Page 19 of Hard Rock Deceit

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But those feelings never surfaced, no matter how hard I willedthemto.

I feltnothing.

The first time we heldhands.

The first time wekissed.

The first time wehadsex.

The first time he said helovedme.

I feltnothing.

I broke it off. It devastated him. He wanted to know why. To know what hehaddone.

I didn't know what to tell him. The problem wasn't him. Itwasme.

For a long time I thought I'd just been too young. Not matureenough.

But it happened with the next guy. And the next. No matter how hard I tried to force it, I never felt a singlething.

I stoppedtrying.

Then I met AugustSummers.

When he saw something in my art that no one elseeverhad…

When words likepassionanddesirelefthislips…

When he pinned me down with those iceblueeyes…

I felteverything.

And it terrified me just as much as itthrilledme.

ChapterSeven

Alight knocktapped against the bedroom door. Sitting up, Icalledout.

"Comein."

August's blond head peeked throughthedoor.

"You feeling anybetter?"

"Alittle."

The bus took another rough bump. I let out a small pained groan as my stomachdropped.

"Not really," Icorrected.

Coming into the room and closing the door, August handed me asmallbox.

"This might make you feelbetter."

The label said it was an anti-nauseamedication.

"Thanks. Do you have a bottle ofwater—"

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