Page 50 of Thomas
This question, while innocuous in its delivery, was mortifying for Cameron. He was too old to not know about himself in theways that he should. Aside from the important details and tasks that went into properly running the estate and realm, his parents hadn’t explained anything to him. They hadn’t even bothered with trying to find him a physical feeding source. They’d put him straight onto bags because it was easiest.
Who was he supposed to learn this from? Lennon? He would literally rather fall into a pit of scorpions than ask the old manservant for advice about sex and intimacy.
Not wanting to admit the truth, Cameron tried for humor. “Since we’re vampires, shouldn’t the proverb be something like ‘the bats and the spiders?’”
Thomas’s straight nose upturned. He didn’t laugh. “No.”
“Good sir, I’ll have you know that bats and spiders are some of the most fascinating, intelligent and vital creatures to our ecosystems.”
“I wouldn’t dare to disagree with you. Why are you deflecting my question? Do you not want to talk about this, or are you simply embarrassed? Because if it is the latter, you need not be.”
Cameron drew away from Thomas’s face and body so that he could rub his palms against his eyes. The man was so close, and both their eyes were still glowing and the jittery feelings were humming inside of him like aftershocks from an earthquake. “A bit of both,” Cameron said quietly.
“Okay, then… should we not discuss this?”
When Cameron dropped his palms, Thomas’s irises had returned to normal. Cameron’s were still hot, which seemed unfair, somehow. “No, we can. I am… not well educated in the finer details of vampire intimacy.”
“Do you know what it means when your eyes alight like this?” Thomas said, raising his hand once more to gently hold Cameron’s face. He brushed his thumb in an arcing motion across Cameron’s cheek. It made things twitch and warm inside of him.
“I-I know that this is something that happens to all vampires, of course. But it’s never happened tome, until now—and last week when you first fed. I assume it has to do with feeding?”
“Not exactly,” Thomas said, staring intensely. He seemed mesmerized by something. Amazed by Cameron’s stupidity on this topic, maybe? “Feeding does not automatically elicit this response. Feeding is a derivative, usually, like most physically intimate actions. Fundamentally, when your eyes alight like this, it means that something inside of you is excited about something inside of me. And whenmyeyes alight, it tells you that the feeling is reciprocal.”
Reciprocal…
Thomas didn’t remember when they first met at the winter solstice party, but he clearly had some affection for Cameron now given the lovely thoughts he conveyed while feeding.
Was Cameron “excited” by Thomas? He liked Thomas, to be certain. He cared for him, a lot, and Cameron wanted him to be content and healthy under his care. Was that the same thing? Cameron’s nature seemed to think so.
“Close your eyes and take a couple deep breaths for me?” Thomas dropped his hand from Cameron’s face, then sat back, waiting.
He obeyed, letting his eyes drift close as he inhaled and exhaled for several beats. The air was warm against his skin. He felt slightly overheated in his cardigan, but mostly he was filled with delicious cappuccino, hazelnut biscotti and the sparkly, undeniably affectionate feelings gifted to him from Thomas. It took a long moment, but when Cameron opened his eyes again, they were back to normal.
“Better?” Thomas asked, a sweet smile on his face.
Cameron nodded. “Yes, thank you.” He lifted a palm to rub the back of his neck. “So, what do we do with this? Our eyes alighting and this… mutual excitement and such?”
Thomas blinked as if surprised by the question. “Whatever we want. Or… don’t want. It certainly means we’re likely compatible in some significant ways.”
“Alright, then—what wouldyoudo with this?”
“Me?”
“Yes, Thomas.”
Thomas folded his lips to stifle a grin and turned his head toward the circular window. The dimming white light from the heavy snowfall outlined his profile and high cheekbones. Lennon was right. Thomas had definitely gained a little weight within the past week.
“I… I would follow your lead,” Thomas said as he turned back to face him.
Cameron narrowed his eyes. “Nowwho’s deflecting?”
His grin grew wider as he stood. “We should go down for lunch before the food gets cold.”
“More deflecting!”
Thomas didn’t speak but held out his palms to pull Cameron up. When they were both standing, Thomas held on to one hand and squeezed. “May I?” he asked.
“You may,” Cameron said.
