Dark Warrior: Gay Romance Read online

  “I’m just going to press this on you,” he said.

  The child didn’t answer. Didn’t even acknowledge Leo. His concentration was entirely on breathing.

  The familiar hiss and squeak of asthma told Leo what he needed to know. “He needs Ventolin, Sister Afua. Do you have any?”

  “No, we have run out.” She pressed her hand to her temple. “I knew this would happen.”

  “It is not something we need much of,” the other nurse added. “Only Gyasi gets like this. No one else sings with their lungs.”

  “It’s okay,” Leo said. “I brought some asthma medication. It’s in the Jeep. Has Salim unpacked the supplies yet?”

  “I’ll go and check.” Sister Afua raced off.

  “It’s in one of the smaller boxes,” Leo called after her. He then rested his hand over the mother’s arm. “It will be okay. I can treat him.”

  She nodded, though tears still streamed down her face.

  “Is this the box you need?

  Leo turned at the sound of a new deep voice.

  Standing before him was the most beautiful man he’d ever seen. He was tall with clipped black hair and a wide, strong face. His black skin was glossy and his lips, fat and thick, appeared perfect for kissing. But it was his eyes that mesmerized Leo. They were large, the whites a startling contrast to the hazelnut shade of his irises, and framed with long lashes as black as his hair.

  “Er, yes,” Leo managed. “That’s the one.”

  Chapter Two

  “Please, could you put it here?” Leo asked after a moment. He patted the bed.

  “Yes, Doctor.” The gorgeous male who’d almost stolen rational thought from Leo moved closer and set the box down. A waft of outdoors came with him, sparkling spring water and perhaps jasmine. It breezed over Leo and he sucked in a deep breath, glad of a pleasant smell after the long Jeep trip.

  “Damn, it’s sealed.” Leo frowned at the thick tape on the box.

  “It is okay.” The man at his side flicked open a lethal-looking penknife then expertly slid it down the side of the box.

  “Great, thanks,” Leo said, delving in and finding what he needed.

  Quickly, he assembled the spacer. He shook an inhaler from its small dispensing box, filled the administrating device with the drug then pressed it to the boy’s lips.

  Finally, the child acknowledged his presence.

  “Breathe,” Leo instructed. “Just breathe through this and it will make you feel better.”

  His mother spoke again, a mixture of English and a language Leo didn’t recognize.

  “That’s it,” Leo said, when the child put his mouth around the end of the gadget. “Now suck in and breathe out.”

  The child took in air laced with the drug that would ease the constriction in his lungs.

  Each time he did, the valve clicked, telling Leo it was being administered properly.

  “That’s it,” Leo encouraged, still holding the spacer and smiling gently. “You’re doing so well.”

  Tears stopped flowing down the mother’s cheeks and although the loud wheezing continued, the frantic sound of desperate breaths eased.

  “There we are. It’s working already.” Leo smiled.

  “Doctor, would you like me to take over?”

  Leo nodded at the young female nurse. “Yes, thank you. But I’ll listen to his chest again in a few minutes. I think he may need some steroids to knock this one on the head.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  “And if his respiration rate increases again, shout for me.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  Leo stood as the nurse took his place. He turned and saw the man who’d brought the box staring at him. “Thank you,” Leo said, “for grabbing the medication. You saved us valuable time.”

  “I am glad you brought it with you.”

  “I carried as much as I could, though asthma isn’t nearly as common here as it is in the UK, so I didn’t bring much Ventolin.”

  “But you brought some. So for this day, we are okay.”

  Leo smiled. “Yes, he will be okay.” He held out his hand. “I’m Leo, by the way, Leo Rotherham.”

  Warm fingers wrapped around his and a palm, peppered with calluses, pressed against his skin. Leo was sure a tingle of sensation went up his arm. It traveled through his chest and his heart fluttered. The man before him was truly stunning in a dark, exotic way.

  “It is nice to meet you, Doctor Rotherham. I am Malik.”

