Pulling him tight, I smiled against his lips. “Hey.”
Kellan’s lips danced against mine, his tongue lightly probing. Hoping we were the only ones on the bus, I clutched at his shirt, wanting it off. Leaning over me, Kellan helped me out and pulled it over his head with one hand. I shoved it in the corner and ran my hands up his bare back as he settled over me. “Hey,” I said again, my smile brighter than before.
“Always so eager to undress me,” he whispered, his lips traveling to my neck.
I suppressed a giggle as I closed my eyes and savored the feeling of his body over me, around me. I loved getting lost in him. As his fingers traveled under my shirt and across my ribs, he breathed in my ear, “Any troubles leaving the hospital?”
Hyperaware of his hips above mine, separated from me by multiple layers of clothing, I sucked in a ragged breath. God, I really hoped no one else was awake. “Aside from some fans telling me that they wished I’d never been born? No. No problems at all.”
The tips of his fingers paused at the base of my breast. “What?”
He pulled back to look at me, concern in his eyes. I shook my head and tried to scoot down so that his hand would move up. Didn’t work. “It was fine. I’m fine.”
Kellan slid off to my side, his hand retreating. Knowing our moment was over, I sat up on my elbow. “They threatened you?” he asked, an edge to his voice.
I shook my head. “No . . . they just expressed their dislike. Nobody touched—” Remembering being shoved a couple of times, I changed my sentence to, “Nobody hurt me.”
Kellan sat up as much as he could. It wasn’t very much. He leaned over on his elbow as he rested on his hip. Even though it was dark, I could tell that he was deep in thought.
“Kellan, nobody hurt me.”
He peeked up at me, his lips in a hard line. He was pissed. “This time. Nobody hurt you this time.” Looking away, he muttered, “This is such bullshit. You’re my wife.” He looked back at me. “Tory had us doing this meet-and-greet/concert for a high school that won some contest to have us there. It took all goddamn day. I was so freaking busy that the only person I had time to talk to was you. I hate that this has festered for so long. My silence isn’t helping anything.”
He looked angry and frustrated that he couldn’t stand up for me yet, that all of this was snowballing so fast and he just didn’t have time to react. Kissing him, I pulled him back down on top of me. “It’s only been two days, and it’s not your fault.”
Kellan didn’t answer me, just tentatively kissed me back. I could tell he was still stewing over the problem, a problem that I knew would still be there in the morning. Being together was what was important, and I wanted to enjoy the current moment with him. Threading my fingers through his hair, I pulled him into me. He let out a soft groan and kissed me back with a lot more intensity.
When his hips were in line with mine again, grinding into me at a delicious tempo, I let out my own exhale of ecstasy. Damn, I didn’t care if we weren’t the only ones there anymore. The guys all had iPods, anyway. I needed Kellan, and he needed me too. His hand slipped down the back of my lounge pants, under my panties. I arched my back as much as I could in our confined space, silently begging him to touch me. In my ear, Kellan growled, “I want you.”
That did me in. While the ache building in me pulsed to life, my hands slipped down to Kellan’s zipper. Wanting to snuggle with me, Kellan hadn’t gotten ready for bed yet. I was more than happy to help him finish undressing.
Groaning as I unfastened his jeans, Kellan husked out, “But I want you . . . safe.”
I paused and looked at his face. His eyes were blazing with desire, his lips were parted, and his breath was fast. I knew he wanted me, but I also knew he was still concerned about me. “Kellan, don’t worry—”
He cut me off. “I heard you talking to Denny about fleeing back home. You were joking, but . . . maybe that’s a good idea. Maybe you should head home until I have a chance to set this straight.”
I couldn’t believe he was actually suggesting that. “No, I want to be with you. Home is wherever you are.”
Kellan slid to my side again. “I want to be with you too, but I can’t stand the way people talk about you. It makes me want to kick every single one of their asses. And I don’t want you around me if it’s dangerous for you.” I started to object, but Kellan cut me off again. “I saw that girl slap you, Kiera, so don’t tell me it’s not dangerous.”