by Lily Harlem
Malik reached for the tea on the side and passed it to Leo. “Drink.”
Leo took it. His cheeks were hot and his mouth dry. “Yes.”
“I will go and tell Sister Afua that you will be away for a one night learning about and enjoying the gifts of our land. She will understand.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It was Sister Afua that said you work too hard and you must have some time to enjoy the beauty of Kenya and be able to fend for yourself if necessary.”
Leo nodded. He had no argument. He wanted to go with Malik more than anything else in the world and if Malik could make that happen—which it seemed he could—then he wasn’t going to argue.
“I will collect you, at sunrise, from your room.”
“What do I need to take?”
“Whatever you want and that you can carry. There is water once we reach the canyon but you will need to drink on the way.” He turned, reached up into the cupboard and plucked out a handful of brightly colored condoms. “A supply of these would be useful too.” He dropped them onto the counter then turned and left the clinical room.
Leo stared at the condoms, spread out in an arc, like a contraceptive rainbow. He wondered just how many he should take. If he didn’t have to think of the charity, if he had his way, he’d get through an entire bumper pack box in a couple of days with Malik.
Fuck yeah!
A smile spread on his face. All the frustrations and disappointment of the last couple of days without Malik in the village had evaporated. Disappeared like a puff of desert dust on the breeze.
Malik had been away, sorting out a lover’s retreat in the canyon for them. It was impossibly romantic. Yes, it was about fucking and having privacy, but it was also a way of shutting themselves off from the world—shaking the opinions and misunderstandings of others who didn’t get what it was to be gay.
Now they had somewhere to go where they could just be themselves. Learn about each other, too—explore what their bodies liked and spend time getting to know fears, hopes, dreams and fantasies.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
****
Leo spent the rest of the day in a dreamy, happy haze. He called head office and ordered more supplies, which would likely be air-dropped by plane the following week. He also dealt with a child’s rash, a baby’s high temperature and an old woman with chest pain. All routine, thankfully, and nothing Sister Afua couldn’t handle while he was away.
“Malik is one of the best trackers in the village,” Sister Afua said, as Leo sterilized the suture kit from earlier.
“Is he?”
“Yes, he will be a very good teacher for you, and it is important, Doctor Leo, for you to understand this land outside of Cagaha Buurta.”
“Yes, I agree.” A small flush of heat traveled up Leo’s back. If only she knew. If only she knew the main thing he’d be learning was exactly how Malik liked to come while enjoying being teased and tempted to orgasm himself.
“You have not stepped from our village boundaries in a week now. There is much to see in Kenya,” she said.
“Yes, but we have been busy.”
“And we are very grateful for your help, especially with the sickness. But you have come all the way from London and when you go back, you will want memories of more than a hospital. Admire the mighty mountain, walk with the animals and discover what you can eat when there is no supermarket in sight.”
“You’re right. They are all things I should do.”
“I will not worry about you if Malik is the man watching out for you. He is a good man. A warrior of the earth and his soul has wisdom. Malik is the man for the job.”
“Mmm, yes.” Malik was indeed the man for the job. Blow job, that was.
Chapter Fifteen
The sun was relentless and Leo was grateful for his peaked cap, shades and his cotton shirt. He was also glad he’d rubbed sunscreen onto all exposed flesh, for he knew that unlike Malik, who strode along in nothing but black shorts and sandals, he’d be burnt within an hour of being outside, even in the weaker morning light.
He shifted his rucksack on his shoulders. He’d tried to pack frugally but there seemed so much he needed to take when there was going to be nothing at the destination other than water and, hopefully, food. He had a couple of spare T-shirts and underwear, though he planned on being naked for a good percentage of the time. He’d added condoms and lube to his toiletry bag, a small first-aid kit and the gun that Medics On Hand had given him. The majority of his experience with firearms was patching up shooting victims in the accident and emergency department. He’d like to keep it that way, too. Leo was not a fan of guns.
