Page 35 of Warrior's Cross

“Oh, yeah?” Julian drawled. “What’d you get?”

Cameron stopped in front of his building’s door. “It’s not in the bag,” he said, eyes dancing.

Julian let his eyes rake over Cameron from head to toe and back again, and he raised an eyebrow in interest. “I’m listening,” he assured him intently.

Cameron bit his bottom lip again and his cheeks flushed from more than just the cold. “You should be watching,” he said as he used the key card to open the door so they could enter the building.

“I’m fascinated,” Julian admitted in an amused voice. “And wondering whether I should be as turned on as I am right now.”

Reaching out to grab Julian’s arm and pull him inside, Cameron said, “Oh, I certainly think so.”

Julian growled softly, and the look in his eyes turned slightly predatory as he was pulled along. They clattered up the stairs and stopped at Cameron’s door long enough for him to get it open and pull Julian inside. He shut the door quickly before the snowball parade could sneak out.

“Little angels,” Julian murmured to them as they came thundering toward the door. He extracted four tiny puppy treats from his pocket and tossed them with a flick of his wrist. The stampede of puppies immediately veered away as they charged the treats, and Cameron fell back against the door laughing.

“Never met a dog I couldn’t distract,” Julian murmured with a self-satisfied smirk.

Cameron grinned and pulled off his coat, hanging it on the hooks beside the door. Julian had planned to be here tonight, or soon, since he had those treats in his pocket. That simple act reassured Cameron a lot.

“Give me your coat so we won’t have to lint roller it this time.”

“I enjoyed the last lint roller experience,” Julian argued as he shrugged out of his coat.

Cameron wrinkled his nose as he took Julian’s coat and hung it up. “Enjoyed it?”

Julian reached out and snagged him by his shirt-front, pulling him closer with a slow smile. Without the coat, Cameron only wore the black trousers and the pressed, button-down black shirt, open at the collar. The top of the gold amulet peeked out, glinting a bit in the light as Julian’s fingers gripped the material.

“Anything that gets you on your knees is an enjoyable experience,” Julian murmured.

Blue eyes widened as Cameron let himself be maneuvered. “Me on my knees?” he echoed, licking his lower lip as Julian’s voice deepened. “In front of you?” he added, looking up at the taller man.

“You were,” Julian confirmed with a nod and something like a low purr. He pulled Cameron closer and kissed him gently.

After the soft kiss, Cameron leaned back a bit to study Julian’s face. “You liked that, hmm? I certainly liked seeingyouonyourknees.”

“I would be lying if I tried to be a gentleman and said I didn’t enjoy either experience immensely,” Julian drawled.

Cameron hummed softly and laid his forehead against Julian’s cheek as he pressed their bodies close together. “I don’t want a gentleman. I’d rather have you,” he murmured.

Julian barked a laugh and turned his head to kiss Cameron’s cheek sloppily. “Well, that’s a relief.”

Cameron chuckled and wiped at his cheek with the back of his hand. “How about some dinner? I slaved over it all day,” he joked as he stepped back and picked up the bag.

“Sounds fabulous,” Julian answered cheekily.

Rolling his eyes, Cameron led the way to the kitchen. He started unloading the bag, pulling out all sorts of little boxes and a taller one that held a bottle of wine. Julian stepped upbehind him as he worked and slowly slid his arms around him, watching over his shoulder.

Cameron sighed and relaxed back against Julian’s chest, savoring the feeling of it. “Doesn’t feel like we’ve only known each other for a week,” he said.

“It doesn’t,” Julian agreed as he rested his chin on Cameron’s shoulder.

Cameron hummed contentedly, then crossed his arms and laid his hands over Julian’s as he closed his eyes to enjoy the feel of him so close. “I was hoping you’d be there tonight.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it,” Julian assured him in a whisper.

Cameron unconsciously stroked the back of Julian’s hand. “But you could have,” Cameron murmured. “You chose to come back.”

Julian closed his eyes and let his lips drift slowly over the warm skin of Cameron’s neck. “Yes,” he affirmed softly.

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