Chapter 20 #2
Obediently, Cameron breathed and imagined this while the feel of Thomas’s palms against his face soothed him. It only took a moment. Soon, the burn behind his irises dissolved. When he opened his eyes, Thomas’s were heather again and he was smiling.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m alright. Thank you.” Cameron lowered his head and Thomas dropped his hands to his sides. “Thomas, if you want to go to the bathhouse, I’ll go. You don’t need to hesitate in asking me.”
Thomas sighed. “I don’t want you to go just because I’ve asked you and you think it’s your duty to oblige me. I want you to do it because you want to—do you understand the difference? Not as a favor for me and secretly a burden for you. If we go, I want you to desire it of your own accord.”
Cameron stilled, considering for a moment. He lifted his chin and met Thomas’s eyes. “Are you scolding me again—”
“I am not!”
Cameron smiled. “I want to go, Thomas. I desire it because it’s with you. Is that unacceptable?”
Thomas paused. He folded his lips and looked uncharacteristically timid, only for a moment. “No,” he said, cutting his eyes away from Cameron’s face. “That’s… perfectly fine.”
It took a ferry, a plane ride and two trains to reach the small town of Antibes, which was nestled along the Mediterranean coast in the south of France. The entire journey, Thomas reminded Cameron of an excited puppy that had been let out of its kennel for the very first time.
The man had never left Eden before, let alone been on an airplane.
Cameron had known that some Eden vampires’ lives were like this—totally closed off from the outside world on their little vampire island.
But knowing one personally and witnessing his introduction to the world at large was astounding.
As Cameron had predicted, Sulee had known someone who knew someone who knew someone else that was still in contact with Lady Dawn Elizabeth Pruitt.
After receiving a number of vicious threats from Lord Charles Blakeley over the alleged “attempted abduction and gross manipulation” of his eldest son, Dawn and her family had fled to France.
Sulee had procured an address, and Thomas had hastily written to her, asking if she was well and if they could meet. The response had come just as swiftly, and within two weeks, the visit had been arranged.
As they navigated the narrow streets and alleyways of Old Town Antibes, Cameron supposed the area exhibited a sense of classic European charm.
The roads were cobbled, and everything was made of worn pale stone in hues of peach or yellow or beige.
The stacked buildings had wooden awnings long faded by the Mediterranean sun.
Ivy vines and other trailing plants had latched themselves upside walls wherever the natural light would reach.
For Cameron, there was too much dog shit.
After seeing it carelessly left on the cobblestones at least three times, his paranoia had firmly rooted itself so that he was almost constantly looking down as they walked.
He was relieved when they finally reached their bed and breakfast, which was a converted three-story home that sat along the rampart walls just beside the sea.
Cameron unlocked the door to the room, stepped inside and immediately paused. Thomas was behind him, and Cameron’s frame was so large that he blocked the entire doorway.
“Are you not going all the way in?” Thomas asked.
“There’s only one bed in here,” he said, annoyed. “I asked for a twin suite with two beds. Not a king suite. We have to go back downstairs—”
“Cameron, just—hold on! May I enter the room, please?”
“Oh, sorry.” Cameron shifted to the side, allowing Thomas to pass over the threshold. “I’ll ask them to fix this.”
“It’s huge,” Thomas said. He set his bag down and walked toward the balcony on the far side of the room. “I think it’s an upgrade.”
“Let’s go talk to the front desk. This isn’t what I asked for.”
“Sure,” Thomas said, stepping away from the window and taking up his bag once more.
Ten minutes later, they were back in the room. It was the only one they had available, apparently, and it was an upgrade. The concierge didn’t really understand what all the fuss was about.
“I can sleep in one of the chairs if you prefer,” Thomas said, having returned to the balcony doors.
“I’ve slept in much worse conditions, believe me.
” Their suite was on the top floor and had an unimpeded view of the vast sea and coastline.
Thomas opened the glass doors and stuck his head outside.
