“Yes, please.”
The door opened. “I have more downstairs. Come down when you’re ready,” he said.
“I will. Thank you, Azio.”
The door closed again, and I turned off the water to see what he’d found. My jaw dropped when I opened the curtain. The typical box of pads waited, along with slippers, sweat pants, normal underwear, a non-see-through shirt, and a mini bag of potato chips.
A slow smile tugged at my lips, and I started dressing in the most comfortable period clothes ever. I didn’t eat the chips, though. Not yet. The snack cravings usually hit in the afternoon.
With my chips in hand, I went downstairs. Groth was in the kitchen, mixing something in a bowl, and Azio was layering the couch in blankets.
“I have a hot water bottle ready for you,” he said when he saw me. “And some man-books.”
“The cookie dough is almost ready,” Groth said from the kitchen.
“Uh, what’s going on?”
Azio returned my puzzled look.
“You have your period.” He gestured to the couch. “You can relax with a hot water bottle on your stomach while you read. We have snacks and chocolate and cookie dough but can get you whatever else you want.”
“You want to pamper me because I have my period?” That couldn’t be right. No man ever gave a crap about the shedding of a uterine lining, no matter how miserable it made me.
“Yes,” Azio said simply, and Groth echoed his sentiment.
The first light twinge of a cramp encouraged me to grab this gift with both hands.
“Okay. Pamper away.”
I let Azio fuss over the pillows behind me and tuck the blanket around my legs. When he set his large hand over my lower abdomen, it felt good. The hot water bottle was even better, though.
“How do you know to do all of this?” I asked.
“Ghua and Byllo and Uan. Their women are nice and tell them what they need to feel better. Some of the other females won’t say.”
“It’s nice to tell you what we want?”
“Yes.”
His unblinking green gaze held mine for a long moment. And it didn’t bother me. How could it? He’d gotten me chips and chocolate and pads just to make me feel better.
I lifted my hand and set it on his cheek. My pulse fluttered at the contact and at the way his pupils rapidly expanded.
“This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you, Azio.” I shifted my gaze to Groth, who was quietly watching us. “You too, Groth.”
He flashed a small smile at me then focused on mixing.
Azio’s hand covered mine, and he pressed my palm more firmly against his cheek. My stomach dipped when he closed his eyes and simply held my hand there for a moment.
“What else have they told you?” I asked softly.