This instalment is loosely based on an Everlark (Hunger Games) story I once read, with a similar plot as this. I tried to find it, to give it the credit it deserves, but I was unable to find it again after all these years. If you know the story I'm referring to; please don't hesitate to contact me.
WARNING: Period sex.
Part XVI
10x16 The Allowance Evaporation
Sheldon: Well, last night Amy was angry with me because I'd been foolishly telling people about certain personal matters.
Howard: That's understandable.
Sheldon: Oh, I know that now. At first, I thought she was cranky because of her horrific menstrual cramps, but it turns out, no, she was genuinely mortified.
Sheldon walked into apartment 4B with a spring in his step. He was in an exceptional good mood; the weekend had just started, he'd be spending the evening playing Zork with the guys, the fight he and Amy had had the night before was resolved.
Admitting to Amy he had gotten his driver's licence had been sort of a relief as well.
All was well.
Well, besides the fact that Amy had texted him she'd be taking the afternoon off and he'd have to drive home with Leonard. He had been instantly worried he hadn't resolved their fight after all; he had explained to her how the Zones of Privacy worked, and she had seemed happy to see him doing his best to understand how and why he had been wrong in telling other's about their personal life.
Now that he thought about it, 'genitals' was in the most private zone as well. Maybe his comment about Amy's menstrual cramps fell in that category?
He'd have to check that with her later.
"Amy?" he called out, when he didn't immediately see her. He had expected to find her on the couch, with either her iPad or a book. He took off his windbreaker and messenger bag. Her bag and coat were there. A twinge of worry went through him.
"Amy?" he tried again.
"In here," she called back from the bedroom, but her voice sounded weak and strained. Sheldon's brows furrowed.
He entered the bedroom timidly, and closed the door behind him softly. The curtains were drawn, and the sole light came from the nightlight next to Amy. She was curled up in a ball under the blankets, and her face was creased in pain.
Oh, right.
He had forgotten for a minute. They had been living together for quite a few months now, and he had learned the hard way to tread carefully around Amy for six days every four weeks. He had it marked on his calendar, in case he would forget for some inexplicable reason. As if her foul moods weren't enough of an indicator as it was.
"Hello," he said softly.
"Hi," Amy mumbled, her eyes still closed. She appeared to have wrapped her arms around her stomach.
"Can I get you something?" he asked, as he walked over to her.
Amy appeared in pain. On the nightstand next to her glasses lay a box of Advil and half a glass of water. Next to it an empty Dove bar wrapper.
"Amy?" he asked softly.
She opened her eyes with difficulty. "Could you refill my hot water bottle? It has gone cold," she muttered, as she handed it to him. Sheldon's eyes flitted over her chest. She appeared to only be wearing a camisole. This was not the time to ogle her, he knew that. But she usually wore more conservative clothes to bed.
It was distracting.
"Of course," he said. "Anything else?"
"See if we have more chocolate?" she whispered.
"Alright," he said. He leaned into her and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back in a minute."
Why she had sent him to get more chocolate was beyond him. She had taken the last of the Dove bars with her when she had gotten into bed. The empty carton was in the trash. Sheldon sighed.
He walked over to 4A. Leonard had a sweet tooth (Amy had berated him when he pointed out how Leonard's stomach seemed to grow by the week), so the odds were in his favour. Penny sat in the beige chair as he entered. She was eating a candy bar herself.
"Hey Sheldon," she said. "You know that key is only for emergencies? I expect you to knock next time."
Sheldon stared at her. Penny seemed cranky. He came in there all the time without knocking. Why would today be any different?
Unless… He pondered for a second. It wasn't unlikely. It was a well-known fact that women's menstruations would sync up when they spend a sufficient amount of time together. But Penny seemed nowhere near as miserable as Amy.
"It is an emergency, of sorts," he was quick to explain. "We're out of chocolate and Amy is in dire need of some."
Penny raised an eyebrow at him.
"Check the cabinet with the cereals," she said.
"Thank you," Sheldon said pointedly. He opened the cabinet and was met with half a candy store. Really, Leonard should watch himself, he thought. Sheldon grabbed a Milky Way and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
"Is it bad this month?" Penny asked, and she looked concerned.
"Yes," Sheldon said as he closed the cabinet.
"Hmm," Penny hummed. "It's nice to see you taking care of her like this. It shows real growth."
Sheldon stared at her. What was that supposed to mean? He took care of Amy all the time. He had taken care of her plenty of times in the past. Why would this be any different? There wasn't much he could do but cater her, he reckoned. It wasn't such a big deal.
"Thank you," he said anyway. Penny didn't seem to be sarcastic right now.
He was halfway to the door when he turned to her. "You seem to be doing alright," he said. "Is there something Amy should be doing that makes it more bearable?"
Penny gaped at him.
"Ugh, I'm not gonna discuss my period with you, Sheldon!"
Sheldon blinked. He seemed to have overstepped his bounds. He didn't understand. He opened his mouth to ask her what he had done wrong – perhaps he had invaded one of her Zones of Privacy – when Penny gave him an incredulous look. "Get out!"
