A lump forms in my throat. “I expected not to see you for a few days when I texted you that. Guys typically run in fear of a girl on her period.”
He stops unloading the snacks in the kitchen and gives me an insulted look. “I’m not afraid of blood.” Stalking around the island, he backs me against it, trapping me between his arms. “And it doesn’t make me want to be around you or have you any less. I don’t care if you’re on your period, because I find you hot as fuck when you’re all done up shaking your sexy ass on the bar and when you’re wearing those cute little fuzzy socks. You make me want to earn my red wings with you over and over again. Okay?”
“O-okay.”
He takes me by the waist, eyeing me up and down with a smirk that makes my insides twist pleasantly. “Want me to go down on you? Lay down on the couch. I’ll suck on your clit and finger you while you watch your show.”
I rub my forehead, torn between the arousal pulsing through me and the urge to sit around in a burrito blanket all day. “No, you don’t have to.”
Guiding me back to the couch, he sits me down and plugs in the heating pad. I set the lukewarm hot water bottle I was using on the coffee table, then spread the pad across my abdomen with a relieved sigh as the heat starts to kick in.
“Thank you,” I mumble.
“I told you, Maya. You need me? I’m there.” He sits down with me, wrapping the blanket around both of us. “I have something else, too.”
“A magic way to scoop out my uterus?”
He chuckles. “No.”
I wave a hand. “Sorry. I’m just being dramatic. I hate suffering through cramps every month.”
“Let it all out. Rage as much as you want, baby. I’m here for anything you need.” He kisses my temple and rubs my back.
I shift to curl against his side. “This. I just need this.”
“Me too. Missed you over break.”
My face presses into his neck. “I missed you, too.” A small laugh slips out of me. “I thought Ryan was going to catch us every time you called me.”
“Worth it.”
Any moment I wasn’t with Grandpa and Easton wasn’t playing hockey or with his family, we talked. He called almost every night of winter break. Sometimes it was over Facetime with a wicked gleam in his eye, lighting me up with desire from his dirty mouth. Other times it was just because he wanted to hear my voice while we fell asleep.
I draw in a deep breath, closing my eyes at his calming scent. It feels good to be back in his arms.
“Here, this is what I got you.” He takes my hand and slips something into it. “I’ve noticed you like to move around when you get anxious or stressed. I went to this holiday market with my mom on Christmas Eve and saw these at a stall. I thought of you—thought that you might like them.”
The gold ring loops in a coil to create three rings with a set of matching beads that can be spun or moved freely around the loops. I slide it on my thumb, tracing the beads. It’s soothing to roll them.
My heart climbs into my throat at his thoughtfulness. “Easton. This is…“
“Is it okay?”
I give him a soft smile. “Yes. I love it.”
His arms loop around me, kneading the aches out of my lower back. I groan pitifully in appreciation.
“Did you spoil all the girls with this treatment? You’re being the perfect boyfriend. If anyone finds out, I’m going to have to fight to keep you.”
He scoffs, his embrace tightening. “No. This is all for you and only you. Forget the guy you might’ve heard about or think I was before we met, because I’m not him anymore. The only thing I am now is yours.”
I roll my lips between my teeth and a tender glow fills my chest. “Thank you.”
“What are we watching?”
“Don’t you have class today?”
“It’s a short one just to go over the syllabus. I’ll get the notes from Cam and email the professor later. I’d rather stay here with you.”
