Page 75 of Bitter Heat
Janus was on his heels, though, and he gripped Kerry’s elbow, stopping him in the hall before he reached the staircase. “What’s this about? This is the man I intended to hire. Now he’s here and determined to help, and you’re refusing. Why?”
Kerry jerked his arm free of Janus’s touch. “I don’t like him.”
Bewildered, Janus threw his hands up. “Why?”
“Because…” He darted a glance back toward the kitchen. It was quiet in there. Most likely, they were all listening.
“Because Caleb brought him?” Janus scoffed. “How many times do I need to tell you that Caleb is no threat to you. But this…this stubbornness and jealousy? Itisa threat to you—tous.”
“There is no ‘us,’ Janus,” Kerry snapped. “How many times doIhave to tellyouthat?”
Janus laughed then. Truly laughed, wiping a hand over his face and rocking back on his heels, almost hiccupping with it.
“What?” Kerry hissed.
Janus wiped at his eyes, and let out a long whooo sound, and finally grit out, “You keep on telling yourself that. It won’t change anything, Kerry. There’s definitely an ‘us,’ and you know it. But if you want to throw a jealous fit before agreeing to accept their help, go ahead.”
The roots of Kerry’s hair grew hot, and he snarled at Janus.
Janus didn’t stand down, though. “That’s fine. Be scared and angry. You’re allowed. But they’re here to help me as much as to help you, and they’re not going to walk away from things this easily.”
“I have to consent to be helped.”
“Sweetheart, you’re the most frustrating person I’ve ever met, and I’m in love with you. If you think I’m going to let you throw away this chance…” Janus threw his hands up. “Go on then. Upstairs. Pout and do whatever you need to do. But when you come to my room tonight, I’ll know that you’re ready to fight for us.”
Kerry did as Janus said then, rushing up to his room, and flinging open the window so that he could stare down at the lake. Kiwi chirruped upon seeing him, and Kerry went to him, took him from the cage, and kissed his beak.
“He thinks he can bully me into doing what he wants?” Kerry firmed back his shoulders and let his hurt swirl around in his gut. Tears filled his eyes, but he fought them back. “I’m not his omega,” he whispered to Kiwi. “I can’t be.”
He didn’t go to Janus’s room that night.
Or the next.
But on the third day of Caleb and Mr. Deckel’s annoying visit, he ran into Janus alone by the lake and without words they crashed into each other’s arms, hungry and eager to reassert their bond.
And as he panted in the aftermath, satisfied and happy for the first time since he saw Caleb in Janus’s embrace, Kerry had to admit Janus was right. There was an “us” and, despite his fear and jealousy, he was ready to fight for it.
Now, if only his handsome alpha would learn to leave well enough alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Iknow Iagreed to give you time,” Janus said, pushing Kerry’s hair back behind his ear gently. “But sweetheart, there’s not a lot of time left. What happens after he’s born?”
Kerry rolled onto his back, gazing up at the puffy white clouds drifting happily across the sky. “Do we have to talk about this now? We just made love.”
Janus grinned. “Say that again.”
Kerry rolled his eyes and gently slapped Janus’s hand away from where he was rubbing his bulging stomach. The baby somersaulted inside, and Kerry sighed. “You heard me the first time.”
“I did. I never thought you’d admit that was what we were doing, what with your insistence that it was all pheromone delirium and alpha protection instinct.”
Kerry, glad to distract Janus from the topic at hand, smiled and turned back onto his side, slipping his hand up Janus’s chest. “We could do it again. The day is still young, and you feel so good inside me.”
Janus groaned and leaned in for a kiss, his tongue hot and strong in Kerry’s mouth. But then he ripped his mouth away with a bark of laughter and a touch to Kerry’s nose. “Now, now. You’re trying to get away with not telling me anything, aren’t you? That won’t do. What’s your plan, Kerry? What happens when the baby comes?”
Kerry groaned, frustrated to have failed in his distraction. He sat up and pulled a towel over his lap, covering his half-hard cock. “You won’t like it.”
“I’m sure I won’t,” Janus agreed. “But tell me anyway.”
