Makarovia? Where The Hell Is That? Freshman Year - 7. Chapter 7

We met with Dean Sutton. He was interested, but my telling him about the endowment carried some weight. Money talks.

“This isn’t a rushed project,” I said to the man, so he’d understand. Dean Sutton was in his forties, a little heavy set with brown hair that was showing grey at the temples. “This is an important task we need doing.”

Dean Sutton sat back nodding. “We can begin the page.” He said. “We will need access to records and information about Makarovia.” He smiled. “I consider myself an educated man, but until this…unique incident occurred. I never even heard of this country.”

“Most people haven’t,” Peter said sadly but smiled.

I leaned forward a bit and loudly whispered, knowing Peter could hear me. “Not even a year ago, neither had I.” I looked as Peter rolled his eyes and looked away, but smiled. “But, we need some updated information put on the page. Parts of that information will be photographs we have and others to be made. I’m sure you will know of a good budding photographer who’d like a free all-expense paid trip to Makarovia to take those pictures.”

Dean Sutton nodded. “I can think of a few.”

“This will be during the summer break, so we will need someone soon,” I said. “In the meantime, I can forward some pictures of King Olek, Queen Alla, and Peter. Can we count on you and this school?”

Dean Sutton nodded. “I will say yes.” He stood and offered his hand smiling.

“Great!” I smiled and shook his hand. “I’ll send the pictures soon.”

Going back home, Peter was more satisfied that he had been for a few days.

“This was a good day?” I said quietly to Peter.

He turned to me and smiled with a nod. “It was not bad.” He admitted. “Our conversation last night helped.”

“Good.”

There were still attempts by those photographers to get that picture. At the time of the day, we were returning home, traffic was heavy. There were times we just had to stop and wait. The sought-after picture was worth more than safety to the paparazzi. As we waited at one point, the sound of the motorcycle was heard. Looking, this motorcycle could weave through the many waiting cars. Stopping by our window, which was dark tinted but you could see in because any darker was illegal in case you’re stopped by the police and they insisted they be able to see in. The motorcycle rider pounded on the window. “A picture of the happy couple?” The man shouted and pulled the camera and shot the picture if we said yes or no.

Yuri got out from the passenger side of the front, but the photographer sped away.

I shook my head. “We should have given him something to photograph.” I smiled pulling him into a kiss.

Peter chuckled. “He missed the opportunity.”

What other chaos was happening now…Peter and I did have school! Exams were coming up and we needed to study. We gave Penelope Baldwin our choice and she was contacting Anderson Cooper to set things up. It was as we were studying in our room it was time for the news..the sound was on very low, but on the screen was a picture of Olek. I reached over quickly, I turned the volume up.

“…in Makarovia. A seldom heard from country and monarchy in East Europe. The reason for the increased military presence has met with no real feedback or explanation from officials. Makarovia is also now known for having the first same-sex wedding of a royal family member. Homosexual marriage was never against the law in Makarovia and accepted. Known for being a place of refugee during the decades of war during World War II, they harbored a number of people; Jews, Gypsies, and homosexuals as well as other groups Hitler’s forces were put in Concentration Camps and executing.” The image of Peter filled the screen, but it was one before like when I first met him and needed the haircut, but none of his acne was seen. “Prince Petro Ivanov, the brother to King Olek Ivanov, who is attending a University in the United States, is confirmed to be marrying Eric Richards from Charleston, South Carolina…” the screen now showed a recent picture of me, then a picture of Peter and me together at Northeastern University as we headed to class with our hands clasped as usual, “other than this first of its kind of wedding in history; there has been no explanation as to the sudden increase of military in Makarovia…”

I turned the TV back down. “Olek is going to be telling everyone soon as to why the military is there now,” I said to Peter who had looked up to watch and listened.

Peter nodded. “Then there will be even more attention to Makarovia.”

I nodded and got up from the desk I was using to study on. Going over I sat in a chair next to him at his desk. “You take a good picture, baby.”

Peter nodded. “That picture was taken before I got treated. It was only because they touched it up, that my skin looks clear.”

I nodded. “And now, with the photographer taking pictures for the web page, they will all see how handsome you are.”

“And how handsome you are.” Peter nodded kissing me.

“I love you,” I said to give him the not the revelation of a new feeling now, just as a reminder.

Peter chuckled. “I know. I love you.” He said kissing me grinning.

“I know.” I smiled and got up. “Now, back to my study of Western Civilization.”

“Soon, they will be reading about you in history class.” Peter smiled. “Makarovia will be making history and not just because of us.”

“Then we need to make some good things happen,” I said touching his face and kissed him. “Study.”

He saluted me and returned to his books.

