“
But, if for some reason we're not closer, if something has gotten between us, please, I'm begging you…don't give up on me. Stay. Stay with me. Work it out with me. Just don't leave me…please.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
Dude, he's Australian...not a pirate.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
If I'm yours and you're mine...then I will take you, wherever and whenever I can.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Do you really think anyone in this world, compares to you in my eyes?
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
He said I was his heart, and you don’t leave your heart behind. You can’t live without your heart.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
..."you finally get it."...
... "get what?"...
"That I'm yours... that you can take me... anywhere, anytime, anyway. That you own every peice of me.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I want to be someone's everything. I want fire and passion, and love that's returned, equally. I want to be someone's heart.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
What if I don’t choose you, Kellan? What will you do?”
He looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I’ll leave, Kiera. I’ll leave, and you and Denny can have your happily ever after.” He looked back at me. “You wouldn’t even need to tell him about me. Eventually, the two of you…” his voice broke and another tear fell on his cheek, “the two of you would get married, and have children, and have a great life.”
I fought back a sob. “And you? What happens to you in that scenario?”
“I…get by. And I miss you, every day,” he whispered.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
You'll never know how incredible you are to me, how desperately I love you. I would do it all over again if I needed to. I'd go back to the beginning for you
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Loving you, Kellan, is so easy, it's effortless."
His smile matched mine, then I frowned and sighed "Trusting you...that's the hard part
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
but what it all boils down to is three words that don’t mean nearly enough… I love you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I don't know how to let you back in." My heart beat spiked and I closed my eyes when he whispered," I don't know how to keep you out either.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I think in the end, you would have stayed with me, out of obligation...or maybe comfort. Maybe I was safe to you, and you needed to feel that. I know how scared you get of the unknown. To you...I must be kind of a security blanket. Do you see now, how that doesn't work for me? I don't want to be there, simply because the idea of me being gone is too...scary. I want to be someone's everything. I want fire and passion, and love that's returned, equally. I want to be someone's heart... Even if it means breaking my own.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Nothing in the world was as beautiful to me as that tattoo, except the man bearing it.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
No time spent with you is wasted.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I know that I have to be with you. Everything else is just...details.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I need you. Let me do this. I can make you forget him. I can make you forget you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I'll still be with you every night, Kiera. Every night, no matter where I am, crawling into bed with you. Our bed will be a lot bigger, miles wide, but it will just be you and me inside it.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I wanted...to own you. I wanted a part of me in you." He cringed. "I wanted to mark you, make you mine.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
He spoke rapidly in-between his tender kisses. "I love you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. The women...I was so scared to touch you. You didn't want me...I couldn't take the pain. I tried to get over you. Every time with them, I was with you. I'm so sorry...I love you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Are you about to have sex in my bathroom?"
Without missing a beat, Kellan responded with, "Yes," and started closing the door.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I know...and I love you. But I don't think we love each other in the same way. And...I think keeping you near me, would destroy me.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I know there's something here. I know you want more. Tell me...and it's yours.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
We were never innocent, Kiera. How naive are you? (Kellan)
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
He would always want me near him. I would always be first in his eyes. We were a good match. A perfect match. Soul mates.
Passion, friendship, love, loyalty, trust…if you found the right person…you really could have it all.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Because I love you more than any one person should be allowed to love someone.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Can you lose something that was never yours to begin with?" - Keira
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Mornin'" - Kellan Kyle
”
”
S.C. Stephens
“
God, you're sucking all the fun out of our friendship.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
And he was the reason I felt it. His gaze, his touch, his smile, his laugh, no one had ever made me feel... worshiped... quite like he did.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
You know that’s permanent right?”
… “You know you’re permanent, right?
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
You want me to whatbook? And Tweet? Like a bird? Are you serious?
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Don't leave me," I begged, when I found air to speak. Kellan wrapped his arms around me just as tight. Voice cracking he murmured, "I won't...I'm yours, Kiera, for as long as you want me." Pulling back I cupped his face. "Forever, I want you forever.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
Making a sound that was both a laugh and a sob, Kellan stared into his son’s eyes. “Hey, little man,” he whispered. “I’m your dad, and I love you . . . so much.” Voice quavering, he added, “I’m so glad you’re here.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Griffin: “Did you just fuck him into submission?” He held his knuckles up to me. “Nice.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Ethics and I had crossed paths recently, and I’m not sure that I fell on the right side of the morality line.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
It was heartfelt, it was heartbreaking. It was extreme joy, it was bone-crushing grief. It was fiery hot, it was icy-cold. It was true love sprouting... it was true love dying.
