Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(147)

Pushing hard and fast against each other, we were both climaxing in no time. Legs clamped tight against him, I shook as the explosion hit me.

He shook as his body poured into mine. Slightly sweaty, we rode out the intensity, moaning after each level passed through us.

When it was over, he sagged against me. I panted, my hand covering my eyes as I recovered. Slowly pulling out, he shifted to my side. “I’m sorry, that’s not how I wanted our first time after so long to be…” I twisted to look at him as he moved to his back and stared at the ceiling. After a long moment of silence, I asked, “Do you believe me? About Denny?”

He sniffed, and didn’t look at me. But then sighing, he finally looked down and met my eye. “Yeah, I believe you.” He didn’t look happy at believing me, but at least he believed me. I nodded, then leaned over to kiss him.

We lightly kissed and when I broke away, I whispered, “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you…”

He smiled, warmth in it for the first time since his surprise appearance. “I’ve missed you, too…if you couldn’t tell.” He laughed a little and indicated his naked body with his hand.

I bit my lip as I examined the expanse of flesh before me, then gave him another quick kiss. I’m gonna brush my teeth and get ready for bed.

I’ll be right back.” I sat up, then looked back at him. “You won’t leave, right?”

414



He shook his head. “I’ll be here, Kiera.”

I smiled, quickly stood and rummaged through my drawer to pull on pajamas, then dashed out of the room. I felt Kellan’s eyes on me as I left the room. Feeling dazed, nervous, euphoric and guilty, I hurried to finish up in the bathroom.

After brushing my teeth, I leaned against the counter and took a long, calming breath. That had been too close to being something awful. And even though Kellan had said he was fine with it, that he believed me, he didn’t really seem that way. He seemed…hurt. And I’d never wanted to hurt him again. That promise had even been one of my New Year’s resolutions.

But I’d done it. By not telling him the truth from the beginning, by concealing a fact that I knew would bother him, I’d hurt him again. And just when I was starting to believe I didn’t suck.

Closing my eyes, I pushed out the vision of his face when he’d caught me. He’d been so mad… And even though he’d said he was surprised, he hadn’t really looked surprised, like he knew I’d cheat on him, eventually.

My eyes popped back open when I heard a door slam. My head snapped around when I registered that it was my bedroom door that had been viciously shut. Throwing open the bathroom door, I stepped out in-to the hall. Kellan’s back met my vision as he walked…no, stormed away from me.

“Kellan? What are you doing?”

He ignored me. The only reaction he gave that he’d even heard me was his hands at his sides squeezing into fists. Completely dressed again, he headed to my bag and started rummaging inside it. Pulling his hand out, I saw the flash of his car keys in them. Shoving the keys in his jacket pocket, he started heading for the front door. He was leaving? The very thought got my feet moving and I scampered down the hallway.

I managed to get to the door first, standing in front of it so he couldn’t escape me, not without an explanation. “Are you leaving?” 415



He stood in front of me, staring right through me as his jaw tightened.

I think if I’d been anyone else, he’d have grabbed me and thrown me to the floor, physically removing me from his path. His eyes were narrow, his breath heavy. He was pissed…again.

Leaning back into the door, I shook my head at his complete lack of a response to my question. “Why? Because of Denny? I already told you nothing—”

His eyes snapped up to mine, cutting me off as effectively as shouting.

In a tight, cold voice, he sneered, “Nothing? You must think I’m an idiot.” Narrowing his eyes even more, he shook his head. “I may not be as

‘brilliant’ as Denny, but I’m not stupid, Kiera.” He put his hand on my arm and harshly tugged me. “Now, get out of my way!”

I resisted his pull and shook my head again. “Not until you talk to me.

Why are you so pissed?”

His mouth dropped open and he took a step back. “Are you f*cking kidding me?” Frustrated, he took another step back, bringing his hands up to run them through his hair.

Feeling confident that maybe he’d yell at me instead of just making a run for it, I slightly moved away from the door. “Okay, I should have told you about Denny, I know that, but we didn’t do anything!” Kellan closed his eyes, his body shaking a little as pure anger flooded through him. Keeping them rigidly squeezed tight, he slowly said, “I need to get away from you. Please move, so I don’t do something really stupid.”

Then I did something really stupid. I grabbed his face, making him look at me. Touching him forced him over what slim edge he had been holding on his control. He knocked my hands away and pushed my shoulders back, until I bumped into the door. Seething, he attempted to dial down his temper as he stared at me.

416



Ignoring that his fingers were digging into my arms, I shook my head.

“No, talk to me!”

Clamping his jaw shut, he shook his head and took a step back. That brought my temper to the surface. He was hiding something from me.