“Yes, partly. There were other reasons, of course. ”
“Which you won’t share with me. ”
“I can’t share them with you, no. But we had our reasons. Can’t you just let it go at that?”
“No!” Lucas shouted. He scooted up in bed and put his back against the headboard. “A Lycan mate tells their alpha everything. There should be no secrets between us. ”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m a disappointment to you. ”
Lucas shook his head glared at him again. “So you had no idea what I was doing to your cock in there?”
“My what? You mean this-this flesh between my legs?”
Lucas just looked at him and then tilted his head. His eyes got even narrower. “You’re fucking with me. You have to be. ”
Kai looked down at himself. “I-I don’t think so. I don’t think I’m doing anything. ”
Lucas took his flesh in his warm hand. Almost immediately, that weak feeling came over him again and he shuddered with excitement. “This…is your cock,” Lucas said. “Your penis. Understand?”
“Yes. I’m not stupid, just ignorant of your name for it. ”
Lucas didn’t answer—just glared at him.
“Well, I’m sorry,” Kai said a bit sharply. “I don’t know any of this. No one ever told me. ”
Lucas raised his eyes toward the ceiling and seemed to be counting. “From now on,” he said. “Ask me things you don’t know, and I’ll tell you. ”
“All right,” Kai said quietly.
“We’ll start…” Lucas said, rolling back toward him. “We’ll start with how a man makes love to another man. ” He moved his big hand to Kai’s stomach. “Now pay attention and we’ll go slowly. ”
Chapter Three
“First, Kai, you have to realize exactly what it is we’re going to do. We’ve gone through your wedding ceremony on your planet, and I’ve agreed to be your husband. You say you want to honor your vows. Understand that this is an irrevocable step. Once we’re mated, I won’t be able to release you—not ever. ”
“I understand. ”
“Do you want to do this? Do you fully understand what it means? I’ll claiming you as my mate. ”
“I understand, but-but I thought you despised me. You said we tricked you. ”
Lucas regarded him silently for a few seconds. “Despise is too strong a word. I’m angry, yes. I don’t like being made a fool of, Kai. And I hate deceit of any kind. I still don’t think I know the whole truth, and so far, neither you nor your mother has been willing to tell me. ”
Kai shifted his gaze. He would never expose his mother’s secrets to this Lycan if he could help it. Merrial had told him Lycans were powerful leaders in the Planetary Alliance. She said they’d be furious and outraged if they knew the truth about the boy babies on Scythia. His mother might be arrested and killed, even though she was only following the ancient ways of their people, established long before the Alliance came into being. He had to protect her, if he could.
Lucas was still looking at him. “Do you want to tell me now why your mother didn’t just admit who you were? You may have been ignorant of what a man was, but she surely couldn’t have been with two children. Why didn’t she send you to live with your father?”
“My father died, as I told you. ”
“His people then. Damn it, didn’t she realize she could have damaged your mind, making you think that men are all defective? Making you act like a girl?”
“Do you think I’m damaged?”
Lucas let out a long breath. “I don’t know, Kai,” he said softly.
The words made Kai’s stomach clench, but he nodded sadly. “I will release you from any vow you made to me. I’ve already told you. ”
Lucas glared at him. “I don’t want to be released. I only want the truth. ”