Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1)(35)

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Hope

Hope awoke in the morning to see Viper still asleep awkwardly stretched out in the plush, yet too short chair. The man was so huge. Hope admired his body as he slumbered. His muscular shoulders and broad tan chest were too wide for the sofa so he lay at an odd angle, with his thick legs propped on the footrest, his feet dangling. Man he looked uncomfortable. For some reason Viper never took her up on the offer to share the bed, it was more than big enough.

Hope knew he regretted what happened between them and had promised not to touch her. But Hope couldn't help wonder if Viper regretted more than just how he'd treated her. Sure he acted all hot and horny for her, but that was just biology. It didn't mean he was thrilled about it.

Hope's stomach cramped uncomfortably, so she got up and wandered to the bathroom. She sat down and immediately groaned. Shit this is not good.

"Of all the times to start my period."

All the crazy events had made her forget her little monthly friend. Hope heard movement in the next room and wondered how long she'd been sitting in the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Viper called through the door.

"Yes and No. Can you call Acris please."

Hope had no clue what to do. She felt like she was twelve all over again, getting her period while on a road trip with the family. There's nothing worse than trying to finagle a giant ass pad for the first time in a rest-stop bathroom.

"Are you ill? Let me come in." Viper insisted through the door.

"No Viper just get Acris please."

This was a female problem, human men could barely deal with hearing about it, she imagined Anguis weren't much different. Hope heard Viper huff as he moved away from the closed door. A minute later Acris knocked gently.

"Uxorem you need me?"

"Yes come in."

Acris opened the door slightly and slid into the room.

"Are you ill Uxorem Hope?"

Hope could see Viper hovering outside before Acris closed the door behind her.

"I'm not ill, just bleeding and didn't know who else to call."

Acris looked suddenly alarmed.

"You are injured!" She exclaimed with a rather loud squeak.

Hope was pretty sure she heard Viper make some strange noise on the others side of the door.

"No relax. I'm just on my period."

Acris looked at her in confusion.

"Do your women bleed when they become fully grown, capable of bearing children?"

"We shed our internal lining, but it doesn't involve a great deal of bleeding. It is not our time of year so I have not brought anything aboard."

"Wait. How many times a year do you have your period?" Hope asked as she tried to shuffle to the shower.

"Twice a year. Oh Hope, that's a lot of blood!" Acris panicked as she glanced at the toilet. "Is this normal?"

Hope was shocked and so was Acris, but for different reasons. It must be nice to have your period only twice a year, and apparently it wasn't aggressive. Hope felt lucky she didn't have horrendous cramps like some woman. However she did get PMS like a mother fucker.

Hope stripped and stepped into the shower.

"It's normal. Human females have a cycle every thirty days and it lasts about five days."

"Holy Kadru, you bleed like this for five days! That can't be good Uxorem."

"Some of us have more pain than others. Mine aren't bad. It's more annoying than anything. I just need something so I don't make a terrible mess."

"We have a replicator. I can try to have it make something." Acris tried to think.

There was a knock on the door.

"Hope?" It was Tara.

"Come in." Hope hollered over the spray of the shower.

"Now there'll be a party in here, discussing my period." Hope groaned as Tara entered the bathroom.

"What are you doing here? Not that you aren't welcome." Hope asked her best friend.

"Viper woke us up beating on the door. I almost forgot where we were and freaked out. He seemed a bit frantic, said you were injured. What's wrong?"

"I got my period!"

Tara burst out laughing.

"Is that all!" She cried.

"Yeah except the Anguis only have a cycle twice a year and it's nothing like ours. Acris doesn't really have anything for me."

Acris nodded in confirmation to Tara.

"Oh man, that must be nice." Tara appraised Acris like she wanted to exchange places with the woman.

"Can you help Acris figure out what to replicate, and I'd like some underwear and a razor too."

Tara was still laughing at Hope's misfortune as she left with Acris. Her time would come!

"Hope?!"

She looked up to see Viper standing in the middle of the room. His chest was heaving as he stared in horror at the toilet.

"Great! Who forgot to flush that? Me! I'm such an idiot." Hope groaned to herself as she looked at Viper's stricken expression.