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Pink. Yup -- pink.

Josh didn't think that he'd ever hate a color. They're innocent enough. It's not like colors have any actual meaning or anything. It's just that humans like to associate meaning to them. And in this case pink meant something horrible. In fact, pink would have remained an innocent color to Josh if he hadn't found the slip sitting on his desk.

That's right. A pink slip of death. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. It was a pink slip of -- drumroll please -- termination. Which could be translated into death. But in this case it was death of Josh's job.

Alright. It's not like he was a senior member of the tech support team. But come on! He'd been there for two years and he'd done a hell of a job of it. Truthfully he didn't really care for the job. But it was money. And he needed money.

Oh. And what a great passive-aggressive way of letting someone know that you're letting them go. By leaving a thin piece of pink paper smack dab on the middle of their keyboard knowing that it's the first damn thing they're going to see when they walk into work. And why pink? Who the hell decided that pink would ever be good color to use for such a damn thing? Pink is supposed to be the color that reminds you of cute fluffy animals and marshmallow dreams. Not getting fired.

At least they didn't let me go at the end of the day, he thought

Josh tried to see the bright side of every situation. This was a hard one though. He thought he'd be much better to learn at the beginning of the day that he was fired rather than work an entire day before finding out.

He snatched the slip up from his keyboard and nearly crumpled in his hand, resisting the urge to make a fist. If there was anything that he could do he needed to find out exactly why he was fired. He stormed down the aisle of cubicles turning heads as he did and marched right up to the boss's office. The place was a small tech support business that employed roughly thirty people. Although apparently thirty must've been too many.

Josh grabbed the doorknob and stood there. He took a deep breath before finally marching in. He could feel his cheeks burning -- they were red. Not pink. Red.

"Ah, Mr. Scavo. I take it you found your notice of termination," said the man behind the polished maple desk. Josh knew him best as Rick. Or as a lot of the other employees referred to him as Rick the Dick.

Josh raised his hand holding the pink slip. His eyes were wide and demanding answers. "May I ask why?"

"Why what?" Rick wasn't intentionally being an ass. He lacked the basic social intuition and really was oblivious to most body language.

"Why the hell am I being fired?"

"Do you want the short answer or the long answer?"

"I really don't care because you're going to give me the long answer anyway."

"Well because of the war the tech industry hasn't been doing too well. Most resources have been going into the military industrial complex," Rick began. He had a bit of a thing for conspiracy theories that Josh was hoping he would refrain from getting into. "That's in addition to a recent market analysis by the big wigs saying that were about to enter a bear market. The last thing we need is to be overstretched financially before going into a bursting bubble like the housing crisis ten years ago. We're already spread thin as it is so we needed to make some cutbacks."

The war -- right. That was the excuse everyone was giving lately for everything. Josh tended to stay out of politics but the war was something that he just couldn't stand. Frankly, the anthros hadn't done anything wrong. Anthros were basically anything that was human-like but weren't human. Most of them had their own states and countries and just wanted to be left alone. Some of them had even assimilated into human society. But that didn't stop the humans from getting greedy and pushing their borders as far as they could into the anthros' land. We saw their society as sick and animalistic and worthy of being shown the light -- the human way of so-called democracy and crony capitalism. Of course that would start a war.

Unfortunately Josh lived in a city that bordered one of those nations that was probably the fiercest of them all -- the United Prides. It was a nation of lions that were still ruled by a monarchy. And other than what he'd seen on TV he didn't really know much about the lions or any of the other anthros. And that wasn't saying much. They all seemed foreign, or exotic, or whatever other word could be used to describe something beyond Josh's normal, sheltered life. In a way, they were something new and exciting. And Josh had been more than interested in them as long as he could remember. It was something he was kind of ashamed of but it was a secret he'd never told anyone. And rightly so. Anthros were seen as nothing but savage beasts and being -- ahem -- "interested" in them was considered one of the worst perversions. He certainly had good reasons to keep his mouth shut.

Josh wondered if being fired was actually a good thing. Things had been getting much worse on the border and the lions were sending in raids nearly every week, pillaging cities and taking slaves. Despite the technology, it was like they were living back in the medieval ages. The United Prides was one of the last nations to maintain a caste of slaves and serfs because it was sanctioned and subsidized by the monarchy. And with one of the strongest militaries in the world they were the last ones humans should've pissed off. So Josh didn't feel entirely too comfortable living so close to the border. Maybe this was his chance to move someplace safer. Hell, he could use the war as an excuse just like everyone else and finally pursue his goal of becoming a musician. That would mean he'd have to brush the dust off his guitar and look for a band to join.

"Whatever," Josh shrugged. "When can I expect my last paycheck?"

"Next Friday like usual."

Josh turned around and left. He didn't have anything more to say other than the thought that he would have liked to stick his middle finger up in the air as he walked out that door. But he didn't do it. Frankly he was out of fucks to give.

His car ride home was riddled with the thought, what the hell do I do now? It's obvious he needed to start looking for new job right away but he didn't know whether or not he should be looking for a job elsewhere. Or whether or not he should start propositioning and auditioning for local and regional bands. It was like the weight of the hippo was placed on his shoulders. Arriving at home in the morning when he shouldn't be there just made that thought all the more daunting.

Home was a two-story apartment building filled with one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats. He had a one-bedroom. The building shared a common entranceway and hallway that connected all of the apartments and like every other time he walked into the building it was always filled with a familiar stench of cat piss and overcooked meat. Before he started working at tech support it was the only thing he could afford and he'd just been too lazy to move anywhere else. Now, he couldn't even afford it.

He dragged his feet up the stairs in a bit of a shamble. He had no clue what is going to do for the rest of the day. But things like that were kind of being decided for him. The moment he reached the top step and took a look at his door he saw very familiar color. Pink.

And in bold letters at the top of the paper -- EVICTION NOTICE.

Josh stumbled over to his door stammering, "No, no, no, no, no, no!" He snatched the paper off of the door and held it at the level of his chest so he could read it.

EVICTION NOTICE:

Dear valued tenant,

We here at Starwood properties regret to inform you, our valued customer, that all residents of the Third Street Apartments must vacate the premises by the end of the month. There will be no exceptions as the purchasers of the property are tearing down the building. This is to make way for construction of a brand-spanking new condo! We do apologize for this unexpected inconvenience and have secured a future discount at the new Third Street Condos.

The apartment manager will be willing to assist you in your new apartment search. Best of luck!

Fuck. This time Josh did crumple up the piece of paper trying to make it disappear from the universe entirely. Pink was the color of hell spawn.

He got inside and slammed the door behind him thinking that that would alleviate some of the frustration. It didn't really. He was still fuming. And seeing all the stuff that he had accumulated over two years pissed him off even more. It pissed him off because he was going to have to move all of that within the next month. He sat down at his computer desk and dropped his forehead to the flat surface mumbling some incoherent thoughts.

Bing.

His computer chimed and the screen came to life. Whatever it was he didn't care -- he needed the distraction. He opened up the browser and found that he had a new e-mail in his inbox. Josh immediately stopped slouching and sat up straight one moment he saw who had sent the e-mail. It was from one of the bands he had auditioned for the previous month. He opened it up and scanned over it as fast as he could, his eyes darting left and right across the screen. He was in. He just needed to show up to practice that night -- meaning in ten hours. After being fired and getting evicted at least he had something going for him.

He spent the rest of the day dusting off his guitar case, tuning the guitar, and practicing until the calluses on his fingers were too painful to go on much longer. He still gave himself a few hours to rest before practice though. He was actually quite excited. The band was a fairly popular one in the area.

By the time seven o'clock arrived and he'd had a quick bite to eat he grabbed his guitar and amp and headed out the door. He charged down the stairwell nearly tripping a few times but always caught his balance. With both hands occupied he used his back to open the door and slid outside. The sun was still up but it was just starting to set, painting the normally chalky colored sidewalk a pale orange.

He kept his eyes on the amp to make sure it didn't hit the door on his way out as he pivoted to walk down the sidewalk he bumped into something large yet soft. It threw him way off balance. The amp slipped from his fingers dropping to the ground and the guitar case flew up into the air as he stumbled forward twisting his ankle. He closed his eyes waiting for the case to come crashing down on the sidewalk. But it didn't.

"I must apologize," a deep, smooth voice called to him from above. Something -- or someone -- was dressed in a heavy trenchcoat and towering over him. The person must've been close to nine feet tall. But glimpse of the person's feet made Josh realized that it wasn't human. It was an anthro. And quite possibly even worse. It was a lion. And the guitar case was in his paws.

"N-no problem. D-don't worry about it," Josh stuttered. He was a bit freaked out. It wasn't the first time he'd encountered in anthro in real life. But it was the first time he'd ever come face to face with a lion. And what made the whole situation worse was the fact he was dressed like some kind of shady street vendor with a cowl over his head. Josh could hardly see his face.

The lion put the guitar case between his left arm and his side and extended his right paw down to Josh. "Let me help you up," he offered. His voice was warm and somewhat welcoming but Josh couldn't get past the fact that he still felt threatened. It was enough to even distract him from the pain growing in his ankle. In fact, Josh tried to stand up but fell right back down the moment he tried to put pressure on his right foot. "Just take my paw, human," the lion offered again shaking his paw as if Josh hadn't seen it in the first place.

Josh gave in. He swallowed hard and grabbed the lion's massive paw, his hand nearly disappearing into the mass of padded flesh and fur. The lion hoisted Josh back up to his feet without so much as the tiniest bit of sweat. He was like an unshakable boulder of pure, hard muscle.

He could feel his ankle starting to swell and did his best to keep most of his weight off of it. The lion released him and grabbed the guitar case. His muzzle moved once again underneath the cowl. "So you're a musician?"

"Kind of," Josh replied.

The lion chuckled. "What do you mean 'kind of?'"

"Well today's my first day with the band. I just got fired from work so I'm kind of hoping this takes off."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the lion said but from the little bit of his face that Josh could see he could have sworn that he saw a grin sweep across that muzzle of his. And with the dim light of the sun falling behind the horizon Josh noticed a few scars scattered across his face. "I'm sure everything will work out for you. What did you say your name was?"

Josh was starting to feel uneasy but he answered the lion anyway. "I didn't. But my name is Josh."

"I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon, Josh."

Josh hardly knew how to respond and just remained silent, and after the lion handed him the guitar case, he turned around and started to stroll down the sidewalk as if nothing had happened, the very bottom of his tail swaying back and forth along the bottom rim of his trenchcoat. He was happy or excited about something. But Josh didn't have time to care. He was now running late because of all that.

He limped over to his car and tossed the amp and guitar case in the back. Driving was going to suck with a sprained right ankle. But he did it anyway. He pulled out of the apartment parking lot and onto Third Street.

Unfortunately band practice was taking place on the other side of town. It was going to take about thirty minutes to get there. It took so long because he either had to go a round-about way on the highway or cut through downtown. Downtown was usually faster. So that's the way he chose.

He was only two blocks away from the performing arts building when he ran into traffic jam. Josh didn't have a clue as to why there'd be a traffic jam at seven thirty at night. There was nothing going on downtown that he knew of. And if there had been anything going on at the performing arts center he would've known about it. No. Something was off.

That lion, he thought as he glimpsed something at the corner of his eye. People were sprinting down the sidewalk running away from something. And some passengers were evacuating the cars in front of him, leaving them running. He opened his door and the first noise to reach his ears was screaming. And then there they were - a flood of lion soldiers marching down the street grabbing whoever wasn't fast enough to run away.

"Shit, shit, shit," Josh cursed as he stumbled out of his car falling flat on his face. Fifty yards. That's how far away he was guessing that they were. He fought through the pain and climbed to his feet. Thirty yards. They were closing in fast, some of them in armored vehicles. He would've driven off in his car he hadn't been surrounded by other vehicles, each emptying in a panicked rush. But all of them were dashing past Josh sometimes pushing him into other cars. He could hardly move with his dysfunctional ankle.

It almost wasn't worth it. It pretty much seemed pointless. There was no way he was going to outrun them. He leaned up against the hood of the closest car and turned around. Five yards. Yup -- it was definitely pointless.

He kept his eyes towards the asphalt as one of the lions approached him and all the others kept running past. He didn't even care to look at him. He just stared at the lion's feet in awe of how big and powerful they looked. How could he ever match such a creature?

"Whatever you're going to do to me," Josh submitted. "Make it quick."

Of course. This was his luck, wasn't it? Let's have the worst day ever with a side order of death-by-lion please.

The soldier didn't even utter a word. He just simply grabbed the back of Josh's head and shoved a moist cloth in his face. And with a few breaths Josh passed out.

* *

"Told you I'd see you again soon."

Josh had a headache that was like a thousand pin needles stabbing into his prefrontal cortex. Last time he'd had such a headache was the morning after his twenty-first birthday. He ignored whoever was talking to him and wondered just how much he had to drink the previous night. He'd forgotten all about the traffic jam and the lions.

"It's time to wake up, human."

"Come on guys just let me sleep in another half an hour," Josh bumbled, slurring his speech.

"Give me the bucket of water, son."

"The wha--"

Josh sprung to life the moment a torrent of icy cold -- bordering glacial -- water fell upon his redheaded crown and rushed down his back. He blinked open his eyes and attempted to wipe some of the water from his brow. But he couldn't. His hands were tied to something at his sides.

After tilting his head to let the water drip down the side, he glanced up at the towering mass of fur and muscle in front of him. It was the same trenchcoat lion with the same scars on the same face. Although this time the lion had thrown away the trenchcoat and was wearing clothes of white silk trimmed in gold. It was a gold that nearly matched the shine of his well-groomed coat, contrasted only by the dark brown of his mane.

"This is the human you captured for me, father?" A second voice echoed within the chamber. It was less deep, less mature, but more suave than the other lion's. It was as if the first lion's voice had been forged by years of battle and hardship, and the second lion's voice was accustomed to years of opulence. "He's a bit of a scrawny little thing, isn't he?" the other lion finished.

"Yes, this is the human I captured for your birthday. His name is Josh."

"Josh? Why, that's a funny name, isn't it?"

His headache got worse when he finally started to realize the gravity of his situation. "W-what's going on? Where am I?"

"You are in his grace's royal palace. My father, the king, brought you hear to be my personal slave, human."

