***

It had taken him hours because of his partner’s insatiable need to show off. Hours without Rylie within his vicinity. Netto groaned, seeing the watership appear in the distance, unmoving in the ocean, half destroyed from the damage it incurred.

For the last part of the day, he had followed the ship's signal with a four-ton trophy dragging behind him. He would admit that he was tired. Netto would even admit it in front of another Cyborg.

Using the remainder of his energy stores, he shot forward toward rest, toward Rylie. He needed to see her and make sure she was all right, his veins burned with it.

As he drew closer, the smell of exhaust replaced the sweet ocean brine that coated his face. It stuck to him. Claimed him.

The Croc flashed beneath him, chasing off any would-be predators looking for an easy meal.

He could still taste the fleshy, fishy innards of the creature that had risen from the depths. But it did not have claws, nor did it have the teeth to match the markings that were ingrained in his head. The leviathan had little in the way of bone and cartilage. It didn't have spikes or even the scales fishes had.

It had come from somewhere lower than the ocean's abyss. Netto didn't know where, but he knew that he had somehow woken it up from amongst the deep sea trenches.

Its head dragged behind him, sinking whenever he slowed down.

If Zeph hadn't assured him that Rylie was safe, Netto would've been happy to leave the trophy behind. He didn’t care for trophies and wondered how Zeph even planned on bringing the damned thing home. Maybe he was trying to build himself a monument on Kepler. Netto would have rolled his eyes if he wasn’t convinced he’d pass out doing it.

Netto owned very little and had never wanted for much. He was never sure when he would have to leave, and he found that over time, the fewer things that one had, the easier it was to move on. Everything he owned could fit in a single bag. Whatever was left remained in a small lockbox below the floor of the quarters he rented out in Ghost City.

His fingers dug into the skin of the beast. There was no rope to be had, so he pulled it by the strips of meat dangling from its body.

Zeph insisted on bringing it back because it meant something to his honor. Netto scoffed and spit out the brine filling his mouth. He wanted the day to be over. He would die a happy man if only he could make sure that Rylie was safe before nightfall covered the sky.

He stopped at the edge of the boat and pulled himself up, looking around for the girl, but was greeted by Montihan, his face bruised and his arm in a sling.

Their host sat on a half-crushed seat under a tarp awning large enough to block out the sun. The man didn't even blink when he and Zeph appeared out of nowhere.

“Where's Rylie?” he asked, locating a shielded net which he handed to Zeph. Netto didn't watch as his partner secured the limb to the ship without complaint.

“Down below with Janet.” Montihan rose from his seat and kicked shards of glass off the side of the boat. Netto wondered how the ship was still afloat. His host caught on. “I’ve had this ship since I moved to Kepler. Not many like her in the universe. There's no need for them on most of the planets out there when there's no seas, no oceans.” He shrugged. “There's no need for boats. The glass shielding I added myself years later, and equipped her to dive below the waterline. At least it was good for something.”

“And Janet?” Zeph asked as he finished with the head and caught one of the pairs of pants that Montihan tossed to each of them.

“If Rylie can get her warm, she'll be okay. She hasn't stopped shaking since you saved her from the ocean. Thank you for that.”

Zeph nodded and strode past them, going below deck without another word. Netto sat down and ran his hands over his face.

He looked up to see Montihan watching him.

“So is it done? Never got a chance to ask you if everything's been fixed.”

“Yes. If I had known what would happen...” Netto looked around at the damage. He closed his eyes and willed away the tension in his head. “I'm sorry about your ship.”

“Yeah, well, everything that matters is okay.”

“It's been fixed and was still fixed by the time we left. If it will stay that way through the night, tomorrow morning, a week from now,” Netto said as he leaned back, “I don't know. Nothing should've gotten close enough to begin with.”

“It answers one question. We know how those men died,” Montihan said.

“Yes.”

“I don't suppose this has anything to do with crops?”

