Page 89 of Slow Heat
“We all know what you want,” Vale murmured, pressing his fingertips to his eyes with shaky fingers.
What hewantedwas to sign the paperwork today. He wanted Vale on his knees, where he belonged, rubbing his face against Jason’s leg in gratitude for the comfortable, happy life Jason would give him. He wanted Vale to be joyful.
“I won’t let you sign a contract that risks your life.”
Vale snorted.
Father snapped, “He’s your alpha. Show him respect.”
Vale shot Father a harsh look but then whispered, “Jason, respectfully, you deserve a family.”
“Youdeserve an alpha.”
Vale’s pale cheeks went even whiter and he ducked his head. Yosef touched his back, but Vale went stiffer and Yosef pulled away. “I don’t know about that.” Vale’s gaze met his, eyes sad. “I’ve lived a long time without one.”
“Imprinting is special,” Bisme interrupted. “It’s not the kind of thing to shrug off. The bond you could share,willshare if you spend much time in each other’s presence, contract or not, will be beyond your imagination now.” He smiled gently. “It’s not something to walk away from because you’re not sure you want it. It’s wolf-god’s greatest gift. You can’t shun it.”
“I do want it,” Jason said. “I want the bond, the contract, and you.” There was more he wanted to tell Vale but couldn’t with his parents listening. He couldn’t say that he wanted to see Vale come again. He couldn’t say it was more important to have Vale’s submission than it was to have children. That what he most needed was to be sure that Valewantedto be at Jason’s feet, that he longed for Jason the same way Jason longed for him. That he lived for the chance to come on his knot, the same way Jason now lived for the chance to give it to him.
“Do you truly know what you want, Jason?” Vale asked. “You say you do, but do you understand the cost?”
He swallowed hard, gathering his courage, and kept his focus on Vale and Vale only. “I want you. Just the way you are. That’s all that matters to me. I don’t want your lands or your house or to force you to give me children. I want you on your knees begging for me to take you. The rest of this contract can go to hell.”
His parents opened their mouths at the same time to speak, but Vale lifted his hand, an amused smile on his face as he studied Jason.
His eyes crinkled sweetly as his smile spread, and Jason’s breath caught.So beautiful.
“And that sort of reckless, youthful, eagerness is why your parents are here. To see you aren’t led by your…” The slight pause let Jason fill in the word ‘dick’ before Vale carried on with, “Purity of heartinto a contract that isn’t satisfactory.”
“I’ll decide what’s satisfactory,” Jason growled. “Not you. Not them.”
Vale shifted in his seat and Jason’s nostrils twitched.
Did he smell…? Was that…? Was Vale getting wet for him? Here? In the middle of their meeting? It was the best scent in the world, sweet and musky, declaring that he’d made Vale want him with just his words alone.
Inspired by Vale’s reaction, he added a rough grit to his voice like he’d used when playing alpha with Xan. “You’re wrong that I don’t know what I need. I want you. On your hands and knees, presenting for me. That’s everything I want.”
He was embarrassed to say these things in front of his parents, Yosef, and Bisme, but when Vale’s eyes flared hot, and the scent of slick drifted even more strongly across the table to him, Jason didn’t care who overheard. He meant every syllable down to his core.
“It’s good your parents are here for you,” Vale said again nervously, standing up from the table. “Imprinting, omega persuasion, and pheromone delirium being what they are, no one can really expect you to say anything else.”
Jason knew he should be annoyed at being dismissed but he couldn’t feel anything other than pride that he’d made Vale’s voice shake.
“Excuse me. I need to…” Vale motioned toward the door. “I’ll be back directly.”
Vale was wet enough he had to go clean up. Wolf-god,yes. They just had to get these legal proceedings out of the way first. Then he’d claim him. Fuck him. And then fuck him again until they both passed out, sticky and sore.
Yes.
He admired Vale as he walked across the room, elegant and outwardly composed, even though his fingers shook and the scent of slick wafted in the air. His pert ass moved beneath his pants, muscled and juicy, and Jason licked his lips. He’d taste it eventually. He’d suck a kiss into every inch of those beautiful mounds of flesh, and then he’d lick Vale’s hole until he begged to be bred.
Gritting his teeth, Jason wondered if he could leave the table to deal with his arousal, too. Vale wasn’t the only one left needing. Wolf-god, why couldn’t they deal with it together? He sipped the cold water in front of him and tried to get a grip.
If he left the table now, it would probably disappoint Vale. He still needed to be careful not to come across as too immature, too out of control. He knew he was on the verge of doing just that. Possibly already had.
Jason met his pater’s eyes and found them sympathetic and a little amused. His father, though, glared after Vale, as though the predicament of his slick was a stalling technique to prevent having to sign the contract or agree to a live birth.
“If you give him a chance, you’ll see that he’s not being unreasonable,” Yosef said once the door had clicked behind Vale’s retreating form. “He wants to contract with your son, but he’s fair. He knows what his physical limits are, and he’s offering you a chance to make the smart choice.” Yosef frowned. “Frankly, I tried to talk him out of giving you this option, but he likes Jason far too much to hem him in.”
