Makarovia? Where The Hell Is That? Freshman Year - 2. Chapter 2

He was a prince. Well, that sort of put a damper on my hopes about Peter and any future. He might have been receptive, but there would be no future. How could there be? I was assuming the same rules I had been taught applied for this situation were just…it wasn’t done, but what did I know? I knew there were plenty of royals that were homosexual…but kept quiet about it. Usually. What was it they have in Makarovia that was now so important?

The weeks were passing and I couldn’t help it. I liked Peter. What I saw was even as his face…and I assumed the rest of his body as I hadn’t seen it his body…was clearing of that horrible acne he had. I figured with that one hurdle being taken care of, his self-esteem would improve. The others at Northeastern were noticing Peter’s improved appearance. He was a handsome man, but Peter preferred to spend his time with me. He would come over and study at my apartment. I didn’t mind, but…could I be just a friend to the man?

He was active. He was doing something...hockey probably. Ice hockey, thinking where Makarovia was on the map. They had cold, cold winters. That’s what I read.

I was a runner. Track and field were what I preferred and I did run often.

Yuri was still watching Peter carefully but was giving Peter more freedom and space.

I was curious often, but I really didn’t pry. If there was something I needed to know, I might mention it, but let the other person tell me if they wanted to. Peter was beginning to drive me crazy. He was only irritating in that…he liked me, I could tell. Did he make any moves on me? No. Still…if his time with me said anything to me. He enjoyed my company. He would help me financially…as in he would bring over groceries and even cook…only twice. After two meals he cooked…I insisted I cook. Was he my friend because I knew who he really was? Did he feel safe with me? Sure. I could accept that.

I was getting frustrated. It was a small apartment and we often would touch, whether we wanted to or not…it would happen as we passed each other. He had the nicest smile and my thoughts were telling me to touch him more! Damn it! Usually, I’d have to take care of it myself to get my erection down after he left! When he brought some more things I needed to wash, he brushed my arm. He was sending lightning through me. Did he do it on purpose? This had to stop one way or the other. I let out a frustrated groan and turned quickly. “This may end us as being friends, but…I’m gay and I’m really very attracted to you!”

He wasn’t offended. He knew! “I thought you could tell I was attracted to you. I like you very much.” Then he got a little bashful. “My life has been sort of complicated and…I wasn’t kidding about never dating. In a situation like this, I didn’t really know what more I should…”

I nodded, but right then…I didn’t really care. I pulled him close and kissed him pretty intensely, pressing my lips hard against his, which only took not even a second before he was kissing me back, just as intense! His arms went around me pulling me even closer to him. I felt his hands travel over my back as mine was going over his, and I liked what I felt there! He was warm, solid and getting warmer as he was breathing harder. There was a surge I felt. Desire and yes, I was getting light headed. This was dangerous because now, I didn’t want to stop. I pushed him slightly away as I caught my breath.

“We need to talk.” I managed in a croaking voice.

“You want this, don’t you? You kissed me.” Peter asked and I sensed the Peter I’d met when we first met come back; the less confident Peter.

“I do!” I almost whined. “Oh god, I really do, but…how will this work?” I asked. “Are we just fooling around? You may have obligations, I wouldn’t know about.” I looked in his grey-green eyes as I saw the apprehension there. “I’m not saying no, Peter, but…if we do this, there will be emotions involved for me.” I sighed. “I’d love to get to know you that way.”

Peter nodded. “Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”

I waved at him. “But you’re more…” there was no other word, “complicated.”

Peter nodded a little. “You see that.” He said sadly. “I would like to have someone in my life, but it will be complicated.” He let me go and started to walk away. “Being just Peter was great! You and I became friends without the swinging pendulum. I can’t tell you what’s ahead, because I’ve never done this before.” He sat on my daybed. “I was hoping the someone in my life could be you.”

“You’ve never done this before? You’ve had sex before with a guy.”

Peter chuckled. “Not a lot, but there were…a couple in the past, but nothing serious.” He looked at me. “I was hoping…it could be serious with you.” He said hopefully.

I came and sat by him. “So, you weren’t planning to just slap a condom on and just…do it.”

Peter looked at me surprised but smiled. “I can…” he chuckled, “just do it, but…I would welcome the opportunity to find out if there could be more. I think there could be.”

