"Stop picking at the turkey." I smacked Cameron's hand away as he darted under my arm for another piece of crispy skin.

"If I don't get the good stuff now, Damon's going to snag it all," Cameron complained.

"The both of you need to leave some for everyone else." I finished checking the internal temperature and put it back in the oven for another fifteen minutes.

Cameron rubbed at his stomach. "But I'm starving. This is like a real life Hunger Games. Why can't we eat now?"

"Because everyone isn't here yet," Jen said as she came into the kitchen. She carried an armful of fine china in her hands. She held out the heavy dishes to Cameron. "Here, make yourself useful."

Cameron took them easily. "Why aren't we just using paper plates?"

"Because we're not heathens," I said.

"Some of us aren't," Noah muttered as he came up behind Jen. He wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her to his side. He whispered something in her ear. She blushed and melted into his arms.

I averted my gaze. It wasn't as bad as walking in on them having sex, but the quiet moments were almost more intimate. I supposed if my brother had learned to deal with mine and Cameron's displays of affection, I could deal with his.

We were all gathering for Christmas dinner at Cameron's place. It was a bit odd, being here again. I'd only been back a few times since I'd moved out. I'd wanted to make a clean break. Cameron mostly spent time at my apartment — which was in actuality Jen's apartment.

The lease was ending in the new year, and I still hadn't figured out where I was going to go next. I knew I could always move back into the mansion, but for some reason that thought made me oddly uncomfortable. Maybe it was knowing that the place would never truly be mine. Maybe it was that it only reminded me of all the panic attacks I'd had here.

Either way, I only had a few more weeks to decide what to do.

"August texted to say he's on his way," Noah told us.

Cameron perked up. "And then food?"

I laughed. "Yes, when August gets here we can have food."

My boyfriend fist pumped the air, forgetting he had dishes in his arms. They wobbled and almost came crashing to the ground. Jen and Noah steadied them at the last second.

"Why don't we go put these on the table?" Jen pushed half the plates into Noah's hands and ushered him into the dining room.

Cameron barely noticed, still overly excited about the prospect of food.

"You're acting like you hadn't eaten in years," I said.

"I've had no appetite since you moved out," Cameron said mournfully. "I'm wasting away."

"You're over at my place every day," I said with a laugh.

"It's not the same."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Things do seem different."

Cameron cocked his head. "Bad different?"

I smiled at him. "No. Good different. I finally feel like I'm my own person. I don't just feel like Noah's sister or your girlfriend. I feel… like Lily Hart. Moving out of the mansion was a good decision for me."

Cameron gave me a considering look. "You don't want to move back in, do you?"

I looked down at the counter, busying myself with wiping it down. "I just… don't think it's the best place for me to be. Not yet."

"Good."

I looked up at Cameron, confused. "Good?"

He nodded. "I'm selling it."

I blinked. "Selling… the mansion?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Seemed like the thing to do," he said breezily.

I put down the towel I'd been cleaning with. "Cameron…"

His expression turned serious. "It's not just about you. I've been thinking about it for a long time. This place is pretty big for only one person. And you're right." He smirked. "It's pretty embarrassing for a grown man to still be living at home."

"Who says you're a grown man?" I replied automatically.

He raised an eyebrow and stalked towards me with a carnal grin. "Angel, you really need me to show you how much of a man I am? 'Cause I'll do it, right here and now."

He backed me up against the counter, hips pressed into mine. I flushed, but allowed it. If Noah walked in, let him growl. I'd seen worse with him and Jen.

"How will you throw all those raging house parties?" I asked.

"I guess I won't."

I faked a gasp of shock. "No more famous Cameron Thorne parties? How will we survive?"

"I only had those parties 'cause…" he shrugged, uncomfortable. "It got lonely, you know? Before I met the guys, it was just me alone in this huge house. Growing up, I was only able to throw them because my parents were gone. Because they didn't care what I did. And the crazier my parties got, the more I was reminded of that."

Not for the first time, my heart ached for Cameron.

He must have noticed my sad expression, because he shook his head and grinned.

"Don't get me wrong, I love a raging party as much as the next rock star. I'd just rather not have them in this mansion anymore."

"Where will you live? Are you going to get a new place?"

His expression turned oddly nervous. He pulled out his phone and swiped a few times.

"Take a look." He turned the screen to face me.

There was a series of photos of the interior of a house. It wasn't quite a mansion, but still big. It looked new and modern, but not in that sterile, austere way. Dark hardwood floors and black marbled countertops gave it a homey feel.

"I like it," I said approvingly.

Cameron looked relieved. "You do?"

"It looks cozy, in a weird this house is five thousand square feet kind of way."

"It's not that big," he laughed. He turned serious. "I'm glad you like it." Cameron put his phone back in his pocket. "Because I want to ask you something."

"You want me to help you decorate?"

"No." He took my hand and placed something in my palm, a cool, light weight. I looked down.

A key.

"I'd like you to move in with me. Officially. For real."

My heart swelled. I looked from Cameron to the key and back again.

"I want this to be our house," he said earnestly. "I want you to feel like you have a home."

Tears sprung to my eyes. I threw my arms around Cameron's neck. I fought back a rush of tears.

"Of course I'll move in with you."

Cameron let out a relieved breath. "Oh thank fuck."

I snorted a laugh. "Were you worried I'd say no?"

"A bit," he admitted.

"I love you," I said simply. "Of course I want to live with you. I just needed some time to myself first, that's all."

I reached into his pocket, fishing for his phone.

"You want to take me up on my offer to show you how much of a man I am?" he teased.

"I want to see my house again."

Cameron and I put our heads together, scrolling through the pictures. As he explained the details of each room, I ruminated on that thought.

My house. My home. A place to call my own.

I snuck a peek up at Cameron. His dark blue eyes were alight with happiness.

No, it wasn't my home.

It was our home. Mine and Cameron's.

Free of fears.

Free of secrets.

Free of loneliness.

I was no longer just Noah Hart's little sister. He was no longer just the playboy bassist of Darkest Days.

We were Cameron and Lily, two lovers ready to start our life together.

* * *

* * *

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Coming Soon:

Darkest Days #4: Hard Rock Heat

Featuring guitarist of Darkest Days Damon Drake and Hope’s sister Faith, Hard Rock Heat is the fourth novel in the Darkest Days Rock Star Romance Series.