"Cameron sucks at directions," was all August said.
I waited for her to say something about my messy hair — it was thoroughly disheveled thanks to August — but she didn't.
"I forgot to say earlier, it's good to see you looking so well," Hope told August. "You should take better care of yourself. Don't work yourself into exhaustion."
So Ian had lied to Hope about what really happened. I supposed it was for August's sake. He wouldn't want the truth getting around.
"The guys have been keeping a close eye on me," August replied wryly. "Making sure I don't overdo it."
"I hope they aren't giving you too much trouble."
"No more than usual."
This whole time Ian had been studiously avoiding my gaze, paying attention to Hope and August only. I supposed he really was still upset with me.
Hope took notice, glancing between me and her boyfriend, a frown on her face as she sensed the tension between us.
Before she could comment, Damon appeared at her side.
"I'm getting myself another drink," he said. "Anyone want anything? Cassie? Hope?"
Ian and Hope both look startled, no doubt because he'd included Hope in the offer without a grimace.
"Maybe another rum and Coke?" Hope gave him an almost relieved smile.
"I'll come get a drink with you," I told Damon. "August, what can I get you?"
He removed his arm from around my waist reluctantly. "A beer is fine."
"Aren't you sick of us carrying your drunk ass home?" Damon smirked and nodded to August. "This guy's a total lightweight. Gets pissed after two beers."
"Like you can talk," August retorted. "How many times have you puked your guts out in the cab ride home?"
"Too many to count," Damon said with a cheeky grin.
I followed Damon to the busy first floor bar. As we waited for the bartender to notice us, I stared at Damon, a small smile playing on my lips.
"What?" He leaned against the bar casually. "You're staring."
"I think Hope and Ian are really happy with what you're doing."
"Getting her a drink?"
"Being nice."
"Yeah, well…" His shoulders slumped. "I guess I've been thinking about what you said. I don't want to make my brother feel like he has to choose. That was a dick move on my part."
"I'm sure Ian understands why you were jealous. But he seems to really appreciate it."
"And I really appreciate what you're doing for August."
A wave of panic hit me. Did Damon know?
"The rest of us guys are so used to being the ones to follow August. He's always been the leader. It's good for him to have someone who can call him on his shit."
"I don't know how well I'm doing with that last part. But I want to help him."
"I still can't believe none of us noticed." Damon ran his hand over his face. "We've all been so caught up in our own shit."
"I didn't figure it out until the end, either."
"I'm glad you're here. And even though you told everyone his secret, I know August is glad, too."
The bartender took Damon's drink order, preventing me from having to respond. He turned back, expression worried, somber.
"Do you really think it's going to be this easy?" he asked. "August said he only took stuff once in a while. It's not like he's going through withdrawal, right? Maybe everything really will be okay."
Damon looked torn between hope and doubt. I was sure the expression was reflected on my own face.
When Damon and I returned to the lounge with drinks in hand, one of the members of the opening band, Cherry Lips, had descended upon August.
"Wouldn't it be freaking awesome, though?" he asked.
I recognized him as Seth, the drummer. The guys all called him kid, but he probably wasn't any younger than them.
"What would be awesome?" Damon asked.
"A drum-off!" Seth declared. "Me and August, man against man, may the best person win, et cetera."
"Sure," August said. "I'm in."
"You sure you're up to this?" Ian asked. "You're supposed to be taking it easy."
"I'll be fine. We'll just replace one of our encores with the drum-off. I won't be playing for any longer than normal."
Ian and Damon exchanged worried glances. I knew they wanted to talk August out of it, but it would be a waste of breath. August had been challenged. He was too stubborn to back down.
We all sipped on our drinks as August and Seth hashed out the details. Hope and I chatted. She wanted to know more about my photography. I wanted to know more about her job working at Darkest Days' record label.
That was how she'd met Ian. She was one of the only people who could tell the twins apart, back when they were still pretending to be each other.
"I fell for her immediately," Ian said, a soft smile on his face.
"Of course, it wasn't that easy," Hope laughed.
I snuck a glance at August.
"It never is."
Cameron jumped behind Ian and Hope, throwing his arms around their shoulders and popping his face in between theirs.
"Who's up for a game of Strip Go Fish?" he grinned madly.
I blinked.
"Strip… Go Fish?"
Ian groaned.
"Don't even ask. Cam's a pervert with the maturity of a five year old."
August stood and reached a hand out to me.
"Cassie and I were just about to hit the dance floor."
"We were?" I asked, surprised, but I took his hand anyway.
With his arm firmly back around my waist, I let him lead me down the stairs to the first floor.
"I don't really want to dance," he said as we wove through the crowd. "I just wasn't in the mood for Cameron's games." He eyed me, lingering on my chest and legs. "The only one who gets to take that dress off is me."
"Are you jealous?" I teased.
"Maybe." His eyes glinted.
Too much jealousy could be a red flag, but the thought that August wanted to keep me for himself sent a wave of giddiness through me. I couldn't suppress my wide smile.
"So if we're not going to dance, where are we going?"
"I saw private booths at the back."