“You think we could get serious?” I asked a little…well…those of us that are gay is becoming more accepted, but… “What do you think we can be other than secret lovers? You can’t marry me.”

Peter nodded. “Not until someone proposes first.” He smiled.

“Peter, you are in a royal family!” I said like that would be enough.

“So?”

“So!?” I repeated. “You said that things were about to change in Makarovia. Why?”

Peter looked now like he was battling something else. “It is going to change.” He turned to me. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone…” he sighed. “We have uranium; a lot of it.”

I gave a shrug. “It’s found other places. I can see where this would be profitable for Makarovia.”

Peter held a finger up. “If we are kept independent. That’s the problem.”

“Let’s go back to the whole gay thing before we go to the other problem,” I said. “You can’t be out!” I stated.

“Out?” Then he nodded as he thought what that meant. “Oh, yes, out. My family knows I’m gay. I am out.”

“That can’t be okay with them!”

Peter looked confused. “It doesn’t matter if they are okay with it or not. It is just the way it is. You said you looked up Makarovia on the Internet. You saw our history, didn’t you?”

“Hey, I read over it, but I don’t remember seeing anything about it being okay for a prince to be gay in Makarovia.” I growled. “When you first said where you were from, my first thought was, Makarovia? Where the hell is that?”

Peter chuckled again. “You read that we harbored all the unwanted that came to us, from other parts when Hitler was doing his ethnic cleansing?”

“Yes.”

“We hid everyone…including homosexuals.” He shrugged. “When the war was over, if they wanted to, they were welcome to stay.”

“You welcomed them.”

“Sure.” Peter nodded. “Homosexuals, Jews, Gypsies…everyone that wanted to stay; were welcome to stay. We didn’t just tolerate them. They became a part of Makarovia. Life was hard for a while and many did stay, but it wasn’t easy. The USSR came in and…we were left alone…as long as we kept the iron coming.” He looked at me hopefully. “I don’t know what life will be like with me.” He confessed. “But if you’re worried about my brother or mother not accepting you because we’re gay…forget that. It is. They know that. We’ll either date…like each other enough to explore the possibility of something more serious, or go our separate ways.” He rolled a little closer. “To see if it can work…” he hesitated. “How about you attend a Makarovian function?”

“Like dinner or something?”

Peter nodded. “If you can weather what’s happening…”

“I’ll go as your date?”

Peter nodded. “Are you willing?”

“Why not?” I threw my hands out. “It must be here, it can’t be in Makarovia.”

Peter shook his head. “No, but it won’t be here. We’re meeting with some other political heads. It’s in Washington, D.C….at the White House.”

“The White House.” I hated that I kept repeating what he told me, but this was…blowing my mind! “The President of the United States’ White House.” I didn’t want to know, but I’m sure my face told him what my mind was going through. “The President of the United States.”

“We’ve asked for this and some other countries to help us. They would have access to what we have if they help us keep it!” Peter said. “This dinner is part of that to get support.” He looked at me curiously. “Is that a problem?”

“It’s not a problem, but it’s a very big deal!” I said. “There will be security questions and clearances…”

“You’re not a criminal, Eric,” Peter said simply. “You’re not a terrorist. You’ll pass. Will you come with me? I’d like you to be there.”

This was happening so fast. I was getting a bit overwhelmed. “It’s formal.”

Peter nodded. “It is.”

“I don’t even have a tux!”

Peter shrugged. “I know there’s a place here where they rent them.” He could see I was…in a state of disbelief. “I trust you, Eric. I’ve told you things no one knows except for those in government know about.” He moved again close to me. “I like you, Eric. I’m falling in love with you, but if it’s too much…”

This time, I slowly leaned in kissing him gently. I looked at him. “I will go with you,” I said softly. “With you,” I said. “I’d love to be with you. This is just a huge responsibility. Forgive me, I am just having the issue with that."

“It is.” Peter nodded, his face so close I could feel his breath. “I asked you because of how I feel about you. I think you can handle it, or I wouldn’t have asked.”

“You want a relationship with me,” I said to be certain.

“I hope we can have one. I believe we will if we both want it.” Peter nodded. “We can try.”

“You’re willing to move on with this…relationship?”