  Leo smiled. “Oh yes, Sister Afua mentioned you. It seems you do a lot of good work around here.”

  Malik tipped his head. “I work, yes.” He glanced at their joined hands. “I, er…”

  “Oh, sorry.” Leo hadn’t realized that he was still gripping his hand. Abruptly he let go. “And, please, just call me Leo. I don’t think we need too many formalities around here. It’s hardly St. Barts.”

  Malik frowned. “St. Barts?”

  Leo laughed a little awkwardly. “Yes, you know, in London. I spent my house officer days there. Hell on Earth, so busy and never a break and…” It was hardly hell on Earth. It was a state-of-the-art hospital with every mod con going. Patients were well cared for, fed and kept warm and safe. Unlike the places Medics On Hand went to. They were hell with a capital H. “Well.” He shrugged. “It was hard going but I made it through and now I’m here, to help you folks.”

  “Ah, Doctor Leo, there you are. I have been looking for you.”

  Leo turned at the sound of Salim’s voice. He couldn’t help but be struck by the difference in the two men. Malik was beautiful, like a warrior chief—all big-boned, powerful and with an air of regality about him. Salim was small, undernourished and hopping from one foot to the other like one of the children who’d been after sweets.

  “You must come with me and I will show you to your room.” Salim gestured for Leo to follow him. “Please, Doctor.”

  Leo smiled at Malik. “It was nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

  “Yes,” Malik said, before swiping his tongue over his bottom lip and leaving a damp sheen behind. “You will.”

  Leo found himself mesmerized by the pinkness of his tongue and by the flesh on the inside of his mouth that was such a contrast to the darkness of his skin. But not wanting to appear a complete bumbling fool in the presence of beauty, he dragged his attention back to Salim. “Lead the way,” he said, over brightly and clapped.

  “Yes, yes.” Salim grinned, he was obviously enjoying having the important job of showing the new doctor his living quarters.

  They went around the back of the hospital, then toward a few rooms tagged onto what appeared to be the outer wall of the ward.

  Salim opened the end door and gave a flamboyant wave. “Your new home, Doctor Leo.”

  Cautiously, Leo peered inside. He had no idea what to expect. Sure, Medics On Hand had assured him basic but comfortable living quarters but it could go either way. They didn’t exactly have much control over a lean-to hut in the middle of Africa.

  Low expectations, however, meant that Leo was pleasantly surprised. The room had a proper tiled floor, a small curtained window and a bed with, as he’d been told, clean covers. It also smelled fresh—of paint—and there were yellow flowers in a vase on a desk. Several squat candles were set about and a small broom was propped in the corner.

  “It has hooks,” Salim said. “I put them up for you.”

  “Oh, yes, thank you.” Leo spotted a row of bent-up nails that would do clothing serious damage.

  “And I have brought your case here for you—and your bottles of water. The medicine boxes are in the hospital, locked up. I put the one you said needed to be cold in the fridge. The fridge isn’t on but it will be later, I hope.”

  “Yes, I think that’s sensible.” Leo stepped in and sat on the bed. It was firm but soft. “And yes, the cooler the better for the vaccinations.”

  “You have brought a net, yes? For mosquito?”

  “Yes.”

&
nbsp; “Good. I have put you string there, see. You can hang the net over and tuck it in.”

  “That’s great. You really have thought of everything, Salim. Thanks.”

  Salim smiled—a big, wide grin that was somewhat comical. “And through that door is toilet and shower. Shower water warmed from the sun, though we try to be very careful with our water. We don’t waste it. Quick shower, yes?”

  “Of course.”

  “The well at the center of the village is good but we do not squander what the gods give us.”

  “I won’t waste the water,” Leo said. “I promise.”

  Salim stepped backward. “I will leave you to settle in, yes?”

  “Yes, and thank you again, for everything you have done for me.”

  Salim left Leo alone and silence wrapped around him. He was so far from home, so far from everything he knew—medicine cupboards fully stocked, children with shoes and normal sanitation. But he’d be okay. He was sure he would.