Josh finally turned to look at the other lion. The prince -- he guessed -- stood nearly as tall as his father and was dressed in the same fine clothing. His back was straight, his ears were perked forward, and his golden eyes examined the human from head to toe. It was embarrassing because Josh was nothing other than his boxer briefs.

The look in the young lion's eyes was full of a greedy hunger and lust as if he'd finally gotten something he'd been wanting for years. He strolled over to Josh and grabbed the back of his head with a paw full of red hair, bending it back to let the light shine on his face. Josh squinted. Bright rays of sun were breaking through decorative and glassless holes in the stone ceiling where garden vines and flowers draped over the edges.

The prince placed his other paw on Josh's left cheek. It was large enough to cover that entire half of his face. But the lion released his palm and ran his fingers down Josh's jaw and to his chin where he caressed the human's lips with a single finger. He kept the tip of his finger on the middle edge of Josh's bottom lip before he put pressure on the lower jaw, opening Josh's mouth. He stuck his padded finger inside underneath the top lip and ran it along Josh's mostly white teeth. Josh didn't dare make a sound.

"I think you got a good one, father," the young lion observed, turning to the older lion. One of the reason's Josh could tell that the lion was younger was because of the length and shade of his mane. The soft mass of fur was about a foot long and braided with two gold rings below his chin. It was smooth, clean color of ochre like the darkest of orange leaves in autumn and was just long enough to hang over the collar of his white silk shirt. His gaze returned to Josh. "He looks quite healthy. He should last a good while."

"I'm glad you like him," said the king, tossing something to his son. Josh didn't get a good look at what it was. The prince released Josh's jaw and caught whatever it was. Damn. He wanted to take a long but the lion's hold on the back of his head was like a vice grip. And before he could even maneuver his eyes to try and take a look, something cold and smooth was wrapping around his neck. He didn't need to see it anymore. He knew exactly what it was. It was a leather collar.

"Perfect fit!" the prince rejoiced. "It's like you were destined to be mine!"

Josh gulped. He was speechless. What the hell was someone supposed to do in such a situation? It wasn't like he could take to huge lion anthros on, especially a king and prince. Not that he would have been able to anyway. His hands were still tied tight to the arms of whatever he was seated on.

"Alright. He's your responsibility now, Khari. You'd better break him in quick."

So that's what the prince's name was -- Khari. But Josh was mulling over the thought of whether or not he'd have to call him something else like "Sir", "Your Grace", or "Master."

Khari finally let go of Josh's hair and ran his padded paw up against his warm cheek again. Josh kept his eyes averted and fixed on the marble floors but he knew that the prince's gaze was upon him, sparkling with a gleam of everything he was going to do with his new pet.

Josh could feel a devilish grin creep across the young lion's muzzle. That sultry voice of his bounced off the stone walls and echoed within Josh's nervous ears. "Don't worry father. I know just what to do with this one."

It was horrible. He had been fired from his job, evicted from his home, and now enslaved by a lion prince. But it was just like Josh to do what he did best. He saw a bright side to his situation -- Khari was pretty damn attractive. And since anthros were kind of his thing, he'd put the young prince at a nine out of ten. Khari was pretty much pure muscle under that beige coat of fur. And even though Josh did his best to keep his eyes averted he couldn't help but notice a large bulge centered underneath the crotch of the lion's pants. The best part, however, was the clear view Josh had of Khari's bare feet. He didn't like to admit it but furry padded feet were a huge weakness of his. And the fact that the bottom of the prince's foot was large enough to cover his entire face was a huge turn on. He was already imagining himself groveling at Khari's feet and begging to suck each individual toe. He gulped and furrowed his brow. What the hell was he doing? Being a slave was a bad thing. Wasn't it?

"Follow me, slave," Kari instructed untying the rope around Josh's wrists. "And don't even think about trying to run."

The odd thing was Josh actually wasn't even thinking about running. He was still caught up staring at the lion's feet and wondering what they might have tasted like. Damn. Josh never realized he was that much of a freak. He supposed it was natural though. This was, of course, the first time he'd ever really paid much attention to a real-life anthro's feet, just inches from his reach. It was a desire he knew about he never realized was that strong.

Josh stood from the stone chair and noticed three of the same in the chamber. He cringed a bit the moment he put weight on his right foot. That's right. He had twisted and sprained it. But he couldn't let Khari know he was injured. He just grinned and beared it.

The room must've been some kind of courtyard -- a place to relax. A small bathing pool took up a fair portion of the center of the room and next to it was the bucket that had been dumped on him. The walls around him were some kind of dark stone and the floor was made out of an even darker marble. The architecture made it seem as if he'd stepped back in time when stone masonry was at its finest.

"Quit stalling, human." Khari's voice cracked. He waved one of his paws and urged Josh into the next room.

Josh didn't hesitate a second longer. He took his first few steps and followed behind the young lion. Khari even kept his back toward Josh figuring that he wouldn't be much of a threat. Or maybe Khari intuitively understood that Josh wasn't even going to attempt anything. And if Josh was going to attempt something it certainly wasn't going to be something that Khari would object to.

The open doorway led into a large hall with walls still made up of the same type of stone. It was aligned perpendicular to what Josh was now calling the bathing room. Khari turned left down the hall and Josh followed making sure to keep a fair distance between him and the prince. The last thing he wanted to do was step on Khari's tail. But it also gave Josh a good look at the young lion's ass. His silky pants were smooth and tight enough to show a detailed portion of his bubbly, muscular butt cheeks. A golden ring was coiled around the base of the lion's tail holding up his pants. Swaying back and forth in a gleeful manner, Khari's tail was mesmerizing Josh. He was so lost in examining the lion's body that he stopped paying attention to where they were going. He followed blindly like a good slave.

Eventually they came to a halt and Khari turned around to face his slave, catching the human looking at his feet. Josh didn't even stop and drew close to the lion. Perhaps even a little too close. It was odd. He shouldn't have been feeling that comfortable. But even at arm's length from the young lion, Josh could feel a small bit of Khari's heat radiating from his furry body. And despite everything else, it was comforting.

"Kneel before me, human."

Josh did as he asked. He lowered himself to his knees reveling in the fact that he was even closer to those sexy feet. A little bit further and he could touch them with his lips. He shook his head only slightly so Khari wouldn't notice. Ugh. He just couldn't stop himself.

Khari sat down on what appeared to be some kind of lounging chair or sofa. It was made of polished wood and adorned with various soft, cushioned linens. Without being able to see everything around him, Josh took a guess that he was in the prince's chambers. He awaited further command from his master.

"Turn," Kari started demanding, "You are to being my foot stool, human."

"Right away, Khari," Josh replied and turned to his left so he was parallel with the edge of the chair.

"What did you call me?"

"K-Khari-"

"First rule," Khari began and rested his feet atop Josh his back. They were heavy causing his midsection to droop a little but Josh held firm. He was not going to show any sign of weakness. The prince continued, "From now on you will refer to me as master."

Josh winced a bit as Khari leaned back in the chair and repositioned his feet so his soles rested on Josh's bare skin, the dark coarse flesh scratching him a bit. "Yes master," Josh replied.

"Good. The second and third rules are obvious. The second rule is you shall not attempt to escape. If you try you will be punished severely. The third rule is you shall do what I say when I say it. No exceptions. Do you understand?"

"Yes master."

"We shall see." Khari removed his feet from Josh's back. He placed one on the ground and the other just inches from Josh his face. Josh's ears grew warm as he felt blood fill his head. His arms trembled a bit as he resisted the urge to turn and plant his face deep into that big foot of his. "This shall be a test of your loyalty," the young lion explained. "Kiss my foot."

Josh had absolutely no reason to hesitate. He rotated his neck and dove right in sinking his lips deep into the smoky flesh of the lion's foot pad. His lips squeezed tight against the flesh and he let his tongue slip out just a bit in order to get a taste. It was only mildly salty and definitely something Josh could learn to love.

"Oh, you like that do you? Then why don't you go little bit further and suck on my big toe."

He couldn't help but oblige considering that was something he wanted to do ever since he laid eyes on those feet. Josh let his tongue climb up the bottom of Khari's foot and each inch added a little more of the lion's masculine flavor unto his taste buds. It was so good that nearly made him shudder. Before long the tip of his lips rested at the end of Khari's big toe. He looked up to his master and was invigorated by the degree of pleasure sparkling in his eyes. Josh pressed forward, his lips wrapping around the thick toe and pulling it all the way into his mouth. The thing nearly took up the entire space, the rough pad tickling the bumps on his tongue. He immediately started salivating and let out a muffled sigh of satisfaction. The fur tickled the roof of his mouth but he still treated like a lollipop, sucking it in savoring as much of the Lions flavor as possible.

Khari let out a soft moan. "Father chose wisely, didn't he?"

Josh nodded in agreement even though he didn't actually hear what Khari said. He was too caught up in a pleasure he'd never experienced before. But before he could enjoy it any longer the young lion removed his toe and placed his foot back on the ground.

"That's enough of that for now," he said. "You've passed the test, slave. In fact you've done more than pass the test, you've pleased me in the process."

Josh kept his eyes down and fixed on Khari's foot. He was still craving more but knew he was in no position to ask such a thing. And he wasn't sure if be a good idea to reveal such a secret in the first place. The last thing he needed was to give his master knowledge of a vulnerability -- a way to exploit him.

"But now I'm hungry. Go fetch me some of that fruit on the table."

Josh broke his gaze and did as his master commanded. He rose to his feet being sure to favor his right foot without hinting that it was still painful. With a quick glance around the room he finally got the opportunity to take it all in. He'd been correct in thinking that it was the prince's chambers. It was an extremely large room adorned with quality furniture and various items made purely of precious metals. There was a buttressed doorway that led outside to a roofed balcony where a number of colorful potted plants rested on the marble flooring. But out of everything in the room, the thing that stood out the most to Josh was a steel sword that rested on a wooden stand. The hilt was made of ivory and the pummel held the largest emerald Josh had ever seen.

"Go ahead and try if you've got the courage," Khari noticed Josh eyeing the sharp weapon. "I'll have you pinned to the ground before you can even swing it."

Josh's muscles tensed and he shot his sight elsewhere. "I wouldn't even think of it, master."

"That's good to hear. Now go get me that food like an obedient little slave. And while you're at it, grab the fan from my dresser. I'd like to relax before my martial training today."

"Yes master," Josh answered and scurried across the room to the table. There were many different types of fruit in many different types of glimmering metal bowls. He didn't know which he should bring to Khari. "Which fruit should I bring, master?"

The young lion tossed his feet up on the arm of the chair and slouched back into the cushions picking at his teeth. He laughed, "Let's make a game of it shall we? Pick my favorite fruit and I'll let you suck my other toe -- it'd be good to even them out. Pick my least favorite fruit and I get to crush you with my one of my feet. But I'm guessing you actually wouldn't mind either of those two outcomes, would you?"

Josh's shoulders contracted and his chest felt heavier. His heart also pounded hard enough that he could hear the pulse in his ears. Could he really have figured it out? He took a quick glance at Khari but snapped back to look at the table the moment he noticed the prince's gaze upon him. If he was correct in his assumption, he could have sworn that Khari had winked at him. But he couldn't delay much longer. His eyes darted back and forth between the different types of fruit until he just grabbed a random one. There was no way he was going to guess correctly so random selection was a fair option. The bowl he chose was full of grapes.

With the bowl in his hands, Josh turned around and took two steps toward the chair before remembering that he needed to grab the fan as well. He kept his eyes on the floor and finally became aware of the reason why Khari may have winked at him. He'd been starting to pitch a tent in his underwear. But as much as he was flattered by the young lion winking at him, he wanted to avoid any further hinting that he was kind of falling head over heels for his master. Which was such a weird thing anyway. Josh still didn't understand his sudden infatuation and attraction to the lion. So he slipped a hand down over his crotch trying to tame his arousal as he made his way over to the dresser that sat not too far from the prince's gigantic bed.

He quickly snatched up the large paper fan and used it instead of his hand to hide his slowly fading erection. He waddled his way back over to the prince and stood beside the chair. Khari's head was leaning back over one of the arms. His eyes were closed and his mouth was agape. Josh assumed that he was to start feeding him but that didn't stop the thought that he sort of wanted to kiss the lion. He wanted to feel those black lips pressed against his. Damn it. He was doing it again.

Josh didn't delay any longer. He plucked the first grape off of its stem and brought it over the lion's gaping maw waiting patiently for some sweet morsel to fall into it. Khari's teeth were huge and sparkling white, especially his fangs. They must have been nearly six inches long. It was all in proportion with his body though. He was a bit of a giant compared to humans.

After swallowing hard, Josh let the grape drop down into Khari's mouth, which shut like a trap door the moment it hit his tongue. The young lion munched away at it for a few seconds, letting the sweet juices drip down his throat. There were a few seconds of silence that made Josh uneasy. He couldn't help but think that he picked the wrong fruit.

"Another," Khari ordered and opened his mouth once more.

Josh was happy to hear it, but it didn't really answer the question of whether or not it was his favorite fruit. His hand glided over the lion's mouth and released one more grape down into the warm moist hatch. Khari savored the second one a little bit more.

"Do you have the fan?"

"Yes I do, master."

"Good. Start fanning me while you feed me more grapes."

His mouth opened again and Josh repeated the process all while waved the fan in a continuous up and down motion a few feet from Khari's huge head. The lion's mane rustled slightly with each rush of air.

They repeated the motions until Prince Khari had eaten about twenty grapes and wiped a smidgen of juice from his ebony lips with his furry wrist. He finally opened his eyes and looked at his slave. Josh could have easily gotten lost in those golden irises but he shot his eyes away.

"It's only been an hours since you've been my slave and you've done wonderfully," Khari stated. It was if there was a bit of boasting in his voice. "Most human slaves take much more to break them in than you. I wonder what makes you different."

Josh had a slight urge to answer him but decided not to. Again, he was assuming that it wasn't his place to speak without spoken to. Khari yawned and stretched out his long muscular arms, knocking over the silver bowl of grapes that Josh had rested on the wide chair arm. Josh dove for it with one arm, catching it just inches before it hit the ground.

