Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)

Stealthily sliding out of bed, I folded the comforter around Kellan so he was covered. After putting on some clean, dry clothes, I picked up Kellan’s phone from his nightstand and silently left my sleeping husband. When I got back into the main lounging area, I was expecting to see the other D-Bags waiting around to hear what Kellan had to say. But then my mind replayed the last few moments and I realized that Kellan and I had both been quite vocal, and they probably already knew that I had successfully changed his mind. My cheeks heated, but I ignored the embarrassment. At least no one had walked in on us this time.

Griffin came out of the community bathroom as I was making my way to the deck. I froze when I saw him, wondering what obscene comment he was going to make. With a look of pride on his face, he pointed at my closed bedroom door. “Did you just fuck him into submission?” He held his knuckles up to me. “Nice.”

My initial reaction was to scoff, call him a pig, and storm off in a mortified huff. But I’d promised myself that I’d make an attempt to be nice to him, so I shrugged and made myself talk to him. “I changed his mind about doing the video, but . . . now I’m worried that I made a mistake.”

As Griffin ran a hand through his hair, I realized that this was the first conversation I’d ever really had with him. It was odd, and I had no idea what he would say, or if I would find it offensive or not.

He made a dismissive sound with his lips. “Nah, don’t worry about it. You guys aren’t into sharing, so he won’t really do anything with her.” He winked at me, and I strangely found it charming instead of creepy. “Kell knows what side his dick’s buttered on.”

Feeling oddly reassured by his absurd expression, I muttered, “Thank you . . . I think.”

Griffin laughed as he left the room. “Anytime, Kiera.”

Shaking my head, I began to wonder if I’d just entered into some strange sort of opposite world, where I encouraged Kellan to make out with other women and found advice from Griffin comforting. What else was going to happen? Anna and Denny hook up and decide to get married and raise Griffin’s baby as their own? That made me laugh as I walked outside. No, no way would those two ever get together. Anna would eat Denny alive.

Palms sweaty, I started pacing near the railing. I had a view of the backyard pool and could see Matt and Evan near the edge, both of them chatting on their cell phones, most likely to Rachel and Jenny. Probably telling them the exciting news about their music video with Sienna Sexton. Internally groaning, I pulled up Kellan’s contact list and scrolled through until I found Sienna’s number. Kellan was mine, and I wasn’t just going to roll over and let somebody else nab him from me.

She picked up almost immediately. “Kellan, what a wonderful surprise. What can I do for you, love?”

I bristled at her charming term of endearment, but tried not to think too much of it. She called everyone “love.” “Um, actually, this is Kiera. I’m borrowing Kellan’s phone.”

“Oh, well, what can I do for you, Kiera?” There was a small trace of disappointment in her accent, but she covered it well with bubbly politeness.

“I just wanted to let you know that I talked Kellan into doing the music video with you,” I said.

She couldn’t hide the disappointment this time. “He didn’t want to do the video?”

I sighed, hating that I had to placate both sides. “He wasn’t okay with the direction the director wanted to take it, filming a love scene with you. But I told him . . . it was fine.”

“He had to ask for your permission? How . . . quaint.” Her amusement was evident. Sienna Sexton probably didn’t ask permission for anything.

I hesitated, not really wanting to defend Kellan’s actions. And that wasn’t really the point of my phone call anyway. “Well, the fact that he’s agreed to do it is all that’s important. But, I just wanted to know . . .” I inhaled a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “Did I make a mistake encouraging him to film an intimate scene with you? You’re used to getting what you want. Woman to woman, be honest with me . . . do you want my husband?”

There was a long pause on Sienna’s end. My stomach twisted into a knot that I was positive I would never be able to untangle as I waited for her to say yes. When she did, it came as no surprise. “Yes, I do . . . but not in the way you think.” I blinked. That did surprise me. Call me na?ve, but what other way was there?

Sienna continued before I could ask. “My career has hit a . . . stalling point. I need Kellan to refuel it. Being in the tabloids with him just this short while has done wonders for me. I’ve already received collaboration offers from other musicians, and just yesterday, I was handed a movie script.” As her words sank in, she added, “So, yes, I want him . . . desperately . . . but only for the buzz.”

“Oh,” I murmured.

“Did you need anything else from me, love?”

My mind still spinning, I told her, “No . . . that was it. Thank you for being honest.”

“Sure thing. Ta-ta!” She clicked off the line, and I stared at Kellan’s phone for long seconds. Did I believe her? Could I trust her? Only time would tell.





Chapter 11


The Madness Begins



S. C. Stephens's books