Sheldon waited for the water to boil to fill the hot water bottle and thought back to what had just happened with Penny. He had known Penny for ten years now, and he had never really noticed when she had her period. She was never as cranky, or moody or bipolar as Amy seemed to be.
And he had never heard Leonard complain about having to take care of Penny, because she could only lay in bed with cramps.
He took out his phone. Since Penny seemed unwilling to help him, Google was his best friend.
The question 'What helps with period cramps?' was answered on the first page. The source was Planned Parenthood, so that seemed reliable enough.
His eyes skimmed over the list.
Pain medicine, exercise, putting a heating pad on your belly or lower back, taking a hot bath, having an orgasm (by yourself or with a partner), rest.
He did a double take at the before-last option.
The water came to a boil before he could really think it through.
Amy looked happy to see him when he came in with a tray, on it lay the hot water bottle in its cosy, the chocolate he had taken from Leonard and Penny's, and a cup of tea as well as a fresh glass of water. Hydration was key with any sort of cramp, he knew that.
He took a seat on the side of the bed and handed her the glass of water first. "Here," he said. Amy sat up with difficulty and downed the glass.
"I didn't know we had Reese's," she said, when she look at the contents of the tray. She sounded almost mad at herself for not being able to find them earlier.
"I went across the hall," Sheldon said, "I found the reason why Leonard seems to be gaining so much weight. He has a whole cabinet filled with all kinds of sugary goods. We never had that when I still lived there."
Amy gave him a small smile, which turned into a grimace as she cowered into herself and her hands returned to her stomach again.
Sheldon looked at her with a sympathetic smile.
"I don't think I can eat now, but I appreciate it," Amy mumbled, and she laid back down on her side.
Sheldon went over the list in his head again. It would take 23 minutes to fill the bath. Amy was in no shape to exercise. She had already taken pain medicine. And she had plenty of rest these past hours.
Only one thing they hadn't tried.
Sheldon didn't know if he could.
But it was basically doctor recommended. And if he was honest, it couldn't be that bad. He had no trouble with touching her there when she wasn't menstruating. What was a little blood, anyway? As long as it wasn't his own blood, he wouldn't faint.
He was too busy contemplating what he should be doing, that he didn't notice Amy's anguished look.
"Sheldon, could you give me the bottle?" she said, and he could hear the discomfort in her voice.
"Yes, of course," he said. He handed her the hot water bottle, and moved off the bed. He put the tray on top of the dresser.
He breathed out deeply. Amy was in pain. And not just a little.
He kicked off his shoes, and took off his shirts. He looked back at Amy when he lowered his zipper, seeing if she noticed he was undressing. But Amy lay still under the sheets, her body shook with tremors, and she groaned softly in the pillow.
Sheldon quietly folded his pants, and lifted the blanked at his side of the bed. He crawled in next to her.
"Sheldon?" Amy asked quietly, her voice laced with confusion. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Sheldon told her. "I just want to hold you."
He scooted closer to her, and spooned her from behind. He still marvelled at the way he was able to fully envelop her like this. He slid his right arm under her pillow and her neck, and Amy snuggled against him a little.
He let his left hand roam over her. He assessed quickly that Amy had taken off everything but her panties and the camisole he had seen her in. Would it be weird to ask her to wear that to bed more often?
He caressed her leg up and down softly, and then moved his hand up to move her over her left arm, which held the hot water bottle firmly against her lower belly. He was pressed against her back, and his nose was pressed in the back of her neck. He kissed her softly.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, using his sweetest voice.
"Like crap," Amy grumbled back.
"Give me that," he mumbled, and took the hot water bottle from her hand. Amy made a noise, which sounded like a whine, but let go of it when Sheldon tugged a little harder. He moved the hot water bottle to her lower back, and held it in place with his own body. It was a good thing he had taken off his shirts, because it felt like a furnace against him.
Amy moaned softly.
Sheldon replaced the hot water bottle with his hand, and began to lightly massage her lower belly under her camisole. Amy's fingers circled around his wrist, and Sheldon assumed she'd remove his hand altogether, but she only repositioned him slightly.
She let out a trembling breath when he resumed his movements on the indicated place.
"How's that?" he mumbled against her ear.
A tiny groan escaped her lips. "That's nice," she uttered.
Sheldon kissed her neck again, and Amy inhaled sharply. He massaged her lower belly where she had indicated for another minute, before he started to move his hand from side to side.
"Hmmm.." Amy hummed softly, and she was breathing shallowly.
She either didn't notice he was moving lower and lower with each brush against her, or she choose not to comment on it. But when Sheldon's fingertips slipped under the waistband of her panties, she stilled in shock.
"Sheldon, - -"
"Sssshh," Sheldon interrupted her. "Let me take care of you."
Amy inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, but didn't say anything else to stop him.