The prince let out an amused grunt. An interested grin twisted at the right corner of his lips. "Nice reflexes," he said and grabbed the bowl from Josh's grasp. "I'll take that from here. You go get the clothing for my martial training ready. It should be the top drawer on the left. I'll only need the pants for today so once you've got them drape them neatly over the edge of my bed."

Khari stood up from the chair and continued to toss a few more grapes into his mouth as he strolled over to the table. Josh trailed behind him for a second before starting toward the dresser.

"By the way," the young lion began, "It was a trick game. None of these fruit are my favorite. I eat my favorite right away in the morning, so they're usually gone by the afternoon. The good thing is you didn't pick my least favorite --" he picked up another fruit from the table before letting it drop back into a bowl -- "Pears. Such bland things."

Josh smiled. He didn't really care too much for pears either.

"So I guess that means I can settle with you sucking on my other toe. It's like I said -- it'd be good to even them out."

Josh's lips curled up even more at the thought of getting another go at Khari's foot. It distracted him as he opened up the top drawer on the right instead of the left. He shook his head and reached for the opposite drawer before he noticed something peculiar. It was a testament to his current level of attention that he hadn't noticed it when he'd grabbed the fan. A large mirror lined the back edge of the dresser with a perfect reflection of his entire top half. He finally got a glimpse of the collar that was coiled around his neck. It took up almost half the height of his neck and had to have been made up of very thick leather with an iron ring dangling from the front. The leather had been dyed a bright orange. Thank god it wasn't pink!

But even though his current circumstances would have been dire for nearly any other person, Josh couldn't help but sport a smile. In a way, it kind of solved the problem of having to find a job and a place to live. Perhaps he was grateful for that. It was nice having those things taken care of.

"Did you find them?" Khari asked. He set down the bowl of grapes and started toward Josh in five long strides. Josh watched as the lion towered behind him in the mirror. Khari exposed his claws and gently scratched the length his slave's bare back from his shoulders to his ass crack. "That drawer right there, slave," he pointed. Josh shivered with the lion's hot breath rushing past his left ear. "Don't worry. You'll learn where everything is soon enough."

Josh wrapped his hand around the handle and pulled out the large wooden drawer. Inside it were stacks of pure white cotton pants. They were very simple for what Josh would have considered a prince's clothing, but it made sense to train in something that was easily washable. He grabbed the closest pair of pants and removed it from the drawer, closing it in turn.

"Hand it here," Khari demanded and Josh turned to find him removing his shirt. The soft fabric crept elegantly up his trim belly and chest, revealing his extremely athletic build. Under all the fur, Josh was certain that his master was chiseled like a sculpted Adonis. In fact some of the creases of a well-defined musculature still lined a bit of his belly. He tossed the shirt to the floor, grabbed the pants from Josh, and turned around. His tail swept across Josh's naked belly. "Undo the ring around my tail."

Josh's entire body quivered. He was thinking that he'd have to revise his assessment from a nine out of ten to a pure ten. Prince Khari was a fantasy-come-true. He pinched his thigh just to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"What are you waiting for, slave?"

"S-sorry, master. Right away."

His hands wouldn't stop shaking as they crept toward the base of Khari's tail. He took in a deep breath and wrapped his fingers around the golden ring. Other than a strap that circled the top of the silk pants, the ring was the only thing holding the pants up. Josh bent the ring and undid the small clasp that held it together. The smooth fabric instantly fell a good foot and exposed most of the young lion's ass. Josh swallowed hard resisting the urge to grab a handful of one of those bubbly cheeks.

Khari undid the strap in front and let the pants fall the rest of the way to the floor. Josh finally exhaled the deep breath he'd been holding and just about fainted at the sight of the nude lion.

Josh's mind was screaming, "Take me now you sexy beast!"

His master bent over and slid both feet into the legs of the new pants giving Josh a fair few of his rear end and the large pair of balls that hung freely below his taint. He didn't even notice that Khari had been watching him.

"Like what you see, human?"

Josh snapped his head to the right and tried to act like he hadn't been gawking at the sexy lion man. Khari stood back up and tied the strap tight around his waist. His gaze, however, remained on Josh as he strapped a small string around the base of his tail. The string rested above a cut out portion of the back of the pants. It was just large enough to wrap around the base of his tail.

"One thing that you should know about me, slave, is that I value pure honesty. If I ask you a question I want nothing but the absolute truth," the prince explained. "So? Did you like what you saw?"

Josh's throat lifted and pulled down the knot that had been forming in it. Josh didn't say anything. He just nodded.

Khari's muzzle twisted into a grin. "I thought so. You're a pretty easy one to read, human. Anyway, I can't train properly if my feet are out of balance. We need to rectify that." He plopped down on his bed and held his left foot in the air wiggling his toes. "My big toe's been getting impatient, slave. I think it wants you to give it some proper attention."

Josh fell to his knees right in front of the lion's foot. He grabbed it and slid his fingers around to the top, leaving his thumbs pressed into the supple pad on the bottom. His tongue inched out from his mouth and he gave the pad on the bottom of Khari's big toe a big lick, pressing the whole face of hit flat against as much of the pad as possible. Slowly he slid it up the pad until he reached the very tip. And just like before Josh moistened his lips and drew the toe into his mouth. The feeling of the pad grazing against the top of this tongue made his limbs tingle. Khari jerked a bit and clenched wads of the satin sheets in his big paws.

The taste was even better the second time and Josh swept his tongue back and forth, to and fro, and all over to make sure he got a chance to experience all of it.

"My prince, they're ready for you at the training grounds," a voice called from the entranceway.

Khari pulled his toe out from Josh's mouth. They were both a bit disappointed that they couldn't enjoy it a bit longer. "Damn. It looks like it's time to go. I command you to follow me slave. I'd like to witness your master's skills in hand-to-hand combat."

He did as the prince commanded. Not that Josh would have ever refused anyway.

It took about ten minutes or so to walk around the halls of the palace and to the training grounds. It was a small gymnasium or arena -- Josh couldn't really decide which to call it. In the center were two dirt rings with a thirty foot or so diameter. They were surrounded by stone steps that also functioned as seating. Khari escorted his slave to an empty portion of the stonework and told him to enjoy the show. There were around fifteen other lions on the grounds and only five of them were dressed like Khari. They each appeared to be seasoned warriors and what Josh would consider very formidable opponents.

Josh had felt embarrassed the moment he entered the training ground considering he was still wearing nothing but his underwear and a collar, but no one was even staring at him. It was like he wasn't even there, even though he was the only human present. Regardless, he could help but be highly aware of just how exposed he was to a lot of good-looking anthros.

Khari bent down in the middle of one of the rings and grabbed a paw full of sandy dirt, dusting his palms with it. "Who dares to honor their prince with a match?" he called out raising a paw to the air. His meaty shoulder muscles stretched out from his side and suggested that he had very powerful back and arms.

"I will, my prince." One of the lion's dressed in the same white pants stepped down from the stone stands. He was just as tall as Khari but sported a much longer a mane. However, there weren't as many braids or golden rings that Khari's mane had. That and it was much darker, resembling the same shade as the king's dark brown.

Khari smiled, "It's been a while. Hasn't it, Runi?"

"Yes. It has. I also see you have your new toy. Did you break him in yet?"

"Not fully, yet. But he's been a wonderful pet so far," the young lion replied and passed Josh a quick smirk."

"Well don't wait too long before you break him in."

"I'll take as long as I wish, uncle. You should know your place."

Uncle? That came as a bit of a shock. Not to mention, Josh was intrigued by their interaction. He'd thought that he'd already been "broken in," so he was wondering what exactly that meant.

They took their place at two white starting blocks in the sand.

"Fight!" another lion spat, giving them the go. Khari and Runi sprung to action wrapping their paws around each other's shoulder and sides. It was hard to see who had the best leverage at the beginning but just as soon as it had begun, Khari was twisting his uncle around his back and dropping him to the ground. With a loud thud and a small quake of the earth beneath him, Runi's back crashed down making a crater in the sand. Khari seized the opportunity to drop onto him and twist his limbs into a submission hold with one of his arm secured tight around Runi's neck. The older lion gave up and pounded the ground twice.

Khari released him. "You've been getting weak, uncle. I'm not that little cub that you can harass anymore."

"Maybe not weak in body..." Runi coughed under his breath and Josh was the only one that caught it. That was partly due to the fact that the older lion was staring right at him when he said it. His blue eyes were cold like the ice they resembled. If Josh ever had a gut feeling about someone, it was telling him not to trust that lion.

"What did you say?" Khari's furry brow furrowed a good inch.

"Nothing, my prince. I was just admiring how strong you've grown."

The prince didn't reply but he watched as his uncle limped back over to the stone seating. "Who's next?" he called over to the four other white-pant lions.

The next lion took his place to face the powerful prince. Khari dispatched him just as quick as his uncle, putting the younger and skinnier lion into an anaconda vise -- another choke hold. If the lion had waited much longer before tapping out Josh was certain he would have passed out. At the end of the match Josh caught himself before almost clapping for his master. He'd only known the lion prince for less than quarter of a day and he was already rooting for the one who'd enslaved him. Something seemed wrong about it. Otherwise, he would have cheered Khari on with the deepest enthusiasm.

"Is this the rabble they have me training with today?" Khari huffed. He muscles were definitely clearly defined even under the fur now and lines of large veins stuck out on his arms and legs. "Come on! I need a challenge."

"HOW ABOUT ME?" a thundering voice boomed from the stone entrance of the training ground. Nothing other than a golden and white-furred giant stepped out from the corner and into the sun of the open roof. Josh thought that it was a lion at first but it didn't have much of a mane if any at all. But it was enormous! It stood somewhere between two to three feet taller than Khari and its legs were almost like small tree trunks.

"Now that's what I'm talking about! A liger!" Khari exclaimed.

A liger -- so that's what it was. Josh had heard somewhere that some hybrids could grow to be utter titans. He was amazed. If he'd been in the prince's position, he would have been cowering in terror.

"SHOULD I GO EASY ON YOU, MY PRINCE?" the furry colossus asked. Despite his booming voice, it was hardly threatening.

"Of course not, my dear liger! Give me your best!"

"OKAY, MY LORD."

Josh wasn't going to lie. He was afraid for his master and couldn't even see how this would end well. But Khari and the liger took their positions at the starting blocks anyway. The prince turned to Josh and gave him a wink. This time it was suggesting something like, "This one's for you, human." How could he be that confident?

"Fight!" the lion declared the start of the match again.

Josh resisted the urge to cover his eyes, thinking that his master was going to be crushed right at the start, but Khari amazed him. For what the liger had in size and strength he was lacking in speed and the young lion was able to dodge each of the giant's attempts to grapple with him. But Khari couldn't keep playing cat and mouse forever. He needed to make his move. And Josh was mesmerized, he had no clue what exactly his master was looking fo,r but he could see the hard analysis in his eyes. And suddenly, his expression changed. A gleam appeared in his eyes that hadn't been there before as well as a tiny smirk coiling at the corner of his muzzle -- an opening.

Khari wrapped both of his paws around one of the liger's hefty wrists and positioned himself just in front of the titan's left leg. He dropped all of his weight and forced the giant liger to tumble forward over him. The liger shook the ground as he face-planted into the dirt, his wrist still in the prince's clutches. Khari straddled himself over the liger's broad shoulder pulling the arm with him. The huge limb twisted into a painful position and Khari got a foothold on the giant's other arm and dug his other foot into the liger's face. He looked back up to Josh and gave him the same wink before pushing his foot deeper into the liger's cheek and lips, wiggling his toes a bit.

The gigantic tiger let out a bit of a painful yip which sounded way too awkward coming from such a behemoth. "OWIE, I GIVE UP!" he surrendered to the prince. Khari let him go and the beast clambered to his feet, rubbing his arm. "YOU ARE VERY GOOD, MY PRINCE."

"Yes I am, liger. It's always good to think twice before deciding to face me." There was no modesty with Khari.

"I WILL NEXT TIME. THANK YOU, MY LORD."

Everyone on the training grounds clapped at the show their prince had put on. "He's still undefeated," some of them were saying. They packed up whatever they'd brought with them and started pouring out of the grounds. Eventually, it was just Khari and Josh left in the small arena.

"Come here, human," Khari waved him over and Josh obliged. The sand felt hot underneath his feet as he made his way to the center of the ring where his master stood. An amused smile stretched across his muzzle. "How about you and I have a match? What do you say?"

Josh was at a loss for words. He was at a league way under his master, even if his ankle wasn't sprained. "I don't know, master. I don't think I'd be much of an opponent."

"That's probably the case but you never know. You just might surprise yourself," Khari urged him. "How about an incentive? It's pretty obvious that you're attracted to me. Why not? There's a lot to love about me." Well that removed any hope of keeping it hidden from him. "If you win I'll allow you to bathe with me while you wash me. How does that sound?"

"But what if I lose?"

"It doesn't really matter if you lose because I can just have you do whatever the hell I want anyway," he chuckled. "So? Care to wrestle with your master?"

A chance to wrestle with a nine-foot-tall and absolutely sexy anthro lion? Hah! Josh would have to have been an utter idiot to refuse.

"I will, master."

"Good. Now go and stand at the starting block. I'll let you know when to start."

They turned their back on each other and took their starting positions. The block was just a padded white stone that probably went a few feet deep. Josh brushed aside some of the yellow sand that was spread chaotically over it.

"A few rules --" Khari started explaining -- "Grappling and wresting only -- no punching, clawing, or biting. But those are more for me rather than you. You win by either tossing your opponent out of the ring or getting him to tap out or pass out. All types of submission holds are allowed as long as you do not break any bones or pull any sockets."

Josh gulped. All of it sounded pretty gruesome and Josh only knew a few moves from all the wrestling he used to watch as a kid. He was already limited by his ankle but he was still going to do his best to keep that a secret. Khari didn't need to know about his injury. He needed to appear strong to the lion.

"Do you understand, human?"

"Yes, master."

"Good." A hungry grin stretched across his muzzle. "Begin!"

Khari roared and tossed himself at Josh in a pounce. He was ready for it, however, and dove out of the way rolling across the sand and back up to his feet.

"Nice dodge!" the prince growled and his grin widened.