“No idea. Only time will tell.” They sat in silence for awhile with nothing but a slight breeze to fill their ears. Netto stared at the passageway that led into the ship, unsure if he should go check on Rylie.

He peered down at himself and unclenched his hands. He looked no better than his partner. The only difference between them was that he still had most of his face intact. His deepest wounds had only begun to heal.

“It'll be hours before nightfall, best get cleaned up. I’ll get us on route back to the homestead.”

“No,” he said.

“No?”

Netto scanned the horizon. “I need to make sure that there won't be any more breaches.” He ran his tongue over his sharp teeth and released a small amount of blood. It did little to comfort him. “If we get farther away, I'll lose my connection to the modules.”

“And you can’t use the satellites?”

“The channels are convoluted and if there are any more of those... things... It's best that Zeph and I do our job.”

Montihan walked back to the bridge and plopped down before the controls. The man grumbled and turned on the ship. The undamaged lights flickered on.

“Promise me one thing.”

“No.” Netto was done making promises.

He continued regardless, “My girls make it back to land alive.”

Netto's jaw ticked but he didn't say anything. He got up and walked into the ship, deciding he wasn't going to wait to see Rylie. He had so much to say to her, the words tasted like rotten meat in his mouth. He needed to get them out, needed to be near her, breathe her in and erase the monsters in his head. The need to apologize and make sure she was okay became his only thought. The mission and the serpents vanished.

He had hurt her, intentionally, lying to push her away. And now that he almost lost her, he regretted the words for ever leaving his mouth.

Before his feet hit the lower deck, Rylie came into view, hunched under a blanket and sitting alone in the interior lounge. The cases of his and Zeph's equipment were scattered everywhere. The kitchenette on the other end was blanketed in debris and the floor below his feet was soaked.

“I wouldn’t go down that hallway if I were you,” Rylie murmured, her voice hoarse. His mind and body flushed with relief. She’s okay. She’s in front of me.

“Why?” he whispered back, feeling he had to match his pitch with hers.

“Zeph’s with Janet, crawled right into her bunk before I had a chance to climb out,” she said. “He’ll be able to warm her better than I could. I think she was actually happy to see him.”

He looked down the pathway that led to the quarters before he turned toward the only thing he cared about, and sat beside Rylie.

He had tried to push her out of his thoughts, pretended she meant nothing to him, that he didn’t actually want her. Netto hoped putting distance between them would break their connection, but it worsened. He couldn’t imagine losing her now.

Images of the morning, the freezing water, the tentacles, and the guns filled his head. Rylie’s slight form was amongst it all. Netto clenched his fists.

He stared at her, knowing he was strained with worry, she gazed at him with little more than tired relief in her eyes. Netto wondered why he didn’t scare her.

“I'm happy to see you,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” Netto rushed out.

Rylie shifted under her blanket and turned her body toward him. He stiffened under her perusal.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. His metal heart lightened and he took a step toward her.

A small smile twitched the side of her lips and it took his breath away.

“I was worried...”

“Don’t.” He hooked a finger beneath her chin, guiding her eyes up to meet his. “I lied.”

She searched his gaze.

Netto continued when she didn’t respond. “I like your smell, your taste. You smell like home...you taste like the ocean.” He ran his tongue over his teeth, trying to find the words he needed to tell her.

“I didn't think I would see you again. I didn't want to leave you behind.” Rylie swallowed, looking away to roam her gaze over the wounds on his chest. They had begun to heal but were still raw and red.

“Why?” he asked, wanting her to elaborate. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and fill her with his heat.

“Because I would miss you. Because if you didn't return, I think that would've made me...I don’t know. I kept thinking of the last things we said to each other. I don't know why because they were horrible, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about them.”

Netto lifted his arm and hooked it around her back, silently, softly nudging her toward him, hoping that he could do for her as Zeph was doing for Janet. He still didn’t trust himself. He couldn’t go further with her, but he could at least mend the hurt he had caused her.

