Page 138 of Slow Heat
Vale leaned back in the wooden beach chair, stretching out his pale legs, enjoying the first true warmth of summer. They’d descended on Jason’s parents’ beach house and planned to stay for two weeks. “If they don’t stop discussing how omega anal orgasms and the lordosis behavior are tied to our spliced wolf DNA and theorizing on preciselywhy, then I might have some regrets. Yes.”
Rosen laughed as he smoothed aloe over Yosef’s shoulders.
“Those two have too much in common,” Yosef muttered, irritable after having fallen asleep in the sun on the first afternoon of their holiday and suffering a sunburn for it. “You must hate when they both get going like this.”
Vale shrugged. Deep down, he was happy to see his former lover getting along so well with his alpha. Yosef was right that they had more in common than they knew. Though if he said that to Urho, all he’d get would be a crass comment about how they’d both been in Vale’s ass.
But it went so much deeper than that.
Both men shared a devotion to their friends and family, demonstrating their shared strength of character and loving hearts. Most days, Vale couldn’t believe how lucky he’d been to have found Urho when he needed him, and then to have been found by Jason when he didn’tknowhe needed him.
Vale couldn’t be happier.
He glanced toward Xan, Jason’s best friend, as he dug a hole in the sand and frowned out toward the sailboats in the distance. As far as happiness went, Xan was another matter. Vale pitied him greatly and wished he knew him better. Despite Jason insisting Xan was a bit of a clown, he’d been quiet on the holiday so far, but when he did talk, he was entertaining enough. His eyes lingered too long on Urho, though, for safety, and Vale worried what might happen if Urho noticed. But so far, everyone had gotten along swimmingly, and there’d been no fights.
Well, aside from Zephyr, who’d fought like hell to keep from being caught and put into the cattery for the duration. Vale still had a scratch on his forearm and a bite on his hand from that. Urho had fixed it up, though, and Jason applied the medicine he’d prescribed nightly.
“Are you excited to get back to teaching next fall?” Rosen asked.
“Or have you grown lazy and spoiled by Jason’s attentions?” Yosef said.
Vale laughed, digging his toes into the sand. “I admit I’ve ended up enjoying my sabbatical more than I anticipated when it was forced on me. But, yes, I am looking forward to teaching. I’m not, however, looking forward to my students giving me grief about their classmate being my alpha.”
Xan snorted, obviously listening, but not really contributing to the conversation. “Yeah, good luck with that,” he murmured.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Yosef said, pointing to a place on his side that Rosen missed with the aloe. “How is Miner doing?”
“Quite well. He still has heats, believe it or not. They aren’t quite the same since the operation, but the hormones that trigger heats still happen. Now they can relax during them, though, and not have to worry, since he has no womb for carrying.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“He and Yule are happier than they’ve been in years, Jason says. And I believe him. They act like they’re on a honeymoon.” Vale slipped his hand down to scratch at the hair beneath this navel. Part of him still yearned to carry a child for Jason, but he no longer worried that Jason would resent him for not being able to do so. The adoring way Jason cared for him in every way—physical, emotional, and financial—more than canceled out his fear. It obliterated it.
“Xan!” Jason called. “Come here!” He beckoned for his friend to join him. The sun poured into Jason’s hair making him appear like an angel sent from wolf-god above.
Xan stood up and headed into the sea, splashing toward Urho and Jason. Vale grinned as Jason’s laugh bounced off the water and straight to Vale’s heart.
Vale swallowed his gratitude like a wad of joy and then stretched out even more on his beach chair, letting the sun warm his exposed chest and arms. He closed his eyes, safe among his loved ones. The sound of the waves and the cool breeze washed over him soothingly. He drowsed in happiness, jolting awake when Jason collapsed on top of him, wet and cold from the ocean.
“Wake up, baby. Come swim with me. The water’s perfect.” He kissed Vale’s mouth. “Like you.”
Vale laughed, grabbed hold of his happiness and didn’t let go, splashing after his future into the cerulean blue sea.
THE END