“You can hear the waves breaking against the ramparts. It’s lovely! ”
“No—you don’t have to do that. The bed is massive…” Cameron rubbed the back of his neck, considering. “So long as you aren’t afraid of potentially being crushed by an oversized bear of a vampire in the middle of the night? Perhaps I should sleep in a chair.”
Thomas glanced over his shoulder, his expression sardonic. “I think I’ll be fine. Are you sure you’re comfortable with it?”
Cameron looked at the bed again. It was huge, and the room was cozy enough. He nodded. “I am. It’s fine.”
After they’d unpacked and settled a bit, Cameron plopped down into one of the tufted chairs, which had seen better days.
He supposed it was considered “charming” as well.
More old, shabby things dressed up in trendy euphemisms. “Vintage” was another one.
The chair was probably a biohazard, like his father’s ancient couch in the upper library.
Teeming with desiccated mites—their dead bodies decades old.
Cameron immediately missed his own house, badly.
“We have an hour before it’s time to leave and meet Dawn in the city center,” Thomas said, turning from the open balcony window. He’d practically taken up residence there, soaking in the sunset view. “Should we explore? Have a drink?”
The salty air floating into the room was warm but quickly cooling. The south of France ran much milder in the winter, temperature-wise, than Eden (especially Upper Avalon). But the night and sea would bring a definitive chill.
“I’m exhausted,” Cameron said honestly. “I’m going to shower and rest. You and Dawn should have your privacy to catch up and speak candidly. You certainly don’t need me there.”
Thomas’s expression faltered, seemingly surprised. Which surprised Cameron in turn. “I thought you’d join me so you can meet her?”
Cameron waved a hand. “I shouldn’t be there. The two of you need space to talk and decide if you’d like… in case you want to, well—”
“In case I want to what, Cameron?”
There was an edge to Thomas’s words that made Cameron adjust in his “vintage” seat uncomfortably.
In case you still love her, he thought. In case you want to be with her again.
He couldn’t form the words on his lips, so he sat there, awkwardly, trying to think of something else to say and failing miserably.
Thomas closed the distance between them until he hovered over Cameron’s seated position. He leaned, took hold of Cameron’s chin with his long fingers and lifted Cameron’s face until they were eye to eye.
“Cameron Dwight Ashford, I am not leaving you.”
“Thomas—”
“I’m not leaving you. Do you understand me?”
Exhaling, Cameron bit back the flurry of emotions in his chest. The ferocity of Thomas’s words and evocative gaze threatened to make Cameron’s eyes alight. He steeled himself. “Thomas, the truth of the matter is that you were forced into this arrangement with me. Nothing in it was mutual—”
“I don’t care. Do you trust me or not? Will you believe in me or not?”
Cameron’s heart climbed and stuck itself into his throat, making it harder for him to breathe. He swallowed. “I believe you,” he confirmed quietly. “But if you change your mind, I want you to know that you are free to live your life as you please. I would support you.”
“Thank you, but that isn’t necessary,” Thomas said, standing straighter. He took a visible breath, then blew it out. “I would never run off and disappear on you because it’s convenient for me. I would never do that to you.”
The insinuation of “the way your parents did” floated in the air between them, but of course, Thomas didn’t need to say it. Cameron felt grateful to him for withholding that razor-sharp reminder.
“And the way in which we came together…” Thomas began, finding his words. “The how of it doesn’t matter. We’re together, Cameron. You and me, mutually. That’s all there is, and it’s what I want.”
“Okay, okay,” Cameron said, whining a little. “Please stop before you make my stupid eyes alight.”
The corner of Thomas’s mouth quirked up. “Your beautiful eyes, my darling. Mind your adjectives.”
Cameron waved his hand once more, ignoring the blush warming his cheeks. “Enjoy your meeting with Dawn tonight. I’ll explore with you tomorrow morning.”
“Do you promise?” Thomas asked.
Cameron smiled and exhaled the tension from his shoulders. “I promise.”