As I walk through my front door, I feel like a foreigner in my own home. Looking around, I just don't feel like I belong here without him. It was our home or more his I guess. He made all the decisions. Unaware at the time, I lost myself in our relationship. Everything I did was for him. And look at how he repaid me.

I plop down on the couch and realize I never really liked this couch. Putting my head in my hands, I cry. I feel lost ... unsure of my purpose now. No idea which direction to turn. All I know is I need to work to take my mind off him. But everything in this town holds reminders. Then, an idea hits me; I need a work trip. But where? Somewhere remote for sure and as far away from here as possible.

~~~

The next day...

I watch him through the glass window of his office as I try to gauge his mood. Hmmm, he looks pretty chipper ... for Bob. So, I take a deep breath and barge in with confidence.

"Bob, got a minute?" Before giving him a chance to answer, I continue, "I want to write an article on the Nazulu tribe in Africa."

He drops his pen and interlocks his fingers as if bracing for something. We have been known to go a few rounds over stories.

"Why the Nazulu?" he asks.

"Well, we need a story this month with a little more humanity. They are fascinating people and the government is trying to take their lands from them. I really want to do this story to highlight their plight and show the world the beauty of their culture."

"Uh-huh," he says, tapping his thumbs together. "And how long will you be gone?"

"I think ten days should be enough, including travel time."

He studies me carefully for a few moments before asking, "Anna, are you up for a trip like this? You have been running nonstop since-"

"I'm fine!" I interrupt, growing annoyed. "And I want to take Josh as my photographer."

Bob leans back in his chair folding his arms across his chest - his posturing when he is about to argue with me.

"Josh? He is a little green don't you think? I think Ian would be a better choice."

I cross my arms on my chest, showing him I won't back down. "Josh is every bit as talented as Ian. He will be even better with experience. I want Josh with me."

Stare down. A few minutes pass, then Bob wisely gives in sighing, "Okay, it's your story, kiddo. Take Josh if you really think he's up to it." He shakes his head, "You can't stop your thing for helping underdogs, can you?"

I release my breath, "I may resemble that remark, but you will see I am right about Josh. He just needs a chance. Thanks, Bob," I say already on my way out of his office.

"Anna ..."

"Yes." I look over my shoulder at him.

"Just be careful. Research their customs thoroughly before you go."

I nod at him replying, "Already have." I know his concern is about more than just their customs. Smiling to myself, I try to picture Josh's reaction when I tell him the news.

~~~

A week later

Josh settles into the seat beside me on the plane.

"Hey, in case I forget to tell you later, thank you for bringing me as your photographer."

I smile back saying, "You're welcome. You deserve to come." 

Josh is a handsome guy, mid-twenties, and has an artist's eye. I do think he has more talent than our veteran photographer, Ian. He just needs more experience. And this might be a rough trip, so I need Josh's positive personality by my side. Ian can be ... well ... moody. I definitely don't need that where I'm going. 

An equally handsome man slides into the seat beside Josh and exchanges pleasantries with us, but it is obvious Josh is the one who grabs his attention. While he and my photographer get to know each other better, I start refreshing my mind about the Nazulu, reviewing my notes. 

They are deeply rooted in traditional customs, haven't changed much over the last century, compared to other tribes. Cattle, goats, and sheep play a vital role in their life and are the singular reason they are semi-nomadic, constantly moving to fresh grazing grounds. Their diet is mostly milk, vegetables, and roots, with occasional meat for special ceremonies. Hmmm, this could be how I lose those stubborn last ten pounds. I am milk intolerant and not a huge fan of roots. I don't imagine a McDonalds will be around the corner. Oh, wait, what's this? It says they occasionally cut the jugular of a cow, drink a little of its blood, then seal the wound back up. Ummm, no. Definitely a "no" for me. Blood is not on the menu for Anna.

Their living quarters are quite different too. Not really surprised to read they live in huts made from mostly mud and grass strung over poles. If they move around a lot, they would need living quarters such as this. I am very happy Josh and I are bringing our own tents. Oh my goodness, I wanted to get away from everything I knew. It appears I will get my wish. Isn't there a saying, "Be careful what you wish for"?

Wanting to rest a bit, I put away my notes and close my eyes. Two hours passed and Josh wakes me asking if I want a snack being passed around. I gladly accept the meager offerings of the flight attendant, realizing it might be my last decent food for a while. 

"Hey, Anna, I will be back in a little bit. Gonna roam around with Tom," he says, gesturing to his handsome seat buddy.

I cock an eyebrow at him and he winks at me in return, flashing me his famous shit-eating grin. They return about thirty minutes later with that look on their faces. You know the one. The "we just fucked" look. 

