“I agree with you wholeheartedly.”
“So is Lassit.”
“I continue to agree.”
“Good.”
“You are very compatible with me,” Jack said.
Arden beamed.
“Which means you’ll likely go into heat for me, as you did for Beckett, once we spend enough time together. Arden.Arden,” he said laughingly as Arden scrambled off his lap and darted across the room. He held out a hand. “Come back to me, sweetheart. It won’t happen today.”
“Are you sure?” Arden said suspiciously.
“Yes. It takes time.”
Arden stayed put.
“Was it so bad, then?” Jack said. “I thought that you liked it.”
“I…I don’t…”
“You cried out so sweetly for Beckett. You took him in so well, brought him so much pleasure. Took it for yourself.”
He had his hands over his hot cheeks now, and when Jack said that last bit,took it for yourself, he remembered the way he’d clutched Beckett in his arms and held him as tightly as he could. Their height difference had meant that he’d mashed his face against Beckett’s broad chest, nuzzled his strong throat when what he’d really wanted was to be kissed, but it had beenawful.
He’d loved it so much. He curled miserably in on himself.
“If it happens, don’t worry. You can have Beckett again. It should be only ever Beckett, if that’s what you want.”
That brought Arden rushing back to soothe and reassure him. “Jack, you wouldn’t hurt me. I want you, too.”
Jack tugged him closer, closer, until Arden tutted and set a knee on the chair seat beside Jack’s thick thigh, catching his balance with an arm over Jack’s shoulder to brace against the back of the chair. “Will you agree to have Beckett there with us? I’ll need him to watch me. To watch over you.”
“I’d like that,” Arden said, congratulating himself on how steady his voice was. “Very much. Um. When will it happen?” His voice wasn’t quite as steady now. “When will we be together, you and me? Do we have to wait for a heat?”
“It can be whenever you choose. Only then. Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Jack.” He’d said something similar to Arden before. “I’m afraid of myself. Of the way it all makes me feel.” Arden shot him a wry smile. “The only one who doesn’t seem to be afraid about any of this business is Beckett.”
“I know.”
“It makes him rather perfect, doesn’t it?”
“Don’t ever say that to his face. There’ll be no living with him.”
“I wouldn’t dare! I don’t think he even likes me. He was…oh, he was very angry. And rightly so! I’d be angry with anyone who made you that ill, too.”
“Beckett is very much looking forward to seeing you again. If he’d had his way, he’d have come after you the day you left us.”
“Really?” The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.
“Yes. Arden, I need you to understand this, as Beckett does. You didn’t make me ill,Idid.Myactions did. I didn’t have to take the suppressants. I could have stayed away and waited until your heat had passed to come and see you. I was hasty. I wanted to be there to reassure you. I wanted to be there for me, too. To share in it. The fault is mine, not yours.”
“I probably shouldn’t have run away, should I?”
“I can’t deny that it would have made life easier if you’d stayed at Avendene. We could have had this conversation earlier, and you and Beckett could have grown to know each other better. But this was what you wanted, Arden, and I swore to give you whatever you ask of me. You get to live how you want. Beckett and I will place many demands on you, butyouget to decide.”
