About Zimaya Heights
by Stevie Woods
92 pages / 38000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-990-3
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, Sony Reader pdf
Twenty-seven year old Willem Rostoq is worried about his father, Tomaz,
the famous explorer and archaeologist who's missing in just about the
most dangerous place in the world. In a fit of pique Will pressed his
father to take on the challenge to find the fabled lost city of the
Q’anan in the jungles of the Zimaya Heights. Will persuades Gant, an
old colleague of his father, to accompany him on an expedition to find Tomaz.
Through torrential rain and unbelievable heat, surrounded by insects,
snakes, and animals long since thought extinct, they travel deeper and
deeper into the jungle toward the Heights and the towering Mount Zimaya.
As a youth Will looked up to Gant, but Gant attracts the adult Will in a
very different way. Gant would like nothing better than to share his
life with Will, but he is worried how Will might react when he discovers
why Tomaz threw him out all those years ago.
Review
Kiernan Kelly, author of Seti's Heart, writes: When Willem Rostoq’s father, famous explorer and archeologist, Tomaz Rostoq, goes missing in one of the most secluded and dangerous places in the world, Willem decides to do the only thing he can -- mount his own expedition to find Tomaz.
Erasmus Gant, former associate of Tomaz and an inspiration to Willem from Willem’s youth, agrees to accompany Willem on the perilous quest. Little do either of them know that the most valuable secrets they will discover are of the heart, not the terrain.
In Zimaya Heights, Stevie
Woods paints a universe brimming with mystery and overflowing with unique
creatures, as well as endearing characters. Beneath the surface, the story
explores the conflicting emotions in a son’s heart, as Willem struggles to
come to terms with his cold, yet idolized father, as well as his burgeoning
feelings for Gant, a man Willem had always regarded as a mentor.
I found Zimaya Heights to be layered with mystery and complexity, and
a love worth waiting for. Don’t miss it!
Sample
Gant pulled the towel from his hair as the washroom door was sharply closed.
He frowned and looked at the door, wondering if he’d missed something.
Shrugging, he dropped the towel and quickly pulled on pair of loose sleep
pants. He usually didn’t bother with the top but he thought he’d better wear
one tonight. Will seemed to be particularly nervous at sleeping by his side.
Sighing, Gant pulled on the top and flopped down on the bed, wishing it was
already next morning. He firmly believed it was going to be a long night.
As if in confirmation, Will walked out of the washroom, clad only in a
towel. "Doesn’t this place run to robes?" he asked.
"Apparently, just lots of towels." Gant grinned, eyes tracking up and down
Will’s body. He made himself glance away before Will realized what he was
doing.
Will looked unsure for a moment before he grabbed his night attire and took
it back into the washroom.
Gant was at once both relieved and frustrated. He would have loved to see
Will in all his naked glory, but knew very well it would have been a
mistake. He rolled off the bed and turning back the covers he slid
underneath them, and lay back, waiting for Will to return, which he did
almost immediately. Will glanced at Gant lying in the bed but didn’t say
anything. He walked swiftly around to the other side and climbed into the
bed.
Still not looking at him, Will flicked off the light bar over the bed,
saying, "See you in the morning," as he did so.
Gant felt the bed dip as Will settled. Gant allowed his eyes to become
accustomed to the dim light before turning to look at Will. The man was
lying on his back, his arms placed rigidly by his side on top of the covers.
He looked more like a statue than a living man and seemed decidedly
uncomfortable.
"Relax, Will, or neither of us is going to get any sleep," Gant said gently.
"You trust me, don’t you? And I trust you. Just relax."
Softly, Will spoke, "Of course I trust you. I’ll try. I’m not even sure why
I feel so tense."
Gant didn’t say anything else; he just turned onto his side, his back to
Will. He kept his breathing as even as he could, listening. After a few
moments, the bed dipped again as Will also turned over, and eventually he
heard Will’s breathing slow and even out. When he thought Will was finally
asleep, Gant allowed himself to relax.
* * * *
Surely it can’t be morning already, Gant thought, feeling more tired that he
expected. Then as he became more aware, he realized it wasn’t the
approaching dawn that had woken him, it was the weight of the arm thrown
across his hip. He was still lying on his side but now he was facing Will
and sometime during the night, Will had draped his arm over Gant’s side, his
fingers splayed on the small of Gant’s back.
The warmth and weight of Will’s arm and hand on his skin sent goose bumps
skittering along his spine, and Gant had to stifle a gasp as his cock rose
in response to the sensation. But though Gant would have liked nothing
better than to indulge his senses with Will, he acknowledged that the
feelings welling in him were not just those of sexual desire. He was filled
with an emotional need to take care of Will, to protect him and ensure he
received whatever it was he wanted from life. He wished that Will could
reciprocate the feeling, that Will could feel that same need in respect of
him, but he knew that was expecting too much.
Will’s face was only inches from Gant’s. He could feel the gentle breaths
wafting towards him. Gant hadn’t even realized he had lifted his hand to
caress the beloved face until he saw his own hand a mere inch from Will’s
face. Reluctantly, Gant lowered his hand. At least he could look his fill
while Will was asleep. It was just a shame that his eyes were closed, Gant
felt he could happily fall into the depths of those deep blue eyes and never
come out. Smiling at his own sentimentality, Gant knew he couldn’t indulge
himself like this; it would only hurt him in the end, though that was most
likely going to happen anyway. It was hard to avoid when your feelings were
unrequited.
Very carefully, Gant slid out from under Will’s arm but before he was free,
Will mumbled something under his breath, frowned and then rolled onto his
back, his arm slipping from Gant’s body. Taking one last look at Will, Gant
swung his legs over and sat on the edge of the bed. He glanced over at the
window and saw that dawn was indeed rising. Knowing there was no way he
could get back into bed with Will, Gant stood and moved quietly to the
washroom.