It didn't take much. Rylie was tired and receptive to his intentions. She shuffled into his side and curled up against him; their size difference made it awkward so he lifted her onto his lap.

This was worth everything to him, having her cocooned in his embrace, curled up against him willingly, where he could protect her the best and warm her up the fastest. Rylie melded into his frame.

Netto felt a flare of possessiveness course through him. He would never give her up; he would never let another man hold her like this. His fingers drifted from her head and over her back, petting her.

“This is nice,” she said.

“Yes.”

“I'm really glad you came back,” she whispered softly.

“Me too.”

It wasn't long before she fell asleep; it wasn't long before everything felt right in the world.

As the ship swayed beneath them with his arms caged around Rylie, he slept for the first time in over a week.

***

RYLIE DIDN'T WANT TO wake up.

“She's tired,” someone said above her. It was hard to process the words and the fuzziness in her head receded with the effort.

“Rylie, wake up. You gotta come see this! It's incredible and Da is retiring for the evening. If I can be up, you can be up.”

Janet. It was Janet. Rylie sighed and kept her eyes closed. Go away.

“Leave us and let her rest some more.”

Rylie felt a hand— a large hand—and it made her sweat, her body melt. She opened her eyes.

“When she wakes, tell her to come above.”

Rylie stiffened as everything came back to her. She realized her bedding wasn't bedding at all...but a man, a Cyborg, one that stressed her out and left her wanting for more.

The sound of her sister's footsteps recede as she looked up at Netto. She stiffened and he locked his arms around her, preventing her from moving away from him. A blush that had nothing to do with his heat made her face go red.

“You're awake,” Netto said, staring down at her, and once again, she was held prisoner under him. The blanket she had draped over her shoulders fell from her back.

“I'm awake. Can you let me go?” she asked, breathless.

She could feel his hard muscles beneath her legs, her thighs, under her butt. She could feel his skin, velvet and rippled with strength against her chest and arms. They were skin to skin.

“If that's what you wish.”

She bit down on her lower lip until the pain cleared her senses. “I don't know what I wish for.”

He turned to look around at the large lounge, messy with items strewn about. They were alone.

Alone.

Rylie leaned further away. His arms loosened enough for her to sit on his lap, but he kept his hands on her spine and leg. Her body ached, her muscles strained and pulled from the bruises on her back, calves, and knees. However, the only ache between her legs mattered.

“How long was I asleep?”

His eyes flashed. The bright neon color of his irises mesmerized her. Rylie could look at Netto all day long and still be surprised by his nature.

“Two hours, fifteen minutes, give or take. Earthian time.”

Rylie nodded and slipped off his lap, immediately missing the warmth of his skin.

“I guess we should go above.” She rubbed her hands over her face, trying to remove the last strains of exhaustion over her features. “If Janet is up then I should be up too.” She laughed. “She's worse off than I am.” She was also curious about what her sister wanted to show her.

“I don't care about your sister.” Netto leaned forward and stood up, offering his hand to help her to her feet.

Rylie frowned. “I care about my sister.” She took his hand and pressed her feet into the sodden floor, biting back disgust at the tepid water beneath her feet. “Did she do something to you?”

She wobbled but Netto kept her upright.

“No. She has Zeph to care for her and your family. She doesn’t need any more from me.”

Keeping her hand within Netto’s, Rylie picked up the blanket and draped it around her shoulders. She followed him upstairs.

The mist had already descended upon evening air, though it remained clear enough for her to see the ship in its horrible state. She hated the disarray. Most of the damage was beyond her ability to repair. Bent metal, shards of glass, scratches, and jagged grooves were everywhere she looked.

My poor ship. She found Janet and Zeph at the back, shoveling debris out into the water, and held onto Netto as they made their way toward them. Even wrecked, pale, bruised, and tired, Janet still glowed.

