It was a seven-minute walk to the condo mentioned in Soni's text message, but Norman walked the whole thirty. Norman's body, his mind urging him on, didn't want to surrender to the torment of unrequited love again, and he could barely move. It was almost four in the morning when he reached the right entrance. After giving himself a few more seconds to calm down, he pressed the intercom button, and suddenly he was answered immediately:

"Thought you weren't coming. Come up, sixth floor."

Soni was greeted with a smile by his current boss, wearing homemade sweatpants and a T-shirt tight around his bodacious chest.

Norman swallowed, already realizing that it would be hard to be alone with the guy, and made his way inside. The apartment was small, but stylish and tidy. The living room-kitchen was separated from the bedroom by a glass partition with black inserts.

"Do you want to eat? I made pad thai with pork," the guy fussed and was clearly glad to have his friend keeping him company for the night.

"No. Thanks. I've had a bite to eat. I want to take a shower and go to bed."

"Okay. Do you have anything to change into?"

"Yeah, I brought clothes with me," Norman made his way to the bathroom and slumped against the wall, closing the door behind him. His heart was pounding frantically as he mentally braced himself:

"Oh... There's no point in wondering what I'm doing here anymore. I've got to try to keep my cool and not snap. I can do that."

The shower helped calm him down, and Norman, putting on his sweatpants and T-shirt, made his way to the living room.

"There's only one bed. So..." - Soni sat on the unfolded bed and tapped his palm on the spot next to him, inviting the man to join him.

"I'd better sleep here, Soni. There'll only be a couple of meters between us, so you can rest easy," Norman took a seat on the leather couch and began drying his still damp hair with a towel.

"I don't have any spare bedding. The cleaning lady comes once a week and changes it. You'll sleep on the bed. Or...are you scared?" - Soni walked over and sat down next to him, tilting his head, trying to look into his guest's eyes.

"I'm not afraid of anyone or anything," Norman spoke slowly, raising his head and meeting his gaze with dark brown smiling eyes.

"I doubt it. Everyone is afraid of something, it's normal. Let's go," the boy grabbed Norman's wrist and led him into the fenced sleeping area.

When the lights went out, the two men lay under the same blanket as far apart as possible and gazed silently into the darkness.

After a couple minutes, Soni said goodnight and turned his back to his guest.

"Right. We should go to sleep soon," Norman closed his eyes and fell into slumber.

At dawn he was awakened by a pitiful moan, he opened his eyes and saw Indigo sweating on the bed, apparently having a bad dream. Norman moved toward him and put his palm on his neck, but suddenly the lad began to push it away and shout:

"Don't touch me! Don't you dare!"

"Shhhhhh, Soni. Shhhhhh, it's just a dream. I'm here for you," the man pressed his whole body against the kicking kid, hugged him tightly and kissed him on the temple. Soon Soni calmed down and fell silent. Norman thought he had fallen asleep, but he insanely did not want to let go of his beloved body, which at this moment warmed with its warmth not only his physical shell, but also his soul:

"I'll do everything in my power to protect you."

The man continued stroking the boy, fixing his tangled hair, inhaling his scent and kissed him gently on the forehead a few times before falling asleep, leaving his hand on his chest.

"Norfman...Norfman...wake up," the soft velvet voice sounded at first as if from far away, growing closer. And when Norman opened his eyes, it turned out that his hands were tightly clutching the guy who was now speaking literally into his lips, and his eyes were glowing with a playful fire. The man lowered his gaze... Lips... Scarlet and velvet, not at all parched as Norman's usually were in the morning. The first thing that came to mind was to lick them, to slip his tongue inside and find the little tongue. Feeling the arousal building up, his guest pulled away abruptly and, moving to his side of the bed, said with a sigh:

"Sorry. Must have rolled over in my sleep."

"I don't think so... I was awake when you were stroking and kissing me. Is there anything you want to tell me?" - Soni rolled onto his side closer to his interlocutor and spoke with a smile, resting his head on his arm.

