Page 25 of Forbidden

“I said later,” Aksel snapped, his scent flaring.

Vagrippa flinched and instinctively stepped back, out of the room. “Very well,” she said, once she recovered her wits. Her tone was very dignified, but Lucien didn’t miss that she was angry. It would be hard to miss.

“You shouldn’t antagonize her,” Lucien said with a sigh once the sound of her footsteps faded.

Aksel shrugged. “I’m not antagonizing her. She just needs to learn that I’m not Royce. I don’t have the patience to tolerate her overbearingness. The sooner she realizes that I’m not someone she can manage, the better it is for everyone involved.”

Lucien looked at him thoughtfully beforetouching Aksel’s hair.“I know her attitude toward you being a Xeus was... not the best when you were a child,” Lucien said. “But she loves you.”

Aksel’s lips twisted.

“Darling, she does,” Lucien said and cringed inwardly. He didn’t know why it was so easy to use endearments with Aksel. After nearly eight years apart, this man should have felt like a stranger. After what Aksel had confessed—that he desired him physically—Lucien should have felt uncomfortable and uneasy in his presence. But he didn’t. There was still no other person in the world who made him feel so safe, cared for, and comfortable.

“I’m sure she does,” Aksel said. “And I do love her—she’s my mother—but I don’t care for her attitude toward you. It makes me like her less.”

Well. Hopefully the expression on Lucien’s face wasn’t as adoring as he felt.

“Don’t be cross with her on my behalf,” Lucien said with a crooked smile. “I’m used to it.”

“You shouldn’t be used to it,” Aksel ground out, his eyes flashing. “You’re amazing, the kindest person I know.” He nuzzled his bare stomach. “I feel fucking unworthy touching you, like I’m dirtying you up. You’re beautiful, inside and out. You shine from within, Luce.”

Lucien blinked a few times, his heart so full with affection and gratitude he didn’t know what to do with his emotions. He wanted—he wanted to thank him for his words—he wanted Aksel closer—he wanted to give him something—he wanted—he wanted...

His breasts suddenly felt heavy, the tips aching. He wanted... he wanted Aksel’s mouth on them, sucking his milk and relieving the ache... God, he craved the intimacy of it.

Lucien shook his head dazedly, trying to snap out of it. He was being ridiculous; he didn’t have milk, hadn’t had for years. There wasn’t any milk for Aksel to drink. And it was beyond weird to want to breastfeed a grown alpha twice his size. But fuck, the tips of his breasts ached for Aksel’s mouth. That had to mean that he wanted to nurse him, right? What else could it mean?

“What is it?” Aksel said, as attuned to him as ever. “You’re tense.” He tensed up too. “Does my touch bother you?”

“No,” Lucien said. “It’s just... My chest feels heavy, like I have milk again, and it’s weird. I stopped lactating years ago.”

Aksel stared at him strangely.

He cleared his throat, and then cleared it again.“Show me.”

Lucien’s body was already moving before he could think twice.He lifted his shirt up, baring his breasts to Aksel’s gaze.

Aksel wet his lips with his tongue.

The ache in Lucien’s nipples got worse.Frowning, Lucien touched the left one and squeezed, just to see if there was any milk. But there was none. He wasn’t lactating. It was all in his head.

“This is so strange,” he said, feeling lost.

Aksel took in an audible breath. “Does it hurt?” he said, his eyes fixed on Lucien’s chest.

“No—sort of? There’s this ache like I want—like I want...” God, this was the single most embarrassing conversation in his life, but the disconcerting heaviness and ache were worsening under Aksel’s gaze.

Lucien looked at Aksel’s mouth, hoping he would understand what he meant without him having to say that.

Aksel’s throat moved. He licked his lips again. “I’m trying to be a better man here, Luce,” he said.

When Lucien shot him a confused look, Aksel groaned and buried his face against Lucien’s belly again, breathing hard, his wide shoulders heaving as if he’d run a grueling marathon.

“Aksel?”

“Surely you can’t be this innocent and pure, Luce.”

Lucien blinked before laughing. “Pure? I’m definitely not pure, darling.”