Chapter 5 #5
Emory lifted Cameron’s hand, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. “I’m sure. I like you, Cameron. I like talking to you, spending time with you, and touching you.” He brushed his lips gently across Cameron’s knuckles this time.
Tingles were spreading up his arms, and before they could reach his heart, Cameron tried to beat them back with what logic he was able to muster.
“We haven’t really talked about it, but just because you’re my fated mate, I’m not going to assume this is a sure thing. There are fated mate relationships that fail. People cheat, and lie, and sometimes things don’t turn out the way you hope.”
Emory reared back in surprise.
“I’m not saying I don’t think we’ll work out.
I mean—honestly, I am starting to hope that we do,” Cameron said in a rush, and he found the words rang surprisingly true.
“I meant I’m not assuming that I have rights to your time or your attention, just because we’re fated mates.
I don’t think fate makes us a sure thing. I have to earn your affection.”
Emory’s brows pulled together, and he made a noise deep in his chest. Cameron knew a lot of mammals did this. He added a few to his mental list of guesses.
“I think I always, maybe naively, believed that fated mates were a sure thing—like our own version of a fairy tale, but I guess you’re right.
I’ve known fated mate pairs that were miserable together because they took each other for granted.
I also know fated mate pairs who mated the night they met and had a really hard time with dating and being together. Thank you for bringing it up.”
Cameron sank against the back of his chair, not having expected Emory to accept this so easily.
He knew this was a somewhat unusual opinion about fated mates.
As was his next thought, but with the weight of Emory’s hand in his, he pushed forward.
“I think I want us to wait to mate until we know each other better. Quite a bit better, actually. I sort of always envisioned waiting to mate until I knew I loved my mate, and they loved me back.”
The candlelight reflecting in Emory’s eyes distorted whatever emotion he was feeling. Cameron held his breath, wondering if this would be the breaking point he’d been waiting for all night.
“That actually sounds quite beautiful,” Emory said slowly, and Cameron’s octopus sagged in relief.
“While it is a bit outside the norm for my shifter culture, I’m very amenable to that.
With my father’s passing, I’m also not in any rush to mate.
My family has undergone a lot of change and heartbreak, and I would never want to add to that by rushing into a mate bond I wasn’t ready for. ”
Cameron could feel that spell settling around him again. The one that made him get lost in warm pools of brown and swirling shards of amber.
Thankfully, the server arrived with their check, and Cameron roused himself enough to pull out his wallet.
Emory was much faster, even one-handed. Cameron had learned from Thomas that he should always attempt to pay for a meal.
While Thomas often insisted on paying, if Cameron didn’t try, there would be hell to pay in the form of harsh words, rough hands, and cold silences on the way home.
Watching Emory pull out his platinum credit card, Cameron felt a new insecurity rise up.
He had insisted in the airport that he wasn’t a gold digger, but he wanted to make sure Emory believed him.
As the server swiped Emory’s card, Cameron fidgeted in his seat, crossing and uncrossing his legs until he finally blurted out that he could pay the tip.
Emory agreed with a slight furrow in his brow.
When the server walked away, Cameron saw the bill and understood why.
It was quite hefty, more than Cameron would spend on a week’s worth of food, but it left Cameron feeling a little more in control, being able to contribute.
He emptied all of the cash from his wallet and was just barely able to make the twenty percent tip.
After Cameron stuffed his wallet back in his pocket, Emory used their entwined hands to help Cameron to his feet.
He kept their fingers tangled as they left the restaurant, and when they approached the curb, Emory tried to offer Cameron a ride home, explaining that he had the company car for the evening.
Cameron was tempted to agree just to avoid more accidental conflict, but he was sort of looking forward to putting on his headphones and getting lost in a podcast on the commute home.
Emory accepted this with little fuss but insisted on walking him the two blocks to the bus stop.
“Thank you for tonight, Cameron. I had a lovely evening,” Emory said, huddling against the cold as they came to a stop under the bus awning.
“Thank you! I actually had a really nice time as well.”
Cameron’s octopus scoffed at the word “actually” since he’d been sure they were going to have a good time. Cameron ignored him. He wouldn’t apologize to anyone, especially not his own omega, for being cautious.
Emory also didn’t seem to mind, because he grinned a big, toothy grin at him. Was he really not a wolf?
“Are we still on for coffee the week after next?”
To his surprise, Cameron found he was actually looking forward to it.
He had enjoyed opening up about his family, and every small morsel he collected from Emory was coming together to form a pleasant image of the man.
“Yeah, we’re still on. I’ll meet you there?
And…maybe we can figure out logistics for New Year’s Eve? ”
Emory’s grin lit up the night more than the dull fluorescent light over the bus stand. He took a step closer to Cameron, pressing their chests together, and Cameron tipped his head up, anticipating maybe a goodnight kiss, or at the very least a hug.
Naturally, his bus pulled up right at that moment. Emory cast the bus a sideways glance before bending down to place a soft kiss on Cameron’s forehead.
“Please text me as soon as you get home,” Emory murmured, and Cameron nodded against Emory’s lips.
The bus hydraulics squealed as it lowered, and the door rattled open. Cameron didn’t have time to consider whether his octopus made him do it, or if it was his own choice, but he threw his arms around Emory’s neck in a quick hug.
Emory let out a surprised breath but wrapped his arms tightly around Cameron’s lower back.
Cameron’s octopus jumped up and down and then rolled over, exposing his belly to the air.
Cameron groaned softly, fisting the fabric of Emory’s jacket before he pulled out of Emory’s grasp and ran up the bus steps without looking back.
Only when he was settled in his seat did he look out the window and see Emory waving goodbye, a somewhat lopsided grin on his face.