Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“I think you may be hungry again,” Alric teased.

To Cameron’s disappointment, Alric straightened, releasing him so that Cameron could step free of him. The moment Cameron was away from the strength and power of Alric’s frame, he felt decidedly cooler. Granted, summer weather in the Alps wasn’t exactly warm to begin with. Cameron had felt barely warm most of the day. It wasn’t that which made him feel bereft. It was something else. Alric’s release of him left a sort of echo…a disconnect. Certainly not as safe. Something in his animal brain demanded he move back into Alric’s arms.

But that was just silly. Alric was a stranger. A handsome, protective stranger, but still a stranger. Maybe he did need to eat.

“Would you have dinner with me? I know a place the locals enjoy. Another hole-in-the-wall that would get us away from most of these crowds,” Alric offered.

“Are you sure? I feel like I’ve monopolized your entire day.” Cameron wavered. He was torn over the words even as they left his mouth. He’d been enjoying his day with Alric and didn’t want to see him go just yet, but maybe it was for the best. He wasn’t thinking clearly at all where the man was concerned. Some distance would help him remember why he’d come to Europe in the first place.

“I’ve enjoyed showing you my home. It’s reminded me why I love it and have lived here so long. Please, a quiet dinner will help to refresh us both.”

Okay, so maybe somewhere a little quiet away from the noises and crowds did sound like a slice of heaven. He didn’t mind people, but a day spent in the middle of many thousands of them was starting to wear on him.

“That’d be great.”

Alric reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He hit a number and lifted it to his ear. The conversation was quick but sounded polite in comparison to telling the other man off. Cameron just wanted to watch him, admiring his confidence and the sense of authority rolling off him. It was nice. He was tired of people his own age who came off with a smug, know-it-all attitude. Alric’s quiet confidence was from years of experience. Was he older than Cameron had first thought? He’d thought maybe mid-thirties, but was he older, like in his forties?

Maybe it was the dark suit and tie that still appeared perfect despite the day of being jostled by the crowd. He couldn’t picture Alric in jeans and a T-shirt. Though, he wished he could picture the man naked.

Not that Cameron was looking for a Daddy. He was quite capable of managing his life on his own. He didn’t need anyone doing anything for him.

But there was no denying that it was nice to just relax and let someone else handle things for a little while.

The conversation was over in a few seconds, and Alric was returning his phone to his pocket. He looked at Cameron with a small smile and warmth in his dark eyes. “Shall we?”

“Who was that?”

“A friend. I asked him to go ahead of us and make sure a quiet table is reserved.”

“The owner won’t mind?”

Alric shook his head, a smile playing faintly on his lips. He deftly positioned Cameron on his left side while directing him away from the crowd and onto a quieter street, moving away from the heart of the festival. This wasn’t the first time Alric had done that. It was clear something was wrong with his left arm. He rarely used it and actually kept it tucked away behind his back, even when he gestured. Cameron wanted to ask, but he was sure anything out of his mouth would sound rude or make Alric uncomfortable.

But how he positioned Cameron was incredibly sweet and protective. He was keeping his stronger arm free to hold off the crowds and defend Cameron as needed.

They walked four blocks away from the main thoroughfare of the festival, the sounds of music and people growing fainter with each step. Streetlamps were starting to pop on to hold back the growing darkness. Cameron knew he should feel nervous about being in a city he didn’t know after dark, but he couldn’t summon up the logical fear. Not with Alric.

In the middle of a block, Alric started down what looked to be a dark alley, and Cameron’s self-preservations finally kicked in. Thank God.

“The restaurant is down this alley?” Cameron asked, hesitating on the sidewalk.

Alric flashed him a reassuring smile and motioned toward a set of stairs leading down into what looked like a basement for the building. “This place is a little more true to your description of hole-in-the-wall.”

“You do know that most horror movies include a part where the hero idiotically goes down into a basement,” Cameron muttered, still warring with himself over whether to continue or turn back. He refused to be too stupid to live.