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Now that we can hear that sound
Now that you can hold me down
You can pull me under
You can raze everything to the ground
Everything I can arrange
Every part of me you change
Just hold me together
Tell me you'll always want me to stay
It's shaking the sky
And I'm following lightning
I'll recover if you keep me alive
Don't leave me behind
can you see me, I'm shining
And it's you that I've been waiting to find...
-"Shine" by Years & Years
{Emerson & the Lion}
Part 5
We got up with the sunrise the next morning. Ali had packed two giant rolling suitcases for the both of us, and they waited expectantly by the door. He'd packed a bag for Kadir too with his food, bowls, and the toys I liked to play with him. We took a quick shower and Ali put me in a long-sleeved tight thermal burgundy top and some grey jeans that ended in the elastic band at the ankles that guys are all about these days. He had on a grey long-sleeved t-shirt that clung to his muscles with a low, scoop neck and some burgundy pants. He always had to show off his hard work.
We looked like young father and adopted son in our matching outfits and how he always had a hand on my back or shoulder. In a way it was quite fitting.
Before we left, Ali gave me a box. Inside was a simple leather wallet. It contained my new identification card. It was thick with gold trim. His family crest was in the corner. Below my picture was his picture, a thick smile across his handsome face. My name was printed with his last name attached to the end. Emerson Hamad sounded very confusing. The wallet also had an ATM card for my new bank account back home. It had my American name on it.
He took the wallet back and slipped it into the smallest travel bag along with my cellphone. I didn't even ask to hold on to either, knowing he would say, "You have no use for them when you're with me."
He rolled our suitcases out and loaded them in the back of the SUV and then came back for me and Kadir who was milling around in the yard doing his business. Ali grabbed a few small bags of things and handed me my stuffed lion and a small blanket for the car as he pushed me out the door.
Samir and Caleb were by the car. Caleb held up a pillow with a smile when he saw me carrying the blanket and my stuffed lion. Samir was putting their bags in the back and then went to open the back door for Caleb. He climbed in and Samir closed the door and then went to close the back of the SUV with a button on the remote.
Samir hugged me good morning. Ali loaded me in next to Caleb and Kadir laid down at my feet with his head up on the seat for attention from the two of us.
As we pulled out to the main road, Ali told us we were going to a resort for a few meetings he had. It would be important for us to have the henna tattoos to mark that we were taken and by whom. Younger men who were out roaming alone without the markings were assumed to be open and looking for sex.
It would be dangerous for us to go out alone but even worse if we weren't marked. A boy who was marked was not allowed to roam freely at the resort without his chaperone or owner. He wouldn't be touched sexually, but security would be alerted and he would be escorted back to his chaperone who would administer appropriate punishment. This was to protect the marked boys but also allow the free men to engage with each other without worry.
As he and Samir had business to attend to, he wanted to make sure we were comfortable and looked after. Caleb translated all this and then excitedly signed, "That sounds hot!"
"No!! Why would we want to go there? We will have to stay in the room the whole time?" I signed to Caleb who spoke for me.
"Ali says we will have our own private villa with a pool and we only have to stay there while they are in meetings. Otherwise we will be able to enjoy the waterpark. They have a waterpark!" Caleb translated. He was getting way too excited for this. "Ali says he only has a few meetings each day and promises you won't get bored for long."
The resort was over the mountains and through a border checkpoint. Caleb and I had fallen asleep in the back of the SUV and were woken up by soldiers who made us get out of the vehicle. Ali lifted me out and set me sleepily on my feet as I leaned back against the side of the SUV.
The soldier leaned down and started speaking, but then stopped and looked up at Ali who must have interrupted to tell him I am deaf. The soldier looked at me with suspicion. Ali lifted my shirt up and over my head and I felt his finger swipe across the tattoo with his name on it. When Ali let my shirt fall back down, I caught the soldier eyeing me with more than national security on his mind. He gave me a smile and a wink. It felt super creepy.
