**********
As the alarm clock sounded, Norman woke from his nap and moved over to shut it off. “I guess it’s time for us to get cleaned up and go have chocolate cake.” He hovered over Wally and kissed the side of his cheek. “I am going to take a shower now. Do you want to soap up with me.” Wally didn’t answer. “Hey, buddy, are you all right?” quizzed Norman.
Wally mumbled as if he were half in a dream. “Sure, I’m fine. I just want to lay here on my side and think about you. You go ahead and take your shower. I am all right–more than all right.”
A few minutes later the shower was running and Norman was singing opera. Wally smiled. I have my own resident hot-blooded hunk, he thought. He can sing opera and show tunes; he drives me wild with his kisses; he makes love to me. Now, all I need is to teach him how to make beds and cook. I am one lucky dude. . . . I wonder what the big deal is about two guys getting it on. Norman was in ecstasy. I was in pain. Maybe it’s knowing that I belong to someone, and he will look after me.
Chapter 35
By nine o’clock, the two had returned from Sylvia Hunnicutt’s. They had feasted on Dotty’s delightful chocolate cake, and savored a cup of gourmet coffee with a shot of brandy. The evening had been nice, but they were glad to be back at the apartment. Until the past few days, Norman had been only a friend and a work buddy. Now, he was Wally’s lover. Norman was the ultra-straight guy who had just gone around a few curves. He had become infatuated with Wally’s lips as something more kissable than a girl. He was the legendary stud who had traded his customary lovemaking for a torrid scene with a guy. He was the one who took Wally as his prize, and left him wanting to be taken again.
Wally’s desire was to live and breathe Norman Gómez. Total immersion is what they call it in foreign language classes. That was it, Wally would learn all of Norman’s habits, his idiosyncrasies, his nuances, and his irregularities just as he would learn a language.
Tonight, Norman was teaching Wally that he didn’t like being confined to clothes. He wanted to shed them at every chance. Wally wasn’t that way. He liked to dress for the occasion. Even at home, Wally was not inclined to run about in skimpy underwear or lounge around in the nude. Who knows? Someone might stop by. It was doubtful that Wally could ever make Norman understand this need for modesty. Norman didn’t view himself as being immodest. His body was perfect. He did not want to hamper all that perfection with fibers, or buttons, or elastic. If the doorbell rang, Wally could simply throw something soft at Norman and motion for him to go put some clothes on.
As Norman continued removing his clothes, all of them, including his underwear, he kept giggling about the conversation at Sylvia’s. “You mean you didn’t see the look Sylvia gave to Dotty?”
“No,” said Wally. “I was in pain.”
Norman looked puzzled.
“Yeah,” continued Wally with a twinkle in his eyes. “The man I love gave me a royal pain in the butt.”
Norman howled. “You should have seen the look on your face when Sylvia popped her question. ‘You look like you are in pain, Mr. Jackson. Is the chair uncomfortable, or is it something else back there?’ And you said, ‘Oh, nothing serious, Ms. Hunnicutt. Just a minor case of hemorrhoids. I’ll pick up something at the drugstore, tomorrow, and everything will get back to normal.’”
“Well, yeah,” said Wally. “My butt does hurt. That was the only excuse I could think of. Did you want me to tell her what happened?”
Norman giggled. “I think she already knows. After you gave your super-intelligent answer, she turned to Dotty and mouthed something that we didn’t hear. Dotty let out a little gasp. Sylvia nodded her head very slowly to indicate yes. Dotty put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Then, to top it all off, Sylvia looked at me, with a wry smile, and winked. I tell you, they picked up on it. They know. They are just like us. They’re in love.”
“Well, how could they know what we were up to. They don’t have the same parts we do?”
Norman looked dumbfounded. “Man alive! Where is your brain? They can read novels and magazines. They might even watch those triple-X videos, but I hope not. Love is beautiful. Sex for any other reason is just plain nasty. I tell you, they’ve been around the block a lot more times than we have, and they know what love is all about. You can see it in their eyes, in the glow on their faces. Don’t fool yourself. They’re not living together to share the utility bills. They’re in love.”
