Page 66 of Thomas
Cameron nodded. “That works for me.” He twisted toward the nightstand, set his book down and clicked off the lamp as Thomas went to draw one of the long curtains away from thewindow. The moon was bright in its half-shape, suspended high in the dark sky and reflecting on the black mirror of the sea.
Thomas walked to the opposite side of the bed. “Dawn and I think Wyatt may have been the one to inform my family of the elopement. Do you remember him?”
“That obscenely chatty man from Rachelle’s party?”
Thomas climbed into bed. “You have an excellent memory. Yes, him. I think I should confront him about it.”
“Agreed… What if he is, in fact, the one who betrayed you? Shall we plot his murder as well? It is a widely accepted truth that snitches end up in ditches.”
Still sitting upright, Thomas barked a laugh. His chest rattled with his amusement, and he had to catch his breath. He wiped discreet tears from the corners of his eyes. “May I just say, I absolutely love that you have no qualms about my predilection for vigilante justice.”
“I think it’s more that we both have a rather macabre sense of humor.”
“What?” Thomas said in mock offense. “You wouldn’tactuallyhelp me execute a murder? You tease.”
“I already told you I’d rather pay someone. I stand by that.”
Thomas chuckled again. Cameron never failed to surprise him, always in a good way. He settled down onto his back. “You’re not going to demand that we construct some kind of pillow barrier between us to ensure I remain on my own side for the night?”
Cameron turned his head against the pillow. “You’re the one who will be crushed if you come over here. I’m not in any danger, I don’t think. You can erect one for your own safety, if you wish?”
Thomas turned to his side, facing him. “Being crushed by a bear of a vampire sounds like a lovely way to go, honestly. I can think of much, much worse ways to die.”
Cameron huffed, then shifted his head back to the ceiling. “Macabre.”
Throughout the night, Thomas dreamt the sweetest dreams. His mind invoked sensations of being wrapped in heat, power and love. The taste of spicy-sweet ginger filled his every sense and comforted him deeply. He slept like he had never done so before. Heavily and peacefully.
He shifted, sighing and humming contentedly against the firm and warm body pressed against him. The physical contact was so satisfying andgood—for once, he didn’t feel like an abandoned island floating in an infinite sea. His fist gripped a soft, cottony material and his head was rested upon something much harder than the pillow he’d fallen asleep on.
He opened his eyes.
The room was no longer cool and dark but drenched in pale morning light. And the body… it wasn’t pressed against him.Hewas pressed againstit. Cameron. Cameron’s body.
Thomas lifted and gasped, realizing he was practically glued to the poor man’s side and halfway atop his frame. He’d even had the audacity to tangle his leg over Cameron’s thigh. Thomas slipped it away now, sheepish as Cameron stared up at him, still lying on his back.
Thomas unclenched his hand from the material at Cameron’s chest. “I’ve migrated.”
“To put it mildly.”
“I’m very sorry. You should have woken me.”
Cameron stretched the length of his spine and raised his free arm up, groaning in a yawn. When he finished, he slipped his palm behind his head and his eyes fluttered closed. “It’s fine.”
It took Thomas a moment to realize that Cameron’s other arm was lightly wrapped around his torso, his hand restingjust below Thomas’s hip. The revelation warmed him. He’d assumed that this migration was probably largely unwelcome. But maybe…
Timidly, Thomas rested back down at his side, watching Cameron’s expression the entire time. The man didn’t open his eyes. Thomas didn’t dare lift his leg back over Cameron’s thigh, but he straightened his own beside his so that they touched. He spoke quietly. “Did you sleep well?”
“Mm. You?”
“Very well.” He snuggled closer, reveling in the feel and heat and scent of Cameron. Thomas felt a little like a thief pushing his luck. At any given moment, he’d be found out and the heist would be over. When he hadn’t been conscious and awake to restrain it, his body and nature had taken advantage and guided him closer to what it wanted.
He felt grateful for it. He was also hungry.
“Cameron?”
“Yes?”
“Should we… not play chess?”