It's like we were both trying to hold onto something that was slipping through our fingers, and we didn't understand why.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
She’s my wife. She goes where I go.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Passion, friendship, love, loyalty, trust . . . if you found the right person . . . you really could have it all.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
It's okay... it will be okay. You're just young. Your'e young and inexperienced, and Kellan is hotter than all fuck.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Every single day I'll keep you with me, no matter how far from me you are.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Not looking up at me, his smile widened. “I’m reading your porn.”
Smacking his foot as I walked by, I scoffed, “That’s not porn…it’s romance.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
His voice was melted sex. Yes, melted...sex.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I will always love you, Kellan. Your heart is safe with me.”
Kellan pulled me into a hug and let out a long, shaky breath as he held me. “Promise?” he whispered?
I squeezed him just a little bit tighter. “I promise.” Pulling back, I rested my forehead against his. “Not loving you isn’t possible. Trust me, I tried.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Love is easy, trust is hard.
”
”
S.C. Stephens
“
Sometimes family was the cruelest form of love there was, for no one could hurt you more than the people who created you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I love you . . . even if you are insane.”
Kellan was chuckling as he opened the shower door. “Good, because I think I’m going to be burping soap bubbles for a week.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I gently grabbed his face with my hands. "Don't leave me. You are mine...and I'm yours. I want you...and you can have me.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Lord help the female population if Kellan and I have a boy one day.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I’m in love with you,” he whispered, searching my eyes. He looked very pale and very scared, and a little…hopeful.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I love you more. I love you enough to let you go and live your dream." I tilted my head and shrugged. "Don't you see....? I love you more."
He smiled softly and I brushed some hair off his forehead. Running the backs of my fingers down his cheek, I whispered, "And, yes, I will miss you, more than you could possibly imagine, but I know that you have to do this Kellan. And you know it too."
Stubbornly he shook his head. "No, I know that I have to be with you. Everything else is just .... details.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I love you too, Kiera. Just you. You’re my always.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I tried to do the right thing. Why couldn't you just let me leave?" (Kellan)
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Between pants, I continued spewing how much I hated him. Around my lips, he kept telling me I didn't.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I’ve never wanted anyone, like I want you. Every girl is you to me. You’re all I see…you’re all I want.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
This isn't goodbye, okay. There are no goodbyes... not between us.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
There were so many secrets between us now, it was hard remembering a time when things had been simple & easy, when it had felt like pure puppy love. I suppose all love eventually comes back down to earth.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
He relaxed and looked at my lips and then my eyes and then back to my lips. “How do we do that? This is what we do…back and forth, back and forth. You want me, you want him. You love me, you love him. You like me, you hate me, you want me, you don’t want me, you love me…you leave me. There’s so much that went wrong before…
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Where do we go from here?"-Kiera
"We go nowhere."-Denny
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Still looking at me, Kellan lifted the microphone to his mouth. “I’d like to formally introduce you to this beautiful girl at my side, Miss Kiera Michelle Allen.” He turned back to the DJs. “My wife.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
His eyes were still closed and his body rocked gently to the music, but his face was almost...desolate. His words matched his face, as he sang about how each day was a struggle, and never seeing my face caused him physical pain. He sang that "my face was his light, and he felt drenched in darkness without it." Tears fell freely after I heard that line.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Never again. I don't care what's at stake. I don't care who I have to let down. I won't ever do that to you again. You... or me. I'm done playing their game."
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Kiera Michelle Allen, my life was empty before you stepped into it. I thought I had everything I needed, but only because I didn’t let myself want anything. And then I saw you, and you burned a hole straight through me. I have never wanted anything more in my life. And I have never been more terrified in all my life. In all my life,” he repeated.
…”And then, beyond some miracle that I’ll never understand, I got to keep you, and now…I’m only just beginning to understand what it means to truly want something. Because I want so much now. I want to make you happy. I want to give you the world. I want you to be proud of me. I want to comfort you. I want you to comfort me. I want to hold you when you’re scared. I want you to hold me when I’m scared. I want to make you laugh. I want to make you blush.” Leaning in, he whispered, “I want to make you scream.”
…”I want to give you a home. I want to fill it with children. I want to take care of you. I want to grow old with you. I want you by my side, every day.” … “I just want you. Do you want me too?
