Page 33 of Alpha Heat

Xan swallowed again, his throat tight. “I’m feeling better, actually. Thank you for the medicine and your help the other day. I know it must have seemed as though I didn’t want it.”

Urho stared, like he couldn’t believe Xan stood in his library. Finally, shaking himself, he gestured toward the furniture. “Have a seat. Wherever you like.”

Xan walked around to sit in the leather chair, leaning back and trying to still the jumpiness of his hands and legs.

Urho sat on the sofa across from him and ran fingers through his hair. His red-rimmed eyes scanned around the room. “Jennor will bring some tea.”

Xan nodded, and the door opened on the same beta servant carrying a ceramic tea set and a plate of cookies on a big tray. He put it down in front of Xan and Urho and then, when Urho nodded, left the room without a word.

“Help yourself,” Urho said, gesturing to the cookies before pouring the tea into small, red teacups. “Take as many you want. You look as though you’ve lost weight since I saw you.”

Xan wondered at that. It was true he hadn’t been eating well; between physical pain and his shame, he’d been pushing his food around for the last few days. Still he couldn’t have lost enough weight for someone to really notice. His brother Ray hadn’t said anything, and neither had Caleb. Did Urho see him so very clearly?

“I’m fine,” he said, putting several of the buttery cookies on a plate and accepting the tea Urho passed to him. “You look…” He gestured at Urho and left the words unsaid.

Urho glanced down at his clothes and huffed a strange laugh. “Forgive my slovenly appearance. I was napping earlier and—well, let’s just say it’s been an odd couple of days.”

“Rough times at the clinic?” Xan asked.

“There was a stillbirth, yes.”

“I’m sorry. That must be difficult.”

“Moreso for the omega than for me, but, yes, it does always bring back hard memories.” He glanced toward the only painting in the room, a portrait of a beautiful, blond, smiling man, wearing a red shirt and black pants. The man held up a scroll emblazed with a combined family crest—presumably the Chase family and whatever Urho’s omega’s family name had been.

“He was handsome,” Xan offered. A burning sensation started in his gut but he didn’t want to examine it too closely. Being jealous did no one any good. And besides, the man wasdead. And had died quite young from what Xan understood. He hadn’t lived long enough to have a life to be envied, even if he’d been in Urho’s bed.

“He was perfect,” Urho said in a hushed tone, as though even the memory of his beloved was too holy to speak of aloud.

“This is a big library,” Xan said, changing the subject, but not daring to broach the one he actually came to address. “Mostly science books, I guess?”

“Quite a few. But I have some literature in my collection too.”

“I’m more of a comics and nickel-novel type, myself.”

Urho’s lips quirked in the first evidence of a smile he’d shown since he’d first come in. “I have some of those as well.” He rose and walked over to a bookcase near the door, ran his finger along the spines, and then came away with a blue book as thick as two finger-widths. “Here, this one is from before your time, I’d bet. But you might enjoy it.”

Xan took the book as Urho returned to his seat on the sofa. He flipped it open and colorful images leapt forth, along with the usual comic cells and speech bubbles. He glanced back at the cover:Cervantes and Snail, a complete collection. “I’ve heard of this, but you’re right, I’ve never read it.”

“Take it with you. It was a favorite of Riki’s, but it’ll just molder here. You should enjoy it.”

Xan licked his lips, a breathless, strange feeling descending. He’d never heard Urho mention his omega’s name, but there was no doubt that Riki was the blond man in the portrait. He cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t want to take something special of his.”

“It shouldn’t go to waste. Take it.”

Xan nodded and tucked the book into the pocket of his jacket. It fit perfectly. “So,” he said, an unusual shyness creeping over him. He glanced up at Urho through his lashes, surprised to find his friend’s dark complexion had gone vaguely pink.

Was Urho also remembering how Xan had grown hard as he’d pressed his finger inside and moved it around? Xan’s own face flushed hot and his cock thickened against his thigh. “You must be wondering why I’m here.”

Urho attempted a real smile, white teeth against dark skin, and then sighed. “I’m just glad that you are. I’ve wanted to see you again. Needed to, really.”

Xan’s throat went dry. “Why’s that?”

“I’ve been thinking about your situation. Truth be told, I’ve thought of little else.”

Xan shifted miserably in his seat. His stomach churned.

Urho held up a hand. “I’m not going to lecture again. I want to understand your predicament.”