Page 63 of Alpha Heat

“Shh, I’m listening.” Urho moved the stethoscope down to press against Vale’s belly.

Jason radiated impatience.

Urho’s own patience had worn thin over the two and a half months since Xan had moved to Virona. Sometimes the sex he’d had with his alpha-shaped omega seemed so distant as to be more like a dream, and other times, especially after a steamy phone call from Xan, or one of his deeply erotic letters, it seemed as though he’d die if he didn’t touch Xan’s skin again or hear the little noises he made when he came.

Jason huffed. “You’ve been listening a long time. Is there a problem?”

Urho shushed him. There was a problem, yes, indeed. And that problem was his mind wondered to Xan constantly.

But he forced himself to fully concentrate, and after counting the baby’s heartbeats again, he lifted his head and nodded once. “The babe is getting along just fine, but Vale’s blood pressure and heart rate are elevated. He’s stressed.”

“He’sright here,” Vale said testily, shifting on the sofa. His stomach bulged nicely and the movements of the child inside could be detected by touch alone. The babe seemed to be exactly on track for the timeline Vale and Jason had provided regarding conception. “I don’t like being talked about like I’m not present. I’m a grown man, for wolf-god’s own fucking sake.”

Jason clucked gently, stroking a soothing hand over Vale’s arm. “Don’t get upset. It’s not good for the baby.”

Vale glared at Jason with more force than Urho had ever seen.

Jason swallowed hard and looked down, whispering, “But, of course, we’ll stop. Right away. I promise.”

Vale groaned and rubbed his bulging, shifting stomach. “Is it normal for him to do that?” he asked, referring to the baby. “He head-butts my ribs and then pushes with his feet against the mouth of my womb.”

“Perfectly normal.”

“Well, I wish he’d stop!”

Jason rubbed Vale’s shoulders and hushed him quietly.

“It’s preparation for the life to come,” Urho said. “Children rarely do what we wish they’d do. And, from what I’ve witnessed, their growth into adulthood is never without pain to the parent.”

Vale sniffed and closed his eyes. “That’s all fine and well, but I’m tired.”

“I can prescribe something gentle to help you rest.”

“Please do,” Jason said, sounding desperate. “He was up walking last night. Nothing soothed him. Not even his usual bedtime tea—the one with the herbs that make him drowsy.”

“Speaking of,” Vale said, as he buttoned his shirt. “I want some tea. Daytime tea. Something strong and well steeped. Jason will you get it, please?”

Jason rose, obviously reluctant to leave Vale’s side, but, like any alpha, he was also prepared to do whatever his pregnant omega demanded of him.

The doorbell rang.

Vale growled, almost pulling off the final button in his annoyance. “If that’s your pater or father, I will murder them both. Do you hear me?Murder. Them. Both.”

Jason bent to run his fingers over Vale’s dark beard, whispering, “If it’s them, I’ll tell them to leave. I promise.”

Urho watched Jason rush off as the doorbell rang a second time, and then he began to gather his things. “I’ll get out of your hair too.”

“You never come over anymore, except to examine me,” Vale complained. His moss green eyes raked over Urho irritably.

“I come here every day.” Urho buckled his bag and sat on the sofa next to Vale. “But I can stay awhile if you want.”

Vale rose and began to pace. His stomach bulged, and Urho could see the baby rolling and kicking, even beneath Vale’s loose shirt. “He moves around so much,” Vale said, rubbing a hand over his stomach. “Is that normal?”

“Better than normal. It’s a good sign.”

“I can’t stop eating. Sometimes I eat so much, I can’t put anymore in, but I’m still hungry.”

“Another excellent sign.”