Malik swigged from a bottle of water and pointed to Kilimanjaro with the point of his long spear. “From the village it seems the mighty mountain rises suddenly from the ground but when closer, you’ll see there are many smaller hills around it.”
“I can see them already, I think.”
“Possibly.” He paused. “It is a good time for us to visit. In this heat there are few treks taking place. Plus the mountain attracts rain and fog in the summer months. Not good for seeing the view.”
“But we’re not climbing it, are we?”
“No, we are heading into the footings, hardly any uphill at all. We need our energy for other things.” Malik turned and smiled at Leo. He didn’t break pace.
A now-familiar bubble of excitement popped in Leo’s stomach as he marched forward, on and on. He couldn’t wait to reach the canyon and do all of the things he’d been dreaming about doing with Malik. He’d had a restless night that had resulted in him masturbating in the shower that morning after he’d douched. But now, walking along with his mind buzzing and full of hot and sexy images, his cock kept stiffening then thankfully deflating.
Leo glanced over his shoulder. The village had been out of view for a few hours now. He could see nothing but hot scrubland, thirsty trees and a constant shimmering haze that grew upward from the ground. They’d spotted giraffe in the distance some time ago—tall and majestic and lolloping along in a small herd. But other than a few birds of prey circling in the distance and several small reptiles, lizards, skittering out of their way, the plains were quiet and still.
“Malik,” he said, wrapping his hand around Malik’s upper arm. A sudden urge had come over Leo and he could do nothing to stop himself.
Malik stopped, turned and looked at him.
Leo smiled, stepped up close and cupped Malik’s face in his hands. He brought their heads close and touched their chests together.
Malik stared at him, his eyes bright and his nostrils flaring a little. There was the same excitement in his expression as Leo knew must be in his.
“Thank you. For doing this,” Leo whispered. He pressed his lips to Malik’s beautiful, soft, luxurious mouth and slid his tongue forward.
Malik let out a small whimper and leaned into Leo and the kiss.
Leo slanted his head and deepened the entry of his tongue. He’d been wanting to do this for days and now, with no one around, he could. Finally.
Their tongues twisted as they fed off each other’s flavor. Malik tasted of sweet spring water and Leo couldn’t get enough. He slid his hands down Malik’s back, squeezed his buttocks and dragged him closer.
“Leo,” Malik murmured.
“Feel how much I want you.” Leo ground his dick against Malik’s.
“Yes, yes…” Malik dropped his spear and grabbed Leo’s arse, too.
As the kiss got wilder, heavier, Leo rubbed their erections together. The friction of clothing added to his excitement. His balls throbbed and his arsehole clenched. He could come just from rutting like this. He was sure he could, but what about more…?
Could they? Here? In the middle of the plains, just fuck like wild animals? The way the lions did, and the zebra and the rhino? Yes, sure they could. There was no one and nothing around for miles.
“I want you,” Leo said into Malik’s mouth. “I can’t wa
it. It’s driving me crazy.” He wanted to just drop to his knees, bend over for big black cock and take it in a primal, carnal way. He wanted to howl like a hyena and let all his instincts and feral desires eat him up.
“Yes. Fuck, yes.” Malik reached forward, popped the button on Leo’s shorts and shoved his hand down the waistband. He gripped his cock tight, really tight, then stroked his fist from the root up to the tip in a rough, urgent movement.
“Ahh…ah…” Leo gasped, knowing his slit would be silky with pre-cum. “Yes, your hand on me… It’s so… Fuck…”
Malik kissed from his mouth to his ear, then nipped his lobe as he slid his thumb over Leo’s glans. “I love that you want me so much,” he whispered to Leo. “It turns me on.”
“I want you more than I can bear. I want you now.”
“Shit.” Suddenly Malik released Leo and stepped away. He stooped and picked up his spear and stared over Leo’s shoulder. “We should go.”