Wally chuckled. He shook his head. “I guess you are right. What we see in them, they can see in us.”
“Exactly!” said Norman.
Wally changed the subject. “Hey, Norman. I don’t mean to put out anybody’s fire, but I do have a bit of discomfort back there. As much as I would like to, I don’t think I can handle it again, tonight.”
Norman wrapped his arms around Wally and silenced him with a kiss. “Nobody is asking you to do that again, tonight. That’s why I want us to have separate bedrooms. We can kiss every day. But, we need to save the really special stuff for a couple of times a week. If we don’t do it that way, it will get old, and we might take each other for granted. I love you, Wally. I want every time with you to be like the first time. I can’t get enough of you.”
“So, we’ll sleep together, tonight, but we’ll just kiss?”
Norman smiled. “Absolutely. Listen, it’s going to be a couple of days before we get the spare room fixed up, and I still have to move out of my other place. I know somebody who wants to rent it. There won’t be any problem with my landlord letting me out of the lease. While we are waiting for all this to get settled, we can practice, like maybe every other night. I do need to help you get used to me.”
Wally grinned, “You think of everything. I don’t know what I ever did without you.” Wally interrupted himself. “Yes, I do know. I slept alone and wondered where Tony was and when he would come back.”
Norman embraced Wally and whispered, “Let’s turn in for the night. We’ve both got to go to work tomorrow. Don’t you dare tell the gang at the office what is going on with us.”
As they stood beside the bed, Wally appeared to be a little apprehensive. Norman asked him why.
“I don’t want to be a temptation to you. I mean I could get into a hugging and kissing spell real quick, but nothing else.”
“Well,” said Norman, “let’s get into a hugging and kissing spell. I promise you it will not go any farther.”
The two got under the sheets. Norman turned out the light on the nightstand. He snuggled up to Wally from the back.
Wally felt Norman’s goatee on his face as his lover give him a little peck on the check and made a funny slurping noise. Then he licked Wally’s ear. He sighed, “I love you buddy. I reckon I always will. I just can’t get enough of you.”
Norman put his hand across Wally’s chest. Wally held onto it. Norman could feel the wetness of a few tears trickling down Wally’s face. “I hope those are tears of happiness, my sweet friend.”
Wally shook his head yes. He was not able to talk, lest he let loose a flood of tears. His chin quivered. Thoughts of Tony came across his mind. He held tighter to Norman’s hand. Time would level things out. The hurt would heal. Norman loved him. That was enough.
Chapter 36
Closing the apartment door behind him, Wally gave a casual twist on the knob to make sure the door was locked. Turning to Norman, he said, “We need to see my landlady, this evening, about getting a key for you. This is a whole new world for me, having you live here. I reckon we best go easy on the folks at work, and let them find out little by little.”
“And, why is that?” quizzed Norman. “I know, last night, I said we shouldn’t tell them. But, they are going to find out sooner or later. Nothing escapes Mileah’s attention. Besides, I don’t like skirting the issue, being afraid who is going to find out what, and when. That leaves too many ends hanging loose. I hate to be indelicate, but the only end I want swinging in my face is yours.”
Wally howl
ed with laughter. His shoulders shook.
Norman went on, “I say, we just tell them that I moved in. We don’t have to give details. Let them think what they will.” Norman chuckled. “It’s not like there’s a newspaper with giant headlines, Stud Moves in with Gay. Besides, I’m not a stud anymore.”
“Well, I think you are,” quipped Wally. “As far as I am concerned you are Señor Mucho Hombre and you’ve got a caramba to prove it.”
Norman giggled. “I guess we should drive in to work in the same car. That should start the conversation right there. I can almost imagine what Mileah might say.”
Wally smiled. “You want them to know, don’t you?”
