Craved
Chapter 17

Renee:

She shouldn't have done it. But she couldn't help it. Damon fell too easily for her fake flirting. Anytime she paid attention to Travis, Damon puffed up like a blowfish. How he could be jealous of Travis? Like comparing a male GQ model versus someone on the geek squad. Nothing wrong with nerds, and she enjoyed them actually since they were easy to talk with. Only they didn't make her knees wobble.

Men like Travis were safe. Predictable. Damon was dangerous and made it difficult to decide between strangling or kissing him. Yet the balloon ride and pizza were nice.

Sure, Melanie cheated on him and left with another guy, but he didn't even appear bothered that his girlfriend left. In fact, he acted happier. Just further proved the guy incapable of love. The image of the note in his jacket pocket flashed in her mind. Belinda had written she loved him. Had Belinda broken Damon's heart? Or vice versa?

Renee tugged the hem of her T-shirt down. People in love imagined the best in their partner and were not reliable witnesses. Look at her mom. In love and a doormat to a cruel, manipulative man. A flood of dizziness swamped her. Fighting off the urge to smack some sense into Damon most of the night made her tired. Beyond tired.

"Bayan, iyi misiniz? You okay?" a nearby guard asked, his gaze dropping to her chest, and she fumed.

"Just worn out. I'm fine." When she stumbled, a hand gripped her waist.

Damon. "Let's get you to your tent."

"Thanks, but I can get there myself." She struggled out of his arms and tripped over her feet. She would have hit the ground, but he caught her.

The armed guard chuckled, and she wanted to punch him. Before she could say anything, he took out his cell. His words drifted away with his quick steps.

"Perhaps you should accept help." Damon tilted his head, and concern flashed in his face.

She grumbled but was suddenly so hot and parched as if she hadn't had anything to drink in days. "I-I'm dizzy. Water, please."

He swung her into his arms. With her vision whirling, she could do no more than lay her head on his chest. Whispers flittered around her like loud butterfly wings, but she couldn't focus on their meaning. He ducked into her tent and laid her on her cot.

He handed her the canteen. His fingers were on the edge of it, balancing it so she could drink without fear of dropping it. When she finished, she flopped backward. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't form a word.

Her mind reeled, thinking about the dream with him his calloused, strong hands on her and the taste of his mouth. A moan escaped her. If he tried anything, she'd remember, and she'd sue him after she beat him. No, she'd never hurt anyone on purpose. But she'd make an exception for Damon if he preyed upon her in this condition. What was she thinking...it was a dream. Oh geez, I am losing my mind.

He eased off her shoes, and she tensed trying to make a fist to punch him with. If she could lift her arm more than an inch. Instead of undressing her further, he covered her with a blanket. Then he whispered goodnight, to call out if she needed anything, and he'd check on her later, then he left. The zipper sang after him. Was this a trick? She listened to determine if he merely waited outside. Only crickets sounded in the distance.

Soon, sleep took her, and she floated away.

***

The next morning, Renee awoke with a splitting headache. Her mouth tasted like rancid milk and bile. She sat up, and all her muscles ached. Did she have the flu?

Her bedding was soaked as though she'd broken a fever. At least her vision wasn't blurry, unlike last night. Doctor. She dug through her purse, then clicked on her cell. Damn, no internet out here. Her papers had emergency numbers for Turkey. Shifting around items in her purse, she still couldn't track down the information. When she dumped out the bag, she found the paper wedged in her wallet.

Finally. She punched in the number. "Hello, I'd like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hamdi." Might as well squeeze in a doctor's visit since she wasn't getting any digging done.

Forty minutes and several doctors later, she made an appointment-two weeks from now. Damn it. If her vision got worse, she'd fly home. At least the receptionist added her name to the waiting list as well. Worrying never solved anything. I can't leave Turkey yet.

Time to get cleaned up and out of these damp clothes. Snatching up her backpack, she stuffed a change of clothes, soap, and shampoo inside.

Outside, everyone ate breakfast already and things were washed and put away. Clean first, then worry about food. If she went to the river alone, she ran the risk of slipping again, or worse Damon catching her there and lecturing her. "Hey, Carla." Renee stopped short. A glow of yellow, as if she'd stared too long into a spotlight, highlighted the other woman. When she blinked, Carla looked the same as always.

