Page 107 of Hard Rock Heat

"Because I love Ian," he continued, "and I love the guys like they're my brothers, but I've never beeninlovebefore."

All the air left my lungs. Damon always did have that effect on me, but this time was different. Thistime…

"It scares the shit out of me," he admitted. "But there it is." He brought our hands to his mouth and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. "I'm in love withyou."

My entire body felt light, like my toes were leaving the floor and I was floating into the air. The only thing keeping me grounded was Damon lips against myskin.

"Now it's your turn to say it," he saidplayfully.

I choked out a relieved laugh. "I already saidit."

"You might have changed your mind," he said. "After all, I've been kind of ahandful."

I shook my head. "I'll never change my mind. You're infuriating and immature and a pain in the ass. But despite all that, somehow I fell in love with you,too."

Damon wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing his warm chest to mine. He nuzzled the hair behind my ear. "I'm glad you were here," he whispered into my hair. "I'm glad you've been with me throughthis."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," Isaid.

He pulled back, putting his hands on my hips. He examined me closely, gaze darting from eye to eye. Whatever he found must have satisfied him, because he gave me a soft smile. I sank into his chest, snuggling againsthim.

"Hey perverts!" a voice yelled out. "No making out at an event full ofkids!"

We jumped and turned to find Jessie grinning at us from the top of thestairs.

"Damon, your band's looking for you," she yelled down. "Darkest Days is doing a surprise encore. Betterrun."

Damon's face lit up. He took my hand. "You want to watch me rock my faceoff?"

I looked down at our clasped hands. Isqueezed.

"I wouldn't miss it foranything."

He pressed his lips to myforehead.

"Think we have time for a quickie?" heasked.

I laughed outloud.

Damon was infuriating and immature and a pain in theass.

He was also the man I loved and I wouldn't give him up for theworld.

Epilogue

Istared,transfixed, as Darkest Days took their places onstage.

August Summers sat at the drums near the back and to the side. His platinum blond hair lit up like a halo in the stage spotlights. His eyes, like chips of ice, were intense and focused. He twirled the drumsticks between his fingers in complicated patterns. It didn't seem like his injury was bothering him atall.

Damon and Ian Drake situated themselves in the middle of the stage. They shared the same mischievous grins with equally glimmering green eyes. With their guitars slung over their shoulders, they ran their hands up in down the fret boards in identical motions, feeling the strings, gettingready.

Cameron Thorne had his bass slung slow around his hips. His bright red hair seemed to sparkle, as if he'd tossed a handful of glitter over the strands, and his blue eyes were rimmed with thick kohl. He was already playing to the audience, winking, strutting and slapping hands as they reached out from the pit, a wicked smirk on hisface.

Noah Hart stood front and center, his dark eyes narrowed and heated. He caressed the microphone stand up and down in a sensual motion, imitating the motion of his fingers trailing along a woman's soft skin. He didn't speak, just stared out at the audience, scanning the crowd slowly, as if making eye with each and everyfan.

August hit the drums. Damon and Ian let loose on their respective guitars, leaning back to back as they played. Cameron thumbed the bass, sending reverberation through my chest. Noah let out a long, lowwail.

The audience roared inapproval.