by Vivien Vale
As I stand here watching Adelaide walk past, those girls from the harem pale into insignificance. I know she wouldn’t look any better in anything fancier; I guess you can’t improve on perfection.
It takes me about two minutes to make my decision—to change my fucking mind. For me, that’s like a lifetime. In my line of work, you’ve got be able to make decisions in less than a microsecond.
Sweat’s pouring off me, and the slightly muddy ground has left specks of dirt on my legs—not to mention, the grime, sweat, and dirt I’ve accumulated over the past few days. I sure could use a shower.
Maybe I could do it the way I am? But instantly, I dismiss the idea. It’s fucking stupid.
My skin needs soap and water. I mean, how many days have I not showered now?
It doesn’t matter what’s the worst that can happen if I go there in my boxers. I mean, she’s fucking covered, and I’ll be covering my most important body part. Not to mention, she’s fucking off-limits.
I’m here to protect her, not lead her astray.
With a sigh, I go into my tent and strip off. When I emerge, I’m only wearing boxers and something on my feet.
I never go anywhere in these parts without covering them. The nasties don’t stand a fucking chance.
The minute I walk around the side of the house, butterflies multiply in my stomach. It’s an unusual feeling. I’m normally cool, calm, and collected.
Beside the green palm tree, I see her. She’s gorgeous. There are no words to properly describe her beauty.
My insides feel strange. It’s as if they’ve been put into a vice, and that vice is being tightened by an invisible force.
With my eyes on her, I don’t see the puddle.
Splash!
Mud sprays up. A bit even goes into my eye.
Briefly, I can’t see anything. It hurts like hell. I rub it, but it doesn’t seem to get any better.
Tears are streaming down my face, and I’m regretting my decision to join her for a shower.
Nothing wrong with a little dirt, is there? Of course, now I’m here.
Fuck. I think she’s seen me.
She half-turns toward me.
“Ehm,” she starts, and straightens up. “You okay?”
My eye’s still shut from the mud incident. “Fine,” I grunt and keep walking toward her.
She’s holding a bar of soap and seems to be lathering herself up.
“Don’t you do that with water, I mean, under the shower?”
Adelaide shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “Clearly, you don’t understand what it means to have a water shortage.”
Instead of getting into an argument with her, I turn to walk away. I’ve forgotten my own soap and towel. Of course, it’s so warm I don’t really need a towel, but I do need soap.
“Changed your mind already, have you? Or did you get clean simply by being near the shower?” I hear her ask with a chuckle.
“Forgot something,” I growl and keep walking.
“Doing another perimeter check?”
She’s too fucking cheeky for her own good.
Minutes later, I return with a bar of soap in my hand.
“Found anyone lurking in the bushes?”
I roll my eyes. Her confidence infuriates me. For her own sake, I hope nothing will ever happen to her, but boy, she’s driving me fucking insane.
Now that I’m standing almost next to her, I can see the small water container, which she’s using to wet the bar of soap before she rubs it onto her skin.
Resourceful and effective.
Adelaide sure isn’t your everyday billionaire’s daughter spending her days shopping and lunching.
“Ready?”
“For what?”
“The water. What’d you think?”
Fuck. Being so close to her is playing havoc with my mind. She’s so fucking hot, and she smells so delicious.
“What’re we waiting for? Hit me with it.”
She glares at me, but she doesn’t turn on the water.
“What?” I throw my arms up. I don’t understand what’s wrong.
“You need to take a step closer, sunshine. I don’t want to waste water.” She said, sounding exasperated.
I move my feet toward her. I’m careful where I stand. If I touch her, I fear I may lose my self-control.
Already, the tiny flame flickering inside me whenever I so much as look at her has turned into a raging inferno.
“I don’t bite, and I don’t have any contagious diseases.”
“I know,” I snap, and immediately regret my harsh retort when I see her hurt eyes.
Before I can say anything else, she’s turned her back to me, and I feel warm water hit my face.
I shake my head and rub my eyes, then I let my eyes feast on her long, delicate neck and gorgeous back.
The clip to her bikini top beckons me into action. Almost of its own accord, my hand reaches toward it when she turns around.
My nose is inches from hers now.
Her warm breath caresses my cheek, and as tempted as I am to close my eyes, I don’t.
She breaks eye contact first when she tilts her head upward to put her hair under the water. Mesmerized, I watch her bring her arms up, and run her fingers through that beautiful long hair of hers.
As she tends to washing it, she keeps her eyes closed as I shamelessly stare at her. Those delicious perky tits of hers that are barely covered by the black bikini top, her flat abs, and long legs are all eye candy for me.
Fucking delicious, sexy, and hot.
“You nearly done?” she asks with her eyes still closed. “I don’t want to turn off the water before you’re done.”
Was she a fucking mind reader?
“Nearly,” I mumble and scrub with my soap. It’s fucking hard not to touch her in this tight space.
