So having that cycle of irresponsibility broken by Kellan, who was suddenly being focused again, was a bit of a struggle for me. I adapted though, throwing myself into work, school and friends. And Kellan made our time apart interesting by trying out his new cell phone. He'd interrupted me a few times during class by texting me highly inappropriate comments. Most of them made my cheeks flush bright red. Honestly, he was too seductive, even through technology.
But eventually Friday was upon me at last.
There was feeling in the air when I woke up in my new spacious bed, a feeling of goodbye. I woke up with Kellan's arms around me, my cheek lying on his chest. He was stroking my hair in a soft, repetitive fashion, his fingers gently tucking strands behind my ear, so I knew he was awake.
Stretching, I lifted my head and looked up at him. Midnight blue eyes, deeper and more beautiful than the darkest oceans, stared back at me. Smiling, he ran the back of his finger down my cheek. "Mornin'," he whispered.
Smiling, I leaned up to gently touch my lips to his. "Good morning."
We didn't say anything more and I laid my head back down on his skin and held him for at least another hour. He held me as I tightly as I held him, occasionally kissing my hair. It was one of the most comforting experiences I'd ever had, and I knew a part of me would remember this morning forever, tucking it away to pull out on a later day, when I was missing him so much I physically ached.
After a fast eternity of bliss, it was time for me to get ready for school. I grudgingly pulled away from Kellan, but he came with me, a playful smile on his face. That impish grin followed me into the bathroom, all the way into the shower. Trying not to be too distracted by the stream of water flowing down the lean muscles of his frame, I let him pamper and caress me. He lathered me with soap and affection, touching me everywhere but refraining from turning the moment into a sexual one. He only washed me and I in turn washed him. It was comforting, too.
Once we were finished, the water turning chilly on us, he wrapped himself in a towel and headed out to make us some coffee. I smiled at the low-slung cotton riding just over his backside, and quickly got myself dressed so I could rejoin that half-naked body.
Dressed for my day in jeans and a few layered t-shirts, I opened my door at the same time my sister did. Blinking sleepily, even though it was well past eleven by now, she scratched her wildly attractive bed head. "Hey, sis, you headed out to school?"
Nodding, hoping my sister didn't decide to go to the kitchen for any reason, since Kellan was still currently only rocking a towel-skirt, I stepped in front of her line of vision. "Yeah, pretty soon. Kellan's taking me, so you can have the car today."
Anna nodded and yawned. She had the car most days so that really wasn't news to her. Stretching so that the tight t-shirt she'd slept in rode up her bikini-clad hips, she nodded towards the kitchen. "He in there? I should wish him a good show tonight."
Hearing Kellan humming, I tried to block my sister's vision even more. She may not care if I'd seen her boyfriend in all his glory, but I didn't need her ogling Kellan in his. That was my job. "Yeah, he's making coffee." When she smiled and took a step towards me, I grabbed her shoulder. Looking down at her scantily dressed body, I raised an eyebrow. "Would you mind putting on some clothes before you go waltzing out there?"
Covering a yawn, she shook her head. "He doesn't care, Kiera. I'm like a sister to him."
Sighing at the impossible beauty of the sexpot before me, I shook my head. "Please?"
Maybe seeing my expression as I wistfully glanced over her curves, she finally nodded. "All right."
After she slinked back to her room, I darted into mine and grabbed Kellan's clothes. Holding the bundle tight to my chest, I hurried down the short hall into the kitchen. Kellan was leaning against the counter with his hands behind him, his glorious chest on full display. I paused a moment to just stupidly stare at him.
His hair was a damp, disheveled mess, and water drops occasionally dripped onto his shoulder. One drop followed the curve of his collar bone before trailing over the elegant script of my name above his heart. From there, the frisky ball of water rolled over his pec, across his ribs, and straight down to the deep V cut of his lower abdomen. It traveled that line quite a distance before finally hitting the absorbent towel slung around his hips. It was the luckiest damn drop of water on earth.
"Kiera?"
Kellan's entertained voice brought my eyes back up to his highly amused ones. Grinning crookedly, he raised an eyebrow. "See something you like?"
Flushing, I tossed his clothes at him. He flinched at the sudden move but managed to catch them. "Anna's awake and getting ready to come out here. Can you get dressed please?"
I said that last part forlornly as I glossed over his body again. Lightly chuckling, he set his clothes on the counter and watched me watch him. I bit my lip as another drop traveled down his broad back. "You sure?" he asked, still amused.
Sighing, I took a quick glance back at Anna's room. Luckily the door was still closed. "Yes."
When I looked back at him, he shrugged and unwrapped the towel from his waist. In the middle of my tiny kitchen, he let the material fall right to the ground. My eyes widened at the sight of him completely bare. Kellan didn't need to...um, glorify his manhood with accessories like Griffin did. He was absolutely perfect in his natural state. Flushing red hot, I watched him lightly shake his head at me and very slowly grab his underwear from the pile. I wanted to snap at him to hurry, and at the same time I wanted him to slow down even more. Smiling, I knew this mental snapshot would also come back to me when I was missing him.
When the last piece of clothing was over his body, I sighed sadly and walked over to lace my arms around his neck. "I'm gonna miss you," I murmured, shaking my head at him.
