"Six," Noah said. "I'm not playing."
Kell made a face. "You're never any fun, Hart."
My brother smirked and ran a hand up Jen's thigh. She squeaked. "I get up to more fun than you can imagine, Pierce."
A sly grin crossed the blond's face. "Join the game and we'll see."
"Let's get started," Jen interrupted before Noah could retort, or feel her up any further.
Emily pulled a pen from her purse and put it in the middle of the table before spinning it. The tip landed on Jen.
"Looks like Jen goes first," she said. "We'll go clockwise from her."
Jen played with the shot glass in her hand, looking thoughtful. She nodded to herself and spoke with a satisfied expression.
"Never have I ever had sex in the backseat of a car."
Kell, Emily, and August all took drinks.
Cameron looked to Noah in surprise. "You and Jen never…?"
"Long legs," Noah grunted.
"Where there's a will, there's a way." Cameron grinned.
I shifted uncomfortably, not liking to think about either my brother or Cameron's sex lives.
Kell jumped in, although he was sitting almost across from Jen.
"Never have I ever had sex in the backseat of a police car." He grinned and knocked back a shot.
Emily elbowed him, her face red. "Wait your turn." She took her own flustered sip.
I frowned. "Can you drink on your own turn?"
"When you're Kell, it's practically the point of the game," Cameron said.
"And are all the questions supposed to be about sex?"
"They don't have to be," Kell replied with a mad grin. "But where's the fun in that?"
"It's your turn August," Jen said.
"Never have I ever been a complete dickface and stolen another artist's album concept."
August's voice was cool and deadpan, but his laser stare was enough to burn a hole straight through Kell's chest.
The blond threw his hands up in surrender.
"Blame Jayce. He's the one who wanted to go all artsy and meaningful and shit. I would have been perfectly happy singing about biting the heads off bats for another album or two."
"Is that really what you sing about?" I asked.
"No." Cameron smirked. "This guy likes to think he's a hardcore metalhead, but deep down inside he's just some soft-core indie hipster."
Kell squawked. "I object to that statement!"
"I've heard your solo work." August looked his nose down at Kell. "Acoustic indie shit."
"Only some of it," he complained.
"Oh no," Emily groaned. "Are we getting into the who's-more-hard-rock argument again?"
I spoke up. "From what I've heard, both bands sound kind of the same."
The entire table went silent for a moment, before chaos broke out.
"You take that back!" Kell pointed an accusing finger at me.
"My work is leagues beyond what this one is capable of." August tried to sound unruffled, but I could see his eyebrow twitching.
"We're never going to hear the end of this," Jen moaned.
"It's Lily's turn!" Cameron declared loudly. He pounded his glass on the table, shaking it. "Shut up and let her go."
The grumbling quieted down, although Kell still had a disgruntled look on his face.
I thought quickly, trying to come up with something fast while their attention was diverted.
"Never have I ever marathoned The Hunger Games trilogy in one sitting," I said.
It was a guess, but it paid off.
"Technically there's four movies, if you want to be accurate." Cameron gave me a wink as he took a drink. He was the only one to do so. "My turn." He rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Never have I ever gone swimming in my underwear."
The entire table moaned, myself included, as we drank.
"You live in that house," Jen pointed out. "Of course you're always going to have a swimsuit ready."
Cameron arched a brow. "The point of the game is to make the others drink. I'm just following the rules."
"When did you swim in your underwear?" Noah asked me, his expression dangerous.
I fought back a wince. "Um. It was a really hot day and I hadn't gone shopping yet and I wanted a dip. It wasn't like I did it at a party or anything. I was alone."
I flickered my gaze to Cameron nervously. I'd been alone, except for him.
Noah's frown eased somewhat.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I caught Jen staring at me.
"It's Emily's turn," I said hurriedly.
"Never have I ever been tied up during sex." Emily said matter of factly.
I flinched.
"What! You're kidding me." Cameron looked to Kell with an exaggerated expression of shock. He didn't seem to realize the predicament I was in.
Kell shrugged. "Some of us are into the bondage thing, some of us aren't."
Cameron clapped him on the shoulder. "Kell, my man, you are missing out."
I sat frozen in my seat, eyes wide and locked on Cameron.
I was supposed to drink.
I sure as hell wasn't going to drink in front of my brother.
Jen was still staring at me. She followed my gaze to Cameron. She looked back to me, taking in my terrified expression.
A look of realization dawned on her face. She could tell, couldn't she?
She knew I'd been caught off guard.
Oh god.
I was in a world of trouble.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Cameron and Kell were debating the various merits of bondage when Jen interrupted, telling them it was her turn.
She was still eyeing me, giving me that considering look. She didn't say anything, except to take her next turn.
"Never have I ever signed a girl's boobs after a concert."
All three guys took a shot.
"No fair ganging up on the rock stars," Kell complained. "Of course we've all done the same things."
August spoke up for his turn. As far as I could recall, he'd only had three shots, but his eyes were already beginning to glaze over.
"Never have I ever whined about the unfairness of playing by the rules for a game of Never Have I Ever."
Kell made a face at the drummer and took another shot. "You still trying to get me drunk, Summers? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were planning on taking advantage of me."