We were still bombarded with the press and paparazzi. Penelope had reached Anderson Cooper and scheduled our interview for Sunday night during primetime. The other news programs now were reporting their views on our approaching marriage. We were told by Penelope to watch this particular show in the morning as we were the subject for part of the show. Peter and I watched from our room as there was a group of women sitting around a large table discussing world events and other topics.

“…but this has never been done!” The black woman in her fifties, known for being outspoken, outrageous and controversial said. “There has never been a marriage like this!”

The other blonde woman in her late thirties or early forties nodded. “It had to happen eventually.” She shrugged. “Homosexual marriage is now legal in most of Europe now.”

Then the screen showed Peter and me on campus again.

“This is such a major event.” The other woman in her late fifties or early sixties, a comedian known in New York said. “There were marriages in the past, of men marrying men or women marrying women…for alliances between countries, but this is two human beings that want to spend their lives together! They love each other!”

“It shouldn’t matter what gender they are.” The woman that spoke first stated. “Who cares?” She waved at whomever off the screen and the image on the TV changed to Peter. The one was taken before we met. “In this picture…he’s not a bad looking guy.” Then the scene changed to…and I was surprised. It was a picture taken at the White House the night we dined with the President. It was a good picture! Peter was decked out in that great tuxedo and I was right next to him in mine. “Of course they’d be hot for each other. Look at them!”

The other female comedian was fanning herself with the papers she was reading from as if overcome with burning a burning urge. “I wouldn’t push either one out of my bed. They’re gorgeous! As my mother would say, they could put their boots beside my bed anytime!”

“What does that mean?” Peter asked.

Having heard her before, I told him that was her way of saying she’d willingly have sex with us…taking your boots off beforehand?

Peter was turning a little pink in his face as he understood.

“Yes, you are gorgeous,” I said softly to Peter, causing him to redden more.

“We have got to go to Makarovia!” The blonde woman stated as the screen changed again to include King Olek and Queen Alla. “They are all attractive people!”

“The point is…” the first woman said, “there has never been a royal marriage like this. A prince marrying…not only a commoner but from America! If this had been from Great Britain, the Queen would never have approved. Look what happened with Prince Charles!”

“Don’t forget about Prince Andrew who dared to marry a commoner.” The blonde said. “But something big is happening in Makarovia. To have dinner with the President and Ambassador from England and others…and it’s more than just about these two.”

“We were told that King Olek will be telling the world about what’s happening on Friday next week.” The second woman said. “Whatever is going on, it has to be huge!”

The blonde shrugged. “Well, at least no one will be saying, Makarovia? Where the hell is that, anymore.”

Peter frowned. “Olek never told us that.”

I used what Olek kept saying and I think I got his voice down a did a fair job sounding like him. “He’s busy!” Making Peter chuckle.

Then there were the late night talk show hosts that kidded a lot. The dark haired man from the Tonight Show smiled.

“…and the Queen is the King’s stepmother, not his mother…but I have a question. If Prince Petro marries Eric…how many queens will there be? When Queen Alla steps down as Queen, which one of them will be the new Queen? They might both be queens, but will one of the really become Queen?” He asked as the audience laughed.

Peter frowned hearing that. “I don’t understand. My mother will be Queen a long time.”

“Queens are what we are often called,” I explained. “Drag Queens?” I said in English.

Peter shook his head. “But neither of us are Drag Queens.”

“It’s a joke, baby,” I explained in Makarovian the meaning. “But neither of us will ever be in your mother’s tiara.”

Peter shrugged. “Okay, as long as it’s done in jest.”

“The world is seeing Makarovia at last,” I said smiling. “The fact that they joke about it is a good sign.” Then I got more serious. “I want to ask you something…if you say I can’t or shouldn’t…”

Peter looked puzzled. “What?” He was a little concerned.

“When we marry…” I said. “Do I take your name?”

Peter’s eyes widened unprepared. “I never…no one’s…you won’t have to.” He almost stuttered.

I closed the distance and kissed him gently. “I’d be honored to, Peter. I want to be as much a part of you and your life as possible.” I smiled. “Having your last name just makes that more so.” I shrugged and grinned. “I can hear it now; Presenting King Olek Ivanov, Queen Alla Ivanov, Prince Petro Ivanov, and Prince Eric Richards!?” I shook my head. “That just doesn’t work.” I chuckled. “I want to be a part of your family, but mostly, a part of you.”

Peter smiled even more as he nodded. “That’s what you are, but sure…you’ll be an Ivanov.” He began kissing me more intently as he came over me as his arms wrapped around me. “I want you so badly right now.”

I smiled. “I’m right here.”

As he was increasing his kiss, we heard the familiar ding from his computer and Peter let out a groan.

“It’s probably Olek again.” I chuckled. “We can pick up where we left off.”

Peter nodded and adjusted his pants. “Yep.”

Activating the computer to see who was calling, Peter’s eyes widened but hit the key and his mother appeared.