"Really?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Hey, don't knock it til you try it," he says with a smirk, shifting in his seat to rest on his hip. It appears his ass is a little sore to sit on at the moment. 

Another reason I am happy to be here with Josh ... no awkward sexual tension that can happen between co-workers on a trip like this. I would have to sprout a penis to get his attention. We have more of a brother/sister relationship which I find very comfortable. Another man in my life is exactly what I don't need.

The rest of the flight is uneventful and we land in Kenya early in the morning. Luckily our luggage made the long journey with us, and we look for our guide/translator. 

"There he is," I say, pointing to a man standing by a jeep, holding a sign with my name on it. "So Josh, I arranged for a translator because they speak their own dialect of the Maa language. We aren't the first outsiders to visit them, but from what I understand, they know very little English."

"Well ... that adds a layer of difficulty to this trip."

"Yes, it does. And we don't want any misunderstandings ... so watch your actions, Josh," I say sternly.

"Yes, Mom," he replies, winking at me.  

We drive to the dry north, isolated area of the Nazulu tribe. I read about their abundant wildlife and am happy to see our guide has a few weapons with him - just in case. They are known for the vast herds of elephants roaming their lands. They are a big reason the government is trying to seize their lands - for gaming. I also hope to see rare animals such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk, Somali Ostrich, and the Beisa Oryx. 

Words can't describe the beauty of this unspoiled land, highlighted by the clear, blue skies. Then, we see them. A few of the men are walking with their cattle. Elegantly tall, striking men wearing cloths around their waists and little else. 

"Look! Look! Look!" I exclaim to Josh, pointing to them in the distance.

"Nice ... swords!" he says, chucking. 

"Behave!"

"I will ... maybe. Damn! Look at them. They look pretty tall and fit from here."

We look ahead and have arrived at the settlement. It is mostly dry, barren land, and surrounded by a temporary fence of sticks. One by one, they notice us, point, and seemingly hurry towards us. A good sign ... I think. 

"Anna ..." Josh pats my arm saying, "They are beautiful ... and naked." 

We climb down from the jeep and stand together mesmerized by the sight before us. The Nazulu are breathtaking. Their skin color is a warm shade of brown. Colorful beads adorn them all - around their necks, arms, and ankles. The thing I notice the most is their eyes - so vibrant. They are somewhere between grey and brown, but sparkling somehow. I feel their joy and pride instantly. 

Long, brightly-colored cloth hangs about the men and women's waists, covering their privates. Both are bare-breasted. The women's tits hang, partially covered by their beads. Most of the women's heads are shaved, while the younger men have hair colored a burnt red. Our translator, Mako, tells us it is dyed with red ochre. 

I immediately see I stick out like a sore thumb with my pale white skin and blonde hair. I feel like a strange bug under a spotlight as the members of the tribe look me up and down. Josh is pretty dark-skinned, dark-headed, and blends in a little better. Mako points to us and says, "Josh" and "Anna."

Two beautiful women rush to my side, giving me beads and saying their names, "Naserian" and "Makena." I bow, accepting the gorgeous beaded necklaces. They lead me by the hand to a group of children playing. I look over my shoulder at Josh and he waves me on, saying they will set up the tents. I turn back around and see him - the most striking man I have ever seen. I point and Makena says, "Kioko." I don't know if it is his intense eyes or his strong jaw, with lips firmly set, but he exudes power. He carries a tall spear and I swear his eyes burrow through me. I smile at him but his expression remains unchanged. 

I manage to tear my gaze away to return my attention to my new lady friends. I spend the remainder of my day getting acquainted with the tribe and even help prepare the evening meal of soup. Josh is busy taking pictures and I spy him getting some spearing lessons from one of the warriors. Every now and then, I spy Kioko. Each time he is staring at me with the same intensity. I am not sure what his peering eyes think of me. But, I know what I think of him. I have felt aroused and excited since I laid eyes on this warrior. There is just something about him. 

Josh and I turn in early as we are exhausted from our trip, but I hear the Nazulu singing long after I have slipped into my sleeping bag. Mako told me singing and dancing is a huge part of their culture. I find it soothing as I drift off to sleep in this different land. Their lands are beautiful but the last picture in my mind is that of the fierce warrior, Kioko.

Day 2 with the Nazulu...

I wake up craving a bath. The journey here was long and I feel achy and jet-lagged. Stepping out of my tent, I spy Mako and ask him about the shower situation. 

"No shower, but there is a watering hole usually. I will find Makena to take you," he says.