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Anna gave me a humoring smile. “Everyone eventually falls for the two of you together. You’re meant to be.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I love you and you understand what that phrase means to me. I don’t say it…to anyone…ever.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Our lives are crazy. When moments to remember happen, you have to pause a second to appreciate them. Otherwise none of this is worth it. And getting married to you is definitely a moment to remember." ~ Kellan Kyle
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
You are told from the moment you enter school that time is constant. It never changes. It is one of those set things in life that you can always rely on... much like death and taxes. There will always be sixty seconds in a minute. There will always be sixty minutes in an hour. And there will always be twenty-four hours in a day. Time was not fluctuating. It moved on at the same, constant pace at every moment in your life. And that was the biggest load of crap that I'd ever been taught in school.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
No one’s ever cried for me before. No one’s asked me to stay before…no one. I convinced myself you cared for me.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
You wouldn't think sex could actally be a workout, but if done right...
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
You saved my life, just returning the favor
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I didn't think I'd ever be done kissing him
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Without the bitter the sweet aint as sweet
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
Honesty, while painful at times, was the best thing we could do for each other.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
It was nearly instant. I think I started falling for you, the moment you shook my hand.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
He was my home...and I missed him terribly.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Obviously, I lied, Kiera!" he yelled back. "If you haven't noticed, I do that! And what does it matter anyway? She wanted me, you didn't. What do you care if I-"
"Because you're mine!" I yelled back at him, quite unintentionally. Of course, he wasn't actually mine ....
The immediate silence after that was deafening. Kellan's face paled and then slowly got very, very angry. "No, no I'm not! THAT'S THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT!
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I thought you might want a ride." He practically purred the words.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
He nodded and leaned down to kiss me. I let him, Dad be damned.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
You should pick one, Kiera. Pick one, and release the other. You can’t keep them both. -Jenny
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
I didn't actally sleep naked. Not unless he was there to put me to bed that way.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
You’re not just a girl he’s seeing. You’re THE girl. You’re it for him. I see it in his eyes when he looks at you … He’s completely, madly, deeply in love with you, and he wants a lifetime with you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
Looking down at me, Kellan raised an eyebrow. “Did your dad buy you the squeakiest bed in the world on purpose?
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
You don't suck another person's sucker uninvited.
”
”
S.C. Stephens
“
Oh . . . wow . . . I don’t know what to say. I want to thank . . .” His voice broke and the tears in my eyes rolled down my cheeks. Bringing the back of his hand to his mouth, Kellan stopped talking. Shaking his head again, he slowly lowered his hand. “I’m sorry.” His voice warbled with barely contained emotion. “My wife just told me she’s pregnant.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Griffin? You . . . okay?”
His face still blank, he looked over at me. His pale eyes were wider than I’d ever seen. “That . . . was . . . the most . . . disgusting thing . . . I’ve ever seen.”
My fear vanished. She was okay. I patted his knee and his expression changed. Peace filled his face. “And the most incredible.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I never thought of myself as anything but plain and ordinary until you came along. The way you look at me, the way you see me . . . you pull something out of me. When I want to hide, you urge me forward. When I think I’m not good enough, you make me believe I am. When I feel anything but pretty, you convince me I’m beautiful. Just being around you makes me feel special. You don’t think you’re good at loving people, but you are. Your friends, your family . . . the level of love that you have for people astounds me. You don’t think people love you back, but they do. They fiercely love you. I fiercely love you. I’ve never met anyone as passionate as you, as kindhearted as you . . . as amazing as you. You love with every fiber of your soul. You inspire me every day. And if you’ll agree to be my husband, I’ll do my best to make you proud of me, to inspire you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I think in the end, you would have stayed with me, out of obligation...or maybe comfort. Maybe I was safe to you, and you needed to feel that. I know how scared you get of the unknown. To you...I must be kind of a security blanket.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Want to go to a wedding with me in Ohio?”
Rolling to my side, Kellan sat up on his elbow. “Anyone I know getting married?” he asked, amusement in his voice.
Smiling, I shrugged again. “Just some annoying wishy-washy girl that half the world hates.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
You have any…nicknames?”
Kellan gave me a charmingly crooked smile. “None that I’ve given myself, but from what I’ve heard said in the bedroom, it would probably be something like, ‘The Oh-God-yes-harder-faster-don’t-you-dare-stop-yes-fuck-me-now-you’re-freaking-amazing Machine.” He shrugged. “But that’s kind of a mouthful.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
Clearly angry with himself, Denny shook his head. “You needed me, and I wasn’t there for you. And I’m really sorry. That was pretty shitty of me.”
“Are you kidding?” Incredulous, Kellan pointed over at me. “I slept with your girlfriend…repeatedly.” I flinched, and Abby squeezed my hand a little tighter.
