Chapter 19 #3
“Wow,” Thomas had remarked, embarrassed. He wasn’t normally so aloof, but Cameron was right. He’d been more stressed about, well, having the will to live?
A comfortable and lengthy silence passed between them in which they finished off the cigar together. By the end of it, Thomas felt relaxed and sleepy. If his lordship permitted it, he would have been very happy to curl up right there on the couch and fall asleep with his head in Cameron’s lap.
“What was Dawn’s family name?” Cameron asked quietly.
Thomas had been resting with his head tipped back against the couch. He shifted to meet Cameron’s gaze. “Pruitt. Why?”
Cameron stared down at his hands in his lap. “We could find her, if you wanted? I’m… Perhaps it would comfort you to know where she is? That she’s safe, hopefully.”
A spark of hope lit in that small hole in his heart. “It would be of great comfort. How would we find her?”
“I could start asking around,” Cameron suggested. “Vampires talk, and Lennon and Sulee are well connected with the working-class vamps. If we start digging, I’m sure we can find something out.”
Thomas’s blood quickened within his veins. “If it isn’t an inconvenience to any of you, yes, I would like to know. Very much.”
Cameron nodded. “I’ll ask them about it… Shall we call it a night?” Cameron helped to pull Thomas up from the too comfortable couch, then they tidied everything to Cameron’s satisfaction and headed back down the staircase.
As Cameron went to the wall to press the button to hide the stairs away once more, Thomas felt overwhelmed with affection for him.
He was still wearing his suit from the party—they both were—but Cameron had ditched his bow tie, and the top two buttons of his dress shirt were unfastened.
He looked so… effortless and statuesque standing there. Elegant, like something from a dream.
Thomas’s pragmatic sense of mind was telling him that he was being absurd and hasty.
But his internal vampiric nature was writhing and swooning.
Cameron had made Thomas laugh when he’d growled like a bear and lifted his nephews.
He’d listened intently and then held Thomas while he’d cried.
He’d delighted and surprised Thomas with this attic bar, then engaged him with interesting conversation and damn fine liquor and cigars.
Resisting this feeling was like trying to protect his darkened and withered soul from the warmth and joy of the sun. It was like fighting against fiery champagne bubbles racing up his spine, and at the moment, he was losing the battle.
“Tonight was magical,” Thomas said as Cameron stepped toward him. “Thank you for everything.”
“I don’t think I did anything special, but you’re welcome, always.” Before he could pass, Thomas gently stepped into the path to block him. Cameron paused, blinking. “Is everything alright?”
Thomas took a breath. “May I hug you?” Cameron had embraced him earlier. Granted, it was in a moment of desperation to quell his hysteria, but Thomas wanted to try. Trying had been working out well for him lately.
“Oh, um… yes, you may,” Cameron said, looking slightly confused.
Thomas stepped into him and lifted his arms. He wrapped them around Cameron’s shoulders and brought him flush with his chest. Cameron politely set his palms on Thomas’s waist underneath his suit jacket.
Thomas brought him in even closer, slipping one hand to the back of Cameron’s neck and the other across his shoulder blades.
“You can hold me, Cameron,” Thomas whispered. “If you wish.”
Slowly, Cameron’s hands slipped around to his lower back.
The muscles of Cameron’s back and shoulders flexed as he embraced Thomas tightly, sliding one hand up his spine and drawing him into his hips and groin.
Cameron shifted his head so that his face and nose rested warmly in the curve of Thomas’s neck, just beneath his ear.
Thomas swallowed heavily, breathless as his eyes glowed to life within the embrace.
Cameron’s scent swirled around him and his body emitted heat and power.
An unwavering solidity and fortitude. Thomas closed his burning eyes and tipped his head back because it was the most blissful embrace of his life.
It was delicious and intoxicating and he never wanted to leave the sheer pleasure and goodness of it. Not ever.
But when he felt Cameron lift slightly from the hug, Thomas relinquished his hold on his back and neck and slid his palms up to his shoulders. Thomas raised his head so that they were face to face. He was very pleased to see Cameron’s eyes alighted in a lush, vivid green.
“I should go,” Cameron said softly. He was so close that the warmth of his breath rushed against Thomas’s lips.
It was gingery like his normal essence but laced with vanilla, caramel and smoke from the cigar and whiskey.
They were practically nose to nose and staring into each other’s glowing eyes, their arms still wrapped around each other’s bodies.
“Should you?” Thomas asked, not wanting to let him go. He should let go, but his limbs and nature wouldn’t allow it.
“I should… I-I’ll walk you to your room?” Cameron offered, then distinctly pulled away. Thomas nervously lifted his arms, afraid he’d held on too long. That he’d initiated this and Cameron didn’t really want it.
His fears receded when Cameron slipped his palm into Thomas’s and urged him forward. They walked silently, hand in hand, back down the hallway and around the corner. When they reached Thomas’s room, Cameron gave his palm a squeeze.
“Good night,” he said, his eyes still glowing like sunlit emeralds.
“Good night,” Thomas said. He’d willed his eyes to burn out and calm down on the walk over, but he offered a warm smile.
Cameron let go of his hand and Thomas turned to push his door open. He didn’t go inside though. Instead, he watched Cameron walk away, pining and feeling ridiculous for it but doing it anyway. His pragmatic mind be damned for the night.