Page 125 of You Kissed Me First

I must have been bleeding for a long time before he noticed. How did he notice? What time is it even?

Once I’m clean and dry, I wad up some toilet paper and shove it between my legs. Then I open the door. The room is quiet.

“Dominic?” I call out.

When he doesn’t answer, I make my way farther into the room.

The bedding has been changed and made, but Dominic is nowhere to be seen. I hustle over to my bag, grabbing the comfy set of panties I brought. I hate that I’ll end up ruining them, but they are the only ones that will do. I’m really regretting not listening to Nessa. She told me to bring some period supplies just in case.

I hate that I am going to have to tell her she was right.

I change quickly, leaving the wadded toilet paper in my panties. Then I sit on the edge of the couch, waiting for Dominic to come back.

As I sit there, I start to think about this trip. It has been a roller coaster ride. I never anticipated the way Dominic and I have grown close to one another. It’s been two weeks, but he already knows me way better than Barrett ever did.

When I’m with Dominic, I don’t feel like I need to perform for him like I did with Barrett. I don’t have to be anyone but myself. My hair doesn’t have to be perfect. I don’t need to wear nice clothes.

All I need to do is be present.

I’m still skeptical about whether a romance started on a cruise ship will work, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Especially after this morning.

Or I hope after this morning.

I look at the time on my phone. It’s one in the morning. Where the heck could he be?

The stores aren’t open, so a tampon isn’t happening.

I really hope he’s not knocking on my sister’s door. She will kill me.

I settle more onto the couch, my head falling to the back.

I don’t want to fall asleep. I need to wait up for him. Yet, as I sit there thinking about him, I feel my eyes growing heavier.

So heavy that they are harder and harder to open.

Until they don’t open.

* * *

ThankGod housekeeping works twenty-four hours a day. I hated waking him up, but he seemed cool about it. Especially when I told him what happened. He offered to change the sheets, but I told him not to worry about it. I shoved the soiled sheets and towels I used to clean up the bed into the biohazard bag he handed me before stepping into the other bathroom to wash my hands and wipe down my thighs and dick. I still need a shower, but she needed one more.

Thankfully, she didn’t bleed too much on the bedding. After laying another towel over the wet spot on the mattress, I make the bed over it. I don’t care about the wet spot, but women usually do. I figure she can take my side of the bed.

After making sure everything was set, I dress quickly before heading out of the room. I already know the store is closed, but they have someone at guest services twenty-four hours as well. I know I could have messaged Joe our steward, but I rather do this errand myself.

It doesn’t take me long to get there. Thankfully, there’s a lady behind the desk.

“Hey, I need some assistance,” I tell her.

She smiles, her look flirtatious. “How can I help you?”

I ignore her flirting. She’s younger, so I’m not surprised, but I have a woman. One who needs me.

“My girlfriend unexpectedly started her period. I know the store is closed, but we really need some tampons or pads. Is there any way someone could grab us some, or do you have an emergency stash or something? Probably only one or two until the store opens in the morning?”

If anything, the woman grows more flirtatious to me as I speak. She must miss the way I said girlfriend because she leans closer.

“We don’t, but I actually keep some on me just in case. I could give you a couple if you wanted.” She reaches over as if to touch my arm.

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