Page 97 of Last Light

“No. Just the right amount of rough.”

“You told me to stop.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t because you were too rough. That was because if I came anymore, I might have just fainted dead away.”

He chuckles, his features relaxing. “That’s okay then.”

“Yes. It’s better than okay.”

“You’d tell me if I’s too rough, right?”

My heart twists at the hesitant question in his eyes. “Yes. I’d tell you, Travis. I was the one who was asking for it rough. If I recall, I was begging for it.”

“Yeah. Guess so. Just makin’ sure. Wanna make sure I’m treatin’ you right.”

I reach up to stroke his face with both hands. “Travis, youaretreating me right. You always treat me right. I’ve never met anyone who’s treated me better.”

“Good.” He pauses. Then mumbles, “Same here.”

I give him a wobbly smile at that as he lowers his face toward mine. My heart skips in that way it always does when I think he might kiss me, but he doesn’t.

He nuzzles my throat instead, pressing a soft kiss against my pulse point.

It feels unexpectedly tender, and I twine my arms around him in a hug.

His body is softer now. Not quite as blazingly hot.

We lie tangled up together for a few more minutes until I ask, “You didn’t hurt your ankle with all this activity, did you?”

“Nope. It’s just fine.” He exhales deeply. I can feel the breath go out of him.

I swallow. My hands were lightly stroking his back, but they grow still. “Yeah.”

“Guess we should leave tomorrow.”

My stomach churns even though I know it’s the right thing. It’s what we have to do. Maybe human nature has reverted to people being out for themselves in the need for survival, but staying here when everyone we know is in danger is simply too selfish for me to tolerate. “Y-yeah.”

He lifts his head and meets my eyes. “Gotta go eventually. Our people need us.”

He doesn’t say it, but I know he’s thinking of Cheryl.

His ties to her will always be stronger than his ties to me. For good reasons. He’s known and loved her for years.

Travis is my traveling companion and temporary sex partner, but I’m not fool enough to expect anything else.

I might be young, but I’m not stupid.

The place this world has become can only ever hurt you. And eventually you lose the people you love.

I try to smile again. “It’s been nice here—to have this time to rest—but it’s time to go now.”

Something shifts in Travis’s expression. Something I can’t name. “Yeah. Time to go.”

***

FOR DINNER THAT NIGHT, I make red beans and rice. I slice and grill some canned sausages to go in it. I wasn’t sure about those sausages since meat in a can is hit-or-miss, but they’re actually pretty tasty with the beans and rice, and Travis says how much he likes it several times as he eats.

The dog likes it too. He gets a few pieces of sausage.

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