D E R E K ' S P O V

I tap my foot impatiently against the carpet, not even paying one ounce of attention to the football game that's playing on the tv across my living room.

I pick up my phone from the coffee table and check it for what feels like the hundredth time today, only to be met with no new notifications.

It's been a whole eighteen hours since I left Layla's apartment. I've never been in a friends with benefits situation before so I honestly don't know how long is the appropriate amount of time before I can see her again.

I don't know how this works. Does she text or do I call or text her? Do I wait to see her on Monday? Or am I allowed to just show up at her apartment?

I look out the window at my street and it's starting to get dark out. Realising she's probably not going to reach out first, I decide fuck it and throw on my shoes and grab my keys. I'm going over there. I don't want to wait any longer to see her.

While driving over to her apartment, I pass the Chinese food place she's mentioned loving. Maybe..if I show up at her place with Chinese food she'll be happy to see me and if not, her favorite takeout will be welcomed and I'll slip into the apartment without her noticing. Full proof plan if you ask me.

After picking up way too much Chinese food for two people, I get back into my truck and make my way to Layla's apartment.

Do friends with benefits have rules? I hope not. My overthinking gets the better of me and I realise I Maybe should have called first.

So I tap her contact and press speakerphone since I'm driving and wait while it rings.

"Hey," I say when she picks up. "What are you doing right now?"

Layla grumbles, voice muffled from what sounds like she's buried underneath her comforter. "Wallowing in self pity."

I snicker at her sincere admission. I can literally picture her right now, cocooned in bed. "Do you do that often?"

Layla grumbles again. "Oh you know, just at any minor inconvenience in my life."

I laugh, my mind wondering over all the different ways I plan on making her feel better. "I'm on my way over to your place."

"No, Derek," She murmurs through a groan of almost pain. "I don't want you to come over today."

I'm not sure if I should be offended or not at how quick she was to shoot me down. I frown. "Why not?"

The sound of a puff of air passes her lips. "Because I'm not in the mood."

I'm not going to lie, her grumpy and irritated tone takes me back a little, wondering if I imagined us sorting everything out last night. But no, we definitely did because my lips are no doubt still kiss swollen.

I've known her for probably about a month now and I've never seen her this snappy. A month.. ah. That's why. And if she thinks that's keeping me way, she's wrong.

"Too bad. I'm coming over," I say, not giving her a chance to protest before I end the call and make a detour to the store.

-

Tapping my knuckles against Layla's apartment door, I brace for impact because I am fully expecting to be greeted with violence.

The door swings open to Layla scowling at me. "Do you have selected hearing?" She asks, crossing her arms over her chest. "I told you not to come over."

I flash her my most innocent smile, stepping inside the door while I hold up the take out bag in my left hand. "I brought you food."

The suspicion in her eyes grows while her gaze floats between me and the bag. "I'm on my period."

I blink at her. "And what? you don't eat on your period?"

Layla keeps her guarded stance, crossing her arms over her chest again. "You came here to fuck not eat."

Rolling my eyes, I hand her the second bag from my hands. Her expression softens slightly when she looks inside to find it filled with tampons and pads, various kinds of chocolate and her favorite ice cream.

Layla's mouth snaps shut and her eyebrows draw together. "How did you know?"

"I have sisters, I know how this shit works," I laugh, raising an eyebrow. "Your grumpiness wasn't a tip off at all."

Layla's scowl at me is probably meant to be intimidating, but she looks more cute than anything. Added to the fact that she's just wearing my T-shirt that she's drowning in, her hair is piled messily on the top of her head and her glasses slip lower on the bridge of her nose the more she frowns at me.

"I am not grumpy."

"Alright, sunshine."

The benefits part of our friendship now means I can kiss her when I want so I pull her into me and dip my head to connect our lips. Despite the fact that not even a second ago she looked like she wanted to rip my head off, she still kisses me back softly. My lips curve up into a smile against hers and I give her two more small kisses before I pull back.

"Now, can we eat or do you still have more attitude for me?"

"Plenty more to come. Don't worry."

Layla tries her best not to smile at me when she shoves against my shoulders, nudging me towards her room while she follows behind me.

Walking into her bedroom is the exact scene I was expecting when I called earlier. Her duvet is in disarray from where she was no doubt wrapped up in it and her laptop is propped up with one of those shitty reality tv shows playing. There's a bottle of pain medicine on her nightstand along with some empty chocolate bar wrappers and a hot water bottle.

As I attempt to slip underneath the covers, Layla's gasp stops me. "Ew," She says, gawking at me. "Don't get into my bed with outside clothes on."