The heat of Josh's blood rushed throughout all of his extremities. It had been years that had done something that was anyway near this exciting and the adrenaline was infecting every single one of his muscles. It was enough to make him forget all about his ankle.

Khari took a step toward him and Josh took a step back. "You're going to have to make a move sometime, human. What's it going to be?" He took another step and Josh responded with another backward step. "You wouldn't want to get too close to that line. The last thing you'd want to do is trip over it like a fool."

Josh glimpsed the edge of the ring just over a foot from his heels. That was a mistake. Even though it was nothing but a microsecond, Khari seized the opportunity and launched his body at Josh once again with his arms wide open, ready to capture him. But Josh's reflexes surprised him. He was able to pivot under and around Khari's arm ending up behind him. The prince leaned forward over the edge on the tip of his toes, flailing his arms to regain his balance. Josh attempted to take a chance and push Khari over the line, but the huge lion was unmovable. Khari fell back to his padded heels and twist his torso to grab Josh's shoulder before he could escape.

"Almost, human. Almost. But you'll need a little more strength than that to push me over this line."

His master repositioned his feet and grabbed Josh's other shoulder. He pushed downward, bringing a lot of his weight with him, and Josh nearly collapsed from the pressure. Josh winced as the pain in his ankle was coming back with a vengeance. But he held strong against his master's weight and contracted his leg muscles close to their limit.

Khari pushed forward with a step and Josh helplessly fought against it before he had to take a step backward. The big lion leaned in even more, his furry mane swallowing up the top of Josh's head. Some of the light brown fur stuck to Josh's lip and he tried to spit it away. His whole body was trembling under what had to have been most of Khari's mass. It was too much. Part of him could have pushed on even more but his ankle gave way and he finally succumbed to his master, falling to the sands.

The young lion fell with him and situated himself over Josh's back. His head was at Josh's feet and his feet were at -- well -- Josh's head. Khari pinned Josh's arms with legs and forced Josh's back to arch by pulling his legs up over his shoulders. It was a submission hold that Josh had never seen before but he was kind of enjoying it, especially after Khari slid his feet together and pressed his warm black pads against his face. His back was hurting though and he wasn't going to be able to appreciate having his face against Khari's feet. He tapped the ground twice.

"Sorry," his master shook his head. "Nope. In order to tap out, you have to kiss my feet, slave. Both of them. Do it."

He grimaced as Khari pulled his legs even further, stretching Josh's back beyond a threshold he could withstand. Josh instantly started pecking all over the bottom of his master's feet with kiss after wet kiss. His master let his legs go but before Josh tried to get up, Khari was holding his slave's legs in place.

"Your ankle is swollen," he noticed. It was odd to hear a hint of concern in his voice. "Did I do that to you?"

Josh removed his lips and twisted his head to rest his left cheek on the padded pillow of Khari's feet. "No, master. I twisted that before I was even your slave."

"And you did that well against me? You amaze me even more, human."

Josh didn't think that he'd done very well against his master, but Khari would have had a much better idea. He was disappointed that he didn't win his chance to bathe with Khari, even though he knew that it had been slim to none.

Khari cleared his throat as he climbed off of the human and rose to his feet. He dusted some of the sand off of his pants. Josh flipped onto his back and held his swollen ankle in the air. It was much worse now than it had ever been. He looked at his master and glimpsed a hint of concern that still existed in his expression. Khari extended a paw for Josh, which was eerie, because he looked just like his father -- the king -- when he did so. And just like his father, his huge paw nearly ate all of Josh's hand. He pulled Josh up to his feet and started to dust some of the sand off with the furry side of his paws.

"If I had known that, I wouldn't have asked you to do such a thing," the young lion sympathized with the human. "You know what? How about I reward you with that bath anyway? You'll just have to make up for it later." Khari winked again and something about that gesture was starting to make Josh feel increasingly comfortable the more he saw it.

"Thank you, master." Josh kept his eyes on the ground but passed Khari a coy smile.

"Dust yourself off some more and go get the bathing supplies from the servant's closet, which is just a few doors down from my quarters. I'll meet you at the bathhouse." He took a few steps from Josh before turning back around. "And don't even think about running. Trust me. You don't want to know what the palace guards would do to you."

Khari ran off and Josh was left alone in the training grounds with the sun just setting over the stone walls. Run away? He wouldn't even imagine doing that. It was definitely an odd thing to say, but he almost felt the most at home that he ever had. That wasn't anything he'd been able to say about his childhood -- constantly moving and never having a single place to call home. The certainty of everything at the palace -- even if it was servitude -- was comforting.

He'd been strolling his way to the closet, lost in his thoughts, when something wrapped around his neck from behind and forced him to the stone wall. A lion, who was absolutely not Khari, was running his wet nose up and down Josh's face taking in his scent.

"I hate the smell of vermin." That voice was familiar. Even though Josh had only heard it once, there was no mistaking it. It was Khari's uncle, Runi. "You humans are pathetic -- a disease on this planet that we have the misfortune of sharing."

Josh tried to look away but the lion forced him to look at his gnarled muzzle and glacial eyes. Runi ran a single claw down Josh's neck, caressing his pulsing artery. He released him but hung his head an inch away from Josh's. "You'll weaken his hatred, human. We will never forgive your rotten species for what you've done," he gave a soft but threatening growl and turned away from Josh, continuing his march down the palace hallway.

He was left shaking out of fear, his breathing and heart rate quickened. And he couldn't understand what exactly that was supposed to mean. He knew a number of anthros harbored very poor opinions of humans, but Josh hadn't done anything to ever piss off an anthro, especially a lion. It was foolhardy to piss off a lion. He snapped out of his funk and ran off to the closet. He needed to get his mind off of what had just happened and a bath with Khari would do just the trick. After grabbing a brush and some soap, he started toward the bathhouse in a half-jog.

The moment he reached the entrance he paused. Fear took over him before he turned the corner. He would have been fine if he hadn't thought of the fact that Khari was going to see him completely naked. Sure, he'd been half-naked the whole day but it wasn't the same as having his dangly bits out on prime time. It didn't matter. He thought he had a solution for that problem.

Josh turned the corner and dragged his feet a bit, acting shy.

"Ah, there you are." Khari was already in the pool, which was now bubbling and steaming. Really? They'd installed a hot tub system in it? And they didn't have the decency of waking Josh up with warm water instead?

The prince was completely naked and Josh was still able to see everything through the bubbly yet clear water, his sheathed cock and fuzzy balls swaying a bit to the currents. "What took you so long, slave? I was actually beginning to worry that you HAD run away. I would have been sad if that was the case."

As bad as that may have sounded, it was good to hear and made Josh blush. Whether or not Khari would admit it, it was starting to seem like he had a thing for his slave just like his slave had a thing for him.

"I ran into your uncle, master."

"Oh?" That made his expression change to something less cheery. "And what did he say to you?"

Shit. Josh didn't really want to make a bit thing out of it and the last thing he wanted to do was get on even worse terms with Runi than he already was.

"Nothing really, master. He just glared at me."

Khari let out a single loud laugh. "Hah! Yeah that's like him. He's always had a stick up his ass. He just absolutely hates all humans for reasons I can't fully comprehend. Sure, the humans treated us like dirt and basically forced us to fight back, and although we won't stop until we've dominated them all, that's in the past. My father wishes to enslave them all but my uncle is of the opinion that they don't even deserve that. What do you think, slave?"

Josh didn't even move his lips and proceed to place the brush and soap at the edge of the pool.

"Of course, I already know what you think. You're human. You'd rather force your ideals on every species on this planet, wouldn't you?"

"No... master..." Josh said softly.

"You wouldn't?"

"Most of us actually hate what our politicians have done. In fact probably all of the people you've captured on your raids have been against the war before it even started. We'd much rather just do our own thing and leave everyone to their things, too."

"Humph," the prince shrugged. "And yet your so-called politicians did it anyway? So much for the ideals of 'democracy.'"

"It's not like the anthros have been totally innocent in all of this, too. You've kept the war going even in spite of peace offers and treaties."

"That's because the human will not stop unless they're totally dominated. Take you, for example. You've accepted this new life of yours like it's nothing -- like you deserve to be a slave. It's like you've always wanted to be an anthro's slave."

"Well that's because I've always had a thing for anth --" Josh stopped himself before finishing that sentence. That was the last thing Khari needed to know. And he probably shouldn't have been debating with his master in the first place, even though Khari didn't seem to mind.

"Wait. What was that last part?"

"Nothing..."

"Don't lie to me, slave. I've already told you about honesty."

Josh hung his head and watched the eddies of water swirling in the pool. His hands were locked together in front of his underwear. "I-I've..." he was starting to choke, "...always had a thing for anthros."

Khari started to chuckle softly and it progressively grew louder. "Damn. My father really knows how to pick them, doesn't he?"

Josh didn't know what to think of that. He hoped that it was a positive statement.

"So what are you waiting for, human? Jump in."

It must have been a good thing but Josh still approached the pool and timidly dipped his first foot into the warm water.

"What are you doing?" Khari asked, his furry brow entrenched in a confused look.

"I'm getting into the water, master."

"I can see that. I'm not daft. But why do you still have your underwear on?"

Josh's cheeks grew an even deeper shade of red. He was hoping that his master would have just ignored that fact.

"I never understood humans and their obsession with making everything about nudity and sex negative. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, human. Just slip off the underwear and climb into the pool."

He couldn't stop shivering and he didn't know if it was because of his being half-naked with night approaching or if it was because of his being nervous. Regardless, he swallowed hard and stuck his thumbs around the rim of his underpants. He held his hands there for a few seconds. It was like standing at the edge of a cliff and preparing to jump forty feet down into the water below. His nerves were currently winning the battle.

"Let me do it." His master gave up on waiting. He crawled across the pool to Josh and stood up. One of his big, dripping-wet paws extended forward and grabbed the very front of Josh's boxer briefs, his fingers dipping inside and raking some of Josh's pubic hair. Josh bit his lip. A pulsing of hot blood started to flow to his crotch.

Khari inched Josh's underwear down until his growing cock emerged, the dark pads scratching his shaft and head in the process and making Josh twitch. Once Josh was fully exposed, Khari drew the underwear the rest of the way down his legs. Josh step out of them, cupping his swelling manhood in his hands. It wasn't going to be long before he had a complete hard-on.

"There, it wasn't that bad, was it?"

Josh shook his head and lowered himself down into the water next to his master. He hoped it would hide his erection. The water was quite hot yet still comfortable, and it was deep enough that it was up to the top of his collar. Khari used his other wet paw and ruffled Josh auburn hair.

The young lion smiled, "Eventually you'll lose that useless timidity, slave. It will cause nothing but trouble for you as my pet."

Josh couldn't look at his master. He was doing his best to push down and to tame his hardening cock but touching it was only making it worse. His body was telling him to let Khari do whatever he wanted with him but his brain was telling him that that was wrong. It was all too much to handle at the moment.

"Ahem," the prince cleared his throat. "I think it's time for you to start washing me. I see that you brought a brush but I'd prefer that you don't use it. I'd much rather have you use your fingers and hands to lather the soap into my fur. It feels much more like a massage that way. You can start with my back." Khari turned his back to Josh, dipped down into the water, and emerged with an entirely soaked body. Even his mane was drenched and clinging close to his skin. "You may begin."

Josh grabbed the large bottle of liquid soap and poured it onto the lion's back in a number of wavy lines. Once he felt he had enough, he set the bottle aside dug his fingers into Khari's wheat-colored fur, right under his shoulders. Khari let out a soft purr the moment Josh started working the soap deep into his heavy coat. None of it was helping calm Josh's erection. In fact he could feel it getting even harder.

Khari's mane extended down his spine between his shoulders and that was the hardest part for Josh to wash. His hands would disappear up to his wrists in the long, bronze hair. He'd work his way up to Khari's neck kneading the soap as close to his master's skin as possible. It may have been taking some effort but Josh loved it just as much the prince. The best part was feeling the vibrations of the young lion's purring on his fingertips.

"Be sure to wash behind my ears, human."

Josh did just that by raking and scratching through Khari's mane until was up to his elbows in the lion's long fur. He gently lathered the remaining soap on his palms around the base of his master's ears and caused Khari to purr louder and reverberate between the stone walls of the bathhouse.

"And don't forget my armpits." Khari lifted his arms and rested them on the edge of the pool.

Josh pulled his arms out from within his master's mane and moved his hands across the lion's rock-hard shoulder muscles and into the furry pits, grabbing some soapy suds on the way. The hair wasn't too long but it was dripping water in a bit of a stream as it had all clung together. Josh dug his fingers in and spread as much of the soap deep into Khari's armpits as possible. He didn't realize that he'd been scooting closer to his master the whole time until he felt the young lion's tail resting on his left thigh. It inched around his back and coiled firmly around his waist. Josh didn't know what to think of the gesture.

"My butt also needs a good washing," Khari suggested. Josh could tell by the sultry tone of his voice that some kind of salacious smile was making its way across his lips. Josh's dick was now starting to hurt. It was the worst kind of tease that he'd ever experienced.

But he did as he was told like a good slave. He let a fair amount of soap drip onto his hand from the bottle and rubbed it all together. His hands dipped down into the water and he held them inches from Khari's furry ass cheeks. Another lump formed in his throat and he tried to swallow it down.

"It's alright, slave. I give you permission to touch me there."

Josh's legs and back were quivering as his fingers approached his master's sexy rump. He closed his eyes and they made contact, sinking a little into the supple cheeks. There were definitely strong muscles in there but there was also a fair bit of cushion. Josh started rubbing up and down nervously as if it were as if it was some kind of heinous crime, but Khari arched his back pushing his ass harder against Josh's hands.

"Be sure to wash ALL of it," he demanded.

Josh's fingers crept closer to Khari's crack until some of them disappeared into the trench. He worked his way down until he felt the fur give way to exposed flesh. It was no doubt his master's hole. Josh couldn't help but feel uncomfortable yet extremely aroused.

"That's right, slave. That part needs to be washed real well."

He leaned forward and let his arms and hands go with him, pushing past Khari's anus and onto his fleshy taint. He went all the way until he touched the base of his master's ball sack. That was probably far enough so he massaged back and forth over the young lion's taint and hole, washing it with a firm pressure. This time Khari wasn't just purring, he was letting out soft moans of pleasure. His tail wrapped even tighter around Josh's waist grinding harder against Josh's hands.