Leo spun around.
His breath caught in his throat. A herd of zebra were heading toward them. Stampeding. A massive cloud of dust plumed in their wake. Now that Leo had seen the charging animals, he could also feel the ground trembling beneath his feet as their hooves pounded the earth.
“Come,” Malik said, grabbing Leo’s hand. “This way. Run.”
They broke into a sprint. Leo’s bag bobbed on his back as he pelted forward. “What are they running from?” he managed.
“Lions, most likely.” Malik glanced over his shoulder.
“Lions!” Alarm flooded Leo’s veins. This kind of thing had been one of his fears when he’d signed up for Africa—being chased by ferocious animals with nowhere to run. Leo was pleased that he could keep up with Malik and released his hand. They could move faster independently but not as fast as a lion.
“I have my gun,” he panted.
“Yes, good. But I think we will lose them. This way.” Malik changed direction.
A stack of rocks rose before them. Like sandcastles growing from the ground, cracked in the sun and casting short shadows.
They steamed ahead, running fast and making quick work of the distance. Leo tried not to imagine a huge lion racing after him then flying through the air with its claws out and its jaw stretched wide.
They reached the rocks. Malik pressed himself up against the shadows and Leo slotted in behind him. He did up his shorts that were slipping low on his hips then dropped his bag from his back.
With his hands shaking, he rummaged for the gun, pulled it out and held it facing forward. It felt alien in his hands, heavy and wrong. But he’d fire it if he had to. If it was him and Malik or a lion.
Malik was breathing hard. He held his spear, the flint tip pointing to the sky and the base in the earth. He straightened his back and set down his shoulders.
Still Leo could feel the tremor of the huge herd beneath his feet. He peered around the rock, hunched and hoping to be invisible to predators.
“See. They are moving east now,” Malik said, stepping out of the shadows. They will not come this way. They would feel trapped by the rocks.”
“Is it lions chasing them?” Leo could hardly make out what was going on in the colossal dust cloud.
“Yes, look.”
Leo peered forward. It took a moment but yes, a female lion was galloping alongside the herd at full stretch. “Oh shit,” he said.
“It is okay.” Malik turned and glanced at him. “She will claim a sick or injured beast for her family to feed on. It is nature’s way.”
“But what if she doesn’t and comes here for us?”
“She is an excellent hunter. She will be successful, and they don’t like the taste of humans, not unless they are really hungry.”
“Well, I suppose that’s reassuring.” Leo let the gun tip angle toward the ground.
“Come. We should continue now.”
“Is it far?”
“Yes, it is still a few hours, but no longer on the plains. Now we go through these rock paths.” He nodded at the gun. “You can put that away.”
“Yes. Yes, I will.” Leo was happy to put the firearm back in his bag. He felt safer now they weren’t out in the open like sitting ducks. He tucked it away and hoisted his bag onto his back.
“Stop!” Malik said suddenly. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open.
“What?”
“Still. Keep still.” There was urgency in Malik’s tone.
Leo froze. A bolt of fear blasted through him. “Why?”
“Snake.” Malik tipped the point of his spear toward Leo, the end hovering right by his ear.
“What?” Leo twitched his head.
“No, no. Still!”
Leo ceased all movement. There was a slithering, sliding movement on his shoulder. A smooth cool surface rubbed against his neck.
He suppressed a shudder. “Get. It. Off.” He’d spoken through gritted teeth. It was taking all of his strength and willpower to not just shove it aside and run, hope for the best.
“I will, but do not move.” Malik stepped closer. The muscles in his arms bulged and danced and a pulse beat beneath the surface of his skin on his throat.
Leo concentrated on that pulse. The snake was winding its way toward the tip of his shoulder. Fuck. Then what would it do? Slide down his arm?
“It is an adder,” Malik said in a hushed tone. “Lazy snake.”
“Lazy?”
“Yes. Keep still.”
