When Riden’s lips move down to my neck, I forget all about my father.
There’s nothing except heat and chills all at once. He reaches the hollow at the
base of my neck, and I let out a soft moan.
He returns to my lips with a new intensity. The burned spot on my tongue tingles when he traces it with his own. I rip out the band that holds together his hair and run my fingers through it.
The moment is perfect.
But the thought hits me like a hammer: This shouldn’t be perfect. In fact, it isn’t. I’ve gone too long without proper sleep and food. It’s making me act like a silly tavern wench. I can’t do this. I have thieving to do.
It is with great effort, not the physical kind, that I push Riden away.
His chest is heaving up and down. I’m sure mine is, too.
“That’s enough of that,” I say.
“You’re bleeding again,” Riden says, touching a spot on my cheek.
I hadn’t felt the cut reopen. “Probably your fault.”
“As I’m sure you believe most things are.”
“Of course.”
He smiles and starts to lean down again, and I’m so very tempted to let him
close the distance. Wouldn’t be so hard if he wasn’t so good at this. Instead, I say, “I said that’s enough.”
He steps away from me quickly, as though he doesn’t trust himself to be near
me.
“I have duties to perform,” he says, turning around.
“I’m sure.”
* * *
I wish I didn’t have to wait until nightfall to continue searching the ship. All I have to do when I’m left alone is think. And thinking is the last thing I want to do right now.
I’d rather be punching something.
Enwen comes in later to bring me another meal. I smile once he retreats.
Riden’s a coward. He doesn’t want to face me right now. Perhaps that kiss was a
good idea. It’ll certainly be worth watching him squirm later.
I get in a quick nap so I’ll be ready by nightfall. It was tempting to go right
back to sleep once I awoke, but I have no time to waste now that Draxen and his
crew are heading for my father.
It’s late when Riden enters the room again. He looks surprised to see me.
“Oh, I thought you’d be asleep.”
“You mean you were hoping,” I say with a smile.
“And miss out on whatever snappy comment you have ready for me? Not a
chance.”
“I don’t have a snappy comment prepared.”
“That’s a shame. I was rather hoping for a repeat of what happened after the
last one.”
“I’m sure. Unfortunately for you, I’m a bit tired.”
“Then why aren’t you asleep?”
“I was getting there.”
“Looks more like you were waiting for me.”
Oh please. Maybe I should knock him out for the night. I can’t do that, though. He’d remember in the morning. I’d be all out of explanations if I knocked him out but stayed on the ship. I can’t leave until I have that blasted ever-elusive map!
“Just go to sleep, Riden. Here.” I get off the bed and sit in the chair instead.
“You’re going to sleep there?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to, all right? What’s with all the questions?”
“I’m your interrogator, remember?”
“Right now you’re off duty, so go to sleep.”
“Why do you so desperately want me to drift off? Hoping to climb in bed
after I’m out?”
“Actually, I want the silence that comes after.”
Riden looks about the room. “You know, it’s really difficult for me to sleep
knowing how filthy my room is. Maybe I’ll stay up until you conk out.”
I don’t have time for this. And I can’t risk pretending to fall asleep until he does. I might actually drift off, and that would be a whole night wasted.
I’m irritated. And perhaps if I weren’t so irritated, I wouldn’t have jumped so
quickly to this solution. But I’m impatient after sitting around all day. I had my face pummeled. I’m still cranky for the want of sleep, and, honestly, I’m still hungry.
So I begin to sing. The melody is deep and soothing. I can feel my whole body humming with energy as it drifts out of me. I can feel every place in the room. The way the sound bounces off the wood, seeps into the blankets, enters
Riden’s ears.
He steps closer, trying to hear the tune better. I indulge him by removing the