Page 78 of Alpha Heat
Dinner was aquiet affair. The conversation revolved around Vale’s pregnancy, Caleb and Xan’s redecorating, and the plans for the next few days. Xan’s heart leapt every time he looked across the table to see Urho staring back at him. The heat between them shimmered in the air until he could almost feel it on his skin. He wondered if the others could as well, and were just too polite to mention it.
Jason monitored Vale’s food intake like an obsessed man, and Vale looked on the verge of punching him for it more than once. “One cordial won’t harm the baby, ask Urho,” Vale huffed, sipping the dessert wine from a thimble-sized glass.
Urho tore his gaze away from Xan long enough to concur that such a small amount wouldn’t bother the baby in the least, leaving Jason little choice but to be satisfied with his answer.
Caleb asked them all to withdrawal to Xan’s library for some quiet reading and music. He’d had the record player moved out of Xan’s office, and he was having wonderful time playing the records they’d found in the library and making up new dances.
He was in the middle of teaching them one when Janus returned from his evening out at the gentlemen’s club. He came in looking freshly showered, wearing a fashionable suit, and smelling of peppermint. But that couldn’t cover up the bruise blooming on his jaw or the scent of liquor also wafting off him. He must have stopped by the bar after losing one of his wrestling matches.
“What have we here?” Janus asked before Xan could ask about his bruised face. “A party? With dancing? And I wasn’t invited? You know how I love to dance, Caleb.” He grinned flirtatiously.
Caleb pasted on a pretty smile and said, “Alas, we’re short on partners here.”
Janus smiled widely, something sloppy in it, like he was too drunk to control the muscles of his face properly. He motioned at Vale, who sat watching from the safety of the sofa. “I’d be happy to partner with this handsome omega. I don’t believe we’ve met.” He stepped forward, hand out and a wicked leer on his face, only to stop dead in his tracks when he spotted the obvious evidence of Vale’s pregnancy.
Jason, who’d been dancing with Caleb, ostensibly so that Caleb could instruct him on the new moves, but really so that Xan and Urho had an excuse to dance together, released his hold on Caleb’s waist. He came to stand between Janus and Vale.
“Janus,” he said coldly. “It’s been a long time. This is myÉrosgápe, Vale Aman.” He took Vale’s hand and helped him to standing. “Vale, this is Janus Heelies, Xan’s cousin.”
“Jason, it’s been a long time.” Janus gulped and looked away from Vale toward where Caleb stood watching worriedly. “I’d heard you’d found yourÉrosgápe. Lucky man.”
“To say the least,” Jason said, but he sounded strained.
“Forgive me,” Caleb said, darting over. “I should have done the introductions. I was out of breath from dancing.”
“And hoping Janus would go away,” Xan said, under his breath. His rudeness was ignored. He didn’t know if he was grateful or disappointed by that.
“I see congratulations are in order,” Janus said, sweeping a hand toward Vale’s shifting, bulging stomach. All evidence of flirtation was gone from his tone and demeanor. No alpha was stupid enough to flirt with an omega who was with child, no matter how drunk he was. Especially between anÉrosgápecouple—not unless he truly wanted to engage in violence with the omega’s alpha. “When will the new babe come into the world?” His tongue sounded heavy, his words a bit slurred.
“Next month if all goes well,” Jason said, still standing protectively at Vale’s side. Xan noticed that no handshake had been exchanged.
Janus nodded. “Wolf’s blessings on you both. And the babe, of course.” Then he turned to Xan and Urho. His gaze swept between them, and his brow raised knowingly.
Xan immediately released Urho’s waist, an embrace left over from where he’d been leading him through the motions of Caleb’s new dance. He stepped away and smiled tightly at Janus. “Allow me to introduce Vale and Jason’s friend, Dr. Urho Chase. He’s here to deliver the baby when the time comes, and to make sure all goes well in the interim.”
Janus’s brow cocked up even higher, but he put out a hand to Urho with a sly, still-messy smile. “Welcome to Lofton. I’m sure Caleb’s seen that you’re comfortable here. He’s making this house into quite a beautiful home.”
Caleb stiffened, and Xan crossed to him, sliding an arm around his shoulder. “Caleb makes everything better,” Xan said pointedly. Caleb lifted his chin.
Janus smirked. “The belief of all alphas! One day perhaps I’ll find someone worthy of contracting with and get to experience such pure devotion for myself. Or, even better, perhaps I’ll find myÉrosgápe. I hear the sex is unbeatable.”
Jason’s jaw jumped as though he was gritting his teeth, and Vale’s expression went strained.
Urho cleared his throat, a mildly scolding sound.
Janus, of course, gave no indication that he noticed the tension in the room, or, if he did, then he rather enjoyed it. “In the meantime,” he slurred on. “I find I must shift for myself. Speaking of…” he crossed the room and poured himself a generous helping of bourbon from the liquor cabinet.
Caleb loosed a soft sound of irritation. Xan caught his eye and raised a brow, asking silently if he should stop his cousin from imbibing more. Caleb shook his head quickly, once. His blue eyes shimmered with frustration.
Janus turned around and lifted the glass in a toast. “To friendship.”
Everyone in the room merely stared at him as he drank. No echo of the toast touched anyone’s lips.
It occurred to Xan that he didn’t know if Janus had any friends. The man was always out socializing, but everyone knew there was a difference between someone to grab a drink with or talked business with, and a friend. Who would want to be friends with someone like Janus, anyway? Arrogant, smug, and self-important.
Janus swallowed the whole of his drink down, and then, rather grotesquely, wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “I’ve gotta surprise for you, cousin.”
“Yeah?” Xan asked, dread slipping down his spine.