He said something over my head and Caleb came around and looked at me.
Caleb signed the soldier's question. "These men say you and the other light boy, are their personal property. Do you affirm that you are his property and accept his responsibility for you during your time in this country?" I quickly nodded, thinking that was a really strange question. The soldier made me speak and I croaked out a very dry "Yes" and nervously backed into Ali's waiting arms.
The soldier adjusted his machine gun and ruffled my hair with his hand before nodding for me to get back in the SUV. Ali gave me an apologetic look and a kiss as he buckled me in and then closed the door.
Back on the road, Ali explained that it was illegal for unowned white Europeans and Americans to come through this kingdom since a bitter trade dispute many years ago resulted in abandonment of western relations. The kingdom still made tons of money off of oil and off its large resorts that were nearly free of any "annoying" English speakers. The soldier hated having to use English to verify our situation, but it is their pleasure to see English speakers degrade themselves and be owned by an Arab.
So now we were headed to a resort that didn't like us, or at least me and Caleb, in a kingdom that didn't like us. Yeah I definitely wish I'd seen a brochure for this place before heading here on vacation. But I knew we would be safe with Ali.
Caleb and I fell asleep sharing his pillow and my blanket while Kadir stood up to look out the window, wagging his tail happily.
I woke up with Ali shaking me gently. Caleb had put his head on my chest, Samir lifted him off of me and I sat up, scooted to the edge and was lifted up into Ali's chest. We were parked in front of a one-story mediterranean style house with white stucco and intricate tiles forming rings around the walls. Ali carried me down the path as I had one arm around his neck and the other hugging Ali-cub, the stuffed lion. Kadir ran around the small grass area stretching his legs and peeing on anything that looked interesting.
A man about six inches taller than Ali with huge muscles came out and went to bring in our suitcases. He was dressed in a small pair of white satin shorts that hung low on his waist. Samir was behind us. He had one hand on Caleb's shoulder as Caleb hugged his pillow and followed us into the house.
The common area was one large room with a kitchen to the left, a dining table for 6, two large couches, and a huge flat screen tv on the wall. It was decorated in arabian style with large rugs, oversized curtains pulled back to show windows and a sliding glass door at the back. The entryways were that swooped up arch design that ends in a sharp point at the top.
There were two large bedrooms and two smaller ones. Ali carried me to the largest one all the way at the back with corner views of huge mountains behind us. He laid me on the bed and went into the bathroom to the toilet. He left the door open and I saw him whip his dick out and let go of the journey's build up as the servant came in wheeling our bags. He placed them in the closet and opened them to hang up our clothes. He didn't look at me at all.
Ali washed up and slipped his shoes off as he jumped on the bed beside me.
"Alone at last," Ali typed to me on his phone and pulled me into his chest.
I nodded towards the servant in our closet unpacking our things. Ali shrugged and typed, "Trust me, he's seen the whole spectrum of odd behavior. If he bothers you, I can have him stay out of sight. He is here for guests' viewing pleasure, maybe more. But I have no need of his physical services. I've instructed him not to touch you or Caleb as well. I don't think Samir would be interested either." He gave my butt a squeeze and kissed my cheek.
We changed into some workout clothes. I had on a small thin tank top that showed off most of his name on my chest, light running shorts, and nikes as we headed out. Ali slung a bag of clothes for our after workout.
Caleb and Samir were splashing around in the pool. Ali wanted some alone time with me. We walked behind the house and I saw the view. We were on a hillside overlooking about 100 other villas similar to our own. At the base of the hill was a large building and the waterpark. I saw several big slides that looked like fun.
We went out the back gate and down a dirt trail that went behind other villas and wound down the hill. At the base, we got to the big building. Ali pointed to a map on the wall showing restaurants, a nightclub, meeting rooms, movie theater, bowling alley, the gym, and a convenience store. This place had it all.
