Thanks everyone for your feedback. It encouraged me to write another chapter. Special thanks to my editor and idea genie, Xelos.
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+{Kasper's Den}+
Part 10
[By Emri]
Opening my eyes in Amir's warm, protective hold against his soothing heartbeat is the greatest way to wake up; at least until I realize that I have to pee and I can't wiggle out. I raised my head from his chest and looked up his strong, brown jaw to watch his pronounced, Arab nose flair and close with his light snores. His eyes were closed with a row of long, black lashes lining the center of them. He looked so peaceful and innocent when he slept. It was nothing like the muscled beast who'd ravaged my ass the night before.
Last night his parents left early for a fundraiser. I couldn't remember if it was for an orphanage in Bangladesh or building a new library. Ali, his twin, left too so we had the place to ourselves.
"This will be us someday with a family of our own. We will have a quiet night at home together and you'll make us something for dinner," Amir said as he kissed the back of my neck and slid his arms around me from behind as we watched his parents leave.
"I'm making dinner?" I asked as I turned my face to the side to get a kiss on the cheek.
"I think you should. How else will we feed ourselves? Father gave chef the night off. You wouldn't let us starve, would you?" Amir said with an oddly cold air that didn't sound like he was joking. I've never really prepared much other than cereal or toast. My mother is very traditional and she thought boys shouldn't cook or do "girl" things... it would make them gay.
"Ok, sure... I guess I could make a salad," I said as I looked at the bowl of fresh vegetables Emerson always kept on the counter.
"Good, something light so you can please me afterwards," Amir said as though that too was part of my job. He kissed my cheek and then went to flop on the couch and put on a soccer game.
I found some kale in the fridge and I knew where Emerson kept the big salad bowl when he made his uber-healthy creations. I diced an onion and sliced a tomato like I'd watched him do. I added cucumber, some tiny nuts (I didn't know what kind, but I liked them in the salads he made), and added the light dressing he uses. I tossed it all together and then found some smaller bowls for us.
"Are you almost done? I don't think it's supposed to take this long," Amir called from the couch in between cheering on his team.
"I... yes... just wait," I said and tried to hurry.
"Don't use that tone with me," Amir said and turned off the game. I stared at him with my jaw hanging open. I don't think he'd talked to me like that before. He stood up and walked towards me looking at me as if I was in need of punishment.
"You're being... Why are you being mean?" I asked and felt my voice breaking.
"We'll eat outside," he said, ignoring my question. "Bring the bowls out when you finish, and don't take too long." He walked past me and out the front door.
I felt like throwing it all in the trash and going to my room. I didn't know why he was being like that. I was confused and upset. I took a deep breath though. My submissive side told me to just take him his dinner. I rationalized that maybe he was just upset because he was hungry.
I put the bowls on a tray with napkins and two forks. I had to elbow the exit button on the door while i balanced it, but when I got halfway through the door I realized he'd want a drink too.
"Fuck," I whispered to myself and turned back towards the kitchen. I thought again of throwing it all away, but I couldn't. I love him and I wasn't up for a fight. We'd had a nice day together.
I grabbed two glasses and filled them with the cucumber water Emerson had made that morning. I loaded them on the tray and fought with the door again.
"Dude, what are you doing? I'm starved," Amir called from around the corner.
"I'm coming," I said, not sure if he would hear me.
"Hurry up," he barked. His tone, his words, the final straw. I set the tray down on the ground and went the other way. I'd had enough.
"Did you drop it?" he called when he heard the clink of bowls and forks. I went over to a bench by the front door and sat down, trying not to cry.
"Are you crying?" Amir called and I heard his footsteps rush around the corner. "Kasper? Baby love?" his tone changed completely when he saw me.
"What did I do? Why are you mad at me?" I asked and sniffled. He came over to me and squatted down in front of me. He took my hands and leaned in to rub his nose against mine.
"Come with me," he said and pulled on my hands. He pulled me up to my feet and then walked backwards and led me around the house.
"Oh!" I gasped when I saw what he had set up. There was a small round table with a white table cloth under a zig-zag of white sparkling lights near the pool. The table was set with plates and silverware and two flutes of some sparkling juice and flickering candles in the center of the table. It looked like a fancy restaurant. .
"It was a joke. I forget I can't prank you like I do with other guys. You're too sweet," he insisted in a sheepish, apologetic voice.
"Oh!" was all I could say. It was so beautiful and perfect. One of the house staff came out carrying a pizza box.
"I had them make your favorite food. I called your mom and she said you liked the pizza place near their house so I had the chef call them and bribe them for the exact recipe and one of their boxes. We had to special order the flour from a place in Ventura... see?" Amir said as he took the box from the house guy.
"It's from Perelli's! Holy woah!" I looked down and Amir opened it to show a perfect cheese pizza like I'd eaten hundreds of times as a kid.