I grab a towel I had packed and he soon returns with Makena. She leads me by the hand outside the settlement to a rocky area with a small water hole. It is about the size of a small hot tub, which looks perfect. There is a little bit of privacy with the rocks, but not much. I am not sure how to convey I would like to bath alone, but fortunately, she seems to understand and waves goodbye, walking away. 

Dipping my toe in, I am pleased to find the temperature pretty soothing. Quickly, I shed my shorts, tank, and panties and slip into the water. Leaning my head back, I wet my hair. God, this feels good! I can't help but release a loud sigh of pleasure and when I open my eyes, Kioko is standing on the rocks watching me. 

"Ahhhh!" I scream, covering my naked breasts.

"Keep you safe," he says, unmoving.

Oh my goodness! I don't even know what to do here. I can't really talk to him as he only knows a few words. I sink down in the water up to my chin and decide to focus on the beautiful sights around me. Many unusual species of birds are seen. As they make their sweet noises I point to each and he says their names. We play this game for a while and he eventually sits down on a rock. He seems unaffected by my nakedness, but I am very aware of his. Not much is left to the imagination with that flimsy cloth he wears. 

I run the water over my arms, trying to wipe away the dirt. He keenly watches me then leans forward handing me a chunk of dark something. Not sure what. I take it in my hand and he repeats my gestures of washing my arms, pointing to the block of dark stuff. I dip it in water and then run it over my skin. Looking back at him, he smiles. I guess this is what they use as soap. It feels a little coarse but does the job. Somewhat uncomfortable, I dip the soap down into the water to try to clean up the rest of my body. Not sure how see-through this water is. 

Feeling like I am about as clean as I can get, I lay the soap on a rock beside me. Kioko rises and walks around to sit behind me. He takes the soap and dips it in water before smooshing it in his hands. Then, he does the most incredible thing - he begins washing my hair. His scent is intoxicating - very manly, but in a good way. I am quite sure they don't use deodorant, but he does have a scent. And it is turning me on. 

His strong hands massage and caress my scalp as he gently cleanses my hair. I want to look back at him, but can't will my head to move. When his hands leave my head, I move forward enough to dip my head back, rinsing out the soap. I know my nipples rise above the water as I dunk my head. I turn and extend my hand to allow his help out of the water hole, no longer caring about my nakedness. We stand facing each other and I nod my head and whisper, "Thank you." I think he understands as he smiles at me. His full lips curve into the most sensual smile.

How I long to feel his lips on me. The sun is rising overhead and his brown skin glistens, with almost a satiny sheen. I ache to touch him. Ache! What is happening to me? What is this incredible attraction I feel for this wild man? Is it just because he is different - the exact opposite of him in every way? I don't know but I need to get my emotions in check. I quickly dry off and dress and he leads me back to their settlement. I chatter about senseless things, knowing he doesn't understand. But, it fills the awkward silence and distracts me from his scent ... his roaming eyes ... his cock tenting his cloth. I don't know what to make of what just happened at the water hole. 

As we near my tent, we run into Josh, and Kioko walks off, giving me a quick nod. Josh notices my wet hair and blushing face and smiles his knowing smile. 

"Stop!" I scold.

"What? I didn't say a word."

"And don't."

"So, Mako says the chief is ready to talk to us now ... about the issues with their land."

"Great, let me get my notebook."

"Oh, and guess what? They are having a big celebration tonight ... a ceremony honoring a boy becoming a man! Party with the Nazulu!"

"That sounds great, Josh. I know how you like to party. Just remember what I said about being careful with your actions. We are a very long way away from help."

"Well, I am not the one sneaking off with a warrior and coming back wet, am I?"

I punch him in the arm and head to the tent to retrieve my notebook. We spend the next hour with their chief, hearing about their plight. Their settlement has not been affected yet, but several others have been raided by police, using force to drive them off their land. Mako adds that he heard the government is selling their land to big companies who want to use it for gaming. So, this isn't just trouble for the Nazulu but the wildlife as well. I must draw attention to their crisis and garner support for them. Yes, their warriors are brave but their spears are no use up against police with guns. 

Later in the afternoon, Mako peeks in my tent announcing Naserian and Makena have come to prepare me for the celebration tonight. This was an unexpected, yet welcome surprise. The ladies enter with their hands full of beaded jewelry and several colorful cloths. I remove my shorts and shirt and they help me tie one around my waist and the other around my chest, with my bare tummy showing. As I sort through their bead selections, Makena braids my long blonde hair, weaving in red beads throughout. Naserian ties my beaded jewelry choices around my wrists and ankles. I find my pocket mirror and gasp at my appearance. A very different woman stares back at me and I like what I see. There is something different about my eyes - they have life in them now. I hug the ladies and spend some time adding notes about my trip before the ceremony.

