It did bother me a bit that I was expected to stay stuck in my room while a party raged on around me. Truth be told, I was exhausted from all my studying and had been going to bed not long after ten every night anyway.

I was already in my pajamas when I heard the music start up, a pounding, heavy noise that seemed to vibrate the very walls.

Soon after, loud chattering voices and laughter could be heard from outside my bedroom door. If I'd thought the party would be contained to the first floor, I would have been sorely mistaken.

I put Cameron's earplugs into my ears and pulled the covers over my head, but it didn't block out the music and voices. I buried my head in a pillow, squeezing it to the sides of my head. No luck.

A loud bang rang out. I jumped up with a startled shriek.

"Sorry, sorry!" A young couple stumbled over themselves, lurching and hanging onto the doorframe to keep upright.

"Thought this was empty," said the girl.

"It's not."

They giggled and clung to each other as they exited my bedroom. The door had been flung open, the door knob firmly wedged into the now-dented wall.

With a groan, I heaved myself up to close it. The music was louder and the voices more distinct now that the door was open. Curiosity took hold. I peeked out the doorframe.

At least half a dozen people with drinks in their hands were mingling in the third floor hallway. Two of them were making out in the corner, a different couple than the one who had unceremoniously barged into my bedroom.

Music blasted from speakers in the walls. It had a catchy electronic beat. It made me want to move my body instinctively.

A burst of laughter and cheering caught my attention. A trio of girls were lifting their cups in salute. All three wore pink princess tiaras on their heads.

A sense of envy hit me. Everyone was having so much fun. Dancing, and drinking, and hanging out with their friends. I'd been stuck studying and going to class and doing not much else for weeks.

The hell with it. I didn't care what my brother thought.

I was going to have fun at a rock star party.

I closed my door and ran to my closet, pulling out the cutest skirt and top I could find that wasn't in need of laundering — a purple shimmering tank top and a short black skirt that flared over my thighs.

I quickly threw my hair into a high ponytail and applied a bit of makeup, no more than a quick coat of gloss, mascara, and a hint of eyeliner. I surveyed myself in the full length mirror that hung from my closet door. I nodded, satisfied. I left my bedroom and firmly closed the door behind me.

With a toss of my ponytail I approached the trio of tiara-wearing girls.

"Hey, where'd you guys get those drinks?" I asked.

One of them squealed, a high pitched breathy sound. "Oh my god, I love your top!"

"It's so cute," the second one gasped. "Where'd you get it?"

Would they be repulsed if I said I got it at Forever 21? Was I supposed to make up some fancy brand?

Before I could answer, the third girl tugged on her friends' arms. "She looks like someone." The girl turned to me. "You look like someone. Are you an actress?"

As flattering as that was, I didn't want the girls to figure out I was the infamous Lily Hart, Noah Hart's little sister who had plastered her face all over the Internet.

"I'm not an actress," was all I told them. "I guess I just have one of those faces."

The trio nodded, as if that made complete sense.

"There's drinks in almost every room," the first girl said, "but you should head for the first floor kitchen. That's where Cam usually puts the good stuff."

The other two girls giggled and made fake swooning noises.

"Mm, Cameron. Speaking of the good stuff…" the first one spoke up again.

"My god that man is talented," the second said. "Those fingers… that tongue."

"Cameron likes to please the ladies," the other agreed.

The moaning sound all three of them made was embarrassing.

A flush washed over me. It wasn't just the second-hand embarrassment of watching these girls practically moan with lust in the middle of the hallway. It was the thought that all three of them had obviously been on the receiving end of Cameron's aforementioned talented fingers and tongue.

I chided myself inwardly for getting upset. I knew Cameron had a reputation. Hell, the very first time I'd seen him, he'd had his head between a girl's legs.

And that was why these burgeoning feelings were dangerous. I couldn't let myself fall for someone like Cameron Thorne.

Ignoring the clenching tightness in my chest, I made my way to the first floor. The girls had been right. There was alcohol on every available surface.

A large metal bucket filled with ice sat on the dining room table. A small ring of water had collected around the bottom rim. That was going to cause a stain on what looked like expensive hardwood. I doubted Cameron would care.

I was at a loss as for what to do with myself. The music I'd heard outside my bedroom door had made me want to dance. Most of the people I'd passed were mingling, playing loud drinking games, or making out with each other. There didn't seem to be much dancing going on.