“Hi, Sweetie!” Queen Alla greeted. “Hi, Eric…” then she smiled. “You’re both my sweeties, but…”

“I got it.” I nodded as I settled next to Peter. “He was your sweetie first. I’m not jealous.”

She laughed at that. “I’m calling because I will be there tomorrow.”

“Here!? Why?” Peter asked with wider eyes.

“Peter!” I jabbed him lightly. “She’s your mother!”

Peter shook his head. “I’m not objecting at all, but…aren’t you busy?”

Queen Alla nodded. “I am, but Olek told me about the interview coming up and…well…they need to see that I…and Olek…don’t have any objections. We back this marriage one hundred percent.”

Peter nodded. “Okay, it will be great to see you. What time are you arriving?”

“About two in the afternoon.” She said. “Then you two and I are going shopping.”

“Shopping? Why?” Peter asked.

“You’re going to be telling everyone you’re marrying and you need to present a positive image they will like.” She sighed. “This one interview is important. We’ll get some good clothes for both of you to wear and present the best image of Makarovia.”

“Oh,” Peter said. “Sure. Okay.” He nodded.

“I’ll be leaving in the morning from London.” She kissed her finger and touched the screen. “See you both soon. I love you.” She smiled. “Both of you.”

The screen went blank again.

“Shopping,” Peter said with little joy in his voice.

“We could take her to Walmart.” I grinned.

“My mother? In Walmart!?” He shook his head. “I’m fine with it, but…” then he grinned and leaned into me. “Now, where were we?” He kissed me in a passionate kiss. One I gladly returned.

We told Boris, Yuri, Penelope and the other of the Queen’s arrival. Let’s just say…Boris was quickly planning a menu and ordering things done to straighten an already straighten house. He was making sure the Queen had fresh linens and all the things a woman needs in the room she was staying in. Peter and I shared the master bedroom, but it would be too much trouble to move out for three or four days. Peter grinned, saying the house was three stories. There were other bedrooms with a bathroom here.

At the private airport, we met Queen Alla’s plane. Dressed in a nice outfit, with pants! Coordinated shades of white with a white thermal coat over it she greeted us with the hug and kiss to each of us. Before we even headed back to the house, she ordered us to go downtown. I was pretty much like Peter. I didn’t do this sort of thing. I knew what I needed, I knew where I’d seen it and went and got it. Or used the internet to find it and go get. Done. No shopping. Peter and I endured what needed to happen and got nice clothes by whomever for the interview.

When we got back to the house, Boris asked what time dinner should be and then left us alone. Queen Alla smiled as she was about to go up to her room.

“I hope you realize why we did that.” She said to me.

I nodded. “Sure, I do.”

She looked at her son. “We’re letting people in our lives. We need to have the best picture of us. It’s important.” She stressed.

When she said that, I saw Peter become tense; literally stiffen and begin to do it what he did again; retreat. Had he always done this before and she didn’t see it anymore?

When his mother went to change, I took Peter’s hand. “What just happened?” I asked Peter.

“Nothing,” Peter replied.

“Bullshit,” I said in English in a loud whisper, making him look at me with raised eyebrows. I rarely cussed and never directed at him. This wasn’t at him, but because of his dismissal. Taking his hand I led him upstairs, dragging him up to our room and closed our bedroom door. “Talk to me.” I almost demanded turning him to look at me.

He turned away, but I grabbed his arm and I didn’t let him go.

“You…doing that thing…” I said. “I can physically see it!”

He looked helpless a second. “It’s not her fault, but…there’s so much riding on this. I was like this before the White House. Remember?”

I shook my head. “I can’t help that you doubt yourself,” I said softly. “I was there before at the White House. Trust that I will be there tomorrow night.” I said quietly coming to him. “I have no doubts about you, your mother doesn’t and neither does Olek.” He had said he was disfigured once. It was something he believed as he was growing into a man and so ingrained, he still believed it. “I will be with you. If you will…just trust me.”

Peter nodded. “I do.”

“You’ve tensed up so much…you need to relax.” I said. “I’m will do whatever you need, baby. Please.” Then I nodded at my idea and pulled him to the bed and began to undo his belt and opened his pants. Pulling them down I got him to sit down.

“I know you want to do, but…”

“Will it help you relax?” I asked. “We can strip and make love if you need to.” I looked at him. “Sex isn’t necessarily the answer, but you tensed up. Will it help?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Unbuttoning his shirt I began working on his chest and nipples. I watched as he wasn’t reacting at first, but the more I did…I smiled as he was becoming erect and moaned as he pulled my head closer to him. I always did a pretty good job orally with him and I went slower until he was moaning more directing what he wanted by pulling my head back and forth. When he finally burst, cumming in three good shots; I swallowed what he gave me readily, licking him clean. Then I went up his now relaxed body as he sighed and smiled.

“Are you better?” I smiled at him.