Inside, it looked like a mall. Everyone was male from the employees to the guests. Ali had told me not to look anyone directly in the eye and always keep to his side with my eyes on him or the floor. He guided me through a long tile walkway and into the fitness center where he checked us in.
We saw all kinds of pairs of guys working out together. There were older guys with older partners, older with younger, young with young. They were mostly Arab, but a few Asian and African as well. I was the only blonde one and it attracted eyes. I kept looking but then quickly darting my eyes to Ali's shoes. He put his arm around me as he lead me to our machines.
Our area was private and out of sight of the main area. We started on side by side treadmills and did a quick 5 minutes of light running. We got off and he showed me the stretches he wanted me to do. When we finished, he put me back on the treadmill as he started with the weights.
When I was drenched in sweat and looking at him with pleading eyes he finished his last lift and came over to put me through the cool down routine. My machine finally came to a stop and Ali laid a towel down on a yoga mat for me and I collapsed on to it.
Ali laid down next to me on his side and rubbed my tummy. He leaned over to kiss me, and his sweat dripped down my already soaked chest. It felt kind of weird doing stuff there in the open, but no one was walking by.
Sensing my hesitation, he reached for a towel and covered his lap with it. He took my hand and rubbed it down the front of his shorts. I felt him, ready as ever, as he guided my hand and bit softly on my ear.
He slipped my hand inside his waistband and down over his throbbing prize. It was wet and warm from the workout. I leaned into his neck. His cologne mixed with sweat and hit my nose. I don't know why but there's something about the way he smells when sweating that drives me to him. I bit and kissed the nape of his neck and he squirmed, rubbing his cock against my hand as I gripped him firmly.
He pushed my head down, under the towel. His shorts were pushed down and I put my lips on the head. Down here, his scent was more powerful. It overwhelmed my nose and my eyes started to water as he pushed into me.
His cock rubbed my tongue to clean off the workout. I tasted a little bit of his piss from earlier. It was water, a bit of coffee which made it bitter and I gagged a little. I'm sure he heard me, but he had pressing business with my mouth and wasn't letting me up. He pet my hair, pushing his cock deeper into my mouth.
He started sliding it in and out, not too quickly, but deep. His head pushed against my throat, making me "Uhhh!" each time. I had to breathe through my nose which didn't help as it pressed against his steamy pubes. He had my head and his lap covered with the towel which just held in the smells.
As uncomfortable as it sounds, I was rock hard in my shorts. He couldn't reach my hole from our position, and I knew better than to touch my dick, so it would have to wait. Right now was about him. He started sliding in and out of me faster as I clamped my lips closed in a tight circle around his shaft. My tongue was working circles around his dick as my throat massaged the tip.
He didn't last too long, maybe from the excitement of being out in the open. He pushed deep into me when he started to erupt and it filled my mouth and shot down my throat. I swallowed it all, and coughed on his cock as some of it went down the wrong way. He was bucking into me to milk the last of it with his hands clamped onto my head.
He laid back when he finished, pulled me up to his chest. I reached down under the towel and squeezed his cock, pulling it softly. The last little bit of his juice trickled out onto my fingers and I brought them up and sucked them clean.
We made our way through the locker room with Ali covering my eyes. There must have been a lot to see in there. He guided me into a small private restroom with a shower stall.
He lifted my shirt off and kissed at my nipples, then traced his tongue over my tattoo with his name. He brought my dick back to attention quickly and pulled me into him as I rubbed it against his stomach. He slipped off my shorts and reached behind to turn on the water as he leaned in to kiss me. I pushed up his tank top and he raised his arms, allowing me to slip it up. He's taller than I am, so he had to help me with the last few inches.
I pushed his shorts down to the floor and his cock, half hard, pounced at me. He reached behind me and cupped my cheeks in his hands, lifting my butt as the rest of me followed. I wrapped my legs around him and my arms around his neck as he backed into the shower, warm water pouring between us.
He backed up against the tile wall of the shower and then set me down on my feet. He turned me around and pulled me back against his chest. His hard cock rubbed down between my cheeks as his hands explored my chest and tummy.
