Page 85 of Thomas
Perhaps his heart was hardened toward his family, but he didn’t care. The only reason he agreed to Oliver’s request wasbecause Cameron had weighed in, reminding Thomas that he was the eldest and should be malleable to his younger siblings’ requests. Thomas had reminded him that his relationship with his siblings was nothing like his and Rachelle’s, where the latter actually gave a shit about his well-being (for better or worse).
He’d written Oliver back and agreed, though. Trusting in the wisdom of his handsome mate, as always.
Speaking of…Thomas lifted his chin, sensing Cameron’s presence moving toward his office down the hall. He set his teacup down on the side table. “My apologies, if you all will excuse me for just a moment.” Everyone nodded agreeably as Thomas stood and left the room amidst their continuing chatter. He pulled the door shut behind him.
At Cameron’s office, he tapped twice lightly with his knuckles and was beckoned inside. Cameron stood beside his desk dressed in a sharply tailored blazer, dress shirt and slacks because he’d gone out first thing.
As Thomas approached, Cameron lifted his hazel gaze. “Hello, sweetheart.” He extended his large palm. When Thomas was at his side, he took hold of his hand. Cameron drew him nearer and leaned in, placing two neat kisses on his mouth, then dipping and pressing one to Thomas’s neck. Cameron smiled when he raised his head. “How’s the meeting?”
“Oh, completely derailed.” Thomas waved his free hand, his skin flushing from the sweet affection. “We’re just gossiping now. But business is fine for everyone. How was breakfast? How’s Rachelle?” Cameron’s sister had requested that they have their monthly breakfast date on the same day that Oliver and Sasha were scheduled to visit Thomas. Cameron had dubbed today “annoying siblings day.”
“She is well. Henry and the children are also fine. Have you heard word from Oliver yet?”
“I have not. His ferry isn’t expected to arrive for another hour or so. Miles will leave the estate in a bit to pick him up at the harbor.” Rumor had it that Oliver leaving Eden had been quite the ordeal—and that perhaps Prince Alexander had orchestrated it and relinquished the entire sum of his dowry to achieve it.
The whole circumstance was interesting to Thomas. His brother had been sold off to the most desirable and powerful prince in Eden, but he’d rejected his arrangement and run away. Conversely, Thomas had been sold off to the first vampire who had wanted him, and he never once thought to reject nor run away from Cameron. Where the hell would he have gone? What would he do? The only reasonable options to him at the time were to either die or seek revenge. Or both, preferably in the reverse order.
In the end, he’d grown to deeply love and cherish Cameron, and he felt loved and treasured in return. He and Oliver had been thrust into nearly identical circumstances, but their respective reactions had been polar opposites.
“How are you feeling? Now that Oliver’s and Sasha’s arrivals are imminent.” Cameron squeezed his hand, looking into his eyes.
Thomas let go of Cameron’s hand and smoothly shifted so that he was wedged between Cameron and his desk. He wrapped his arms around his mate’s neck, and Cameron’s hands found their way to his hips. “It’s all very strange to me, and I can’t imagine what they want, but I’m happy the day is here. I’ll be glad when it’s over with.” He tilted his head and took Cameron’s mouth in a slow, sensual kiss. Cameron breathed, blessing him with a waft of ginger, honey and heat that made Thomas’s toes curl in his shoes.
Thomas was a horny bastard. He’d learned over time that his mate, indisputably, was not. Cameron would be perfectlycontent to embrace, kiss and snuggle Thomas to death without ever needing anything more.
Even still, whenever Thomas was feeling particularly frisky, Cameron never hesitated to indulge him. Once, Thomas almost asked if Cameron would still prefer to do fifty other things rather than make love to him. But Thomas quickly (smartly?) decided he didn’t want to know the answer. It didn’t really matter.
Cameron lifted from the kiss, and his eyes were alighted deep aqua. “I think,” he began softly, stepping closer into Thomas’s body, “that they want to check on their elder brother to make sure he’s okay.”
Thomas rested his ass on the edge of the desk as Cameron pressed himself between his thighs. “Why the hell would they suddenly care now?” Thomas lifted one leg to anchor it at Cameron’s hip. He pulled Cameron in by his lapels, kissing and nipping at his neck and ear.
“Perhaps they’ve always cared but things have changed as of late.” Cameron gripped Thomas’s thigh anchored at his waist, and he leaned in with his hips. The hardness of him made Thomas breathless—like they were about to make love through their clothes. “Oliver has firmly rejected his engagement and your fathers’ wishes, which has major consequences with regard to their admittance to the Royal Order and Central Eden politics. Sasha has left her long-term arrangement as well. They’ve both broken free from your elder father’s hold.”
“None of that has anything to do with me,” Thomas said hastily in between kisses, his voice muffled. Did he have time for a quick bite?
“Hm, maybe not directly, but you absolutely set the precedent for it.”
Thomas lifted his head at that. “In what way?”
“You rejected your elder father’s wishes first by attempting to run away.”
“Yes, but I failed. Horribly.”
Cameron lifted a shoulder. “The act of defiance was still noted. They were both young when it happened, and it likely made a strong impression on them—that their elder brother was bold enough to challenge their terrifying father’s will.”
“Ithink you’re reading too deeply into this,” Thomas said, pressing another soft kiss to his lips and inhaling his gingery scent. “But I also trust your judgment, so we’ll see.FuckI’m turned on now—do we have time for something quick? Do you still have that petroleum jelly in your drawer?” Thomas had put it there for just such an occasion.
Cameron huffed. “Sweetheart, we do not have time foranythinginvolving petroleum jelly. You should probably get back to your meeting before vampires start wandering around the house, looking for their host.”
“Ugh, to hell with them. You smell divine…” Thomas took hold of Cameron’s hand at his waist and moved it around and down until his fingers were stroking his stiff cock between his thighs. Thomas groaned in a sigh and whispered against his mouth, “You intend to send me back out there like this? In such a harried state?”
Cameron’s fingers playfully squeezed and Thomas gasped, thoroughly pleased. “My young, insatiable husband.”
“Goddammit, Cam, you’re young too—don’t give me that.” Cameron caressed him again and Thomas’s belly tensed. The usual glittery sensation tingled and rushed up his spine. “Oh, but give methat. I’ll happily take all of that… May I have you tonight, please?” It had been a while since the last time. Thomas didn’t count the days, but he tried to give his mate some space in-between.
“Yes.” Cameron chuckled his response softly as he kissed the corner of Thomas’s mouth. “We’ll return to this later, I promise.”
The day dragged on leading up to Oliver’s arrival. By the time Lennon ushered his younger brother into the small sitting room, Thomas was rigid with tension.
