Page 88 of Alpha Heat
Xan’s mouth went dry and his balls grew heavy. The scent of so many alphas in the room was thrilling and dangerous. He cleared his throat and looked up at Urho, who was watching him with an expression of amusement.
The concierge went on conspiratorially, “Of course, there is gambling to be hadhereas well, if that’s your poison.” He motioned at a large chalkboard with names and bets next to each one. Xan spotted Janus’s name listed, though marked as absent for the evening’s event. Other names were listed under the Virona Gentlemen’s Club Wrestling team, and most were marked as present, and several had quite high odds next to their names. Another board for a visiting team was up as well, and a young man with strong arms was chalking in the names of the members in attendance.
“I take it there’s going to be a series of bouts tonight?” Urho asked, nodding at the chalkboards.
“Yes, indeed. For future reference, there are gym clothes for rent here in the locker rooms, if you gentlemen would like to partake in any of the activities.” He nodded toward doors on the left-hand side of the room marked with drawings of the male form.
Xan would rather die than come here amongst all these muscular alphas and take off his clothes. He was small and wiry enough, and definitely not ashamed of his body. He had no reason to be, given the way Urho seemed to want him, but he also didn’t want to chance getting hard in public, or being teased for his size.
“However, the gym is going to be closing shortly for the main events,” the concierge said apologetically. “So there’s no time for that tonight. However, you really should stay and watch. It’s quite a show.”
Xan followed Urho’s lead and undid his tie in the heat of the room, and then met Urho’s eyes. He seemed open to the idea. Xan swallowed hard, images of sweaty alphas grappling already filling his mind. “When does it begin?”
“Oh, you’ll have plenty of time for dinner beforehand, just as you planned. The first pair will start in an hour.”
“Is it quite violent?” Urho asked, his hand falling on Xan’s shoulder and squeezing.
Xan leaned back into his palm and then had to steady himself with Urho suddenly removed it. It was wise, of course. They couldn’t be seen as anything other than friends in public, and especially here. What would men likethesedo if they knew?
“Oh, quite violent, sir! But the tournaments are fun to observe from the safety of the seats around the ring,” the concierge said, smiling. “I’m pleased to say our wrestling team is quite good. Though we are missing a very talented member tonight—Janus Heelies. Not only a fine businessman, from what I’ve overheard, but an excellent wrestler.” The concierge leaned close and whispered, “He fights dirty, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
Urho chuckled and said, “You hear a lot, don’t you,” just as Xan muttered snidely, “Oh, I’d believe that.”
The concierge ignored Urho’s comment and turned to Xan. “You know the young man, then?”
“Too well.”
“I see.” The concierge smiled again, ingratiating and a little too smarmy for his own good. “Well, as I said, our team is quite talented. Tonight we face off against the team from Blue Vein. They come all the way from thecity.”
“Oh my,” Urho said, and he managed to sound impressed instead of amused. But the twinkle in his eye gave it away.
“Indeed. They’re our biggest rivals and I expect the room will be packed tonight. Why don’t we go ahead and reserve two of the seats near the front for you?”
Urho and Xan agreed, and the concierge led them up the stairs again. “You have reservations for dinner in the Sea View dining room?”
“Yes,” Xan confirmed.
“Excellent. It’s the only mixed room in the club. We allow anyone from the community to dine with us, of course. So long as they can afford to pay.”
Xan gestured for Urho to follow the concierge first into the dining room offering a wide view of the ocean. The tables were only half full. There were several tables of alphas, a few beta couples, and a good number of alpha and omega couples, including someErosgapé—obvious from the way they were so absorbed in one another. However, compared to the activity in the games room and the gymnasium, it felt nearly empty. Obviously, the dining room was not the main draw of the club, despite its fantastic reputation for excellent cuisine.
“What a view,” Urho murmured.
“We should invite Rosen and Yosef up,” Xan said, once they were seated by the window, facing out to the sea. “After the baby is born, of course. And then we could all come out to dinner here and stay to watch a brawl.”
“If Vale leaves that baby with a caretaker for more than five minutes during the first year, I’ll be shocked,” Urho said, laughing as he took a menu from the waiter who had come to serve them. “But otherwise, I think that’s a fine plan.”
They settled into their seats and chose a bottle of wine. After ordering their meals, Xan smiled and said, “Caleb thought we should take this opportunity to talk.”
“About anything in particular?”
“I think about ourselves. He’s worried we aren’t getting to know each other.”
Urho’s smile was filthy as he whispered, “I’m getting to know you very well, in all kinds of interesting and intimate ways.”
The waiter showed up again with the wine at that moment, and Xan was able to take a second to collect himself, hiding his arousal with his napkin. After the waiter left, Xan said, “Caleb says truly knowing someone comes from more than that.”
“I’ve watched you for two years now, at parties, during our beach trips, over dinner at Vale and Jason’s house, and now I see you here in your home. I’ve watched the way you treat your friends, your servants, and your omega. I’ve observed you put on a show to hide the tenderest parts of yourself from the casual eye. And now I’ve seen you in bed—your vulnerability, and your passion. How should I know you better?”