He let one hand slide down and he gripped my cock. It was the first time he had ever held it like that. I leaned back against him and he started to fist it.
It made me want to move my hips, push my cock into his grip, but he pulled me tightly back against him, holding me still. I knew instinctively he wouldn't want his cub emulating fucking. My pleasure was to come from him inside me. I felt confused as he jerked me off, but I went still and allowed him to explore me. It was his right.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't last long. He had his head down over my shoulder, watching his own hand rubbing me off as he kissed and nibbled on my neck. His other hand covered the right side of my chest. He held a nipple between two fingers and started twisting and pinching it roughly. He alternated between the two nipples, working them into little angry puffs.
He started jerking my cock and twisting my nipples harder. I was confused by the mix of pleasure and punishment. Was I supposed to have cum from sucking his cock? I squirmed and whimpered, but felt the cum rising in me. I was close, why was he making it hurt?
The pleasure side of me won the battle and I started shooting thick ropes up my chest, fighting against the shower stream. My cum went up and the water dripped it back down, but some of it stayed. My body twisted and jerked in his tight grip and he gave an especially painful squeeze to my other nipple.
I came down in his arms and relaxed against his chest. He brought his fingers to my lips and I sucked my own cum, cleaning the fingers thoroughly. He traced his other hand around my chest, scooping up the remains of my juice and fed them to me as well.
I turned to face him, looking confusedly into his eyes. "Ow," I mouthed and he let a little smile break across his lips. He mouthed, "baby," and gave me a kiss. He rubbed body wash and shampoo all over us and paid extra attention to my hole, cleaning me for later use.
We got cleaned up and headed out in matching shorts and crisp, white tank tops leaving the dirty workout clothes and the bag in the little restroom. My tank top had his name written across the front in black leather applique that matched the script of his name on my chest. Ali signaled a worker who collected our things to be washed and sent to our villa.
We went back to the mall area and and got a table on the patio of a juice bar on the top level. The sun was intense but they had shade and blowing misters. Ali ordered us juices and checked emails on his phone while stroking my hair.
In the corner there was this pretty good looking arab guy, maybe a year or two older than Ali. Beside him was this shorter, fat, older asian man with a hand in the younger guys lap. The arab one had these loose basketball shorts and a tight black tank top. The older guy was rubbing on his package and saying something to him. The arab guy didn't look especially interested, but he did nothing to stop the older guy. The older guy pulled up the right leg of the basketball shorts and was reaching under there now.
I nudged Ali and pointed at them. He very quickly reached over and pulled my chair beside his so that they were out of view. He shook his head at me and put his arm across my shoulders to pull me into his side before going back to his emails.
The waiter came back with two juices in beautiful blue tinted glasses. He set them in front of us and then set a tray of meats, cheeses, nuts, and fruit in front of us with a small basket of flat breads. It looked awesome, but then he set a small bowl in front of me of salad with a sparse amount of grilled chicken on top. It looked dry and tasteless.
I signed [NO, NOT WANT] and pointed at the bowl. I was feeling like a dog getting the same chow at every meal.
Ali looked confused, but gave a gentle smile and patted my back. He lifted his cell phone and typed out, "It's good for your tummy. This has the right mix of vegetables so you have energy but don't feel too full. I had a nutritionist look you over and review your health and blood samples when you were out. He said this mix is the optimal healthy balance for you. You do get variety at breakfast when your body needs a solid meal."
"But every other meal?" I typed back, "I'm not a dog."
Ali started to type back, but then set his phone down and jumped out of his chair. He looked like he'd just seen a ghost. I felt a strange hand on my head, petting my hair. I turned to see that someone had walked up to my right.
I looked up and saw two large brown eyes staring down at me with a warm smile as though he knew me. I stood up, backed towards Ali, and gave a him a cautious smile. He was maybe a few inches taller than Ali and had lighter skin. His black hair was gelled back in a more grown up look with an expensive pair of gold sunglasses crowning the top. Soft pink lips were framed by a trimmed beard shaved down to his jawline and around his mouth. He was stacked hard with thick muscles and an air of power.
