

Creed let a soft chuckle escape his lips before he used his hands to open them again, his tongue never leaving my pussy and a throaty groan vibrated throughout the room as if his taste buds were savoring it with every swipe of his tongue.

He let go of one of my legs long enough to maneuver his pants down.

My eyes followed his hands, eye bulging seeing the length, the size, the girth of him.

He stroked his dick preparing to slid inside, but then I remembered I needed that latex barrier to protect us.

My hand abruptly hit his chest and he looked concerned.

“What’s wrong?” He asked obviously alarmed.

“We need a condom.” I sighed. “I have a couple in the nightstand.” His neck snapped in my direction watching as a sheepish grin spread across my face. He got out of bed and opened the drawer of my nightstand.

“You came prepared?”

Opening one of the packages, I watched as he slid the condom on before returning to me. He opened my legs before sliding between my thighs positioning himself at the opening of my walls.

“I did.” I giggled. “Just in case.”

My heart raced as I stared up at him, the smiles fading from both of our faces.

My hand moved up towards his face, caressing it causing him to close his eyes for a few seconds.

More thoughts boomed through my head of us being ruined, our friendship, the intense fucking connection that we had. What if this didn’t work out?

“We can never be just friends again after this.” He told me solemnly, and internally I mourned our friendship.

“Are you sure you want to.” We stared at each other for a little while longer before I lifted slightly off the bed and placed my lips on his.

My hand, moved down his body, connecting with the hand that still had his dick at my tunnel before guiding him, giving him permission to enter me.

Throaty groans escaped both of our lips the moment he was inside.

Our lips remained connected the entire time.

He delivered slow and deliberate strokes between my walls, each time a tingling erupted from my body.

Even with this barrier between us, I could feel him penetrating my walls.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him in deeper.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.

I couldn’t tell you when I had fallen asleep, just knew I had fallen asleep in Creed’s arms and woke up in them as well.

I shifted against the sheets, feeling the warmth of his body next to me.

His arm was draped over my waist, his breath slow and steady against my neck.

I turned slightly, looking up at him, tracing my hand along his face, memorizing this moment. His eyes opened slowly, still heavy with sleep, but when they landed on me, something softened in them.

"Morning, beautiful," he murmured, his voice deep and groggy.

A slow smile spread across my lips. "Morning, Langston." His hand slid up my side, fingers trailing along my bare skin before he tugged me closer.

"You good?" he asked, voice lower, softer.

I nodded, biting my lip.

"Yeah," I whispered. "I feel good. About last night, about… us."

Something flickered in his gaze before he nodded, his lips brushing my forehead. "Me too."

I hesitated before whispering, "So what are we?"

He smirked slightly, tilting my chin up. "What you wanna be?"

I rolled my eyes but felt my heart swell.

"We should put a title on it."

"Yeah?" he grinned.

"Yeah."

He pulled me even closer, his lips hovering over mine. "Say it then."

I let out a soft laugh before whispering, "You’re mine, Langston." His lips crashed into mine again, this time slow, deep, claiming. And in that moment, I knew this was the start of something real.

With school officially back in session, my days were no longer my own. Between classes, rehearsals, and late-night homework sessions, my schedule had quickly gone from free-flowing and relaxed to hectic and exhausting. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Especially not my dance rehearsals.

Today, my partner Monty and I had been working tirelessly, fine-tuning our routine for our upcoming showcase.

The song choice was Jill Scott’s “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) .” The dance was sensual, intimate and. motional.

We weren’t just moving to the music—we were telling a story. A story of longing, love, and passion. A story which was inspired by real life. Every step, every touch, every glance had to be felt, not just performed.

"Breathe through it Serenity," Monty murmured, his deep voice steady as we moved together. "Feel the music. Let it guide you."

I exhaled, relaxing into the movements, my body melting into his as he spun me out, then pulled me back into his chest. Our bodies moved in sync, every shift, every brush of our hands and arms deliberate and charged.

When the song reached its peak, our faces were just inches apart, our breathing shallow, our bodies close enough that anyone watching would feel like they were intruding on something private.

It was the kind of dance that made the audience believe in love, even if they had never been in it. And as the final beat of the song faded out, I realized— I was worried about what Creed was going to think.

Later that evening, I stretched across my bed, my phone pressed to my ear as Creed’s familiar voice filled the line.

"How was rehearsal?" he asked, his voice low, relaxed.

"It was good. Long as hell, but good," I murmured, rolling onto my back. "Monty and I were working on our routine for the showcase."

"Yeah? What song y’all using?"

I hesitated for a second. "He Loves Me by Jill Scott."

A short pause. "Oh, word?"

I bit my lip. "Yeah… it’s, um, pretty intimate."

Another pause.

"How intimate we talking SB?"

I exhaled, closing my eyes. "It’s a partner dance, Creed. It’s supposed to tell a story. We gotta be close, there’s touching, eye contact… it’s intense."

I waited, listening for his reaction. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, but I could hear the way he shifted on the other end of the line.

Then—

"It’s just a dance, right?"

I frowned slightly. "Of course it’s just a dance. But I wanted to make sure you were cool with it."

"I mean… yeah, I ain’t trippin’." But there was something in his voice. Something tight and restrained. I knew Creed well enough by now to know when he was holding something back.

"You sure?" I pressed gently.

He let out a short chuckle. "Yeah, SB. I’m sure. I know what you do, I know what this is."

I nodded slowly, but I still felt it. That shift.

That little crack in our usual ease. For the first time since we’d made things official, I wondered… Was he really okay with it?

“I miss you. I’m starting to think, if I feel like this now, while we’re so close what it’s going to feel like when you’re off being a star.”

“I’mma have you as close to me as possible while I’m out doing that. Whatever obstacle we face, we’ll figure it out. Besides, you gon’ be too busy being a star yourself. We’ll meet in the middle.”

“How are you this perfect?”

“Shit, ya boi ain’t perfect. Damn near, but I still got some growing to do.”

“Do you think we’ll make it?”

I had been nervous about that for weeks since we’d made things official. I knew the connection we had, knew how much I cared about Creed since we started our friendship, loved him even, and I just didn’t want to risk that ending.

Besides being my lover, he was also my friend, best friend in fact.

Sex had complicated that even more than it already was.

Foolishly, I had imagined a whole life with this man.

Imagined my life with him and only him by my side.

I imagined our babies, our wedding and I hated for anything to jeopardize that in any way.

“I hope so beautiful. I bet everything on you.”