"No one gets to take advantage of you but me." Emily ran a hand up and down Kell's chest and kissed him on the cheek. Kell tilted his chin up smugly.
It was my turn again. I decided to use Jen's strategy.
"Never have I ever taken my shirt off on stage."
"Picking on us rock stars is too easy," Cameron said. "We should have planned this better." A wicked smirk crossed his face. "Never have I ever had sex with a dude."
I inhaled a sharp breath. I could feel the blood draining from my face. My heartbeat raced.
What the hell did Cameron think he was doing? Was he trying to get me into trouble? Even if I lied and didn't drink, surely everyone would notice my reactions.
"Does it count if it's a threesome where the swords don't cross?" Kell asked with a grin.
"If it means you have to take a drink, then yes," Cameron said matter-of-factly.
Kell downed his shot with a wink at Emily. She flushed and took a drink.
As Jen took her own drink, she side-eyed me.
I stood abruptly, scraping my chair against the floor with a screech. "I need to use the restroom."
With quick steps, I hurried to leave the table. I avoided everyone's eyes, hoping to god no one thought anything of my fast getaway.
The restroom was a single stall. I stared at my flushed cheeks in the mirror, grateful for the privacy.
I hadn't taken a shot, I reminded myself. I'd been able to escape before they were any the wiser.
The swirling ball of panic in my gut began to subside.
It was replaced with a kind of disbelief.
; Was Cameron crazy? Why in the world had he brought up having sex, of all things, when it was his turn?
I supposed it made sense, considering everyone else seemed to rely heavily on the subject. Still. He should have thought it through.
I also probably should have realized what a game of Never Have I Ever would entail, especially when it was being played by rock stars.
I splashed cold water on my face to cool my flushed cheeks. I would go back to the table and bow out. I would just make some excuse.
As I left the washroom, a shadow loomed over me. I jumped, heart in my throat.
"Shit, sorry."
Cameron came into the light. I let out a lungful of air.
"I keep on forgetting," he said, chagrinned. "I shouldn't sneak up on you."
"Forget about scaring me." I felt my brow furrow in a fit of pique. I fought to smooth it. I wasn't angry at Cameron. Not really. I just wished he'd think before he spoke. "Why did you say that thing about sleeping with guys?"
He looked confused. "What?"
"You really wanted me to confess to my brother that I've had sex?" I whispered harshly.
He still looked befuddled. "Does he think you haven't?"
"I'm sure the thought has never crossed his mind. And I don't want it to."
"Is that why you ran off?"
"I certainly wasn't going to announce it to the table."
Cameron gave me a sly smile. "Noah's going to find out eventually. Why not at party full of witnesses so he can't murder me?"
"You were so scared about him finding out you flirted with me. Now you want to announce it to the room?"
"I told you. I didn't want Noah to think I was just playing with you. But I'm not playing. This is for real. We can't keep our relationship a secret forever."
"No, but—"
But I wasn't ready for Noah to know about us. Not yet. Not until I figured out a way to tell him that wouldn't make him freak out.
"I need more time," I said weakly.
Cameron stared at me. He nodded curtly. "Right. I get it." He pushed his bangs out of his face, revealing both deep blue eyes. The downcast look in them made my chest ache.
"I just don't want Noah flipping out. I need to figure out a way to ease him into the idea of his baby sister dating, especially since…" I trailed off.
Cameron's mouth twisted. "Especially since it's someone like me, you mean?"
"That's not what I meant."
"You know, I really thought—" he cut himself off with a dark, rueful laugh. "Never mind. I don't know why I expected things to be any different."
"I know what you're thinking," I said. "It's not like I'm ashamed of you, or that I want to keep this a secret. It's not like with your parents."
"Of course. I know that." Cameron avoided my eyes. "You don't have to play the game anymore. I'll tell the others you weren't feeling well. Blame it on the alcohol."
"I'll tell him," I promised. Standing on my tiptoes to bring us face to face, I laid a hand on his chest. "Just… not yet. Okay?"
Cameron stared at me intently, examining me. He nodded once. "Okay." The beginnings of a sly grin crossed his face. "If I'm not allowed to molest you in public yet, we better head home soon." He slid his hands from my shoulders, to the small of my back, and then lower. He cupped both cheeks. "Your ass looks amazing in that dress."
"Quit it." I batted his hand away, glancing around nervously. We were in an empty hallway, with only two doors leading to the restrooms. Still, someone could wander in at any time. "We need to at least stick around for a few more hours. I can't leave my own party too early."
He leaned in and placed his lips next to my ear. "Not even if I promise to lick your cunt until you're screaming?"
I flushed. "You've already done that."
"Don't tell me it's not worth a second go around."
Heat pooled between my legs. I honestly debated for a moment how suspicious it would look if Cameron and I disappeared together.
"Just another hour or two," I said. "Then we can leave."
Cameron faked a considering pose. "I suppose I can live with that." He gave my ass one last pat before stepping away. "I better go make sure August hasn't hit the floor yet. Poor bastard really can't hold his drink."
