Page 89 of Close Quarters

“Rations from what I saw, which isn’t exactly thrilling,” he said with a snort, walking over to where we’d tied up the horses to pull the last bags off and rummage through them. “Huh, you been sucking some extra dick or something?”

“Hey! The only dick I’ve had in my mouth lately is yours…and the only one I want there,” I said with a scowl and then realized what he’d said. “Why, do we have some goodies in there?”

He pulled out two metal tins from each of our bags, raising a brow. “This.”

“What are those?”

“I’ve seen some of the employees have them, like Max. They’re supposedly battery-operated to keep food warm for hours, so it’s still safe.”

“Seriously?” I asked, taking one. “Doesn’t feel all that warm.”

“Wouldn’t be very good if you just burned the shit out of your hand when you touched them,” he said. “Apparently, they can last for, like, eight hours.”

“Well, that’s fucking cool,” I said, finding the latches on the side of the lid and opening it. The rich smell of meat and seasoning flooded my nostrils, making me groan in anticipation. “Oh my God. It’s Rip’s chicken n’ dumplings! Fuck yes!”

Reno frowned as I dug out the camping cutlery set. “I’m…disturbed.”

“Are you kidding me? This stuff is delicious, and you know it,” I told him, immediately beginning to stir it.

“Yeah. It’s just weird that you make the same noises over someone’s food as you do when I’m putting my dick in you.”

“Well, I’m a simple man.”

“I could have told you that.”

“Who enjoys his simple pleasures. Good food? I’m excited. Good dick? I’m excited. Easy.”

Reno chuckled, sitting on a nearby rock and unlocking his dish. “I’m not sure how I feel about my dick being compared to food.”

“Well, this food can make me happy,” I said as I scooped a heap out with the spoon attachment to shove into my mouth. “But your dick makes me happy and can make me come. So it has the advantage, I’d say.”

“Great, at least I have that going for me.”

“Oh fuck! That’s really hot!”

“I told you it was still probably going to be hot.”

“Oh God, my tongue!”

But of course, it didn’t matter how badly I’d hurt myself, Reno just watched me with that same look he’d had before when I did something a little…questionable. It was exasperation and amusement, all bundled into one, which was much better than the annoyance and irritation he used to look at me with for just opening my mouth.

I had to down some water to ease the sting left behind by the food. “Why does something that gives me such joy have to hurt me so bad?”

“Again, I’m feeling oddly compared to food.”

“Har har…wait, actually?—”

He sighed, shaking his head and finally scooping food into his mouth. Reno wasn’t nearly as intense about good food but even I could see the twitch of his brow when it hit his tastebuds. And then, when his eyes darted down to the food in a frown that told me he was wondering how something out of a tin could taste so good.

“I can’t believe you’ve never had this before,” I said with a shake of my head. “Every time he gets around to making it, I always fill up.”

“I know. I watched you eat almost five bowls of it one time.”

“That should tell you everything you need to know about how good it is!”

“Or it just tells me that you’re a fat ass.”

“You like my fat ass.”

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