Frank & Menno

13.

Norm opened the door of his apartment. He went in first, dragging the heavy bags with him. “Come on in,” he said to Mihangel. “I’ll clear this up. Have a seat, okay?”



“Okay.” Mihangel closed the door behind him, and followed inside. Norm’s place was larger than Menno’s, he saw. He’s only seen his cousin’s place once, since he moved here, but he could remember the claustrophobia. Walking to the large, soft sofa, he looked around. Norm was obviously single. The place was messy, with mismatching furniture and a huge television, high piles of magazines and cabinets full of DVD’s and CD’s. He sat down, and waited until Norm was ready.



“Beer…” Leaning over the back of the sofa, Norm handed over a cold bottle.



“Oh! Thank you.” Mihangel followed the man with his eyes as he walked around the couch and sat down next to him. “Cheers.”



“Cheers.” Norm winked, clanking his bottle against Mihangel’s. “To friends?”



“Sure,” Mihangel smiled. “To friendship.”



“Without pay, of course.”



“Hm. Do you still think I’m a gigolo…?” Although Mihangel couldn’t blame him, he didn’t like to think of his job as being a male escort.



“Tell me what you are, then.” Norm pulled his legs up, leaning comfortably in the corner. He looked at his guest, sipping beer, obviously at ease.



Mihangel crept in the other corner. He kicked off his sneakers, and also pulled up his legs. “I make lonely people happy. I do it for the money, and it pays well…”



“Is that why you are here? Because you think I’m lonely?”



Looking up into the green eyes, Mihangel tried to read the man. Was he angry? Disappointed? Apparently, he wasn’t. “No, Norm… I’m sure Frank has told you why I came home with you… Didn’t he?”



“He said you were interested in me,”said Norm with a shrug. “Are you?”



“Yes.” The blonde quickly sipped his beer. “I am. And Menno told me I shouldn’t be, because you’re hetero.”



Norm shrugged again. “Does it matter much? Hetero, homo; I never gave it much thought. I like people who like me the way I am. Frank found someone special in a man… Why should I pay attention to women who want me to shave my chest?”



Mihangel laughed, quickly lowering his bottle. “Oh dear… Were you actually asked to shave? Poor Norm!”



“It itches,” muttered Norm. He rubbed his chest through his top. “I waited for months to get my soft fur back. She didn’t last that long, needless to say.”



The blonde laughed again, imagining the bear with stubble all over his body. “I promise I’ll never ask you to shave,” he said, pressing a hand against his heart.



“I hope you keep that promise. I was at the barber last week, and read some gossip magazines. Those people in the photos… are that the people you hang out with?”



“Yeah. I’m afraid so. Do you have internet? I could show you some photos with me in it.”



“Really! I’d like to see.” Norm stood up, and walked to a desk where he kept his laptop. He returned, opening it. “Show me.”



Mihangel shifted closer. “Can I have a shower later? I smell myself…”



“You smell me. I sweat easily.”



“You smell good… actually.” With a faint smile, Mihangel leaned closer, sniffing deeply. “Manly,” he said with a wink. “Nice.”



“Hm. It’s online. Show me some pictures.” Norm blushed a bit, and stifled a smile as Mihangel shifted even closer against him. He didn’t pull away.



“Alright, let me see…” The blonde opened a search program. He knew what to look for, and quickly downloaded a bunch of photos, showing him next to celebrities even Norm would know. To his pleasure, the man reacted surprised.



“You know him? He’s a soccer player! You’re his special pal?”



“A lot of men have secrets, Norm… Yes, I’m his pal. But I don’t sleep with him, if that’s what you’re thinking. I accompany him when he doesn’t want to go with his wife.” He opened some more pictures.



“Did you ever sleep with one of them?”



Mihangel didn’t answer immediately. He looked at Norm, again trying to read him, to see how honest he would be. “Yes, I have slept with some of them…” He got a condo and a sports car as a reward. In a way, he was a gigolo. He just didn’t like that idea.



“Are you still sleeping with them?”



“Norm… Why do you ask? I try to determine what you think of it, but… I don’t know.” He had shown enough photos, and closed the laptop. Pulling his legs up, he turned to the bear. “Talk to me.”



Norm didn’t look at him. He drank his beer, looking at the closed notebook. “I… I don’t know why I’m asking,” he said quietly. “I certainly don’t want the answers. They hurt.”



