Page 36 of Null & Void

“Aweek?”I splutter. “We’re going to be here for a week?”

“It’s possible. Bitty’s face said it all. They were scared, so it must have sounded like a big one. We have enough food and supplies, and the rest of the team are safe. We’ll be fine.”

We have a quick meal of dried meat—nondescript, perhaps donkey—with a few dried fruits and nuts, and swordmint tea. Riley digs through his pack and pulls out a clear bottle with a golden-colored liquid. After a long stare at the bottle, he gives it a jiggle in my direction and asks if I want a drink.

“No thanks,” I reply. That is definitely not a good idea.

“I don’t think I’ve ever really seen you drink—doyou drink?”

He’s taking a swig as I say, “I like being in control, and drinking leads to being…out of control. Do you like letting alcohol be in control so often?”

He wipes his mouth on the back of his hand and contemplates my face, before answering. “Not really, no,” he says with a self-deprecating chuckle. “But sometimes it would be nice if I could get a break from the chaos.” He points meaningfully toward his head with the bottle.

He tries to hand me the bottle again. “Come on, we’re stuck in here. What’s the worst that could happen?” I take the bottle.I can think of plenty.

After taking a mouthful of the Divine-awful liquid that burns its entire way down to my stomach, I hand the bottle back with a grimace, and Riley tips it back to his mouth. “Just promise me, no drunken sex. I don’t want to fuck you,” I say, which causes him to choke.

“I told you, Firecat. I have no intention of forcing you to do anything that you don’t want to do.”

“Uh-huh,” I murmur as I take the bottle for another swig.“Would Tovi be annoyed?” I query, hoping it sounds casual.

Riley lets out a half laugh. “Oh, absolutely not.”

“What? I thought you were…together,” I ask, not hiding my confusion and not wanting to say the word fucking, when it’s clear they’re not in any kind of monogamous relationship.

Riley’s eyebrows couldn’t be higher. “Where did you pick that up? No, we’re definitely not together. And Tovi constantly tells me I should fuck other people.” It’s my turn to choke on the drink and Riley chuckles again. “We have been friends for seven revs. A friendship that came with some physical benefits—mutually, of course. Neither of us have wanted anything more than that. We care a lot about each other, but there’s nothing there.”

“I see.” I don’t know what else to say to that, so I focus on taking another drink. It doesn’t taste so bad now or burn as much. “So, you guys, what? Scratch each other’s itch and then fuck other people?” I query, as casually as possible, while I hand the bottle back.

“Pretty much. Though, we haven’t for many revs. I hoped she’d find someone to care for her the way I can’t. But younger me wasn’t above getting what they needed—my itch scratched as you put it.” He has a smirk on his face as he takes another sip, watching me.

His eyes hold entirely too much mischief and heat.

It’s way too warm in here. We finished the bottle of alcohol and were talking about fighting techniques, and then Riley left to use the privy.

I start stripping off my leathers, and my pants. I’m too fucking hot!

“I’ve set up the bed rolls, but…” Riley stops. “What are you doing?” he laughs.

“It’s hot!” That may have come out a little slurred.

“Right,” he chuckles. “I’ve set up the bed rolls, but there’s not a lot of room. We can take shifts if you like.”

“We aren’t taking shifts. Don’t be silly.” I stumble toward the cave, crawling inside. He wasn’t kidding, there really isn’t much space at all.

“Well, come and lie down,” I demand, flopping down with a sigh. Riley only pauses for a second before crawling in to lay next to me, stiff as a board. “Riley. You’re not going to be able to sleep with all of that on,” I say while gesturing vaguely at his entire body.

He lets a slow breath out of his nose and shuffles back out to the room he can stand in, where I hear his leathers dropping to the ground.When he comes back in, he’s wearing some soft linen pants.

And nothing else.

I clear my throat. “Much better.”

I pat the bedroll next to me and lie back.Riley lies on his right side facing me, propped up on his elbow.

After a few moments of silence and letting our eyes adjust to the darkness, I reach up and gently start tracing the lines of his face.He freezes for a moment, then relaxes, and I can see his eyes close in the shadows.

Riley has nice skin, though I wish I could see his freckles in this dim light. I’m alternating between using the tips of my fingers and the side of them to brush and stroke along his face.

---