She put the empty bowl down on the floor.
“No. What would you do that was embarrassing?”
“I don’t know. . .I don’t really know what I do when I sleepwalk. It’s kind of terrifying. What if I wander out of the apartment? What if the person who is sending me these letters is watching and saw me?”
“Won’t let that happen.”
“But how would you even know? You could be asleep. You’d have no idea.”
“Ahh. Yeah. After the first time caught you sleepwalking, I put a monitor in your room.”
“You. . .you what?”
“It has these pads that go under your mattress. You can buy as many as you like. Normally, they go under a child’s cot, so you just need a couple. But I put around twelve under your bed. Then when you get out of bed, it sets an alarm off on my phone.”
She couldn’t believe it. “You. . .you’ve been monitoring me?”
“Yeah. . .that a problem?” He sounded confused. As though he couldn’t understand how that could possibly be an issue.
It should be. It was a total breach of privacy. And yet, all she felt was relief. She slipped her arms around his waist. Their position was kind of awkward and he ended up lifting her onto his lap.
“Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me?”
“I know I should probably yell at you. That’s seriously not something you do without a person’s permission. I mean that’s my bedroom and you just—”
He placed his hand gently over her mouth. “Let’s just stick with thank you.”
She poked her tongue out and licked his hand.
“Did you just lick my hand?” he growled. She was getting used to those growls though. They didn’t intimidate her anymore. Well, most of the time.
“Yep.”
“Were you poking your tongue out at me? You know that’s naughty, right?”
Her heart raced, her insides heating at his low, dominant voice. Was it messed up that she liked that? That she wanted to be naughty just to have him speak like that to her again?
Another cramp hit her, and she let out a low, pained noise.
“Still hurting, baby?”
“Yeah.”
He rubbed her tummy, kissing the top of her head. Despite the fact that she was in all kinds of pain and feeling bloated and awful, this was hands down one of the best experiences of her life. Had anyone ever held her on their lap and just cuddled her like this?
“Know what’s good for period cramps?”
“More Tylenol?” Bastard still hadn’t let her take any more.
“An orgasm.”
She stilled. Was he offering to. . .
“I don’t think I’m ready for that,” she squeaked out. “I mean. . .we’ve just started to. . .and I’m not exactly feeling sexy and I have my period!”
“That’s why I suggested an orgasm to help with your cramps.”