"What, you must have had a dream. You had a bad dream, I soothed you and put you to sleep," Norman threw back the blanket and wanted to get up.

"Wow, what a boner!" - exclaimed the guy, making a surprised face, Norman followed his gaze and immediately covered the blanket with the thin pants that were heavily puffed out by his erection:

"Well, just a boner, no big deal. Doesn't that happen to you in the morning? It's quite normal."

"Wait, are you sure you didn't get a boner on me?" - Soni questioned with a sly smile, running a finger over the hard shoulder muscles, making Norman feel even more aroused.

"Stop playing with me, Sunny. You were delirious at dawn and you're still doing it now," his guest grabbed the naughty finger and pinned it to the bed before standing up and quickly disappearing into the bathroom.

The unit that stood up and did not want to calm down had to be satisfied by active actions in the shower. The man mentally reassured himself: "My cock is understandable, it hasn't gotten a discharge since last Saturday, that's why it rebelled."

As Norman washed up and came out in a hundred percent peace of mind and body, a smiling Soni, shirtless and with his pants hanging loosely over his hips so that a small island of pubic hair was visible. He wrapped his arms around his guest's neck, pressed his entire body against him, and drove a foxy gaze from his eyes to his lips and back again. This stunned Norman, who had just brought his body from a fighting state to peacekeeping mode:

"What are you doing?"

"Checking on something. I'm guessing what you've been up to, which means if it's as you say, then not a muscle in your body will twitch," the little bugger said languidly, and then stood on tiptoe, rubbed his cheek against the man's cheek and nipped his earlobe with his lips.

"Calm...down...please," was all Norman could utter. At this moment his body was not obeying him, the warmth and caresses of his lover provoked the production of large amounts of serotonin with every fraction of a second, filling him with happiness and giving him a charge for further action.

"That's what I needed to prove. You like me after all?" - Soni pulled back slightly and looked at the man's newly risen cock, smiling.

"No. There was a thing before. Back on the farm. But I cooled off. And this is... a reaction to a nice body," Norman finally came to his senses, unashamedly slipped his hand down his pants to correct his staff, and made his way to the kitchen area.

"Are you serious? Is this really about the Farm? I hadn't noticed," Soni muttered in surprise as he put on a tank top and followed.

"Ha, you were really busy having affairs with Pete, Freddie, and...can't remember the name of the third one back then. Wouldn't have noticed a damn thing. You weren't interested in me in that way," Norman's heart was pounding frantically, but he tried to speak casually, distracting himself with the simple acts of loading the coffee machine and rummaging through the lockers for what he needed.

"How did you find out? We've been hiding so carefully," the guy sat down at the table and watched every movement of the constantly moving in space guest.

"I don't want to remember it... Ha, standing like a moron at the pantry door listening to you moan," Norman hovered with a cup in his hand, berating himself for the words he had just spoken.

After a few seconds of silence, Soni got up from his chair and walked over to the dazed man:

"I didn't know. I'm sorry... I had thoughts about you from day one, but I dismissed them, not wanting to lose a good friend. And you haven't shown your feelings in any way..."

"Life has taught me to keep such things to myself, otherwise... Never mind. It's all in the past. Where's your sugar?" - Norman wanted to stop discussing the subject.

"Sugar...? Su-gar... sugar..." - Soni was thinking about something, and the interlocutor would have given anything to read those thoughts. After a couple minutes of silence, it was like the guy woke up from a dream and spoke cheerfully:

"Mmmmmm. No sugar, but there is an offer I think you'll like."

"And what is that offer? Knowing you, I'm afraid to even guess," Norman turned and looked into his landlord's eyes.

"It's still three hours before your work day starts. Why don't we go on a date? A real date."

Soni's words were followed by the clink of a cup shattering on the granite floor, slipping from the shocked man's fingers.

"Bullshit. Don't worry about it. I'm going to take a shower. Make me some green tea, please. In that locker over there, in the gold box, and then get ready. I'll take you to the local cool coffee shop with fancy European breakfasts," Soni's smile lit up the space around him, and then he disappeared into the bathroom.

