DEAN'S POV

I had been looking forward to taking River to Nakuru ever since she arrived. It was the most scenic county in Kenya with so many places to visit and lots to do. Even though River had decided to stay in Kenya and we had all the time in the world to travel, she didn't want to stop. She wanted to make up for the five weeks she had been stuck indoors and as her tour guide and boyfriend who wanted to keep her happy always I agreed.

And besides, it's not like she couldn't afford it. We'd barely made a dent in all the money that she had brought with her. River could decide not to work for the rest of her life and she would be set as long as she stayed in Kenya. The dollar was becoming more and more valuable which sucked for Kenya's economy but favored River immensely.

Even though I had been planning the Nakuru trip for weeks, I might have messed up when it came to timing. I glanced at my adorable passenger writhing in pain next to me and felt guilty.

"Waridi maybe we should head back or find a hospital, you don't look too good babe."I asked touching her arm slightly.

She was burning up and sweating even though the A/C was on and all windows rolled down.

"Dean I've been menstruating since I was twelve, I'll be okay."River groaned through gritted teeth.

It ached me to see her in so much pain. Her cramps had started ten minutes into the drive but she refused to postpone the trip even though it was clear she needed medical attention and a bed or better yet a tranquilizer to knock her out for the next three days.

"It wasn't this bad last month."I commented.

"I was still under medication for my injuries, the prescription I was on helped."River explained.

I wanted to help, I really did but I had no idea how. River had already taken some painkillers but they didn't seem to be helping and she was progressively looking worse.

"Come on, I'm sure there's something I can do to help."I pleaded hating to see my girl in pain.

"You can stop over because I'm about to throw up."River demanded hurriedly undoing her seatbelt.

The road was deserted so I quickly pulled over and watched River jump out of the car. I got out with her and held her hair back as she threw up by the side of the road. She emptied her stomach of the heavy breakfast we had enjoyed together earlier that morning before leaving Nairobi.

I retrieved a bottle of water for her after she was done so she could rinse her mouth and wash her face.

She looked terrible, I couldn't resist the urge to pull her into my arms and hug her tight. River melted into my embrace clutching onto my tshirt as if she was holding on for dear life.

"Do you want kids?"I asked River as we swayed slowly the sun beating us mercilessly overhead but cooled down by the wind blowing softly past us.

"Yes, why?"She croaked.

"If you didn't want kids you could just have your ovaries surgically removed and avoid all this monthly pain for the next twenty years of your life."I answered.

"I think you're the first man to ever suggest a woman get rid of her reproductive organs."River laughed her voice hoarse from throwing up a few minutes ago.

"It's your body and its clear you suffer so why not but if you want kids it's a price you have to pay."I replied.

"It's one I'm willing to pay. I grew up as an only child and it was a lonely childhood. Yes I had Demi but she had her own siblings to worry about. I want no less than three kids."River declared.

"I'd like a big family as well but making sure there isn't an age gap between the kids. I love Dwayne but the sixteen year age gap between us makes me feel so detached from him sometimes. I want all my kids to be close in age so they can always be there for each other."I explained.

River nodded tracing an invincible pattern on my tshirt absentmindedly. "Wow, that's so sweet, I never thought about it like that but you're right. I wouldn't want my kids to be strangers to each other either. I also don't want to be raising a kid at fifty, I want to enjoy my youth, maybe start popping babies out by twenty five so that when I'm in my late forties they will all have left home so me and my husband can enjoy our golden years."

As River talked all about her future plans with kids and a husband I couldn't help but picture myself as the man she was imaginary planning a future with. I could see kids with my dark hair, River's blue eyes and mixed skin tone running around the house calling me dad and River mom. It should have been a scary thought but it was one I welcomed with an open heart. River would make a great mom and an even better wife. Maybe the universe would be kind enough to let our relationship grow to make each other future dreams come true together.

I tucked a strand of Rivers hair behind her ear making her turn her face up to look at me. "You really have it all planned out don't you."

"Just like you do."River grinned.

I kissed the top of her head and hugged her back running my fingers through my hair in a way that I knew always soothed her.

"Ready to get back on the road?"

"Not really."River mumbled her face buried into my chest making her voice come out all muffled.

"Well we can't stand out here in the sun all day, let's get back into the car."I suggested.

"I really don't want to."River protested.

"That's okay but we can't stop here, let's get back into the car and look for a much more suitable place to stop."I suggested.

River nodded reluctantly and let me go getting back into the car. I poured the rest of the water over the spot she had puked before joining her in the car.

I got back on the road looking for a suitable place to stop. We had already passed Gilgil and I saw the exit leading to Lake Elementaita. It was a good place to stop with a perfect picnic spot good enough for River to rest outside the car. I left the main road headed for the lake.

"Where are we going?"River asked noticing the diversion.

"To find someplace nice for you to rest."I replied.

After a ten minute drive, the lake came into view and after driving along some acacia trees along the shore, I found the perfect spot for us to spend the next couple of hours or until River felt better.

"Flamingos."River cheered excitedly as she got out of the car.

Besides Lake Nakuru which was famous for its pink flamingos, Lake Elementaita was home to the majestic birds as well.

