Chapter Sixty – I Will Deal With It for One Night

When I arrived back, Alyssa was sound asleep, and I left her to it. I wanted to get everything prepared for when she woke. Did she actually expect me to leave her alone for the entire weekend? She should know me better than that. I can deal with whatever she throws my way. I could help ease her cramps too, but something tells me she wouldn’t be up for that. One of the best cures for cramps is an orgasm. I would give her one if she allowed it. However, at this moment, I will do whatever I can to take care of her.

“You were supposed to wake me up,” I hear Alyssa whine from behind me.

When I turned to her, she was standing with her arms crossed and glaring at me. I fight back a chuckle at her overreaction. It will make her worse if I do.

“You didn’t tell me to do that.”

In frustration, she rolls her eyes. “You should have known.”

My fists clench at my sides in reaction to her attitude, but I keep control of myself. Just because she can escape consequences this weekend doesn’t mean I won’t hold her accountable next week.

“Okay, kitten, if you insist,” I say with a smile.

She eyes me suspiciously, probably expecting a different reaction. “Can I help?” she asks and comes closer to me.

I pull her closer. “How is your stomach? Do you still have cramps?” I ask, rubbing her stomach.

“The painkillers and heat pad have helped, for now,” she whispers.

Softly, I kiss her. “No, you can’t help. You can go back to bed. I will join you soon. Find us a movie to watch.”

“I watch soppy movies when I am feeling like this.”

“A soppy movie is fine. I’m sure I can manage it for one night. Now, go. I will bring you some soup. After the movie, we can take a bath.”

Her eyes go wide. “We? I am not sharing a bath with you, not tonight.”

“Yes, we. And you will be. It isn’t a big deal, beautiful. It isn’t something you need to be embarrassed about. It happens. It is natural. Back to bed. Don’t make me toss you over my shoulder and carry you there.”

Alyssa sighs, nods, and disappears back to the bedroom. I chuckle to myself once she is out of earshot. I dish out portions of chicken and rice soup into bowls for each of us, serving it alongside Italian bread.

Alyssa is sitting up, trying to find something to watch. I hate soppy movies, but I will watch them for her since it seems to be one of her comforts. I hand her the tray and slip in next to her. The second I am situated, she cuddles into my side. I’m sure she will be extra needy tonight. I don’t mind. I like being needed, especially by Alyssa.

“This soup is amazing. If you ever get tired of business, you should become a chef,” she compliments.

“I am not that good,” I chuckle.

“Yes, you are. Everything you have made me has been amazing, Wyatt.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Thanks, kitten.”

She flashes her bright smile at me. Her smile does something to me; it makes me weak. She turns away from me and focuses on her food. I sigh to myself and do the same. I swear, if any woman is going to end me and break down my walls, it will be Alyssa. Honestly, if I knew what she would end up doing to me, there is a chance I wouldn’t have started things up with her. She makes me vulnerable in ways no one else ever has. I hate being vulnerable, yet somehow, with her, it doesn’t terrify me as much as I thought it would.

I snap out of it and focus. Alyssa hits play on the movie. God, the next hour and a half or so will be torture.

I’m trying my hardest not to fall asleep as we watch the movie. Alyssa seems to be enjoying it. Out of nowhere, I hear her crying. What the hell? Why is she crying? It isn’t even a sad part of the movie. The couple had just made up and said “I love you” for the first time. It is cheesy as hell.

“Why are you crying?” I chuckle.

Regret fills me as she turns to me after my chuckle. If the way someone looks could cause death, I would already be gone.

“Don’t laugh at me,” she snaps.

I notice the tears roll down her cheeks. Now, I feel bad for laughing.

I reach in and wipe her tears away. “I am sorry, beautiful. I shouldn’t have laughed at you.”

Rolling her eyes, she quickly shifts her gaze back to the movie. She is mad at me.

“Alyssa, please don’t be mad at me. I am sorry,” I sigh.

“It is fine.”

She shifts positions. She turns to her side, curls up with her knees against her stomach, and grimaces.

“Are your cramps back?” I ask softly, slipping my hand under her clothes and massaging it.

She whimpers and nods. I bring her closer to me and hug her to me. I wish there was a way for me to take them away. She buries her face in my chest. I stroke her hair.

“Being a woman sucks, sometimes,” she huffs.

“I don’t know how you women do it. I swear, if it were us men, we would be on our knees, crying,” I say.

“Probably,” she snickers.

I laugh too. Hearing her laugh is better than hearing her wince.

“I am going to run a bubble bath. Hopefully, that will help ease them because you can’t take any more painkillers for another couple of hours.”

She nods and parts from me. I kiss her softly and disappear to the bathroom to start a bath for us. Maybe I can encourage her to let me help in other ways while we are in there. I squeeze in her favorite coconut bubble bath and rejoin her in the bedroom. She is sitting up, clenching her stomach.

I hate seeing her like this. I know she is probably used to it and many women suffer in the same way, but I really wish there was a way to make it a little easier on her. I climb back into bed and pull her on top of me. She buries her face in my neck.

“I bet you are regretting coming here now, uh?” she whispers, nuzzling my neck.

“No, not at all. I am glad I am here to care for you,” I reply and tickle the small of her back.

“Thank you. I am sorry I have been rude and distant.”

“It is okay, sweetheart. I know it will pass in a couple of days.”

Sweetheart? Where did that come from? Since when do I call her that? She either didn’t hear me or she isn’t going to comment on it. Thank God she can’t see my face, or she would be asking questions. The last thing I want is to upset her even more. It was a slip of the tongue. It isn’t bad, and I could have said something worse. I’m overthinking as always.