Page 32 of Hard Rock Sin

But the more I got to know Cameron, the more I liked the man he was inside. It wasn't simply my old schoolgirl crush resurfacing. It wasn't just because he was hot.

With a sudden spark of insight, I realized my feelings for Cameron were changing.

"Yeah," I said. "See you."

I followed him with my eyes, waiting until he was out of sight before closing the door.

I chided myself as I got ready for bed. I had to rein these feelings in. I couldn't go mooning after my brother's friend for the rest of my life.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder what Cameron saw when he looked at me.Whohe saw.

A sister to watch out for and take care of?

Just another hot girl, like all the rest who fawned after him?

Or something more?

Chapter Ten

It had beenabout a week after our first movie night. I'd just finished my reading for class the next day and was getting ready for bed.

I paused in the middle of washing my face in my private en suite bathroom. A sharp, tinkling sound caught my attention. Then another. I followed the sound, wandering out into the hallway, wondering what could be making such a weird noise. It almost sounded like…

A loud, blaring alarm blasted over the speakers.

… breaking glass.

My heart immediately ran into overdrive. My lungs shut down, unable to take in a single breath.

Someone was breaking in.

I began trembling, frozen in place. My feet were glued to the floor. I knew I should run into my bedroom and lock the door, but I couldn't make myself move. The alarms continued blaring, sounding harsh to my panicked ears.

My phone began ringing from its place on my nightstand. The thought of answering it didn't even cross my mind.

But the sound did jolt me into action. With a gasping breath I fled the hallway, running into my room and slamming the door behind me. I was so panicked I didn't even think to lock it as I flung open the bathroom door.

I slid down the wall, huddled in the corner, knees to my chest, arms wrapped around my shins. My heartbeat thumped loudly in my chest. The white noise of blood pumping through my veins rushed through my ears. My eyes were wide open, but I didn't see anything.

My fingers were icy cold. My lungs were frozen. I gasped for air, but my throat was tight. I couldn't breathe.

I felt all of this distantly as I stared blankly at the opposite wall, limbs shaking.

The blaring stopped abruptly. My phone continued to ring. I curled up even tighter into myself. My lungs burned. I struggled to take in a single breath. My vision began to go dark.

"Lily?"

A small part of me registered a familiar voice calling my name. The fear had taken such hold inside me I couldn't force myself to answer.

Shuffling sounds and a quiet curse came from outside the bathroom door. The door creaked open. I jolted awake, shooting my head up with my heart in my throat.

Cameron stood in the doorframe, the bright light of my bedroom lighting up the red of his bed-mussed hair, causing a halo to surround his head.

My lungs kickstarted. I let out a whoosh of breath. My vision began to clear, darkness eroding. I was no long in danger of passing out.

"Thank god." Cameron looked around the bathroom. "Isn't this a bit of an overreaction?" He gave me a wry smile.

"C-Cameron," I spoke with a shuddering, choked breath.