Ali pushed me gently to the side and gave a forced smile and reluctant handshake to the man. He pointed to the chair across the table and the man sat down. Ali took his seat again and pushed me down into the chair between them.
The man had on a tight polo shirt that showed his muscular chest and just enough buttons open to expose a few black chest hairs. He slid forward a bit and leaned back against the chair showing a not too subtle bulge in his tight khaki shorts. It was hidden by the table so Ali couldn't see it. He gave it a few tugs when he noticed me looking.
The two of them exchanged words as the stranger eyed me appraisingly. I kept downshifting my eyes, remembering what Ali had told me about eye contact with the men here. Maybe staring at his bulge wasn't the right thing to do either. Ali showed a worried face, and was moving his lips in controlled close motions. He sighed and shook his head no. He spread his palms and showed a guilty half-smirk.
I looked at the stranger who had taken his eyes off of me and looked angry, parting his lips wider and pointing towards me. He caught my eyes and stopped speaking. He gave me a sad smile and reached over to cup my face in his hand. I shivered at his warm palm.
I jerked away from him and his eyes traveled down to my chest. He touched my shirt where Ali's name was written, then he pulled at the side of my tank top to look at the henna tattoo with Ali's name. I was well marked and yet his hands began to roam me without the slightest hesitation. He traced the script with his fingers and then reached to tweak my slightly swollen nipple. I recoiled from his touch and grabbed my fork, holding it up defensively.
My threat was met with a wide grin. He laughed at me. For him it was like watching a puppy commercial, his lips formed an, "aww." I was no threat to him nor was my lion.
His hand retreated from my chest and landed gently to cup my cheek again. He mouthed some words to me and then stopped. His right hand left my cheek to sign, "You don't understand a word I say, right?" I shook my head no. He was pretty smooth with his signing.
He signed, "My name," and then fingerspelled, "I-Z-E-M, Izem means brave lion in my language. I only sign a little, I was learning for you, beautiful one."
His sign language failing him, he took out his cellphone to type to me, "Your eyes, so blue. They haven't seen much. Your innocence hasn't been broken."
I snapped my eyes back to Ali who looked impervious to this crazy scene. He was lost in thought or fear or something. I snapped my fingers in front of his face, he reached and gently swatted my hand away. I was alone here.
Izem gave me a disapproving look when I did that. "I see your master has yet to subdue you. You treat him as an equal, a caretaker. You look us in the eyes, ignorant cub. That is a basic lesson. You need to learn your place," he typed and then put a hand on my thigh and started to rub up under my shorts. He got dangerously close, pushing a finger just below my nutts, and I slid away. Still Ali did nothing.
"It's not your fault. You received poor training. You deserve to be broken in properly," he typed with a concerned look.
I didn't know what was going on, and I wanted to get out of there. I stood up without asking anyone's permission or exchanging pleasantries. I pushed away from them and started through the door.
I smelled Ali's cologne, felt his hand on my back, not grabbing, not holding, following, connecting as I got inside the mall.
I turned and let my frustration go with a smack to his chest. It knocked him back a step, more from surprise than any strength I could feign. I saw Izem back at the table with a sad look. He shook his head at the pitiful scene. A few men walking by stopped and looked confused by this shifted dynamic, not common for this arena.
Who was this man and why did Ali look powerless to stop him from touching me? Why had he learned sign language for me? Why did Ali look so guilty? What had he done?
I started to walk, unsure of where to go. I headed back towards the entrance of the mall as Ali kept up with me to make sure everyone knew I was not unattended. I caught every eye of every man we passed. I stared them down and was met with disapproving looks. Nope, no easy boy here, keep on walking buddy.
