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I soothingly stroked his arm with my thumb as Denny laughed and said, “Well, Abby and I are at a party for work, so I should get going.
She’ll fillet me if I stay on the phone all night.” Laughing lightly, I told him, “Alright. Tell Abby hi for me, and have fun.” After he responded that he would, I turned from Kellan, angling my head away from him. “Hey, thank you so much for remembering, Denny…that means a lot to me.” Before he could respond, I added, “I’m so sorry, Denny, about everything.”
He sniffed and was quiet a moment, then, “Yeah, I know, Kiera. Have a great day at school. I’ll talk to you later, goodbye.” Closing my eyes for a second, I exhaled, “Bye.” Hanging up the phone, I kept my eyes closed as I twisted back to Kellan. When I opened them, he was still staring at the dark coffee resting in the full pot. Although his face was blank, a myriad of emotions were shifting through his eyes. He took another long second, then finally looked back at me.
Smiling encouragingly, I brushed a strand of hair off his forehead.
“Hey, you okay?”
He nodded, a smile seamlessly brightening his face, if not his eyes. “Of course, I’m fine. Denny called to wish you luck, that was nice of him.” There wasn’t a trace of jealousy or sarcasm in his voice, but I heard it anyway.
Sighing, I laced my arms around his neck. “You know that doesn’t mean anything, right? You know that I love you, and Denny is nothing more than a friend now, don’t you?” I searched his eyes as his smile faltered. “Don’t you?”
He started to look towards the pot again and I caught his cheek, making him look at me. His smile returned, perfectly natural. “Yes, I know, Kiera.” In a softer voice he added, “I know exactly what you and Denny are.”
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Not entirely sure what he meant by that, I decided to just take it at face value. Leaning up, I gave him a soft kiss. “Good. Because, although he’s important to me, you’re more important, and I don’t want me talking with him to hurt you.”
His eyes widened as he stared down at me, like he really was surprised to hear me say that. It hurt my heart a little that he still didn’t understand—I’d chosen him, I loved him. Kissing him again, I whispered,
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. You’re not second. I could have fled to him, but I went to you. I couldn’t live without you. I chose you. I love you.”
Swallowing,
his
eyes
searching
mine
moistened.
“It
still
feels…unreal…I guess. I’m not used to being…loved by someone. I keep waiting to wake up.”
Biting my lip, I shook my head. “Well get used to it. I’m not going anywhere, Kellan.”
After a leisurely breakfast, Kellan helped me get ready for school.
Well, okay, Kellan laid out on his bed and stared while I got dressed. I’d already had to tell him that he couldn’t help me in the shower. Firmly pointing at him to stay put on his pillows, I proceeded to slip my bra on under my towel. Kellan shook his head at me, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen you naked, you know?”
Flushing as I turned around, I muttered, “I know, but you just staring at me like that is…different.”
He snorted and I peeked over my shoulder at him as I slipped on some clean underwear, also under my towel.
Grinning crookedly, he raised an eyebrow. “It’s just skin, Kiera.” Sitting up and scooting to the edge of the bed, where he could just reach me, he grabbed my knee. His hand started to slide up my leg. “And it’s far too beautiful to keep covered up.”
Loving the shivers he was sending up my body, but knowing that I couldn’t lounge in a bed with him today, unfortunately, I stepped away 72
and again pointed to his pillows. “I don’t need to get you any more riled up than you constantly are, by giving you a peep show.” Expertly slipping on my jeans while still having the towel firmly around my chest, I watched him chuckle and relax back down on his mattress. “Fine,” he muttered sullenly. “I’ll just remember that the next time you’re staring at my body.”
I paused in pulling my blouse out of my bag and met his eye. Knowing that I actually did stare at him quite a bit, I sighed and let the towel drop to the floor. His smile was glorious as he took in my plain, cream-colored bra and I looked away, embarrassed and a little turned on by his attention.
Quickly counting to five, figuring that was long enough for him to have a decent mental picture for the day, I tossed on my fitted, button-up shirt. Pulling my long hair out of the back, the bulk of it still damp, I rolled my eyes at the heat in his expression while he continued to stare at my covered-up chest. Men.
Clearing my throat finally brought his eyesight up. Locking gazes with me, he smiled devilishly. “Well now I’m turned on and you can’t go.
You’re just going to have to stay here with me today.” Laughing, I leaned over the bed to kiss him. He seemed to think that was a green light and grabbed my body, pulling me on top of him. Giggling in his mouth while we softly moved against the other, I was grateful that his mood had improved from the conversation earlier this morning. I really didn’t like him down about Denny, especially since he had no reason to be. I understood though. I’d hurt him so many times while I’d been with Denny. Both of them really. I had no desire to ever hurt a man again.
As our kiss got more intense, Kellan’s body started telling me that he really hadn’t been kidding about being in the mood. I reluctantly pulled away from his mouth. “I wish I could stay with you.” Frowning, I sulked. “I’m not really looking forward to today.” Sighing, he cupped my cheeks and searched my eyes. “Someday, I’ll get you to feel like the confident woman who was prancing around in 73
her underwear last night, all of the time.” Running his hand back through my hair, he added. “You are a beautiful, intelligent woman with a boyfriend who adores you. You have nothing to fear…ever.” Smiling, I blushed and looked away. “Easy for you to say, rock star.” Pulling back, I stood and found my comb. Running it through my locks, I watched him laugh and sit up. “I get nervous.” I gave him a very wry smile as I stopped mid-stroke. Yeah, right. Kellan Kyle was never nervous. Not around people. Not about his body or his looks. He oozed confidence in nearly everything he did.
Tilting his head, he shrugged. “No, it’s true. In the beginning, I used to get nervous on stage.”
Scrunching my brow, I finished unsnarling my hair. “Let me guess, you picture the crowd naked now?”
Chuckling, he stood up. “Nah, I had to stop doing that…turned me on.”
Pushing his chest back as he came up to me, I laughed unintentionally.
“You’re impossible.”
Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes; he only grinned and shrugged.
“We all have our weaknesses,” he muttered playfully, sneaking around behind me and holding me tight. “You will be great and I’ll drive you every day if you want.” Chuckling, he added, “Maybe I’ll sit in on a class or two.”
I laughed at the image of him bored beside me during lectures. “I doubt the professor would like you snoring during class.” Chuckling more, he kissed my neck.
Sighing, I rested my wet head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, letting his peaceful scent wash over me. I’d decided to forgo wearing his tshirt to school, but maybe I could get his scent to leech into my clothes.
Keep him with me olfactorily. God, what was I saying about not being consumed by him? I couldn’t help it. He was…consuming.