“It hurts?” Mihangel blinked surprised. “Okay… Now I’m confused. Norm…” Reaching out, he placed a hand on the man’s arm, feeling the soft hair and warm skin. He licked his lips. “Norm, why does it hurt?”



Looking at the hand on his arm, Norm shrugged. “I don’t know. It just does. Here,” he illustrated, tapping his chest. “I feel a spark of pain here, when you say you sleep with those celebs for money. You shouldn’t do it, you know. You shouldn’t have sex with someone for money. You should be with someone who respects you.”



“Like you?” asked Mihangel softly. “You obviously respect me, Norm…”



“No… Yes, but… No, I…”



Mihangel had heard enough. He put his bottle on the table, and crawled on his knees. He pushed Norm against the back of the sofa, and climbed on his lap. “Say, Norm…” The man looked up at him, eyes wide, but he didn’t push him away. Mihangel smiled at him. “Say… Kiss the cook, right? On the lips?”



Norm swallowed hard. He nodded, barely visibly. “Uh-huh…”



“Good. Like this?” Leaning down, he kissed him, tentatively, keeping a close eye on Norm’s reaction. He saw how the man’s eyes fluttered close, and kissed him again. He could feel the strong hands on his hips, but he wasn’t pushed away. Wrapping his arms around the strong neck, he tilted his head, and deepened the kiss. Norm parted his lips. His tongue was hot and firm. Mihangel moaned in appreciation as he dueled with it, burying his fingers in the thick hair to keep him close. Norm slipped his arms firmly around him. This was perfect…



Reaching up with one hand, Norm tugged at the ribbon at the back of Mihangel’s neck. He untied the hair, and slid his fingers through the locks. He clearly had no objections to the deep kiss and the exploring tongue. His other hand pressed against the small of Mihangel’s back, pulling him tightly against his body. Only when the blonde moved his hands between them, he broke the kiss. He breathed heavily, looking at Mihangel’s eyes. “Mm… I can imagine people pay you for this, actually…”



“You can?” Mihangel licked his lips, tasting Norm. He hummed contently. He knew Norm had broken the kiss because he touched him, but he didn’t care. He slid his hands over the broad chest, feeling the hair under the thin jersey. “I have other qualities, you know…”



“I’m sure you have…” Norm nodded. He too licked his lips, humming softly. “So… You kissed the cook. Would you like to take a shower and dress into something more comfortable now?”



“Do you still want to keep me here, then?” Mihangel brushed his lips against Norm’s, and kissed him softly. To his pleasure, Norm answered the kiss. It was tempting to deepen it again…

This time, Norm pulled him even closer, pushing up his hips for full body contact. Mihangel moaned, encouraging him to continue. But the bear drew back.



“Take that shower.” Norm pushed Mihangel off his lap, and stood up. “I’ll show you where everything is.” Grabbing the bag on his way, he legged towards the bedroom.



Mihangel followed quickly. “You can tell me to stop, if I go too far,” he said urgently. “You’re an amazing kisser, you know…”



“Thank you.” Norm smiled, looking relaxed again. “So are you. Now freshen up, okay? Here’s my wardrobe; you can pick whatever you want to wear.”



“Okay. Thank you. Does that mean you didn’t think I went too far, then?” Mihangel had difficulty reading Norm’s body language.



The large man stepped up to him, looking down. “You promised me a kiss, and you kept your promise. Right?”



“Yes, but… I… You taste great, Norm… You’re very… How can I say this without being too blunt…” Looking up at Norm, at the innocent face, he decided being blunt was the only way to get through to him. “You make me hot,” he said, trying not to blush. “I want more than a kiss. I want you in bed with me.” To his amazement, the man grinned.



“Hm. Sex with you, Mihangel? But you are a man… like me. You heard Menno; I’m hetero. I don’t sleep with men.”



“Fuck you,” snapped Mihangel before he could bite his tongue.



Norm laughed mockingly. “Nah. You certainly won’t fuck me, I assure you.” He laughed at Mihangel’s expression, and straightened up. “Shower, change. Take your time.”



Mihangel followed him with his eyes. Now he was really confused. Norm kissed him with passion, but didn’t want sex with men because he wasn’t supposed to. His lips were a stripe, and he narrowed his eyes. No sex with men, hm? Well, maybe he could change that perception. A few more of those kisses and it would be really hard to keep their hands to themselves. He had felt Norm’s front under his butt… It certainly wasn’t as soft in the end as it was when they started.



He would take his time, but not too long. He would leave in a few days. He didn’t have time, if he wanted that bear in bed before he had to leave.