Page 59 of Hard Rock Tease

I wanted to get away while I still could. As much as Noah affected me, Cameron Thorne exuded sex from every pore. From the rumors I'd heard, I had no doubt his powers of seduction were that good.

The party didn't seem to be winding down any time soon, but there were fewer people than had been there when I first arrived. It seemed the ones still here felt they needed to make an even bigger ruckus to make up for the ones who'd left.

I spent a while bracing myself, trying to summon up enough courage to brave Noah's wrath once again. If I wanted a chance to make things better with him I'd have to catch him before he left, too. I couldn't let things end the way they had.

He wasn't on the back patio. I had to go searching through the mansion. I found him in one of the living rooms. He was slouched on the far end of a sofa, his head leaning back, propped up by the cushions. I marched up to him.

"We can't end things like this."

He titled his head slightly to look at me, neck limp. His eyes were unfocused. "Jen. You're still here."

"I was trying to enjoy myself but the pending implosion of my career has got me all out of sorts."

He stared at me silently.

I steeled myself, throwing my shoulders back. "I'm not leaving until we come to an understanding."

"I don't mean to be an asshole."

I was so taken aback I was speechless for a few moments. I gathered myself together. "Doesn't stop you from acting like one."

"I know. It's hard."

"What's hard, not being an asshole?"

He lifted his eyes to the ceiling, avoiding mine. "Yeah."

I knew Noah hadn't had the best life. He'd already opened up to me a little. Maybe that was the best he could manage right now.

If I wanted to break down those walls, I'd have to take it slow.

"Can we start over?" I asked.

He squinted, eyes glassy. "Start over how?"

"Let's pretend we haven't been…" I glanced around, making sure no one could hear us. "Pretend we haven't been sleeping together. Just act professional from now on."

"I don't want to forget." He eyes burned into me, even as glazed over as they were. "I want to remember every minute. Every second."

Some small part of my hardened heart softened. "Noah…"

"Let's go," he said abruptly.

"Go where?"

"Home." He heaved himself off the sofa, lurching forward. I hurried to put my arms around his chest, keeping him upright. His eyes met mine. "I want you to come home with me."

"You're drunk." It worried me, a bit. This was the second time I'd seen Noah get drunk. I had to admit, he did seem to drink a lot. But like he'd said, he was a rock star. I supposed that was just what they did.

He frowned, looking confused. "Not to fuck. Just to talk. And then sleep."

"You want me to spend the night? Without sex?"

The only time we'd slept in the same bed had been the evening after the club, when he'd told me about his sister.

"I don't want you to regret this in the morning like last time."

He brought a hand to my cheek, gazing into my eyes as he spoke slowly and carefully.