Page 71 of Thomas
That much rang true as Cameron considered it. Thomas was many wonderful things, but a “jokester” was not one of them. If anything, his character was more serious and direct. Truly, he was the “determined” sort, as Thomas so often declared.
Even still, Cameron didn’t know what to do with Thomas’s candid confessions. He wanted to dosomething, but what and how, he had no idea. Where to even begin.
“You confuse me,” Thomas went on in Cameron’s silent deliberation. “When I feed from you, your nature tells me one thing, unequivocally. But then your demeanor and words tell me something else entirely. So, I don’t know… I am never certain in my behavior toward you. If, should I act on whatIfeel, it will truly be welcomed or not.”
“I don’t mean to confuse you.”
“I know you don’t.”
Cameron squeezed his hand beneath the water. “You make me think about things that I… I’ve had no interest in—nor have I ever cared to dwell on. The revelation is awkward inside of my head. That I distinctly didnotwant something. But suddenly, I do want it. And specifically, from you.”
“What do you want from me, Cameron?” Thomas’s heavy lashes blinked slowly beneath the intensity of his gaze. He sat absolutely still, waiting for an answer.
I want you to kiss me, Cameron thought, searching Thomas’s eyes.I want to touch you. I want you to feel contented andpeaceful in our home. I want you to stay with me and never leave.
Cameron swallowed hard, stifling those thoughts because they felt too needy and naked. He was already physically naked. He only had so much nerve. “Would you release my aura?” he asked, then took a breath. “I’d like to know what it feels like. Only if you’re comfortable doing so… You shouldn’t feel pressured?—”
“I would be honored to do that for you, Cameron. Do you trust me?”
Cameron nodded, feeling hypnotized by his ethereal gaze. “I trust you.”
Thomas let go of his hand and stood in the water. He stepped over so that he was standing in the gap between Cameron’s thighs, looming over him but not touching him. With his chin raised, Cameron’s throat bobbed heavily. His nature twisted low at his spine and the heat flared up behind his irises in anticipation.
“Lennon told me that today marks our two-month anniversary… Ah, I mean… well, your two-month anniversary of living with us.” Internally, he cursed himself. He was nervous and trying to make conversation to lighten the intensity of the moment, but he sounded ridiculous.
Thomas lifted his palms from the water and gently cradled Cameron’s head. Slowly, his eyes warmed and burned blue-silver as he stared down at him. “Happy anniversary, my darling.”
Cameron’s heart warmed. He could barely breathe. “Happy anniversary.” As Thomas leaned in, he stepped closer so that the nakedness of his hips and groin brushed Cameron’s skin. One of Thomas’s hands traced around to his upper back while the other cradled his head.
Thomas licked his neck in a slow, unapologetic stroke, then bit down. Cameron inhaled a soft breath and closed his eyes to the usual warm rush of gratitude and affection. This time, though, there was something more. A new, subtle thread weaved into the fabric of Thomas’s thoughts and actions. Something assured and profound.
It took Cameron’s breath away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Cameron’s hands found Thomas’s waist in the water and cautiously snaked around to his lower back, Thomas took that as an invitation. As he fed, he shifted one knee up onto the marble bench, and then the other so that he was straddling Cameron’s hips.
When the man’s large palms slid up his spine and urged him even closer, Thomas rested down on top of him, exhaling a soft moan from the sensual contact of naked and sensitive flesh. His cock fully aroused and pressed into Cameron’s abdomen. The delicious feel of Cameron’s muscled and powerful body beneath his as he held Thomas in his arms.
The soothing water flowed around them, and Cameron’s blood tasted of sweet ginger and intoxicating spices. Thomas fed deeper, the allure of Cameron’s nature calling out to him. Yearning for him. He felt the unmistakable and yet intangible knot of it inside of Cameron, then coaxed it with his sincerest thoughts and intentions. His conviction, desire and love.
Cameron’s nature slipped from him in an exhilarating rush of heat and enchanting light. Thomas felt like a magician that had whipped a beautiful handkerchief from inside his breastpocket, but the handkerchief was ablaze with emerald-green fire. Cameron gasped audibly and tensed as he held Thomas even tighter, as if Thomas were an anchor keeping him from floating and drifting away.
After the initial rush of pleasure and tension, Cameron’s muscles went lax, and he slouched back against the edge of the pool. His broad chest heaved between their bodies and his hands lazily slid down to Thomas’s hips.
Cameron had trusted him. He’d finally said yes to Thomas’s intention and desire. This truth—along with every other wonderful sensation that being with this man offered him—made Thomas dizzy with love and lust. Euphoric with being alive and wrapped around Cameron’s vibrant energy and rugged body.
Thomas lifted from his neck to find Cameron’s eyes half open and alighted in the same vivid color as his aura. Thomas’s eyes glowed in return, staring at his languid, contented expression. His full lips were parted as he took shallow breaths in the silence, his chest still heaving.
Without a word or second thought, Thomas leaned into him, softly brushing their noses as he tilted his head and pressed into Cameron’s mouth. Thomas kissed him unapologetically, moving his chin and urging Cameron’s mouth to open wider to him. Wanting and needing to taste more of him. To have and feelmore.
Cameron’s breath hitched but his mouth relaxed, then moved with Thomas’s effort. Cameron’s tongue pushed against and tasted his in return while his hands caressed up the slick stretch of Thomas’s spine to embrace him. He had been wanting to kiss Cameron forweeks. There had been so many moments where he’d fought the urge—for fear of crossing a boundary or burdening him with unsolicited affection.
But Thomas kissed him now. He kissed him without holding anything back—possessively gripping his head and shoulders. Wrapped around him like an impious snake. He couldn’t help himself. The sensation was like finally inhaling a deep breath after weeks of damn near suffocating.
Thomas only pulled up from his mouth because he felt the undeniable hardness of Cameron’s cock underneath him in the water. Cameron’s eyes were still alighted and he was softly panting as he stared up at him. Thomas lifted slightly and set the fingertips of one hand at the center of Cameron’s chest. Cautiously, he crawled them lower and toward his navel.
“Can I touch you?” he asked quietly, his fingertips tracing lower still. “You are capable of being sexually aroused. Personally, this is a wonderful development.”
