Page 37 of Warrior's Cross

“You don’t want to watch the ball drop?” Julian asked with a raised eyebrow.

Surprised, Cameron looked over to the clock at the desk. One minute until midnight. “I forgot,” he said. “But I’d rather watch you,” he added frankly. Julian didn’t seem to mind him being blunt and forward. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.

“You’d rather watchmedrop?” Julian teased as he reached out and snagged Cameron by his shirt again.

“It’s a gorgeous sight, you on your knees,” Cameron said, his voice going a little hoarse.

Julian gave a quirk of his eyebrow and his lips twitched slightly. “I find myself fascinated by you,” he admitted in a low voice as he stood in front of Cameron.

“Ifascinateyou?” Cameron asked incredulously. “I thought it was the other way around.” He opened his mouth to say something more, but the clock he kept on the mantel next to the bedroom began chiming softly. “It’s midnight,” he stated needlessly.

Julian glanced toward the bedroom and then back at Cameron wordlessly so that their eyes locked on each other. Long seconds went by as the clock chimed. He stepped closer fluidly as the clock rang twelve and slid his arms around Cameron’s waist. “Happy New Year,” he offered quietly.

“Happy New Year,” Cameron responded, wrapping his arms around Julian’s neck and pressing their mouths together again.

Julian returned the kiss, keeping it gentle. “I was always told that whatever you did on New Year’s Day, you were going to do all year,” he whispered to Cameron when they parted.

Cameron gazed up at him. He wondered again if this were just a dream, because it had been a dream come true so far. “So what are you doing today?” he asked hesitantly.

Julian smiled widely. It made him look five years younger and not nearly as serious. “You,” he answered mischievously.

Cameron couldn’t help but grin in response. “You’ve got twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes.”

“You really want dinner that badly?” Julian rasped.

“I’ll eat tomorrow,” Cameron assured him. “Maybe you can fix me breakfast.”

“Oh, love, you don’t want me to cook!” Julian laughed. “You pack that food up,” he added in a more serious voice. “We’ll eat after dessert.”

Cameron warmed at hearing the endearment, and his body flushed at the thought of what was to come. “All right. Be right there.” He moved over to the bar and started packing the boxes back into the bag, well aware that Julian watched him for a moment before turning on his heel and heading for the bedroom.

After refilling the bag and stashing it in the refrigerator, Cameron gathered up the puppies, petting each of them a little before putting them in the playpen with some toys. When he finally turned to the bedroom, his heart was thrumming. He knew he shouldn’t be nervous after the couple of nights they’d spent together the week before, but he couldn’t help the feelings Julian caused in him. He didn’t really want to.

All year, Julian had said. Cameron walked over and stopped between the screens, watching Julian fuss with the covers of the bed and wondering how this would turn out. He wasn’t sure he believed in happy endings, no matter how much of a prince Julian seemed to be.

He figured his heart would be broken no matter what happened. But seeing the man before him, his lover, he also knew it would be worth it.

As he watched, Julian seemed to sense his presence and he turned to look at him. For the first time, Cameron didn’t blush under his intense gaze. “I could get used to this,” he murmured as they looked at each other.

“Good,” Julian returned bluntly as he let his eyes drift over Cameron’s body in frank appraisal.

Cameron straightened his shirt and felt the necklace move against his skin. He lifted a hand to touch the gold disc, and his fingers stroked along the edge. Julian watched the movement, his black eyes flashing with a sudden concentrated interest. He moved suddenly, swooping in on Cameron and pulling him off his feet and against his chest.

A soft sigh was Cameron’s answer as he set a hand on each of Julian’s shoulders. He turned his chin to kiss Julian’s temple. “Do you like seeing me wear it?”

“I do,” Julian whispered as he allowed Cameron to slide down his body to place his feet on the floor. Cameron reached for one of Julian’s hands and lifted it to press long fingers to the pendant. Julian’s eyes met Cameron’s as he let the gold sit against his fingertips. They were dark and unreadable.

Cameron kept his eyes trained on Julian’s, though it was difficult.

He wasn’t one for being so forward, and this was everything he had always avoided, this singular focus Julian seemed to have. He’d always imagined finding someone comfortable and easygoing, much like himself. Julian was a totally new type of lover: intense, dramatic, and highly unpredictable.

He moved Julian’s hand slightly, dragging it across his sternum and throat, and then he sighed soundlessly. Julian’sgrip tightened around Cameron’s neck, and he lunged forward and kissed him hungrily.

Gasping, Cameron grabbed hold of Julian’s shoulders to keep from pitching backward. He moaned as their lips met; he could almost feel Julian’s desire as a tangible thing, a thing that Cameron evoked. He shivered all over. Julian pushed him back hard, pinning him to the wall beside the bathroom door with the weight of his body, holding him by his throat.

A soft cry tore out of Cameron as his back hit the wall; his eyes widened as he lifted one hand to cover Julian’s at his throat and the other to grip at Julian’s side. Then he realized he could still breathe with no problem. Groaning, Cameron shifted his hips against Julian’s weight, trying to get some friction even though he was unsteady on his tiptoes, caught in Julian’s arms. He’d already been hard just from the anticipation of the coming rendezvous; now he was almost painfully so.

The aggression from Julian hit a hot button Cameron hadn’t known he possessed.

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