Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“Alrighty!” Delight exploded over Cameron’s face, and he immediately hauled Alric to the bed by the arm, pushing him down on the edge of the mattress. Alric allowed this, sitting where directed, half-surprised when he suddenly got a lap full of amorous Cameron. Cameron only hesitated long enough to remove his glasses, tossing them onto the mattress, where they landed with a soft thump. Then he caught Alric’s head and leaned in.

The kiss this time wasn’t a question, but a demand. It was relief and joy and hunger. Alric plunged his hand in that rich, tumbled hair without conscious direction, loving the soft, springy texture of it between his fingers. Cameron’s tongue invaded his mouth sweetly, tangling with his own, and he groaned into the kiss. Kissing him like this was a mixture of being grounded firmly in this moment even as his mind soared. It was like he was flying.

And it confused him.

Alric wanted to get lost in the moment, to get lost in the perfection of Cameron’s lips and his hungry desire, but for some horrible reason, his brain had decided to come back online. Cameron’s question might have been answered but his hadn’t. Alric broke the kiss, leaning back an inch. “Cameron.”

Cameron stopped, eyeing him carefully. “No, after all?”

“I’m just confused what you’re thinking.”

“Oh. Sorry, I forget you can’t read my mind.” Cameron’s hands ran through Alric’s hair, and that shouldn’t have felt as good as it did. Comforting but sensual. Alric suddenly wished dragons could purr.

“I want us to date.”

Alric blinked up at him, his mind re-engaging fully. He had many different responses on his tongue, but the words that popped out were, “So when you said you prefer older men, you weren’t kidding?”

Cameron shook with a soft chuckle, eyes crinkling up. “Is that what you thought? That I was pulling your leg?”

“Well, I could tell you were trying to joke with me and ease my tension. I didn’t put much stock in anything you said.” And he’d been trying to hide just how desperately aroused he was the entire time.

“Damn. I was afraid of that. I was being serious with you, on that at least. I don’t like dating men my age. They’re immature for the most part, and I end up wanting to strangle them. It’s frustrating. Every time I’ve dated an older man, it worked better. And honey, I have to tell you, the first time I laid eyes on you I wanted to seduce you so bad.”

Part of Alric’s unease fled. Cameron had told him several times that he found Alric attractive. Alric appreciated it on many levels as honestly, he needed that reassurance. And he liked hearing it, seeing the truth of it in Cameron’s face. “I’ve always found you stunning.”

“Yeah?” Cameron lit up in a smile that stretched from ear to ear. “You like geeks, huh?”

“I apparently do. I took one look at you and suddenly realized I had a type.”

This delighted Cameron, and he laughed outright before kissing him, quick and sweet. Alric loved it, loved that he could make Cameron happy like this. He mentally kicked himself for not trying harder before to win Cameron over. His own insecurities were at fault here. But Cameron had seen the worst of him and still was here, warm and solid in his arms, and that spoke volumes.

Still, he wasn’t sure if Cameron had really thought all of this through. So much had happened, in such a short amount of time. And Cameron hadn’t really seen what Alric’s life was like, how much the demands of his clan pulled at him. He didn’t want to blindside the man with that knowledge later.

“Cameron, you do understand that whoever choses me, choses to be co-ruler of the clan as well?”

Cameron stopped laughing, but his eyes were warm on Alric’s. “I know. Well, I can’t just say that because I honestly have a very limited grasp of all that entails. And I’m not sure if I’m what anyone would choose as a co-ruler. I’m the youngest by far in this clan, after all.”

That was true. By several hundred years, no less.

“But dating is all about two people figuring out how compatible they are.” Cameron nodded, confident with his own opinion. “And we can’t do that if we don’t even try.”

“I’d love to date you, love to try,” Alric confessed. “I don’t want you to be blind to the burdens and responsibilities that come with me, either. I feel that would be a disservice to both of us. Perhaps sit with me from now on, at least watch and observe as I work. It will give you a better idea of the scope of everything.”

“See? This is why I like dating older men.” Cameron’s fingers carded through his hair again, his touch gentle. It sent pleasurable tingles along his scalp. “Because you don’t irresponsibly think ‘it’ll work out’ and leave it up to fate. You do whatever you can to make sure it works out. I have a serious weakness for competent, smart men.”