Page 51 of The Tenets of Man

I moaned his name out loud.

Oh, god. My mortification only grows as I get out of the bed to find a deep red stain on the sheets.

The last time I started my period and stained the bed Gabriel was furious. Mostly because I wasn’t pregnant—again—but also because he thought it was gross.Clean this up, you disgusting bitch,he’d said. I immediately strip the sheets off the thin mattress and roll them into a ball, hoping I can get them clean and dry before Maverick notices.

My clean pair of pants probably aren’t even dry yet, but I can’t stay in these ones. I peek out of the tent and grab the other pants and underwear from where they’re laid out, changing quickly. When I come back out with the soiled laundry, the sun is just rising, casting the lush forest in a lovely orange glow.

And there, a few yards away, is the man I fantasized about last night. Bare chested, slick with sweat, he swings an axe over his head and brings it down on a log, splitting it in two with ease. A sharp crackrings out, and I’m mesmerized.He’s beautiful. Muscular and rugged, his chest hair trails down his stomach in a neat line, leading my eyes to where it disappears into his low-slung jeans. He’s also covered in tattoos; his arms and chest have what I can only describe as classic tattoos, like a sailor would have. Some birds, an anchor, a chain, a flower. Most of his skin is covered in colorful designs.

Shit.His eyes connect with mine, and I have no choice but to acknowledge that I was definitely watching him like a stalker. I step over to him carefully, avoiding stray roots and branches until I’m standing right in front of him. I stare at the glistening hollow of his throat as his musky, citrusy smell invades my nose, making me feel slightly drunk.

“Good morning.”

“Morning,” he says, breathing hard.

“How did you sleep?” I ask, finally bringing my gaze up to his face.

“Fine,” he replies. “You?”

My face turns crimson.What if he heard me last night?The smirk he’s giving me makes me think he knows exactly why I’m blushing. “Good,” I squeak out.

He nods toward the wadded up fabric in my arms. “Everything okay?”

I had completely forgotten about the soiled sheets, but immediately drop my chin in shame. “I’m so sorry. I-I started my period. I’ll clean them right away.”

He leans the axe against a tree stump and takes a step toward me, bringing his hand to my chin and lifting it gently so I’m forced to look into his eyes. Noticeably, I didn’t flinch or pull away when he reached for me this time. “You don’t have to apologize for something you can’t control.”

“It’s gross,” I argue with a wince.

He gives me a stern look before grabbing his t-shirt and pulling it over his head. “It’s natural.”

“If you just let me know where I can find some laundry soap I’ll take care of it.”

“I’m less concerned about the sheets and more concerned about you.” His gentle declaration makes my stomach flutter. “Let’s get you taken care of, then we’ll deal with the laundry.”

I stare up at him, utterly dumbfounded. “All right.”

To my dismay, he takes the bundle out of my arms and walks with me across the camp until we get to V’s.

The doctor’s already awake, sitting at her desk and writing in her journal. She looks up upon our entry, offering a warm smile. “Good morning, you two.”

I give her a weak smile as my stomach cramps. “Morning.”

“Hey, Doc. Mrs. Sinclair is in need of some menstrual products.”

I catch myself once again wishing he would call me Delilah, even though I’ve asked himnot toseveral times.Whatis wrong with me?

“No problem.” V hops off her chair and rifles through her medical bag. “Maverick, would you mind heating up some water please?”

He gives me a lingering look before nodding. “Be right back.”

I look away to keep myself from asking him to stay.

V pulls out a bottle of pills and a small box. “Any cramping?”

“A little. Nothing I can’t handle.”

The doctor gives me a sad smile. “I don’t doubt that. But we have plenty to go around. No need for you to suffer for the sake of pride.”