No need to tell me twice. I smirk at her while I strip down to my boxers. "If you're trying to get me naked just say so."

Layla shoots me a look when she opens up the drugstore bag. "I hate men today so no, I'm not."

"You don't hate me," I mock, slipping underneath the covers and scooting closer to her. "You love me deep, deep down."

"Meh," She says teasingly, smiling when she pulls out the cookie dough ice cream, shaking it in her hand. "This gets you extra points though."

While she's looking through the bag, I take out the food cartons and start opening them up. Layla tips the contents of the bag out onto the bed, raising an eyebrow at me because I may have went a little overboard with the period products.

"Six different types of tampons and pads?" She laughs. "I'll be stocked up for months now."

My shoulders lift in a shrug. "I didn't know which ones you liked."

Layla smiles at me, picking up a box of tampons. "These ones are fine, thank you."

Noted. I hand her a fork and pass her her favorite orange chicken. I dig into the beef and broccoli while she presses play on what she was watching on her laptop.

I'm not going to lie, I'm glad men don't have to go through half the shit women do. "So, what's it like?"

"Like my uterus is being stabbed by a million little people," Layla says. "Woman literally get punished every month for not getting pregnant."

"That sucks."

Layla snorts a laugh. "Very sympathetic."

It does suck, it sounds horrible but I'm trying to limit my words right now because I'm still on edge, awaiting violence at any second.

I take a bite of orange chicken when she raises her fork to my mouth. "I've never eaten as much take out since I've known you."

Layla raises an eyebrow, bringing her loaded fork to my lips again. "And aren't you happier because of it?"

I'm not sure it's the food that's making me happier but I don't say that.

-

Sometimes Layla is going to need me to fuck her brains out and sometimes she's going to need me to cuddle with her and be her human heating pad. I'm okay with both and today is the latter.

If I do say so myself, she is quite enjoying being the little spoon while I rub my hand across her lower stomach to help her cramps. She's already taken enough pain medication to take down a small animal so I'll try anything to ease her discomfort.

"Derek?" Layla says and I hum, pressing a kiss to her neck. "In case you weren't aware, my boobs are not your stress balls."

Yeah, my other hand may be wandering a little. I lift my head and grin down at her. "Why are they there then?"

"Stop," She says, laughing and squirming away when my lips land on her neck, pressing soft kisses into her skin. "You're making me horny."

I can't believe I'm actually about to do this, but I'm going to use one of the many facts Reid has told me. "Orgasms help with cramps."

Layla's nose scrunches up and she shakes her head. "Our first time having sex again is not going to be period sex."

I have no problem with it, probably because I don't think anything about her could bother me, but I get that she doesn't want me all up in her business right now.

I roll her onto her back and lower myself between her parted legs, dragging my hand up the outside of her bare thigh. "I won't even touch you if you don't want me to."

I drag my lips down the side of her neck, just how she likes it, tucking my head into the crook of her neck when I let the scruff of my jaw scrape faintly against her skin. Layla tilts her head to the side when she exhales a shaky breath, gripping at my biceps and shoulders to pull me closer.

I know what she said earlier about me coming over here for sex and I really didn't, I just wanted to see her. But I really can't help myself around her, I lose control. I just want to make her feel good.

"I don't know," Layla says hesitantly, but her body is saying differently from the way she's pressing, curving and wriggling against mine like she wants to get closer.

Rolling off of her body, I sit myself down on the edge of the bed and I grasp her hips and lift her up onto me, positioning her legs on either side of my thigh.

"Come on," I murmur, gently caressing my fingertips underneath her shirt. Her arms automatically raise and I pull the fabric off and throw it onto the ground, leaving her in only her underwear. Layla sucks in a breath when my fingers dance down her sternum, across her breasts and pebbled nipples, down her soft stomach and graze her inner thighs. I grasp her hips, rocking her core against me. "I want to watch you ride my thigh."

"Derek.." She sighs when I place a soft kiss in the middle of her neck, right between her collarbones. Her chest heaves as I rain wet, open mouth kisses across her neck. Her hips start to move, slowly at first, grinding and rolling.

Layla's eyes flutter closed as her sensitive clit rubs against my muscular thigh while I bounce my leg slightly to add to her pleasure and she tucks her head into the crook of my neck. "Does that feel good, baby?" I ask, biting at her ear. Her eyelashes softly flutter against the underside of my jaw while her breaths fall hot and heavy against my skin.