August was right, there were several circular booths beside the bar. They were already taken. August approached one couple. I couldn't hear what he said, but a few words and a discrete exchange of dollar bills had them vacating it in a hurry, leaving their drink glasses behind.
August gestured for me to slide in first.
"You didn't have to do that," I said. "We could have just taken a normal table."
"I like privacy," was all he said.
Although the table could have fit six or eight people easily, August pressed himself right next to me. He placed one hand on my bare thigh. My stomach clenched at the feel of those calloused fingers against my soft skin.
His thumb stroked my inner thigh, back and forth slowly, teasing.
"Is this why you wanted privacy?" I murmured quietly. "So you could feel me up?"
He leaned into me. I shivered as his lips brushed my ear, curving into a smile.
"Is that immediately where your mind went?"
"You're the one with his hand on my leg."
"Do you object?"
My breath hitched as his thumb stroked higher, sneaking under the hemline of my dress.
"No."
I glanced around, but no one was looking our way. His hand was hidden by the high table.
He pressed one thumb against my clit. I gasped.
"I wanted to thank you," he said.
"And thanking me involves fingering me in public?" I said, near breathless.
He chuckled.
"I wanted to thank you for sticking by me. I know I can be stubborn. Intense. Demanding."
"That's not all you are."
"No? What else am I?"
One finger traced a line between the valley of my thighs. I groaned.
"You're thoughtful."
"You're patient with me."
He pressed a kiss behind my ear, along my jawline.
"Even when you're being pushy, you make sure I'm comfortable with everything we do."
With a deft motion, he slipped underneath my panties. His fingertip teased between my lower lips. I shivered, clenching down around nothing, feeling empty.
"I never want you to feel rushed into anything," he said.
"I don't."
Slowly, inch by inch, his finger slipped into me, my wetness allowing him to glide in easily. I tensed and melted at the same time, falling against the back of the booth while my thighs and belly tightened.
Loud, familiar laughter sounded a few feet away. Cameron's voice at the bar. I froze. August kept his finger inside me, pushing in and out slowly.
"He won't see us," August said, confident and reassuring.
"What if he does?" My voice was unsteady, both from the pleasure spiking through me and nerves at being caught.
"Would that be a bad thing?"
"When we tell the guys, it's not going to be like this!" I said shakily.
"Do you want me to tell them?"
My insides quivered around his fingers.
"I'll do it right now if you want," he continued. "I'll tell the entire world about us."
"No," I breathed. "Don't."
He pulled his fingers out, circling and teasing again, before pushing back in. I inhaled a quick gasp of air. I fought to continue speaking.
"I like having something… that's just between us. Besides… I don't want to deal with Cameron teasing the hell out of me."
"I figured."
He pushed in even deeper, his whole hand between my legs. I moaned.
"You always know what I'm feeling," I said, my voice weak.
"It's not hard to tell. You're easy to read. Like right now. I know exactly what you want."
He slipped a second finger inside. I let out a choked sound, closing my eyes as my head thudded back against the booth.
"Was I right?" he asked, wickedly amused.
I groaned quietly.
"And what about this?" he said.
He scissored his fingers, spreading me, widening me. My eyes flew open with a gasp as he twisted his wrist. My insides felt like they were on fire, burning up in the most pleasurable of ways. It sent my head spinning.
"Are you close?"
His thumb just barely brushed my clit. I nodded desperately, wordlessly.
"Good."
He moved his thumb away. I whined, disappointed and needy. He continued pumping in and out of me, faster and faster. My breathing was rapid, taking in quick gasps of air. I thought I would pass out, the pleasure was becoming too much.
"Come for me," he demanded.
He pressed a thumb against my clit. I exploded, biting my lip to swallow down a shriek. My entire body shook, my thighs squeezing his wrist so tight it must have hurt. He worked me through it, never ceasing his torturous onslaught, his fingers still moving inside me.
Finally, I came back to my senses. I slumped against the booth, breathing heavily. He slowly removed his fingers, a rough drag against my insides, sending a few last aftershocks shuddering through me.
He tugged my dress back into place. I pressed my hands flat onto the surface of the table, catching my breath.
"I meant what I said," he told me.
I looked to him, questioning, still unable to speak. He tilted my head up with gentle fingers and placed a quick kiss on my lips. His eyes stared into mine, clear and bright.
"I never want you to feel rushed into anything." he said softly.
My heart clenched in my chest at his sweet words.
"I don't," I said honestly, breathlessly. "I feel comfortable with you. Things feel right."
As soon as I said the words, I knew they were true.
Nothing in my life had ever felt as right as being with August.
I just hoped he felt the same.
Chapter Twenty-One
When my legs were steady enough for me to walk, we grabbed a couple drinks from the bar and headed back to the lounge.
"Cover your eyes," August said. "Depending how Cameron's game is going, you may end up seeing more of the guys than you care to."
But it looked like the game of Strip Go Fish was over, and they were onto another game. Cameron waved August over with a flailing arm.
"Check out this game Seth taught us," he called out.
A group of them sat in a circle with shot glasses in front of each of them.
