Page 46 of Alpha Heat

Xan counted on his fingers. “Two months and two weeks, give or take.”

“Vale isn’t due for another three months. If things are going well at that point, it’s possible I could leave him for a week.” But it was doubtful. That was a slim window and Vale would be in the most dangerous stage of the pregnancy. Urho would need to be here for him.

Xan must have read the truth on Urho’s face because he shook his head. “I don’t want to risk Vale or the baby’s life for this. You need to be close by in case anything goes wrong.”

“There are other options. You and Caleb could return here for the duration of his heat. You could say he wanted to be comfortable in the home he’s most familiar with. Surely your father wouldn’t argue with that?”

“No,” Xan agreed. “He probably wouldn’t. Father is generous with Caleb. I think he pities him being contracted to me.” He nodded slowly, blue eyes distant and thoughtful.

“That way you would be close and if I needed to leave the heat to deal with Vale, I could.”

“It’s a lot to put on you,” Xan fretted.

“I’m strong. I can handle it.”

“Heats are tough and tiring. You’ll be worn out when Vale needs you most.”

“It’ll be fine. With two of us, the heat won’t be a problem to manage at all. Especially if Caleb is not a nymph—suffering from interminable heat.”

Xan huffed a soft laugh. “Old-fashioned asshole words are hard to let go of, huh?”

“I’m learning.”

Coming back to his main worry, Xan asked, “But the pills will help?”

“The pills will provide you with a great deal of stamina, but if your interest isn’t there…” Urho lifted his hands helplessly. “There’s no forcing that. Still, I believe if I’m with you then you might find the situation more exciting.” Urho cast a hot glance up and down Xan’s body, imagining him naked again.

Xan’s cheeks flushed beneath his bruise and his eyes brightened. “Definitely. I have other ideas too. I was thinking during Caleb’s heat, I’d ride a dildo myself and pretend it’s…” He trailed off, licked his lips, and smiled hotly. “I could pretend it’s you. That might help keep me hard. Of course, if you’re actually there…”

Urho flushed hot all over. “You’re going to arouse me again. The image of you with a dildo pressed inside and thinking of me. Filthy.”

Xan’s cheeks glowed pink in the firelight. “How many days until I’m healed enough that you can take me?” he asked, licking his lips. His eyes shone hungrily again.

Urho’s cock ached as it thickened against his thigh. “Remind me, when do you leave?”

“Sunday.”

Urho groaned. “I don’t think you’ll be healed enough to take me for a good deal longer than that.”

Xan squirmed, scooting closer to Urho on the sofa. “I can handle it. I can take a lot of punishment.”

Urho touched his cheek where the bruise still distorted his handsome face. “Punishment is the last thing I want to give you.”

“But what if I need it? For something bad that I’ve done?” Xan blinked long and slow.

“Like…like a spanking?”

“Yes,” he hissed, shifting on the couch, his arousal on display distorting his pants.

“I’ll tell you what,” Urho said, leaning closer. “If I hear of you doing anything worthy of punishment, I’ll dole it out. But only if you truly need it.”

Xan licked his lips. “I’ll need it. Definitely. Really soon.”

Urho’s heart skipped a beat. “Then I’ll have to come up to visit you and dispense a spanking or two. I couldn’t stay more than one night, in case something goes wrong with Vale, but I could steal away once I’ve checked in on him. If all stays well.”

“You’d do that?” Xan asked, eyes wide and happy shock in his voice. “You’d visit me even before Caleb’s heat?”

Urho took Xan’s chin in his hands and rubbed the cleft there with his thumb. His insides trembled, confusion and certainty warring. His voice shook as he said, “How else will I tend to the beautiful, sweet hole you’ve promised to me?”