Page 70 of Hard Rock Deceit

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' recordlabel.

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 eachother.

"I fell for her immediately," Ian said, a soft smile onhisface.

"Of course, it wasn't that easy," Hopelaughed.

I snuck a glance atAugust.

"Itneveris."

Cameron jumped behind Ian and Hope, throwing his arms around their shoulders and popping his face in betweentheirs.

"Who's up for a game of Strip Go Fish?" he grinnedmadly.

Iblinked.

"Strip…GoFish?"

Iangroaned.

"Don't even ask. Cam's a pervert with the maturity of a fiveyearold."

August stood and reached a hand outtome.

"Cassie and I were just about to hit the dancefloor."

"We were?" I asked, surprised, but I took his handanyway.

With his arm firmly back around my waist, I let him lead me down the stairs to the firstfloor.

"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 offisme."

"Are you jealous?" Iteased.

"Maybe." His eyesglinted.

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 widesmile.

"So if we're not going to dance, where are wegoing?"

"I saw private booths attheback."

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 glassesbehind.

August gestured for me to slide infirst.

"You didn't have to do that," I said. "We could have just taken a normaltable."

"I like privacy," was allhesaid.

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 mysoftskin.

His thumb stroked my inner thigh, back and forth slowly,teasing.

"Is this why you wanted privacy?" I murmured quietly. "So you could feelmeup?"

He leaned into me. I shivered as his lips brushed my ear, curving into asmile.