Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(131)

I ignored the question in his tone as I got him back into position. It was tricky, since he wasn’t letting go of my hands, but I weaseled my hips over his and shifted down so the tip of him was back where I needed it.

Kellan let go of one of my hands to still my hips from pushing down on top of him. His hand shifted so that his thumb slid against the thick bandage of the wrist he was holding. “What is this?” he whispered, voice tight.

I groaned as I forced more of him inside me. I’d forgotten all about the tattoo once his hands and mouth had started riling me up, and it was about the last thing in the world that I cared about now. “It’s for you,” I moaned, successfully pushing myself onto him.

Kellan hissed in a quick breath. I thought his hand on my hip might move me away, but he pulled me into him instead. “Oh God . . . what is it?”

Our joint hands laced fingers while our hips began to move. I could barely focus on his question as he filled me, absorbed me. I clutched him to me as short, erotic moans filled the air. “Your name,” I murmured, when I could speak.

“What . . . why . . . ? Oh God . . . God, Kiera . . . you feel so good . . .”

Forgetting his question, he groaned and clutched me tight. Our lips found each other’s and all coherency was lost as our bodies pressed and pulled against each other in a steadily increasing tempo. I could feel my crest approaching, and my short, quiet bursts of sound turned into long, needy cries. It hit me like a wall, and I squeezed Kellan tight. A deep, satisfied groan left him as he climaxed.

Panting, he rolled onto his back, pulling me onto his chest. “What . . . ?” he asked.

Giggling, I sat up on his now-warm chest. “What, what?”

Swallowing, he took a moment to collect his thoughts, then he grabbed my hand so he could examine my bandaged wrist. “What did you do?”

Sitting up, I turned on a small lamp by the nightstand so he could see exactly what I’d done. He cringed in the sudden brightness, then his eyes widened and his jaw dropped open as he understood just what the bandage was hiding. As I carefully peeled it back to reveal the shiny ink staining my skin, his face grew even more disbelieving.

As we both stared at the swollen, glistening letters of his name upon my flesh, Kellan was silent. I started to think that maybe he hated it, and he just didn’t know how to tell me, but then he looked up at me. Eyes shining, he murmured, “You know that’s permanent, right?”

Smiling, I reattached the gauze and told him, “You know you’re permanent, right?”

He looked away, like he found that hard to believe. Then he looked back at me and smiled. “Yeah, I know.”

I feigned surprise. “You’re not going to argue with me, call me absurd?”

He cupped my cheek. “Well, I still think you’re absurd, but I’m not going to argue with you about spending the rest of your life with me.”

I lifted a brow in challenge. “Because you know I’m head over heels in love with you.”

Kellan smiled. “Yes.”

“And you know you’re a good man.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

“And you know you’re worthy of being loved.”

He frowned, and I thought here was the point where I’d lose him, but after a long moment his lips evened. “Yes.” His voice didn’t even quaver, and pride shot through me.

I leaned in to kiss him, but Kellan pulled back. “And you know you’re sexy, intriguing, adorable, and the only person I’ll ever be in love with. You know you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

I saw the dare in the depths of his midnight eyes, and my peaceful smile grew wider. “Yes, I do.”

“Good.” Flashing a triumphant grin, Kellan finally let our lips connect. “I love hearing you say I do.” I giggled and he added, “And I really love your tattoo.”

Grabbing his face, I pulled him back down to the mattress. “Good, because I really love you.”





Chapter 23


Backache





The next morning started peacefully enough, but I knew it wouldn’t last, not with my imminent exposure on the horizon. But as the sunlight streaming through the open window beside me caressed the bare patches of skin that Kellan and I showed as we lounged in our tangled, tousled sheets, that future concern seemed a far-distant event, one I didn’t need to worry over just yet. Wanting to purr with contentment, like the fluffy cat I used to own as a child, I shut out the world and focused on the man in front of me. He was all that mattered anyway.

Kellan seemed equally content as he traced the tender rectangle covering my wounded wrist. I knew we both had things we needed to do today, and we would eventually have to get up and deal with the gossip explosion that was probably already happening, but a few more minutes of quality time wouldn’t hurt anything. And I had a feeling this might be the last peaceful moment we had for a while.

That thought was confirmed for me about ten minutes later. Like reality was throwing a wet blanket over our serenity, my cell phone started going off, and Kellan’s went off a few second later. I inhaled a deep breath as I locked gazes with Kellan. We both ignored the ringing for a moment, then Kellan whispered, “Why did we get cell phones, again?”

Laughing, I kissed his nose. “I suppose we should answer those. The photos must be out by now. People are probably worried.” I cringed, wondering if my parents had seen the pictures yet. Dad was going to flip if he saw a picture of his daughter being called a whore.