Chapter 18
When everyone had finished eating, Jack stood up and talked about the schedule for the rest of the day. “I know we’ve been traveling a long time, but we’re here to see as much as we can, and learn about the environment as well as the community. Jabari has very graciously arranged for us to visit his family’s coffee plantation on the lower slopes of Mount Meru. We are going to leave right after breakfast; you’ll have fifteen minutes to get your cameras and notebooks, and then be on the bus. Jabari is accompanying us, and once we reach his home, his older brother will give us the tour of their town and the farm, and if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to have a cup of coffee before we go.”
The students quickly dispersed and regrouped soon after. At one point during the tour, Jack’s fingers brushed hers. It was a secret touch, brief, but it was exactly what she craved. Warmth, connection. The rest of the day passed in a blur of motion and activity. Jack walked with her to her room after the evening activities ended. She was so tired she swayed on her feet as she unlocked the door. “Want to come in?” she asked.
“I’ll keep you awake, and you need sleep.”
She yawned, covered her mouth, and nodded.
He kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and finally a lingering kiss on the lips. “Sleep well.”
“I will.”
She fell into bed, certain she’d sleep for days. Instead she woke up in the middle of the night, wide awake.
She stared into the dark. Her stomach growled. She turned on the light, reached for a book, and began to read. She was not a fan of jet lag.
* * *
The students settled into the program in Arusha immediately, excited, curious, passionate to learn. Speakers from the Nelson Mandela Institute came to them the first few days, and then they were out later in the week, traveling by large jeeps to visit specific locations in the park where scientists were working, collecting data to be used in future studies. Every day Jack found ways to let her know he was thinking of her. He’d give her a smile, a brush of his hand over hers, or pull her aside for a stolen kiss in a dark corridor. The stolen kisses were exciting. Every touch, every glance made her long for more. It didn’t help that time was passing quickly, too quickly, with the first week over and the second week progressing with the same breakneck speed.
Students didn’t want to leave. Paige felt the same. When still at home, two weeks had sounded so long, but now that she was here, immersed in the field program, housed under the same roof as Jack, Paige didn’t want the experience to end. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the mountains, the big sky, the brilliant Tanzanian lecturers who were becoming friends. Her world felt large and new. Jack made her feel new and exciting. She was only realizing now how much she’d missed by staying in one place, doing one thing. Travel was important. Learning new things was necessary. Meeting others essential.
As was love.
Sunday night after the students had disappeared to their rooms, or to hang out by the pool, Paige went in search of Jack. She knew he was working on a paper. Whenever he was writing a lot, he was polite but distracted. He’d been distracted for two days.
She knocked on his door and he opened it, standing in the doorway in cargo shorts and a white T-shirt that was molded to the planes of his chest.
“You must have read my mind,” he said. “I was just about to come look for you.”
“Were you, now?”
“I finally finished the paper and it’s off.”
“That must feel good.”
“A little brain-dead, but that’s okay.” He smiled at her. “If it’s okay with you.”
She stepped into his room, closed the door behind her, and moved into his arms. “I didn’t come for your mind.”
“Don’t tell me you’re only interested in my body.”
She squeezed his arms, feeling his ribs, his waist, his body, so hard and strong. “I miss you.”
His arms wrapped around her, and he held her close, closer. “I’ve missed you like mad.”
“I leave in a week.”
“You can come back.”
She tipped her head up to see his face. Jack looked handsome but tired. How many late nights had he been working, writing . . . planning . . . putting together notes for his show? “I think you work too much.”
He kissed her. “I do, too.”
“Can I stay with you tonight?” she whispered against his mouth. “I’ll be gone before anyone wakes.”
“Yes.”
“We shouldn’t, I know the rules—”
“Yes, we should.” His hands cupped her face, and he drank her in, a deep, intoxicating kiss that made her feel beautiful and loved.
He locked the door, turned out the lights, and then, kissing her again, he walked her back to the bed and continued kissing her as he undressed her. It wasn’t completely dark. The curtains hadn’t been drawn and moonlight poured through the window.
She pulled back the covers and slid between the sheets. He looked down at her, a question in his eyes. “Are we sleeping?” he asked.
“Naked?” She sat up, the sheet covering her chest. “We probably should have left our clothes on for that.”
He hesitated, looking almost uncertain for the first time. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking we should use protection. Do you have something?”
Jack’s eyebrow lifted a fraction and then he went to his duffel and returned with a foil packet. There might have been two.
He set them down then joined her in bed, stretching out over her.
“What about the condom?” she asked.
“We won’t need that for a bit. I just want to touch you. Love you.”
Paige’s eyes burned and her chest filled with emotion. She wanted that, too.