I can’t remember if I walked, or if Jack carried me back to our tent, but he tucked me into bed and wrapped the blanket tight around me.
“Goodnight, Rodel.”
“’Night,Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack.”
I heard the soft thud of his shoes and the creaking of his bed. The buzzing of night beetles and the drunken warmth of the bonfire had almost lulled me to sleep when there was a loud roar.
“Is that a lion?” I mumbled. It sounded like it was just outside our tent, but I was too gone and too tired to care.
“Yes. But it’s not as close as it sounds. A lion’s roar travels a long way.”
“Are they doing it?”
“Doing what?”
“Mufasa.” I yawned. “That’s why he’s the motherfucking king of the jungle.”
“Mufasa?”
I turned around to face him, but I was sliding into a deep fog. “Nevemrind.”
I heard Jack chuckle in the dark.
“You make me laugh, Rodel,” he said softly. “I haven’t laughed in a long, long time.”
MY EYES WEREheavy as they fluttered open. It took a moment to focus on the beams running across the ceiling. There was a bitter taste in my mouth, and my tongue felt like it was coated in thick wool. Something wasn’t right.
Then I remembered. The tent. The pipe. Dancing with Jack. The fire. The drums. His heartbeat.Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack. Something roaring between us.
I flipped to my side and moaned. I was hungover from whatever I had smoked.
“You all right?” Jack’s morning voice was raspy and rough.
We were lying in our beds, facing each other.
“I’m fine.” Mine came out like I had sucked on helium. It wasn’t every day that I woke up in the same room as a big, lumbering man. Or a mid-sized one. Or anything that can grow stubble overnight.
The pale light played up his hair, giving it a soft, bluish cast. One hand was under his pillow, while the other dangled off his bed, his fingers close enough to touch. Even through all the layers, it was easy to make out the solid sinew of Jack’s body.
When I get home, I am going to get a life, I promised myself.Meet some hot men. Date. Have lots and lots of sex, so I’m not so miserably ill-equipped around a male body.
Now you’re talking! Mo popped into my head.
Really? This is when you choose to show up? When I’m having R-rated thoughts?
You owe me. Big time. You never had any juicy stories to share when I was around.
Well, nothing juicy is happening here right now.
Not yet.
Mo! He just lost his daughter, and I’m still getting over you.
So? There’s nothing more life-affirming than sex.
You know I’m not about a quick romp in the hay.
No. You want more. You’ve always wanted more. But you don’t always get what you want. Sometimes you get exactly what you need. And good God, look at him! Don’t tell me you don’t want a slice of that.