I look up to see a long horn entering my tent, followed by Josh. Before I can respond, he says, "Wow, Anna! You look ... amazing! I mean you-"

"What the hell are you wearing?" I interrupt, gawking at the long horn-like thing where his penis should be. "And why are you naked?"

"Oh, this is my koteka - penis sheath. All the guys are wearing them for the celebration tonight. So, they gave me one."

"All the guys? By guys, you mean the Nazulu warriors?"

"Well, yeh," he says stroking his sheath. "Hey, take my picture, will ya?"

"Oh my God, I see your balls!"

"Yeh, I know. It feels great, just having them hanging out, free, not bunched up."

I shake my head, still not believing what is standing in front of me.

"Now take my picture."

I know we can't move on until I get this over with, so I grab his camera. "Strike a pose Josh the Warrior."

He smiles, posing, showing off his ... lengthy sheath. 

Handing him back his camera, I try to casually ask, "So ... all the warriors are wearing these kotekas tonight?"

Josh smirks at me long enough to let me know he knows which warrior I am thinking about before he nods his head with a yes. 

"Now back to you, girl. You look breathtaking," he says, running his fingers down my blonde braids. "Red is your color too. The warrior's koteka might burst when he sees you."

"Josh!" I shriek, punching him in the arm. "Stop it."

"Okay, okay. Just know, I know," he says winking. "Let's go."

I maneuver around his ... ummm, sheath ... to get out of the tent. Sounds of music and hoops and hollers draw us to the ceremony.

We sit on the ground watching them sing and dance in circles. The tribe has upped their appearance for tonight, wearing more beads than usual. Some of their faces are painted. Others wear ornate headpieces. The atmosphere is electric. Forming a circle, they hold hands and dance around warriors jumping in the middle. It is an odd dance. They stand like sticks and jump straight up and down as high as they can, while loudly chanting and singing. The stars light the sky overhead and the energy is contagious. 

I look around in amazement at these people. This tribe is a family. They live in their own huts, but they act as one family, each with his/her roles, working together for the whole. I am jealous of the love and joy I see here. We could learn so much from them back home. 

I have been searching for him amongst the jumping warriors. My breath catches as his spirited eyes find mine and he smiles. I return his smile, blushing like a young schoolgirl. My eyes can't help but notice his extra long horn adorning what I am sure is a magnificent cock. My pussy immediately responds and words can't express the pictures suddenly entering my head of us fucking. He slowly makes his way through the dancers towards me. When he reaches me, he says nothing but extends his hands holding a beaded necklace. It is gorgeous, made of bright red beads. I nod my head, bowing, allowing him to drape the necklace over my head. I look down at my chest, fingering the beautiful necklace. The other women smile and whisper around me. As quickly as he came, he leaves to return to his fellow warriors, dancing and singing. 

Josh had been talking to Mako and scurries over to me. "Anna. Do you know what that means?"

"What? These beads?"

"Yes! Anna, he is a warrior status, meaning bachelor. So he can't get married yet, but he can still have sex. He offered you his beads to essentially reserve you to be his sex buddy."

"What?" My mouth drops open. "Did not!"

"Yes. And when you accepted them you agreed to sex with him. You wearing his beads tells the others you are mated to him for sex."

"Oh, fuck! Josh! What am I going to do now?"

"Well, you know what I would do if a uber-sexy warrior man reserved me for sex," he says grinning from ear to ear.

"Josh! What are you thinking? I can't have sex with him!"

"Why not?"

"Because. Well ... because. You know. Just because."

He continues to stare at me with that stupid grin on his face.

"I just couldn't. Could I?" I whisper, thinking about the possibilities.

Josh stands there in silence, smirking. He knows me well and knows I will eventually come up with the answer myself. 

"Oh, you're no help. Good night, Josh," I say, stalking back to my tent. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kioko is still dancing. I decide not to say anything to him. 

I sit alone in my tent, contemplating my situation. Maybe by my leaving, he will forget about me. Maybe Josh is wrong about the beads. A moment of sadness washes over me. I don't want Josh to be wrong. I try to distract myself by going over my notes from the trip so far, but my thoughts keep returning to the virile, powerful, sexy warrior with the burning gaze. 

Finally, I hear the singing die down.  I undress and lie on top of my sleeping bag naked ... waiting ... feeling like that teenage girl about to get her first kiss from a boy. Except this is no boy. This is a warrior who might be coming to have sex with me and I don't know what that means to him. 

I don't hear his approach and jump as he suddenly appears in my tent. I see the whites of his eyes first and they are singularly focused on me. His gaze resembles a lion about to pounce on his prey.

To be continued...