I waited until Cameron had sauntered off, then counted to one hundred. I didn't need for people to see the two of us leaving the restroom area together.
But Cameron was right.
Sooner or later, Noah was going to find out.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I spent another hour and a half mingling, drinking, and eating. The people Jen and Noah introduced me to were more than nice, but there were too many to keep track of. They ended up turning into a whirlwind of names and faces. Jen's friend Natalie was memorable because she tended to speak as if words were at a premium and she had to use every syllable as fast as possible.
"I'll arrange some lunch dates with only a few people at a time," Jen promised me. "It'll be easier to get to know everyone in smaller groups."
I thanked her, feeling relieved. It was a bit overwhelming, partying with so many people who seemed to already know everything about me, when I knew so little about them.
Cameron kept his distance. He seemed to be having a good time hanging out with his friends, though. He actually seemed happy around these people, in a more genuine way than I'd ever seen at his parties. With this crowd, he seemed at ease in a way he never did with the hangers-on he surrounded himself with at his house parties.
Although he was busy having fun, laughing and drinking and telling jokes, it didn't keep him from throwing quick, wicked smirks my way. The heat in his eyes was enough to make me flush. When he looked me up and down, lingering on my legs and chest, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
And I couldn't help but think the same things.
We were only five minutes away from the two hour mark when Cameron came up to me, interrupting a conversation I'd been having with a girl named Cerise. It turned out she was a rock star too, the lead singer in her own band Cherry Lips. Between her name and the dyed, dark cherry red hair cascading down her back, she really had a theme going.
"Just the woman I was looking for." Cameron grinned as he slung an arm around my shoulders.
I stiffened at first, then relaxed. It wasn't too intimate a touch. In fact, it was the exact same gesture I'd seen Cameron give my brother a handful of times. Cameron really was the handsy type.
"Hope I'm not interrupting you two lovely ladies?" Cameron asked.
"Would you care if you were?" Cerise retorted.
"Nope," Cameron said cheerfully.
"I was just asking Cerise what it's like being a girl in the rock music industry," I said.
"You thinking of starting up your own riot girl band?" Cameron teased, poking me in the cheek.
I swatted his hand away, brows furrowing. "I'm afraid Noah got all the musical talent in the family."
"You'd make a bad ass rocker chick," Cerise noted with a smile. "Your pissed off, don't-fuck-with-me look is on point."
"It's that patented Hart scowl," Cameron said with a laugh. "I can't get enough of it."
I fought to smooth my displeased expression. Noah was grumpy enough for the both of us. I didn't need to add to it.
"It's about that time for me to get going," Cameron told us. He tilted his head toward me, giving me a secret smile. "I'm calling a taxi to take me back to the mansion. You want to hitch a ride?"
"You live together?" Cerise asked, her interest piqued.
"It's like a roommate thing," I hurried to explain. "Just until school starts and I move into the dorms." I let out a nervous laugh. "Noah wanted me to live with him, but after walking in on him and Jen having sex one too many times, I decided I needed my own space."
"A billion square foot mansion certainly counts as space," Cerise agreed.
"I am getting a bit tired," I lied. "I think I'll head home with you."
Cameron kept his arm around me as I wen
t about the room saying my goodbyes. It made me slightly nervous, to be touching each other so publicly, but I tried to reason with myself. Cameron acted like this with everyone.
I spotted Noah and Jen as we made our way to the exit. Noah turned his head to us. Instinctively, I ducked out from Cameron's arm.
I saw Cameron's lips twitch downward out of the corner of my eyes, but I didn't have time to say anything. Noah and Jen were already approaching.
"You leaving now?" Noah asked. "Are you feeling okay? Had too much to drink?"
"No, I'm fine. Cameron's heading home so I figured we could share the taxi."
Jen stared at me. No, she was staring at both me and Cameron, flicking her eyes between the two of us.
I knew she was already suspicious. We had to get out of there before Cameron forgot himself and did or said something to confirm those suspicions.
"Thank you for throwing the party," I said. "It was awesome meeting your friends, they're really great. Hopefully we can all get together again soon."
Jen nodded slowly. "Everyone loves you," she told me. Her eyes were fixed on Cameron.
I quickly moved to give Noah a hug goodbye.
"You make sure Lily gets home okay," Noah told Cameron over my shoulder. "No crazy detours."
Cameron smirked. "Don't worry, I'll keep her safe. It won't be like last time I took a taxi home."
I eyed the two of them. "Do I even want to know what happened last time?"
"No," they both said at the same time.
Cameron and I left the party and got into the waiting vehicle. The moment the doors were closed he pulled me into his lap.
"It was torture, watching you in that tight little dress all evening and knowing I couldn't touch you." Cameron placed a sucking kiss on my collarbone. "I might just have to keep you up all night before I'm satisfied."
He ran his hands up and down my exposed thighs. Tingles began to form between my legs.
"We're in a taxi," I scolded him, but my words came out breathless.
His thumbs brushed the soft inner skin. "You sure you want to wait until we get home?"
I seriously considered it for a moment.
I pushed away from him, taking my own seat. "It won't take long to get there."
Hard Rock Sin: A Rock Star Romance Page 16