Norman grabbed Wally’s arm and spun him around. He gave Wally a quick kiss, mouth to mouth. “I sure do. Oh, yes! I want them to know. I am tired of people trying to arrange dates and marriages for me. They need to know that I’m no longer available. For one thing, I don’t ever want to be alone again with Mileah and her vibrator. I didn’t appreciate where she tried to stick it. I’m the stud, here. Nobody, pokes me!”
Wally laughed. “So you’ve got to do the sticking. Is that the way it is?”
“Yes, except maybe with you. Then, it could be that I might swap for the sake of variety, once in a great while. And, I do emphasize great. But that is nobody else’s business.”
Wally and Norman rode to work in Norman’s car. Nobody seemed to notice that the gay guy from Poplar Hill and the stud from Brockton were riding together, except Mileah. But, she was in a hurry. Seeing them get out of the same car, laughing like two teenagers, didn’t seem to register immediately.
Mileah was preoccupied with her new sweater, wondering if the neckline might plunge too far for the workplace. I should have known better that to have some drinks with those two young lawyers and then go shopping for clothes. Oh well, if they ever give me an interview, this sweater could land me the job. As she walked into the building and down the hall, her hips were swinging to the rhythm of an unheard samba. She surmised that the lines of her sweater might get more than a few hungry glances from Norman, maybe even another date. If nothing else, Jarvis Muncey would have sweet daydreams, once he saw her. He might even be nice to everybody. One thing I know for sure, she thought. He would keep me in his office all day before he would send me home to change tops. Reaching the office door, she unlocked it and went in. It’s going to be an unusual day. I can feel it.
As Mileah placed her purse on her desk, Dorinda greeted her. “I love that sweater. It does wonders for your . . .You know, if makes you look really womanly. Being a preacher, I don’t think I could wear anything like that. Though it might cause some of those old tightwads to put more in the offering.” She giggled. “Did you see what I saw in the parking lot?”
“Why, no. What are you talking about?” Mileah interrupted herself. “You mean Wally and Norman, laughing and carrying on? I was so busy looking at my cleavage, I wasn’t noticing all that much.”
“They rode in the same car. I was already on my way into the building before they ever got parked, but I saw them in the car together.” Dorinda was smiling like she was on the verge of the juiciest tale imaginable.
“Ohhhh!” exclaimed Mileah. “Why did they ride together? They don’t even live near each other.”
“We’ll find out, soon enough, I tell you. Shhh! Sit down at your desk. Here they come.”
The two women seated themselves at their desks, instantly assuming the role of industrious workers concerned with nothing but agency business. That may have been the look on the outside, but their brains were churning up all kinds of conjectures, both reasonable and questionable, as to why Wally and Norman were riding together.
“Good morning, ladies,” said Norman in his most masculine voice. “It certainly is nice to be back at work. I had a really busy weekend.” He sat at his desk. On his face was a smile that wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard he tried to look serious.
Mileah’s curiosity got the best of her. “Well, since the two of you rode together this morning, should I assume that Norman stayed with you the rest of the weekend?”
Dorinda interrupted. “Mileah! Shame! That is none of our business, even though we really would like to know.” She giggled.
Norman cleared his throat. “Ladies. I must admit that I spent the weekend with Wally. I will be going home with him, again, this evening. He is having a rough time coping with his friend’s death. He doesn’t need to be alone.”
Speaking before he thought, Wally blurted out, “Yes, I have broken down and cried several times. If Norman hadn’t held me in those strong arms of his, I might have lost control. Norman has been such a comfort. He really cares.”
Mileah thought. Oh, my God. Then, she forced a smile and asked with an almost bitter tone, “And you, Norman, did you love holding Wally in your arms? I remember when you held me in your arms. But, after a while you acted like you were uncomfortable, like you wanted to get away from me. Something is rolling through my mind that maybe shouldn’t roll there. Perhaps it’s none of my business, but it seems there is something else going on here. Do you all know what I mean?”
