Page 80 of Wrapped in Their Arms

BRIGHT

Bright’s heart squeezed painfully at the sight ofNoelle, curled in the center of the massive bed, her body wracked with sobs.Shelooked so small, so lost—a fragile spot of color in a vast white sea of sheets.HefeltBurn’sbig presence at his back, restless and angry, but for once, theDarkTwin’sfury was shadowed by something more urgent—fear.Notfor himself, but for their woman.

Gods,Ican’t stand seeing her like this.I’dgive anything to make her pain go away!Brightthought.

“Hey, sweetheart, what’s wrong?”he asked softly.“Canyou talk to me—tell me what’s going on with you?”

Noelle shook her head, unable to speak for the moment.Thetears just kept coming, tracking down her cheeks and dripping onto the sheer red nightgown she wore.Thefabric was already damp, clinging to her lush curves, her nipples tight and dark against the thin silk.Ifshe hadn’t been so clearly in pain, the sight would have been almost unbearably erotic—but now, allBrightcould feel was worry.

“It…it hurts,” she managed at last, her voice low and raw.“Andthere’s nothingIcan do…Imean,Ican’t even…even touch myself!”

“What hurts, baby?”Burnasked, and for once his voice was gentle—rough velvet, no growl in it at all.

“My…my breasts.Mynipples.Theyache.Andthey’releaking!”Noellesobbed again, clutching at the front of the nightgown, as if she could hide the evidence.

Bright’s concern sharpened as he leaned closer.Thedamp, sheer silk was nearly transparent, outlining the curves of her full breasts.Hecould see the wet spots, glistening in the low light, and the dark nipples pushing stiffly against the fabric.Hereached for her, stroking her hair back gently from her face.

She looks so vulnerable like this.Damnit,BurnandIshould have protected her better.Whydid we let her go with that orange bastard?

“Is that stuff she’s leaking some kind of milk?”Burnasked, frowning.

Bright shook his head, watching the amber droplets glisten as they slowly welled up fromNoelle’snipples.

“I don’t think so—it’s clear.”Hehesitated, then asked gently, “Sweetheart, will you let me take a look?Ihad a littleMedlab training whenBurnandIserved on the front lines of theJ’lashionskirmish.”

Noelle nodded slowly, clearly embarrassed but also desperate.

“All…all right.ButI’mafraid it’s disgusting.”

“Sweetheart, nothing about you could ever be disgusting to us,”Brightreassured her, hearingBurnrumble his agreement beside him.

Carefully, he lifted the edge of her nightgown.Thesilk clung stubbornly to her curves, sticking to the tight points of her nipples, so he had to peel it away gently, murmuring soft apologies when she gasped at the sensation.Thefabric was damp and sticky—looks almost like honey,he thought—and as it came free, he saw the source of her pain.

Noelle’s breasts were swollen and flushed with color, the nipples tight and glistening.Andshe was right—they were both leaking.Ashe watched, a clear golden drop welled up on each tight point and trembled at the tip before sliding in a sticky line down the undersides of her breasts.

Bright couldn’t resist—he had to know.Withthe utmost gentleness, he touched his finger to one droplet, collecting the sticky nectar, and brought it to his lips.Thetaste was shockingly sweet—almost floral, like alien honey—but with a faint hint ofNoelle’sscent.Itwent straight to his head, filling him with warmth and desire, but above all, a fierce protectiveness.

Gods, what is this?Ittastes like pure sunlight…and her.Nowonder her body is in overdrive.

Suddenly, it clicked for him.

“Didn’t that orange dwarf that did the fertility treatments on you say that you’d get nectaritis if you didn’t do the second part?”he asked, glancing atBurnand then back atNoelle.

Noelle sniffled and nodded.

“I guess so—IthinkIremember something like that.”

“So what the fuck does that mean?”Burndemanded, eyes locked onNoelle’sswollen breasts.“Whatin theSevenHellsis ‘nectaritis’?”

Bright searched his memory, dredging up bits ofMedlab jargon.

“Well, the suffix ‘itis’ means inflammation,” he explained.“Andthe first part is nectar—so nectar inflammation.Itlooks to me like her breasts are inflamed—swollen—and full of nectar.”

“Oh…Iguess that make sense.”Burnnodded, though he still looked frustrated, as if he wanted to punch something.

“I’m glad you explained it, but what can wedoabout it?”Noelleasked, her eyes overflowing again.

“Sweetheart,”Brightmurmured, brushing her cheek with the backs of his fingers.Herskin was hot and flushed and her big brown eyes were shimmering with fresh tears.“You’rein a lot of pain because your breasts are too full,” he said.“Ithink you need to letBurnandIsuck it out.”