“Oh, yeah.” He nodded kissing me. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I said returning his kiss. “I’ll do it again several times between now and when we have the interview…right before the interview.” I said. “I’m with you, Peter. I’m your life partner.” I grinned leering. “I’ll take any excuse to suck that beautiful dick of yours.”

“We do every day! Several times!” Peter said smiling more. “You don’t need an excuse. We just do it!”

“This was stress therapy!” I said. “I think it worked.”

Peter laughed hugging me tightly. “Thank you.”

We had dinner and a nice visit with his mother. The next morning we got ready. With his coloring, the dark blue chosen was a nice contrast and I naturally thought he was sexy. Mine was lighter in color. It was midafternoon when the TV van arrived and men came in with equipment and things they needed for the interview. The broadcast was going to be live at eight that evening. It was six when the car arrived and the reporter I’d only seen on TV got out and came in. His white hair was sort of shocking, he wasn’t that old. He was a handsome man. He was well dressed, of course. He was a reporter for a major network. CNN. People trusted him to bring them the truth.

Peter was beginning to do it again, but I knew what to do…in a few minutes. I greeted Anderson Cooper at the door and let him in.

“Hello, Mr. Richards.” Anderson greeted, knowing who I was without telling him made me smile. He turned and looked at Peter. “Prince Petro. Thank you for choosing me for this opportunity.” He looked at Peter. “Should I bow or something?”

Peter shook his head and smiled. “Not to me, Mr. Cooper.” He turned using his accented English. “I prefer Peter to Prince Petro.” Peter turned to his mother as she walked over in the coral suit all one color with pants, her blond hair cascading below her shoulders; elegant, but casual. Again, she was stunning. “Perhaps to my mother, Queen Alla.”

Anderson’s eyes widened, but he smiled. “I wasn’t expecting this.” He bowed to her. “It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Queen Alla stepped forward and offered her hand to Anderson. “My sons didn’t know I would be here.” She explained shaking his hand. “But I wanted people to know that this marriage has my full support and King Olek’s support.”

Anderson nodded and you could see he was delightfully surprised at her words. “That’s marvelous.” He looked at his watch. “We need to set up. There will be a light makeup applied to each of you to prevent shine from the lights of the camera.”

I nodded. “We’ll do what we need to,” I said taking Peter’s hand. “We’ll be back in a few minutes,” I said and took Peter upstairs. Not rushing, I pushed him down gently and I did what I’d done the day before again.

More relaxed Peter was fixing his clothes. “I know you know this. I love you, but I need you.”

I nodded. “And I’ll be here whenever you need me,” I assured.

He smiled. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

I nodded kissing him. “Oh, definitely,” I said as my hands traveled over his butt. “Later. I get this.” I said and squeezed lightly.

“You do every night!” Peter chuckled. “I make love to you and you then make love to me.”

I nodded. “And I enjoy both.” I raised his arm and brought my nose to his shirt covered armpit. The smell of his cologne and deodorant filled my nose. “It will be better when you shower before bed. I love your scent.”

Peter laughed. “After this is done…smell me all over and do what you will to my ass for as long as you like.” He said more relaxed kissing me.

“I intend to,” I said taking his hand and going downstairs.

Anderson was talking with someone on his crew but turned as we came in. “I really didn’t get anything from Ms. Baldwin about things I shouldn’t ask.”

I nodded. “I’ve seen you doing what you do, Mr. Cooper. That’s why I chose you. People will listen to you.” I looked at him. “You are openly gay, so I knew you’d understand us more, but what I hope is…” I thought of the best way to approach the subject, “do you want to be known as the gay reporter for CNN or a top reporter at CNN who happens to be gay?”

He looked a moment and thought, but he smiled. “I get it. So, you’re just a couple that’s marrying. Understood.”

“We are doing what hasn’t been done. We know that.” I said. “You can ask about that, but we’re just a couple of people that are getting married.”

Anderson nodded. “Now, help me out. Is it Mak a rovia?”

I chuckled. “It’s Mak’rovia. The second A isn’t really pronounced much.” I looked at him. “We’re trusting you.”

Anderson nodded. “I’ll do a good job. I promise. You know what’s happening in Makarovia, don’t you?”

I nodded. “I do, but we aren’t going to tell people what that is. King Olek is doing that at the end of the week.”

“I’ll simply bring it up so you can say that, okay?” Anderson pointed to the living room where the lights were shining or the sofa before the fireplace. He looked at his watch as a man nodded to Anderson. “We’re on in fifteen minutes, so if you’ll sit and let Russ get that powder on, we’ll get ready.” The camera was on a rolling…whatever they call it to keep it steady.

Sitting we watched as the clock behind the men and the camera counted down. We were lightly covered in this white powder and Russ stepped away.

“We’re on in five, four, three, two…now.” A man said.

We all watched as the red light on the camera came on.