“Good you’re up,” Janet said, approaching her. “You can help us clean.”

“Where's Da?”

“He went to the captain's quarters to get some rest. We’re taking the evening shift.” Her sister sniffled. There was a sheen over her skin and the smell of the healing serum filled Rylie’s nose. It was the same serum she had on earlier that afternoon. Even as Rylie looked Janet over, her sister looked immensely better than she had earlier.

Rylie was relieved. She hated seeing her loved ones hurting. It made her feel helpless and all she wanted to do was fix their pain. She let go of Netto’s hand after a brief squeeze.

Her eyes landed on a giant netted thing trailing the back of the boat.

“What's that?”

“That's what I wanted to show you! It's the head of the leviathan that came out of the ocean. Zeph and Netto brought it back.”

Rylie maneuvered to see the monster’s face, but most of it was underwater. The longer she looked, the more she realized she didn’t actually want to see it.

“Why?”

Zeph answered her with a dangerously handsome smile. “Wanted a trophy. What's a better trophy than the head of the beast you killed?”

“I'm glad it's not your head then. It could’ve easily been all of ours.”

“He's boasting. He didn't kill it, we all killed it,” Janet said. Rylie smiled at her sister and moved away, unsure why she wasn’t impressed. It only made her feel more tired.

They spent the next half hour cleaning the deck companionably. The Cyborgs took care of the dangerous stuff—the sharp edges and the crushed machinery—and got rid of it. She and Janet did the rest. The waning light spurred them on to make quick of their situation.

“Look what I found.” Zeph pulled out a table under the tarp. He set down a large bottle of vodka in the middle and produced a few cups from the kitchen below.

“Alcohol? Really?”

“Why not? We earned it and it's not like we’re going to get much done at night anyway,” he laughed. He poured it into glasses before anyone could protest. Rylie glanced at Netto busy bending a part of the railing back into shape. She could really use a drink but didn’t know if she should.

Netto seemed to understand that she was waiting for him and caught her gaze. He cocked his head and wiped his hands on his pants before seating himself. Rylie sat by his side and Janet soon followed.

“We should probably stay alert,” she hedged. “What if something happens at night?”

Zeph chuckled. “Why don't you leave that to us Cyborgs? We can go on for ages, even filled with bullets and bleeding from every pore before we need a break—before we break.” He raised his cup and gulped down the contents.

Rylie raised her cup to her lips and took a sip, flinching from the harsh liquor taste. It was bad. Bad was what she needed. Zeph poured himself another drink as the last rays of sun vanished in the distance. The fog rolled over them, eerie and pervasive, but the lights of the ship kept the encroaching darkness away. She took another sip.

She was highly aware of the Cyborg next to her and of the uncomfortable feelings she had toward him.

“Oh, it’s so bad! Why did Da have this on the ship? Backup fuel?” Janet cringed and spat but took another drink again immediately afterward.

Zeph laughed.

“Don't worry babe, I'll take care of you.” He put his arm around her sister’s shoulders and scooted her into his side. Rylie was surprised that Janet let him manhandle her. She took another sip. The burn wasn't as bad anymore.

Netto hadn’t touched his drink. He sat stiffly next to her, a good foot and a half separating them. She wanted him to pull her close as Zeph had Janet, but he didn't, and she knew he wouldn't, so she hugged herself.

“Can Cyborgs get drunk?” she asked.

“Yes,” Netto murmured.

“We sure as fuck can! But it takes a lot and we have to keep at it or our systems clear the alcohol out. This bottle won't do much for us.” Zeph winked. “Our cybercells are far too potent.”

Janet perked. “We have more down below. I'll go get it.” Rylie watched her sister shimmy out from under Zeph's arm. She returned a minute later with two bottles, one in each hand. “Will this do?”

“Doesn't hurt.” Zeph grabbed her sister around the waist and tugged her on his lap. Janet laughed and Rylie looked away, feeling a pang of envy. “This doesn't hurt either, sweetheart. Seeing my girl holding two bottles of alcohol has got to be one of the sexiest sights any man could behold.”

