Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
As Cameron dried off from his shower, he sensed Thomas’s presence entering his rooms. This business of sensing him was the strangest experience of his life.
To be so acutely aware of another vampire’s scent and essence—to know when they were drawing nearer and to have an absurdly heightened alertness of their physical body felt almost… ill-mannered. Obtrusive and vulgar.
He’d gone his entire life blind to the scent of any other vampire, and now it felt as if he were savagely intruding on Thomas’s space and body. Tracking him like a hunter sniffing out its most illustrious prey. The attraction of his presence was strong and wildly enticing.
The sensation was like having a luscious and heady bouquet of almond blossoms that Cameron not only wanted to stick his face into and inhale deeply but also lick, bite and consume. His body and nature wanted to do things that… should definitely not be done to a bouquet of flowers.
It was overwhelming, and he was doing his absolute best to remain in control of the urges and not wrestle poor Thomas to the floor every time he crossed paths with him.
Yes, Thomas had told him that behavior was acceptable, but even still.
Cameron wanted to make sure he had mastery over the newness of this situation before he let himself plummet headfirst into debauchery.
Cameron moisturized his body, brushed his teeth, slipped on his black briefs and paused with his fingers gripping the terrycloth robe hanging on a hook against the back of the bathroom door.
On the one hand, it felt prudent to wear it and not knowingly walk into the bedroom wearing just his underwear with Thomas present.
But on the other hand, the man had released Cameron’s aura and sat naked in his wet, uncovered lap. Maybe it was too late for prudence?
He disregarded the robe and pulled the bathroom door open.
The bed was directly visible from where Cameron stood in the doorway, and vice versa. The side where Thomas sat perched with a book on his knee was closest to the bathroom. He stopped reading and his eyes met Cameron’s.
“Good evening,” Thomas said.
“Hello.”
“Is this side okay?”
Cameron huffed, smiling. “I don’t think it matters.” History had taught him that whatever side Cameron was on, he wouldn’t be alone there for very long.
He switched the light off, then walked from the bathroom, around the bed and toward the opposite side.
Thomas’s eyes followed him the entire trek.
Openly and unembarrassed. Already, the room smelled of him.
Clean, powdery, sweet and nutty. When Cameron parted his lips to breathe, he could practically taste him.
What have I gotten myself into? He sat on the edge of the mattress with his back to Thomas for a moment, closed his eyes and firmly chastised his nature.
Cameron simply needed to get used to this.
After some time, probably, he’d barely notice it, and the scent wouldn’t be this all-consuming thing.
He’d no longer feel like an apex predator.
“Are you alright?” Thomas asked from behind.
Cameron rolled his shoulders and blew out a breath. “Yes, I’m fine.” He shifted and brought one leg onto the bed, then paused. “Do you want the curtains drawn?”
“Ah, yes, please. Thank you for remembering that.”
“Of course.” Cameron got up again, went to the tall windows and pulled back the curtains to let the moonlight in.
As he returned to the bed, he noticed the book Thomas was holding.
It was his father’s edition of The Art of the Kama Sutra.
“How’s that going?” He gestured with a nod while he climbed into bed.
“Well. Interesting.”
Cameron settled down onto his back beneath the duvet. “Care to elaborate?”
“Not really. No.”
“Alright then.” Cameron chuckled as he stretched his spine against the cool, soft sheets, reveling in the weight of the duvet atop his body.
Quietly, this was his favorite part of the day.
Being freshly washed and tucked into his clean, cozy bed.
The sweet haze of almonds and flowers added a new layer to the comforting experience. He closed his eyes.
The lamp on Thomas’s side flicked off and Cameron felt him settling down across the bed. They were silent for a long moment before Cameron grinned into the darkness. “Are we going to sleep under the pretense that you’re actually going to stay over there and somehow not end up on top of me?”
“Well,” Thomas said softly, and Cameron could hear the smile in his voice, “I thought I’d at least start the night with some semblance of dignity?”
“Whatever for? Just come over here now so that neither of us is surprised in the middle of the night.”
Thomas scooted over until he was pressed into Cameron’s side.
His palm cautiously rested on Cameron’s naked skin just above his navel.
Cameron lifted his arm up until Thomas made himself comfortable, then relaxed with his hand behind his head.
The cloud of him was both soothing and beguiling.
