Page 52 of Among the Screaming Trees

“Of course you weren’t…”

“Aspen is not to ride in that deathtrap truck. Jack or I will drive her to and from college, and into town on occasion.”

“Fine,” I spit back, and to my surprise, Fox doesn’t raise any finger. He has them wrapped around our girl, and he’s not letting go to rebuke the professor. “Is that it?”

“For now,” he seethes. “If I think of anything else, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“We can all stay?” she squeaks out.

“You were always staying, you know that. But, in the interim, unless they break something or put you in danger, your pets can stay here with you.”

Aspen slides out from under the Tutchone man and throws her arms around the professor’s neck, catching him off guard. He relaxes into the hug, settling his arms around her waist, inhaling the scent of her hair.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won’t regret this.”

“I already do.”

He looks like he’d rather have his foreskin pulled up and over his torso. Wait, is he circumcised? I don’t know, I wasn’t looking at other cocks during the Larch.

“Lukaz. Grab the bags. Pick any of the empty bedrooms. Fox, you come with me.”

Wyldan pulls himself away from Aspen, dropping a tender kiss on her temple. “We’ll be as quick as we can, okay?” He drops his head, maintaining eye contact. She nods an affirmation, her eyes cast down at the floor. A finger under her chin lifts her gaze back to him, and he says something too soft for me to make out. This is a warmer, caring side to Wyldan I haven’t seen him reveal with anyone. He’s just as cold and broody with her as he is with everyone else.

“Come on, Fox. You’re riding with me.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jackson

ORGANIC PAIN RELIEF

Fox follows Eli into the garage, looking over his shoulder only once before his enormous frame is through the door.

“It’s not exactly a five-minute run to McDonald’s,” Lukaz jokes. He’s correct, but this clown has claimed enough of the conversation.

“Where are they going?”

“On an errand,” I say, scooping Aspen into my arms and settling her onto my lap in front of the fire. Her pre-menstrual cramps are increasing, and the warmth should provide her some comfort. Wyldan doesn’t have any feminine-hygiene products or pain relievers aimed at reducing painful cramps. Fuck, the guy barely has Advil. What we were discussing, before these two knuckleheads crashed our party, was how effective orgasms are for pain management. Aspen continues to writhe and wince, the cramps seizing her tight little body.

“Aspen?”

“She’s expecting her period,” I add by explanation. Either Luk will be grossed out enough to leave her alone for the next week, or he can man up and deal with it like women have been for thousands of years. I’ve never understood men who are hands off when their partner is uncomfortable and suffering. Aspen isn’t bleeding yet, but the debilitating cramps indicate it’s not far away. The drive down to Wyldan is at least twenty minutes. Even if they are in and out of the drugstore, it will be close to an hour before she will get any relief. That’s an hour too long.

“I’m fine,” she grits out through clenched teeth. She’s not.

“What can we do to help, baby?” I soothe, rubbing her lower back while she arches into my touch.

“I’m… fine. I can wait,” she grits out again, this time more forced.

“It’s obvious you’re not. Please, Pen. Let me help you.”

Luk returns from dumping the bags upstairs and sinks down next to the chaise. Aspen wriggles and lets out a low moan. This is getting crazy now.

“Doc, she’s hurting.”

“I know, Lukaz. Most women experience some degree of period pain. Eli and Fox have gone to town for tampons, night pads, and medication. Until then, we’re on our own. Heat was helping earlier, but we might need to switch to plan B.”

“Plan B?” he questions as Aspen’s moan is louder and longer. Sweetheart, the next time you moan like that, I want my cock buried in your pussy to drag it out of you.