Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(12)

Stealthily walking out of my room, I immediately saw Anna and Kellan in the kitchen. He was leaning back against the counter, facing me, his arms crossed over his chest as he carried on a quiet conversation with my sister. She had her back to me, her long, luxuriously shiny hair ridiculously perfect for the early hour.

Watching them, I tilted my head. If my sister had had her way last year, the two of them would have ended up together and I’d be walking up on a couple, instead of a couple of friends. As his lips curved into a small smile while he spoke softly—his hair a distractingly charming mess—I could easily picture them as the gorgeous pairing they would have been.

Raising my chin, I inhaled a big breath. That wasn’t what happened, though. He’d never touched her. My sister had no idea what his lips felt like, what he tasted like, what his fingers felt like, what he sounded like when he was making love. She’d never heard him say I love you. But I had…repeatedly.

That confidence pushing aside my lingering insecurities, I meandered into the kitchen. They both twisted to look at me when I stepped into the small room. Kellan’s small smile for her turned into a wide one for me, his deep eyes brightening.

He smiled down at me as I slung my arms around his waist. “Mornin’, sleepy,” he breathed, kissing my head.

Exhaling contently, I buried my head in his neck. “Good morning.” My sister sighed. “God, you two are adorable.” Smacking my arm, she rolled her eyes. “It’s annoying.”

I smiled, laughing a little. “Good morning, Anna. Late night?” 33



Grinning devilishly, she bit her perfect, red lip and cocked an eyebrow just as expertly as Kellan could. “Oh, yes.” Her finger shifted between the two of us. “And I can guarantee you it wasn’t as cutesy as your night.”

I flushed and looked away from her and she laughed, her voice throaty and seductive in a way that mine never would be. Kellan laughed with her, squeezing me tighter. “I wouldn’t say our night was cute, Anna.”

I flashed my eyes up to Kellan and smacked his chest, my face reddening even more. While Kellan’s and my love life might be a bit tamer than he was used to, and my sister for that matter, I didn’t need him chatting about it. Grinning down at me, he said nothing further and I relaxed.

Kellan wasn’t exactly an open book, and he generally didn’t talk about his life much. Thankfully, that included our sex life.

Anna snorted and I looked back at her. Her face in a playful grin, she said, “I know.” She poked my shoulder. “I know how hot you guys can get.” My jaw dropped and my face paled. She laughed and jerked her thumb towards the hallway. “My bedroom is only one room away from yours, Kiera.” Raising her eyebrows, she leaned in and muttered,

“Maybe the two of you could remember that in the future?” I covered my face with my hand and twisted into Kellan’s body. God, sometimes I did forget. Being with Kellan could just be so…consuming.

Chuckling as he held me close, rubbing my back, Kellan causally answered her. “We’ll try and keep that in mind, Anna. Thanks.” Laughing, Anna rubbed my shoulder. “I’m just teasing you, Kiera. Go ahead and scream away, I don’t mind.” As I peeked at her from between my fingers, I watched her eyes rake over Kellan’s body. “Lord knows I would,” she murmured.

Kellan chuckled again, shaking his head before kissing mine again.

Winking at him, she patted my arm again. “Well, I’m off to bed. I’m beat.”

Twisting away from us, she started sashaying back to her room. The tight pants she had on emphasized the curve of her hips. Anna was 34



definitely beautiful and provocative. Sometimes it was hard to live with her never-ending perfection, but she was family, and she’d swooped into my life when I’d needed her the most. She’d helped me get back on my feet when both men in my life had dumped me. She’d helped me find a place to live when I’d had nowhere to go. She’d helped me heal my shattered heart when I was sure I couldn’t. She’d even helped Kellan and I get back together. No, whatever her eccentricities, I loved her.

I was smiling and shaking my head at her when she tossed back, “I’ll be out like a light if you guys want to go at it again?” I sighed as Kellan laughed. Pulling back to look at him, I smacked his chest again. “Would you stop encouraging her?” He smiled, still chuckling and I sighed again. “I wish the two of you had a better hobby than trying to embarrass me.”

Twisting me around to face him, he placed a tender kiss on my forehead. “Well, you wouldn’t have to worry about it at my place.” Rocking my hips back and forth, our bodies touching and retreating enticingly, he added, “Maybe I’ll just embarrass you back to my home?” Raising an eyebrow, he grinned crookedly at me. I wanted to smack him again, but that look was too damn sexy. I ended up kissing him instead, which, of course, made him chuckle.

Kellan stayed with me all afternoon, helping me go over everything and anything that had to do with school. I was starting my last year soon. I had everything ready to go, all my classes lined up, all my books purchased, but going over my plan helped me to not feel so nervous about it.

I don’t know why I was still nervous about the first day of school. You would think that after sixteen grades, I’d be used to it by now, but I wasn’t. That first day of school phobia had even made me delay starting college after high school.