He shrugged. “We sort of have to.” He grinned. “We kissed. It’s kind of an obligation.”

I pushed him back on the daybed. “Want to do kiss again…” I smiled, “and maybe something more?”

“Definitely.” Peter kissed me again, slow and with desire again flowing, not only through me but through him. Due to having gotten him new clothes that were…tighter fitting, I felt the front of his pants grow harder. “Touch me,” Peter said softly.

I didn’t need to be asked again as I was pulling on his shirt to get it off. I never really got a look at him outside of clothing, but I wasn’t disappointed as I gazed over his bare chest. He worked out or something. He hadn’t spent a lot of time in the sun so his skin was a little pale, but his chest was lightly covered with very black hairs that showed up in sharp contrast. I sat up more and pulled my own shirt over my head.

Peter smiled at me. “You’re so beautiful.” He said as his hand went over my equally bare chest. “I am feeling…more affection for you.” Then he sat up a little. “You have what we need?”

“Well, I have lube...for…” I said did the motion with my hand indicating jerking off is what I used it for. “I even have condoms…in the hope I would find someone to use them with.”

Peter chuckled. “I know about…” he did the same motion I had given him. “I’m clean. No diseases or infections. You don’t have sex with anyone else, you don’t sleep around…”

“I don’t have any diseases or infections either,” I said. “You want to make love?”

Peter smiled a little softer. “I do.” Then…Makarovian was similar to Ukrainian, but he used a term I had to gather the meaning. “Do you wish to отримувати любов or ай любові?”

“Was that bottoming and topping?” I asked in English to be sure.

Peter’s eyes grew humorous as he had to think about what I meant. “Yes.”

“With you? Both.”

“I do, too,” Peter said pulling me down more and kissing me with desire sending more sensations through me.

“I do have one thing,” I said smiling as I unfastened my pants.

“Oh?”

“It’s kind of a fetish.” I grinned and lowered my head down, raised his arm and stuck my nose in his armpit and darted my tongue in his hair there making him yelp a laugh as he was apparently ticklish. “Will you let me do that?”

Peter chuckled. “You just did!”

“Can I do it again?”

He nodded. “Sure. You’re not into pain or anything, are you?”

I frowned. “How could I ever hurt you?” I shook my head. “No, I don’t get any pleasure from pain, giving or receiving.”

He nodded, smiling with relief. “It’s been a few years since I had sex with anyone.”

“Same with me,” I confessed. “We’ll take it slow. This will be our first time together. Not sex. I want to make love with you, Peter. We won’t just be having sex.”

“That’s what I want.”

I got up. “It’s getting cold out,” I said. “I’ll start the heater up and get the lubrication.”

Peter sat up and began unfastening his own pants. “We’ll need heat a little…” he looked at me, “I want us naked a while.”

I laughed. “I want to see you, too.”

The heat on and lube, I had removed the rest of my clothes as I walked back. I saw his eyes as he looked at me.

“You’re so beautiful,” Peter said as he stretched out naked over the top of my bed which he had pulled out to give us more room. He had a trail of black hair that seemed to spill out of his naval and trickled down to a patch of thick black hair at his crotch. I knew he’d be uncircumcised, I wasn’t sure what country did and didn’t, but I knew the part of the world he came from, didn’t. What I also saw, was now his penis was more than ready. He was aroused and so was I. We took it slow, enjoying our bodies before we began to make love. Using our hands, tongues, and mouths to get it started. He was going to make love to me first. People who can’t see why or how men make love to each other just don’t know. There are sensations only a man can feel that are so powerful. Without getting too graphic, when he entered me, I felt every inch of him slide into me and he was not a small man in height or the size of his penis. Slowly he began pumping and I felt…we were connecting. When finished, he said he was falling in love with me, and I felt I was falling in love with him. I felt him cum in a mighty burst. Then he simply got in position to have me do it to him. Again, slowly. He was loving what he was feeling, it was on his face. Our kisses were still consuming, but as I felt my nearing climax, I told him. “I’m falling in love with you, Peter,” I said and came deep inside him. Nature was finished and things were less urgent now. We had done one of the most important thing one person could do with another. Our kiss now was more…letting the other know how important what we’d done was to each other.

“Can you call Yuri in a minute?” I asked softly. “Tell him you’re staying the night with me? I don’t want you to leave.”

