Page 44 of Hard Rock Heat

The third thing I noticed was Damon's arm around that girl'sshoulders.

Fury exploded in mychest.

Damon had just finished saying he shouldn't have bragged about all the girls he could get into his bed, and now, mere minutes later, he was already hitting on yet another one of them, right in front of me where I couldsee.

Shaking with rage, I glared at Damon, willing him to turn and look at me. Almost as if he could feel my eyes on him, Damon did turn his head, catching my gaze. I stared him down with a bone-chilling expression. He immediately removed his arm from the girl's shoulders. His expression was almost comically chagrined. No doubt embarrassed he'd gotten caught flirting, yetagain.

I whirled around on myheel.

I tried stomping out of the house, but the layout of the place was like a maze. I couldn't even remember how to get to the front door. The living room was also packed and I couldn't push through the people quick enough without beingrude.

I'd only made it a few steps when Damon appeared through the partedcrowd.

"Faith, wait." He grabbed for my arm. I yanked it away before he could takeit.

"Fuck off," I snapped, nearly surprising myself with my strong language. I rarely swore like that, and even then only when I was extremely pissedoff.

"It wasn't what you thought," he insisted. "Just listen tome."

He was blocking me from leaving. I whirled away in the other direction, wanting to get away from him. Hefollowed.

"I wasn't really flirting with her," he insisted. "Cerise is a friend. I like to piss off her brother by pretending to hit on her. Gael’s overly protective. I like to rile him up. That'sall."

I stopped in the middle of theroom.

"So you weren't flirting?" I said, voice dripping with contempt. "You were only acting like an immature asshole trying to piss someoneoff?"

"Yes," he saidemphatically.

I stared at him incredulously before continuing to stomp away in the other direction. He continued trailingme.

"Where are you going?" he protested. "I told you I wasn'tflirting."

"I can't believe you," I said. "I don't know why you always have to be sucha—"

"What?" he said, exasperated as I practically flung open a set of double doors. "What exactly amI?"

We stormed into thekitchen.

Andstopped.

August had Cassie pressed up against the fridge. His hand was up her shirt. Her leg was wrapped around hiship.

I immediately turned bright red. Cassie's look of mortification was no doubt a reflection of my own. Damon's exasperation turned into wicked delight as he teased them. I took advantage of his distraction to make my exit, whipping around and leaving the kitchen as quickly as Icame.

I couldn't believe I'd let myself think for a second that Damon could be anything more than what he seemed. Even when he wasn't acting like a womanizing asshole, he was acting like an impulsivejerk.

Enough wasenough.

I was done with Damon forgood.

Chapter Fourteen

"Faith!"I heard Damon call out from behindme.

I continued walking briskly. The crowd began to thin the longer I walked, but August's maze of a mansion was too confusing and I couldn't find my wayaround.

I thought I'd almost reached the front foyer when Damon popped out from around a corner. I halted abruptly, glaring athim.