Josh was biting his lip as his whole body was radiating lust for his master. It was one of the hottest things he'd ever done.

"Mmm," Khari moaned one last time before uncoiling his tail from Josh's waist, removing his ass from Josh's hands, and turning around to face his slave. "It's time to wash something else, human." He rose out of the water and sat on the marble edge of the pool.

And there it was. Khari was sporting an erection. His hard, pink cock had emerged a good nine inches from his furry sheath, surrounded by the more bronze colored hair of his pubic fur. His swollen balls hung just below, begging to release their seed. Josh unintentionally licked his lips wanting to get a taste of that cock and have it massage his throat.

The prince was wearing a lustful grin. "This is the most important place to wash. My cock and balls need a good rubbing, slave. But before you do that you should also give my feet a good wash." He lifted his feet to the surface of the swirling water, just inches from Josh's face, his toes squirming with anticipation.

Josh grabbed another glob of soap and lathered it within his palms before grasping his master's feet within his hands. Khari leaned back and let his slave go to work on his big feet. They were a bit sore from the training so he was looking forward to having a good, lathered rub-down.

Was this really happening? Josh was in disbelief. This was something he used to fantasize about at night when he needed to jerk it in order to fall asleep. But it was right in front of him. There was no denying it. He let his fingers slip between his master's padded toes and his back melted with ecstasy in the process. He shuddered as his thumbs dug deep into those ebony pads and they gave way to the pressure. His master let him know that he was enjoying it by letting out little purrs of satisfaction, his toes curling with each circular motion of Josh's fingers. Josh worked his way down kneading the top pad, furry middle, and finally the bottom where he forced his thumbs into his master's padded heel. Khari leaned even farther back and growled with pleasure.

The prince let Josh go at his feet for about five minutes until he wrapped his legs around the human and pulled him up to his crotch. "Come here," he purred. "It's time to wash my cock, slave."

This time Khari grabbed the bottle and let a small amount of the soap drip onto his pubic fur, furry sheath, and balls. His cock had swelled about another inch long. The whole length of it must have been somewhere around ten or eleven inches. He took Josh's left hand in his paw and forced it to his ball sack, massaging it in large circular motions. He let go and Josh continued the movement. And with his other hand Josh raked his fingers through the fur beside his master's testicles, rubbing near the base of his thick furry sheath.

"That's right, slave. Wash it good!" Khari growled. He grabbed Josh's right hand and slid it up to wrap around his meaty golden sheath. Together they stroked up and down pulling the flesh up and down his erect shaft. It was throbbing within Josh's firm grasp.

The young lion let go and let Josh do his job working both his balls and his long cock. But out of nowhere Khari's foot pressed against the left side of Josh face, which was a wonderful surprise.

"Lick my foot," he ordered.

Josh twisted his neck and stuck out his tongue, pressing it hard against Khari's padded heel. It was hard doing three things at once but he was not going to disappoint his master. He worked the heel hard with his lips and tongue, swaying his head up and down over it, letting the pad tickle the surface of his taste buds. And without realizing that he'd even moved at all, his hand was now stroking the head of his master's cock.

Khari's eyes had closed as he escaped into the multiple stimulations shooting like little lightning bolts of pure ecstasy all over his body. The young lion started to roar deep groans of lust and Josh squeezed even harder around the tip of the lion's cock. Khari could feel his seed starting to empty from his balls and build up in his prostate. It wasn't going to take much longer before he'd explode.

Josh couldn't concentrate very well party because he'd been erect for well over twenty or thirty minutes without being able to relieve himself. It was really hurting as it was probably the hardest he'd ever been. But he wouldn't dare move one of his hands. He tried to establish a rhythm and did his best to allow his master's tasty pad to take over his senses once more like it had done before. His tongue slid upward along the bottom of his master foot and started to lick the next dark pad. He clenched the tip of Khari's pulsing dick and started stroking it even faster.

The young lion tensed up and bent backward before he let out a thunderous roar. The cock swelled like a warm wave in Josh's hand and Khari's seed came pouring out of it in large spurts. The cum shot well past Josh's head and into the bubbling water with some of it oozing down onto his hand. Once his master was done jerking and the purrs reduced to just soft vibrations Josh let go of Khari's cock and licked each individual padded toe once. He couldn't help but feel pleased with the job he'd done.

The prince was panting. "That was by far the best bath I've ever had," he sighed. "I'm definitely going to look forward to the next one, slave."

And as much as Josh shouldn't have liked the idea of such servitude, he actually couldn't have agreed more with his master.

* *

A few weeks went by and Josh became much more acquainted with his role as the prince's slave. He'd bring him his breakfast in the morning, ready whatever clothing the prince would need for the day, attend his combat drills tending to whatever he needed, help him relax in the afternoon, eat dinner with some of the other palace slaves while Khari ate with his father, and of course wash the young lion before bed. Sure, it was a day-long job but it was something Josh was increasingly learning to get used to. He had his own room -- although it was kind of tiny -- and he was well-fed. It was kind of the opposite of what you'd expect being a slave would be. The royal lion's really took care of their servants. Josh supposed that that made a bit of sense. Since they'd owned him it was a good idea to take care of him, even though he knew that he could probably be easy to replace. That or the truth was the exact opposite. Considering how much Josh was growing on Khari, perhaps Josh wouldn't have been as easy to replace. And that was nice to think about, because Josh felt needed by his master, the lion prince.

Plus the work really wasn't that difficult. In fact, Josh enjoyed most of it, especially when he got to massage and pamper his master and his feet -- definitely those big, padded feet. Josh couldn't get enough of it. Khari had even trusted Josh enough to help trim and sharpen his claws, which seemed like a great deal for a feline. Each day that passed by felt like he was growing closer and closer to his master. Something he'd never thought he'd ever admit. But it was more than just his body telling him that. He was actually quite convinced that he had growing "feelings" for Khari. He didn't really want to call it love. He didn't know what to call it.

The best thing, however, was getting some proper clothing the second day of being a slave. They weren't anything like brand name clothing, of course, but it was much better than strutting around in his underwear all day. That and he hadn't heard much about that "breaking him in" terminology anymore. It was likely that Josh had just gotten worked up over nothing, even though his fellow palace slaves wouldn't even tell him about it or what it may have meant.

His day started off fairly regularly. He stopped by the kitchen and picked up his master's breakfast, carrying it in a covered -- so it would keep warm -- golden tray down the stone halls. Khari usually slept in to around nine so Josh tried to get there by eight thirty. That half-an-hour gave him time to set the tray up next to his bed and started preparing his master's clothes for the day. He'd memorize the prince's schedule the night before so he'd know exactly how the day would go. That day went a little something like this: breakfast, grooming, morning combat drills, lunchtime snack, afternoon meeting with his father and military commanders, break, martial training, bathtime, bedtime.

Josh always looked forward to bathtime for obvious reasons and he couldn't help but think that Khari really enjoyed it, too. And although the prince would never let Josh "wash" himself, he would always do it later that night in his room. Otherwise, he'd be so pent up he'd be blue-balling. But Josh really wished to go further than that with his master. He just didn't know how to broach the subject or even hint at it. He was afraid how Khari might respond. Even though, deep down, he had the gut feeling that Khari wanted to do a whole lot more with his slave. And Josh would do it all for him.

He opened the door to the prince's chambers with his back as the tray took both hands to hold. He smiled the moment he heard his master's usual morning rumbling. It must have been something like snoring but it came out as more of a soft and low growl. The sound always made Josh feel a bit warm and fuzzy. He wanted nothing more than to climb onto Khari's bed with him and snuggle up with the big guy.

With his foot he made sure that the door didn't slam shut and wake his master prematurely. Thankfully the marbled floors didn't creak like the old wooden floor of his apartment so Josh was up to keep his footsteps near silent. He tiptoed to the side of the bed and placed the ornate tray onto the small nightstand along the head of the bed. Khari's rumbling was enough to cause the air to vibrate around Josh. He turned to observe the young lion, who wasn't too far from the edge of the gigantic bed. It kind of made him a bit of a creeper but Josh loved the five minutes that he could just watch and admire Khari as his broad chest and shoulder expanded with his shallow breathing. The draw to crawl onto the bed and cuddle with him was stronger each day. But that would have been some kind of egregious abuse of his duty and Khari's current vulnerability.

But that dark bronze fur or his mane was calling Josh. He wanted to dig his face into that silky soft fur and wrap his arms around Khari's strong chest. He knew it was soft because he'd loved washing it and had suggested that the prince use a conditioner. Khari had been suspicious at first but learned to love the new sleek feel of it in his paws. And Josh agreed. He'd secretly done it more for himself but it was a win-win anyway.

Josh extended his hand. He just wanted to touch it and have an idea of what cuddling with him would feel like. But his brain was telling him no. Don't do it, Josh. You don't want to ruin whatever trust you've established with him. His brow furrowed and his chest tightened before he let his arm go limp. He couldn't do it.

That didn't matter, however. While he'd been distracted by his internal war, his master's tail was artfully wrapping around his waist. It constricted and forced him to tumble onto the bed, right onto his master.

"Thought you could you sneak a touch, eh?" Khari scolded playfully. There was no hint of any real admonishment in his voice. He rolled Josh over his body and positioned him with his back up against his furry chest. He pulled the satin sheets over both of them.

Josh curled up a bit a swooned. The warmth of his master on his back was enough to lull his senses into a feeling of absolute security. Khari nibbled a bit on Josh's ear, his hot breath tickling his cheek.

"I sorry, master. I didn't mean --"

"It doesn't matter. You deserve some kind of punishment, don't you?"

Khari's hefty leg wrapped over Josh's waist and twisted up toward his head holding it with his paw. Josh wasn't really surprised by his master's flexibility. Most anthros were highly capable of such physical feats.

"I don't think you did a well enough job washing my feet yesterday. How about you clean them some more?"

"Yes master," Josh beamed. It was a duty he looked forward to the most.

He went to work right away with his tongue. He started with the tip and tickled the fur in the middle then glided down to his padded heel where he pressed the full surface of his licker against the coarse dark flesh. The best part about it was not only the way it would stimulate his taste buds but the way it would delight every inch of his tongue with a pleasurable prickle.

"Mmm," Khari started purring. Josh felt the lion's cock starting to emerge from its sheath and tease his butt. His master always slept in the nude. "You've been getting so good at that, slave."

Josh had learned that his master enjoyed it when he used a lot of pressure, pushing his tongue deep into his pads and using his head to slide it along the sensitive flesh. It also gave Josh a better taste of the lion, lingering on his tongue for hours afterward. That and with his nose dug deep into the furry midsection of his master's foot, the powerful manly scent would stay with him for the rest of the day. If Josh ever needed to relax, he'd take in a deep breath through his nose and put himself right back into the bottom of Khari's foot. It was delightful.

Once his master's heel was cleaned thoroughly, he moved upward toward the next pad and repeated the process. But here his master enjoyed a gentler working with Josh's tongue. Instead of all of his tongue, Josh mainly used just an inch of his tip. He twisted his head and swept it to and fro over the pad like one would mop a floor. When Josh got closer to the top, Khari curled his toes in satisfaction. That was the signal that let Josh know to move up to his master's toes. Josh had learned to start first with his little toe and upgrade to the next one, licking and sucking them over individually. Most of them he could lick and suck easily but the big toe took a bit more effort. Because of this, he'd do much more licking on the bottom of Khari's big toe before taking it all into his mouth and sucking on it and savoring the pleasingly salty flavor that his saliva seemed to draw so well from the pad.

"Nice job, human. But you've got another foot to clean," his master teased. "You'd better crawl down there and get at it."

Josh saw the lion's toes wriggling near the foot of the bed. Khari took his leg back and rolled onto his belly, the bottom of his feet pointing skyward. Josh twisted under the sheets and slithered his way down to Khari's feet. He grabbed the dry one and pulled his head over it before diving lips first into the heel. He sucked a bit on the edge of the pad before finally sticking out his tongue and giving one hard lick along the whole length of it. Just like before he forced his licker deep into the thick supple flesh, massaging and moistening it over and over.

Josh had already gotten around with the first foot but this time he felt his cock pressing into the bed. It was a bit uncomfortable and painful but Josh fought through it. He moved to the other pad and licked it all over with the tip of his tongue. Sometimes he'd also push his whole face into the bottom of Khari's foot and suckle the black pad. He'd focus on the taste and the smell, letting it take over him.

A knock rapped on the prince's door and someone burst in without permission. Josh was lucky enough that Khari didn't care whether or not he'd ask for permission, but he'd seen the prince get sour with other's who'd done the same.

"My prince," the person spoke nervously. Josh could tell that it was most likely another human slave. He felt bad for her already.

Khari pushed the sheet down past his head and scowled at the young woman. Josh did his best to remain still and silent but the extra body under the sheets was probably patently obvious.

"I hope there's a good reason that you've interrupted my -- um -- sleep."

"Y-yes master," she stuttered. "Commander Runi has asked that you come to your combat drills earlier this morning."

The prince rolled his eyes. It was always his uncle that was making such rude requests and at the worst of times. His father never really asked much of him other than to prepare himself to take the throne. And that meant a schedule of military and tactical training. The affairs of the king only concerned national defense. The individual prides handled their own politics and the king stayed out of it. Runi never felt that that was enough. He'd always been about complete and utter domination. He wouldn't rest until lion's were the masters of all.

"I suppose," Khari mumbled. "If my uncle insists."

"Thank you, master," she finished and left the prince's quarters, letting the door shut behind her.

"And I didn't even get to eat my breakfast. See what you're doing to me, slave?"

"I'm sorry, master." Josh uttered from underneath the sheets and kissed Khari's foot.

"I swear my father only keeps that ball of fur around because he's his brother. He's not even that great of a commander in my opinion. That bloodlust of his has gotten him and our nation into trouble more than once. And he thinks I can learn from him. Bah! I'm definitely NOT looking forward to whatever he has planned for me this morning."