Peter shook his head as he smiled. “I don’t want to leave either.”

When Yuri came to the apartment this time, I was waiting with Peter who was holding my hand as the car stopped.

“Yuri, we need to get a couple of tuxedos. I’ve found a couple of places online.” Peter instructed. “Let’s go.”

Yuri just looked back at me questioning.

“He knows, Yuri,” Peter said. “He found out by looking up Makarovia on the internet. He even knows why we’re going to the White House. It’s fine. He’s my date.” He held our joined hands up.

“Why did you let me take you to Walmart?” I asked him as we started off.

Peter smiled a little sheepish. “Because I didn’t know where to go or what I should look like, but as you said; I wanted to be like Americans, now I do.” He sighed again. “This money thing is new.”

“Why?”

He looked at me. “When we found a large deposit of uranium. Now all the countries are going to want in.” He explained. “We were offered incentives to go in particular directions. The United States offered the best.”

Now it made sense. “I see.” I nodded. “Why the whole man out of sorts routine at the beginning?”

Peter looked at me questioning. “What are you talking about?”

“Were you always looking and acting like you were out of sorts and had no esteem.”

Peter looked a little embarrassed. “Olek was the one everyone looked to for answers. He was the playboy. Not me. I was out of sorts. It was no routine.”

“How could anyone stand by and watch you be in misery?” I asked. “You were miserable.”

He chuckled. “I’m not miserable now.” He shook his head. “You saw me. I was pathetic.” He grinned. “Until you showed up, I was lost. Our Economics Professor did me a big favor, pair us up. You just wouldn’t give up. You drew me out. You made me laugh.”

“I had to,” I said simply. “I couldn’t be partnered with you and let you be miserable! I understand this deposit gives you power and potential money, but someone had to see how bad it was with you.”

“I was nineteen when they found the deposit.” He explained. “It’s a huge deposit, bigger than the one in Australia and very powerful. Mining it won’t be a problem; we’ve mined iron for generations. This is very deep. My mother was appearing with my brother asking the United States and England to help protect it. To protect us.”

I shook my head. “You’re not understanding me. I’m not talking about Makarovia. I’m talking about you.” I sighed. “I hear what you’re saying about what your brother and mother are trying to do and they were busy. I understand it’s important. I’m talking about you.” I looked at him. “You tell me you were lost. You wanted to fit in with the West. Where was your family? Didn’t your brother or mother see this?”

He sighed. “It wasn’t all their fault. It was mine, too.” Peter said sadly. “This is new for us. I spent all of my life in Makarovia. In the palace. I lacked the social exposure and I refused to be with other people. Being the next in line for the throne of a small kingdom, I was never made to be out with other people. I just sort of studied and well…” he looked away. “I was hideous to look at and I felt safe hiding.”

“You were not hideous.” I was trying to understand. “They had to see you were not happy. I could see it right after we met.”

He shook his head. “Olek was always away, doing something…the same with my mother. Mother is still very much the Queen. Olek is King and they were just better at being out with others. That was their job. Not mine.”

I decided to drop it. I might never understand. “Look, Peter. I like you, really, I do.” I confessed. “But where will a relationship with me get you? You’re a prince. I’m no one.”

“You are not a no one.” He shook his head. “When you asked me about being my friend, you didn’t know who I was other than Peter, correct?”

I nodded.

“Why?”

“I liked you. You are a nice guy.”

He nodded. “The fact that I was pretty well covered in acne didn’t bother you.”

I nodded again. “That wasn’t your fault. It’s a medical condition. Which, by the way, has gone away now.” I ran a hand over his unblemished face.

He chuckled. “Again, thanks to you. You saw the problem and made me deal with it.”

“It just bothered me, because it bothered you,” I explained.

Peter smiled. “It bothered me. Not you. So, why help me?”

I shrugged. “To give you the means to get out, make friends. I could see it was holding you back.” I grinned. “And I was attracted to you.”

“Even with the acne?”

“That’s beside the point.” I shook my head. “That shouldn’t be a hindrance to who you are. I saw that. I liked the you I saw.”

Peter nodded again. “That’s why you’re here. You liked me before you knew who I was; you helped me without asking for anything in return, but friendship.” Then he smiled. “And for how a relationship would be if there is to be one with me. Would you object?”

