Page 36 of Warrior's Cross

Cameron sighed as his eyes slid closed. “To... me?”

“I think we established that the food’s notthatgood.”

Cameron grinned and shifted to the side so he could turn his head, tip it back, and kiss Julian longingly. Julian’s hand came up to hold the side of his face as his other arm wrapped around him, preventing him from turning around all the way. The kiss grew hungrier as he trapped Cameron against him.

“I say we just skip to dessert,” Julian growled finally.

Cameron licked the dampness off his lower lip. “The customer’s always right,” he agreed, his voice husky.

“Damn straight,” Julian growled as his arm tightened around Cameron. He pushed him slightly until he was pressed against the counter.

Hands falling to curl against the rounded edge of the countertop, Cameron arched back against the hard, warm body behind him as his belly pressed against the Formica. “Julian,” he breathed.

Julian hummed in response as he kissed behind Cameron’s ear and began to make his way slowly to his neck. His other hand came up and pulled Cameron’s shirt out of the way to reveal the chain of the gold necklace and more skin for him to nip at. Cameron’s fingers clawed up his shirt to unbutton it so Julian could pull the collar further open, and he hummed in approval when he felt the edge of Julian’s teeth. Julian growled softly in response to the sounds and pressed himself against Cameron, making the smaller man moan raggedly.

Julian grinned and backed away slowly, gently urging Cameron to turn around in his arms. Cameron did, setting his hands on Julian’s chest and sliding them up and down, humming in pleasure as his fingers slid over hard muscles and soft material. He felt dazed when he looked up, and he bit his abused lower lip. “I like... to touch,” Cameron murmured thoughtlessly, cheeks flushing.

“Well, lucky me,” Julian murmured with a smile.

Cameron blinked. “I mean... not just sex. Sometimes more than sex. Or without sex,” he rambled. Despite the embarrassment of what he was saying, he was determined to say it. Cameron wanted to know now if he needed to curb his natural tendencies in order to keep Julian coming back.

“You say this as if I may have a problem with it,” Julian responded in confusion.

“I... some men don’t like... to be petted. It’s not manly, I guess.” Cameron shrugged slightly.

Julian raised an eyebrow and slid his hands deliberately up Cameron’s arms. “You think I’m not manly?” he teased.

Cameron’s eyes widened in panic, and his mind raced to come up with an answer. Julian laughed softly and placed his hands on either side of Cameron’s face, grinning widely.

Cameron sulked. “You’re making fun of me.”

“No, I’m not,” Julian soothed as he pulled Cameron closer.

Cameron laid his forehead against Julian’s cheek. “Now,” Julian sighed contentedly. “Tell me about dessert.”

Cameron chuckled. “I was talking about me,” he admitted.

“I know,” Julian crooned. He pushed Cameron away and held him by his shoulders, tilting his head sideways to study him up and down.

“It’ll do,” he finally announced as he wrapped his arm around Cameron’s chest and pulled him against him. Julian dragged him out of the kitchen and into the living room, narrowly avoiding the white swarm at their feet.

Cameron laughed aloud and clung to him. “But I’m hungry!” he sort-of-protested. “I’ve not eaten since three o’clock!”

“You should really learn to plan better,” Julian chastised as he stopped pulling and released him with a sniff.

“Uh-huh. When was the last time you ate? You worked today, didn’t you?”

“Maybe,” Julian answered carefully, pursing his lips and tilting his head in thought. “I ate lunch.”

Cameron crossed his arms. “Told you that you needed taking care of.”

“You were right,” Julian conceded obediently with a bowed head.

“You remember that. It doesn’t happen often,” Cameron warned.

He pushed himself onto his toes to kiss Julian’s forehead, wondering again exactly what it was Julian did. He suspected now that it had something to do with the police or private detective work, but either Julian couldn’t tell him or didn’t want to scare him. Both of which Cameron could appreciate, but it didn’t assuage the curiosity—or the concern. At least now he was fairly certain Julian wasn’t a male escort or something more sinister.

Cameron pointed to the bedroom. “Go start a fire and pull the quilts onto the floor. We’ll have a gourmet picnic, how about?”

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