“I'm not your girl,” Janet said, though her words were unconvincing, made even more so as she laughed while Zeph ran his hands over her.

Rylie took a swig of her drink.

“I'm glad you and Netto came back okay. I'm jealous that you're both almost completely healed.”

“We heal fast,” Netto said.

“That we do,” Zeph nipped at her sister's ear. “Thank the nano-gods for it.”

“Nano-gods? That’s funny,” Janet tittered.

Rylie's eyes narrowed in on where Zeph's lips touched her sister's face. Her gaze landed on the glass in front of her and she stared at the clear liquid inside. She felt out of place, wanting to be anywhere in the world at that moment but here.

It only made it worse that Netto remained unmoving at her side. She wished she knew what he thought, and she wanted him to hold her like the other Cyborg held her sister. Rylie recalled the feel his lips on her skin, nipping her ear, tasting the side of her mouth. She tapped her foot silently under the table and shifted back and forth in her seat.

“We should play a game.”

“What game?” Rylie noticed her sister watching her with hard and calculating eyes.

“Truth or dare.”

Zeph knocked his cup against the table and his smile turned into a grin. “Sounds good to me. I don't think I’ve played that before.”

Rylie wasn't sure she wanted to play, already feeling uncomfortable. She looked at Netto and entwined her fingers together.

“You two? It wouldn't be a good game unless everybody joins.”

Rylie pursed her lips. “I’m in but...”

“But what? No nudity? No kissing? No doing dumb shit like eating raw fish? Don't give stipulations, Rylie,” Janet sighed. “The game isn’t fun if you're not willing to go out of your comfort zone.”

Netto turned his head toward her but she didn't have the courage to meet his gaze. “Fine. But nothing stupid.”

Janet smiled. “Nothing stupid. And you?” she asked Netto.

“I'll play.”

Janet clapped her hands. “Great. I'll go first.” Her sister made a point to look at each of them at length with a dangerous smile forming on her lips. Rylie refilled her cup even though it wasn't even halfway drained and took another sip. She was beginning to feel good, lightheaded. She wanted to feel that way if she was going to play.

Janet focused her gaze on Zeph. “You. Truth or dare, Zeph. Let's see how far you're willing to go.”

“I'm willing to go far as you want, sweetheart, farther than you want even, but I'm a daring sort of fellow. Dare it is.”

“I dare you...to fully shift into your other form.”

The smile on his face went slack. Regardless, Zeph stood up slowly and moved to the open space at the back of the ship. Rylie was transfixed. She leaned forward to see the other Cyborg around Netto.

“Ever seen a saltwater crocodile before ladies? Do you know what that is?” Rylie shook her head and Janet responded no. He pulled his lips back. His teeth were not as sharp as Netto's, yet somehow, they were more frightening on Zeph. Maybe it was because of his charisma or because of his self-assurance, Rylie didn't know, but her stomach dropped. She didn't fully trust Zeph, not like she trusted Netto. “We’re one of Earth’s most dangerous nocturnal predators.”

Netto was a teddy-bear. Zeph... Zeph was insincere. The words he said flowed out like tissue paper, easy to rip and impossible to keep intact long term.

He made a show of pulling off his clothes and flexing his muscles. She felt nothing for it, completely unmoved by his display even though he was one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. His skin split in two and plates of metal sprang up from beneath. Grooves appeared all over his skin, sharp and rough, and his jawline broke away from his face to grow outward.

“What the hell?” Rylie glanced over at her sister, seeing her eyes grow wide and uncomfortable.

She turned back toward the Cyborg as his face completely pulled apart, pushing out forward more and more, until any piece of him that was human disappeared. Once it stopped, he turned around and dropped his pants. There were spikes on his back. He no longer had a neck but he now had a tail pulling out of him as thin sheets of metal appeared from somewhere within his large frame. Like his head, his tail kept going and going until it finally stopped. Zeph put his foot upon the rail and jumped into the water.

