money in the world can not save a man from his sister."
"Tell me about it. I think it's the only place in my life where I let someone boss me around. Except, well..." he trailed off then, looking straight ahead with a slight blush coming into his cheeks.
Kirk shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure how to answer. He hadn't known how to interact with Oren the entire morning, and their banter was only making things worse. Kirk knew things couldn't last, and the more they teased each other with the memory of those kisses or talked about seeing each other in the future, the more his stomach churned with despair.
"I'm going to go check when we are stopping for a break. I'll be back soon," he grit out, wheeling his camel around and moving towards the back of the caravan where the old man rode.
He could feel Oren's eyes on him as he left, but kept his own gaze forward. His affection for the other man was most likely already obvious to anyone watching closely. He didn't want to add any more fuel to the fire by looking like a lovesick teenager after a lover's quarrel.
I'll just ride back here for a while and let things cool down. I can't be beside him thinking about a future that's impossible. Fate doesn't work that way, and I should get a hold of my heart before it runs away on me.
A nagging voice at the back of his head told him his heart was already long gone.
Chapter 11
L ate in the day , with the sky darkening above them, the camels began to grunt and move with more purpose. Oren, who had been half asleep in the saddle, was suddenly jostled awake as his animal lurched forward and grunted.
"We're close!" Kirk called from ahead of him, whooping and slapping his camel on the rear to make it go faster.
Oren stood up on his saddle, trying to see further in the distance. However, they were currently working their way up a small hill, and he couldn't see over the top. After all he’d been through, the anticipation of being saved made his stomach churn.
"How far?" he called to Kirk, who had just crested the hill in front of them.
Kirk had spent most of the afternoon riding far behind or far ahead of Oren. They never got within ten feet of each other, no matter how hard Oren had tried. The rejection had stung deeply.
Maybe I did something to offend him, Oren had thought as the day wore on. Everything was fine until last night in the tent. Maybe he doesn't want me to get too attached. Well, it might be too late for that, and I don't know what to do.
"We're here. That is Khalas," Kirk said softly, as Oren finally pulled up next to him.
Below them sat a small town, the squat brown buildings spread out in a glittering ring in the twilight. On several of the rooftops, Oren could make out antennas and satellites, and his heart surged at the thought of calling home that very night.
At the sight of the town, the camels began to make louder noises, calling out their desire to reach the stables and treats. The group hurriedly began their descent just as the final rays of light were disappearing over the horizon.
"The nomads say there is a good inn at the center of town. It is next to the medical center which has a satellite phone for emergencies," Kirk said as they trotted along, the first houses now just ahead of them. "We will call for a rescue crew to come in the morning, and then you will be able to stay in a safe place this evening."
"I can't believe we'll be rescued soon," Oren whispered. His voice cracked with emotion, but he tried to play it off as the dust from the camel's hooves getting in his face. "It'll be good to go home," he finished, once he trusted his throat again.
Kirk nodded, keeping his eyes straight ahead. Silence settled between them, and Oren fumbled for what to say next. What was there to say? They had been through so much together, and now the end was looming before them.
Does it have to be the end? Can I convince him that we can make something work?
Oren knew there wasn't really a way to 'make
"Tell me about it. I think it's the only place in my life where I let someone boss me around. Except, well..." he trailed off then, looking straight ahead with a slight blush coming into his cheeks.
Kirk shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unsure how to answer. He hadn't known how to interact with Oren the entire morning, and their banter was only making things worse. Kirk knew things couldn't last, and the more they teased each other with the memory of those kisses or talked about seeing each other in the future, the more his stomach churned with despair.
"I'm going to go check when we are stopping for a break. I'll be back soon," he grit out, wheeling his camel around and moving towards the back of the caravan where the old man rode.
He could feel Oren's eyes on him as he left, but kept his own gaze forward. His affection for the other man was most likely already obvious to anyone watching closely. He didn't want to add any more fuel to the fire by looking like a lovesick teenager after a lover's quarrel.
I'll just ride back here for a while and let things cool down. I can't be beside him thinking about a future that's impossible. Fate doesn't work that way, and I should get a hold of my heart before it runs away on me.
A nagging voice at the back of his head told him his heart was already long gone.
Chapter 11
L ate in the day , with the sky darkening above them, the camels began to grunt and move with more purpose. Oren, who had been half asleep in the saddle, was suddenly jostled awake as his animal lurched forward and grunted.
"We're close!" Kirk called from ahead of him, whooping and slapping his camel on the rear to make it go faster.
Oren stood up on his saddle, trying to see further in the distance. However, they were currently working their way up a small hill, and he couldn't see over the top. After all he’d been through, the anticipation of being saved made his stomach churn.
"How far?" he called to Kirk, who had just crested the hill in front of them.
Kirk had spent most of the afternoon riding far behind or far ahead of Oren. They never got within ten feet of each other, no matter how hard Oren had tried. The rejection had stung deeply.
Maybe I did something to offend him, Oren had thought as the day wore on. Everything was fine until last night in the tent. Maybe he doesn't want me to get too attached. Well, it might be too late for that, and I don't know what to do.
"We're here. That is Khalas," Kirk said softly, as Oren finally pulled up next to him.
Below them sat a small town, the squat brown buildings spread out in a glittering ring in the twilight. On several of the rooftops, Oren could make out antennas and satellites, and his heart surged at the thought of calling home that very night.
At the sight of the town, the camels began to make louder noises, calling out their desire to reach the stables and treats. The group hurriedly began their descent just as the final rays of light were disappearing over the horizon.
"The nomads say there is a good inn at the center of town. It is next to the medical center which has a satellite phone for emergencies," Kirk said as they trotted along, the first houses now just ahead of them. "We will call for a rescue crew to come in the morning, and then you will be able to stay in a safe place this evening."
"I can't believe we'll be rescued soon," Oren whispered. His voice cracked with emotion, but he tried to play it off as the dust from the camel's hooves getting in his face. "It'll be good to go home," he finished, once he trusted his throat again.
Kirk nodded, keeping his eyes straight ahead. Silence settled between them, and Oren fumbled for what to say next. What was there to say? They had been through so much together, and now the end was looming before them.
Does it have to be the end? Can I convince him that we can make something work?
Oren knew there wasn't really a way to 'make
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