Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(14)

Reluctant to waste what little time we had left together sleeping, Kellan and I stayed up the remainder of the night. Still dressed, we cuddled together in bed and talked until the gray, early morning light filtered through the window. Kellan stroked my hair as I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and his soothing voice. The comfort I felt in his arms was palpable. His embrace cocooned me in a warmth that would hold back the deadliest ice storm, I was sure.

Wishing he didn’t have to leave me in a few hours, I clenched his shirt and hugged him tight. He stopped speaking and kissed my hair. After a moment of silence, he whispered, “Kiera?”

I peeked up at his face. His eyes were dark in the faded light, but glowed with happiness. A small smile curving his lips, he asked, “Will you marry me?”

My heart raced against my ribcage as I sat up on my elbows. “What?”

His smile widened. “Will you marry me?”

I glanced at the ring on my left hand, then the ring on his. “Didn’t we already get married?”

Kellan’s chest under my arms rumbled as his amusement bubbled up in a deep laugh. “Yes, but I just realized that I never actually proposed to you.” Sighing, he brought his finger up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. When he was finished, he stroked my cheek. “And you deserve a proper proposal.”

After he said that, his face shifted into an expression of contemplation. Before I could answer his question, he gently pushed my body away from him. I tried to pull him back, to eagerly tell him yes, but he slid out from under me and stood up. Walking around to the other side of the bed, he stared at me for several long seconds. Just as I was about to ask him what he was doing, he let out a slow, controlled breath, and slowly sank to one knee.

I’m not sure why, but just watching him move to the floor made a sob rise up my throat. My vision hazed and I swiped my fingers under my eyes to clear away the tears. I wanted to see every part of this.

His eyes glossy in the dim light, Kellan stared up at me. “Kiera Michelle Allen, will you do me the absolute honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”

I was nodding long before he finished speaking. Reaching down, I grabbed his face. “Yes, of course, yes.” I kissed him over and over as I pulled him back into my arms.

His body settled over mine and we kissed, laughed, and even cried a little, until the faded morning light turned into brightly streaming rays of sunshine. I heard my father exiting the spare bedroom that had once been the room I’d shared with Denny. Kellan and I paused in kissing each other to stare at our closed bedroom door.

Dad took an inordinately long time about it, but he eventually shuffled downstairs to make some coffee. An ecstatic grin on his face, Kellan looked back at me. Lacing our fingers together, he whispered, “Why do I feel like I should be hiding in the closet?”

He ground his hips into mine and leaned down to kiss my neck. I closed my eyes and angled my head, perfectly content. Kellan’s attentions started waking my body up. I wrapped my legs around his, wondering just how quiet Kellan and I could be. Silent sex with him was difficult, but not impossible. As his lips wandered farther down my neck, I murmured, “Mmm . . . because you’re a villainous boy who is only using me to satisfy his baser instincts.”

Kellan pulled back from kissing me. “Is that really what your dad thinks of me?”

Caught off guard by his abrupt change of pace, I blinked and stammered, “Uh, I don’t . . . no . . . I don’t think so.”

Kellan shifted to the side of me, and I twisted my body to face him. “Yeah, he does. He thinks all I want from you is sex, and that I have a different version of you in every city that I visit.”

I pursed my lips, trying to think of some tiny falsehood in Kellan’s assessment. Unfortunately, I was pretty sure that was the bulk of Dad’s problem with Kellan. He just didn’t trust him, not with his lifestyle. I shrugged. “I’m sure he doesn’t think it’s every city.”

Kellan frowned, then hopped out of bed again. Sitting up, I let out an exasperated grunt. “Now what are you doing?”

Kellan walked over to his dresser and started stripping. My objection left my lips as his boxers hit the floor. Kellan watched me watching him with a smirk. Slipping on fresh underwear and jeans, he rummaged for a shirt as I blatantly stared. As enticing as his bare body was, there was something overly erotic about him standing there with his jeans unfastened. Especially with the intriguing lines of definition on his perfectly sculpted abdomen stretching and flexing as he moved. I really wanted that body lying on top of me again.

Amused by my intense inspection, Kellan found a shirt he liked and slipped it over his head. I smiled as that fabulous body was encased in deep red cotton. Even dressed, he was stunning. Zipping up his pants, Kellan shook his head as he walked over to me.

“You do know that if I stared at you the way you stare at me, I would get yelled at.”

I gave him a light kiss when he leaned down to me. “I would never yell . . . but yes, I know.” His face was a mixture of amusement and irritation when he pulled away. Giggling, I told him, “Life is full of unfairness.” I frowned. “Like you leaving me right now. Where are you going?”

Kellan smiled as he ran his fingers through his hair, effortlessly arranging the longer layers into an irresistible mess of bed-head. “I’m going to go show your dad that there is more to me than he thinks. My only interest isn’t sleeping with his daughter.” He winked, then turned to leave. Hand on his doorknob, he twisted back. “Although, that really is what I would like to be doing right now.” His eyes trailed down my body, igniting me. Kellan sighed as I squirmed under his scrutiny. Meeting my eyes, he added, “See the sacrifices I make for you?”