I got lost trying to find the way out to the trail. I finally stopped and turned to Ali, signing "Where?" His eyes looked full, about to burst with tears. He held them back with a sniffle and pointed towards a staircase. I took it.
We got back up the hill, he caught me when I stepped the wrong way on a stone. I stumbled into his arms, but pushed away. I needed Caleb. I needed my friend. He would know what to do.
Caleb was lying on the couch flipping TV channels when I found him. Samir was toying on his laptop. They both jumped up when they saw us. I grabbed Caleb's arm and pulled him back toward the bedroom. I sat on the bed and rambled through what had happened. He looked profoundly confused.
"So then who is he? What does he want? Did you let Ali explain? I'm sure it's nothing. You know how he feels about you. Let's listen to what he has to say, ok?" Caleb signed. He turned to the door and opened it where Ali stood waiting.
He came in and sat next to me. I scooted over to make room for him. He slipped an arm behind me and put his head on my shoulder, signing "Sorry" on his chest.
Samir came in too, wanting to know what was going on. I guess everyone was going to get involved. Caleb translated as I signed, "You let him touch me, how could you do that?"
"I had to, little cub. If he knew how deeply I love you, he would have known just how big of a bargaining chip you are. He would have known your worth to me. I was supposed to subdue you, but that display showed that you have subdued me," Ali replied.
"What are you talking about?" I signed.
"I don't even know where to start," Ali spread his hands, lost and fumbling. "Izem is the son of one of my father's business associates. They manage separate oil zones and compete. We are all in the same partnership of oil and land interests. We are second cousins related by a marriage. He selected you from the boys seen on my uncle's visit to LA. You were promised to him, but he was not in the kingdom when you were delivered."
Ali went on to tell quite the crazy story and Caleb kept pausing to look between us angrily. He said they scout boys on the edge of 18 and when one is selected they are offered a job, vacation, or scholarship in the kingdom. In my case, Izem chose me to add to his "collection." He traveled a lot and liked to keep his cubs in cities he had homes. The cubs learned to take care of the home so he had a nice place adjusted to his tastes in each location.
He explained that the scouted cubs would come and the lions would persuade them to stay and do whatever they required. None of it was mandatory, he said as though this made it ok. If the cub did not wish to participate with the lion then he would lose his job or scholarship and receive money for his time and journey back home. In my case, if I hadn't bonded with Izem, my scholarship would have "run out" and I would be given tuition back home.
"Nothing is forced," he kept assuring, "In other kingdoms it does happen sometimes, but not with us. If a lion wants something very temporary then the cub is informed before coming and can choose."
"So how did I end up with you?" I interrupted. He was rubbing my back as he said all this, making my emotions twist between disgust and desire.
"I checked on you because I knew he was away," Ali said through Caleb's hands. "I saw those big, blue eyes, beautiful face, milky skin, the awkward way you interact with the world. A little fish trying to swim in the rapids. I watched you set up your room, go to class, use the gym. It was all just curiosity, and lust. I was to take a foreign cub of my own. One was promised to me soon after. It would be my first, a reward for bringing wealth to the partnership. He was a very athletic baseball player."
I didn't want to hear the details. Kadir laid down on the beside me with his head in my lap, nudging my arm to demand petting.
"I wanted to see what you would think of our kingdom, make some plans to persuade my own upcoming cub. I thought I could flirt harmlessly, soften you up for Izem. And then I realized I couldn't stop watching you. When I saw you had the problem in the coffee shop, you looked so sweet, frustrated, helpless. I had to step in. I knew it was my chance. I knew it was wrong to interfere with Izem's hunt, but I was as powerless as you were. Cupid had already lodged his arrow. Do you remember how we wrote back and forth for hours that day? Do you remember how I couldn't take my eyes off of you? I fell in love with you."
I swallowed hard at that. I remembered feeling like I was the only thing that mattered to him.
"I talked with Izem on the phone. He was having business trouble and the deal to secure you looked like it might not go through as he was failing to keep up with his projects. He also had three other cubs needing his attention, and was losing money on deals in our kingdom. The partnership was going to transfer your hunt to another rising star. I couldn't let you go to another country, away from me."