"Did you just wake up?" Carla said.

Self-conscious, Renee patted her hair with her free hand. "Yes. Guess I'm fighting off something. Do you mind coming with me to the river and be a lookout? No reason to give the men a show." She tightened the straps on her backpack. "It would be weird working with them afterward." Pride made her not say she couldn't swim. Only Damon being there last time had saved her from drowning. She would just make sure not to go so deep. "Sure. Let me grab my stuff, and I'll take a bath too."

A few minutes later, Carla strolled over to her. "All set. One thing, well besides the food, I don't like about excavating in a remote location, no showers."

They strolled to the river making small talk about their families and why they chose archeology.

"I know it's silly," Carla said as rocks skipped out from ahead of her, "but Indiana Jones movies lured me in. What about you?"

"History." Renee kicked stones beside her. "I've always loved it. And yes, the movies did help. I couldn't afford to go on digs myself, so I got my degree by working two jobs. Then I started teaching. I saved up as much money as I could to go on an expedition. You know they rarely take first timers as paid employees without an archeological degree of some sort. So, I volunteered. Now I've three years or rather summers' experience, so I can ask for a paid plane ticket now." "I got in because of my geology degree. The pay is not amazing, but it covers the bills." Carla glanced at her watch. "We'll have to make this quick. The bus is leaving in a little over an hour."

When Renee gave her a blank look, she inclined her head. "The tunnels. Damon said he paid for a tour of Derinkuyu and said he might get us temporary work on an excavation with Dr. Abany near Göbekli Tepe. Aren't you excited?" As much as Renee hated to admit it, she couldn't wait either. But she'd never admit that to Damon. His arrogant head would probably explode. They hiked over the shoreline's rocks. In the distance rose the purple and white peaks of Mount Erciyes, Hasandagi, and Golludag. Here, sweeping curved valleys, mountains, rolling hills, cities, and inactive volcanoes, were located around Cappadocia in the middle of a plateau. As a science-fiction buff, she could picture this landscape as another planet.

Soon the rushing river shone a few feet away. A shiver ran through her, remembering the last time here with Damon. At the shore, a glimmer of a woman appeared under the water. She couldn't make out any color, but the dark waves undulated around her face like hair. Rather than marble, the woman seemed carved from the river. "What's in the water?" "What?" Carla looked around. "I don't see anything."

Renee blinked, but the image was gone. "Nothing. I thought something was glinting in the water, just under the surface." "Probably a fish."

Of course. Stop jumping at shadows. "You gonna wash first?"

"Go ahead." Carla marched over to the natural rock wall which made a barrier on this side of the river.

Renee undressed except she left on her bra and panties. Grabbing her soap and shampoo, she carefully waded out over the rocky shore until the water lapped at her ankles. "Aren't you going to dive in?" Carla called out behind her.

"No. This is fine." Renee scrubbed, then used her canteen to wet her hair.

While the two-in-one shampoo soaked her curls, she kept her bottom from exposure with her towel, and then cleaned the rest of her body. The water should be deeper to rinse the shampoo out. On shaky legs, she tapped a foot out checking the depth of the water before going forward. When the river lapped at her knees, she panted for breath. Not too deep here. You're safe. Finish your hair and you're done. She struggled to keep the towel covering her while she leaned over. Her splashes did little to remove the shampoo. A knot formed in the center of her chest as terror filled her about being so close to open water. Just finish. Squeezing her eyes shut, she dunked her head farther forward into the river.

Hands brushed hers, and she figured Carla helped her. It would be easier without the towel. The thought came unbidden into her mind, but she shoved it away.

"Carla, it's okay. I've got it." Nope, striding around naked in front of others was not on her list. Her breasts were full and high, her waist could use extra abs exercises, and her hips wide as if she'd birthed several children already. At least to her. Most of her boyfriends called her figure curvy, but she'd be ecstatic to fit into a size six not squeezing into a ten.

When the water ran clear, she squeezed the excess out of her hair.

Then strong hands slid over hers, and Damon said, "Here allow me."