Pride of the Veld

to my man.”
    Andrea moved all the way into him, pressing himself into Danie’s side. Danie felt the breath against his neck, lips hovering over his ear as the man whispered, “I like you Danie. You are exactly my type. You are all gruff on the outside, so strong and quiet. But when I needed you last night, there you were― wrapping me up in your arms, protecting me. I felt it Danie. Did you feel it?”
    Danie shuddered. Looking up he saw Geo watching them with hooded eyes, all expression gone from his face. Andrea smiled broadly and eased back slightly.
    “I think that Geo is reconsidering what he wants. Shall we give him more material?” Andrea moved again, and Danie threw out his hand, halting the man’s forward progress before he could cause more harm.
    The man leaned into his touch, and Danie closed his eyes, playing with the idea of pulling his hand back and letting Andrea fall all the way forward, into him. With a wink and another wicked smile, the Italian moved away to sit by the fire, still playing with his camera, leaving Danie wondering.
    ****
    Geo cursed himself for a fool. He’d pushed Danie away last night and this was the result: a horny Italian crawling all over his man, and Danie just letting him. They should have left him in the bush for the lions to eat. Danie was the worst kind of idiot if he thought Geo cared about what he did for a living.
    Danie had finally pushed the photographer back, but Geo could see it was only because he was there watching the pair. Andrea moved around the fire to drop into the canvas chair next to him.
    “He’s beautiful… your Danie,” Andrea leaned over whispering. “I wouldn’t mind a man like that in my bed every night. You’re a lucky man, Geo.” He pulled the lens cap off the camera and started framing shots in the lilac haze of twilight. It really was beautiful here. The thorn trees stood in silhouette against a lavender sky still slightly-pink where the clouds drifted, and the grasslands had turned an antique-gold color glowing with the last kiss of daylight.
    Andrea turned the camera on him, letting the shutter fly in a quick burst. Geo could feel himself frown.
    “Why do you do that?”
    “Do what, caro?” Andrea had turned his lens back across the vast savannah.
    “Take my picture all the time.” Geo leaned back in his chair, his tin cup cradled in his hands.
    “You won’t let me help, caro. So I practice my shots. You never know when a wild animal will walk across your path. Or an exotic bird.” He purred the last and stroked a finger down Geo’s arm, sending shivers across his skin.
    “I’m anything but exotic,” Geo protested, folding his arms on his chest.
    “If I brought you to my home, all the boys would follow you down the street begging for your attention.”
    Geo snorted in disbelief. “Unlikely. They might follow me down the street just to pull me in an alley and beat the crap out of me. That I’d believe.”
    “No, I’d never let that happen, caro. You will always be safe with me. You just need to trust me, like you trust Danie. But maybe you don’t trust Danie?”
    “Danie? Of course I trust Danie. I lo―” he began, stopping himself, but not in time to avoid the self-satisfied smirk from the other man. Andrea lifted the camera to his face and squeezed off another shot of Geo.
    “So Danie is wrong. He says there is nothing between you.”
    “There isn’t!” Geo snapped back
    “Well, then, you won’t mind if I keep you company tonight while Danie stands guard and keeps us safe? That’s all he does for you, right, Geo? He’s just here to keep you safe?”
    Geo froze, unsure how to respond. He looked over at Danie, who was now leaning against their disabled Rover, glaring at them.
    “So we’ll let him keep your body safe while I keep your heart.”
    Geo stiffened. “Why would you say that?” he demanded.
    “Because, caro, I have spent years travelling from place to place, and I can recognize the rare and valuable treasures found only in the most remote places. I’ve made a career on my luck, and guts. It’s only fitting that I find love the same way.”
    “You’re insane!” Geo was pissed.
    “Why? Because I can see a lifetime when I look at you?”
    “Because you don’t know me, Andrea! How can you know a man in a day? Not even a day?”
    “You can know a man’s heart, Geo. You showed me yours last night, and I want it. Danie showed me his as well.”
    “But you don’t want his?” Geo was