Lifting my chin, I confidently asked, "Kellan, will you have sex with me?" Well, I meant to say it confidently, but my voice came out high and squeaky-anything but sexy.
But by the look on Kellan's face, you'd think I'd just given him a lap dance. His burning eyes slid down my body, igniting me. They lingered on my lips, my chest, my hips, and even though he wasn't touching me, my body responded like he was. When his bedroom eyes finally returned to mine, he took a step forward. His hip brushed against me and I gasped. Leaning down, his breath hot against my skin, he murmured in my ear, "That is the hottest thing I've ever heard you say."
My eyes fluttered closed. I felt like I was vibrating, waiting for him to touch me. Every sensitive spot on me buzzed with anticipation. All he had to do was touch his lips to mine, brush a thumb over my breast, or cup my backside, and I would explode . . . I was sure.
His lips closed over my earlobe and a low moan escaped me. "But we have to go." With those words he grabbed my hand and yanked me forward. Startled at the sudden movement, my eyes flew open. His grin was amused as he backed toward the exit . . . and not the bed.
I frowned at him as he laughed. "I'm sorry, Kiera, but you'll just have to be unsatisfied for a while." Cocking his head, his smile grew wider. "That's sort of . . . karma . . . for all the times you've left me aroused and alone."
Guilt crept toward me, but I pushed it back. Our past wasn't relevant anymore. "You're mean," I muttered.
He kissed my cheek. "Hmmm, maybe I am." Stepping into me, he grabbed my backside and pulled my h*ps into his. Fire swept through me instantly and I groaned a little before I controlled myself. Running his nose along my jaw, he husked out, "Because I'm really looking forward to teasing you all day."
Irritated at how turned on I was, I pushed him back. "You suck."
He laughed as he opened the door. Grabbing my purse, I looked back at the rumpled bed that screamed A passionate romp happened here! "Wait, Kellan. Should we make the bed before we go?"
Kellan bunched his brows as he looked between my face and the twisted sheets. Shaking his head at me, he murmured, "You're so adorable." His loving grin turned into amusement as he looked back at the bed. "No, we're leaving the room like it is. I want the world to know what happened here . . . on the night we consummated our marriage," he said, returning his eyes to mine.
I sighed, moved by his words. Then he added, "Besides . . . it's hot."
Rolling my eyes, I followed him out of our hotel room.
The woman at the front desk kept her eyes on Kellan the entire time he checked us out. I saw her gaze flick down to his wedding ring when he handed her his credit card, but by the sparkle of interest in her eyes, I don't think she much cared that Kellan was married.
Kellan was a breathtaking man, and gorgeous men attracted attention when they walked into a room. I was used to the reaction by now, and it didn't really bother me anymore. Well, at least it didn't bother me as much as it used to.
The eager hotel employee frowned as she handed Kellan his receipt. By the flash of disappointment in her eyes when Kellan thanked her without even looking at her, I think she'd been hoping he would ask her to join him upstairs. I refrained from smiling when her eyes finally shifted to me. She may have been hoping for a quick hookup with the hot man about to exit her lobby, but Kellan didn't do hookups anymore.
Snuggling into Kellan's side, I politely thanked her for the pleasant stay. I giggled after I said it, still a little high from my wedding night. Kellan kissed my head as he turned us toward the exit. "When we get home, I'll call Gavin and have him come over to our house for brunch. Might as well have our two families formally meet, right?" he said.
Kellan's smile was content and it warmed my heart. He'd referred to his father as "family." That was a far cry from when he hadn't wanted anything to do with him. "Yeah, sounds great." I cringed. "My parents are going to kill me, though." I flashed my ring. "And then kill you."
Kellan only shrugged at my comment as he led us to his car in the parking lot. Gallantly opening my door for me, he gave me a peck on the cheek as I slid inside the Chevelle. He sprinted around to the driver's side with a huge grin on his face. He looked so happy to finally have me as his wife, to know that I was his and I wasn't going anywhere. I'd always hoped that the man I married would love me beyond reason, but Kellan . . . loved me beyond anything. The depth of his love sometimes overwhelmed me, but my love for him was just as powerful. He was everything to me.
As he stepped into the vehicle, I moved across the bench seat so I could be as close to him as possible. He grinned as he draped his arm over my shoulder. "Miss me?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Nodding, I leaned up to kiss him. Kellan eagerly returned my affection, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. I lightly flicked my tongue against his and he groaned, then pushed me back. "Hey, I'm supposed to be teasing you today, not the other way around."
He had an adorable pout on his face, and I couldn't stop the giggle that escaped me. "Sorry, I learned from the master."
Kellan let out a dramatic exhale and removed his arm from around my shoulder so he could start his car. "Serves me right, I suppose." The hearty engine growled to life, and Kellan's content expression returned.
My face was a mirror image of his as I lay my head on his shoulder. Even though the hotel receptionist had blatantly ogled my husband, even though my dad was going to try and ground me when I saw him again, and even though Kellan's newly discovered father was going to be dropping by for a visit this afternoon, today was a perfect day; nothing was going to squelch my happiness.
We turned onto Kellan's cramped street, and a feeling of homecoming came over me. I had enjoyed our night away, but I was glad to be back at our place. And I was really glad that I had moved back in a few weeks ago. When Kellan pulled up to his white, two-story home, a car was parked in the driveway. Kellan glanced over at the bright red sporty Jetta and frowned. Curious about who was here, I looked over as well; the car didn't belong to anyone I knew.
