Thoughtful

I thought Kiera would smile in return, maybe look relieved that I wasn’t angry or hurt, but instead, she frowned at me and stormed away. What the hell? I knew I’d crossed the line, but it’s not like she hadn’t eagerly met me on the other side of it. After all, wasn’t she the one who undressed me?

  Irritation bloomed in me the longer I watched Kiera working. She completely ignored me. And not in an aloof way like she just didn’t care. No, every look she wasn’t giving me was very deliberate. She wanted me to know she was fuming. I just had no idea why she was so angry. She wouldn’t even approach our table, which was probably a good thing, since Griffin was regaling some random guy next to us with sex stories about Anna. God, he was going to repeat that night to people for the next six months, I just knew it.

  After twenty minutes of absolutely no service, Evan finally managed to flag Kiera down. She looked over at our table, blatantly ignoring me sitting at it, then rolled her eyes and headed up to the bar to get our drinks. She wouldn’t even take our order? Why the hell was she so mad at me? A little mad, sure, completely understandable, but this seemed over the top, even for her.

  A few minutes later, she stormed to our table. Without a word, she slammed down a bottle of beer in front of each of us; a bit of foam frothed from the top of mine thanks to the force of the impact. I was a little surprised the bottle hadn’t broken. Still silent, she then twisted on her heel and strode away from the table as quickly as she possibly could.

  Matt looked at Evan after she left. “What’s her problem today?” Both men then turned to look at me, like I was suddenly the keeper of Kiera’s mood swings.

  I shrugged and grabbed my beer. “Don’t ask me. I’m not her boyfriend.” I didn’t mean to say it harshly, but it came out a little rough. While Evan frowned at me, I took a swig of my beer. Grimacing, I pulled it away from my lips and looked at the bottle. Lite beer? Really? I fumed in silence for a few seconds while the other guys drank their perfectly normal, calorie-laden alcohol. What. The. Hell.

  A few minutes later, I noticed Kiera disappearing down the back hallway. Not able to stand her silent treatment for another second, I stood up with a screech and followed her. I was going to get my answers, and I was going to get them now. I caught up with her as she was coming out of the bathroom. By the look of shock and irritation on her face when she spotted me, it seemed like she wanted to dart inside the back room and hide. Fat chance I’d let that happen though. Wherever she went right now, I was just going to follow her. I wasn’t leaving until she talked to me.

  Maybe seeing that hiding was futile, she exhaled a frustrated sigh and tried to stalk past me. I grabbed her elbow. “Kiera…” Her hazel eyes burned when she looked up at me. The heat in her glare stole my breath for a second. She jerked her arm away while her eyes continued drilling holes into my head. “We should talk…”

  “Nothing to talk about, Kellan!” she bit out.

  Wondering what the hell I had done to make her so mad at me, wondering why she hated me so much and loved him so much, and wondering why just the sound of her voice made my knees weak, I quietly told her, “I disagree.”

  Leaning into me, she sneered, “Well…you can apparently do whatever you want!”

  Her snotty attitude mixed with my pain and frustration. Even I could hear the sharpness in my voice as I responded to her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means we have nothing to talk about,” she snipped, bumping into my shoulder as she brushed past me.

  I let her go, more confused than ever. What the hell was that about?

  Chapter 22

  I Only Wanted to Help You

  At the end of the night, Kiera was still doing her damnedest to ignore me. Equally amused and irritated by her avoidance, I didn’t try approaching her again. Maybe she just needed another day to cool off.

  People started filtering out as the bar started shutting down. Eventually, there were just a couple of regulars left, Kiera, Griffin, Evan, and me, and Evan was heading out the door with Cassie, the cute blonde who had been hitting on him all night. I leaned against a table with my arms folded across my chest, watching Kiera as she realized that she didn’t have a ride home. Guess in her pissy mood, she’d forgotten to line one up. I would take her, of course, if she wanted me to.

  Kiera sighed as she noticed the rain splattering on the sidewalk through the closing front door. She didn’t like being in the rain, so I knew she wouldn’t want to walk home. I wasn’t sure what she was going to do about her predicament. She glanced my way, but didn’t make a move toward me. No, instead, she shocked the living hell out of me by approaching my bassist. I couldn’t stop the grin that spread over my face. Really? You’d rather ride home with Griffin than me?

