I’m on a mission that takes me back to the kitchen, then the living room again. Once Leilani has soup in hand and the heating pad tucked against her belly, I head into the bathroom, third bag tucked under my arm, lighter now I’ve unloaded half its contents.
If there’s one thing I know about periods, it’s that heat helps with cramps, so a warm bath is a must. I line up an array of bath salts on the counter, sprinkling a generous amount of each into the tub as the hot water fills it up.
Candles are next, and within seconds a sweet scent is permeating the room while I fish out brand-new comfy PJs and the holy grail—fluffy socks. I sure hope those will earn me a few brownie points because Leilani’s feet are ice cold all the fucking time.
I step back, surveying the room as if it were a murder scene I’d spent hours staging to look like an accident.
“Not bad,” I praise myself, spinning on my heel to get Leilani, only to find her in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, face a little less pale. “Why are you up? I would’ve—”
“Carried me? Try it, see what happens.” She winks, her expression softening. “How can you be both?”
“Both?”
“Yes, both.” She steps in further, nuzzling her cheek against my chest. “A red and a green flag?”
“I’m not a red flag.”
“Youkillpeople, Koby.”
“Only when they deserve it.” My arms wrap around her, careful not to squeeze too hard and cause her more discomfort. “And for you... I’ll always be green.”
She tilts her head back, kissing my chin, and the domesticity of this situation crashes over me. I’ve never wanted this. Never craved what my friends had: relationships, one woman to come home to, hugs, kisses, and good deeds. I never imagined myself as monogamous, but now that I have this,her, I can’t imagine giving it up.
“Get in the bath,” I tell her. “Heat helps with cramps.”
Her mouth grazes my jawline before she rises on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. “So do orgasms.”
Pulling back, she smiles, watching my reaction with bated breath. Judging by the confusion clouding her features, she expected something other than desire.
I grab the back of her neck, crashing my lips to hers. My teeth bite her lower lip, tugging and earning a muffled moan.
“Koby.” She braces both hands against my chest, pushing until I step back. “I was teasing. I thought you’d freak out. We’re not having sex.”
“Okay, no sex, just an orgasm. Get in the bath and spread your legs for me, hellcat.”
She backs away, shaking her head. “No, I’mbleeding. I’m—”
“You said it yourself. I kill people. You’ll find I’m quite familiar with blood.”
“Not like this!” The backs of her knees hit the bathtub, and I catch her wrist before she falls in. “It’s disgusting.”
“It’s natural.” Tugging her into me, I pinch her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Iwantto touch you. Iwantto get you off in that bath. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t.”
She bites her cheek, eyes darting between mine.
“Stop overthinking, Leilani. Get in and spread your legs. If you don’t enjoy what I’m doing, I’ll stop.”
She exhales a long breath, the fight hissing out of her fast. Grabbing the hem of her t-shirt, she tugs upward, unmasking her full, swollen breasts. I lean against the wall, enjoying the show, and smirk when she rolls her eyes.
“You’re insatiable.”
My tongue drags over my bottom lip.
“Stop it, Koby!”
“What?”
“Stop licking your lips!”