“Oh, God.” The head was visible now. A pale brown with a diamond-shape pattern over its scales. “It’s poisonous, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
His stomach clenched. He thought he might be sick. Why the hell had he agreed to come out into the bush with Malik? Oh, yeah, sex. Damn, he hoped he’d live long enough to get some.
Malik flicked his arm. The spear brushed against Leo’s shoulder then he felt a whip-like sensation on the back of his head as the adder was flung to the right and landed about ten feet away from where they stood.
“Fuck,” Leo said, scooting another ten feet to the left. “Jesus, that was close.”
“It must have slithered onto your bag when we were watching the herd.” Malik inspected the snake. It appeared a little dazed by its sudden airborne experience. “Check things in future, before you put them on.”
“Yeah. I will.” Leo rubbed his shoulder then took his bag off. Inspected it for any other unwelcome visitors then put it back on.
“Shoes especially. Check them.”
“I do.”
“Good.” Malik gave the snake a poke with his spear.
It contracted into a coil then slithered silently into a crack between the rocks.
Leo shuddered. A chilly feeling wound its way up his back. A similar tremble skittered over his scalp and chattered his teeth together.
“Hey,” Malik said, stepping up to him. “It is okay. I will look after you.”
“That was a little close for comfort.”
“I agree. But it won’t happen again.” Malik touched Leo’s cheek with the back of his index finger and stroked down to his jaw line.
Leo stared into his eyes. He let himself get lost for a moment and put thoughts of lions and snakes behind him. Malik was right. He was fine if they were together. He trusted Malik to keep him safe.
“Yes,” Leo said. “I know.”
Malik grinned, leaned forward and brushed his lips over Leo’s. “We should go. You will like the place we are staying much better. I have made it comfortable for you. Not Nairobi five-star hotel comfortable, but the best the mountain’s feet can offer.”
“I can’t wait.” Leo smiled, a smidgen of calm returning. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Wow!” Leo gasped.
“You like?”
“Yes.” Leo dropped his bag and caught the handle, letting the base skim the floor of the canyon. “It’s amazing.”
“It is one of my favorite places in the world.”
“I can see w
hy.”
Leo took in his surroundings. He was hot and tired and the midday sun was blasting down on them but the place he’d found himself in was paradise. The long, arduous walk had been well worth it.
They’d squeezed through a rocky, narrow opening to reach the space Leo found himself in now. The sandy-based floor was carved in two by a clear, flowing river. It bubbled over boulders in some places, where it was a pale aqua and shallow, and in others it darkened to navy and appeared deep and cool. There was a section of tall, whispering reeds against the bank and a few old, gnarled trees were dotted around. The river came into the canyon, not by a waterfall but a sloping topple of stones and roots. Still, it gave a falling effect and the murmur of the sliding water echoed gently around the cliff walls.
“This is where the fire will go at night.” Malik gestured to a large pile of sticks just in front of them. “It will ensure we have no unwanted visitors from the plains. It is the only entrance and the steep sides make this a sunken fortress. You will be safe, Leo.” He rested his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “I promise.”
“Yes. I can see that,” Leo said. He pointed at the river which looked very inviting. “No crocs in there, are there?”
Malik laughed and stepped farther in. “No, nothing like that. A few fish, good to eat, but it is cold mountain water, melted snow. The Kenyan animals prefer the heat. It is the way they are created.”
“Cold sounds good.” He followed Malik across the sand. “So does some fish to eat.”
“I agree.” He gestured forward. “This is what I have done for you.”
Leo followed him to a small canopy, made from green material propped up on branches. It gave a rectangle of shade beneath.
“This side of the canyon gets the afternoon shade. It will soon be here.” He propped his spear against the dusty wall beside a crop of weeds growing out of a hollow seam. “And it also has this hole.”
Leo stepped beneath the canopy. He could stand, just. Malik stooped slightly.
“A cave.”