  This should be interesting.

  Kiera went for the casual approach. “Hi, Griffin.”

  It immediately put Griffin on guard. Their relationship wasn’t exactly cordial. “Yeah? What do you want?” He smiled in a way that clearly said he was positive Kiera was about to ask if she could go down on him.

  Kiera grimaced, but managed to remain polite. “I was hoping maybe you could give me a ride home?”

  I barely contained my snigger. Oh God. You couldn’t ask Griffin something like that and not expect him to take it in the dirtiest way possible. Griffin’s brain had a permanent residence in the gutter. “Well, Kiera…I never thought you’d ask,” he cooed as he undressed her with his eyes. “I’d love to give you a ride…all the way home.”

  And there it was. Typical Griffin answer. Kiera smiled with tight lips. “I literally meant a car ride to my house, Griffin.”

  Fuck, my stomach was going to cramp from holding in the laughter. Why did she have to be so damn adorable? Griffin didn’t find her nearly as amusing. “No sex?” he asked, disappointed.

  Kiera shook her head so hard, I thought she might give herself whiplash. “No.” I could almost hear her brain adding Ewwwwwww! It brightened my spirits some. Here, at least, was one man I would never have to worry about.

  Offended, Griffin sniffed. “Well then…no. Get your no-sex ride with Kyle.”

  I couldn’t stop the laugh then. Yeah…no sex. Kiera glanced my way again, then looked around the bar like she was searching for an escape. I approached her while she debated what to do. My heart started beating harder with every step. Even when I was hurt by her, she affected me.

  “Would you like me to give you a ride?” I asked. I meant more with that simple question than she really understood. Choose me.

  She viciously shook her head, crossed her arms over her chest, and fled out the front doors. I guess I had my answer. She left in such a hurry, she forgot her jacket and her bag. Was I so awful to her that she had to run from me? I debated hurrying after her like some lovesick idiot, but what good would that do but get me soaking wet too? I couldn’t let her walk all the way home though; it wasn’t safe. And it was raining. She hated rain. I didn’t want her to suffer through it because of me. Damn it. I was going to have to collect her, and she probably wasn’t going to like that.

  Sighing, I headed to the back room to get her stuff. Might as well get this over with.

  By the time I was in my car and heading after Kiera, the rain was really starting to come down. I frowned as I searched the streets for her. She couldn’t walk home in this. She’d catch her death. Hopefully she hadn’t made it too far. God, I hoped she was all right.

  Luckily, I spotted her right away; she was only about a block from the bar. She looked like she was freezing as she clutched her arms to her chest, and she was already soaked. Was she really going to walk all the way home in this? Now she was just being ridiculous. She could ignore me in the car; at least she’d be dry. Why the hell was she so mad at me?

  Pulling over to the curb, I kept pace with her on the sidewalk. Disbelieving her stubbornness, I leaned over and rolled down the window. “Get in the car, Kiera.”

  She impaled me with her eyes. “No, Kellan.”

  Gritting my jaw, I looke
d up. Lord, grant me patience to deal with this clearly unhinged woman. Looking back at her, I, as calmly as I could, said, “It’s pouring. Get in the car.”

  “No.”

  God. She was going to be difficult about this then. Well, I could be just as difficult if necessary. There was no way in hell I was leaving her out here all alone. “I’m just going to follow you like this all the way home.” Go ahead, Kiera, call my bluff. ’Cause I’m not bluffing.

  She seemed to realize that. With a huff, she stopped. “Go home, Kellan. I’ll be fine.”

  I stopped the car and leaned on the steering wheel. Was she seriously going to be so pigheaded that she would risk her life to avoid me? This wasn’t exactly the best part of town. “You’re not walking all the way home by yourself. It’s not safe.”

  Rolling her eyes, she started walking again. “I’ll be fine,” she repeated.

  I watched her slim, shaking body walking away from me. Irritation clouded my concern. Fuck this shit. I’d drag her ass into the car if she wouldn’t go willingly. Grunting, I stepped on the gas and tore away from her. “Fucking stubborn-ass woman,” I muttered as I jerked the car hard around a corner. Murmuring similar obscenities, I parked along the curb, shut off the car, rolled up the window, and got out.