"Mhm," She moans, lifting her head to capture my lips. "So good."

She kisses me, hard and hungry and I kiss her back while her hips rock faster, hands gripping at my biceps, shoulders and her nails graze down my back.

Dragging my lips from hers, I kiss a hot trail down her neck, over her bare shoulder, down to the tops of her breasts. Layla tilts herself back, pushing her chest up to meet my mouth. Her tits are so round, full and perfect and she lets out these ridiculously sexy moans and whimpers when my lips close around her nipple and I suck it into my warm mouth. She gasps and a strangled moan of my name spills from her lips as I'm licking, sucking and grazing my teeth against the hardened bud, caressing the soft flesh of her other breast in my hand, squeezing and pinching my thumb across her nipple.

I pull away just a bit so I can get a good look at her and I am in awe at the sight in front of me. Layla's swollen lips are parted with desperate, sweet whines spilling from them, chasing her high while she uses my body.

"Do you have any idea how good you look right now?" I ask and Layla moans, shaking her head. "You look.. fuck.. so perfect."

Layla's legs start to shake and tighten around my thigh while her lower half squirms and grinds against me. Her head falls back and her eyes squeeze tightly shut when she lets out a breathless cry, gripping onto me. "Derek.. fuck, I'm so close."

I groan when her bare chest presses to mine and I tuck my head into her neck. I'm so hard from watching her it's almost painful. My teeth graze her ear when I nip at the skin. "Your moans drive me crazy, Layla."

That's all it takes for her to fall apart in my arms, letting her weight rest against me while she rides out her orgasm. My arms circle around her waist while she takes a minute to catch her breath and I press my lips to her shoulder, kissing her soft skin.

When Layla eventually lifts her head from my neck, I smile at how beautiful she looks. Her kiss swollen lips are parted, her face is flushed and her cheeks are painted with a soft pink glow.

Her arms rest lazily over my shoulders and she leans in, connecting our lips. Our mouths move hungrily against each other's, while she nudges against my chest until my back lands flat against the bed.

Her lips are still on mine when she crawls on top of me, moving her legs to straddle my hips. Layla's hand slips between us and she palms me though my boxers but despite the fact my hips buck into her touch, I tear my lips from hers.

"You don't have too—"

The roll of Layla's eyes is enough to shut me up and her hands press into my chest while she unknowingly pushes her tits together, hovering over me. "Stop being nice and tell me you want me to suck your dick."

This girl I swear.

"Fuck, Layla," I breathe, scrubbing my hand across my jaw. She is so hot. "I want you to suck my dick."

She smiles while she floats her lips all over my body and her tongue is so warm and wet, tickling my skin as it travels across my chest, my abs, my navel, all the way down until she's kissing the path of my v line. Her hands slip into my boxers and she pulls them down, hovering her mouth over my erect dick.

Arching down perfectly between my legs, my hands gather the loose hair that's fallen over her face when Layla flattens her tongue and licks a path up my cock and I groan when she sucks the tip into her warm mouth. I watch with half hooded eyes as my dick disappears, inch by inch past her pink lips.

I honestly didn't think she'd be able to, but fuck me, she takes it all, lowering her head and sliding me down her throat until her nose is pressing into my navel.

She swallows around me and it takes everything in me not to thrust up into her because I'll probably choke her but it feels so good and I can barely focus enough to do anything other than moan her name.

Hallowing her cheeks, Layla moans around me when she slides me out of her throat, catching my gaze when she releases me with a pop, my dick now coated with her saliva. Her tongue slowly circles around the head of my dick before she gives me a devilish smile and slaps it against her tongue a couple times.

"Holy fuck," I moan, letting my eyes fall closed and my head roll back. "That feels so fucking good, baby."

Not wanting to miss a second of this, my head snaps up again when she pushes my cock past her lips again, sliding her mouth up and down while she finds her rhythm. If I wasn't already seconds away from becoming a one minute wonder, Layla uses her hands to stroke me when she lowers her head, kissing and sucking my balls into her mouth.

My stomach clenches and a breathless moan passes my lips while her hand is twisting and pumping tightly around the base of my cock before she guides it back into her mouth.

"Layla.." I manage to breathe huskily, feeling my orgasm approaching quickly. "I'm so close."

She slides me down her throat again, slowly pushing her head lower as she takes me deeper until her eyes are watering. My groans fill the room as my fingers thread through her hair and when she reaches down and tugs on my balls again, I come down her throat, my whole body going limp from the pleasure of it.

