Page 21 of Inceptive (Ingenious #3)

21

WILL

T hey reached a rest station before sunset and found their names last on the journal of occupants. Belle chased tasties, swallowing a lizard that swelled and stuck in her craw. Will pulled it out by the tail, and it thanked him by whipping around and biting his hand. It scurried out the door while Will stroked Belle’s throat and fed her sap.

The cabin’s battery had enough juice to heat water for tea and a noodle packet. Will ate a protein bar with a plant butter filling from the sanctuary—one of the tastier foods developed in the sanctuary’s kitchen. His shoulders ached from the backpack, and his legs from the sticky mud. Zach bustled about the cabin, tacking an emergency evacuation leaflet, signed by the mayor-elect, to the wall.

The rain barrels were full, and they washed off the sweat and mud. Zach unrolled a pallet and massaged Will’s leg muscles. He lay on his stomach, spread-eagled, slack, and helpless as the big hands kneaded, pressed, and stroked. “Feels wonderful,” he groaned.

Zach rolled him to his back and straddled his thighs. He stroked, two-fingered, and coaxed, but Will’s cock wasn’t interested. “Will? I thought you wanted this.” Zach sounded disappointed, especially since he’d been jerking himself until precum was leaking.

Will yawned. “Didn’t know today was the big day, so I went fishing last night and this morning. Sorry, I’m exhausted.” He stared up to find Belle perched on the rafter watching them. He pushed Zach off him. “Dammit. Cover up. Belle’s giving Dante an eyeful.”

Zach pulled the blanket to their chins and huffed in frustration.

“Love my friends. I no let Dante watch.” She stretched her wings, then tucked her head under her wing to sleep.

Zach guided Will’s hand to his hard cock. “Hey, Will? We could?—”

“Go to sleep, Treetop. Call it payback for pushing me out the window.”

After a breakfast of protein bars, they were on the road again, and Will talked about his classes on ancient literature and film. “Science fiction plots speculated that zombies and vampires would roam future Earth searching for humans to devour.”

Zach stared at him. “Why would people enjoy watching horror?”

“Because their minds liked farfetched entertainment. In those old films, the forests were alive with monsters, yet lovers went skinny-dipping in the lake. The bomb’s ticking, yet, hey, let’s fuck ourselves stupid because extreme fear and fighting all day make you uncontrollably horny. ”

“We aren’t stupid teens to stop in the middle of the road and exchange handjobs. The road slopes uphill from here. Save our energy.”

Will cupped the back of Zach’s head. “I’ll settle for a kiss.”

Warm winds rolled over the road as they traveled uphill. The waters had receded over the middle of Fort Hope. Greens had sprouted, blanketing miles of fields and growing as fast as cane. Farmers would harvest them once a week to sell to Islanders.

The sun shone high in a pale blue sky when they took a break at a rest station with shaded benches and troughs. Will splashed his face and reapplied a bug repellent. Bugs disliked Zach’s skin. They buzzed from him to Will.

Belle had delivered another batch of flyers to settlers who lowered their bows when she begged them not to shoot her. Marveling at a talking bird, they read the flyer, then filled a basket of sandwiches for Zach and rang the distress bell for neighbors.

Will walked behind Zach and savored a contaminated sandwich after weeks of eating clean food. Dante had reassured him that Zach’s transfusions would block the protein for two or three years before it could attach to Will’s receptors.

They reached the next rest station at midnight using head lanterns and Belle’s night vision. Belle scouted the hut and crunched tasties. She communicated with Dante that they were safe and snug for the night.

Zach ate sandwiches and fruit bars. Will drank a tart metabolite powder shaken with water. Watching Will’s stiff movements, Zach sighed as he lined up a sleeping pallet. After a final check and piss, he closed and barred the door.

“Remember when you wouldn’t lie beside me,” Will murmured when Zach lay beside him. “So timid and shy.”

“I never fought off marriage harder than fighting off wanting to lie beside you. You didn’t wake up urges. They were already simmering, and you stirred them with a spoon. Up to me to taste. Strip and on your belly. I’ve something to treat the ache.”

“I need sleep.” He glared at the jar in Zach’s hand. “Lube? Really? Lube!”

“An oil that aids sleep. Its edible form is the extra special in nighttime tea.”

Will lay on his belly with his head resting on his folded arms. Zach straddled his thighs and massaged a few drops into each shoulder until Will had just about drifted off. Zach traced a finger from his shoulder to his hip. “If we lived in a different world, I’d marry you,” he whispered. Will wasn’t sure if it was a dream or if he really heard the words.