As I bend down to wash my legs, my arm ever so lightly comes into contact with her ass. Tiny electric sparks seem to ignite within me.
Fuck.
Lightning fast, I stand up again. Either she didn’t feel it, or she’s choosing to ignore it. Maybe she doesn’t feel what I feel when we touch?
“Ready whenever you are,” I grunt and turn this way and that while the water’s still going.
It does feel good to take a wash, even if I have to do it with my pants on. I’m used to going many days without such luxuries as warm showers; but when I take one, I realize how much I miss them.
Life’s a bit like that, isn’t it? We never appreciate the small things we have until it’s taken from us. I mean, until a few minutes ago, I didn’t even think about taking a shower. But right now, I’m loving every second of it.
“Here we go.” Her voice rouses me out of my daydream. “One, two, three!”
And just like that, my little pleasure for the day has been cut off.
I’m left standing in the blazing sunlight next to this goddess.
Adelaide stretches languidly next to me. Her bikini top moves a little to the side, and I catch a glimpse of perfect white flesh and a pink nipple. She’s more graceful than a gazelle.
If I were to die right now, I’d die with one regret—that I never got to fuck Adelaide.
I suppose I should be grateful I got to at least have a shower with her.
“Thanks,” I mumble and turn to walk away.
If I don’t leave now, something might happen.
I can’t touch her. She’s the person I’ve been sent here to protect. I can’t just jump her bones, no matter how much I want to.
I’m no good for her. Repeat after me: I’m no good for her.
I think this to myself over and over again, mantra-like. If I say it often enough, it’s bound to sink in sooner rather than later. Right?
13
Adelaide
It’s not even midday and the sun’s got a fair bit of heat in it already. Carefully, I pour myself a glass of water. I curse under my breath when I spill a drop.
Water is precious. There’s not enou
gh of it, and I’m annoyed for having been careless. It might seem silly, but every drop counts.
Water sustains life. Without water, we have none. I’ve come to appreciate just how precious water is. Part of me can’t believe how I used to waste it. Yet, so many people around the world go on doing it.
Yesterday, one of the village elders told me the well is nearly empty.
Rain—we had some, but we’re in desperate need of more.
If we don’t get more of it, the village well will run dry, and then our village, as well as others in the area will suffer greatly.
Not only are we, humans, dependent on water, but the animals are, too.
Without them, there won’t be any meat. No meat and minimal crops mean starvation.
I sigh.
“Morning, Doctor.”
I spin on my heels, and find myself nose-to-nose with Ford.
“So deep in thought already?”
Because he’s standing so close, I’m finding it difficult to think straight.
“Water,” I mumble and hold my glass out to him.
“No, thanks,” he says and shakes his head.
Taken aback, I look at him.
“I wasn’t offering,” I explain, taking a step back. I need to put some distance between us. When he stands so close to me, his scent overpowers everything. “Water is what’s occupying my mind. I’m thinking about our water problem.”
His brow furrows.
“But it rained the other day. It can’t all be gone already…is it?”
As I take a sip from my glass, I shake my head.
“That was like a tiny drop in a huge ocean.”
“Really?”
I can’t work out if Ford is playing with me, or if he’s serious.
On the one hand, he makes himself seem pretty worldly, but on the other, he seems anything but it.
“Duh,” I try to sound not too frustrated. “It’s summer, and we all depend on one well. One decent shower of rain is not going to fix our problems. Water is a big one for many of us here.”
He nods his head. Again, he leaves me wondering.
“The thing is,” I look at him, “there’s a rivulet nearby, and water could be diverted from there…”
“But?” he interrupts, and I watch him fill a small glass with water from the plastic container in my makeshift kitchen.
“But the village simply doesn’t have the manpower to do it. In case you haven’t noticed, there are mainly women, young boys and the elderly here. What we lack is a good supply of able-bodied, hardworking young men.”
I deliberately look him up and down.
It should be his idea to help, not mine. The last thing I want to do is turn into one of those controlling women who tells everyone and anyone what to do, and when to do it.
In fact, it would be totally better if I didn’t even have to go down the path of suggesting he might help.
“I’m told there are pipes ready to go. All we lack is the know-how and manpower.”
There you go, I’ve just basically handed the idea to him on a silver platter.
Things are desperate enough for me to get out there and help dig, but if I do that, who’ll look after the patients?
At some point, I’ve learned that you can’t do everything yourself. You have to delegate.
I’m trying to get Ford to do a job we desperately need done without appearing as if I’m telling him to do it.
“And you think I’d be a good candidate for trench digging and pipe laying?”
From the tone of his voice, I’m not sure what his true reaction is.
I suppose I should be grateful his response is a little more than the usual grunt. I mean, I can actually understand him.
With a sigh, I head out the door.
“Well, our village isn’t going to be the only one that would benefit. Some of the neighboring villages would, too. It’s a good, long-term solution.”
