Oh God; what am I becoming.
He gently squeezed her hand, to reassure.
Chapter 18
Entering the door of the sleep-room first, attracted by the ecstatic sounds emanating from the far corner, Gem looked over, and gave a shocked gasp. Da was atop Lydia, both moving in a familiar rhythm she hadn't indulged in for over ten years.
"Oh, gosh," she declared, turning away embarrassed. "They are making love..."
Loni grinned boyishly, and led her to his mat. When seated, she demanded, in a forced whisper.
"Sure didn't take him long. She's married with a baby back home! Do you know that?"
"All Da understands is that she's been given to him. He's an innocent, following his emotions and urges."
"And so, he just forced her?"
"I don't think so. It looks like, she was quite willing..."
The noises from the other side had quieted. The pair lay side-by-side recovering.
"Does he realize, he is being watched?" Gem challenged.
Loni looked up to the ceiling, at the plainly visible video camera, and for the first time, Loni swore. He moved to his feet rapidly, and to the other mat.
"Da," he said in the boy's mind. "Time we went to work."
And Da obeyed without question. Both men brought along their partners.
It was not permitted for anyone to go idle.
****
She noticed, the first empty showers against the wall were spraying constant hot water. Steam filled the large common shower room, and at first, Gemma thought they were alone.
She felt grungy all over from hauling the bags of wood chips to be spread beneath the flowering trees of the landscape. Her hands were filthy; nails black with dirt from the soil of the garden; weeding out the unwanted plants peeking through.
A shower was most welcome! Even if it must be shared in the presence of these two men. After all, they had first come to them, naked as a newborn.
Following Lydia's uninhibited example, Gemma quickly shed her filthy shift.
But, why is Loni so tense?
Even Da acted as if something were wrong; his whole attitude anxious.
It's as if the two expect to have to defend themselves...or fight for the showers.
It was then Gemma became aware, there were others in the shadowed steam. They were coming from all sides, dozens of naked men, creeping upon the four, surrounding them, their minds curious...and lustful.
Gemma shivered.
Loni's mind-voice came through loud and clear, to all three of his companions: "Da, stay in front of the girls. Let them have first turn at the showers. We protect!"
"'kay," Da thought, and obediently moved to shield Lydia.
"Gem, you and Lydia move back under the water. We will keep them from touching you..."
Lydia whimpered fearfully; she had suddenly realized the precariousness of the situation. Gemma put her arm about the younger girl, and led her under the flowing water.
For a second, the women drew in their breath with shock, as the heat scalded over their bare shoulders, but each quickly adapted.
"Soap is on the ledge behind you," offered Loni.
As the sizzling water cascaded over her dirty curls, Gemma was aware of the frustrated grunts of those confronting Da and Loni. Like animals fighting at a feeding trough, the aggressors shoved at Loni, whose mind was as busy as his hands.
Gem watched as he made suggestions, distracting and turning the enemy away, one at a time. Amazingly, the two boys were gaining the upper hand, though outnumbered ten to one.
She kept her shower short. Even the dirt beneath her fingernails, was disposed of rapidly by the driving hot spray.
"There are towels and clean coveralls on a shelf to the right," Loni revealed, anticipating their readiness. "Hurry and dress. Once you are covered, they will lose interest."
Without question, Loni was leader of the group. He seemed to know what to do; they all trusted, and obeyed, without questioning.
"Now, you, Da...take your shower."
Gem shook her head in disgust, wondering:
Is this how it will always be? Fighting for every private moment. How can we live like this?
"It will only be for tonight," Loni answered in thought. "They are already moving away. When you are clothed, the novelty quickly wears off."
But Gem still felt exposed; she wanted this over with, as soon as possible.
"You, go shower," she ordered, taking over. "I saw what you did to keep them at bay. I can implant suggestions, just as you did..."
Loni laughed, delighted. "You learn fast," he marveled, obeying a little reluctantly.
When, at last, they were all clean, Gem gave a relieved sigh. She had never been a public person, especially where bathing was concerned.
On the way back to the men's quarters, they passed an unmanned fruit stand; Loni and Da simply grabbed what they wanted for their supper, and the girls followed suit.
They were all weary enough to head for bed directly after, surrendering immediately to exhausted slumber, each girl cuddled up, backed up into the arms of their partner. There were no objections this night; even from Gemma.
Chapter 19
Loni started awake. He had almost forgotten he had a sleeping companion; it was that comfortable with her.
In his arms, Gem had suddenly gone tense, as if for a second, she had stopped breathing. Now, she was struggling desperately for breath, gasping for great gulps of air, unable to pull them in quickly enough, as if her lungs were paralyzed.
Loni could feel her two hearts pounding out of sync, warring with each other; getting in each other's way. One was beating too slow, while the other, impacted by the first, fought to compensate.
He was next aware of excruciating pain, shooting from shoulder to shoulder, across her back. To add to this agony, the pressure spread across the front to her chest, and up the side