Cameron closed his eyes and breathed. “Better?”
“Mm,” Thomas hummed, and stilled, leaning warmly into his body. “You’re very sweet and obliging with your affections, Cameron… Thank you.” His thumb gently swiped back and forth above his navel like a windshield wiper.
It made Cameron smile. He wanted to tell Thomas that he was obliging because of him. Only for him. Instead, he said simply, “You are welcome, always.” Thomas snuggled in closer. Cameron yawned, then drifted into a deep, calming sleep.
Cameron dreamed vividly. He dreamed of a garden covered in pristine, dusty snow, but he didn’t feel cold.
He was barefoot and naked and the ground was tepid and firm beneath the soles of his feet.
The air cool and fresh against his skin.
And there were almond blossom trees all around him, fully bloomed and with their pinkish-white petals flecked with snow.
The sun was high in the clear azure expanse and glinting off of the immaculate surroundings.
The smell of it all consumed him, wrapping and caressing his body inside and out.
He closed his eyes to the bright sunlight and pulled the sensations in closer.
Breathing and hungry. His fangs pulsed with wanton desire and his nature within him ached and writhed in a way he’d never known.
Cameron?
Was this paradise? Every element surrounding him was like pure ecstasy to his senses and body. He exhaled a groan, pulling all of it closer into himself. He was so very hungry for it.
“Cameron.”
Thomas’s whispered, frantic voice filtered into and cut through the imagery. Cameron’s eyes flitted open and the room was dark blue. A stark contrast to the white and snow and sunlight from his dreams. It was disorienting, and he blinked, confused about where he was for a moment.
“Are you awake?”
Cameron groaned and slowly observed his position, as if from a distance.
Something he was witnessing but not actively part of.
He was turned halfway onto his stomach with poor Thomas pinned covetously beneath the heavy weight of his body.
Thomas’s abdomen and lower back were exposed because Cameron’s palm had dragged his pajama shirt upward and was now resting against Thomas’s upper spine.
Cameron’s thigh was firmly placed between Thomas’s legs and pressed against his stiff groin.
The overwhelming scent he’d perceived in his dream was because his face was tucked within the curve of Thomas’s neck. The revelation of it all was like a sharp slap across Cameron’s face.
He blinked and lifted his head. Only then did he realize that not only were his eyes alighted but his fangs had elongated into sharp points.
Panicking, he glanced down at Thomas. His silver-blue eyes glowed back at him and his breathing was arduous in the dark silence.
One of his pale hands was flat against Cameron’s chest and the other was wrapped around his shoulder.
“Are you with me?” Thomas asked.
Cameron shook his head as his confusion was overtaken by a rush of intense indignity and shame. Shock and horror. “Oh—Oh my God what have I—”
“No, wait—Cameron!” Thomas held him firmly, his fingers gripping and dimpling his shoulder as Cameron made to pull away and remove himself from their surprise entanglement.
“Just wait, please? Please.” Thomas lifted his hands to hold Cameron’s face, keeping him close.
“Look at me.” He met Cameron’s flustered gaze steadily, as if willing him to focus and acknowledge him.
Cameron swallowed hard. He didn’t pull away, but at least shifted his hand from Thomas’s back so he could support his own crushing weight. His heart was racing in his chest and he could barely breathe. “Thomas,” he started, his voice dry and quiet, “I… I’m so sorry—”
“No, Cameron.” Thomas laced his fingers against the back of Cameron’s head and urged him back down until they were nose to nose.
The movement made Cameron’s breath catch, and a waft of nutty sweetness filled his senses once more.
Thomas’s breath brushed his lips. “I’m okay with this, but are you?
You’ve said that you’re in love with me—that you want to touch me. Do you want this?”
Cameron opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only stare at him in the ambient darkness—taking in the silver-blue lightning eyes of this man that he absolutely wanted in every way.
This striking purebred with his sharp intellect, milky skin, dark lashes and flowery-sweet scent.
Thomas, who he’d seen in passing five years ago and had never forgotten since.
Now, he was in Cameron’s bed. In his house and in his life being curious and witty.
Sweet, patient and lovely. Complicated, grieving and healing.
“Answer me,” Thomas said, touching his forehead and gently brushing their noses. Cameron couldn’t help but smile. Mostly patient, he thought. Thomas was, after all, the determined sort.