I walk out of the hut and wait.
“And who do you propose will dig with me?”
Slowly, I turn around.
“I haven’t proposed anything. I’m merely telling you where things are.”
Now he laughs.
“Come on, Adelaide. No need to play the innocent maiden in all this. I know when I’m being pushed into something.”
I shake my head.
“Excuse me, oh great protector of mine, but I beg to differ. I’m not pushing you into anything. I’m merely telling you about one of the many problems of this village and adjoining ones face.”
More laughter.
Okay, so maybe I am trying to push him into something.
“Some of the younger boys here might be able to help. I mean, if they receive a bit of guidance, they should be good enough helpers for anyone with enough get-up-and-go to dig a trench or two.”
“You’re very good, young lady. Very good. You had this all planned out already, hadn’t you?”
“I’m offended,” I bite back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I had nothing planned out. Anyway, you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. Unlike me, you took no oath. So if you want to hang out here with your big weapons, be my guest. You don’t have to do anything.”
It’s probably high time I start to do my rounds. Before I can walk off though, Ford stops me.
“No need to get all worked up about it. I’m happy to help out. Give me some direction. Where do I find these village boys and the pipes? And most importantly, where do I find digging materials?” Ford says with an inquiring look.
“I mean, I’m starting to understand how the village works. May as well put some of my time to good use, bearing in mind that you think I’m totally wasting time here. If I can do some good, my manliness will return,” he says, now smiling.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about there,” I mumble.
We then proceed to the local school.
It’s small, and one of the neighboring village’s teachers comes over three times a week to run combined classes.
We enter, and I ask her to pick five strong boys. They should be able to take orders and help dig a trench. She asks them to stand up and shake our hands.
“Nice strong handshakes,” Ford mumbles. “They should make good trench diggers. When can they start?”
I’m surprised to see Ford take the lead.
Obviously, he was no longer content in being on the bench and felt the need to exert his authority.
Thankfully, I don’t care.
With the five boys in tow, we leave the school and head to the area where the pipes are stored.
“You work today?” someone calls out to me.
“Go ahead, I’ve got this,” Ford mutters, and I stop reluctantly.
By the time I’ve finished with my patient and come out of the small mud dwelling, I see a large gathering of locals at the perimeter of the village.
I stride over to check it out.
I hope nothing’s happened to Ford, or one of those young boys he took with him.
If they got into an accident, it will all be my fault.
After all, I suggested—maybe persuaded—Ford to do this.
As I approach, I feel my heart beat hard and fast in my chest.
“Look,” one of the older women points something out to me in the distance.
My eyes strain to focus on the object. I realize it’s a man.
And to my utter relief, the man is not injured. He’s standing.
Well actually, digging.
“Good muscles,” one of the other women calls out to me.
“Good body,” echoes another.
“Good breeding,” says a third.
Despite my best attempts to ignore the comments, I’m sure my cheeks are reddening.
At the same time, I let my eyes feast on Ford’s body.
It’s worthy of being sculpted. He looks almost like a Greek god in his shorts and with his bare upper body.
Bent over a shovel, muscles flexed and
sweat pouring down, he’s the picture of manliness.
Wow.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen muscles like this on any living thing before. Not even the muscle man in my anatomy book is as interesting and sexy as Ford.
Without saying anything, I just watch.
I hope I don’t have drool falling, as I can’t take my eyes off him.
When a strange sound escapes my lips, I bite my tongue.
Where is my restraint?
“He very good looking,” the chitchat around me gathers intensity.
Again, I choose to stay silent.
“He your suitor?”
This one I’m almost tempted to rebuke. It would be easy.
No. You’re wrong. I’m merely the person he’s here to protect. He’s no suitor of mine.
But those words won’t cross my lips. Instead, I stay silent.
At the same time though, I can’t seem to take my eyes off him.
If it wasn’t the middle of the day and there were no people arounde, I swear I’d jump his bones right here, right now.
14
Ford
It’s fucking hot.
I can feel the sweat pouring off me. And that sun has a nasty sting to it.
Man, I wish I could take a breather in the shade, but I feel all the eyes of the villagers on me, at least those who are out in this heat.
I bet there are more of them watching from inside their dwellings.
“You have water.” A little boy hands me a small wooden bowl.
For a second, I stare at my reflection in the surface and wonder how many million bugs are floating in the liquid. Since it would be rude to refuse the kind gesture, I grimace and drink it all in one go.
My constitution is strong enough to withstand the onslaught of whatever is in the water. Fingers crossed.
“Asante,” I say, and hand him the bowl back.
His dirty face breaks into a smile.
I watch as he runs off.
“Coming along nicely?”
Without looking at Adelaide, I go back to digging.
“Should have it done in a few hours.” I grunt, keeping my head down.
“You should be using sunscreen, you know,” she tells me, and I shrug.
“I’m fine,” I lie.