Chapter 33
Where was Kellan?
She rolled over in the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
“I can hear you worrying from here,” Eli commented, sitting up to look down at her. “What’s going on? I thought those orgasms would have had you sleeping for hours.”
Arabella could feel her cheeks heat at his words. They had knocked her out for ages. But a bad dream about Kellan being hurt had woken her and she hadn’t been able to get back to sleep once she’d realized that he hadn’t returned.
“I woke up to find he wasn’t back. Why isn’t he back? Should we go looking for him?”
“That asshole could have messaged,” he said as he checked his phone and sent off a text. Then he drew her against his chest. “Don’t worry. He’ll be fine. Kellan knows how to keep himself safe. Not to mention that he has someone important to come home to.”
“But he barely even said goodbye. Maybe he doesn’t know how much I need him. I didn’t tell him, did I?”
“Kellan has always believed that he needs to sacrifice himself to keep others safe. He doesn’t realize that we would all do the same for him.
I think I’ve spent half my life worrying that he would do something stupid one day.
That he just wouldn’t care enough about his safety and would get himself killed.
He’s always felt responsible for me. For our brothers.
Now, he has someone else to worry over and you need to make it clear what your rules for the relationship are. ”
“You mean I get to make rules? Why wasn’t this mentioned earlier? Hmm?”
“Brat.” He grinned and checked his phone as it beeped. “He’s safe. He said he’ll be home in thirty minutes. Try to go back to sleep, baby.” He kissed the top of her head, holding her tight.
But she was still awake when Kellan walked into the room thirty minutes later and strode through to the bathroom, turning on the shower.
Right.
Time for her to interrupt his shower. She rolled carefully out of the bed.
“Go get him, tiger,” Eli murmured before letting out a soft snore.
She’d try.
She walked into the bathroom and saw Kellan standing under the spray with his hands on the wall of the shower.
Much like she had been to get her bottom spanked.
A blush filled her cheeks. She still couldn’t believe she’d done that.
She’d been spanked.
And, to be honest, she’d kind of liked it.
Not that she’d tell them that.
Sneaking up on him, she opened the shower door. “You should really be more aware of your surroundings. I could have a gun.”
“Butterfly, I heard you enter the room. You’re not as quiet as you like to think you are.”
Drat.
“What are you doing out of bed?” He turned and grabbed some shower gel, squirting it on his hand.
Suddenly, she realized she’d just walked in on him naked.
“Is it all right that I’m in here while you . . . while you . . .”
“Bathe?” he asked as he started washing himself.
Damn.
She really wouldn’t mind being the one that got to rub her hands all over him.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Of course I don’t mind. You can come join me if you want.”
“Actually, I need to talk to you. So I’ll wait.”
“You should be in bed,” he told her. “Asleep.”
“So should you.”
“I will be soon.” He rinsed off and stepped out. She took a step back, staring at a drip of water making its way down his chest, between his pecs.
Damn.
So hot.
What she wouldn’t give to be that drop of water.
“Eyes on mine, Butterfly,” he told her.
She shot her gaze up, embarrassed to be caught staring.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” He stared down at her in concern. “Are you worried about something?”
“Yes. You.”
He gave her a shocked look. “Me? Why would you worry about me?”
“Because you disappeared and didn’t tell me where you were going or when you would be back!”
“You don’t need to worry about me. Now, go back to bed and I’ll be in soon.”
“Kellan!”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
“Telling me not to worry doesn’t mean that I will magically stop worrying.”
“It should. I always mean what I say. I’ll be fine. Stop worrying.”
“No.”
“No?” he drawled. “Are you serious?”
“Very serious. I will not stop worrying until you promise that when you can you will tell me where you are going and when you will be back. And if you’re going to be late you will message me.”
He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “Is that all?”
“No, it’s not all. Before you leave, you kiss me goodbye. And when you get home, you kiss me hello.”
He stalked toward her as she spoke and, grasping her by the hips, lifted her onto the bench.
“Anything more?”
“If you can’t tell me what you’re doing, then just say that. But I want you to promise me that you’ll always come home, because I can’t live without you, Kellan Jones. You’ve become my everything.”
“And you’re my everything, Butterfly. So I agree to your terms.”
She wouldn’t call them terms, but she’d take it.
“There might be other things that I will need from this relationship. But for now the only other thing is that you’re not to sacrifice yourself for anyone else. You’re important, Kellan. And you’re . . . you’re wanted.”
You’re loved.
She wasn’t sure she was ready to say that. Was she?
