Beautiful Distraction(31)
“That you talked about me.”
I swallow hard to get rid of the hot rush surging up my neck. “Yeah, in case you were a creep, which I think I’ve mentioned already.”
He inclines his head in mock agreement. “Or I got under your skin and you wanted her to hear all about it. It’s a preconception that women don’t talk about their sexscapades. In fact, they do it just as much as men.”
Of course he’d think that.
I smile sweetly. “Well, I won’t argue with you on that one because you seem to be the expert. But I can assure you in my case, it’s not true.”
“You don’t talk about your sexscapades?” His brows shoot up in amusement.
I sigh patiently.
What is it with this guy and his tendency to mangle my words?
“That’s not what I was trying to say.”
“So you do,” he says.
“No, I was referring to you getting under my—” I break off as I realize he’s messing with me and shake my head.
“You regretted not having slept with me.”
I roll my eyes, even though I know the gesture is so immature a guy like him will see right through it. “No. And no.” And before I can stop myself, I add, “No!”
“Strange, because she says you regret it,” Kellan says softly.
I stare at him.
Oh, my god.
I’m going to kill Mandy.
“She did?” I jump to my feet. “Where’s the phone?”
“In the living room. Not working.” He stands but doesn’t move from the spot. “Relax. It was a lie. She didn’t actually say that.”
I cross my arms over my chest as I regard him coldly. “Why would you lie?”
“I wanted to see your reaction.”
“Right.” I’m not a fan of confrontation. The entire situation has my mind racing. The last thing I need is for him to think I harbor regrets about not having spent the night with him.
“Please sit down, Ava,” Kellan says and walks around the table. Even though I don’t take shit from men, I find myself following his order. I can feel his presence behind me a moment before he leans over me, so close his breath brushes my earlobe and sends a shiver down my spine. “But you have to admit it’s something she could have said because it’s the truth.”
“You know nothing about me.” My voice comes out slightly choked.
Dammit.
His proximity does strange things to my body, and the fact that I’ve seen him naked doesn’t exactly help.
“On the contrary. You’re quite the open book.” With that, he returns to his seat and pours what looks like half a syrup bottle over his waffles.
“Wow.” I stare at him mesmerized as he starts eating. For the life of me, I can’t understand how anyone can shovel down that much sugar. “Do you always eat so much for breakfast?”
“Always.” He looks up, amused. “What can I say? I’m generally a hungry person who likes to eat out.”
He’s not talking about dining at restaurants. I can tell that from the naughty glint in his eyes.
My skin prickles at the implication and my heart races.
Kellan dips his finger into the puddle of syrup on his plate and holds it up to my mouth. “What about you?”
His gaze pierces mine, waiting.
The challenge is there.
I gingerly wrap my lips around his fingertip and let my tongue glide over it, then pull back.
Kellan’s eyes remain glued to my lips as my tongue flicks over them to lick off the sticky syrup.
“As far as I see it, we’re adults,” he says, his voice slightly hoarse. “Consenting, sexually active adults who should have a bit of fun.”
Wicked fun sounds about what I’d like to have with him. If it just weren’t for the fact that I’m way too into him, and I get easily involved. Too easily, which makes for a dangerous combination.
He laughs at my gloomy expression. “I was talking about having a bit of fun outside. The livestock? Remember?”
Oh.
“Of course.”
He points to my shoes. “You cannot wear those.”
I look down at my boots. “Why not?” Okay, so they have heels, but they’re not stilettos.
“Tell me, Ava, have you ever been on a farm or climbed a mountain?”
“No,” I admit. “But they’re way more comfortable than you think, and I’m willing to learn.”
And I didn’t have time to pack sneakers.
His gaze is quizzical as he regards me and points to the food on the table. “Dig in. You’ll need the energy.”
“Why? A horse isn’t exactly hard work.”
He cocks his head, and slowly, a grin breaks across his face. “Who said anything about horses?”