Janet rushed to the side and Rylie followed, peering down into the dark and misted water below. The fog was cut by a serpent at the water's edge.

“That's him,” Rylie muttered.

A voice came from the water.

“Janet, truth or dare?”

They shared a look and Janet swallowed. “Dare.”

“I dare you to jump into the water.” Neither she nor Janet could see where Zeph's voice was coming from.

Janet straightened with a grumble, but didn't jump into the water. Instead, she walked to the table and gulped down her entire glass of vodka before setting it down. She leaned over and placed her hands on her thighs. Janet’s chest expanded with encouraging breaths.

“You're not going to do it are you?” Rylie asked, watching her sister. “The water's cold.”

Her sister came back to the railing.

“It won’t be cold with me,” Zeph said somewhere down below. Janet stepped out of her shoes and pulled off her shorts but left her shirt in place. She jumped into the water. Rylie heard a splash and a gurgled scream, followed by curse words and laughter. She couldn't see what was happening; she could only hear.

She looked behind her and caught Netto's gaze, and he moved to stand beside her. Several minutes went past as they waited in silence, both listening to the others below.

Rylie looked over the edge again. “Are we still playing or are you guys going to stay down there forever?”

“Truth or dare, Rylie,” her sister yelled in response.

“Truth.”

“Are you still a virgin?”

Rylie clenched her hands. “Nevermind, I choose dare.”

“I dare you to sit on Netto's lap for the rest of the night.”

She cringed. She looked over the edge of the railing but still couldn’t see either her sister or Zeph.

“Janet, truth or dare?”

“Truth,” her sister yelped and laughed.

“How many sexual partners have you had?” Two can play this game.

“Too few!”

“That's not an answer. How many?”

It was petty, but at the same time, Rylie didn't feel any guilt for asking. It was her sister's idea to play this game after all.

“Fine, I choose dare.”

“I dare you to get out of the water now.” Rylie didn't wait for her sister's response as she walked back toward the table and took another drink. Netto joined her and sat down.

“Is it okay if I sit on your lap?” Rylie smiled and her cheeks warmed. This is what she wanted, after all, and even though it was embarrassing, Janet had given her exactly that. Even though it was forced.

Netto's jaw ticked and his mouth hardened into a stern line.

He’s going to say no. Her heart fluttered with unease and she sucked in a breath of air, holding it in the pit of her stomach, waiting for him to make the next move.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “You can sit.”

His stance was wide enough to allow her access and she awkwardly, stiffly, sat down on one of his thighs. Rylie wasn’t sure if he wanted her there, and her heart felt heavy. Netto didn't touch her but kept one arm at his side and one arm on the table. It was awkward, she felt awkward, and prayed for a distraction. He twirled his full cup of vodka silently as a sopping wet Janet and Zeph reappeared.

“Netto, truth or dare?” Janet practically jumped into her seat. Rylie held her breath.

“Truth.”

“Do you like my sister sitting on your lap?”

Rylie buried her face into her hands and squeaked.

“Yes.”

It came out so fast she was unsure if she heard right or if she believed it. She lifted her fingers away and looked up at him and whispered, “Sorry.”

He nodded at her.

“I knew it! I knew there was something between you two. You guys might as well stop denying it.”

“There's obviously something between you and Zeph,” Rylie responded.

“There is!?” Zeph hollered and took hold of her sister, placing her in his lap again. He leaned forward conspiringly. “Do you think she'll let me have my way with her?”

Rylie leaned back as her face went bright red before she stammered, “I won't answer that unless I'm forced to.” She wiped her sweaty palms against her shirt.

“Your turn man,” Zeph said, facing Netto with a smirk. He shifted in his seat as if he were bracing himself for impact. Rylie lifted her cup to her lips but didn't drink. Don't pick me, don't pick me, please, don't pick me.

