Chapter 1

My name was Madison Shaw, and I just had a baby girl.

Everyone around me congratulated me, but only I knew the pain I was going through. My breasts were blocked, and my milk wasn't flowing properly. Every time the baby nursed, the pain made me tremble all over.

Sometimes there was even a little blood.

When my best friend, Alexis Gale, learned about my issues, she suggested a lactation consultant. She said she'd struggled with milk flow before as well, and he had helped her with his excellent technique. She sent me his contact information, and I immediately booked a home visit.

After all, engorged breasts were agonizing. When the milk wouldn't come out, the pressure was unbearable, and even the slightest touch sent sharp pain shooting through me.

Even putting on clothes became torture.

Two days later, the lactation consultant arrived. I had scheduled him for 3:00 pm, and the doorbell rang right on time.

I opened the door and was surprised. I hadn't expected the consultant to be a man. He looked to be in his early 30s, younger than I imagined. He was handsome in a refined way and was dressed in a white linen outfit.

I hesitated. Could a young man really do this well? And this was such a private matter. Having a stranger—a man no less—handle it felt awkward.

Besides, it wouldn't look good if word got out.

He seemed to notice my unease and said gently, "Don't worry, ma'am. I'm a professional lactation consultant. I've trained under my mentor for over 20 years and can guarantee good results.

"We completely understand if you have any concerns, but the deposit is non-refundable, so I hope you can accept that."

Hearing that, I bit my lip and let him in.

Private lactation consultations weren't cheap, and even the deposit was a significant expense. If it weren't for the unbearable pain and having tried several other consultants to no avail, I wouldn't have even considered hiring him.

When Alexis recommended him, she raved about his skills as if nothing else in the world could compare. If there had been any issues, she wouldn't have given him such a strong recommendation.

Thinking of that helped ease my nerves.

I realized that ever since having a baby, I'd been overthinking things. It was no wonder my husband, Kent Jennings, kept teasing that I'd become overly fussy lately.

The man's name was Howard Tate. Once inside, he immediately slipped on a pair of disposable slippers. Then he turned to me. "Ma'am, where would you like to do this?"

He didn't need to say more as I understood what he meant.

Even though I'd convinced myself to trust him, going through with it still made me a little nervous. Kent was at work, and it was just me and the baby at home.

The baby was sleeping in the bedroom.

After hesitating between the bedroom and the living room, I chose the living room.

Howard didn't seem like a bad person, but I didn't want to take any risks. If anything felt off, I could immediately dash out the door for help.

He nodded at my choice, expressionless. After laying out a disposable sterile mat on the couch, he went to wash his hands.

"Ma'am, please lie down."

I took a deep breath, slipped off my shoes, and slowly lay back on the mat.

Chapter 2

Even though I was fully clothed, lying on my back in front of a stranger naturally made me nervous.

My hands fumbled, gripping the edge of the couch.

Howard seemed to notice my tension and let out a soft laugh. "Ma'am, just relax. You can lift your top now."

I nodded, biting my lip, and shyly pushed my shirt up a little. It revealed my engorged breasts.

Howard nodded. His gaze stayed on my chest, and there was a flicker of admiration in his eyes as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

I knew my breasts were nice, maybe a C cup before, but they'd grown a bit fuller after I had my baby.

Feeling his open stare made me feel exposed, as if I were on display. My face heated instantly, and I shifted slightly, whispering, "Dr. Tate, can we start now?"

He seemed momentarily startled, like he had snapped to his senses. Then, he offered me a gentle smile. "Of course. You're very beautiful."

His last comment sounded ambiguous, and I wasn't even sure what he meant. Before I could react, a cool sensation spread across my skin.

"Ah…"

I couldn't help but flinch slightly.

He chuckled, clearly pleased. "Ma'am, you're very sensitive."

His comment only made me more flustered, my cheeks burning. My eyes darted around nervously, unsure where to look.

Noticing my discomfort, he took out a blindfold and asked considerately, "Would you like me to put this on? It will help you relax and enjoy the massage more."

I thought for a moment and agreed. Otherwise, with his face so close, it would be way too awkward if I stared at him for the next two or three hours.

He seemed ready to help me put it on, but I quickly said, "I'll do it myself…"

He nodded and didn't insist.

Once I put the blindfold on, the world went dark. I didn't feel awkward anymore, but every sensation in my body seemed concentrated in my chest.

I couldn't deny that Howard's technique was excellent. His touch was gentle yet firm, and surprisingly comforting. Gradually, the pressure increased, his warm palms kneading continuously.

After giving birth, my body had become incredibly sensitive. I was helpless under his skilled hands.

Heat spread through me, my body responding involuntarily.

I was relieved I was wearing the blindfold, or he would've seen just how affected I was.

The whole session lasted over two hours, and by the end, my face was flushed even more.

Suddenly, Howard applied more pressure, pinching firmly. Before I could help it, a sound escaped my lips.

"Mm…"

My foggy mind jolted awake, and I quickly covered my mouth. Heat rushed to my ears.

I couldn't see his expression, but a low voice soon whispered in my ear.

"Ma'am, there's a lump here. I need to work on it with more pressure." He paused, then added, "By the way, you don't have to hold back. This is completely normal."

I curled my toes in embarrassment, wishing I could disappear.

Chapter 3

Howard didn't say anything more. The gentle, skillful movements of his hands soon relaxed my nerves again.

"All done, ma'am. The massage is finished."