I laughed at her random bout of cheerfulness knowing it would fade in a moment. I opened the trunk of the car and retrieve a sisal mat spreading it out on the ground next to the car under the shade. I added a maasai shuka on top and a pillow I'd bought for River on our trip to Northern Kenya. River liked to nap in the car when there was nothing scenic to admire during a drive thus the pillows and blankets. Next came all the food, drinks and snacks I'd packed for the trip before locking the car.

I waited for River to finish talking her photos before she joined me on our makeshift picnic spot settling in between my legs, her back against my chest.

"I love this, thank you."River smiled even though it was clear that she was still in pain.

"How about a back massage, it might help."I suggested willing to do anything to make River as pain free as possible.

"Yes pleased."She smiled.

We readjusted our position so that River was now sprawled across my thighs on her stomach. I retrieved a small bottle of lotion from her bag applying it to her back to make work easier for me.

"Oh God, that feels so good."River moaned as I pressed my hands and thumbs firmly against her lower back.

It was very inappropriate of me but I couldn't help my body's reaction to River's erotic noises. My dick stirred to life constricted behind the zipper of my jeans. It was wrong to be feeling as I was especially when River was in distress on my lap but I couldn't help it. I decided to focus my thoughts and desires aside so I could help River through her pain.

"Feeling better?"I asked a couple of minutes later.

"Yes, don't stop, please."She begged.

"I won't."I assured her pushing her tshirt higher to get access to more of her back.

"You stopped smoking." River randomly commented.

Her voice sounded sleepy and sated which was good meaning that she was starting to feel much better.

"I still do, just not in your presence."I replied honestly.

I'd reduced my nicotine intake to four or five sticks a day now compared to my half a pack a day before River came into my life.

"Would you be willing to quit completely?"River asked.

"I'm already halfway there."

"Is it because of me?"

"Partly yes because I noticed you were uncomfortable the first few days. You have to say anything but the look on your face anytime you saw me smoking spoke volumes. My mom has also been trying to get me to quit for years. Maybe this is finally the year that happens."I explained.

"I would feel guilty that you've had to give up something you enjoy for me but smoking is not good for you so it's a win for me."

"I'm not complaining, I want to be a good son and an even better boyfriend for you."

"You're doing a great job so far especially with that massage, go lower please."River groaned teasingly making me laugh.

I obeyed and moved my hands lower massaging her exactly where she needed me to.

"Perfect."She sighed happily relaxing on top of me.

"Do you miss California?"I asked.

River rarely spoke of her home or the life she had left behind but she was bound to miss it right, especially since she hadn't left under the most ideal of circumstances.

"All the time, I miss my job, my best friend, my nanny Claudia and even my grumpy overprotective dad."River admitted.

It didn't even faze me that River had a nanny, she was wealthy enough to afford one.

"You think you'll ever go back?"I asked my voice tightening for a moment.

River turned to glance at me, our eyes locking for a moment.

"Maybe, I don't know. If I do go back it'll be in a couple of years so that my dad will have gotten over his idea to marry me off."River replied."And if I do go, I'm taking you with me. I would like to show you my country just as you've shown me yours."River added.

"I don't have a passport."I shrugged.

"Poor excuse, we'll get you one."River declared.

I didn't bother arguing with her any further. When River set her mind to something it was a done deal and there was no talking her out of it. I'd barley been out of the country and now she wanted to take me all the way to California USA, well at least it wasn't for another couple of years or at least that's what I hoped.

"Dean."River mumbled stifling a yawn.

"Yes waridi."

"I'm good now, you can stop."She replied.

I pulled River's tshirt down and readjusted us so that she was now lying on top of me, cuddled into my chest.

"Rest waridi, I'm here."I whispered kissing the top of her head.

River, no longer in pain, drifted off to sleep in my arms looking peaceful.

Whilst my blonde haired beauty slept getting some much needed rest, I held her close running my fingers through her hair comfortingly enjoying the sights of the lake spanning out many kilometers ahead of us. I was not sleepy which was good because I needed to be awake and keep watch. One could never be too careful when it came to safety especially in unfamiliar territory. River slept while I held her and kept us safe.

She woke up an hour later feeling hungry and much better but as soon as she ate and talked me into taking a couple of more photos she went back to sleep.

"Feeling better?"I asked River as she stirred awake two hours later.

"Mmh."She mumbled sleepily rubbing her nose against my stomach.

I realized that River liked doing that and I had no idea if it's because her nose was always itchy, she loved smelling me or it was just one of her quirks.

"We've been here a while so why don't we get going before its dark."

"Okay."River nodded with a yawn.

She got to her feet and tried to help me up but only ended up stumbling back. I laughed and got to my feet kissing her forehead in consolation. I packed up while River took more pictures of the lake, gushing over the flamingos.

By the time we left the lakeside, it was late afternoon but River was feeling much better, color having returned to her cheeks. Her eyes were vibrant with excitement as she enjoyed the sights listing off all the things she wanted to see and do while we were in Nakuru.

"Are we staying at a hotel or an airbnb?"River asked me.