Dorinda blushed and fiddled with her hair.
Wally went on the defensive. “No, it’s nothing like that. I didn’t ask Norman to stay. He offered to help me. I couldn’t do without him right now.”
Mileah peered over the top of her reading glasses. “Yeah, uh huh.”
Norman stood up and walked to the center of the room. He looked straight at Mileah. “You might as well know, babe. I’ve discovered some stuff about myself since that date you and me had.” Norman cleared his throat. He took a deep breath. “I’m moving in with Wally. I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”
Dorinda gasped. “Are you saying that you are in love with Wally? Oh, Lord, help us, if it’s true.”
“Yes, I’m in love with Wally, and Wally is in love with me.”
Mileah’s face was almost white. “Well, you can say it all you want, but I’m gonna need some hard evidence. You’re just saying this so I won’t ask you on another date.” Mileah started to cry. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Norman spoke gently, “Mileah. Believe me. If I were trying to find me a classy lady, I would certainly consider you. You are beautiful. You are intelligent. You are. . . .”
“Sexy?” smiled Mileah as she dried some tears and blew her nose.
“Yes, sexy.” Norman chuckled. By that time, Wally had stepped up beside him.
Mileah looked at them both. “I still don’t believe you.” She smiled. “I need evidence.”
Dorinda chided, “Hush, you’re gonna cause a scene.”
Norman smiled. He winked at Wally. “Is that what you all want, a scene? I’ll give you a scene and prove a point as well.”
“No!” exclaimed Dorinda.
It was too late. Norman turned to Wally. He wrapped his arms around his lover. His lips met Wally’s. His tongue passed on through. His cheeks sunk in on each side as he probed deeply into Wally’s mouth. His hands caressed Wally’s shoulders and lower back. He pinched Wally’s butt. Wally went limp in Norman’s arms, like someone conquered.
Perhaps, the kiss did not last as long as the description, but the timing of other events made it seem that way. At the precise moment that Norman’s tongue crossed Wally’s lips, Gina arrived at the door. As usual, she had come to find out if the office stud would take her to the bookstore, for coffee, at break time. At the sight of Norman and Wally locked in their embrace, Gina’s mouth flew open. She covered it with her hand. She turned pale and headed for the restroom to throw up.
Also, during the intimate event, Jarvis Muncey was making his morning rounds. His face was the customary red. His hands were sweating, as usual. Even before he came around the door, or saw anything, he had already begun to say in his crackling voice, “OK, folks, let’s stop this chitchat and get to work.” The word work never crossed his lips. He had seen Norman and Wally entwined. All Jarvis Muncey could do w
as emit a squeal, rather like a pig in pain, and faint.
Dorinda and Mileah got out of their chairs and ran to the aid of their boss. Norman and Wally disentangled their bodies. Norman said, “Wally you bend down and loosen his tie, so he can breathe. I’ll go get some smelling salts out of the first aid kit. Mileah, you run upstairs and see if the nurse is in the health department office.”
Dorinda remarked, “I’ll pray.”
As Wally was loosening Muncey’s tie, Muncey slowly opened one of his eyes, then the other. He looked at Wally.
Wally asked, “Are you going to be all right Mr. Muncey? You best not get up till the nurse gets here.”
Muncey smiled, “Dang! I never thought you’d be the one to land ol’ Norman. You lucky boy. I’ve been trying for two years. Never got anywhere. I’m too old.”
Chapter 37
As lunchtime drew near, menacing clouds from an approaching storm darkened the sky. Thunder started to rumble and roar, in the distance, sounding like the cannons that must have echoed through these parts during the War Between the States. People in cars, or on the sidewalks, would have been aware that each clap of thunder was louder than the one directly preceding it, that the storm was bearing down upon the city. Yet, in the office building, with its noise insulation and all the windowless cubicles, workers didn’t realize the severity of the impending cloudburst until the lights flickered out, then came back on, and all the computers restarted.
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