Was it too soon to speak about love? Maybe. She didn’t want to scare them away.
He cupped her cheek. “These things are important to you?”
“Very important.”
“I never want you to be upset or hurt. Especially not from something I do. But I will make mistakes. And you need to tell me when I do.”
“I will,” she told him.
“That’s my good girl. Now, all good girls should be in bed asleep. Are you going to be able to sleep?”
“I hope so.”
He cupped the side of her face and kissed her deeply. His tongue slid between her lips and he pressed himself up against her.
When he drew back, she didn’t know why she did it, but she suddenly blurted it out. “Eli made me come in the bath.”
He raised his eyebrows as he gazed down at her. “Is that so?”
“Um, yeah. It is.”
“And did you like it?” he murmured.
“Yes, of course.”
“Hmm, and what did he use to make you come? His fingers?”
She nodded.
“How about his tongue?” he asked.
“What? No!” she cried.
Since meeting them she’d blushed more than she had in all the years she’d been alive.
“No? Do you not like that idea?” he murmured.
“I don’t understand how you like the idea of doing . . . that to me.”
Urgh. She wished she could talk like a normal adult.
“So you don’t think you’d like sucking me off?” he asked.
“Can I try?”
He gave her a surprised look. “You want to try?”
“Yes, please. Now?”
“You need to go to bed. You should be asleep. And I’m the one who is going to use my mouth tonight.”
Disappointment filled her.
“But tomorrow you can suck me off,” he promised.
“And by tomorrow you mean today, right? Since it’s nearly two in the morning.”
“Right.” Bending down, he kissed her again. “I won’t strip you off completely, but I do want to touch you everywhere. If you need me to stop, say red.”
She nodded.
He grasped hold of her chin. “Words, Butterfly.”
“I understand,” she replied.
“That’s a good girl. What do you say if you’re scared or uncomfortable or in pain?”
“I say red.”
“I expect you to use it. If you need to use it and don’t, the next thing you’ll get is a spanked bottom.”
“Yes, Kellan,” she replied.
“My good girl.” He ran his hands up the outside of her thighs. “Spread your legs wide. That’s it. God, your skin is so smooth and beautiful.” He moved his hands under her T-shirt. Well, it was actually one of his that she’d acquired.
One hand cupped her breast and he tweaked her nipple gently.
That sent a sharp shard of pleasure through her bloodstream to circle her clit.
She let out a small cry.
“Does that feel good, Butterfly?” he murmured.
“Yes. Yes,” she cried.
Leaning down, he sucked her other nipple into his mouth through the material of his T-shirt.
“Please, please,” she begged as he played with both nipples until she was a mess. She could barely sit still on the counter and her need for release was growing by the second.
“I need more.”
“Shh,” he said. “You don’t want to wake Eli, do you? You’re going to need to stay nice and still and let me do everything.” He drew back and lifted her off the counter.
She let out a cry of protest.
“Hush, Butterfly. I’m just making it easier to get to you.” Reaching under the T-shirt, he drew down her panties. Crouching, he helped her step out of them. Then he stood and lifted her back onto the counter.
“How are you feeling? Not too tired?”
“If you stop now, I’ll kill you,” she told him.
Whoa.
Had that just come out of her? She opened her mouth to take it back when he smiled.
Shock held her frozen. Had she seen him smile before? She couldn’t remember.
But he looked even more impossibly gorgeous. The warmth made him look younger.
Reaching out, she cupped the side of his face. “I like seeing you smile.”
“I didn’t know I could smile anymore,” he told her.
“Maybe you can do it more often.”
“With you around, I just might,” he replied.
She had to blink back tears at that and then he kissed her again, stealing every thought from her mind.
He kissed her deeply before drawing away to move his mouth down her neck.
“Lean back, Butterfly,” he commanded. “Against the mirror. Is that comfortable?”
“Yes.”
“Good, now move your feet up onto the counter.”
She raised her legs, placing her feet on the counter as he crouched down in front of her.
Suddenly, she realized how exposed she was and pushed her legs together.
“Don’t hide from me, Butterfly. I know it’s scary, but I’d never do anything to harm you.”
Shoot.
What was she doing? She knew that.
“What if you don’t like it?” she asked.
“I promise you that’s not going to be a problem. Trust me.”
Nodding, she spread her legs.
“That’s it. Well done.” He ran his hands up the inside of her legs before leaning in to lightly kiss along her pussy.
Oh hell.
Was this really happening?
And then he reached up, parting her lips. He ran his tongue up until he reached her clit. A low moan escaped her. That felt so good.