"Hotel, Dishan's sister, Aswani runs it and several others. Their whole family is into the hotel business."I answered.

"That's cool, I trust your judgement."River replied.

I was a pretty responsible person if you asked most people in my life but the kind of trust River gave me was humbling. She trusted me with her safety, money, well being, health and now that we were dating, her heart. It was a lot to be honest but I loved taking care of River and spending time with her traveling Kenya was just a bonus. She was my special amazing person who I was slowly but surely falling in love with.

"We are here."I announced driving through the hotel's gates.

I parked and texted Aswani that we had arrived. I had been to the hotel once before to celebrate my graduation from university. It had a been a one week vacation gift from Dishan's parents and he had dragged me along. It had been an amazing one week and I hoped River and I would be able to have much more fun in the two weeks we'd be in Nakuru.

River and I were getting our bags out of the trunk when I saw Aswani headed out way. She was Dishan's older sister but she was his spitting image. They could easily pass for twins. She was tall standing at 5'8 with long dark hair thanks to her Indian toots, brown eyes and flawless olive skin.

"You guys were supposed to be here hours ago."Aswani exclaimed pulling me into a hug.

I blushed and hugged her back with one arm, the other one still wrapped protectively around River's waist.

"I know, we ran into some trouble and had to stop for a few hours but we are here."I explained.

"Finally, better late than never."Aswani relented looking relieved to see us.

"River this is Aswani, she's Dishan's sister and runs of of the largest hotel businesses in Nakuru. Aswani, this is...."

"River Mae Anderson, it's so nice to meet you Miss Anderson, Dishan has told me lots about you. He demanded I take extra good care of you, not that I wouldn't have otherwise."Aswani said with a welcoming smile.

"Call me River please."River replied politely.

"Okay, River it is. Welcome to Acacia Blue Hotel, I hope you guys are excited for your two week stay."Aswani commented.

"More than excited, I can't wait to explore Nakuru."River exclaimed excitedly.

It was clear that she was more than a little bit excited especially now that she wasn't in pain anymore.

"That's the spirit, I'll lead you to your cabin."Aswani offered calling out to a bellboy to get out bags.

River locked hands with me, gluing herself to my side as we followed Aswani past the reception. I'd already paid for our stay in full and Aswani was with us so we didn't have to sign in. The hotel was even more beautiful than I remembered it with a view of Lake Nakuru and all its serene environs.

"As per your request Dean, we prepared you a cabin instead of a suite. They are more private compared to the rooms but all other services are the same. All meals are included in your package and all facilities are at your disposal, the spa, gym, swimming pool and car service to any destination around the county." Aswani explained." But knowing you Dean, you don't need the car service." She before I could correct her.

"True."I nodded.

I liked driving and with River as my designated passenger princess, I enjoyed it even more.

"Here is your cabin. Will you be having dinner at the restaurant or should I send you room service.
"Aswani asked.

I looked at River because it was up to her, I was okay with either.

"Its been a long drive so we'll have room service."River answered.

"That works fine, there's a menu so you can select what you want and call the kitchen with your order when you're ready."

"Thank you Aswani."River replied.

"You're welcome, enjoy your stay. In case of anything do not hesitate to contact me directly."

"We will, thanks again."I echoed.

With a polite nod, Aswani handed me the key to our cabin and left us. The bell boy had already delivered our luggage so I allowed River to walk in first.

The cabin was huge with a four poster bed in the middle of the room, bedside tables, a vanity, wardrobe and a ensuite with a bathtub and double sink.

"This is awesome and I'm taking the first shower."River declared.

"It's all yours."I replied setting our luggage inside the wardrobe.

"Or you can join me."River teased.

"Maybe another time beautiful."I chuckled.

"Your loss."River yelled closing the bathroom door behind her.

I respected River enough to know that she was not ready for sex and that's what would end up happening if we took a shower together. Men were visual, physical creatures but I was okay with taking my time to get to know River in all other ways before we took our relationship to the next level.

River took her sweet time in there but I didn't dare rush her. I knew she had missed showering in a big bathroom so while she did that I ordered us dinner to be delivered to our room in an hour and a half.

"Your turn."River grinned emerging from the bathroom half an hour later.

I couldn't help pulling her into my arms especially when she smelled so sweet and clean. I kissed her softly, marking her flawless skin with hickeys before leaving her breathless to take a shower.

"I'll get you for that."She threatened from the other side of the door, her voice clogged with desire.

"I look forward to it."I replied with a laugh.

River was asleep on the bed in nothing but one of my t-shirts and teeny tiny shorts when I was done with my shower. She hadn't dried her hair properly so after I changed into a pair of shorts, I blow dried her hair for her. I was exhausted as well from the drive and taking care of River so I joined her on the bed, pulling her into my arms for a nap.

We woke up an hour later to eat but went back to sleep almost immediately, lulled to sleep by the sounds of wild animals all around us.

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I was selfish while writing this chapter. I've always had painful periods but this month's were brutal. I got migraines and nausea but I'm all better now. Since I'm single with no boyfriend to help me through such a hard time I thought that my, sorry, our current book boyfriend Dean could help me through it, and he did in a way.

Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, see you in the next one.