"You ever heard of Poker Face?" Seth asked us.
"Like the song?" I said.
"It's a drinking game. We each take turns saying outrageous things and anyone who reacts has to take a shot."
"Sounds like a good way to get completely trashed," I said.
"Exactly." Seth mimed shooting his finger at me. "You in?"
"Of course they're in," Cameron said, not giving us a choice. "Sit your asses down and grab a shot glass."
"Are you sure it's okay to drink?" I asked August. "I normally wouldn't worry if it's one or two beers, but with what happened and all…" I trailed off, not wanting to mention his overdose in front of everyone else.
Concern lined Damon's face. "That's true. Maybe you should sit this one out."
August quirked a smile. "Alcohol's not the problem," he said discreetly.
"I suppose that's true," Damon said.
August was stubborn, but he was also right. Alcohol wasn't his problem. Damon and I still shared a concerned glance. We'd always worry about him, even when he didn't want us to.
One other member of Cherry Lips sat around the table along with Seth. Cerise, the female lead singer, was a little intimidating. She had the bad ass rocker chick look down to a T. With dark, cherry red hair, a leather pleated skirt, and combat boots, she looked like she could go head to head with any of the guys here.
But when she spoke, she was surprisingly friendly.
"You're the photographer, right?" she asked. "I saw you've also been taking some photos of my band, too. I really appreciate that. We're trying to get our name out there."
"You're opening for Darkest Days," Cameron said. "Can't get more noticeable than that."
"This time next year, we're gonna be the headliners, and you'll be the opening act," she said confidently.
"Those are pretty big words," Cameron replied. "You ready to back them up?"
"You just watch. Seth's going to demolish August on that stage."
"You have no idea what you're in for," Cameron chuckled.
Once we had our shot glasses and bottles of spirits arranged in front of us, the game began. Seth went first.
"I'm so sure I'm going to win that drum-off, I bet Nathan one thousand dollars on it."
August tried to choke back a derisive snort, but we all heard it.
"Drink," Seth grinned at him.
"You're not really betting on winning are you?"
"Sure am."
"Hope you've got the money to spare."
Seth smirked and nodded to Cameron. "Your turn."
With no hesitation, Cameron spoke up.
"I'm going to ask Lily to marry me," he said.
Noah's face nearly turned purple with the effort it took to keep from blowing up, but his eyebrows didn't so much as twitch.
"Damn, I really thought that would get you," Cameron said mournfully.
"Are you really asking Lily to marry you?" Ian asked.
Cameron's eyes turned soft, wistful. "It's not like I've picked out a ring yet, but yeah, we've talked about it. We'll probably wait until she's done with school, though." Cameron turned to his lead singer and poked his cheek. "You're gonna explode if you keep it in any longer."
Noah swatted his finger away, keeping his face blank.
Next was Hope's turn. "I'm pregnant."
Damon and Ian's jaws both dropped at the same time, eyes wide. While
Damon looked dismayed, Ian's expression was mostly full of terror.
"Kidding," Hope added.
"Shit." Damon cursed. "Fucking scared me for a minute."
The terror slowly faded from Ian's face. Oddly, I could sense a hint of disappointment in his green eyes.
Hope sensed it too. She snuggled into his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. She whispered something in his ear. He stared at her before nodding silently, hugging her tight. She beamed.
"Great," Damon muttered. "I'm going to be an uncle in nine months, just watch." He tossed back his shot and went next. "Me and Ian switched places when we signed our record label contract. Technically, since we forged our signatures, the contract is invalid."
August's mouth popped open, ready to lecture. He narrowed his eyes. "Not funny."
"I'm not joking," Damon said with a wicked smirk.
August muttered under his breath as he took his second shot. "Idiots."
"Your turn, Cassie," Seth said.
I had been thinking hard this whole time, trying to come up with something. I didn't know much about the people at this table. Not enough to be able to get under their skin. I supposed I'd have to shock them.
I screwed up my face in disgust and flinched back, pointing to a bottle of pure white rum. "Is that a dead mouse?"
Everyone automatically turned their heads, following my finger.
"Ha," I said triumphantly. "Got you all."
They groaned.
"Take your shots," I said gleefully.
The game continued. By August's seventh shot, I thought he'd be hurting, but he was still going strong.
"I thought you said he was a lightweight," I whispered to Damon.
He was staring at August, worried lines between his brows. "He usually is."
"Maybe he's cheating and not really drinking," I suggested.
"Maybe." Damon continued to watch August carefully.
The game came to an end when half the players were slumped over and mumbling incoherently in their drunkenness.
"Who won?" Cameron slurred.
"No one," Seth moaned. "We all lost. We're gonna be dead hungover tomorrow."
"I'm feeling fine," I said.
Although these people were strangers to me, I was a stranger to them as well. They couldn't personally target me, so I got away with only a handful of shots.
Those of us who were still able to walk under our own power had to help the less fortunate into waiting taxis. I helped Cerise, as she was the only one near my weight that I could help carry.
Hard Rock Deceit: A Rock Star Romance Page 13