Josh crawled his way out of the bed while Khari climbed out and rose to his feet. A bright ray of sun was breaking through the balcony and creating a bright amber aura around his golden fur. Josh was always entranced by his master's beauty. But this time something different happened. After the young lion yawned he gazed down at the human in his bed and his head cock just slightly. A hint of a grin curled on his lip and, for the first time, Josh recognized some semblance of affection in his eyes. The sight of seeing Josh in his bed and bathing in the glow of the rising sun must have done something to him. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared when Khari turned away.

"My clothes aren't ready," his voice dropped and was lined with a bit of ice.

"S-sorry, master. I didn't get the chance to pull them out."

Josh was surprised by his master's sudden change in demeanor. It was the first time he'd ever seen some kind of cold shoulder from Khari. Did he do something wrong? He clambered out of the bed on the other side and dug through the dresser for his combat training suit. Once he had all of it he rushed over to the prince and handed them to him. The young lion remained silent as he put them on. Josh didn't know what to say. Perhaps it was for the best.

"I'd like you to come with me this time," he ordered. Josh didn't respond he just nodded. "For some reason, I've got a bad feeling about this. And I may do the wrong thing if you're not there for me."

Was that why he'd suddenly grown cold? What could his uncle possibly do to make the usually fearless Khari so nervous? And as much as Josh liked hearing that his master needed him there, he couldn't help but be afraid.

Before long he was dressed and ready to go. Josh followed close behind him as they made their way down the palace halls and out to a large training ground. It was close to the size of half a football field and was used for a lot for tactical training. It often had a number of obstacles and other large object to simulate a battleground but this time it was completely clear except for Khari's uncle, a line of other lions, and a human slave on his knees with a burlap sack over his head.

"I see you brought your slave," Runi started toward them. "Good. He should see this, too."

"See what, Runi?" Khari spat. The ice in his voice was even colder.

"Come. I'll explain everything to you, my prince."

Josh, too, was starting to have a very bad feeling about everything in front of him, especially due to his unfortunate encounter with Runi his first day. He hid behind his master as they approached the line of other lions. Once they got closer to the group, Josh saw that the slave was trembling horribly and muttering words of mercy.

"What is this slave doing here? Explain yourself now, uncle!" Khari nearly exploded at the sight.

"This one is well beyond his utility. He is injured and deserves to be put down."

"What!?"

"He is useless to us."

"You know very well that we don't do such things! There is always something a slave can do regardless of their condition."

"And you think that showing them mercy like this will win us the war? They are nothing more than vermin, nephew. How do you expect us to dominate them if we treat them as more than such?"

Josh glimpsed the line of lions next to him with dismay. They were all nodding in agreement with Runi's terrible words.

"You're sick, uncle!" Khari roared. "I feel sorry for you and whatever happened to you to poison your mind so effectively."

"Am I, my prince?" Runi tone was becoming increasingly acidic and biting. He pointed to the line of soldiers in front of him. "If that's the case then why do they all agree?"

"You are pushing well beyond your boundaries. Know your place, uncle!"

"Do you think you'll have any authority if your soldiers see you as a spineless weakling?

Khari inspected the line of soldiers, all of which were staring at him with disdain. It was clear that Runi had done a good job with his misguided propaganda.

"You can win their respect back, Khari. All it takes is a simple bite at the back of the neck," Runi grinned as he lowered his muzzle inches away from the slave's neck and open his toothy maw. "You've never tasted live flesh before, have you? If you ever wish to understand what it means to dominate another you have to break them, Khari." Runi's grey eyes shot over to Josh and it felt like the lion's gaze was piercing his heart.

Khari licked his lips as he stepped toward the slave, which stunned Josh. "What are you doing!?" Josh exclaimed as softly as possible but his master didn't hear him. What he didn't understand was that the temptation to hunt was a powerful instinct for a lion.

"That's right, nephew. Win your soldiers' respect back."

The prince grasped the back of the slave's head with his gigantic paw and forced it down, exposing his bare neck. The slave let out a helpless shriek which sent a shiver down Josh's spine. Khari's lips curled and he bared his teeth, his mouth inching toward the human.

"Stop!" Josh finally shouted.

Khari broke out of his trance and his eyes shot over to his slave. His fuzzy brow twisted in confusion and despair. It was screaming, "What am I doing!?" It was now clear why Khari had asked Josh to come with him. Something about looking at the human was enough to stop the prince from going through with such a horrible act.

"You're weak!" roared Runi and stomped over to the slave to try and finish the job.

Khari stepped between them and slashed his paw across his uncle's face. Josh was certain that he saw drops of blood follow behind it. His master was snarling and wielding his bloodied claws. Runi's head hung after the unexpected swipe, and the crimson liquid was dripping from the nose of his muzzle.

Runi turned to assert his rhetoric on the line of lion's. "Is this what a leader does? Defend his slaves?"

The prince let out a deafening roar. "No, a leader stands up to people like you!" Khari lifted the slave up to his feet and aided him off of the training grounds. Josh followed close behind. He was very proud of his master.

"We'll see how long that lasts..." Runi muttered, now holding a paw up to the deep cuts on his face.

Josh and Khari escorted the slave to the slave's quarter. He was shaking erratically the entire time but had nothing but ceaseless appreciation the moment Khari removed the sack form his head. In fact he'd dropped to his knees and started kissing the prince's feet. Josh's lip pursed into an awkward smile knowing that his master was probably thinking the same thing.

"Well so much for combat training," he sighed, his paws and jaw clenching. "Father needs to hear all about this before that bastard tries to spin the story in his favor." He turned to Josh and placed a comforting paw on his face. It was clear that his face was smacked with heavy concern. "I don't know how long it'll take. My father can be a hard one to find. Will you be okay on your own for a while?"

"Do what you need to do, master. I'll be fine."

"If you see my uncle, promise me that you'll run away. Don't let him get close to you."

"I-I promise master," Josh gulped. He'd never seen Khari so serious and so... protective.

Khari took off and left Josh at the entrance to the servant's quarters. Without his master there, he hardly had any idea on what to do until he got back. He supposed that his number one priority was to stay away from Runi and figured that the best place to do that was Khari's room. He highly doubted that Runi knew that Josh had permission from Khari to be there without his master. It was a privilege of being the prince's pet slave.

He waited in Khari's room thinking that it would be less than an hour, but that hour quickly turned into five. For lunch he probably shouldn't have eaten some of the fruit that was always placed fresh on the table but he did anyway. However, he made sure that most of what he ate was pears, even though he didn't care for them either. A lot of the other time he'd spent staring out at the forest east of the palace from the balcony. That or he just sat in a chair and twiddled his thumbs.

A rap came on the door when he was inspecting his collar in the mirror. It had started to grow a bit itchy and he was wondering what he could do to help with that. He'd already secretly tried some of the prince's lotion but that didn't work.

"My prince?" a familiar voice called from the other side of the door. Josh guessed that it was the same young woman from the morning. He figured he should go tell her that Khari was out.

He rushed over to the door before in order to get to her before she left and grabbed the handle. But something stopped him before he opened it. Something in his gut was telling him not to open that door. He ignored it. The door swung open to none other than Runi, towering over him in the doorway.

"Well if it isn't exactly the tiny human I've been looking for."

It was Josh's instinct to run, just like Khari had told him to. But where was he going to go? He simply froze and stared that the huge lion as Runi took a step closer to Josh. Josh caught a glimpse of the young woman behind the lion. Runi shoved her away, and before she ran off, he noticed an expression on her face that said, "I'm sorry." She had known from earlier that day that Josh was allowed in Khari's chambers.

Runi grasped Josh by his shirt and pulled him close, lowering his head to stare right into Josh's hazel eyes. "You've made him weak, human. Just like I predicted." he began, letting some of his spittle fly into Josh's face. Josh was hopeless to wipe it off. "I should end your life for corrupting my nephew in such a way. But that would be too obvious."

Josh wriggled a bit in an attempt to pry himself from Runi's clutches. It didn't work.

"Instead, I'll make him see just how useless an injured slave really is." He placed his foot on top of Josh's right foot. Josh winced under the pressure. "This is the one that was swollen wasn't it? Too bad. I think it looks like it's starting to swell again."

"Wha --" Josh tried to speak but Runi tilted him backward and released him. With the lion's big foot on top of his there was no way he could regain his balance and he toppled toward the floor. And with a snap, he heard his ankle twist past its limit. He cried out in pain.

Runi leaned in. His foot was still on top of Josh's. "Do yourself a favor and kindly request that you are removed from the prince's services. Otherwise, I may just have to do much worse than sprain your pathetic ankle." He finally removed his foot and started out of the room before turning around to say one last thing. "Oh, and if you tell Khari about this, you'd best watch your back, especially at night. Lion's love to hunt in the dark." His lips curled and his licked his teeth before leaved Josh to squeeze his agonizingly throbbing ankle. It was sprained much worse than the first time.

Josh crawled across the floor. He didn't even want to attempt to stand. He grabbed the edge of the chair and pulled himself up onto the cushion without placing any weight on his ankle. It was already hurting enough without pressure. Runi had injured him pretty well, so Josh was sure that he wouldn't be able to walk unless he had some kind of assistance.

There was probably about an hour or so that Josh squirmed on the chair, trying to ignore the pain as much as possible. He wasn't even supposed to be on the chair. But he wasn't supposed to ever be on Khari's bed and that had abruptly changed that morning. It didn't really matter though. He'd only injure himself further if he decided to try to walk to his room in the servant quarters.

He'd pulled his pant leg up and was inspecting how much his ankle had swollen when Khari came bursting into his room. The prince's gaze fell immediately upon him.

"What happened?"

"I-it was n-nothing," Josh stammered. He remembered exactly what Runi had said about telling Khari. "I just slipped on my way here."

"Bullshit," his master approached him and grabbed his ankle with care. "Your ankle doesn't swell this much from a simple fall. It was Runi, wasn't it?"

"N-no. It's just swelling more because I never fully healed from the last time."

"Quit lying to me, human. Your dishonesty is all over your face."

"I --"

"I can protect you. I'd spoken with father and he is going to sort it out at today's meeting. You just have to be honest with me."

Josh hung his head. He wasn't sure what Khari could possibly do to protect him, considering he was his slave. But he had no reason to believe that his master couldn't protect him. He had so far.

"It was Runi. He found me here in your room. He said something about me making you weak and then stepped on my foot before pushing me over. I didn't want to tell you because he threatened me -- something about lions hunting at night."

Khari's lips twitched as they rose into a snarl. A rumbling growl escaped from deep in his throat. "He's gone too far. You're coming with me. I'll need proof."

"What?" Josh asked, but before the word escaped his lips, Khari was already lifting him up in his arms and carrying him out of the room. He wasn't sure if he ever wanted to see Runi again, especially so soon and in front of the king no doubt. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"I don't know. But I've got a few choice words for my uncle."

It was comforting being in Khari's arms and Josh finally got to rest his head against his master's mane. It was as soft and snuggly as he thought it would be. He was able to escape into Khari's warmth as they made their way to the meeting. He almost fell asleep but was woken by the prince's loud entrance into the meeting room. There was a long wooden table that stretched nearly the whole length of the room and a number of the seats were taken by commanding lion officers -- one of which was Runi, of course. Khari's father was at the head of the table.

Josh felt entirely out of place and every single eye in the room was upon him.

"My prince," one of the commanders greeted him with a confused look. "Why do you bring a slave with you?"

"Because I have a score to settle..."

Gently, he placed Josh down on the table and pulled up Josh's pant leg, revealing the red and swollen ankle. It nearly had the same diameter as a grapefruit and was still throbbing. Khari glared at his uncle, who was wearing a scowl directed toward Josh.

"Care to explain something, uncle?"

"I have no clue as to what you're referring, my prince. And if I may speak out of line, I think it is highly disrespectful for you to dirty this meeting by placing such foul vermin on our table. Such an irreverent thing for a prince to do."

"Don't lie to me, you bastard!" Khari slammed his paws on the table, his claws starting to inch out from the ends of his thick furry fingers. Josh was feeling a lot less safe but knew that Khari wouldn't let any harm come to him. But the eyes of the other commanding officers from different prides across the nation were upon him, wondering what exactly was going on.

"Would I ever lie to you, my prince?" Runi raised his hands innocently and chuckled, addressing the rest of the room with his confused look. "Now please stop this pointless rabble and remove this filth from the table." He extended a paw to grab Josh by the leg.

Khari slammed his paw on top of Runi's and made everyone else at the table jump backward in shock, even Josh. Josh watched as his master's claws started to sink into his uncle's paw. Runi grimaced and tried to pull his paw away.

Khari leaned in closer to his uncle, "Tell me the truth."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about. Let go of me!"

"All it takes is one simple bite at the back of the neck," Khari threatened his uncle with his own words, baring his sharp teeth. He grabbed his uncle by the mane and pulled his head down. "You said I needed to taste flesh before I could ever dominate another. Well maybe I should start with yours, uncle!"

One of the other lions at the table stood up and objected to the unfolding scene in front of him, "What is going on here? Stop this at once!"

The king waved away the objection, giving his son the nod to continue. Khari inched closer to his uncle's neck with his mouth agape.

"ALRIGHT!" Runi shrieked. "It was me! And I'd have much rather killed the cur!"

Khari tightened his grip on his uncle's mane and threw him against the stone wall. He followed close behind and wrapped his huge paw against the lion's neck. The sheer power of Khari was awful. He lifted his uncle a foot off of the ground and pinned him against the icy stone. Runi's face was scrunched with fear and pain. The moment he opened his eyes he was met with the inferno of rage in Khari's golden irises.

His uncle hissed, "He is making you weak, nephew!"

"Does this feel like weakness to you?!" Khari tightened his grip around his uncle's neck. "You can say whatever the fuck you want about me. But your bullshit ends today! You think it's powerful to dominate a weak human? You're the weak one, uncle - so easily dominated by your own little nephew. How pathetic."

Runi started to struggle, letting out little whimpers and Khari started to dig his claws into the helpless lion's neck, drawing blood.

"It takes true strength to show mercy to those who are weaker than us. That is why we enslave the humans and NOT kill them, no matter how useless you may think they are." Khari pushed him harder against the stone and Runi let out a strangled yelp. "And a true leader recognizes those who are too bloodthirsty for their own good and he deals with them accordingly."

