#eliza

“I can hear you makin’ that face.”

Eliza leaned back to peer around the cavern’s arch, very aware she was making a face, and of the opinion he deserved it. “See? That’s how I know you're dumb. That doesn’t make any sense.”

Logan sat sideways on the faded couch, one leg propped up on the slab of rock they were using as a coffee table. That gave her a good view of a worn patch on the bottom of his sock, a bandage wrapped around his calf, and the rest of his bare legs. “You know what I mean. C’mere.”

“No.”

“Lize, darlin’, I’m fine.”

She gave him another look. “I know you’re fine; it's really that you’re a monster hunter, you’ve dealt with snakes all over the desert, and you didn’t see the one in your boot until it bit you. Here.” Eliza abandoned the cookfire to pass him a mug of tea. “Gotta keep you hydrated while the medicine works.”

He gave her a reassuring smile that she trusted about as far as she could throw him. “I got complacent, and it ain’t gonna happen again any time soon. And this isn’t the first time I’ve been bit.” His mouth twisted with a grimace as he realized how that sounded. “What I’m trying to say is thank you. Now I got some jerky here, this tea. Could you just sit with me? There’s no need to fuss.”

Fussing kept her from confronting a mess of emotions. Fussing was supposed to make her annoying. Fussing should’ve made him want her out of his hair, and then she could steal the water, and try and make it back to Sandrock before a sandstorm hit-

That would leave him alone.

She sat down beside him. “If you die, I die,” she said bleakly. “I don’t-” Those emotions she wanted to ignore were bubbling up. “Don’t die, Logan. Rambo doesn’t like me, and he won’t take me anywhere. I don’t know how to get home.”

I don’t know where home even is anymore.

Nothing had felt like home since that tragic winter. Sandrock had started to, but she’d been on the run with him so long that it was more of a stopover than anything else. She leaned into his shoulder.

His voice was quiet. “Are those the only reasons?”

Yes. No.

“The relevant ones. I also wanna get back to real plumbing, if I’m being honest.” She looked up at him and studied his eyes. The palest blue, like the sky right at the edge of the horizon, framed with a cloud of white eyelashes. When did she start trusting him?

“Just sit with me, darlin’. World ain’t going anywhere right now.” His eyes darted between hers.

“Neither are you.” That broke the spell. Eliza fell back into the cushions and snorted. “Because you’re an idiot who got bit by a snake.” She reached out for his arm and laid a hand on it. “Fine. I’ll sit here.”

He slid down to recline beside her, and snagged her fingers with his own. His crooked smile looked vulnerable. Logan cleared his throat, made up his mind over something, and then rolled over to cuddle her. “This alright?”

“You’re cold, aren’t you?”

“I ain’t wearin’ pants on account of them bein’ shredded and the bandages.” His face was going from pink to crimson. “If you want, I can move-”

Her mouth spoke before her brain could catch up. “Stay.”

“If you insist, doll.” He wrapped an arm around her and settled his head in the crook between her neck and shoulder. Each exhale sent his breath tickling down her shirt.

Eliza tried to ignore it, but he was warm, and she was tucked into the couch with nowhere to go. It would be such a hassle to leave the comfort-

He shifted his legs, and she gave him a minute to settle before shutting her eyes. It would be a perfect spot to nap. They both could use the sleep. This was a rare safe hideout, no one needed to be on watch for rockyenarolls, and they had plenty of wood to keep the fire going.

His body shifted again.

Eliza’s eyes popped open. She twisted to look at him. “Are you humping me?”

“No!”

They both glanced down at where his shirt couldn’t hide the slight lump under his boxers.

“I swear I’m not hard,” Logan insisted. “I ain’t that small.”

She scoffed. “Then why do you keep moving like you’re a yakmel in heat?”

He raised his eyebrows. “First of all, Yakmel don’t go in heat. That’s one of Elsie’s tourist jokes. Second of all, that ain’t how a man moves when…” His cheeks had been going back to their usual pale shade, but now they were impersonating a sunburn. “You know, when lovin’-”

Realization struck him, and a cocky grin lit up his face. “Doll. Have you never had someone…” Eliza didn’t want to know what sort of expression she was making that had him trailing off like that. Hopefully something scary. Probably not because that smile softened with understanding. “Hey, if you’ve never wanted to, that’s fine. It ain’t for everyone-”

“Who said I don’t want to? Maybe I- I just never found anyone.” Now she was picturing him kissing her again, only this time they wouldn’t stop. This time Rambo was secure with food and water.

He shook his head in disbelief. “Nah, you’re prettier than a desert at dawn.”

“I didn’t say my looks were the problem.” She turned around so she was facing him. “Show me, then. How does a man move?”

He chewed on his lip as he thought. Privately Eliza thought it was cute, but she wasn’t about to tell him that in case he stopped. “Roll over.”

“Like-” She found him atop her before she could even get the question out, his weight forcing an exhale. He adjusted himself so she could breathe, and then slid his hand down her left leg to haul the knee over his hip, then repeated it with her right. “Logan.” She could breathe, there was space for her lungs to expand, but she couldn't seem to catch her breath. Instinctively she grabbed his collar and pulled him down to be closer, and crossed her ankles together.

His eyes slid over her mouth, and his tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip. “Ready, doll?” At her nod, he dropped his head to kiss her. He let out a groan and seemed to fall into her, lips hot and soft against hers.

And then he slowly rolled his hips forward.

Eliza wrapped her arms around his neck to ground herself. Feeling the pressure of him through her pants was intoxicating. Each shift had the sensation changing, and she ground against him, wanting more, wanting- wanting-

His tongue traced the outline of her lips, then he was kissing her neck.

She gripped him tighter, torn between paying attention to the feeling between her legs or how his teeth felt on the pulse point below her ear. “Logan.” Part of her wanted him closer, another part of her felt almost overwhelmed. This was better than anything she’d read, and she wanted more, even if it was overwhelming. So long as it was him.

Slowly she dragged her fingers up his neck and into his hair, and he whined when she tugged on his ponytail. He braced one arm above her head, and trailed the other up her hip, her waist- he ran a thumb over the cusp of her bra.

Eliza ground against him and tightened her legs, chasing that sensation. His breath was hot on her neck, almost rough with each exhale-

The fire popped loudly and they broke apart, startled. Logan nearly fell off the couch, and hissed in pain as he knocked his wounded leg against the edge of the couch. She sat up and handed him the now-cold tea. “Should probably drink this. I told you that you weren’t fine.”