My period should start any day now, but thankfully, my cramping is mild considering how it usually feels. The thing that sucks most about endometriosis is that it’s never the same month to month. Sometimes I’m in excruciating pain like I was last month, other times the cramps are manageable. Then there are the months it tricks me into thinking it will be a mild cycle and then it knocks me on my ass. I’m hoping it’s not the latter.
As if he can read my inner thoughts, Grant asks, “How are you feeling today?”
“What do you mean?”
“You should be getting your period soon, and after last month, I wanted to be sure you were okay.”
This man.
“Do you know how swoony it is that you’re tracking my cycle?” I wind my arms around his back and prop my chin on his chest to look up at him.
He dips his head, kissing my nose. “Of course I’m tracking. I take my vow for ‘in sickness and in health’ seriously. You’re not doing this alone anymore.”
“I know we said no more apologies, but I am still sorry that we’ve missed out on this all these years. I forgot what it felt like to be taken care of. It’s nice.” I rub my hand over his facial hair, reveling in the slight scratch of it against my palm and then pull him down for another kiss.
“To answer your question, I’m feeling okay right now. I have a doctor’s appointment soon to talk about next steps and treatmentoptions. Since the IUD came out, my periods are a little more irregular, but I’ll still start this week probably.”
Getting serious, he says, “Speaking of, we haven’t exactly been careful.”
“It’s not my fault you can’t keep your dick in your pants.” I rub over the growing erection beneath his towel.
“Actually, I think it is one hundred percent your fault.”
Quirking a brow at him, I ask, “Have you seen yourself in the mirror?”
“Are you saying I’m hot, Tay baby?”
I squeeze his ass and he rocks into me with a groan. “Inferno level hot, hubby.”
He doesn’t let me off the hook that easily, instead redirecting us back to the discussion on how much unprotected sex we’ve been having. “So how do you feel about not using protection?”
“How do you feel about it?” I turn the question back to him, wanting to know his initial reaction before weighing in on the topic.
“I asked you first. I love the feel of you with no barriers, but you’re the one it impacts the most. I want to do whatever is best for you.”
Sensing his need for words of affirmation right now more than anything, I speak from the heart. “I see forever with you. Whatever that forever entails. The likelihood of getting pregnant is low, and having kids is honestly not something I’ve considered for a very long time, but surprisingly the idea doesn’t scare me as much as I thought it would. We may be tempting fate, but we have a lot of time to make up for, and I don’t want to stop what we’re doing.”
He lets out a breath I didn’t realize he was holding and visibly relaxes, the corners of his eyes crinkling and showing me the crows feet that aren’t as noticeable unless I’m truly studying his face the way I am now.
“You’ll let me know if that changes?”
“Promise.”
Grant cradles my head and brings it to his chest, holding me close as we both absorb the moment. His heart beats a steady rhythm under my ear and it feels like we’re finding our way. We stay locked like that for a few minutes before he releases me and steps back.
“What do you have going on today?” he asks.
“I have a meeting with Gabriel Sullivan.”
He looks gobsmacked. “Gabriel Sullivan? As in the inventor of the most famous phone in all the world?”
“That’s the one. Why do you sound so shocked?”
“Not shocked. Awed. My wife is a badass.” The pride is evident in his voice and makes me smile.
“And don’t you forget it.” I tap his chest as I walk back into the room to get out of the towel still wrapped around my body from my shower.
“How do you know him?” he calls after me, watching as the towel falls to the floor and I take a bra and panty from my newly acquired drawer in his dresser.