My head was spinning. We hadn’t even dated, not really other than the student union, Walmart, the mall and my apartment. “I would be less interested if you came at me as Prince Petro Ivanov. I’d be fine if it were just Peter. I’m fine with you.” I shook my head again at the unexpected chain of events. “Pete, I came here for an education, not to enter a relationship at all.” Then I looked again at him. “It’s not that I wouldn’t want one with you, I just wasn’t looking for one, but this was…unexpected.”

He kissed me gently. “I wasn’t expecting a relationship either.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. I held my hands up. “Let’s just….get through this one date.” Then I chuckled, “though it would be hard for anyone to top a dinner party at the White House for a first major date.”

“I need you,” Peter said softly. “We’ve spent several weeks together. I do like you a lot and we are falling in love. We made love. I would have asked you out before.” He shrugged. “But this isn’t my country; I didn’t know where to go at first. My experiences have been limited socially. This isn’t my President, but I have to make a good impression for my family and for Makarovia. Just help me not make a fool of myself.”

“Aw, Peter,” I said quietly. “You won’t make a fool of yourself. You’re kind and you certainly know what fork to use when.” He chuckled at that. “Why do you think you would make a fool of yourself?”

Peter looked very uncomfortable. “I always fear I will. My mother is beautiful and been around the world. My brother is practiced as a diplomat and is very handsome. He is King. I was always in the shadows. I just need…a friend to be with me. I feel different with you. More confident.”

I nodded. “I will be. I’m with you.”

Peter smiled and rested his head against mine.

He had some things he was dealing with about his family. I didn’t know if I wanted to meet them.

Boston did have some exclusive shops. The one we went that had every major designer formal wear for men.

“Makarovia is paying for my tux,” Peter said. “They will pay for yours, too. You are going to a function for Makarovia, asked to by me. We have to pay for yours.”

It was fun picking out a tuxedo, but I hated that they were paying for it. I told you, he was a paradox! It didn’t make sense. He was shy to everyone, except me. He was well mannered but lacked confidence. The truth was, saying what we did to each other about falling in love, was not just an utterance in the heat of passion. I was falling in love with him. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I didn’t want to be hurt either. We looked and did decide on a couple of tuxedos though. Sharp looking, too.

We only had a week before the dinner was scheduled. And I had to give some representative of the U.S. Government my information for security clearance. The Thursday before we left, I was picked up from my apartment and got my first look at Peter’s home while here. It was a townhouse downtown. A pretty ritzy neighborhood.

Peter opened the front door for me. “Here’s where I live.” He said looking to see what I thought.

Well, it was no embassy, but very tastefully decorated. And while not sprawling, it was nicely arranged room wise. There was an entrance circular black and white marble-floored foyer that stood two stories. A chandelier hung overhead and a staircase spiraled up to a recessed portion above. To the left was a living room. A hallway at the end of the foyer went to other rooms. Peter walked with me down the hall to a large kitchen where a man was busy with gathering some pots and preparing to make a meal.

“Boris?” Peter greeted the man, about forty. “This is…” Peter smiled at me, “my very special guest. Eric Richards. He will be joining us for dinner and breakfast.” Peter said in Makarovian.

The man didn’t even blink. “Very good, sir.” He smiled. “Will there be a change in dinner time?”

Peter shook his head. “No. The same time as usual.”

“Welcome, Mr. Richards.” The man bowed slightly. “I pretty much take care of the house. If you need anything, just ask.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

The townhouse was three stories, but Peter led me up to the next floor and into a room. Now, this was a huge bedroom. The center on the far wall was a king-sized bed.

“Well, this is where I sleep.” Peter smiled. “You wanted to see the place once before. What do you think?”

It looked like it came out of one of those magazines like Architectural Digest. The only thing that said it was his was his computer at the desk. “It’s nice.” I turned to Peter. “I guess this isn’t really home, is it?”

Peter looked surprised. “No…but why do you say that?”

I shrugged. “Nothing here says, Peter. Other than the computer, there are no pictures of home, family or even a hockey stick in the corner.”

Peter chuckled. “A hockey stick? How’d you know I played hockey?”