"No... It can't be. Perhaps he has some purpose with such suggestions? Wants me to cover for him in the basement or spare him unofficially from this job altogether?" - Norman, to say the least, didn't believe in the sincerity of what Soni had said.

When the kid popped out of the bathroom in just his boxers and made his way to the clothes closet, Norman walked over to him, determined to set the record straight, and laid out his thoughts:

"Sunny, I don't like the idea of a date. My feelings are in the past and you're obviously not ready to start a new relationship yet. Let things stay the same between us, I'll support you in the Club to the best of my ability, you won't owe me anything for it."

"Mmm, so you saw a self-serving subtext in what I said? Darling, believe me, it's not there. I've been thinking for a long time, you've seen it, a whole hundred...seconds, and I've come to the conclusion that I'd like to try and start a new relationship. My life hasn't been good since I broke up with Fiat, it's only gotten darker and crappier, I'm only alive today because of a revenge that didn't come to fruition. It's a total asshole."

"I'm sorry, Sunny. I don't want to... again..." - Norman turned away from the guy and tried to swallow the lump of words that longed to burst out and scream his weakness.

"Then... plan B," Soni spoke languorously and gently ran his hand down the man's back, straddling his side before taking his hands and placing them on his hips, "I think we both want the same thing, to be loved. Why not share each other's warmth? I don't know if it will work, but I'm willing to latch on to the opportunity. I know you, you're quite my type, and I like the way you look at me. I'll try to let you into my heart. What do you think? Shall we risk it?"

As the boy spoke, Norman couldn't take his eyes off his lips, and when the flow of words dried up, his hands slid to the desirable buttocks, thus bringing their bodies closer together to a minimum, and his nose was already wandering in the brunet's hair, inhaling the sweet smell of shampoo.

"That... means yes?" - Soni whispered into the strong neck with a smile.

"Uh-huh... Are we going to move in small steps or...?" - Norman didn't finish the sentence, gazing into the boy's eyes. Soni's words lit up hope within him, and in that moment he decided to let himself out of the cage he'd built with his own hands and give them both a chance, even if it all ended miserably.

"I'm in favor of the big ones. I don't want to pull. Our lives aren't predictable to the death," the guy said, looking into the man's eyes, and then he lifted himself slightly on his toes and gently touched his lips with his ajar lips. Already in a second his moist tongue rushed inside, passionately wrapping and licking along the entire length of his partner's tongue.

This maneuver, as well as the enveloping smell of jasmine from his lover's hair, covered Norman with a gigantic wave of arousal, and he snapped. It had been a long time since the man had experienced something like this - billions of micro fireworks exploded all over his body, there were no thoughts, only a greedy, animal desire to possess the man in his arms, to give him the happiness he was receiving now. His movements were passionate, but at the same time gentle, after a few seconds he took the initiative in the kiss. Quickly removed clothes flew to the floor.

Norman wrapped his arms around the guy's firm buttocks and lifted him up, never stopping the passionate kiss, while Soni wrapped his legs around his waist, ran his fingers through his hair and moved his hips, sliding his buttocks along his partner's hard cock.

The man abruptly turned around and gently laid his wildly arousing burden on the bed. Starting at her ear, he ran his tongue and kisses along his cheek and chin, lingering on her scented neck, and then down to her firm breasts. Tearing lips, tongue and teeth hard peas of nipples, he did not forget to passionately explore the guy's body with his hands, one of which, having reached the erection of his partner moved from greedy movements to more gentle.

Soni's body responded to every touch with shivers, goosebumps, arching his back and sweet, muffled moans from his lips. Norman felt his love being reciprocated, and it made him even hotter, he was literally going crazy.

"Nor... Norman... let's... cut the warm-up short... and move on already... to active sparring..." - Soni barely spoke as the man reached the inside of his thighs - nibbling and kissing them, tentatively throwing his white legs over his shoulders.

