CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jason had alwaysadored mucking around in the dirt, helping things to grow. The way he’d put Vale’s back garden to rights had turned them into the envy of the neighborhood in summers, and it always looked lovely in winter, too. Vale knew that abandoning it for this trip to the sea for the duration of the pregnancy had been a loss to Jason’s sense of self. So, it was lovely to see him down on his knees, grinning, as he pulled up weeds and used a small hand trowel to dig holes for the plants the gardener passed to him.
In the spirit of support, as the autumn lengthened into a mild winter, Vale bundled up and sat on a bench in the garden with a book to read and watch Jason help put in cold-weather flowers. He loved the songs the workers and Jason broke into and smiled happily as they started in on an Old World tune he recognized as his own pater’s favorite.
All in all, the last few weeks had been good. The pains had even lessened as the babe stopped growing as quickly. Urho said the baby was busy adding his finishing touches now, which gave Vale’s body time to adjust and prepare for the birth.
A shadow blocked the sunlight to the page of Vale’s book, blocking out the poetry he’d taken to reading in lieu of writing his own.
“For you, good sir,” Jason said, sweeping into a bow. In his outstretched hands, he held a handful of pink winter-blooming heather. It smelled musky and lightly floral. “Your favorite winter posy.”
Vale took them from Jason and smiled as he dropped to his knees in the dirt before him, a goofy expression on his face. “What’s gotten into you?”
“The mail truck arrived.”
“So?”
Jason picked up Vale’s free hand and kissed the knuckles. “Your hands are cold.”
“I’m fine. Darling, what were you saying about the mail truck?”
Jason shrugged and then pointed toward the house. “Inside. Now.”
“But…”
Jason raised a brow. “Don’t dally. Do I need to use my alpha voice?”
Vale shivered. “It couldn’t hurt.”
Jason drew closer, going up on the balls of his feet to growl, “Get inside. I have plans for you.”
Vale always enjoyed Jason’s plans, especially since they usually involved sex, but they’d already fucked and fisted that morning. It seemed early to indulge again. “What plans?”
“Don’t question your alpha.”
Vale knew that tone and this game. It sent warmth flooding his groin. If he was cold before, he wasn’t now. Still he resisted. “I was in the middle of this poem, darling, about apple trees in summer. Can’t I finish it up before—”
Jason shook his head, tugged Vale up from the bench, and pointed at the house. “Up to our room. Clothes off. Robe on. I’ll meet you there shortly. I just need to grab a few things first.”
Vale frowned, not sure he wanted to be ordered about, but when Jason leaned close and whispered, “You’ll do as I say,” Vale shivered and nodded sharply. He would indeed.
Jason met him in their room as discussed, with a jar in one hand, a box under the other arm, a bag hitched over his shoulder, and a wicked grin on his face. “Good. You’re ready. Perfect.”
Vale was naked under his robe, and hard, of course. But he was confused when Jason sat down at the edge of the bed with all of his small burdens and opened the box to reveal a chocolate cake.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s your favorite.”
“Chocolate layer cake, yes, I can see that.”
“From Ellio’s.”
“In the city? You had it shipped from my favorite bakery in thecity?”
Jason nodded. “Taste it.”
Vale took the fork from Jason who’d withdrawn it from the bag he’d been carrying, along with a thermos of what smelled like coffee, and two cups. “We aren’t going to slice it?”
