Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(115)

Grabbing my arm as I brushed against him, he leaned into me. “I love the innocent ones…they’re the wildest in the sack.” He nodded at the closed door. “I’ll be around, once you’re done with this Kellan guy, if you want to experience a real man.” He ground his still-aroused body in-to my leg and I forced myself to not slap him.

Backing away, I straightened and muttered, “No, thank you.” Then shoved Anna’s back so she’d open the door and get us out of that damn alley. “You’re so dead, Anna,” I muttered again while the sound of the bouncer chuckling was washed away by the sounds in the theater as she finally opened the heavy, steel door.

Anna was highly entertained by the whole thing. As we walked down the hall, she slung her arm over my shoulders and laughed out, “Oh my God, I so thought you were going to deck that guy!” Biting my lip, I glared at her. She only laughed harder and squeezed me tight. Resting her head against mine, she merrily exclaimed, “Ah, relax, Kiera, no harm done, and now you’re one step closer to Kellan.” She winked at me as I pushed her away. “I’ll turn you into a vixen yet, sister,” she giggled. I rolled my eyes at her but did smile a little. Well, Kellan had wanted me to have a good story to tell him. I guess, now I did.





321


The music of the band currently on stage filtered around us as we aimlessly walked through corridors and open areas. There were tons of people about, some that seemed to work at the venue, walking around with headsets and clipboards, some that looked more like security, which we purposely avoided since we technically weren’t supposed to be here. Some seemed to be from a local radio station, and some were clearly band members. But the majority seemed to be women, just like us. It helped us blend in, but I wasn’t thrilled at the girl-to-guy ratio that I was seeing.

Not knowing where our boys were in the lineup, or where they might be hanging out until it was their turn, we just kept searching. Anna flipped out when she spotted Justin and his band— Anna loved their music just as much as I did. She started heading his way but I grabbed her arm. “Don’t, Anna!”

She glared back at me. “Don’t you know who that is?” I rolled my eyes and nodded. “Yeah, we met when the boys left.” Anna slung her arm around me, dragging me forward. “Perfect, then he’ll tell you where Kellan is.”

I felt heat in my cheeks that was nearly painful. Our introduction hadn’t exactly been smooth…and…he’d been at the restaurant for Kellan’s little, erotic performance. Oh God, I could not look him in the eye after that!

“He won’t remember me, Anna.” Oh God, yeah, he probably would remember me now…

Anna giggled in my ear as we got closer to Justin, his smile wide as he talked with a couple of girls nearby. “Who could forget you, Kiera?” I rolled my eyes at her and wanted to protest further, but Justin had turned his head and noticed us. His light blue eyes widened as he pointed a finger at me; I could see the spark of recognition in the pale depths.

He did remember me, which meant, he probably remembered overhear-ing the phone sex, too. Damn it. I really hate you right now, Kellan Kyle.





322


Tilting his blond head, he grinned crookedly and let out a short laugh.

“Hey, aren’t you…Kellan’s girl?”

Biting my lip, I walked up to him. My knees were shaking, but I made myself say, “Yeah, my sister and I came out to see him…to surprise him.” Not able to look Justin in the eye, I stared at the ink scrawled across his chest; I couldn’t read it, but the lines were a nice distraction for my embarrassment.

Anna took over at my ineptitude. Thrusting her hand out and sliding as close to him as etiquette allowed, she purred, “Anna Allen, huge fan.

‘Kick Me When I’m Down’ has got to be my favorite song in the world.” I looked up at her and scowled. Of course she would remember a song title. Justin seemed pleased that she had, and that she wasn’t wearing a bra. His eyes only quickly flashed over her breasts, not blatantly staring like the bouncer had, but he still checked her out as he shook her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Anna.”

His eyes burned a little as he watched her and I thought my sister might actually have a shot with him. Not surprising really, my sister could have just about anybody. She usually got whatever boy she set her sights on. Except Kellan. She never had gotten to have him.

But Anna didn’t seem too interested in Justin. Instead, she waved her hand around the mammoth backstage area. “We’re looking for the D-Bags. Have you seen Kellan and Griffin?”

Justin twisted his lips. He seemed disappointed that Anna didn’t want to hang out with him. “Griffin?” By the way his lip twisted even more, I thought maybe Justin had met The Hulk too. Pointing over his thumb, he shrugged. “Last I saw, they were drinking with some girls back there.” A knot in my stomach formed at hearing his words. Drinking with girls? I tried to put a lid on the knot growing, though. Drinking with girls didn’t mean sleeping with girls. At least, not in Kellan’s case.

Anna brightened and thanked him. We both said goodbye and Justin seemed a little sad as Anna left his sight. I looked back before we turned a corner to another corridor and accidentally locked eyes with Justin. He 323



suddenly looked amused. He chuckled and leaned over to a friend of his, pointing at me again. The friend stared at me too, chuckling in the same way. Knowing that they were talking about Kellan faking jacking-off at their table, I clenched my fists and hurried after Anna as she pushed herself through a group of people. That was not the way I wanted a celebrity to remember me. In fact, I’d rather he didn’t.