Page 70 of Thomas
Wildly curious, Cameron leaned forward. “May I be privy to the unfiltered thought? Just this once.”
Thomas lifted his heather gaze and spoke in earnest. “The unfiltered thought was to tell you thatyoucould hound me for sex and attention, if you desired it. Ironically, I might welcome that behavior from you.”
Cameron sat back in his chair, his heart beating in his throat and his cheeks overwarm. “Oh.”
“Right.” Thomas’s lashes fluttered down as he lifted his cup to his mouth once more.
The sky was clear on the night of the bathhouse appointment. The expanse was like the darkest velvet sprinkled with a million flecks of crystal. Finally, the snow had let up, but the remains were piled high and blanketed over the fields and trees.
That morning, Lennon had informed Cameron that today marked exactly two months since Thomas had arrived at the Ashford estate. Cameron had marveled. On the one hand, two months felt like nothing at all. On the other, it was strange to recall that not so long ago, Thomas hadn’t even existed within his world.
It wasn’t that Thomas had filled a space or gap in Cameron’s life. Cameron hadn’t been living day to day feeling as if he was missing anything.
It was more like Thomas had come along andenhancedhis existence. He’d turned the colors up a little brighter and made the atmosphere warmer with his witty conversation and intriguing conjectures. He’d made life even cozier with his tender affections and sweet patience.
Cameron wanted to express this to him, but he had no idea how without making it terribly awkward. He’d already confessed a while back that he found Thomas physically attractive. And quietly, it was even more than that. With each passing day, Cameron found himself growing more curious about… things. Carnal things he’d never cared to think about before.
It was uncomfortable to wrestle with—especially since he’d made such a big fuss about promising Thomas that he didnotthink about him (or anyone) in that way. And yet here Cameron was, a mere two months later, wondering what it might feel like to kiss Thomas. What it would be like to taste his mouth, and… perhaps his blood as well. What would it be like to feed from him?
Thomas had told him that he needed to have a deeper, emotional connection with a vampire before having physical intimacy. He’d loved Dawn when he did those things with her. Could he love Cameron in that same way?
A tasteful and elegantly dressed employee of the baths welcomed them upon their arrival, then guided them back to the men’s changing area and gave them a brief tour. As the invitation had promised, Cameron and Thomas were the only vampires present. The lights were cast low and soft. Meditative musicwith string and woodwind instruments played over the discreet sound system.
As they undressed and draped themselves in complimentary robes, Cameron looked anywhere and everywhere except at Thomas. The nervousness and insecurity had taken root inside Cameron in a gnarled, twisted way. He barely knew what to do with himself and how to manage it.
When the attendant returned and guided them into the main bathing area, Cameron’s eyes widened and Thomas sucked in a breath beside him.
The roof was open to the night sky. The space formed a sizable rectangle of creamy marble pillars and ornate moldings beautifully carved around the edges. Oversized torches burned openly and high along the walls with large pits of fire. The sensation was like stumbling upon an ancient lair where sacrifices were made to the gods.
Steam rolled and swirled atop the green-tinted water, and it smelled of herbs and earth and stone. An elaborate waterfall made of red rock was situated at the opposite end of the pool, so the only sound was the gentle trickle of water against the cold silence of winter.
“This is breathtaking,” Thomas admired, lifting his chin to take in all the details.
“The showers are through here.” The attendant gestured to a fanciful stone corridor just off the main bathing hall. “There are towels available inside and hooks for your robes as well. If you need anything more, I’ll be outside in the main corridor. Please enjoy yourselves.”
The man bowed, and Cameron and Thomas thanked him. When he was gone, Thomas said, “Well, shall we shower first?”
“Mm,” Cameron said vaguely, then walked ahead toward the stone hallway.
Thomas continued talking even as they showered side by side, commenting on how beautiful the facilities were. Cameron agreed with him, but was so focused on not accidentally gawking at him in his nude state that he had difficulty engaging in the conversation.
Cameron left the showers first, wrapped an oversized towel around his waist and went back into the main bathing room. The fires burned brightly in the large pits overhead, the sensation mesmerizing juxtaposed against the night sky.
He folded his towel and set it down along the edge, then gingerly stepped into the water. Just beneath the surface, there was a stone ledge for sitting that lined the entire length of the pool. When Cameron sat, the warm water came up to his chest and below his shoulders. He breathed in deeply and untensed his upper back, letting the heat and herbal scents and silence calm his frantic nerves.
“How’s the water?”
At the sound of Thomas’s voice, Cameron had the natural urge to turn around to acknowledge him. He started to, tensed, then remembered to stay looking forward. “It’s perfect.” He rubbed a wet palm down his face and took another breath.
Thomas climbed in beside him, making the water ripple and splash only a little. Once he was settled and the surface of the pool stilled, there was a beat of silence before Thomas said, “So… are you alright? Are you going to avoid making eye contact with me the entire time we’re here?”
Cameron turned his head then and met his bright gray eyes. His dark brown hair was wet and slicked back. His naked shoulders, neck and face were dewy and as milky as the marble pillars surrounding them. “No,” Cameron said, lifting a hand to the back of his neck. “Of course not. I-I wanted to give you… I meant to respect your space.”
“You could do less of that, quite frankly,” Thomas said. His fingers found Cameron’s beneath the water. Cameron turned his hand, accepting his palm as Thomas entwined their fingers.
“You say these things,” Cameron said softly, “but I’m never sure how to take them. If you mean them… if I’m welcome to act on them or if they’re in jest.”
“I would never say something to you that I don’t mean. I’m not really the ‘jesting’ type.”