His uncle shifted his eyes and did his best to speak to the king. "Are you just going to let your son do this to your own brother?" he pleaded with what little air he had left.

The king stood to address the whole room. "Yes, because my son is showing me that he truly has what it takes to be a great leader," he explained staring his brother in the eye. "He knows how to show others mercy and to stand up to tyrants like you, brother. That's why you never would have made a great king. And my son will be one of the best."

Something about that made Josh smile. He couldn't help but revel in the fact that he was owned by the lion who would be one of the best kings ever. And with the king's words, Josh noticed that whatever doubts the other commanding officers may have had about Khari, they disappeared.

"Thank you, dad," Khari replied but kept his fiery gaze upon his uncle. "And one last thing, uncle."

Runi looked at Khari as if his life was about to end.

"Don't you EVER touch Josh again!" the prince roared and tossed the pathetic lion aside. Runi crashed to the floor, whimpering.

Josh froze. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. It had nothing to do with how protective Khari was being about him. It had everything to do with the fact that that was the first time the prince had referred to him by his name. It wasn't, "Don't you ever touch my slave -- or my human -- again." No. It was, "Don't you ever touch Josh again."

He knew it. He knew that Khari had to have some kind of feelings for him. And Khari had been right -- he really could protect him. There was a great deal of security and comfort in the fact that he belonged to such a powerful lion and a prince to boot! His heart was aflutter.

Runi crawled out of the meeting room, not wanting to face such shame and humiliation. The king remained standing and addressed everyone who remained.

"I think I am going to need some time alone with my son and his slave if you don't mind," he explained and everyone bowed in acknowledgment. They left the room immediately.

Khari was still fuming but he calmed down the moment his father put a comforting paw on his shoulder.

"You've done a good thing, my son."

"Then why do I feel like shit?"

"Unfortunately that can come with the territory of doing the right thing, but you can trust me when I tell you that it'll only make you happier in the long run. You're just still caught up in your anger. But you expressed your boundaries well."

Josh was in awe. It was the first time that he ever got to see both of the really interact.

"Is it okay for me to have -- I don't know -- 'feelings' for Josh?"

"Is it? I was actually hoping that that would happen."

Khari turned to finally look at his father, but his face was ripe with bemusement. "What?"

"No matter what, the humans are still a lot like us. So it would be wrong not to empathize and, perhaps, love them. Your uncle was on the other end of that scale and look what it did to him."

"I think I understand..."

Josh felt uncomfortable. It was odd to have them talking about him right in front of him.

"If it is alright, son, I'd like to talk to Josh for a little while. There are a few things I'd like to explain."

"No problem"

"I swear I'll bring him back in one piece," the king winked just like his son always did for Josh. "Just wait in your room and I'll bring him to you after we're done."

"Okay, father. I trust you," Khari accepted and gave one of Josh's hands a warm squeeze before leaving the room. Their eyes met as he closed the door and they both passed each other smiles of longing. Josh wanted to be in his arms again.

"I have a surprise for you, Josh," the king began.

"A surprise?" he asked. He was already surprised by the fact that the king was constantly referring to him by his first name.

The king shuffled back to his seat at the head of the table and bent down in search for something underneath. He came back up with something very familiar to Josh. It was his guitar case. He strolled back to Josh with it in hand and placed it down on the table next to him.

"Something was different about you, Josh. I saw that the moment I bumped into you that day. And if my soldiers hadn't captured you that day, I would have gone back and done it myself," he chuckled but Josh didn't find it entirely amusing. The king cleared his throat. "Anyway. I saw a glimmer of longing beyond your fear. It was something that made me feel like you'd be the one to show my son that humans are capable of more than just belligerence. You like us don't you -- us non-humans?"

Josh swallowed a lump in his throat and his cheeks flushed with new blood. "Yes, I do."

"And you have feelings for my son?"

"Y-yes, your majesty."

"Good."

"Really?" Josh was perplexed. He still didn't understand what exactly was going on.

"Deep down my son has a wonderful heart, Josh. I think you've discovered that this whole time you've been with him. And I think you even noticed it that first day. I know. I was watching in secret."

Josh was speechless.

"I've never actually wanted this life for my son. But if there's any hope of ending this war, it's through him that it'll happen. And with you by his side I know that he'll always do the right thing. It was because of you that he was able to push past his instincts and save that poor man today."

"How do you know all of this?"

He let out a grumble of a laugh, "Because I'm an old fart that's seen a bit too much of the world and has experienced way too many things that I shouldn't have."

"But what could you possible want me to do?"

"I want you to love my son, Josh. And let him love you. I know that he can be a bit domineering, but we're big cats - we can't help it! And from what I've seen, I know that you really enjoy it anyway," he winked that same warm gesture that Josh had grown to love. "Can you do that for me? Can you let my son love you?"

Josh beamed. There was only one answer to that question, "Of course, my king."

"Good! You don't know how swell that makes me feel." He grabbed the guitar and handed it over to Josh. He slipped his arms under Josh's legs and back and lifted him carefully off of the table. "I apologize for how hard all of this must have been for you, but I am eternally grateful. I want you to know that, Josh." He started out of the meeting room and into the stone hallway. "Now, if there's one thing that I know about my son it's that music really gets him in the mood. Do you think you could serenade him with that guitar of yours? I went through everything we seized that day and was ecstatic the moment I came across your guitar. I recognized it instantly."

Josh nodded. He had no clue what to play for his master, but he was sure he could come up with something.

"And I hope you're prepared," the king went on. "If I know my son as well as I think I do, he's probably ready to ravage you for hours. That's specially the case if you play him a song. You just be sure to take care of that ankle of yours. Get plenty of bed rest and have my son take care of any 'urges' you might have," the king paused and knocked on a door. Josh didn't even realize that they'd already walked that far. "Well here we are."

Josh was ready. It was something he wanted even from the very first day and he could hardly believe that it was actually happening.

The door swung open. "It took you guys long enough. I've been pacing for several minutes," said Khari. The king handed Josh over to him with guitar in hand. "What is this? A guitar?"

"Yeah. Isn't that weird? Josh here is a musician."

"Is that true?" Khari asked, looking down at the human in his arms. Josh nodded.

The king winked once more at Josh and proceeded to leave them to their devices. "Don't have too much fun, you two," he called out as he walked away down the hall, his voice bouncing off of the stone walls.

"Well you must play me something then," Khari suggested and laid Josh down tenderly onto the chair. He took a seat next to Josh, rubbing his thigh with a paw.

"Is there anything in particular that you like?"

A sly smirk swept across Khari's muzzle. That always let Josh know that he was scheming something. "How about we make a game out of it?"

"Alright," Josh said. "What do you propose?"

"Play something that I like and I'll do everything I've wanted to do to you ever since I'd laid eyes on you."

Josh's body grew hot. That was all he'd ever wanted -- to have Khari let himself go and use him in whatever way he wanted. But now he was on the spot. He needed to figure out what kind of music the prince liked. And coming up with a song to play on the spot was much more difficult than one would imagine. Unfortunately, a lot of the songs that were coming to him either didn't really fit the current mood or were a bit of a joke considering the circumstances. Khari started tapping his fingers on Josh's thigh; he seemed to be growing impatient.

Fuck it, if it doesn't work it'll just be a joke, Josh thought and he started strumming a chord progression that he knew all too well with a flavor of his own. Khari lit up immediately and that brought a smile to Josh's face. He must have been doing something right, so he kept playing the song until the first verse came up, in which he sang:

Rising up! Back on the street. Took my time; took my chances Went the distance. Now I'm back on my feet. Just a man and his will to survive.

Khari was tapping his foot and squeezed Josh's thigh tightly with his paw. He loved it! Josh didn't stop and with his master's good reaction he got even more into it. In fact, it was pumping him up enough to be able to belt out the chorus:

It's the eye of the tiger It's the thrill of the fight

"Wait, wait, wait --" Khari interrupted him and Josh stopped playing. "Tiger? Really?"

Josh started chuckling. It would have been a nervous laugh if it wasn't for the fact that he'd kind of meant it as a joke anyway. "Got something against tigers, master?"

"Well from the ones that I've met, they're pretty good people but very reserved. It's like they all live off in their own little worlds. They just cling to their philosophy and if you're not part of it you're not worth their time. Not something I'd put in a song, but you humans are weird like that."

Josh fingered a few strings and distracted Khari from his insightful, yet kind of boring, rant about tigers.

"Anyway, you did have me going with that one at first," he purred, "Try again, Josh."

Josh started rummaging through the list of songs that he knew up in that brain of his. He wondered if it would be prudent to play a song about lions. But what song did he know that was about lions? Lions -- lions -- lions. That's right -- he did know one song!

Josh grabbed his capo from the head of the guitar and placed it on the second fret. The song may have bit slightly cheesy considering everything, but he thought it would be perfect. He slid his right hand down the string and they made that familiar ringing noise before he put them in position. He looked up and met with Khari's deep amber eyes -- there was love and a fire of lust in there. Josh hoped this would ignite it.

His fingers started moving as he picked the beginning melody. A big grin stretched across his lips as he was reminded how much he loved this song. It'd used to always help him relax and escape to a kind of fantasy -- one that was starting to come true. He reached the first verse and sang softly:

Sun's up, uh huh, looks okay. The world survives into another day. And I'm thinking about eternity Some kind of ecstasy's got a hold on me

Khari leaned in and rested his big head lightly on Josh's shoulder. Josh beamed.

I had another dream about lions at the door They weren't half as frightening as they were before

His master's paw moved toward the inside of his thigh and started massaging it. But Josh kept on playing and Khari closed his eyes. They both let themselves fall away into the music.

Walls, windows, tree, waves coming through You'll be in me and I'll be in you Together in eternity

The big lion sunk a bit deeper into Josh's shoulder, his mane tickling his forearm. Josh smiled. He knew the chorus was coming up and he prepared himself. He let it flow gently from the back of his throat like he was born to sing it.

And I'm wondering where the lions are I'm wondering where the lions are I'm wondering where the lions are I'm wondering where the lions are

Khari opened his eyes and put the paw that had been rubbing Josh's thigh onto Josh's right hand, stopping him from strumming any more. He inched closer to Josh -- so close he could feel the wonderful static between their faces. Their lips were just an inch apart. And Khari said, "I'm right here."

The big lion closed the gap between their lips and pressed against them first with the lightest of caresses. Josh felt his whole body go weak. It was a dream-come-true.

Josh let his guitar slip to the floor as Khari pushed even harder and deeper into his lips and the lion's paw made its way back down to Josh's thigh. This time, it slowly crept up toward his crotch and gave his package a tender squeeze. Josh jerked and slid down the chair. But Khari took advantage of that fact and climbed over Josh, wrapping his smoky lips tighter around Josh's. He let his tongue slip out and into Josh's mouth. Together, their warm tongues mingled, tasting and stimulating each other. It was absolute bliss.

Josh could feel his cock getting hard with each stroke of Khari's paw on his crotch. It rubbed in a circular motion just like the lion's prickly tongue within his mouth. Khari's other paw snuck to the back of Josh's head and pushed him even harder into his mouth. His master couldn't get enough of his slave's flavor, kissing deeper and nibbling on his lip. His finger's raked through Josh's hair, taking some of in his clutches and forcing Josh's head back so he could massage the whole length of Josh's tongue with his own.

Josh squirmed with pleasure as Khari kept taking even more control of him and he gave in without complaint. Khari gave Josh one last kiss as he pulled away and moved his paw over to replace his tingling lips. His thumb ran along the edges of Josh's lips just begging to enter. Josh was happy to oblige. He opened up and let Khari slide the padded digit inside. It slipped right past his lips tickling them. The young lion tilted Josh's head and started to lick and suck on his ear as he used Josh's moist mouth to stroke his eager thumb.

"I'm going to teach you what real pleasure is," Khari whispered into Josh's ear, making him shiver in anticipation. His paw squeezed even harder on Josh's crotch, cupping the balls above his fingers and rolling them like a sensual wave.

Josh murmured around Khari's thumb, "I'm ready to learn. Please teach me, master."

"But first we've got to do something about these clothes."

Khari took the collar of Josh's shirt into his paws and started ripping it down the middle, exposing Josh's bare chest. A hungry grin conquered the lion's face as he ripped the arms of the shirt off and descended upon Josh's right nipple. His lips firmly enveloped it and flicked it with the tip of his coarse tongue. The sensation sent pulsing shockwaves of sharp pleasure throughout Josh's body. The upper part of his back arched and pushed him farther into Khari's suckling mouth. His lust for the lion was growing by the second.

He dug his hand into the prince's mane and raked his fingers right behind the ear. Khari purred. His master's paws crept down to the rim of his pants and just like the shirt he didn't care to take the time to undo them properly. He ripped them down each leg, kissing Josh's belly on the way down each time. He made sure to take care around Josh's swollen ankle. It didn't matter, though. Josh couldn't really feel it at that moment. He was too caught up in his lust.

A large tent was pitched in Josh's underwear and Khari expressed his eagerness to see what was underneath by licking his lips. And just like everything else, he ripped them apart with his strong arms and paws. Josh blushed as his full erection emerged. Khari took it in one of his paws and stroked it a few times. Josh bit his lips in order to control himself as Khari's other paw massaged his testicles. His body involuntary twitched a few times to the feeling of the lion's paw pads firing every single sensitive nerve along his shaft and cockhead. Khari's paw was large enough to engulf Josh's entire penis, and when his master squeezed the entire shaft hard he could feel the whole length pulsing against those soft pads.

"I want you to undress me, Josh," Khari ordered. He crawled back over Josh, straddling his hip. And underneath his tight pants, the prince's hard manhood pressed against Josh's belly.

"Yes master."

Josh took the bottom of Khari's shirt into his palms and proceeded to lift them upward along the lion's furry belly. Inch by inch, the prince's muscular belly and chest appeared. He bent over so Josh could pull the shirt up and over his shoulder and head. Josh's cock was pulsing and pressing hard against his master's ass crack.

