Effortless (Thoughtless, #2)(8)

Backing us towards the hall, I watched a flash of that pain wash over his face. It was gone instantly though. Shrugging, he laughed out, “Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time.”

My hallway was a short one, with my room at the end closest to the front door. Anna’s room, the larger room, was at the end of the hall with our tiny, shower-only bathroom in the middle. Kellan’s place wasn’t all that much bigger, but it seemed like a spacious mansion in comparison.

Stopping us in front of my closed door, I put my other hand on his chest. “No, it was.” My hand traveled up his neck to cup his cheek; he leaned into my touch. “You and I needed space. We needed to get our heads on straight.”

He smiled a little, then sighed. “Well, now that they are…why don’t you come back?” His voice lowering, he stepped into my body, his arms wrapping around my waist. “I know we’ve taken things slow, but I still want to move forward…with you.”

I swallowed at the warmth in his voice, the love in his eyes. I wanted that too, I really did, but, I was trying to be a stronger person, my own person and I knew that if I moved back in with him, he’d be my world again. I’d drown in him.

Smiling encouragingly, I ran my fingers back through his hair. The serious look in his eye softened as I caressed him. In as reassuring of a voice as I could, I softly said, “I think it’s better if we keep waiting.” Switching my hand to run my thumb over his cheek, I added, “I’ve sort of come in-to my own being with my sister. I don’t want to fall right back into needing a man to feel…complete.”

22



I bit my lip, hoping he wasn’t offended. His insanely blue eyes ghosted over my face, taking in every feature. Inhaling deeply, he squeezed me a bit tighter. “What if I’m the one that needs you?” His face was completely, heartbreakingly serious. Shrugging, a tiny smile broke into his lips. “I hate sleeping alone.”

Even though he’d said sleeping alone, I knew it was more than that.

Kellan hated being alone. Oddly, it was something we had in common.

But knowing we needed this, I threw on a bright smile and shook my head. “You’ll be alright.” His tiny smile curved into a disgruntled one and I laughed, slinging both of my arms around his neck. “Besides, we almost always end up sleeping together anyway.” I flushed bright red after I said it, instantly realizing how suggestive it sounded. He grinned at me adorably, reaching behind me to open my bedroom door. Laughing at my comment, he shook his head. “Exactly.” Pushing my door open, his eyes came back to mine, playful now. “Think of the gas money we’d save.” He tilted his head, walking me backwards into my room. “And rent, you wouldn’t have to pay that, living with me.

You could work less, concentrate on school more.” He smiled and shrugged, like it made perfect sense. And logically, it did. Emotionally though, I thought we were in a good place now and maybe we shouldn’t mess with that. Freeing one hand to flick on my light, I sighed. “I like my life, Kellan. I finally feel…well rounded.” As he closed my door with his foot, his hands slinked down to cup my backside. Smiling devilishly, he murmured, “Yes, I know, very well rounded.” I smacked him on the shoulder as he chuckled. Then he sighed, pulling my body flush to his and kissing me softly. “Fine.” I melted into his lips, savoring the taste of him all wrapped up in the smell of him. Pulling apart, he kicked off his shoes with his toes and tilted his head at my lumpy futon. “But that seriously sucks. Can I at least buy you a decent bed?”

Smiling as I stepped out of my flip-flops, I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the bed he hated. He was right, it was lumpy, with a heavy bar in the middle that dug into your back, but it was a large one and there was plenty of room on it to…roll around. Backing up to the 23



edge of the futon, I grabbed the bottom of Kellan’s t-shirt. “Of course.

You can even help me break it in.”

His seductive grin in place, he helped my fingers remove his clothing.

“Hmmm…you may have sold me on this idea.”

Laughing, I ran my hands down the wondrously etched lines in his chest. His breath hitched when my fingers traced the black ink of my name swirled over his heart. Nothing in this world was as beautiful to me as that tattoo, except the man bearing it.

“Anything that ends with sex, sells you.” I giggled.

Kellan playfully pushed my shoulder back, and I sat down on the bed that sagged a little in the spot that was technically the “sitting” area when it was folded up. Scooting into the center of the bed, the hard support bar apparent under my body, I felt heat rush through me as Kellan leaned over the edge of the mattress. His eyes peering up at me, he huskily murmured, “True.”

My breath hitched as I watched him crawl over to me on his hands and knees. Leaning over me, my breath embarrassingly faster, he eyes scoured the length of me. Feeling the pure sex appeal radiating from him, I swallowed. It sometimes amazed and mystified me that this man was mine, practically any time I wanted him. It was still a little miraculous to me that out of every person in the world that he could be with, he’d picked me. I still didn’t see why.

Smiling as his lips came down to mine and my hands traveled back up that smooth, perfect chest, I whispered, “Whore.” He laughed in my mouth as his body settled beside mine. “Tease,” he breathed, his hand coming up to run through my hair.