He paused and Caleb cracked his knuckles and stretched. Ali continued, "When you fell and hurt your head, needed medical attention., I told him you were badly damaged and may need a lot of surgery. He said you sounded like trouble and offered you to me for a trade. He had seen the baseball player I was to receive and said he would take him plus I would fix the oil deal he was failing to secure with a German company."
I was a business deal, a German one at that.
"We were to meet up here to secure everything and sign papers. He was to arrive tomorrow and never see you. I'd told him you were back at home working on your studies and getting your strength back under my family's charity."
He had really made me sound awful.
"You and Caleb were supposed to stay here in the villa the next two days until he left. I wanted to keep you hidden. I was going to secure your freedom and nothing would change between us. I will do anything to protect you. You always come first. That's the deal."
Ali kept his head on my shoulder. I felt his warm breath on my neck as he spoke. His cologne tickled my nose as his hands rubbed my back.
"He was right though, I haven't subdued you. When he saw you react independently, meet his gaze, he knew the hunt was not over. If you had only stayed still, stayed quiet. I know you didn't know. How many times have I warned you about looking a lion in the face. A conquered cub would have looked only to me. I know you were right to defend yourself. But it may have sparked interest in him. He hates to lose and he knows the hunt is not over."
"So what now?" I signed.
"Now we meet tomorrow and finalize things. I have everything ready for him and even got the German company to raise their payment by 20%. The partnership will once again have him in good standing. He should be happy with that, but..." Ali paused and kissed my cheek. "Now he has seen you. He was upset at my deception. He said you were twice as beautiful as the pictures showed and physically perfect. I told him the deal is written and tomorrow we will sign all necessary papers."
"And then?" I signed directly to Ali, pushing his head away from me.
"And then you are mine... You know I love you. You know I will always protect you and I hope you will stay with me. I promise I will spend the rest of my life making sure you are protected. I will raise you properly. Please give me time to settle this," Ali reached for me again.
"You aren't really buying this crap, are you Emi?" Caleb interrupted, shaking with anger.
"I don't know," I signed.
Caleb signed and said, "We're going home. This is fucked up. I've had fun here, but this is... no, this is not ok."
"You cannot leave until his freedom is secured. If he leaves, Izem will pursue him. I took away his boy, his hunt, and it's been established that Emi is... persuadable. He took to being a cub, signed papers for protectorate under my family name. Izem would use force. He is from a different kingdom. The partnership would know I broke the rules. We may compete for business, but cubs are sacred ground. Hunting in another lion's territory makes one untrustworthy. It would be my duty to return Emi to him by any means necessary," Ali said this and I watched tears form at the corners of his eyes.
"So we can't even leave? You really messed this one up. I told you Emi, these guys only think of themselves. We're garbage to them," Caleb said and signed, turning towards Samir after he finished. Samir looked completely taken aback at this accusation.
"Ok, stop," I signed. "Tell him I want to talk to Izem. I can tell him I choose to go home without anyone. I can do it."
Caleb signed that and immediately signed back, "No!" Samir and Ali both mouthed no and looked at me like I had suggested taking poison.
"Ali needs to get this done, make it happen. After that, we'll decide how to get you home. Right now we are out of options. That is the only way," Caleb signed as he spoke and Ali nodded in agreement.
"Please," Ali signed to me.
"It's just one more day. Emi can sleep in here with me and they can... find somewhere else," Caleb signed.
Ali nodded sad eyes and grabbed a few clothes from the closet and started towards the door. He looked back with sadness from the doorway and signed "so so sorry" as Caleb slammed the door shut on my lion.
We spent the evening on the bed talking everything through. The house servant brought in a tray with two plates of salad and grilled chicken. Caleb was so fired up with anger. He said we should sue them, take all their money, make them pay.