“Rylie, truth or dare?”

Fuck!

She closed her eyes and reopened them to peer up at Netto. Her lips twisted, unsure of which she should choose, which being the lesser evil.

“Dare?”

His eyes locked with hers and she waited, uncomfortable while he decided what he would dare her to do. Rylie felt hopeful, uneasy, excited, and anxious all at once.

He raised his hand and took her cup away from her, “I dare you to stop drinking.” He placed it away from her. Rylie frowned, her eyes trailing after it.

“Really? That's no fun. Make her do something else,” Janet pleaded. “Dare her to lick your teeth, or to give you a lap dance. Oh my god, make her give you a lap dance!” Janet laughed maniacally.

“No.”

“Bummer.”

Rylie no longer wanted to play anymore. The light buzz she’d been experiencing faded. Her tongue plastered to the roof of her mouth.

“Well,” Zeph said, “I think I should get you warmed up again.” He hefted Janet into his arms. Her sister didn't put up a fight.

“But what about the game?” Janet slapped at his chest. Rylie watched them as they headed for the interior.

“The real game is about to begin.”

The top deck became silent and that silence only made her more aware. She stiffly got up from Netto's lap and moved to sit across from him. He was watching her when she found the courage enough to look up at him.

“You don't drink?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It does nothing for me.”

She licked her lips. “Oh...”

He didn't say anything else and she began to look around, hoping to find something to subdue the tension between them. Her eyes landed on the giant head that bobbed at the back of the ship. It glowed with iridescence from the white light.

“Did Zeph want the trophy to impress my sister?”

“Yes.”

She canted her head. “If he's trying to court her, it won't work.”

“Why not?”

“She's a siren. I don't think there is a man or woman in this universe who could hold Janet's attention for more than a few days. She's been given more than a head of a monster for her affection.” A strangled cry came up from below. Rylie looked away from the head and back toward the interior as the cries began to build. She exhaled the pressure in her chest.

“Does it impress you?”

Netto seemed unfazed by the sounds of sex below them.

“Yes... No... Maybe?” Her thoughts were scattered, punctuated by what was happening between Janet and Zeph. “Yes, because the beast was impressive, no, because it was dangerous to go after it and I would've preferred you here sooner. I was worried. So I guess,” she swallowed when the sounds of banging increased. “So it's a maybe.”

She suddenly wanted to be anywhere else in the universe than sitting across from Netto as the sounds only grew bolder. She didn't think this evening could get any more awkward but it did and it had, and now her foot was tapping and her muscles were tense, ready to choose fight or flight. She peered at the water longingly and wished it was safe enough for her to jump into and swim away.

“I thought so. What happens if you don't follow the rules of truth or dare?”

Rylie frowned, confused. “You lose the game? You make the others upset? I'm not exactly sure.”

Netto leaned forward and grasped her hand. Rylie started but remained in her seat.

“You were dared to sit in my lap all night.” He held her gaze and she didn't know if she heard him correctly. He tugged on her hand and with the last remnants of the alcohol in her system, she allowed him to maneuver her back into his lap. This time, his arms went around her.

“I don't want you to lose the game,” he said softly against the top of her head.

She was pressed up against his muscled chest, her cheek against the velvet rock of his upper torso. Her sister screamed. “I don't want to lose the game either.”

Netto picked her up and walked up the stairs to the top deck, further away from the noises below. The mist churned around them, creating a bubble of their own. The lights were dimmer, giving the space an illusion of privacy. He sat them down at the farthest point possible and tucked a towel around her shoulders.

They sat for some time listening to the waves.

“This is nice,” she said.

“Yes.”

“Netto...”

“Hmm?”

Rylie shifted in his lap, emboldened by the makeshift seclusion around them. “Will you kiss me?” She inhaled his scent and pulled away to look at his lips.