Gemini did not seem distressed, more embarrassed than anything as her cheeks flushed red and she crossed her arms over her nude form.
“Your… period,” he repeated. “You mean menstruation?”
Yes, he did remember being surprised to learn that many humans bled from their wombs monthly. He wasn’t sure he would have been able to handle it if it happened to him.
“Of course! Wait, do Oslieths not get periods? What happens if an omega doesn’t get pregnant during a heat?”
“They do not. If a pregnancy does not occur, the endometrium is reabsorbed.”
“Wow. What a dream. Mine isn’t too bad becauseof my implant. Technically, it’s just withdrawal bleeding from the hormones, but it still sucks. Sorry again about the sheets. I can wash them if you’d like.”
“No! That is not necessary at all,” Apodis said, hating the way she looked so downcast. “I will take care of everything.”
He crawled to her lower half—the metallic scent so obvious now that he was focused on it—trying to ignore the roiling in his stomach. How embarrassing that he,an alpha, was queasy at the sight of blood. Perhaps it had played some part in his reluctance to give someone a mating bite, though for the right person he would have been willing to do anything.
“Do you need my help? I can… clean you.”
“Clean me?” Gemini asked, quirking a brow as she propped herself up on a pillow.
“Yes. Do males not clean their females during menstruation? I will be happy to use my tongue on you.”
Yes, he would gladly help Gemini, even if it frightened him. He could be strong, though. He was an alpha, for Galaxy’s sake. He could handle a little blood.
“You know, some probably do, but that’s not necessary. What I really need is a bath. And some pads. I don’t suppose you have any of those lying around,” she said, her mouth curled into an amused smile.
“No, but I will order something to be delivered. And here, let me help you to the bathroom.”
Though he was relieved that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself by passing out in front of Gemini, he mourned that he would have to wait to taste her once again.
“Sure. That will help a lot. Thank you, Apodis. For everything.”
Gemini’s smile was so sincere that it made his body tingle with delight, and he swiftly got off the bed and scooped her into his arms.
“Anything for you, little human.”
CHAPTER 15
GEMINI
An internal tugof war was taking place inside Gemini, the emotional and physical exertion of the past few days exhausting her to her core.
In some ways, she felt as if she were living a dream.
Apodis had filled the bathtub and gotten her settled in—as careful as ever with her injured ankle—then hurried from the room toprepare thingsas he’d said. The bath was soothing, and after scrubbing the hell out of her body and hair, she’d refilled the tub with clean water, letting herself luxuriate in the warmth.
When Apodis returned, he had a shy smile on his face, gingerly lifting her and drying her with a towel while he brushed her tangled hair. She could see the use of multipleappendages, his mating tentacleswielding the brush with surprising dexterity, though she remembered exactly what they had done during her heat.
One for each of her holes, just like she’d imagined, though the reality had been so much better than her fantasies.
Never had she felt so connected with someone, so in tune with her own body that everything else faded to nothing. The intensity of the heat seemed to be past her, but her interest in Apodis remained, grew even, now that she knew exactly how he treated his bed partners.
He had provided her with a simple box labeled “HUMAN MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS”, which ended up being something akin to pads, and gotten her settled into bed after she’d dressed. A mug of herbal tea and a delicious meal soothed the ache in her stomach, finishing with a sweet and bitter candy that tasted almost like chocolate.
Uaphawolla, he had explained, a delicacy used to soothe females after heat, which he’d had delivered by drone along with her pads.
An absolute angel, by all standards, especially compared to the shit she was used to. And yet, her stomach still churned with anxiety, questions buzzing through her head as she leaned against Apodis’ firm body.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, hugging her with his arms and tentacles, her back flush with hischest.
