Page 45 of Thomas
They said their goodbyes and left the women to enjoy each other’s company. Perhaps it was too soon to hope, and gods knew Cameron didn’t want to jinx it, but tonight felt as if they were finally beginning to settle into this unorthodox arrangement.
He knew from the feeding that Thomas was pleased with him. More than pleased, perhaps. Thomas’s intention had poured into him like warm, sweetened milk. Like the complex vanilla sauce drizzled over the bread pudding, except it was all conjectural and magical and drizzled over his insides. It was odd and emotional but… good. Very good.
Maybe this could be their life together? Eating delicious dinners and running the estate. Clearing out his father’s old files and being mercilessly beaten at chess. It sounded simple and tidy and even better than anything Cameron had imagined.
The start of it was rough, but maybe things were smoothing out?
They reached the curving staircase that led to the upper level. Cameron’s room was on the first floor, past the stairs and down another hallway. He turned to Thomas. “I’m glad that you enjoyed dinner—and thank you for expressing such kind words to Sulee. Has something changed that I am unaware of regarding your appetite?”
Before, Thomas had spoken of his lack of “zeal” for life. Had it returned?
“Maybe,” Thomas said quietly, considering. He met Cameron’s eyes. “May I?” He reached out and lightly brushed his fingers against Cameron’s hand.
“Yes?”
Thomas gently took Cameron’s left hand in both of his, holding them low and within the space between them. “Thank you for trusting me and giving me consent earlier this evening.”
“You’ve already expressed your gratitude, in… in many ways. You don’t need to say it again.”
“I do, because I understand that you don’t prefer this kind of intimacy.” Thomas lowered his head to stare at their hands. “Feeding from the bags was making me feel increasingly ill. Maybe I don’t have a high tolerance for it like other vampires?”
“That could be the case. It doesn’t bother me, but everyone is different.”
Thomas nodded. “Right, very true. I know it’s a common practice under various circumstances, and I tried to wrap my mind around feeding that way, but I just couldn’t?—”
“Thomas.”
He took a breath and raised his heather gaze. Cameron lifted his right hand to hold Thomas’s, making an awkward mass of fingers and clasped palms between them. “You’re alright,” Cameron said, squeezing. “We’re alright.”
Having a better sense of these things, Thomas unraveled their clumped palms, then neatly took one of Cameron’s hands in each of his own. “You mentioned that you didn’t like the feeling of your eyes burning.”
“Horrendous,” Cameron confirmed.
Thomas breathed a clipped laugh. “Fair. But how did the feeding feel? Was it good for you? Was it pleasing?”
The unexpected heat he’d felt within himself returned from the memory of Thomas’s tender and considerate thoughts. Something low at his spine writhed and moved. “It was, yes. Thank you for that.”
“I’m glad. And you’re welcome.” Thomas chuckled again. “I asked you to play chess with me, and we didn’t even play!”
“If you ever need to not play chess again, let me know?”
Thomas smiled, and it reached his eyes. “Alright, I will. Good night, Cameron.”
“Good night.” He gave Cameron’s palms another warm squeeze, then made his way upstairs.
Cameron continued down the hall toward his bedroom, his insides still warm and wriggling around like a cat wrapped in a fuzzy blanket. As if the ancient and mythical entity inside of him knew something that he most certainly did not.
Chapter Sixteen
Snow…
A week later, Thomas rolled out of bed to find the outside world beyond his window dressed in white. The lawn was completely blanketed and the tree branches were outlined with a heavy dusting of powder. A thrill of wonder shot through him as he blinked, taking it all in.
“It snowed overnight!” Thomas made the declaration as he entered the upper library. He’d showered, dressed, drunk half of his coffee and only eaten his muffin before hurrying over to find Cameron.
The older library was so bright from the glaring white outside that he almost needed sunglasses. The air smelled of warm ginger and sugar. It was welcoming and lovely and made his skin and fangs tingle.
Cameron sat on the floor with his back against the couch, sorting files as usual. He paused to look up. “It did indeed.”
