Page 66 of While He Breathes

“No.” I shake my head. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not?” He carefully presses me to my back and presses his weight against me, pinning me in place.

“Because I’mbleeding,” I hiss.

“So?”

“So I don’t want you having anything to do with that!”

Every time I think today can’t get any more mortifying, I’m quickly proven wrong.

“Ember, I literally got my name killing people. Do you think your blood is going to bother me?”

“It’s different!”

“How?”

“Because it is!” I snap.

Orion shakes his head, like he can’t understand why I would be bothered by the idea of him being anywhere near what’s happening down there right now.

“How about we just try it?” he offers. “We’ll see if it helps, and if it doesn’t, I won’t ever suggest it again. No harm, now foul.”

I open my mouth to argue, but snap it shut with a frustrated groan. This man doesn’t have any boundaries. In fact, I don’t even know if he knows that word exists.

“Let me help take the pain away, Little Flame,” he murmurs against my cheek. “I can’t stand seeing you hurting and not being able to do anything to help.”

I frown up at him, because while I don’t agree with his point, it is kind of sweet that he’ll go to such lengths to help me. Even if the idea is still making me nauseous.

“Please, Ember.” He trails kisses along my jaw, and a moan slips free without permission, telling him he’s won without me ever having to say the words.

“Fine,” I huff.

“Don’t sound so excited to be given orgasms.” He chuckles. “How about this? I’ll even let you choose how you get the orgasms,” he offers, like he’s giving me the greatest compromise in the world.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, obviously my preference would be to fuck you. There are some unconfirmed studies that think cum might help with pain associated with periods, but if you ask me, that’s likely just wishful thinking on the part of male scientists.”

I giggle, pressing my face into his throat, and he grins down at me, the sight so fucking beautiful I can barely handle it.

How is it possible for a man as brutal as Orion to look so carefree and happy when he’s with me? The two versions of him surely can’t live in the same body. Can they?

“Okay, tell me what my other options are.” I can’t help but smile up at him like he hung the moon. My feelings for Orion are complicated on a good day, but when he’s bending over backward to help my cramps, I’m one big mess of contradicting emotions.

“I could slip my hand into your panties and rub your clit until you fall apart over and over again.” He brushes his fingers along the edge of my panties, demonstrating how easy it would be for him to slip inside. “Or I could fuck you with my fingers,” he breathes. “Or there are always toys.”

I press my eyes closed, willing my libido to get back in its box where it belongs during this time of the month, but of course, where Orion is concerned, my libido is out and down to fuck.

“What do you want, Little Flame?” he asks, his lips dragging along my cheek. “Let me help you.”

I nod, my voice lost in the haze of lust that swirls around me. “Maybe we need to test the validity of that study you read.”

“Yes,” he says quickly, shucking his sleep pants. “I think that would be for the best. That way, we’ll know one way or the other.”

With almost too much efficiency, he tugs my panties down, and I try not to feel embarrassed by the blood that will inevitably cover us both.

“Wait!” I press my hands to his chest, and his entire body stops its advance. “What about the sheets?”