  He stared at the tiles on the floor. They were white with a blue diamond in the center of each one.

  Besides, he thought, this is what he’d signed up for—a life less ordinary, something to be proud of. He wanted to make a difference to people who were really desperate for help— people who couldn’t help themselves and needed saving from the ravages of diseases that could be prevented and treated.

  Leo pulled in a deep breath and hunted through his case. He found his medical books and his diary. He set them next to the flowers on the small bedside table. He was feeling positive despite his tiredness. It felt good to be finally here, to be able to start following his passion, which was medicine for the needy. The power to diagnose, treat and heal wasn’t something he took for granted and he’d worked damn hard to become a doctor. He knew it was something he’d always do. It was in his blood, part of his being. It was his role in life and this felt like the perfect place to fulfill that role.

  A gentle tap on the door caught his attention. Through the small window, he could see a tall shadow and a broad outline.

  Quickly, he answered the knock. When he did and saw who it was, his skin did that funny tingling thing again and his brain reduced in sharpness a notch.

  “Doctor Leo,” Malik said. “I have brought you food.”

  “That is very kind.” Leo took the offered bowl of broth. “But first I must check on the young boy, Gyasi.”

  “I just did. He is fine, sleeping in his mother’s arms.”

  “Can you still hear a wheeze?”

  “Yes, but only with a stethoscope. It is nowhere near as bad as it was.”

  “Good, perhaps we’ll get away without the steroids after all. I’ll check on him in a little while. Better for him to rest than be disturbed by me.”

  “Yes.” Malik glanced over Leo’s shoulder into the room. “Do you have everything you need?”

  “It’s very comfortable. Salim went to a lot of trouble.”

  “Yes, he likes to take responsibility for guests.” Leo smiled and set the food down on the slightly wonky table at the end of the bed. “Come in. I will eat later. When I’ve unpacked.”

  “I don’t want to disturb you.”

  “You’re not, really. Unless you have…” Leo hesitated. “Unless you have a wife to be with. Children to see?”

  “I have nowhere to be right now,” Malik said, his voice low and quiet. He made no move to enter Leo’s room.

  “Oh, okay. No, me neither, I suppose, and well, I never went down the marriage route. Good job really. It would be hard to be here if I had. And this is something I really wanted to do. Come to Africa, practice medicine here. You know, when there is something you can’t get out of your mind until you’ve gone and done it.” Leo knew he was rambling but he couldn’t seem to stop himself and all the while Malik just stared at him, unblinking but with a hint of a smile.

  “And so I applied to Medics On Hand, just a few months ago, and now here I am, in the middle of this vast continent and before this, I’d never even been out of Europe.” Finally, Leo paused for breath then pressed his lips together before any more waffle poured out of his mouth.

  “It is good to follow your calling.” Malik stared past Leo, toward the pile of medical books by the bed.

  “Is that what you did? When you went to train to be a nurse?”

  Malik glanced up, apparently surprised that Leo knew that snippet of information about him. “Yes. It is.”

  “I’m sorry. Sister Afua told me, about that and how you teach the children to read in your spare time. You’re a busy bloke.”

  Malik shrugged. “I suppose I am.” He gestured to the top book on Leo’s pile. “Could I borrow that one?”

  “The BNF? Yes, if you want. Though it’s not that relevant here as we don’t have most of the drugs.”

  “It is still good for me to keep up-to-date.”

  “Yes, of course.” Leo reached for the thick formulary. “Here. I was going to put it up on the ward anyway, so it’s on hand. Perhaps you’ll leave it there when you’ve finished with it?”

  “I will put it there tomorrow.”

  “Okay, that’s perfect.”

  Malik tipped his head. For a moment Leo thought his eyes softened, but then he stepped back, away from the door. “Goodnight, Doctor.”

  “I will be on the ward soon, to check on Gyasi.”

