Page 80 of Thomas
“Are you awake?”
Cameron groaned and slowly observed his position, as if from a distance. Something he was witnessing but not actively part of. He was turned halfway onto his stomach with poor Thomas pinned covetously beneath the heavy weight of his body. Thomas’s abdomen and lower back were exposed because Cameron’s palm had dragged his pajama shirt upward and was now resting against Thomas’s upper spine. Cameron’s thigh was firmly placed between Thomas’s legs and pressed against his stiff groin.
The overwhelming scent he’d perceived in his dream was because his face was tucked within the curve of Thomas’s neck. The revelation of it all was like a sharp slap across Cameron’s face.
He blinked and lifted his head. Only then did he realize that not only were his eyes alighted but his fangs had elongated into sharp points. Panicking, he glanced down at Thomas. His silver-blue eyes glowed back at him and his breathing was arduous in the dark silence. One of his pale hands was flat against Cameron’s chest and the other was wrapped around his shoulder.
“Are you with me?” Thomas asked.
Cameron shook his head as his confusion was overtaken by a rush of intense indignity and shame. Shock and horror. “Oh—Oh my Godwhat have I?—”
“No,wait—Cameron!” Thomas held him firmly, his fingers gripping and dimpling his shoulder as Cameron made to pullaway and remove himself from their surprise entanglement. “Just wait, please?Please.” Thomas lifted his hands to hold Cameron’s face, keeping him close. “Look at me.” He met Cameron’s flustered gaze steadily, as if willing him to focus and acknowledge him.
Cameron swallowed hard. He didn’t pull away, but at least shifted his hand from Thomas’s back so he could support his own crushing weight. His heart was racing in his chest and he could barely breathe. “Thomas,” he started, his voice dry and quiet, “I… I’m so sorry?—”
“No, Cameron.” Thomas laced his fingers against the back of Cameron’s head and urged him back down until they were nose to nose. The movement made Cameron’s breath catch, and a waft of nutty sweetness filled his senses once more. Thomas’s breath brushed his lips. “I’m okay with this, but are you? You’ve said that you’re in love with me—that you want to touch me. Do you want this?”
Cameron opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only stare at him in the ambient darkness—taking in the silver-blue lightning eyes of this man that he absolutely wanted in every way.
This striking purebred with his sharp intellect, milky skin, dark lashes and flowery-sweet scent. Thomas, who he’d seen in passing five years ago and had never forgotten since. Now, he was in Cameron’s bed. In his house and in his life being curious and witty. Sweet, patient and lovely. Complicated, grieving and healing.
“Answer me,” Thomas said, touching his forehead and gently brushing their noses. Cameron couldn’t help but smile.Mostly patient, he thought. Thomas was, after all, the determined sort.
“Yes, I want you,” Cameron said, his mind clearing but his fangs relentless. It was weird trying to speak around them. He’d never had to do that before. “I want this. Of course I do.”
“Then take me,” Thomas said, drawing his free leg up to cradle Cameron’s hip. He dragged a palm down Cameron’s chest until it was anchored at his side. “Your fangs are out. If you’re hungry, feed. You have consent.”
Thomas stretched his neck against the pillow, and Cameron stared down at him in awe. He was so… beautiful and willingly vulnerable. It scared Cameron a little.
“I’ve never fed properly before,” he said, his fangs throbbing harder the longer he resisted. He felt like a bear with a fawn pinned beneath him. “Is there anything I should… How do I…”
“My darling, you are a sensitive and perceptive vampire. It’ll come naturally, trust me.” He lifted his chin and closed his eyes, waiting.
Cameron slid his palm against the sheets, lowering himself until his face was just above Thomas’s neck. His soft scent radiated from the warmth of his skin, and Cameron touched his nose to him, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He was nervous and hungrier than he’d ever been in his life, but he wanted to get this right.
“Cameron,please.” Thomas was breathless as his hands slipped around to the dip in the small of Cameron’s back. His fingertips pressed into his flesh, urging.
Cameron opened his mouth, hesitated once more, then softly bit into Thomas’s neck. His skin was tight, hot and sweet, and the feeling of his fangs sinking into him was dizzying and seductive. The complex taste of his blood washed over Cameron’s palate and flooded his senses.
It was much more than winter and almond blossoms—which was a tricky, mind-bending concurrence of elements in and of itself. The innate layers were emotional and fortifying, because this wasn’t just consuming Thomas’s scent. This was hislifeblood and the very essence of his being.
As Cameron fed deeper, tasting and exploring, he felt Thomas uncoil beneath him. Both physically and somewhere more profound within him, Thomas utterly surrendered himself to Cameron’s will. He pulled, selfishly wanting him even more, but winced when he felt the distinct slip of something intangible but intense. Something he could only see and sense through the ancient enchantment of his own vampiric nature.
The moment Cameron lifted his head and looked into Thomas’s glowing eyes, the supernatural energy between them grew and blossomed—manifested into soft, beautiful and colorful light. Greens and blues and silvers floating within the silent air.
Thomas inhaled a deep breath as he stared, awestruck. There was a warm, cocooning sensation, as if they were at the center of an unopened flower bud. Then the magic constricted tightly and all the light fused into them. Cameron gasped, startled and perplexed by the heat and weight filling his center and drawing him down to Thomas. Into him? As if he were melding and becoming part of him, somehow.
When Cameron’s sense of wonder was just beginning to edge into panic from the weight and pressure, it all dissipated. Cameron exhaled as the magic fizzled out and the light surrounding them faded. He looked around. The room was lit with gentle moonlight and silent once more.
“Are you okay?” Cameron whipped his head down to Thomas, who stared up at him with his normal heather gaze.
Thomas’s hands traced up the curve of Cameron’s spine. “I’m wonderful,” he said, a gentle smile on his lips. “And you?”
“I think I’m fine…” Cameron lifted his hips to give the man some space, for God’s sake. “What did I just do? Is this normal with feeding from another vampire?” His core felt warm, tingly and heavy. He glanced down between them to see if they werephysically connected to each other—attached at the groin like conjoined twins. It felt as if they were.
“Cam, my darling, look at me.”
Cameron paused in his scrutinizing and met Thomas’s eyes once more. The latter swallowed and took a visible breath.
