Null & Void: A Dark Romantic Fantasy full of feminine rage. (Patrons of the Divine)

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.

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