“The scar tissue is definitely looser now. There is give and stretch that wasn’t there before. This is personal, and I apologize in advance,” he said, with an eye toward Jason, “but have you been stretching it?”
“Jason likes to fist me,” Vale said. “It used to ache and hurt—shh, in an enjoyable way,” he said, forestalling Jason’s worry on that front, “but lately it hasn’t hurt at all, even when he pumps his hand hard.”
Urho’s face was quite red now and so was Jason’s if the burning in his cheeks was any indication. “I see. That’s interesting.” He furrowed his brow and tapped his chin, finally saying, “During heats, would you say that Jason knots you for longer than former partners?”
Jason shifted from one foot to the other, determined to stay in control, but feeling incredibly irritated to have the image of other alphas sharing knots with Vale pushed into his mind. Especially of Urho himself.
“Definitely. I assumed it was his youth and ourÉrosgápeconnection that caused it. At the height of a heat, the knot can last well over an hour.”
Urho nodded again. “Well, we know that Alpha semen has anti-inflammatory properties, and some researchers speculate that there are other agents in the semen, too. The building blocks of humanity, certainly, and therefore, perhaps healing properties. We don’t need to get into further details, but it seems clear to me that between the stretching from Jason’s knot and fist, as well as his semen acting on your old injuries, your scar tissue has changed, relaxed. It’s less likely to tear from the weight of a growing child. If labor were induced strategically before the child is at full weight, but still viable, then it’s possible you could survive the birth as well.” He sounded hesitant, unsure.
“But…?” Jason prompted.
“But I can’t guarantee any outcomes. Not yet. I’d want to continue to check you internally as you grow and change. I’d want to monitor this pregnancy closely.”
“Of course,” Vale said, stunned happiness in his tone. “Are you saying that I don’t need to abort? That I can have this child? Thatwecan?” He looked up at Jason, his eyes shining, and a bright smile in his dark beard.
Jason’s heart caught along with his breath, and he touched Vale’s chin lightly, stroking his thumb over the softness of his beard. He didn’t want to hear what Urho said next. No answer that would make him happy. Vale, though…Vale seemed ready to celebrate.
“I believe it’s possible,” Urho agreed. “I underestimated the value of regular internal stretching. I apologize. I should have prescribed regular use of alpha dildos to stretch the scars.”
“I think the semen is key,” Vale murmured softly. “Daily exposure.”
“Sometimes two or three times a day,” Jason offered, a stupid surge of pride within, and wanting Urho to know how often he pleasured Vale. And then he felt stupid and young all over again because all it took was one word from Urho to sum it up.
“Teenagers.”
Vale rolled his eyes. “Jason’s been out of his teens for several years now. I’m just saying that in the past, I could have used alpha dildos to attempt to stretch the scar tissue, but I think the semen has played a role in making it receptive to being stretched.”
“Possible,” Urho agreed.
“Jason,” Vale said, turning to him and offering a shy smile. “Do you know what this means?”
Jason clenched his jaw. He knew exactly what it meant. Vale was going to try to do this. Outcome and risks be damned. “Yes.”
“Jason…” He shot a glance toward Urho who rose and left the room with the polite excuse that he would be right back. As soon as Urho shut the door, Vale grabbed Jason’s hand hard. “Jason, it means that you’re going to be a father.”
Jason’s throat worked. He tried not to cry again because Vale had to be tired of that. He needed to be a strong alpha. A man. “Does it?” he croaked.
“Yes, and I…” Vale broke into a smile that cut Jason to the quick. “I’m going to be a pater.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Jason, you’re beingvery dramatic,” Miner Hoff said, fiddling with the toothpick he tended to keep in his mouth since he’d given up smoking.
Vale almost laughed at that but managed to hold it back, not wanting to hurt his baby alpha any more deeply than he was already hurting.
Jason gaped at his pater, seemingly unable to understand his words, much less his feelings.
When they’d arrived at the Sabel-Hoff house, Jason’s pater, Miner—sensing something was deeply wrong—had hustled them both back to his conservatory and plied them with tea and questions. Jason had spilled immediately, even though his father, Yule wasn’t home yet. He obviously believed that Miner would immediately take his side after all he’d been through himself with dangerous pregnancies.
“Dramatic?” Jason asked coolly—a tone Vale had never heard him use with anyone, much less either of his much-beloved parents.
“If Vale believes, and thedoctorbelieves that he should try—”
“There was noshould!” Jason exclaimed, pacing in front of the sofa, his shoes clacking on the wooden floor. Music, mainly consisting of horns and brass instruments, played from the record player in the corner. Vale thought he’d always associate this rolling, nauseous feeling with the sound of jazz now. “Urho said he thought it possible Vale could carry nearly to term and deliver safely.Possible, Pater. Not likely. Not definitely. There was no certainty involved in his predictions, and definitely noshould!”
Turning to Vale, Miner’s hazel eyes shown with bright interest. “Possible? Truly? That’s wonderful. And you want to pursue it?”