I grinned. “You come from a mountainous area of some cold mountains. I did research. Ice Hockey is often played there, what else is there with ice? You look as if you do something. It gets cold there, so it just made sense.”

Peter nodded. “You’re right. This isn’t home, it’s not even rented. As long as we pay the bills…utilities…your government allows us to stay here.”

I looked at Peter. “Can I ask a personal question?”

Peter’s eyes grew. “You’re asking that now?”

“You said you’ve not been able to date,” I said quietly. “But you've had sex.”

Peter nodded. “With two people.” He walked to the sitting area in front of a nice fireplace and sat on the sofa. “My first was when I was eighteen. He was a guard.”

I nodded. “Only one for me.” I sat in a chair beside him. “Chuck. He was a football player in high school.” I looked at him and asked, “Have you ever been in love?”

Peter shook his head. “I’ve been in like, but not in love…” he smiled at me, “but getting there now. It feels very different with you.”

I smiled. “I was,” I confessed. “The reason I asked, as I heard you say you hadn’t dated, so I was wondering how you knew you were falling for me?”

“I was drawn to you shortly after we met. I longed to touch you.” Then he looked at me with a leering smile. “You gave me many erections I had to do something about.”

“That’s just lust.”

“So?” Peter asked. “That’s what we’re supposed to feel for another human being.”

My eyes widened. “And how do you know that?”

“I read!” Peter shot back. “Knowing what was supposed to happen...” he kissed me lightly, “and having it happen…is different. So what happened to Chuck?”

“In the United States, it is getting easier for gays to live. Things are more tolerant, but even here….a football player that's gay? They aren’t welcome. That was Chuck’s feelings. I loved him, but…”

“And you want to be sure the next time.” Peter nodded. “And being what I am, gives you doubts.”

I shook my head quickly. “No, no doubts about you at all. I just don’t want to be a problem with your family…or your country.”

Peter nodded. “Makarovia was always repressed. That’s why lives were accepted there more than anywhere else. In fact, Boris and his husband have been married almost fifteen years.”

“He’s gay?” I asked surprised.

“And married to Yuri.” Peter smiled. “That’s why I was surprised when you asked if Yuri was my boyfriend. Even when the Soviets were in power, we set policy in Makarovia. Homosexuals have always been welcome. In Boris’ and Yuri’s case, they fled Russia to Makarovia for that reason. Jews and others were also welcome, but few Jews stayed after World War II. Marriage was never really a question in Makarovia. An adult could marry another adult and it was legal, in Makarovia.”

“But not when it was part of the USSR.”

“No.” He shrugged. “But we never really were a part of either Russia or Ukraine; as long as we gave them our iron. They left us alone.”

I shook my head. “It seems Makarovia is more tolerant than the United States.”

“Maybe.” Peter nodded. “But nowhere near as powerful.”

I sat forward. “I just don’t want there to be a problem when this comes out.” I motioned to him and me. “About us.”

Peter got closer to me. “We…” he motioned to include both of us like I did, “…are fine.” He smiled. “You don’t believe me when I said Olek and my mother don’t really care.” Now he did look confident. “I believe they will be very happy I’ve found someone.” He pressed his lips to mine again.

He’s never been on a date…but he was a damned good kisser!

“All this time, you’ve worried about my family. What about your family? How will they feel?” Peter asked.

I waved that off. “Grandma’s known since I was sixteen. My parents are dead, no siblings. No problem.” Looking at him, I felt the swell in my heart.

Peter nodded. “Good.” Then he looked back at the bed. “Do you want to stay here tonight?”

“Why won’t I?”

Peter all but stuck out his bottom lip almost disappointed. “But, I like your apartment.” He said in not quite a pout.

“This is nice,” I said.

“I just sleep here. I’m more at home at your apartment.”

“We’ll go back,” I promised as I got up and pulled him back toward the bed. “How long until dinner?”

“A few hours.” Peter smiled. “Why?”

I looked around the room. “Do you have lube?”

He nodded as he grinned and did the motion telling me he jerked off with his lube, too. He opened a cabinet by his bed and pulled the bottle out and then tackled me and dove his lips into my neck as he began nibbling as his mouth and lips travel over places on my neck and was pulling my shirt up as I was pulling on his. Yes, I loved Peter. I had no doubt now.