  “No, I will do that. You have had a long day and you have tiredness on your face. If he gets worse, me or Sister Afua will get you, but for now, you need to eat and sleep so that you can work tomorrow.”

  Leo couldn’t deny that he was exhausted and there was something nice about having such a big, confident man telling him exactly what to do. “Well, if you’re sure,” he said.

  “I am sure.” Malik pressed his hand over his chest, ruffling the material on his red T- shirt. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Malik, and thanks, for everything.”

  Malik nodded once, then turned and walked away.

  Leo studied his arse. His jeans were faded and worn and hugged the high, tight globes of his buttocks. Leo couldn’t help but be jealous of whichever village woman was going to be getting her hands on him for the night. He was a fine specimen, that was for sure.

  Had he said he was married? Leo couldn’t remember. He hoped not. It was easier to admire a single man, even if he wasn’t gay.

  Chapter Three

  Leo slept soundly in his new bed. He didn’t dream, didn’t doze, just absolute deep sleep from start to finish.

  When he woke, he had a few minutes’ battle with the mosquito net, which he’d forgotten he’d draped over the bed, then had the quickest shower he’d ever managed. After using bottled water to brush his teeth, he pulled on cream-colored combats and a khaki polo shirt. He clipped his Medics On Hand ID to the pocket on his top. It would be best to wear it while he got to know everyone. Though it was unlikely villagers wouldn’t know who he was, from what he’d seen so far, he was the only white person in the community and he was sure there was plenty of gossip about his arrival.

  “Good morning, Doctor,” Sister Afua said.

  Leo wandered down the ward, securing his stethoscope around his neck. “Morning. How is our young asthma patient?”

  “He is much better. This has happened before with him. It is very scary but the Ventolin works well.”

  “Yes, it’s marvelous stuff. Can I check on him?”

  “Certainly.” She stood and passed him a small file with the patient’s name written in slanting writing at the top. “This way.”

  Gyasi looked up as Leo approached. His notes stated that he was eight years old but Leo would have put him at five or six. He was thin with arms like little sticks and teeth that appeared too big for his face.

  “Do we have any nourishment drinks?” Leo asked Sister Afua.

  “No.” She shook her head. “None at all.”

  “Perhaps we should start a list of things that we should try to stock on a more permanent basis. Extra nourishment woul
d help this little chap.”

  “We can try.” She sounded doubtful of the suggestion.

  Leo smiled at Gyasi’s mother. “How is he doing?”

  “Better.” She stroked her hand over her son’s head then down his back. “Thank you for everything you have done.”

  “He should have more medication today, now, and then if he is feeling well, go home with some to have later. But he still needs to rest and to eat more, so he is strong if these attacks happen.”

  “Yes, I will feed him more.”

  “But you must still feed yourself,” Sister Afua said quickly. “Remember last year you became very sick. You must eat. Your children need you.”

  “Yes, Sister. I will eat.”

  Leo listened to Gyasi’s chest. It was much clearer and he was pleased. “We’ll order inhaled steroids. They’ll keep this under control and prevent attacks.” He paused. “Did you start that list?”

  “In my head, Doctor,” Sister Afua said. “In my head.”

  “Good.” Leo stood and gave the child a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.

  “Shall I show you around properly?” Sister Afua asked. “Yesterday you were white, like a ghost and you needed sleep. Today you are still white, but not so scary looking.”

  Leo smiled. “Glad to hear it, and yes. I could do with seeing the clinical room. I thought we might start on vaccinations straight away. I’m not sure how long they will last if not refrigerated twenty-four hours a day.”

  “Yes, but there are a few more patients for you to see.” She gestured around the ward and several expectant faces turned Leo’s way.

  “What would you like me to do next then?” he asked.

  “I think you should get your bearings, don’t you?”

  “Perfect.” Leo followed Sister Afua down the corridor and past the small office he’d had warm tea in the day before. Beyond that room was a locked door. Sister Afua pulled a set of keys from a chain around her waist.