So, he continued. His fingers brushed over her mound and he slipped his index finger a little lower, brushing against her clitoris, just barely. Amy whimpered. Her left hand blindly grasped for his unoccupied hand near her head, and Sheldon squeezed her hand back when she took his hand in a tight hold.
He moved his left index finger a little lower, so he was able to stimulate her fully. He proceeded to increase the pressure on her clit by making small circled against her. The effect was instantaneous.
Amy moaned against his right arm, her breath coming out in gasps. She was squeezing his hand with a strength he hadn't foreseen. He hadn't even touched her that much, but Amy seemed to be on the verge of orgasm already.
Sheldon kissed her neck some more, while his finger rubbed in firm circles against her; just how she liked it. He knew that by now. Amy was breathing shallower by the second and her tiny high pitched moans made him light-headed.
Sheldon began to breathe rather deeply himself, and he bit down softly on the spot where her neck turned into her shoulder.
Amy whimpered then, and she stiffened against him while her body shook with spasms. Her back arched, and she pushed her ass out against him involuntarily. Her clit throbbed under his finger. She gasped for air loudly, and her hand trembled in his.
"Sheldon," she mewled, and he slowly decreased his caresses against her.
He removed his hand from her panties, and wiped his finger against the fabric of her panties. It wasn't even that wet, he noted with relief. He pulled her against him again.
He could feel her heart race through her rib cage.
"How are you feeling?" he repeated his earlier question, after giving her some time to recuperate.
Amy chuckled disbelievingly. "Better," she said breathlessly.
"Good," Sheldon murmured. And he closed his eyes contently. If this didn't make up for his faux-pas from the day before, then he didn't know what would.
Amy's racing heart slowed down a little, and Sheldon evaluated her responses to him. Planned Parenthood hadn't informed him of the differences between Amy's orgasm just now, and the other times she had orgasmed in his presence.
He had barely touched her and she had been writhing against him like a cat in heat. That usually took him at least ten minutes of foreplay. Not to mention the arch of her back and the tremors moving through her body during orgasm.
It was different this time.
Usually Amy liked it when he penetrated her with his fingers during manual or oral stimulation. He hadn't done that this time – for obvious reasons. Maybe he should change his technique?
"Amy," he said quietly, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Hm?" she hummed. She sounded half-asleep. Had it been that intense?
"Your physiological responses just now indicate this was much more intense than your usual orgasms when I provide manual stimulation," he said. He had to check.
He could feel her face heat up against him.
"It was really good," she mumbled quietly.
"Well, yes," Sheldon huffed. He hated it when anyone stated the obvious. "But was it better?"
"Yes," Amy said with a small voice. "It's always better when I'm on my period."
"Really?"
Amy hid her face in his arm, as if she was ashamed of the conversation. "Can we not talk about this?" she mumbled, pleadingly.
Sheldon did want to talk about this. It was most interesting; did the change in hormone levels make the release of oxytocin and dopamine more intense? Was the female reproductive organ more sensitive during menstruation? It would certainly explain the little stimulation needed to get her to come. He decided to stay silent though, because he wasn't going to enrage Amy when he had just managed to make her feel better.
"Alright," he said softly. "Why don't you get some rest?"
Amy's mood had improved a lot, and Sheldon wondered if it was the extra 30 minutes of sleep she had gotten, or the magic he had worked on her with his fingers. He liked to think it was the latter.
The smile Amy gave him during their quiet dinner – just the two of them – spoke volumes. He had been looking forward to playing vintage videogames, but this was quite nice as well; curled up on the couch watching a movie he picked out. It was all about compromising, relationships. And Sheldon liked to think he was doing a good job.
Amy excused herself to take a shower before going to bed. Sheldon was mid-way into changing into his pyjamas when he felt Amy's arm wrap around his waist from behind.
He jumped up in shock. Her body was pressed against his back, and from the feel of it, he had to deduce she was naked. But that thought seemed preposterous.
"Amy?" he asked.
"Hmhm," she mumbled, her lips tickling his spine with tiny kisses, while her hands roamed over his belly.
"You know, Sheldon," she whispered in her I'm-in-the-mood-for-coitus-voice, "I really appreciated what you did for me this afternoon.."
Her hands were moving lower, and Sheldon looked down in shock how she unbuttoned his pants and lowered the zipper.
"I figured," he said. But his voice turned into a groan when she grasped his penis with her hand. He was half-hard already, just from the minimal touches and that voice.
Amy walked around him and lowered herself on her knees in front of him. Sheldon stared at her.
His pants fell down to the floor.
His briefs followed.
"What's this?" Amy asked, mock-surprised, as she took hold of his member in her hand. He was fully hard now. Sheldon groaned.
"You know what that is," he grumbled.
"It looks like you're happy to see me," she continued as if she hadn't heard him. Sheldon furrowed his brow, he didn't understand. He was always happy to see her.
Her hand moved over his engorged shaft in a firm grip, and Sheldon tried to suppress a deep groan.
"Amy…" he mumbled.
"Sssshh," she shushed. "Let me take care of you now."
And she did.
END