"Where...?" - before Norman could finish his question, the boy reached over to the shelf and, taking a wooden box, placed it next to his upraised thighs:

"All there is..."

Norman looked inside the box, there lay a lone condom in a tattered gold wrapper with the inscription erased.

"Keeping such a... rarity? Let it stay. I have everything with me..."

The guy's cheeks flushed even more, Norman ran his hand over his thigh, smiled, and stood up to grab a pack of condoms and lubricant from his bag.

With quick, expert movements, the man slipped the condom on and squeezed the lube onto his fingers, smearing it over the tips to warm them.

"I don't want...preparation...just come inside me," Soni whispered, and Norman turned his head slightly and drew his eyebrows together, trying to understand the reason.

"No. Let's do it canonically," he cut him off and inserted a finger into the tender opening.

"Mmmmm...really...we shouldn't," the boy closed his eyes and sucked in a mouthful of air.

Norman moved closer and showered kisses on the impossibly beautiful, beloved face, which relaxed more and more with each touch of his lips.

"Open your eyes... Sunny... I want you to look at me all the time," the man said, and the boy obeyed.

Their gazes met, and it was as if the two were sinking into each other without breaking eye contact. A second finger was added to the first, and the two rams were gently spreading the inner folds, looking for the cherished point. The moment they found it, Soni let out a long moan, closed his eyes for a second, but immediately regained his senses and opened them. Norman nestled against his lover's lips and gently caressed them, while gazing into his brown eyes, the glint of the midday sun's rays reflected in them mesmerizing.

Norman's shaft panted in a wild desire to possess the long-loved man, and entering him with three fingers, the man realized that he could not bear it any longer - his cock was so hard that it hurt. He removed his hand and knelt between the kid's slightly shaking legs. The picture was amazing - beads of sweat on his pale skin reflected the light, and it felt like Soni's body was covered in glitter, like he was a creature from another universe.

"Is something... wrong?" - Biting his lip, the deity asked uncertainly.

"You're insanely beautiful right now... can't take my eyes off you," Norman answered truthfully.

"You are...too. I want... you, Norf..." - Soni didn't finish, because the man put his palms under the boy's knees, threw his legs over his shoulders in one motion and brought his staff to the throbbing hole.

Entering only the length of the head, Norman leaned over, pulling Soni's legs up to his own chest and stared, unwavering, into his burning eyes as he thrust his scepter further and further in. This posture made the plunge very deep, and when he touched the tender buttocks with his skin, it was as if he had fallen into nirvana, and the guy's chest bulged slightly and he let out a wrenching moan.

"Is everything... okay?" - The man asked through the shroud of pleasure.

"Ah...yes...go on," the boy replied in a half groan, and Norman no longer restrained himself.

His hard cock invaded the warm, tight space in sharp spurts under the root, and then smoothly almost exited it. It was incredibly sensual, he wasn't just fucking the body he had surrendered, he was loving it with his whole being, savoring the coolness of the sweat-damp smooth skin with the pads of his fingers, letting his partner know with a look that he too belonged to him at this moment.

Moans, often coming together in unison, the squelching rhythmic sounds of the cock sliding into the lubricated hole and the accompanying sounds of body-to-body slapping filled the room.

Norman prolonged this moment of incredible happiness as best he could, but Soni began to approach climax, though his cock was only rubbing against his moving partner's belly.

"I... Norm... soon..." - Through a moan, the guy tried to communicate that he was about to cum.

Norman put his hands behind Soni's back and in one motion lifted his body into an upright position, sitting the guy on top of himself. The man rested his hand on the bed behind him and began to move his hips vigorously and help himself with his free hand, squeezing the guy's buttock and thrusting the full length of his cock into his ass.

Soni's ring of muscles squeezed his shaft hard in the moment, and he cummed with a long groan a second after the guy, whimpering, began to pour out on his stomach. The climax was sensational, Norman was gulping air with his mouth and hugging his lover, and the same phrase was banging around in his head in circles:

"Love me, please love me..."

