Page 90 of Hard to Get

“Oh God, a heating pad would be amazing right now.”

“I got you.” I run upstairs to grab the microwavable bag I sometimes use for sore muscles. After warming it for a couple of minutes, I beckon her over to the sofa. She stretches out with her feet on the coffee table and I carefully arrange the warm bag on her abdomen. “Okay?”

“Yes.” She sighs. “That feels nice.” She sips her wine.

I turn on the fireplace then fetch the olives and nuts, also turning on the oven to preheat.

She looks at the olives, then at me. “Have you had a change of heart about olives?”

“Ugh. No. Those are for you.”

She blinks and rubs her fingertips over her lips. “Thank you.”

“How was your day?”

We talk about her work and my practice and our dogs while we sip wine and munch snacks. When the oven beeps, I go slide the pan in and set the timer.

“What’s for dinner?” she asks.

“Chicken, sweet potatoes and broccoli.”

“Yum.”

“If it sounds too healthy for you, I can add some rice.”

“No, it sounds good.”

“How’re your cramps?” I slip my hand under the bag and gently press my palm to her belly.

“The heat helps.” She smiles.

“Do you get bad cramps?”

“Yeah. I always have. It’s so annoying. It was better when I was on the pill.”

I nod. We’ve been using condoms but she did share she’s not on other birth control right now. “Maybe you should go back on it?”

She lifts one shoulder. “Yeah. I was thinking about that.” She bites her lip, then sips her wine.

It’s her body. Her decision. I’m not going to push it. But it would be amazing to do away with condoms. So I just nod.

She proclaims the chicken delicious and asks about the barbecue sauce that’s on it.

“I get it at Granville Island Market. It’s local.”

“It’s really good.”

I send her back to the couch with a re-warmed bag while I quickly do the dishes, then join her, pulling her into my arms. With just a couple of lamps on, the city lights sparkle outside the floor-to-ceiling windows and the fire flickers warmly.

I tilt her chin up to kiss her. “I don’t like it that you’re in pain.”

“I’m okay.”

We kiss again, her mouth soft and sweet and lush, our tongues sliding together.

“You know what else helps with cramps?” I murmur.

“Um… what?”