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“I know Iris. And I did meet your mother.” Far too briefly and just remembering how we met is still embarrassing.

“That’s right.” He kisses me again. “I want you to get closer to my mother and sister. And the monster baby and my father. He’s the biggest monster out of all of us, but I know he’ll love you.”

I am flat-out terrified at him calling his father a monster. “What if he doesn’t like me?”

August kisses me again, his tongue darting out for the lightest lick. Right at the center of my mouth. “If he doesn’t like you, then fuck him. That’s what he said about his mother. He’ll understand.”

I very much doubt that but I don’t bother arguing with him. “Okay.”

He pulls away slightly so he can stare into my eyes and when our gazes meet, his is filled with so much happiness my heart threatens to burst out of my chest. “You’ll come home with me?”

I nod, surprised at how enthused he sounds. August isn’t enthused with much of anything unless it involves the two of us naked and wrapped around each other like connected pretzels. “Yes. It’ll be—fun.”

“It will be.” He kisses me yet again. “You’ve told your parents about me, right?”

I freeze and he senses it, leaning back to look into my eyes yet again. “Um…”

“Sin.” His voice is firm and I keep my head bent, ashamed. “Tell them about me.”

“I told my mom. Sort of.” And that feels like a long time ago. She kept harassing me after I did mention August’s name, constantly asking if things had become serious between us, but I either ignored her texts or avoided her questions. Eventually she stopped asking and I haven’t brought him up since.

“What about your dad?”

I shake my head, fighting the humiliation that wants to spill all over me. Once my father finds out I’m dating a Lancaster,he’ll become insufferable. For all I know, he could drive August away completely.

I don’t want to risk it.

“We should invite them to dinner.”

I jerk my gaze up to his. “What? No. No way. That sounds like a nightmare.”

“We have to get this moment over with eventually, don’t you think? Our families coming together and getting to know one another.”

“Your parents don’t want to know mine. They aren’t the same kind of people,” I protest, but August is shaking his head.

“You don’t know that. They might get along great.”

Oh look at the always negative August, being upbeat and positive about something once in his life—and I cannot get on board. “My father will be like a bull in a China shop. He’ll say something embarrassing, or worse, he’ll try and show off and end up sounding like a complete jackass.”

“My father is a jackass too. They’ll probably get along perfectly.” His mouth is on mine before I can protest, his tongue doing a thorough sweep that has me losing all cohesive thought. “It’s happening, Sin. Whether you like it or not, we need everyone to meet.”

“Why?” I sound near hysterics and I swallow down my fear. Take a deep breath and remind myself that nothing can go wrong as long as I have August by my side. Right?

“Because I have serious intentions when it comes to you. Us.” He drags his mouth across my cheek, settling right at my ear so he can whisper, “I think about making you my wife.”

“What?” My voice is a thin whisper, and I’m not even sure he heard me.

“We make a great team, you and me. Can’t you envision it? I can.”

My heart sinks. A great team. Well-matched. I don’t hear anything about love or affection or any of that sort of thing.He’s not what I would call a romantic—unless eating my ass is romantic then yes. He’s an incurable romantic in that sense.

I wonder if I’m fooling myself. Getting caught up in the fantasy of it all. Being with August on campus is one thing. He’s pretty low-key and doesn’t necessarily flaunt his wealth and privilege.

Being with him outside of school is different. He’s powerful. His name alone opens doors for him that are permanently closed for most other people. As his girlfriend—and even potential wife—that would send me into a completely different stratosphere than I’ve ever been involved with before in my life. I am woefully unprepared for anything that might come my way.

Plus, him not saying he’s falling in love with me or that he cares about me is telling. August likes me, I don’t doubt that. Obsessed with me? Yes, I can even agree to that. But is he in love with me or is this a proper business merger to him?

I’m not sure.