Denny frowned. “Well, that was pretty shitty of you.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
I hid this one in hopes that you would find it long after I'm gone. I hope you find this months from now, when I'm still out there, on the road, away from you. I can't imagine what the time apart has done to us. I'm hoping we're more in love than ever. I'm hoping that when I come back, you'll move in with me. In all honesty, I'm hoping that when I come back, you'll agree to marry me someday. Because that's what I want, what I dream about. You, mine, for the rest of my life. I hope you feel the same because I don't know what I would do without you. I love you so much. But, if for some reason we're not closer, if something has gotten between us, please, I'm begging you, don't give up on me. Stay. Stay with me. Work it out with me. Just don't leave me. Please.
”
”
S.C. Stephens
“
Do you still love me?” My breath stopped as I
waited for his answer. I hoped from his expression and his song that he
did, but I needed to hear him acknowledge it.
He sighed and looked over my face. Slowly, he nodded. “You would
never believe how much.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Our reconnection was intense and deeply emotional, like much of our relationship had been. He muttered things to me while we made love—how beautiful he thought I was, how much he’d missed me, how much he needed me, how empty he’d been, how much he loved me. I couldn’t even speak to tell him I felt the exact same way. I was too overcome by the emotion in his voice. Then he said something that tore me.
“Don’t leave…I don’t want to be alone.” He had actual tears in his eyes as he looked down on me. “I don’t want to be alone, anymore.” ~Kellan
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Thoughtless (Thoughtless, #1))
“
Grinning at me, Kellan leaned down to kiss my cheek. “Thanks,” he muttered in my ear as he stole my beer from my fingers.
I glared at him as I watched him tip it back. “Just so you know, I totally backwashed.”
Kellan paused mid-gulp, then shrugged. Smiling wide once he was finished, he husked, “That’s all right…I like your fluids.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
Kiera, will we need diapers? I’m grabbing diapers. We should bring diapers.”
Over my shoulder I yelled out, “Kellan! I’m sure the hospital will have some.” He didn’t respond to me, and I was sure the trunk of the Chevelle was going to be loaded with enough diapers to cover the bottoms of half the children in Seattle.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
We’d learned to open up to each other, to trust each other, to face the world together. I firmly believed now that there was nothing we couldn’t tackle together. No hurdle, no obstacle, no setback was so large that it would break us apart, and there was comfort and confidence in that knowledge.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
You are told from the moment you enter school that time is constant. It never changes. It is one of those set things in life that you can always rely on...much like death and taxes. There will always be sixty seconds in a minute. There will always be sixty minutes in an hour. And there will always be twenty-four hours in a day.
Time was not fluctuating. It moved on at the same, constant pace at every moment in your life.
And that was the biggest load of crap that I’d ever been taught in school.
Truth was, time did fluctuate. It was easy to lose hours or even days in a blink of an eye. Other times, it was a struggle to get through a mere hour. It ebbed and flowed as relentlessly as the
tides, and just as powerfully too. The moments that you wanted to last forever were the ones that were washed away all too soon. The moments that you wanted to speed up, were slowed down to a snail’s pace.
That was the truth of the matter.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Effortless (Thoughtless, #2))
“
I love you too, and I don’t want anybody else either." Cupping his cheek, she added, "You’re enough for me."
That seemed to make sense to Griffin, and he finally smiled like he was happy.
"You’re enough for me too."
Grabbing his hand, Anna started backing toward her room. "Good, then come be enough for me right now. I’m horny as hell."
Griffin rushed up to her, grabbing her backside. "God, me too," he murmured
before their mouths met.
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))
“
After Kellan begged me for a final kiss, Griffin murmured, “Your wedding day is Thanksgiving. That’s convenient.” He pointed at Kellan. “You probably won’t forget your anniversary.” He looked over at Anna. “We shoulda done that. I already forgot ours.”
Anna smirked at Griffin while Kellan’s lip twitched. “Uh, it won’t always be on Thanksgiving, Griff.”
He looked horribly confused. “Huh? Yeah, it will.”
“Kellan bit his lip. I could tell he was trying really hard not to laugh, since laughing hurt. “Thanksgiving isn’t on the same day every year. It moves around.”
Griffin glared at Kellan. “Don’t even try fucking with me, Kell.” He tapped his finger to his head. “I’m on to you.”
I heard Matt and Evan snigger with Justin and Denny. My dad stared at the ceiling as he shook his head. I couldn’t contain my giggle; poor Kellan had to take long, slow exhales so he didn’t laugh with everyone else. “Griff, I’m not . . .
”
”
S.C. Stephens (Reckless (Thoughtless, #3))