Page 68 of Thomas
But he didn’t. As always and out of careful respect, he resisted the urge.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cameron woke up in his own bed for the first time in three days. Silver-white sunlight poured in through the windows, indicating another snowy and overcast morning. He stretched his naked spine against the softness of his own sheets. It felt good. Wonderful, and yet…
He lay there, staring up at the ceiling and contemplating his recent adventure to the south of France. Cameron had kept his promise and met with Dawn the day after their arrival. To his great surprise, it hadn’t been awkward at all. Dawn had been sweet, polite and an easy conversationalist. She had coconut-brown skin and a halo of dark, looping curls floating about her pretty face. They’d taken a taxi together to the historic Bar Fitzgerald to have drinks while overlooking the Mediterranean coastline.
Sleeping in the same bed with Thomas had been eye-opening. Thomas was a snuggly sleeper, and unfathomably, Cameron hadlikedit. Both nights, the man had not only migrated over to Cameron’s side of the bed but onto Cameron himself. If he lay flat on his back, Thomas would end up nestled into his side. If he turned his back to him, Thomas practically melded himself to Cameron’s spine.
Once, Cameron shifted and faced him, just to see what would happen. Thomas had unabashedly cuddled into his chest and threaded his arm over Cameron’s waist.
Increasingly, Cameron enjoyed the feel and closeness of Thomas. The solidity of his affable presence. Something about the shape of him fit nicely within Cameron’s embrace, and within his bed. He hadn’t known these things about himself—that he was even capable of feeling this way about another vampire.
The only thing Cameron hadn’t liked was sleeping in full pajamas out of politeness. He never usually wore the things because they made him overheated and tangled up in the sheets. His normal practice was to sleep in his briefs, only. But that would have been wildly inappropriate with Thomas there and beside him…onhim.
A knock at the door broke his reverie. “Come in.”
Lennon stepped inside with a fistful of hanging clothes. “Good morning. Your dry-cleaning. Did you sleep well after your trip?” He moved toward the closet as Cameron pushed himself up, not minding his own half-nakedness in front of the manservant.
“I did, thank you. I enjoyed the excursion—and Thomas is more contented after having seen Dawn—but it’s always a relief to be back home.”
Stepping out from the closet, Lennon abruptly stopped and stared at him, then tilted his head. Cameron drew back slightly. “What is it?”
“Your scent is changing,” Lennon said matter-of-factly. “He’s beginning to mark you.”
Cameron rubbed the back of his neck, self-conscious. “Okay… is this a bad thing?”
“Not at all. It simply tells me that the two of you are getting along very well.”
Sighing, Cameron dropped his hand. “Could you please notimmediatelyreport this news to Rachelle? Why does she need to know about everything that goes on in my home? You don’t tell me anything intimate about her and Henry!”
Lennon grinned. “That’s because you don’t care to know anything intimate about her and Henry.”
Cameron considered that. “True.But still—could we keep some things private going forward?”
“Yes, Cameron. And I do apologize. Rachelle and I are both just… amazed and excited. I enjoy watching the developments and she revels in hearing about them.”
“Amazed and excited about what?” Cameron spat, shifting to swing his legs over the side of the bed. “The two of you are in desperate need of a hobby.”
“Yes, my lord. I’ll get right on that. You also need to sort through the mail as soon as possible. Thomas has letters as well.”
Stretching his shoulders and neck, Cameron froze. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Shall I request that he meet you in your office to receive them? Perhaps the two of you can have your coffee and muffins together this morning if you’re not planning to exercise?”
“No, not today. Sure, that’s fine. If he opposes, you can take the letters directly to him?—”
“Oh, I’m sure he won’t mind coming to your office. I’ll have Mira go and ask him now.” Lennon bowed. There was an odd bounce in his step as he left the room.
Cameron dressed in a polo and his heavier, cream-colored knit cardigan and comfortable slacks, donned his house slippers and headed over to his office. The space was quiet when he entered, and snow was blowing chaotically on the other side of hiswindows. He’d barely sat down behind his desk when there was a soft tap against the door.
“Yes?”
One side opened and Thomas poked his head in. His dark hair was back in its homey state—not slick but clean and casually flopped across his forehead. He wore a black sweater with a subtle pattern that emphasized the dark outlines of his otherwise pale features. Like bold text on the creamy pages of a book.
“Good morning,” he said, smiling as he walked toward the desk.
“Good morning—very sorry to interrupt your usual routine. Lennon said that you have mail.”
