Page 39 of The Truth of Us

“Stop moving.”

“You’re being weirdly nurturing.”

“I’m trying to save your life.”

“I’m on my period, Elliot, not in the trenches.”

“I mean, how much blood loss are we talking...”

I huffed, and he laughed. I knew this was crossing all kinds of lines, but I relaxed again anyway. Because unfortunately this felt… nice. The penthouse was quiet around us, the city glowing beyond the windows, while Elliot stayed wrapped around me without asking for anything. I couldn’t remember the last time someone took care of me without expecting something in return.

I must have drifted off eventually because the next thing I knew, sunlight was filtering through the windows, and I was still curled against Elliot’s chest. But I wasn’t sitting up… I was...

My eyes blinked open slowly as my brain caught up. Warmth surrounded me. I tried to piece together where I was without moving. I felt heavy blankets and powerful arms.

Oh, my God. Did he snuggle me into breaking one of my rules?

I stiffened instantly. Elliot made a low sound behind me before tightening his arm around my waist sleepily.

“Relax.”

“Elliot, we have rules.” I was feeling hyperemotional and was fighting with myself so I wouldn’t cry. Stupid hormones.

His laugh was rough with sleep, and despite the pain, I felt myself clench.

“You fell asleep,” he murmured.

“Did you drug my wine?”

He ignored me, snuggling his face into my hair and the back of my neck, “You drooled on me a little too.”

I gasped and twisted enough to glare at him. Elliot grinned lazily, hair a complete mess, blue eyes heavy with sleep. He should not have looked that attractive. No one should look that attractive this early in the morning.

“You’re lying.”

“Maybe.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously before another cramp rolled through me.

I groaned and dropped my head back against the pillow. Elliot’s hand slid slowly across my stomach again. He nuzzled his face against me, bringing his lips to my ear when he said, “I heard orgasms help with cramps.”

I laughed, saying. “That sounds like fake science men invented.”

“You are in pain, Harper, so I think it’s worth testing.”

God. Why was he like this, and why did I like it so much?

“You are unbelievable.”

“And yet you’re still here.”

I had a sudden realization that I was not in the clothes I wore here, and I started trying to do the mental math on how long I had my cup in.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I pulled the blanket away from me, seeing I was in what looked like a pair of Elliot’s sweats and my cami.

I closed my eyes, answering, “My flow can be really heavy for the first few days, and I don’t… I may have made a mess.”