Cameron let out a surprised laugh that both their minds had gone to the same place. On instinct, he reached out and clasped the larger man’s hand. It was warm and heavy, providing an anchor point Cameron hadn’t known he needed. The man smiled softly at him, but his eyes were still creased in concern.
“I live in the city, around twenty minutes from here.”
The man’s smile could have stopped traffic and downed planes. His teeth were pearly white and rather large—hinting at perhaps a toothy shifter beast. Cameron had small teeth, much less necessary for his octopus self.
“That’s such a relief. I also live in the city. My office and home are in the financial district.”
“Oh, I live in the meatpacking district, so not too far!” Cameron said, unconsciously bouncing up onto the balls of his feet. The two areas of the city were only a bus ride away, or a short car ride if one were so inclined. Cameron didn’t own a car, but rideshares were easy enough to come by. The man’s expensive-looking clothes made Cameron think transportation wouldn’t be a huge problem…so long as he wasn’t an aquarium-owning serial killer. Or just another asshole who would get close to Cameron only to break his heart.
Cameron fell back down onto the flats of his feet. How easily he was forgetting his usual reasons to be wary. There was something about the man, or maybe their fated connection, that put Cameron at ease. He reminded himself and his octopus, who was currently wiggling in excitement, that they needed to keep their guard up.
“You said you’re trying to go on a work trip? What do you do for work?” he asked, trying to suss out a little more about the man. People were typically easy for him to read, but his brain felt fried, and his senses could still barely discern up from down.
The man’s smile turned crooked, and he squeezed Cameron’s fingers. “Maybe we should start with more basic introductions first?”
Cameron’s blush deepened, heat spreading down his neck and under the collar of his shirt. “Sorry… Wow, I must seem like some kind of gold digger, asking what you do for work right off the bat. I promise I don’t care what you do; I was just trying tobe polite. I work for a nonprofit—which, come to think of it, is probably not good proof that I’m not a gold digger ‘cause we’re paid a lot less than our industry partners. But I’m very happy with my salary and lifestyle, I just?—”
The man let out an unapologetically loud laugh and yanked Cameron back into his arms. Cameron immediately stopped his rambling, and he felt his heart rate and rapidly spiraling thoughts slow as he settled into the man’s warmth once again. This had never happened to him before. Usually, he found touch tolerable at best and panic-inducing at worst, but the mere smell of this man was warming him from the inside out.
Fate sure had a way to get what it wanted.
“I made no such assumptions about you, but I appreciate the clarification. Perhaps we could start over? Maybe with our names?”
Cameron ducked his face into the silky fabric of the man’s dress shirt. Just because he hadn’t meant to meet his fated mate today didn’t mean he should be a rude little shit. “I’m Cameron. Cameron Klein.”
His octopus covered his face with his tentacles. Who were they, James Bond?
“Cameron? What a lovely name,” the man said, bending slightly backward at the waist so he could gaze down at Cameron while still holding onto him. Cameron’s octopus wiggled happily, already over their awkward introductions and now desperately hoping the man would hold them forever. “I’m Emory Rexford. And since you asked, I'm the CEO of Rexford Shipping Company. If it’s not clear by the name, it’s a family-owned company. You said you work for a nonprofit?”
Cameron nodded. “I run an environmental program at a national nonprofit."
Emory’s eyebrows shot up, and he gave Cameron an impressed look. “Well, I’m glad all our sustainability practices are up to snuff. Wouldn’t want to get called down to your office.”
Cameron scoffed good-naturedly. “I hardly have the authority to do that. Besides, I work from home three days a week now. So…I mean, I guess I could call you down to my apartment…”
Before Cameron had time to kick himself for his rambling, a woman’s voice spoke up behind them.
“I’m sorry to intrude, but are you both in line? If so, I believe you’re up next.”
Emory promptly released Cameron, who tried to stifle a groan. His octopus was not thrilled with the new space between them, and Cameron was alarmed to find he also didn’t like it. It made his stomach feel tight and unsettled.
“So sorry, ma’am. We’ll step out of line,” Emory offered.
Cameron’s stomach knotted even further, and he awkwardly cleared his throat. “Actually, Ireallywant to try and get home tonight for Fall Harvest. Even though we’re a family of water shifters, it’s still pretty important to get the family back together,” Cameron said, trying his best not to fidget with a thread on the cuff of his sweater. Shay always made fun of how much he fidgeted.
With a firm nod, Emory stooped to pick up his backpack for him. “Well then, let’s see what we can do.”
Emory took long, confident strides up to the counter and, at a loss for what else to do, Cameron hurried after him.
It took a fair amount of negotiating and some expert-level flattery, but Emory was able to get them both booked on flights leaving within the next hour. Unfortunately, they were on opposite sides of the terminal from each other.
As soon as they both had tickets in hand, Emory marched off like a man on a mission. He seemed to be heading toward a bankof seats near a gate announcing the next flight to Anchorage. Cameron assumed he was meant to follow since Emory was still carrying his backpack.
When they were almost to the chairs, Emory turned around abruptly, and Cameron once again fell into him. Emory steadied him with a hand on his side, releasing a low chuckle that was practically a growl.
It made Cameron’s insides wobble.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” Emory joked, the corners of his mouth forming a teasing smile.
