Page 60 of Absolution

Creed’s eyes are unfocused as he stares off into the distance. Something flashes in them, and he’s lost in it. Another minute longer and then he’s back. “What I wouldn’t give to be so forgiving.”

“You could be if you wanted to.”

“If only I could remember who or what I need to forgive.” He drops his head. ‘What if it’s me?”

I scoot closer to him, laying my hand on his forearm. “Why would you think that?”

“The only memories I have of my time in captivity are the ones I’ve been told about except for a few stray dreams; I have nothing to piece together. What if it’s my brain's way of trying to protect itself?”

He’s right. Creed’s the only person that can find the truth about what happened with his mission because he’s the only person to survive. My heart thuds at the thought that if he finds it, we may lose each other.

“Well then, I think you should start your own investigation. You’ll be able to go at your own pace, and you might even regain your past. If you want to, that is.”

His eyes are fixed on Emmie, the wheels turning in his brain. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“That’s easy… your dad. He hired people to go get you, ask them too. There should be plenty of files and a paper trail a mile long.”

Creed’s head snaps up. “You’re right, I could start at the beginning with what my… Crawford knows.”

“Ya know, that’s just weird. They’re your parents, there’s no getting away from it. You obviously feel some attachment, why not call them who they are?”

“I’m afraid of giving them false hope.” He grimaces, looking pained. “If there’s a chance I may never regain what I’ve lost, I would hate for them to lose me all over again.”

I half shrug. “Why not give them a choice?”

“Who are you?” He gazes into my eyes, searching them for some meaning or answer. My gut tells me he’s looking for a sign or beacon to follow home.

“Just a girl, sitting with a boy… no, I’m kidding. I’m your friend. Or at least I hope I am.”

Creed leans in, our mouths set just a fraction apart. The tension between us palpable, but before I can regain control, he takes my lips. I promised myself I’d fight this with everything in me.

But as his tongue sweeps mine, I moan, and he forges in, owning me. His mouth commands my every need, making me his and marking me for the rest of my life.

There’s a fierceness about the way he devours me, our lips moving in sync and becoming one as they meld together. The softness of his pressed to mine, with the firmness of wanton desire, sends me over the edge.

I want him. Forever.

“Damn, that was a kiss.”

“No doubt about it, it sure as hell was.” He breaks our connection, running his nose along mine.

I glance at Emmie, who’s fast asleep beside us. “I suppose I should put her to bed.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I’ll pick up here.” He stands, taking my arm and helping to steady me as I stand with her in my arms. Chills break and run over my body as my heart pounds wildly.

My mouth hangs slightly as I gather my breath. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Emmie’s suckling sounds pull me from the trance I’ve been in since Creed crashed into my life. His presence gives me solace, and I find myself wanting to be in his company all of the time.

He feels like home, and that scares me. The last time I allowed myself to feel this way, it ended tragically, and I know I will never recover from something like that again.

Still, he’s here, and I can’t bring myself to ask him to leave, and without a doubt, I’ll be in his arms, and we’ll be in my bed by night's end. Chasing the dawn as we run from our pasts and the dreams that unite us.

I kiss Emmie’s temple before tucking her in, saying a silent prayer that this night ends without anyone getting hurt. Life isn’t as simple as that, and everyone knows it.

“If only I could protect us both from our demons.”