Page 49 of Slow Heat
Yule’s jaw twitched, and he glanced at Urho before smiling tightly at Vale. “Of course. I understand it’s preferable to make such arrangements, but I still believe that a contracted situation is a better option. More civilized.”
“And if I’d taken such an option, we’d have been in quite the mess when Jason grabbed me at the library, wouldn’t we?”
Yule tensed but inclined his head in acknowledgement.
“The ridiculous weight alphas have historically placed on their omega having never known another is absurd.” Miner’s eyes shone darkly and anger crackled in his voice.
“I agree,” Yule said, quickly. “While I think omega freedom groups go too far, it’s clear to me that omegas deserve more leniency and understanding than they’ve had in the past. And that includes taking lovers when necessary, such as in cases of interminable heat, or to endure an uncontracted and unbonded existence.”
“Endure,” Vale whispered under his breath, after Yule turned back to the more palatable conversation Rosen was carrying on about the breakthrough he’d had in a recipe for crab legs and cornbread stuffing.
Jason stared toward Urho with a black expression, but when Vale reached out his almost-empty drink and asked for a refill, he came back to him with a sweet smile and a gentle, “Of course.”
“You and I aren’t that different in age,” Miner said thoughtfully, as Jason poured more scotch. “What class were you at Mont Juror? I was Class of Wolf-moon, and you were…”
“Class of Wolf-storm.”
“Ah, my friend Miles had a younger brother in that class. Rasmus Beck?”
“I knew him well.” Vale had found him boorish, but he didn’t volunteer that information.
Miner smiled. “Jason will graduate in a Class of Wolf-Rain. I’ve always liked the sound of that. It reminds me of the Old World saying about raining cats and dogs.” He broke off. “I’m babbling. I apologize. Discussion of omega rights often makes me anxious.”
Vale smiled, his heart softening toward Jason’s pater even more. “Me, too.”
“Normally, I’d smoke a cigarette, but it’s a habit I’m trying to break.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
“Jason doesn’t like it. You don’t smoke, do you?”
Vale shook his head.
“Good, he’ll be relieved.” Miner gave Jason a wink.
“Jason, come sit with Vale’s friends,” Yule called, steering everyone toward the plates of hors d’oeuvres set out on the tea table next to the sofa. “You should get to know them, too.”
Vale smiled encouragingly as Jason stepped from behind the bar and moved to sit in a plush chair near his father. Rosen, Yosef, and Urho took the large leather sofa, fresh drinks in hand.
“This has to have been a terrible surprise,” Miner said as he and Vale moved slowly across the room toward the group. “You probably thought allthiswasn’t in the cards for you.”
“I had given up hope for it, yes.”
Hope wasn’t the right word, but Miner’s eyes showed he understood he’d accidentally backed Vale into a corner. He took Vale’s arm, pausing several feet away from the cozy seating area where Rosen was complimenting the caramelized onion tarts with apples. “I do understand more than you might think.”
“Omegas have a kinship,” Vale agreed.
“Yes.” Miner’s eyes searched his. “We all spend our youth in suspense, waiting for the match or the contract that means our lives can begin now. You must have gone a long time thinking it would happen any moment.”
“Anytime. Anywhere.”
“Yes.” Miner tilted his head. “And just when you’d probably given up, gotten comfortable, built a life of your own, Jason comes along.”
Was this a trap or did Miner truly feel for him? Vale chose a wry smile as his only response.
“He’s a loving boy.” Miner smiled.
“And I admit I’m fond of surprises,” Vale offered.