  Kiera gaped at me as I stormed toward her. Was she really surprised that I wasn’t going to let her either die of pneumonia or be assaulted by some lowlife? What kind of unfeeling asshole did she think I was?

  Even though I had my jacket on, I was drenched by the time I made it to where she was standing and staring at me. My anger rose with every step I took. Being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn was just stupid. It’s not like I was going to do anything to her if she got in the car. She’d made her choice quite clear at the club. She’d gone home with him. She wanted him. I got it.

  “Get in the damn car, Kiera,” I growled.

  She yelled, “No!” then she actually shoved me away from her.

  Fine. If she wanted to be difficult and immature, then I would do exactly what I’d planned on doing anyway. I’d drag her freaking screaming ass to the car. Grabbing her elbow, I yanked her toward the Chevelle. Of course, she fought me. “No, Kellan…stop it!”

  She tried to pull away from me, but I wasn’t about to let her go. I clamped on tight and pulled her to the passenger’s side. I could tell she was furious that I was manhandling her, but I was getting a little ticked off too. Enough was enough. When I reached down and opened the car door, she managed to yank her arm away from me. Instead of being reasonable and getting into the warm, dry car, she started walking away from me. Jesus Christ, woman! Not letting her escape me, I looped my arm around her waist and held her to my chest. She kicked and squirmed as I lifted her off the ground, but she couldn’t get away from me. Her lean, wet body rubbing against mine did things to me, took me to a place that I did not want to go tonight. Why couldn’t I turn off what I felt for her? It would make my life so much easier.

  I set her down near the open door, trapping her with my body so she couldn’t get away. “Stop it, Kiera—just get in the goddamn car!”

  Her hazel eyes were alive with hatred as she glared at me. Hatred, and something else. Her chest was heaving; her Pete’s shirt clung to her body. The loose tendrils of her ponytail were dripping with heavy drops of rain; some of the lucky strands were glued to her flushed cheeks, her slender neck. My breath sped up as I watched this fiery, erotic beauty in front of me. Her passion brought me to my knees. I wanted her so much. Why couldn’t she just want me back? Why couldn’t she love me?

  Before I could truly comprehend what she was doing, she suddenly grabbed me. Twisting her fingers into my damp hair, she pulled my face down to hers. Her aggressiveness hurt some, but I was too intoxicated by her lips being a whisper apart from mine to care. God, yes…kiss me. Now. Please. I need it. I need you.

  As if she could hear my silent plea, she attacked me with her mouth. Oh…God…yes. Just as I started to return her fevered kiss, she pulled away from me. Then, less than a heartbeat later, she slapped me.

  My wet cheek stung with the force she’d used; my ear rang. Acting out of pure, reflexive shock, I pushed her against the car as anger burned through my cold body. What the fuck?

  For a second, the only sound was our fast breaths and the rain pounding all around us. Kiera stared at me with angry lust in her eyes. She wanted me, I knew she did. I could feel the desire coming off her in waves. I wanted her too. More than anything I wanted her. I was nearly hard already. I wanted to lay her down on my seat, strip those wet clothes off her damp body, and hear her scream my name as I drove into her. And she would. She would scream it over and over again as I kept her on the edge of climaxing. Maybe that was how I would punish her for hurting me, physically and emotionally—I wouldn’t let her finish.

  My decision made, I grabbed her and slowly forced her into the front seat. She offered no real resistance. She tried to deny it, but she wanted me inside of her. Not giving her a chance to escape me, I climbed in after her. While I closed the door behind us, she started scooting up the bench seat, away from me, like she was actually going to leave. I don’t think so. Twisting back around, I grabbed her legs and pulled her back to me. Needing my body tangled up in hers, I forced her to her back on the seat as I crawled over the top of her. She pushed at my chest like she wanted me off her, but her fingers had my shirt clutched in them and I knew she was full of shit. She wanted me.

  “Get off me,” she snipped, her breath heavy, her eyes begging me to do the opposite.