After tossing the shirt to the floor, Josh moved down to Khari's pants. He undid the button and strap before reaching around to the back where he slid his fingers along the lion's ass before grasping the tail ring and releasing it from around the tail. The pants slid down an inch, or so, on their own but Josh did the rest. He pulled them down as far as they would go. First, Khari's thick pubic fur appeared and below it was a hard bulge pushing against the underwear. Josh grabbed the underwear as well and he snuck it down that bulge, exposing Khari's thick hard cock by each sensual inch. Eventually, Khari's cock sprung out from the underwear and brushed up against Josh's hands. The erect flesh was extended fully out of its furry sheath, and the moment Khari's big balls appeared his potent sex filled the air. Josh melted as the smell of his master took over his body. It made him want to taste that throbbing lion cock.

Khari leaned back, lifted his ass, and positioned his feet atop the arm of the chair that Josh's head was resting on. His ball sack fell between Josh's legs and teased his inner thighs, his cock standing tall and curved up toward the ceiling. Josh pulled the pants and underwear the rest of the way down his legs and let them drop to the floor the moment they were past his feet. Khari bent his knees and placed his feet on top of Josh's chest. He bent forward in the chair until both of their cocks were pressed against each other. Khari's sheath tickled Josh's cockhead and his scrotum wrapped around the base of Josh's shaft.

"Why don't you start by licking my feet, slave," he commanded, bending both cocks together and coiling his fingers around them. And as he squeezed both erections, Josh was able to feel Khari's powerful warm pulses against his cock.

Josh took the first foot into his hands and placed it right in front of his face. The bottom of Khari's foot was large and wide enough to cover his face and still have room to wrap over the crown of his head. And it did just that. Khari pushed his foot into Josh's face, the toes curling forward and ruffling some of Josh's red hair. The furry midsection tickled his nose and infected it with more of the lion's lustful scent. Josh nearly fainted submitting to its power.

He opened his mouth and ran his tongue along the top edge of Khari's padded heel. The dark flesh gave way and released its flavor into Josh's mouth. With the taste of his master on his tongue, Josh ran it along the roof of his mouth savoring as much of it as he could before returning to get seconds, and thirds, and fourths.

As Josh continued to work his master's foot, Khari began stroking their two cocks, letting the pleasure of Josh's mouth on the bottom of his foot fill him. The human's little tongue knew how to work every single inch of his foot. It worked it like he'd never felt before. And he couldn't help but writhe in sensational delight as both his foot and his cock was being stimulated, sometimes pushing his foot harder into Josh's face and deeper into his mouth.

"Oh, yes!" Khari roared, pushing his other foot against the side of Josh's head and sticking his big toe into Josh's mouth with the other. Josh enthusiastically took it all in letting it fill his mouth. He sighed out of his nose with pleasure as the pad slid back and forth over his tongue. All he could taste was his master, and in that moment that's all he ever wanted to taste.

Khari started stroking their cocks faster and switched feet, planting the ball of his other foot into Josh's mouth. The black pad pushed past Josh's lips and onto his tongue. Josh started sucking and licking it right away, hoping to please his master even more. And it did. The young lion started to seize up and Josh felt his huge cock swelling up against his.

His master let out a load roar and started to jerk erratically as a large amount of white goo started spurting between his large fingers. A lot of it dripped down coating both of their cocks. And some of the hot liquid oozed all the way down Josh's balls and taint and tickled his hole. However, Khari didn't remove his foot from Josh's face this time. In fact, he stuck his other big against Josh's lips just begging to be licked. Josh intuitively did as his master subtly hinted.

Josh couldn't see what was happening but he could feel it. Khari was running his paw all over his crotch and Josh's. It was as if he was collecting all of his wet spunk for some reason. But Josh couldn't figure out why -- not that he was able to concentrate on answering that question. It did all become clear though the moment Khari's slippery wet finger snuck down below their ball sacks and pressed against Josh's hole. And with a large amount of cum lubricating his finger he started to spread Josh's tight hole, pushing it in a good inch and making forcing the sphincter to give way. Josh winced a bit. It was kind of uncomfortable and burned like a tiny fire in his ass, but he let his master do as he pleased. He was too busy licking a toe to express any objections anyway.

"You've got a tight hole, don't you?" Khari smiled. He knew that it was only going to make things more pleasurable for him. "That's why I've got to lube it up really well." He took more of his man-made lube and shoved it into Josh's ass, pushing even farther this time.

Josh couldn't help it this time. He let out a moan, both in pleasure and pain. Khari laughed a little and wiggled his finger within Josh's rectum, spreading his slick cum along the inside of Josh's warm flesh. There was only one direction this could be going. And Josh wasn't sure if he was prepared for it. He definitely wanted it. But he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it.

Something was even surprising him. Even though Khari had already released a good load, his cock was still rock hard and pressing against Josh. He didn't know much about lions mating or their libidos -- anything actually -- but he was amazed that his master hadn't even started to go flaccid. It was only an idle thought however as Khari continued to push more of his splooge deeper into Josh's rectum, preparing it for what was likely to be a good pounding.

Khari pulled his feet away from Josh, letting him get one last good lick of his big toe. That's when Josh got a good view of Khari's right paw disappearing behind his cock and thrusting into his hole. And without warning, the lion squeezed another of his big fingers inside, spreading Josh's anus even more. Josh wriggled a bit and let out a grunt but Khari kept him in place.

"This'll help you out," his master explained, pushing both fingers in as far as they could go. The burning spread inside and out. "My cock is going to spread you real good and deep, human. So it's better if we do this first. But while we're getting you acclimated..." He kept his fingers in Josh's ass but rolled off of the wide chair. He lifted his left foot and rested it on the arm of the chair next to Josh. His body was still leaning over Josh but now his thick member was dangling right above Josh's eager mouth. Josh licked his chops. He was finally going to get a taste. "...How about you lubricate my cock a bit more?" Khari finished and slowly bent his hips pressing the tip of his meaty member against Josh's wet lips. Cum was still dripping from it but that made Josh want it in his mouth even more.

Josh did his best to ignore Khari's fingers stroking his insides and chose to let the hot sex that wafted from the lion's genitals intoxicate him. It worked. He spread his moist lips and allowed Khari's dick to slide inside. The dripping cum at the head of his cock coated the surface of Josh's tongue and lit up every taste bud with a tangy but sweet flavor. His master's cock was delicious.

He let his master push it all the way to the back of his throat, filling every bit between his soft cheeks. Khari was so large that Josh's was hardly even able to get half of him past his lips. He felt the fleshy barbs on the lion's cock lie flat against the hard flesh but they would rub and scratch the surface of his tongue. It was a type of stimulation he wasn't used to but it felt great.

Once inside his slave's mouth, Khari started thrusting his hip forcing Josh's lips to stroke his cock for him. And even though he'd just had an orgasm a few minutes ago he was already dumping some pre-cum all over Josh's tongue and the back of his throat. But Josh loved it all -- his master's strong sex had conquered his sense of smell and now the taste of his master's essence was overtaking his taste. And then Khari pushed hard, forcing Josh's head deep into the chair's arm and shoving his cock down Josh's throat. The fleshy tube gave way and welcomed Khari's manhood, pushing Josh's lips all the way to his sheath which gave way to the pressure. Josh delighted in the way it stretched and filled him. For a few seconds Khari stroked it back and forth massaging the inside with the curves along his cockhead and shaft. Josh let out a few mumbles of satisfaction and his eyes rolled back in utter enjoyment. Having his master use his mouth in such a way was divinely orgasmic. So much so that he could tell that his cock was starting to drip its own pre.

Khari inched his cock back out of Josh's mouth with one of the widest grins Josh had ever seen across his muzzle. It was now dripping with pre-cum and Josh's slippery saliva. He also pulled his fingers out of Josh's ass. Josh hardly noticed them anymore, which was probably good because he knew what his master wanted to do to him next.

"I think you're ready for me now, Josh," he beamed. He slipped his arms underneath Josh's back and legs and lifted him off of the chair. In his grasp, he hauled Josh over to the bed and laid him down carefully. Khari was right -- his hole was feeling stretched and ready to have it spread even more by his master's cock. The big lion crawled over on top of Josh and hung just feet from him, his furry mane tickling Josh's chest. He stared deep into Josh's eyes darting back and forth between each one. "I may get pretty aggressive when I fuck you, Josh. Is that alright?"

Josh was staring at Khari's black lips as they moved. "Yes, my prince. I want you to fuck me as hard as you want."

A joyful approval of those words swept across the lion's face. It was exactly what he wanted to hear. "Good," he replied and kissed Josh hard for a few seconds. "Cause I'm going to ravage you all night, my human. It'd be best to get you used to it right away."

He took hold of Josh' right leg and rested it up against his shoulder turning Josh to his left in the process. Already, the head of his naturally lubricated cock was pressed up against Josh's hole, teasing it. He kept his left leg bent to the side but moved his right leg toward the head of the bed where his placed the bottom of his foot right in front of Josh's face. It was only inches away and Josh could feel the heat and smell its wonderful aroma again. He slithered closer to the foot and gave it a good lick. He shivered with satisfaction as the wonderfully savory taste sparked his taste buds again. That would never get old.

Khari lifted his butt a bit off of Josh's left leg and leaned forward, pushing his cock harder against Josh's hole until it finally slid inside. The tight sphincter spread a good two inches to accommodate for the near-monstrous cock. He let out a muffled cry of pleasure against the bottom of Khari's foot. The lion paused for a few seconds to let Josh calm down and then pushed again, sliding his cock deeper into Josh's ass and spreading his hole even more.

That burning feeling was back but there was something much different, it was actually quite pleasurable with Khari's dick pressed against his prostate. Josh clenched whatever was underneath his hands and pressed his face harder against his master's foot. Khari leaned forward even more and wrapped a paw around Josh's shoulder. He used that as leverage to push his cock the rest of the way in. Josh jerk a bit as he felt many more parts of his insides get stretched.

"There," Khari started purring, "I'm all the way in, Josh."

Josh clenched his hole a few times, tightening his ring around the base of Khari's cock. He shifted his head so his master's soft padded heel was pressed against his cheek. "Do it, master. Fuck me hard!"

Khari smiled with an almost feral kind of lust and that hellfire of sex glimmered in his golden eyes. "Say that you're mine, human!" he demanded and thrust his cock even deeper into Josh ass. Josh didn't even think it was possible to go any deeper. He cried out in ecstasy with his master filling up so much of him.

"I-I-I-" Josh stuttered in time with the rate that Khari started humping his ass.

"Say it, human!" Khari exclaimed, shoving his cock deep inside again. "Who do you belong to?"

"Y-you, master," Josh was yelling and growing red in the face, "I belong to you."

"That's right. So you do everything I say?"

"Y-yes master."

"Then lick my foot like a good little slave while I pound your tight ass!"

His paw squeezed Josh's shoulder tighter as he leaned in a bit further thrusting back and forth deep into Josh's ass. It was hard but Josh did as his master asked and turned his head back around to start licking the bottom of his foot. The bumpy pads tickled his tongue but it was nothing in comparison to the way Khari's cock was massaging his insides. And even with the pain of being stretched, there was something being stimulated in his bowels that was pure ecstasy. Enough so, that if he was to concentrate on it, he'd most likely cum hands-free.

Khari would pull out a good eight inches and thrust right back into Josh's tight hole. The flesh wrapped firmly around his shaft so well that it aroused the young lion even more, swelling his cock to a greater degree. And the closer he got to orgasm, the more the base of his cock would swell into a knot. Josh felt that happening as his hole was being spread more and more as Khari started to fuck him harder and faster.

Josh was nearly moaning constantly against the ball of Khari's foot, his lips wrapping around the dark pad and licking it sporadically. If he wasn't careful he'd be liable to bite it. That was because Khari's cock was going so deep that he could feel it pressing somewhere near the bottom of his belly, and that furry sheath of Khari's would give way against his hole with each deep thrust. Khari was leaning in so far that only his hip was swaying back and forth and he'd been dumping enough pre-cum into Josh's ass that his cock sliding in and out would make sloppy squishing noises. The air around them smelled of nothing more than humid, musky sex.

Khari was getting close. The base of his cock had swollen another inch and he used it to massage Josh's hole by driving it in and out by only an inch. But that was perfect for Josh. That spot of pure ecstasy was exactly where Khari was currently pounding him and it was rubbing him in all the right ways. He felt his balls start to swell, ready to release their seed.

"I-I'm going to cum, Josh!" Khari roared and gave one last, long thrust as deep as he could go into Josh's ass, pushing him a whole foot toward the headboard of the bed. The barbs on the lion's cock spread and massaged Josh's insides even more as Khari started jerking, shooting another big load into Josh's ass. As it swelled and filled him Josh accidently tried to squirm away, but the barbs held tight to the flesh inside him and didn't allow it. But that was all the stimulation that Josh needed.

With Khari's barbed cock swollen deep within him and unloading a torrent of semen, Josh couldn't hold back anymore. His body tensed up and convulsed as his own cock swelled and started spurting cum. It shot a good three feet across the bed, landing as a few scattered globs on the sheets. He kept Khari's big toe in his mouth as his cock kept jerking and releasing a lot more of his seed. It just wouldn't stop, especially with his hole wrapped tightly around the base of Khari's cock and clenching over and over. It was the longest orgasm he'd ever had.

Khari went limp but kept his cock inside Josh, still dripping more of his seed. He wouldn't be able to pull it back out until he was all done with his orgasm which was lasting even longer than Josh's. But Josh was so happy to be able to please Khari so well.

The young lion placed a paw on Josh's cheek and caressed it. "I told you I'd teach you what real pleasure was," he panted, smiling.

Josh was also trying to catch his breath. His ass was still clenching around Khari's cock. "You were right. That was beyond words." They both laughed but Josh had a question he just had to ask. "I need to know, though. I must have played some music that you like, right?"

Khari chuckled and was finally able to pull his cock out of Josh's ass. "That was another trick game. I pretty much like all music."

"And what about all that talk about breaking me in? Was that what we just did?"

"Yup, it's what we do to finally claim someone as our own," that hungry smile crept across his muzzle again. "Which is why I'm going to do everything I've wanted to do to you."

"Meaning?"

"This was just the tip of the iceberg."

"Oh really?"

"Definitely. And since you need some bed rest to heal that ankle of yours, it's the perfect opportunity," the prince explained. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you for the meantime, but that means you'll have to repay me somehow. And that means I get to fuck you whenever I want. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Josh replied.

How could he ever object to such an offer?