Pride of the Veld

the mud helped with the bleeding. What a mess.” Geo grimaced at the memory.
    “Thank you, Geo, truly. You saved my arm, I’m sure.” Danie caught the reflection of Andrea smiling his glorious, sweet smile at Geo. It made him wish… wish so many things. None of them right; not right now. He turned and concentrated on driving while listening to the tale in back.
    “Right, so― I couldn’t get up the way I came, and at least I had water to drink. I still had everything else, and my camera was perfect, which I bless the angels for protecting.” Andrea kissed the tips of his fingers and sent the kisses upwards towards heaven.
    “So I felt better. But by nightfall it was so dark, and getting cold by the water, so I just kept moving. Eventually the ravine leveled out a little and I was able to crawl my way out. Once I spotted your fire in the distance, it took another two hours before I made it there; I was terrified it would go out or that there were big cats in the area and I wouldn’t reach it in time.”
    “Weren’t you afraid that it was Ronson and the others waiting for you?” Geo asked. His eyes were wide in alarm for the other man.
    “Yes, actually. So I did my best not to be seen or heard. When I saw that your truck was different, I almost collapsed on the spot. I must have made more noise than I thought, because the next thing I knew there was an angry, naked man threatening to shoot me!”
    Geo snorted out a laugh, and Danie knew he was remembering him standing over the smaller man with all his piel hanging in the breeze. It was serious at the time, not knowing whether or not Andrea was a danger to any of them, but still… he smiled in agreement.
    ****
    Geo groaned and stretched in the driver’s seat. They were making good time on the first leg of their journey, paralleling the river; driving straight through, eating the sandwiches he’d made up last night. Andrea was watching him in the mirror while Danie slept in the passenger seat. Geo knew that Danie had kept guard over the two of them through what little was left of the night and early morning. Geo had awoken cuddled next to the Italian, a leg wedged between Andrea’s and a severe case of morning wood.
    Thoughts of makeup sex with Danie crossed his mind. He’d really gone and done it this time. He could see how much his accusations had hurt Danie. It didn’t mean they weren’t true… it’s just that they’d never talked about being anything more than what they were. Inseparable, each and every school break since he’d turned nineteen.
    He’d gently extracted himself from the bed and gone in search of Danie, vaguely wondering how many blowjobs it would take to get the man to forgive him.
    None, as it turned out. Danie had just pulled him onto his lap without a word and kissed him breathless. They’d sat that way, holding each other and listening to the savannah stir with the first whispers of dawn.
    They didn’t have long to linger. Neither said the actual words of apology, or any words at all, but the connection they’d always shared was still there, unbroken. Geo sighed in relief. Then, glancing at the mirror, he gazed straight into the eyes of Andrea Conte. His breath faltered and his cock hardened and his heart spasmed.
    He glanced over at Danie and flushed. Embarrassment chased away his libido, but the look in the mirror from the backseat was full of regret, and also interest and a hint of something else. Geo thought back to his conversation with Danie, before they got sidetracked with painful revelations. The idea of sharing the Italian with Danie sent a thrill through him. It wasn’t cheating if they were together― right?
    ****

CHAPTER FOUR
    They were eight hours into the first leg of their journey when it happened. A sharp jolt and the scream of metal tore through the cab, jerking the Rover to a halt. Geo groaned. Danie had snapped upright, and Andrea was thrown into the window, howling in pain from the impact on his arm. Geo could see a patch of crimson blooming on the far edge of the bandage where there hadn’t been any stitches. He hoped that was the case, since it seemed unlikely they were going anywhere soon.
    “Are you okay?” Danie had snapped open his seat belt and leaned into the backseat to check on Andrea.
    “Hurts like hell” Andrea gritted through clenched teeth. “What happened?”
    “Felt like something broke in the undercarriage…” Geo muttered then hopped out to check.
    “Axle,” muttered