James

James didn't know how Aidan would react to the raw sight of his pain. Bursts of emotions were not exactly included in the deal they had. They didn't talk much. They slept together. That was it.

Being seen that vulnerable froze James' mind. It seemed like the surrounding room blurred. Isabella's personal items, whose presence was so unavoidable a minute before, had vanished from his sight. There was only the sheer presence of the other vampire left. The movement of his chest because of his tense breathing. His blue eyes slightly more open than usual. His jaw clenched as if he was trying not to talk. Even with all the feelings James tried to deal with, or maybe because of them, he could not prevent himself from thinking about how beautiful Aidan was.

James didn't move. He was afraid to even breathe. Maybe he was on the verge of losing what they had - whatever it was -  and being abandoned again. He panicked, trying to read the other vampire's expression. There was a flicker of surprise in his eyes that was quickly replaced by sadness and maybe compassion.

Aidan walked carefully toward James as if he were afraid of scaring him, and sat on the bed next to him. The warmth of his body and his scent overwhelmed James. He felt he could not control his emotions anymore, like a storm coming from the past.

Aidan didn't have the time to reach James with his arm: the younger vampire had already collapsed against his chest, sobbing even harder than before. Aidan's hand stayed in the air for a second before finally landing on James' shoulder, while his other hand reached for his arm and his chin rested on his head. James could hear Aidan's heart, pounding in his chest, louder and faster than he had ever felt.

James hated himself for being that weak. But Aidan held him tight, stroking his hair and speaking soothing words in Welsh that James could not understand. Not once did he try to pull back, or to press James to get over it. On the contrary, his embrace got more daring in its tenderness. He kissed James' hair and traced slow circles on his back.

Eventually, the sobs got fainter, and James could breathe again. At this point, he tried to kiss Aidan and undress him, as they were used to by now. But Aidan resisted. He didn't leave him but he stayed still and took gently his hand away. The younger vampire searched Aidan's eyes for an explanation, and the tender gaze he received made him understand the meaning of his gesture.

The intimacy they were sharing that night was something different from everything they had experienced together before. It was more meaningful, more genuine. And at the stunned look on James' face, Aidan answered with a sad smile. He squeezed his hand and kissed it.

So James followed his lead and nestled against Aidan on the bed. And nothing more happened.