"Aaron Phillips makes criminals pay!" he signed and for the first time we both broke down with laughter. That was a commercial for one of those tv lawyers back home always scoping out injuries.
"This is just so fucked up," Caleb signed when the laughter died down, "How do you feel?"
"Tired, angry, betrayed, really super tired," I signed and laid my head against the pillow.
"It will get fixed, Em," Caleb assured. "It has to be. We can go back to LA and we'll get an apartment with all the money. We can live in Weho and be party boys." He was trying to make me feel better.
"What am I going home to? What am I without him? He loves me, he does," I started to cry. I only cried in front of Caleb. It was a life rule.
"You'll be ok. You will hurt, you will cry, you will hate everything and everyone. And then one day it won't feel so bad, the next day a little better. You were fine before you met him. You lost yourself here," Caleb was spinning for words.
"And what if he doesn't fix it? What if this guy is coming after us?" I had just thought about that.
"Then we run!," he signed looking unconvinced. "We call the American embassy. They send in snipers. It will be a huge news story. `Two SoCal Youths Caught up in Terrorist Human Trafficking Ring.' We make the headlines, do some interviews. We write a book. Maybe we can get a reality show about readjusting to our lives back home!" Caleb was getting really caught up in this. He started laughing and then I did.
"You can't make a joke about this," I signed with a serious face, "But I hope they get some fat gay to play you!" That jab earned me Caleb's middle finger followed by an attack of tickles.
We settled in together, but then just laid there thinking to ourselves as exhaustion overtook us.
When I woke up, it was dark. Caleb had his head on my chest, drooling a small line on my shirt. I pushed him away gently and sat up. Kadir was at the foot of the bed and I realized he probably needed to go outside.
The moon brought in a little light from the sliding glass door. I slid back the panel and Kadir went outside, but not too far. He stopped a few feet away from me and I saw Ali sitting in a patio chair just outside the door. He had his feet up on another chair and had fallen asleep, watching over me.
My stomach filled with butterflies as I watched him lie there like a soldier whose body gave out before he'd given up his post.
His right hand dangled over the armrest and Kadir nudged it and gave it a lick. Ali stirred and looked up at me. Even with the dim moonlight I could see his eyes were red, his face filled with sadness. He had on a tight black tank undershirt and some matching cotton boxers. His body, a dark masterpiece laid in front of me.
He raised a hand, not sure how much of a peace offering I would accept. The night air hit me with a chill and he leaned forward and offered me his arms. Kadir looked at me as though pleading Ali's case.
"Sorry, baby," he signed. "I love you."
I walked towards him and he put a hand on my arm. He pulled me into his lap and then up to face him with his arms around me. His warmth spread through me and I gave in. My resolve broke in two. I didn't care how much Caleb would yell at me. I needed him as much as he proclaimed to need me. No one had ever needed me.
Even in this whole bizarre situation he was fighting for me, for us. I had nothing to go back to in Los Angeles. I had no one who would love me like he did.
"So sorry," his lips mouthed. He pressed them to my cheek and I felt warm drops slide down my face. I looked up and saw a few tears roll from his eyes. "Please," he mouthed. I traced my tongue up his cheek, licking the salt from his face. I snuggled into his arms and looked up at the constellations.
I pointed at one especially bright star. Ali followed my finger with his gaze then looked at me inquisitively. I made the sign for star and he mimicked me. He gave me a smile when I signed, "That one is for us." He nodded.
I fell asleep on his chest wrapped tightly in his arms. I'd never spent a night away from it since we'd been together. I knew tomorrow Caleb would be upset, Izem would maybe hunt me as prey, Ali would be fighting, I would be worried, and Samir... well who can say what that boy does.
But tonight it was just me, my lion, Kadir, and our star.
That's all we could focus on right now.
I want to be the one you steal.
I want to be the one you shield.
I want to be the one that your love
That your love can heal.
Don't leave me behind
Can you see me, I'm shining
And it's you that I've been waiting to find.
Thanks,
Emri