Born to Please [Pleasure Vessels 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Jana Downs Page A

continued to smile. “You’ve got to get out the mindset that the propaganda of the Trainers is truth. They give you generalities about the expectations of Vessels. But what they don’t tell you is that every pairing is different and every one is a unique relationship experience. Has my son said he loves you yet?”
    Payne looked down at the book in his lap and wondered why he felt compelled to answer her prying questions. She’s his mother, and whether he says so or not, she has influence . He sighed. “No.”
    “And how do you feel about him?”
    Payne considered his own feelings for a second. “I care for him. He’s kind to me and patient with my adjustment. He gives me everything I could ever want and treats me like an equal. He values me. But, I was made for him. So I don’t know what is me and what is my training.”
    “Just because you were predisposed to like him doesn’t mean you would love him,” Amber admonished. “Haven’t you heard that strange inner voice in the back of your mind that looks at him and tells you that he is yours absolutely?”
    “How did you know about that?” he asked, shocked. He thought it was strange but hadn’t mentioned anything because he didn’t want his love to think he was defective.
    Her brown eyes sparkled with mirth. “Because when a Vessel bonds to their owner, when they imprint, the new voice arises. It happens to all Vessels who mate with their owners. Not even a personality alignment guarantees an imprinting. It’s relatively rare.”
    “Huh. Any idea why?”
    She shrugged delicately. “No idea. We’re not scientists, so I couldn’t tell you. I’m sure there is a reason, but I don’t know it.”
    Payne grew quiet as he looked inward and considered her words. This was a lot of information to process. If they weren’t just programmed to love someone, then what he felt for Alec was one hundred percent real. His heart pounded with the words that echoed with the beat of his heart. I love him .
    She took a long sip from her cup and regarded him knowingly. “Ah, so now you see what you’ve been lying to yourself about for the past few days. Instant affection and almost instantaneous love is something we’re taught can’t be real. But it is. Whatever is inside us is never wrong, Payne. What you feel for him won’t go away now or a hundred years from now.”
    “What about them? Do they love us just as fast?” Payne asked. The idea of it being one-sided, that Alec wouldn’t love him in return, was horrifying.
    “I think they struggle with it more than we do just because they don’t have that reassurance in their heads. But I believe they fall just as fast for us as we do for them, yes.” She poured herself another cup of coffee. “I’m not saying the road ahead is easy, but I’m saying it can be rewarding. My son is a wonderful man, and I hope you two are happy together.”
    “Me, too,” Payne murmured, stirring his coffee cup with no intention of drinking it. He hoped that they would have something more than sex between them, more than courtesy. He wanted them to love like Amber described. He just had to convince Alec that his moody, stubborn, sometimes surly Vessel was worth it.

Chapter Six
     
    “You seem to be very affectionate with your Vessel already,” Father said, sitting in his high wing-backed chair in front of his study’s fireplace. It was the same spot he was usually in when Alec had lived at home. Father had been at the labs more often than not when he was growing up but on the rare occasion that he was in, this was his domain.
    “I like him. He likes me. We want to have a relationship,” Alec said. Why do I always feel like I have to defend my relationship with you ?
    His father practically rolled his eyes. “A Vessel has to prove their loyalty before you give them your heart, Alec. Please don’t get too attached until you know if he’ll stick. You’re rushing into this as per usual.”
    Alec frowned. “Um, you