Page 53 of Alpha Heat

Xan swallowed hard. “My ass.”

“Promise it.”

“On wolf-god’s own salvation, I promise my ass belongs to you,” Xan murmured, his neck flushing.

“And your mouth too,” Urho said sharply.

Caleb laughed quietly next to them, but Xan ignored him, and so did Urho. They stared intently at each other, the rest of the platform fading away.

“My mouth is yours too,” Xan murmured breathlessly.

Urho nodded and ducked his head as though about to capture Xan’s trembling mouth with his own. But Caleb slipped between them, embracing Urho hard and laughing. “Wolf-god, you’ll get us all arrested if you don’t control yourself.”

Urho hugged Caleb back before stuffing his hands in his pockets. He cleared his throat and nodded as Caleb and Xan gathered up their small bags for the private compartment. Xan held his gaze as long as he could before turning to climb onto the train. By the time he’d settled his belongings, gotten comfortable in his seat, and turned to look out the window, Urho had left the platform.

“He didn’t stay to watch us go,” he said to Caleb, who was sorting through a large bag, apparently looking for the stick of gloss he used on his lips, which he pulled out.

“He probably had to go to the bathroom to deal with the pressing problem of his hard dick,” Caleb said nonchalantly, smoothing a balm over his mouth. He handed it to Xan. “Put some on, darling. The train compartment is always so dehydrating.”

Xan complied, his own dick not entirely soft either after the exchange of promises. “We didn’t make plans to talk while we’re apart.”

“The house will have a phone, surely. You know how to use it.”

“But what if he doesn’t expect to hear from me? What if he doesn’t want me harassing him?”

Caleb tossed the lip balm back into his bag and stared at Xan with a raised brow and impatience creasing his face.

“What?”

“He made you promise absolutely filthy things just now and you think he doesn’t want to hear from you? Xan, my love, you are ridiculous.”

Xan laughed nervously, his stomach fluttering and his skin prickling all over. “I just wish I didn’t have to leave. Things had only just started with us. What if he forgets about me?”

“Don’t let him.” Caleb pulled a small book from his bag.

“Maybe I should send him flowers.”

Caleb snickered softly. “Oh, yes, please do.”

“What’s funny?”

“You. Trying to court him like an alpha courts omegas.” Caleb opened the book and thumbed through the first pages, as though looking for his place.

“Should I not? How do omegas court alphas?” He tried to think of what he’d seen Vale do, or Caleb, when they wanted to show their affection. He drew a blank. “Should I court him like an omega instead?”

“Court him like you, Xan.” Caleb sighed fondly. “You got him where you wanted him by being yourself. Don’t stop now.”

Xan slumped in the seat as the train lurched forward. “Where I want him is next to me.”

Caleb sighed. “Alas, you have me instead.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know. I’m teasing.” Caleb rested his head on Xan’s shoulder and kissed his jaw. “Darling, you’re exhausted and exhausting. Let’s rest on this train ride, all right? Because we’ll have so much work to do setting up house as soon as we get to Virona. Try to calm your mind.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s new. Of course you’re concerned. But, never fear. Your alpha is still committed to you.” Caleb straightened, cracking open his book again. “Now’s the moment to allow time and distance to do the work of making him frantic to see you.”