Page 100 of Hard Rock Deceit

"I don't want to push you awayanymore."

I opened my arms. August crossed the room, coming to stand between my legs. I wrapped my arms around his waist. He wrapped his own around my shoulders, resting his cheek against the top ofmyhead.

"August…" I saidhesitantly.

I didn't want to say this, didn't want to admit it out loud, but it had been weighing on me. And not just for the last two weeks, but for years. I needed to finally tell someone what I wasfeeling.

"Although what you said hurt me, you were right. I lied to those guys. I tried so hard to pretend I felt something. They were always blind-sided when I finally couldn't pretend anymore and called things off. They never had any idea how I'd truly felt. I lied to them. Every day, every minute we were together, I pretended to feel something Ididn't."

He ran a hand through my hair in soothing strokes, caressing the back of my neck and between my shoulderblades.

"You can't feel guilty about that. You were trying. You didn't lead them on maliciously. That was never your intention. You just wanted to feel normal. You just wanted to have a normalrelationship."

I laid my head on his torso, his skin warm beneath mycheek.

"You always know what's going on inside my head. I never had to learn to open up to you, because you already knew what I was feeling. I couldn't lie to you. I couldn't lie to myself. And…" I thought hard, making a connection that had never occurred to me before. "…I suppose that's why I hate being asked aboutmyart."

He tilted hishead. "Hm?"

"I always kept my true self hidden. I never let people know what I was really thinking, feeling. I expressed myself through my art. That was enough. I didn't want to give people any more of myself than I already had. I didn't want to let anyone in. But somehow you wormed your way inside me. And now, I think I'm okay with it. It's okay if people want to know what's going on inside my head. I don't have to lie and hide and pretendanymore."

He squeezed me tight. I peeked upathim.

"There's something I need to tell you," I said. "I don't want you to just figure it out. I want to be the one to say itoutloud."

I steeled myself, gathering my courage. My fingers went cold with nerves. I took in a shakybreath.

"Iloveyou."

His gaze softened. He pulled me to my feet. With both of my hands in his, he pressed soft kisses to my knuckles, just like he did that night ontheroof.

"And I love you," he whispered againstmyskin.

My heart sang in my chest. I'd hoped, but I hadn't known for sure whether August returned my feelings. I just knew I had to tell him before he used his psychic powers and figured it out before I got the chance totellhim.

August's lips twitched, a small rueful smile appearing at thecorners.

"And I promise I willneveruse my psychic powers against you, to hurt you, everagain."

We shared alaugh.

As I stared into his eyes, I felt the shift of his muscles under my fingertips. I brought my hands from around his waist and placed them on his chest. Digging my nails lightly into his skin, I trailed a line from his pecs, down his toned abs. I could see his cock jump in hisjeans.

"Do you know what I'm thinking right now?" Iasked.

The light blue of his eyesdarkened.

"You're wondering how much better I'mfeeling."

I noddedsilently.

"Is there a reason why you're so concerned for my health?" His eyes glinted with ateasingheat.

"There's something I've been thinking about for a while," I told him. "Can you guess whatitis?"

Keeping his eyes trained on mine, he popped open the button on hisjeans.

My breath hitched as more of that irresistible V was revealed. Just the sight of it sent a flush through my body, making my insides tingle andclench.