I supposed I could have found myself a drink, but I hadn't had much experience with alcohol before. I was worried I'd get drunk and make a fool out of myself.

I decided to make my way over to the pool in the backyard. That was where I'd seen the twins the last time. The other band members were the only ones I knew at this party. Maybe they could introduce me to some people, and let me know where the place to be was when it came to dancing. It wouldn't have surprised me if Cameron had a real dance floor complete with DJ and strobe lights hidden somewhere.

The place became more crowded and rowdy the further I got. I had to squeeze my way through groups of drunken party-goers. I knew my way around well enough by this point that I didn't get lost. I was able to make my way straight to the back patio.

When I stepped out of the sliding glass patio doors, I found Cameron surrounded by a huge pack of hangers-on. Mostly girls but there were a few guys as well.

Cameron's smile was ear to ear as he talked, gesturing wildly with his arms, a beer in hand. The group laughed uproariously, no doubt at some joke he had made or some story he had embellished. One guy punched him in the shoulder. Two girls kissed either side of his grinning cheeks. He put his arms around their waists and tugged them to his chest.

A tinge of jealousy flared up inside me, but I forced myself to ignore it. I wasn't going to examine these new-found feelings tonight. Right now I just wanted to have fun.

I made my way to the edge of the group, trying to elbow through. I received a couple of interested looks and not a few lecherous grins for my efforts, before that now familiar knowing look crossed their faces and they immediately moved out of my way.

I hadn't faced anything like this during my classes. I supposed it made sense that everyone at this party had some knowledge of the band, and of my brother's fearsome wrath. The studious, driven college students who got early acceptance probably didn't pay that much attention to celebrity gossip.

"Cameron!" I called out, waving to get his attention.

He cocked his head in my direction, attention successfully diverted from the women in his arms. He met my eyes. A bright smile crossed his face, as if he was happy to see me, before it was replaced by a narrowed gaze. His gaze swept me up and down. The heat of it, the intensity of it, made my heart thump madly.

Cameron whispered something to the two girls. They pouted, but left the circle of his arms, albeit reluctantly.

With a nod of his chin the rest of the crowd dispersed and I made my way over, a faint flush on my cheeks.

"You promised you'd stay in your tower, princess."

"Your ear plugs suck," I shot back. "I figured if I wasn't going to get any sleep I might as well get dolled up and join the party."

I thought he would make a quip about my short skirt, something overly protective and admonishing.

"Nice outfit," he said instead, a small smirk on his face. "Of course, the yoga pants and tank tops were cute, too."

That heat was still in his eyes. I wanted to address it. I wanted to let him know that I knew he thought I was hot. That I liked how he thought I was hot.

"Everyone's always scared of me at these parties," was all that came out of my mouth. "The guys won't approach me."

"They're scared of Noah," Cameron countered. "He made it very clear his baby sister is off limits. To everyone," he added, sounding oddly chagrinned.

"Sometimes I wish I hadn't plastered my face all over the internet."

"Why did you?"

"I didn't want Noah to keep me hidden away."

"And now you're regretting it."

"I should have known my brother would act like this. I should have known he'd never treat me like an adult."

"Then you better hope he doesn't catch you."

"He's here?" My heart sank for a brief moment before I threw it off with a toss of my ponytail. "I'm not scared of him."

"Maybe you should be."

Cameron nodded over to the sliding doors. My brother stood just inside them, a frown on his face.

"And that's my cue to get the fuck out of town." Cameron winced. "I don't want him blaming me for this one. I did my part in warning you off. The rest is on you."

"You don't have to keep running away from me."

"It's not you I'm running from," he said with a nod to my brother. "If you were any other girl…" He met my gaze, giving me an almost sad smile.

"Why?" I asked nervously. "What would you do if I wasn't Noah's sister?"

Cameron leaned forward. His lips brushed my ear. I suppressed a whimper.

"You remember those indecent things I mentioned before?"

I flushed, a tingle forming between my legs.

He pulled back with a mad grin. "Better not throw me under the bus, Angel." He turned and ran towards the pool. "Cannonball!" he shouted as he jumped in, clothes, shoes and all.

Indecent things.

I could vividly imagine all sorts of indecent things Cameron could do with me. Could do to me.

I wished I could throw myself into the pool as well to cool down.

The heat of arousal flowing through me was enough to scorch me from the inside out.