Page 76 of Slow Heat

He wasn’t going to let himself go down that mental path. He was strong and intelligent and his instinct wasn’t half as important as Vale’s smile. Which now turned to him as the door shut on Urho’s reluctantly retreating back.

“It’s snowing,” Vale said softly.

“Yeah?”

“Big fat flakes.” Vale’s lashes touched his cheekbones and then lifted slowly, the tiniest hint of seduction in his gaze.

Jason clamped down on his urge to straighten up from the wall, grab Vale, and kiss his gorgeous, lush mouth.

“Is it sticking?” Jason asked huskily.

Vale tugged aside the long, skinny curtain blocking the view out the narrow window beside the door. “It’s gathering on the grass now. The streets are probably too warm for it to stick on the pavement. Maybe if it keeps snowing on into the night.” He turned back to Jason, lips parted slightly. “Do you like to go sledding?”

“Sure. If there’s enough snow, my friend Xan and I usually head out to the hill behind the post office. It has the best slope.”

“I know the place,” Vale said, inching closer hesitantly, almost like he was second-guessing his movements. “If it sticks and if there’s enough accumulation, would you take me sledding?”

“You’d want to go?”

Vale’s eyes twinkled. “I admit I’m old for it, but—”

“Is your ankle all right? It was swollen earlier, and I wouldn’t want it to get hurt worse sledding.”

“It’s fine.” He put his weight on his foot. “See? All better.”

“If you’re sure?”

“I am.”

“Then of course you can come with me,” Jason said, sounding too eager even to his own ears. His hot cheeks flushed even hotter.

But it wasn’t a mistake this time, because Vale smiled widely, the small wrinkles next to his eyes going deeper, and Jason’s heart fluttered in his chest. God, he’d never survive the happiness, theutter blissof pleasing Vale.

“Wonderful. I’d like that very much. We’ll see in the morning how the weather has shaped up.”

“I hope it snows heaps.”

Vale grinned, ducking his head like he wanted to hide. “Me, too. I haven’t been sledding in a long time.”

“I’ll help you. It’s like riding a bike, you don’t forget how. And it’d be my pleasure to take you out. Really.”

Vale’s breath came in shallowly as he crossed the last few feet to Jason, standing within easy touching range. “You were… Tonight at the table…” he gazed into Jason’s eyes. In the low light of the lamps, his irises were the green of mossy ponds. “You made me proud.”

Wolf-god, Vale meant to obliterate him from the world with this immeasurable, uncontainable joy. Jason’s heart tumbled so hard and fast he felt dizzy, and he clutched at the wall behind him to keep from reaching out. He knew Vale wanted to decide when he’d be touched or taken.

Not taken. Don’t think about taking, Jason!

“I want to make you proud always,” Jason whispered, his lips trembling and his knees weak.

“You’re so earnest.” Vale reached toward him, his fingers halting just beside Jason’s cheek, and it took all the self-control Jason could muster not to lean the half-inch into the touch.

“You’re so beautiful,” Jason breathed.

“So are you.”

Jasonwanted. Desperately wanted. But he forced the words from his mouth anyway. “I should go.”

The wrench in his chest hurt as much as the joy had, but he couldn’t risk it. He’d done so well. This time with Vale was a test, he knew it was, and he refused to fail. He’d make Vale see he was capable of controlling himself, of being in charge, of taking care of them both.