Shutting off the Chevelle's engine, Kellan muttered, "Hmmm," and cracked his door open. I opened mine as well, wondering if maybe Gavin and his kids were here. He was visiting from out of town. Maybe he'd rented the car? Although I found it hard to believe that Gavin would show up without asking Kellan if he could come by first. Plus, he would have needed directions to Kellan's house. And I really doubted that a rental car would have a bumper sticker on it that read: If you're gonna ride my ass, at least pull my hair.
Knowing the driver was female and probably one of Kellan's many, many ex-whatevers, I reluctantly followed Kellan to the front door. God, if some chick had shown up wearing only a long coat while my parents were here . . . I was going to die.
The front door was unlocked and Kellan stepped through. Reaching back for my hand, he escorted me into our entryway. Kellan's home wasn't the largest. From the front door you could turn right to go upstairs to the bedrooms, turn left to head into the kitchen, or go straight ahead to the living room. My parents were currently sitting on Kellan's lumpy living room couch, a deep scowl fixed on my father's face. My mother was trying to contain it, but I could tell she wasn't happy either.
I wasn't sure if their disappointment was over my impromptu elopement or if they were irritated by the person lounging on Kellan's comfortable chair, a chair that held a large amount of sentimental value for me since Kellan had given it to me when we'd broken up. It meant a lot to me that Kellan had cared enough to think of me at a time when I really didn't deserve his kindness. Some strange girl sitting on it sideways, dangling her high heeled legs over the armrest, made my stomach tighten.
Hearing our entrance, the girl tilted her head back so she could see the door. When Kellan got a good look at her, he muttered, "Shit," and glanced down at me with a worried expression. The tightness in my stomach shifted to ice as I wondered who this girl was.
Clenching my hand, Kellan walked into the living room so we could greet the new arrival. When we came into her view, she looked up at Kellan and narrowed her eyes. She had long black hair with equally dark eyes. She made them seem even darker by covering her lids with smoky gray eye shadow. Her lips were painted bright red and were pursed in an irritated, but erotic, pout. She was gorgeous, but I'd been expecting that. Most of Kellan's conquests were.
Her face full of contempt, her voice low and husky, she bit out, "Well, f**k me, Kellan Kyle." Amused at herself, she smiled and added, "Oh, wait, you already did." As her scowl returned, my expression darkened; I already disliked this person.
Ignoring her comment, Kellan acknowledged my parents first. "Martin, Caroline." Then he shifted his gaze back down to the rude girl lounging on my favorite chair. "Joey."
My brows shot up my forehead as I stared at the girl glowering at Kellan. Joey? As in, the ex-roommate Joey? The girl who had lived here just a few weeks before Denny and I had moved in . . . over two years ago? I never thought she'd come back. What the heck was she doing here now?
Face tight, Kellan echoed my thoughts, "What are you doing here?"
She hopped to her feet. Crossing her arms over her ample chest, she lifted her chin. Eyes fiery, she snarled, "Where the hell is all my stuff, Kellan?"
Kellan's mouth dropped a little and some anger seeped into his expression. Holding my hand a little tighter, he replied, "You've been gone for two years. I tossed it."
I bit my lip to stop myself from cringing. I had actually tossed her stuff. Joey had run off in a huff after Kellan had slept with her then immediately slept with someone else. He wasn't always the sweet, loyal lover that he was now. Kellan had insisted that Joey didn't care for him, that she was just possessive. He'd offended her by sharing his bed with another woman . . . even though she'd been sharing her bed with other men.
Denny and I had used her furniture when we'd moved in. After our bad breakup, the furniture had felt tainted to me, like the ghost of my ex-relationship had somehow infused into the dark wood. To purge the home, I'd had all of her stuff taken away. Maybe I shouldn't have done that, since it wasn't mine to toss, but I'd wanted it gone so Kellan and I could start fresh. I probably should have expected that decision to bite me in the ass.
Her face theatrically outraged, Joey shoved Kellan's shoulder back. "You what? That wasn't yours to get rid of, a**hole!"
Face heated, Kellan took a step forward. "You ran out. It's not my problem if you left everything behind!" Eyes disdainful, he scanned her face. "My house isn't your personal storage unit."
She scoffed and raised a hand dismissively. "Whatever, Kellan. I don't need your temperamental crap. If you don't have my stuff, then you can just pay me for it." She smirked. "Fifteen hundred should cover everything."
I made a strangled noise and Joey twisted her head to glare at me. "Who the hell are you?" She raised an eyebrow. "Kellan's flavor of the hour?"
My dad rose to his feet, his cheeks flaming bright red. "I don't know who you are, missy, but you cannot talk to my daughter that way!"
I was worried that my father might have a heart attack, he seemed so angry, but his rage was nothing compared to Kellan's. Dropping my hand, he stepped up to Joey and stared her down. "Be very careful, Josephine. That's my wife you're talking to."
Joey looked intimated by Kellan for a moment and backed up a step. Then his words hit her. Her dark eyes bugged out and she openly gaped at me. Then she started laughing. "Oh my God, are you serious? You, the biggest man whore I know, actually got married? What a joke."
Kellan crossed his arms over his chest while my dad sighed and sank back down to the couch. He really wasn't pleased about this whole marriage thing. I thought I heard my mom sniffle, but I was too focused on Joey to look. My own temper was quickly rising, ready for this intrusive little bitch to leave.
Kellan was too. Indicating the door, he told her, "Fine. I'll get you fifteen hundred for the furniture. Now get the hell out."
Joey shook her head. "Oh, I don't think so . . . not anymore, Kellan."