Layla hallows her cheeks again when she slides my now softening dick from her mouth, swallowing everything. She rubs her lips together, the insides of them still coated with my come when she sweeps the back of her thumb over her lips and sucks it clean.

She shoots me a teasing look. "Fall in love with me yet?"

My mind is still blurred from that being hands down the best head I've ever gotten, but I can still focus enough to recall her referencing her comment from when we hooked up in that hotel a couple weeks ago.

"Meh," I repeat teasingly back to her, using the exact same words she did earlier. "That got you extra points though."

Layla laughs, leaning over and giving me a kiss before she climbs off my body. I would follow her, but I seriously need a minute before I can move.

We both shower after, separately much to my dismay, before we both climbed back into bed and Layla convinced me to share the pint of ice cream I bought earlier with her. Well, I say convince, but I had no choice. She got one spoon from the kitchen and it was one spoon for her and then the next for me until we polished off the whole thing.

We're back cuddling and her laptop is still playing her reality show but I'm not paying attention to it, too busy running my fingers through her silky hair and kissing her soft skin.

"Derek?" Layla says, looking over her shoulder at me. "Can I ask you something?"

I prop my head up on my palm and grin down at her. "Shoot."

Layla's nails graze up and down my forearm from where it's draped across her stomach and her eyes meet mine. "You remember when we hooked up when we were away on that case?"

I nod. "Plays on repeat every day in my head."

Layla playfully rolls her eyes, turning her body towards me. "Why did you get so weird after we cuddled that night?"

My head sinks into the pillow when I release a sigh. I contemplate on lying, but somehow I kind of want to tell her the truth. "I've never slept with anyone before."

Amusement clouds Layla's face and she raises an eyebrow. "You're playing the virgin card? Really?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "No, I mean physically sleep. I don't do sleepovers."

Layla's appalled eyes meet mine and her mouth drops open when she slaps her hand to my chest. "Oh my god, what do you do after you sleep with girls? Kick them out of your house the second you're done?"

My nose scrunches up. "I've never brought anyone to my house."

I feel like sometimes I put on this front for people and I might not make it known, but I do want to settle down someday. I don't own a four bedroom house for nothing. Someday, if I can trick someone into agreeing to spend their life with me, I'll have a wife. Maybe some kids too if she wants to give me some. And I'm not bringing anyone to my house unless it's real, hence I've never brought anyone back there.

Layla's eyes search mine, trying and failing to hide the emotion on her face when she takes in what I just said. "No sleepovers," She says quietly. "So you're leaving?"

I can read her like a book and like me, I feel like she puts up a front too. She acts and is strong and independent, but deep down she wants cuddles and forehead kisses.

I have to physically place my fingers on the corners of her lips to turn her frown into a smile. I smile at her. "I'm staying."

I love the genuine smile I get back when I lift my fingers from her face. "And to answer your question from earlier," I say, scooting over so she can curl into me. "I got weird after we cuddled because it freaked me out how much I liked it."

I can practically feel the relief leave Layla's body when she relaxes into me. "Good," She says, tracing her finger against my chest. "I liked it too."

I stayed in on a Saturday night watching the Kardashian's, being borderline verbally abused and force fed sweet treats..and there is quite literally no where else I'd rather be.

I realised recently that I have so many friends to do things with, but not many to do nothing with. Not to go all Hannah Montana on it, but I quite literally have the best of both worlds with Layla. I didn't think I needed her until she came long.

Running my fingers through her hair, Layla begins to drift off to sleep with her warm body wrapped around me like a koala, cheek nuzzled into my chest. Careful not to wake her up, I gently slip her glasses off her face and place them onto the nightstand. I gently brush her hair out of her face and my hand cups her face when I dip my head and place a soft, sweet kiss on her lips.

Layla's stirs awake, blinking heavily when she mumbles, "That was a pussy move."

Laughing quietly, I smile at her once again trying her best to scowl at me because she looks more cute than anything. "What was?"

"That kiss," She says, puckering her lips slightly. "If you're going to do it, at least make it a good one."

Smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, I dip my head and connect our lips again. Our lips move softly against each other's and when we finally break apart, I press small kisses all across her face while she hides her face in my chest again, falling asleep within seconds.

I pull out my phone, shielding the light from her eyes when I make a quick note in my calendar with the date so I'm prepared for this situation next month.

Tucking my phone away and wrapping my arms around her, I fall into the best sleep I've had in a long time.

-

A/N: I wasn't going to include smut in this but here we are🤷‍♀️ I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

The Halloween chapter is next, any guesses on what everyone's costumes are going to be?🙃