I almost thought I'd heard wrong. How could Cameron think his parents didn't want him?

"They never approved of me," he continued, ignoring my shock. "I was an embarrassment."

"I'm sure they don't think of you that way," I protested.

"They do."

Cameron's eyes were flat and dull. He wasn't upset. He spoke as if he were reciting facts.

"You already know half the story. My father was in business. All high powered and shit. My mother was involved in all these well known charities. They were invited to fancy events full of powerful people. And they in turn invited those powerful people to our home."

"What's wrong with that?"

"I was never allowed to show my face," he said bluntly. "I had to stay in my room. They didn't want me having dinner with their important guests." He let out a rueful laugh. "Didn't want me to embarrass them."

My heart clenched in my chest. "I'm sure that's not true."

"I don't think people even know they have a son," he said quietly. "My mom would get honored with some society award and they'd tell me not to attend the event. When interviewers asked my dad about his family, he never once mention having kids."

I scooted closer until my thighs pressed against his. I took his hand in mine not saying anything, just listening.

"I can't blame them," he said with a rueful laugh. "I was a wild child, with my crazy hair colors, always dressing in black like some emo-goth kid, skipping class to play in shitty bands with my friends. I was never going to be the clean cut, Ivy League prep school son they always wanted. I was a disappointment."

"I can't believe that." I squeezed his hand. "I saw the way you were around your parents. You're a wonderful son."

"I thought things had been getting better. Dad's retired. Mom cut back on her charity work. Fewer fancy events and parties and ceremonies. They actually didn't mind being seen with me in public every once in a while."

"I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding. They took us both out to dinner."

"When my mom said we needed to talk about what this all meant for our family, that's what she was talking about. She's going to be in the public eye. People are going to want to know all about her." He let out a derisive snort and lowered his head to his chest, looking down at his lap. "We need to go back to pretending I don't exist."

I took his chin in my hands and guided his head up until we were face to face. The pain I saw in those deep blue eyes made my heart ache.

"I saw the way your parents look at you. I can't believe they're ashamed of you. They love you. "

"They love their careers more." Cameron placed on hand over mine. "That's why they like you so much. They probably think you're going to be a good influence on me. Maybe they think you can make me respectable."

"There's nothing wrong with the way you are now."

"They think there is. That's why I'm going back to being their dirty little secret." He gave me a sad smile. "They've never been to one of my shows. Not when I played in shitty garage bands, and not when we hit it big. I don't think they've ever actually seen me play bass guitar."

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I knew what it felt like to be rejected by a parent. After my mom took off, I always wondered what I'd done wrong to make her leave.

"Whatever. It's fine. I'm used to it."

Cameron heaved himself off the bed and paced over to his bass guitar, running his fingers over the strings.

"I think it's about time I threw another house party," he said out of nowhere. "It's been a while." His turned to me with a slightly wicked grin and rubbed his hands together. "I've got just the game to play, too. It'll be fucking awesome."

"Cameron..." I began hesitantly.

"I've got to go start planning. Getting the guest list in order. There's a couple guys who trashed the place last time. I need to keep them out."

I knew it was just a deflection. But if Cameron didn't want to talk about his parents any more, I wouldn't make him.

I just couldn't believe the people I'd met a few days ago could be the same people who had kept their son a secret. Was Cameron really an embarrassment to them? Had they really not told their friends and colleagues they had a son? And was that why they've moved out when they did? So they could continue living their lives as if their son didn't exist?

I couldn't imagine how lonely of a life that must have been for him growing up. I'd always had my big brother by my side.

It seemed that Cameron had no one.

"Normally I don't mind a little mess but these guys totally destroyed the bathroom on this floor," he continued. "Pipes busted and everything. No more parties for them. They're banned for life."

I came up behind Cameron and wrapped my arms around his waist, squeezing. He stopped talking.

I laid my cheek on his strong back. "I'm sorry."

He placed his hands over mine, lacing our fingers. "Or maybe we can throw a party of our own." His voice turned sly as he swung me around to face him. "A private party. Just the two of us."

I raised an eyebrow. Another deflection. I didn't call him on it. "And would we also play games at this private party?"

He smirked. "I can think of a hundred different games I'd like to play with you."

My heartbeat sped up at the wicked glint in his eyes. "Tell me one."

"Go Fish."

"That's a kid's game."

He gave me that familiar carnal grin. "Not the way I play it."

"Why am I not surprised you managed to take a game for five year olds and turn it dirty."

Cameron cupped my ass, caressing and kneading. "Angel, there's no shortage of innocent things I've made dirty."

"And I suppose I'm one of them?"

"Not yet." He lowered his head and murmured against my lips. "I'm not even close to being done corrupting you."

My cheeks flushed, arousal already coursing through me. "I think you've been doing a pretty good job of it so far."

He chuckled darkly. "I haven't even broken out the toys yet."

Toys? My heart hammered against my ribcage. "I thought you were joking about that."

"Not in the slightest."

"Dare I even ask what kind of toys?"

Cameron made a deep, almost purring sound in his chest. "It's so much better if I show you."

My inner muscles clenched at the heat in his voice.

He caressed my ass one last time before giving it a light spank. Heat pooled between my thighs at the slight sting.

"Why don't you wait here?" he suggested. "I just need to collect a few things."

There was an evil glint in his eyes.

I couldn't help remembering the talk about kinks I'd had with him. I hadn't been able to think of anything dirtier than handcuffs and spanking.

If this was what it took to get his mind off his parents, I was more than willing to go along with it.

I shivered, wondering just what exactly he had planned for me.