Page 22 of My Orc Billionaire
She didn’t.
Instead, shelaughed. At least, I think that’s what her little snort was supposed to be, right before she muttered, “No shit, Sherlock,” and I reared back, frowning.
I recognized the Sherlock reference, but not what it meant.
So I hesitated a moment. “Are you…What’s wrong, Riven?”
Her breath whooshed out of her, and she began to flop around on the bed. “Do you realize—” she began, and I realized she was trying to roll over, but was tangled in the blankets and my hand. “That’s the first time you’ve called me by my name?”
When I moved my hand—and I was surprised how reluctant that motion was—she flopped all the way over to her back. In the dim light I could see her brows and mouth pinched in pain.
“That’s not true,” I defended myself, more confused than indignant. Surely I’d called her by her name before? Yes, there was that time in the kitchen…
She huffed and reached for a pillow. “I’m in pain. Allow me my delusions.” She slapped the pillow over her face, so her next words came out muffled. “I’m sorry I can’t cook for you, Abydos. I made sweet potato pie with pecan crumble last night, but I know you don’t like leftovers, so I’ll order?—”
“Fuck the leftovers!” I growled, bending back over her. My hand hovered, wanting to touch her, but not sure where. “You’re hurt. How can I help?”
One corner of the pillow lifted, and I could feel her peeking up at me. “Youwantto help?”
“Riven, you’re currently bleeding out on my mattress.”
“Your mattress?—”
“Fuck the mattress!”My roar startled her, but I couldn’t quell my panic, couldn’t ignore the frantic beating of myKteer. “You’re dying!”
No, not myKteer. My heart was the one pounding against my ribcage.
“You’re doing a lot offuckingaround here,” she mumbled, dropping the pillow back over her face. “I’m not dying, Abydos. I’m…” Her words ended in a muffled groan, although this one sounded more like embarrassment. “Nevermind.”
With this, she wrapped her arms around her middle and rolled back over to her side, taking the blankets with her.
And I knelt there, feeling completely useless.
She’s not dying.
“Riven,” I whispered, and allowed my hand to drop to her back. “How can I help?”
“Go away,” she moaned.
Unconsciously, I began to rub her upper back, and she moaned again. Was it my imagination, or did she press back against my touch?
The thought that I was maybe helping her in some way? It made me…proud.
“Riven.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she groaned, burrowing her head deeper into the pillow. “I just started my period. Cramps aren’t usually this bad, but sometimes…” Another moan, and she arched just slightly into my touch. “Waiting for the pain meds to kick in. I’ll be fine?—”
Her assurance broke off suddenly, and I could feel her panting beneath my palm as my brain scrambled to keep up.
Her period.Menstruation. That’s the blood I was smelling.
Females of my species experienced something similar, but it had been over a decade since I’d been around one of them, and Riven was the first human female I’d interacted with since the science facility. I could be forgiven for forgetting about this quirk of biology, but not for my current feeling of helplessness.
This was unacceptable. Riven was inpain, and she thought I would do nothing about it?
Fuck that.
Abruptly, I pushed myself to my feet and turned to stalk from the room. I pulled my phone from my pocket, and as I shut the door to her room behind me, I heard what sounded like a little sob.