He smiled, lacing his arms around my waist. "I'm gonna miss you, too."
We were softly kissing when my sister entered the room. "Damn it, was he in a towel?"
I looked over at my sister frowning playfully, pointing at the evidence piled on the floor. Grinning, I laid my head on his chest. "Yes, sorry, you missed the peep show."
Sighing dramatically, she reached into the cupboard next to us and grabbed a few coffee mugs. "I always do," she muttered, handing one to me, then Kellan.
Laughing and shaking his head, Kellan disengaged himself from me so he could pour everyone coffee from the pot that had just finished brewing. When he handed a full one to Anna she politely thanked him. Taking a small sip, she raised her eyebrows at him. "Hey, good luck at your show, Kellan. I'm gonna get off work a little early so I can catch the tail end of it."
Kellan nodded and smiled, handing me a cup with room for creamer in it; I couldn't stand black coffee like he and my sister could. "Thanks, Anna. I'm glad you'll be able to make it to this one." Smiling at me, he poured a final cup for himself. "It should be good." He shrugged casually, like it was just another show and not his farewell show.
I bit my lip to stop the stinging sensation building in my eyes as I poured a good helping of flavored creamer into my mug. I didn't want to get emotional over the fact already. There would be time for tears later, I was sure. Anna sighed, the sound matching my mood. "I wouldn't miss it for anything, Kellan."
She gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder then left us so we could have one last peaceful morning together with our cups of coffee. And it was the most comforting of all.
After driving me to school, Kellan threw his arm over my shoulder and walked me to class. The people here were finally used to seeing him walking down the hall, since he walked me nearly every day, but the girls still stared appreciatively. I'd considered skipping today, so we would have all the time in the world together, but Kellan had firmly told me no. School was important, he'd said, and I'd missed too much already. Knowing he was right, I'd reluctantly agreed.
Surprising me, Kellan walked me all the way into my classroom. When he walked me over to a row with a couple of open seats, I rolled my eyes at him. "I can handle this part. You can go...nap or something."
Chuckling adorably, he shook his head and, holding my hand, walked backwards down the aisle with me. "I'm not walking you to your seat." Edging past a couple of girls staring at him wide-eyed, he sat down and motioned for me to sit beside him. "I'm joining you," he said, smiling brilliantly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
I stared at him open-mouthed. He'd teased about sitting through a class before, but I never thought he'd actually do it. Kellan wasn't dumb or anything, but he wasn't exactly the academic type. He'd be bored out of his mind sitting here with me while the teacher droned on and on about morality clauses in contract agreements. Shaking my head, I sat down beside him. "All right."
Chuckling, he slung an arm over my shoulder. Looking over at him, I raised an eyebrow. "No falling asleep." He laughed a little and stroked my arm with his thumb. Smiling, I added, "And no funny business. I actually need to learn this stuff."
Kellan rolled his eyes and made a pledge over his heart. "I'll be the perfect student." Facing forwards, he muttered, "And if I'm not, you can punish me later." His grin was so devilishly attractive, I had to look away. Unfortunately, I looked right across the room at Candy.
She was sitting with her friends, her head turned all the way around as she stared at the rock star sitting in on her class. Her surprised expression nearly matched what my own had been. As I leaned into his side, resting my head on his shoulder, her expression relaxed into a neutral one. Rolling her eyes and muttering a word that I could clearly tell was, "Whatever," she jerked back around to the front of the room.
I grinned and waited for my boyfriend to receive his first college lecture. I hoped he liked it.
In a way that surprised me, Kellan was the perfect student. He listened enraptured, even leaning forward a little. During a discussion period, he even piped up with a couple of well thought out questions. I smiled as he got into a debate with a guy a few rows down from us. Kellan's side of the argument was much more persuasive, and the legitimate student in the room conceded to it by the end. The professor commended Kellan on his points, then tilted his head like he was trying to place who Kellan was...and if he was actually a student. Eventually he gave up trying to figure it out and dismissed the class for the day.
I was very proud of my boyfriend as we left the room. Given another life, he probably would have done really well here.
Kellan was ear-to-ear smiles and I clenched his hand, loving that he'd loved it so much. Everything was going great, until he walked past a group of giggling girls. Feeling bold, they stepped right in front of us, blocking our exit. Still on cloud nine, Kellan smiled at the group. "Ladies?" he asked politely, tilting his head.
They giggled even more at being addressed. I wanted to sigh and roll my eyes. There was something about him that turned mature, educated, enlightened women into fifteen-year-old school girls. I'd seen it happen way too often.
The boldest of the group stepped forward. "You're Kellan, right? We just love your band."
Nodding politely, an odd expression passed Kellan's face as he studied the group of women assembled before him. It was something that the girls probably wouldn't notice, but I did. It was almost like he was trying to place a name with a face. Throwing on an effortless grin, he smoothly said, "I'm glad to hear you enjoy us. Our last show is tonight at Pete's." Leaning in, he raised an eyebrow at them. "I hope you guys can make it." His tone was so suggestive that I actually raised my own eyebrow. I was used to him flirting a little with them, but sometimes he took it just a bit too far.