Kasper's Prince Charming

Chapter 22 - University of Satra

"So what's the deal here?" I asked. "It's like is everyone here into guys? How does that work?"

Amir laughed at that, "Everyone is into whatever they're into. I don't ask. That would be weird."

"But the lion thing? What's that about? You call me your cub sometimes. Your father uses that term for Emerson sometimes. Does everyone have a cub? Are cubs what they call smaller guys?" I prodded.

"No one knows for sure about that," Amir said and leaned against his desk. "My History professor said it goes back to the time of the crusades. This part of the world was an Eastern center of culture. Back when Europeans were still in little tribes and the Americas belonged to just the Americans."

"I'm an American," I informed him.

"You're a European-U.S.-American. You are a product of colonization. I meant the indigenous people..." He looked at me like I'd made some cute statement.

"Well yeah... of course," I fumbled.

"Satra was already a developed state ruled by powerful tribal leaders. Our terrain offered natural defenses and we didn't have the eye of the Western world on us. The European armies never made it over this far, but occasionally we'd get a fighter or small band who had wandered off or gotten separated. They'd spend weeks lost in the desert and either find Satra or one of our traveling merchants would collect them. They were fair, light-haired men with skin blistered by the sun. Their spirits broken by the desolate terrain, they were quite receptive to our stronger men. They fell in love, especially the ones who'd been rescued." Amir continued.

I looked up at him with rapt attention as he leaned against his desk. I rolled closer to him and put my face against his abs.

He smiled at me and put his hand on my hair. Emerson had put it up in a neat little bun. He liked it out of my face. Amir smoothed it back.

Emerson had picked out a pink short-sleeved button up shirt tucked into small khaki shorts and white skater shoes. I looked like a kid on Easter morning ready to go hunt eggs after church.

I didn't mind though. I pretended like I needed his help. Emerson said he loved having a boy to dress again. It made him happy which made Mr. Hamad very happy. With him pleased, it meant I brought good things to their family. I wanted to be accepted, be one of them.

It also made Amir happy that his parents adored me; an added bonus. I fit into his world. I would be good for his future aspirations of managing the family's businesses.

"Our men would nurse them back to health and most begged to stay. Our people were advanced and our city had wide, clean streets, running water from pristine wells, and beautiful gardens. It was heaven compared to the disease-ridden villages and squalid fiefdoms to which the men were accustomed. Europe was always at war and in chaos. They developed... well, what you and I are developing. The lion is a symbol of our people, like the Eagle to yours. The European men were not of our people, but they were granted rights when sponsored by a Satra citizen,a lion. The sponsoring citizens, their lovers, were responsible for them... they were like cubs." Amir concluded.

"Strangely that makes sense," I laughed. "So I'm your wandering warrior?"

"You never have to wander with me... never have to fight. I will be your protector," Amir said gently.

He leaned down and kissed my head. I stood up and moved between his legs. He put his arms around me and pulled me in for a kiss. We fit so perfectly together, a two-piece puzzle.

"Are you going to fuck me?" I whispered when his lips pulled away. I bit my lip and tried to give him the most innocent eyes I could fake. It worked. He gave me that look like he'd agree to anything, but then quickly shook off my spell.