When the couple's heartbeats and breathing returned to normal, the man took his face away from Soni's neck and looked into his eyes, startled to see tears in them.

"Are you... how are you?" - His heart was beating out a rapid rhythm in fear, Norman was afraid to hear the answer as this situation reminded him of the morning after sex with Atid.

"Can I ask you a question? When was the last time you had a proper fuck, aside from this one?"

"Are you...fucking kidding me? Ten hours ago, in the blue room," Soni immediately perked up, shifting his eyebrows and brushing a tear rolling down his cheek.

"Don't get turned on. I mean sex at your will," Norman clarified in a quiet voice and kissed the boy gently on the lips.

"Ugh...got it...a long time ago...a long time ago, the last time was with Fiat," he replied and took his gaze up and to the right, which meant he was remembering the actual event. Norman had a knack for reading looks, and he absolutely hated the fact that he was thinking of something else in this situation, when his cock was still inside his lover, so he immediately changed the topic of conversation:

"Wanna take a bath?"

"Yes, come on!" - The brilliant brown eyes were once again turned to her partner.

"I'll get you some water. You relax for a while, and I'll run out to get breakfast. It's long past time for us to eat. We have to go to work soon," Norman gently lifted his lover by the buttocks and removed the condom.

"I thought...we'd splash around together..." - Soni muttered.

"Hmmm... The two of us won't fit in there. Come on, get up, I'll come back and sit next to you real quick."

Having drawn a bath, the man watched the guy with a body that made him want to hug him again and more, immerse himself in the water, then wiped his face with his hands and left the apartment. Twenty minutes later he returned with bags of food from the café next door, set his loot on the table and walked into the bathroom.

The first thing Norman saw was the smooth surface of the water and an immobilized Soni completely in airless space. Fear instantly gripped his entire being, his breathing stopped. Quickly running up to him, he slipped his hand into the water and, grabbing the man by the neck, lifted him outside.

The boy calmly wiped his face with his hand and asked:

"What are you doing? Are you scared?"

Norman started to breathe and sat down on the floor and dramatically ran his hand sharply through his hair a few times to regain consciousness, then calmly replied:

"Nothing... Why would I be? Just letting you know I'm here. I brought food."

"Great. I'm going to lie down for another ten minutes, okay? Will you sit with me?"

"Uh-huh," the man nodded, moving over to the wall to lean his back on it.

"Haven't heard your stories about our planet's lungs in a while. I'm giving you a chance to get smart. I'm all ears," Soni chuckled, then rested his head on his crossed arms on the edge of the bathroom, making a serious face.

"Well, good. You asked for it yourself, then don't complain," Norman smiled, paused and spent a glance at the droplet of water running down Indigo's face from forehead to chin, and continued. - "Do you know anything about smart planting and companion plants?"

"No, you never told me such things on the Farm, and besides you there are no other plant experts in my circle, and I am not a fan of such reading," Soni smiled, scrutinizing the face of his interlocutor. Norman took his gaze away from his brown eyes and began to recall and recount in simple language what he had learned in his university years:

"Then listen. I'll try to make it simple. So, some plants and vegetables grow well together, and some only interfere with each other. For example... peppers are good neighbors with basil, coriander, onions, spinach and tomatoes, but they won't do well next to beans."

"Weeeell," the boy reached out and began slowly smoothing the hairs on the man's beard with damp fingers.

"I like the tandem of corn and peas. I think it's a most fortunate neighbor. The corn gives support to the peas, which in turn saturate the soil with the nitrogen it needs. The American Indians knew about this secret," Norman said and looked at his cell phone, which he twirled between his thumb and forefinger, but occasionally glanced at Soni, who was listening attentively.

"So what's the point?"

"Is it needed?"

"Of course. Knowing you, you brought it up for a reason. Once at the Farm you were talking about parasitic plants when you wanted me to pay attention to Van sticking to me. