Page 68 of Hard Rock Sin

"I'm just looking out for my girlfriend's wellbeing."

I stopped breathing.

That was the first time Cameron called me his girlfriend.

Maybe it was juvenile, but I had been hoping to have therelationship statustalk sometime soon. I'd never had that talk before. I hadn't known how to bring it up.

"Lily?" Cameron prompted. "You alive in there?"

"Yeah," I choked out, fighting back tears. I'd never been this emotional in my life. Not like the way I'd been since moving into Cameron's. I thumped him in the back. "Put me down."

"Anything you say, Angel."

"No, wait—!" I protested.

He jumped into the pool with me still in his arms.

We landed with a splash. The cold water was a shock to my system, especially after basking in the warm sun. I kicked off the bottom of the pool and burst to the surface with a gasp.

"I hate you," I sputtered, my eyes squeezed shut. I didn't like that sting of chlorine in my eyes. It always turned my face red and blotchy.

Cameron was still under the water. He swam towards me and grabbed my legs. I kicked out. He used me to climb up, clinging to me the entire time.

He surfaced, hair plastered to his face, covering his eyes and cheeks.

"You look like a mop," I told him.

He slicked his hair back with a grin. "There's that grumpy face. You've been so smiley and happy lately. I missed that patented pissed off Hart look."

"I hate you," I repeated, now that he was out of the water and could hear me.

"What was that?" he said, putting a hand to his ear. "You love me and adore me and want to have my babies?"

I whirled around, water splashing everywhere, not wanting him to see my stunned expression.

Loveandgirlfriendandbabies.

All those words spoken so close together sent my heart thumping madly.

I hadn't even begun to think about that kind of thing.

My heart squeezed in my chest, feeling light and airy. A small smile spread across my face unbidden.

Was that where Cameron's mind was already going? Was he thinking that long term already?

Then reality sunk in. Of course he wasn't thinking things like that. He'd just been joking.

Disappointment filled my chest, but also a sort of relief. I was only nineteen. I shouldn't have been thinking those sort of thoughts. Not yet.

But there was something about this man that made me want to throw all caution to the wind and jump in head first.

Cameron wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me back against him. Our legs brushed as we treaded water.

"Of course, if I really wanted to piss you off, I'd do this."

Cameron ducked under the water. He grabbed my ankles. I thought he would pull me under.

Instead, he tickled my feet.