  Angry at her mixed signals, I wondered if her words and actions would ever come together. She wanted me…didn’t she? “No,” I told her.

  Her hand reached out and grabbed my neck. She pulled me in while her words pushed me away. “I hate you…”

  The look on her face made a throb pulse through my lower body. Fuck, I needed her. I needed to show her what she did to me, show her how much I wanted her. Maybe then she would stop denying this. I was rock hard now as desire, lust, and love waged war within me. I wrapped her legs around me and rubbed myself against her jeans. This is for you. Only you. This is what you do to me. What do I do to you? Show me…Take me…I’m yours, only yours. Why can’t you fucking see that?

  Her eyes rolled back into her head as she gasped, panted. She wanted this so much. I knew she did. Bitterness surged through me. I was so tired of this cycle of denial. “That’s not hate you feel…” I sneered as she did her best to give me a cool glare. With a cruel smirk, I added, “And that’s not friendship either.” No, we’d passed friendship a long time ago.

  “Stop it…” Still fighting this, she wiggled her hips under me. It only made me want her more. Using her body for purchase so she could feel how intense this would be, I slowly and deliberately rocked against her again. She cried out, arching her back as she looked at the door above her head. No, she needed to watch me. She needed to see what she was doing to me. I grabbed her cheek, forcing her head down, forcing her to look me in the eye. She didn’t like that.

  “This was supposed to be innocent, Kellan!” she bit out, furious.

  “We were never innocent, Kiera. How naïve are you?” I matched her tone. She couldn’t keep lying to herself.

  Tears of frustration in her eyes, she whispered, “God, I hate you…”

  God, she was stubborn. Whatever was between us, it wasn’t born from hate. “No, you don’t…”

  I rocked against her faster. I bit my lip as a deep moan escaped me. I needed her. God, I needed her. Say yes, Kiera. Let me in. Even as a tear rolled down her cheek, she watched my reaction to her with intent eyes. “Yes I do…I hate you…” She could barely get the words out, she was breathing so hard.

  I pushed against her again, cringing as the sensation sent shock waves through my body. Yes. God…yes. “No…you want me…” Her passion ignited a memory in me. The club. Her unrestrained need as we danced. That had been for me. Even she couldn’t deny it. “I saw you. I felt yo
u…at the club, you wanted me.” I brought my mouth right over hers, inhaling her scent, her rapid breaths…sharing my own. It was only the beginning of what I was about to share with her. I could feel how much it excited her as she squirmed beneath me.

  “God, Kiera…you were undressing me.” I grinned at the remembered feel of her fingers down my skin. I wanted them on me now. “You wanted me, right there in front of everyone.” Needing to taste her, I dragged my tongue along her jaw to her ear. “God, I wanted you too…” I moaned in her ear.

  Her hands flew up to my hair, yanking me away from her. I hissed in a breath as my lower body begged to be set free. I rocked against her again, not sure how much more I could take. Stop fighting. Say yes.

  “No, I chose Denny.” Ignoring her, I rubbed against her again. Harder. Faster. God, yes. Again. More. “I went home with him…” Oh God, Kiera, yes, fuck…yes. “Who did you choose?” she asked.

  The vileness in her tone silenced my head, completely stilled my hips. A warning flashed in my brain. A warning, and a clue. What the hell did she mean by that? “What?”

  She hit my chest with every ounce of pent-up rage inside of her. “My sister, you asshole! How could you sleep with her? You promised me!”

  In a microsecond everything snapped into place for me. That was why she was pissed? Not because I’d crossed the line again. Not because she’d caved and given in to what she wanted. Not because I’d stayed away for days. No, because she thought I’d slept with Anna. Well, fuck me. She didn’t get to be angry about that. Not when she left the fucking club with Denny. All bets were off the moment she tore my heart out and ripped it into bloody confetti. If I wanted to fuck Anna all night long, then I had every right to.

  Truly furious now, I said something rash, and horribly misleading. “You can’t be mad at me for that. You left to go screw him! You left me there…ready, wanting you…with her.” Further digging the knife into her back, I ran my hands in an intimate way up her hips and whispered, “And she was all too willing. It was so easy to take her…to slip inside her.” If she was going to be a bitch, then I would be her bastard.