Just as I was drifting off, his voice sounded in my ear. I jolted awake, sat up on the couch, and removed the blindfold.

"Already?" I asked, still a little unsatisfied. I hadn't expected it to be over so quickly.

When I looked up, I saw him wiping his hands with a wet wipe. There was a bit of white residue on it, and I looked away, embarrassed.

Howard's expression remained calm, showing no reaction at all.

"Yes. After this massage, your condition should improve. If you need more sessions, you can book me through WhatsApp."

With that, he started packing up his things, ready to leave.

I quickly got up to see him out, but I noticed his gaze lingered oddly.

It turned out that my clothes hadn't been fully adjusted yet.

At that moment, the door suddenly opened.

I jumped in fright, almost forgetting Kent could walk in at any time. If he saw me standing there half-exposed with a stranger, he'd probably faint from anger.

I quickly pulled my clothes back on as Howard reached the door.

Sure enough, Kent's face fell the moment he saw a stranger in the house. "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

Kent had a short temper. I was afraid things might get physical, so I hurriedly stepped forward to explain. "Honey, this is the new lactation consultant I hired. He just finished the massage."

"A lactation consultant? A man?"

Kent's expression didn't ease. It actually got worse. "Why would a man do this job? Who knows what he's thinking!"

He looked at me suspiciously. "Were you really just getting a massage? Nothing else happened?"

"Of course!" I snapped, a little annoyed at his distrust. "If you don't believe me, check the camera!"

To keep an eye on the baby, we'd set up a baby monitor in the living room. Never did I expect the first time it actually came in handy would be for something like this.

Seeing my completely innocent expression, Kent finally started to believe that there was nothing going on between me and Howard. His face relaxed a little.

"Sorry," he said. "I misunderstood."

"It's fine," I replied.

Howard remained calm and collected. He nodded and left without hesitation or any sign of interest.

Seeing that helped Kent calm down even more. He noticed I was still a little upset and quickly pulled me into his arms. "Darling, don't be mad. Any man would have been suspicious walking in on that…"

My eyes were slightly teary. I understood him, but it still hurt. Being recently postpartum, my emotions were heightened, and tears came easily.

Kent panicked. He rubbed my back and tried to cheer me up.

I wasn't really angry. If the roles were reversed, I would've had questions too.

I took the initiative and pulled up the surveillance footage. "Here! Look for yourself. Nothing happened.

"Dr. Tate was actually recommended by Alexis. Don't let his young look fool you. He's a professional with over ten years of experience."

Ever since Howard had helped relieve the blockage, my chest felt comfortable again. Nursing the baby became smooth and easy.

Although Kent kept saying he trusted me, his eyes told the truth. He watched the recording from start to finish.

Only at the end did he finally let himself relax.

Chapter 4

Kent even told me that next time I hire a male lactation consultant, I should have someone with me, just to be safe.

I nodded but didn't take it too seriously.

Howard had been very professional. His hands never wandered, and his technique was impressive. After his massage, the engorgement eased significantly. But soon, my milk flow became blocked again.

Kent was away on a business trip, and I had intended to wait for him before booking Howard again. However, the discomfort was unbearable.

I called Alexis, hoping she could come keep me company. She immediately agreed, but when the day came, she was nowhere to be seen.

Over the phone, she teased me, "Oh, just enjoy yourself! Don't worry. Dr. Tate's technique is incredible. You're going to feel amazing…"

Her words got more ridiculous by the second, and I quickly hung up.

Howard had been patiently waiting beside me the whole time. Sensing my embarrassment, he smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, ma'am. A professional treats everyone the same, regardless of gender."

Remembering how effective his technique had been last time, I felt reassured. Besides, with the baby monitor in the living room, there was no way he'd do anything inappropriate.

I nodded awkwardly. "Thank you, Dr. Tate."

He set everything up on the couch as usual. Even with prior experience, I still felt a little shy.

I put on the blindfold. With my vision blocked, every sensation sharpened, focused entirely on his massage.

The massage quickly made me drowsy, just like last time.

Suddenly, a cool sensation spread across my chest. Startled, I reached to remove the blindfold to see what was happening.

Howard reassured me, "Don't worry, ma'am. This is a special massage oil I prepared. It helps clear blockages."

Hearing that, I relaxed and silently laughed at how jumpy I had become.

The oil started cool but warmed as he worked. With his steady, precise technique, the sensations were far more intense than before.

He began with gentle, external strokes. Then he gradually pressed deeper as the oil made everything smooth and effortless. My limbs went limp, and my mind became foggy.

At times, I could feel the strong sweep of his arms across my chest. Heat pooled under me, and I instinctively pressed my legs together.

My chest felt hot and full, and my whole body burned with sensation.

"What is this oil made of? Why is it so hot—Ah!"

I barely had time to speak before Howard increased the pressure, and a gasp slipped out.

His warm breath brushed my ear. "Ma'am, this is my mentor's special formula. The heat helps get your circulation flowing."

I was startled by how close he was. My ears were sensitive, and his warm breath made me relax.

Gradually, the sensations intensified. My whole body grew restless. Kent hadn't touched me since I'd given birth, and the sudden return of these feelings was almost too much to handle.

I shifted and squirmed instinctively, biting my lip to contain heat coursing through me.

At this point, I didn't even care that Howard was still there. The feeling was overwhelming, like thousands of tiny sparks running across my skin.

"Ma'am, do you want me to… help?"