Page 111 of Alpha Heat

“It felt rough,” Xan said, a bit of embarrassment flaring that he’d cried so hard over what, it turned out, were soft blows.

“I know.” Urho kissed his mouth and settled in beside him, cuddling close. “And you’re strong enough to take more, but I didn’t want to leave you hurting on your trip. I don’t ever want to hurt you, Xan. Not like…”

“It would never be like that.” Xan turned to Urho urgently. “Because I love you. And…” He swallowed. He hadn’t ever said these words aloud, even though Urho had admitted to the feeling, yet somehow it felt like a bigger thing to own. “And you love me.”

“I do.” Urho scented Xan’s hair and neck. “You smell happy—like come and bliss. Like a little bit of pain enhances your pleasure.”

“Yes,” Xan gripped Urho’s face. “It does.”

“Because you’re brave and strong andmine,” Urho said, as if Xan’s love of intense sensations and determination to experience them were something he could own.

“I won’t forget.” Xan clenched his anus, relieved to feel the twinge that he knew would at least follow him into the next day even if the spanking didn’t.

“Nap now.”

“Or I could ride you,” Xan suggested, his cock jerking helplessly at the idea, but still not ready to return fully to life. Urho’s was also soft again, and a part of Xan was saddened by that, but relieved too.

Urho tucked Xan in next to him, keeping an arm around him. “Sleep. The time will come to leave for the train and I’ll have left you more worn out than ever.”

“You leave me full of you.” Xan squeezed his hole around the slip of come that still leaked out of him. “Full in my heart and my body. Strong in my soul.”

Urho kissed his hair. “I love you, my strong, brave man. Now sleep.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

The house Xanwas raised in loomed large. It was three stories and two wings of solid brick and full of mixed memories. He’d arrived too late the night before to dare go straight from the train station to his parents’ house. So he’d spent the night in his own home, pulling the dust covers from his old bed and ignoring the drafty, creaking, lonesomeness of the entirely empty house. The residual soreness of his ass had provided a good distraction, though, and he’d rubbed it until he’d fallen asleep.

He’d called several times that morning and had finally spoken with the groundskeeper, a man named Berst who’d been working for the Heelies family since Xan was a child.

After confirming that Ray and his pater were both under quarantine in the house and not admitted to the local hospital—apparently for privacy reasons—he’d headed directly over, the morning sun shining pale on the unnaturally quiet city streets.

He’d managed not to think about it too much on the way over, but now, with the weight of worry, shame, and foreboding on his shoulders, he didn’t know if he had the courage to ring the bell.

Time it was he had his own key and called this place his home. Then he’d contracted with Caleb and made a new home with him on the other side of town. But surely there was no home like the one that held all the memories of his youth. How he’d missed it! But once the rumors of Xan’s perversions reached his father’s ears, he’d been banned from visiting the Heelies house at all, or from meeting his pater outside of it.

He hadn’t come all this way to stand outside the house and stare. He lifted his hand and rang the bell. It played the same chiming notes he remembered.

“Young Mr. Heelies!” Joon, the old, bald butler, glanced quickly over his shoulder after opening the door. Stepping onto the front stoop, he shut the door behind him. “Mr. Xan, you can’t come inside.”

“I want to see my pater and Ray.”

Joon swallowed hard, clearly conflicted. “Your father expressly ordered that you’re not allowed in the house. That’s been true for months now, sir. And, well, the orders haven’t changed.”

“They’re very sick,” Xan said. It stood to reason that should change things.

“Yes.” Joon’s eyes cast down and his ruddy skin paled.

“I want to see them.”

Joon wiped at his brow, his eyes blinking rapidly. “Your father is with your pater every moment of the day.”

“I’m not afraid of my father.” Xan’s voice quavered, and Joon’s skeptical expression let him know that he hadn’t sounded convincing enough.

“I’d be fired, sir, if I let you in the house.”

“So you won’t let me see him? Or Ray?”

“Your brother’s very poorly as well.” Joon frowned. “But your father only visits him in the mornings.” He scratched behind his ear nervously. “I could probably sneak you in to see Ray with no one the wiser. Though it’s a dangerous mission, sir. The contagion is severe and your love for your brother won’t necessarily protect you from catching it.”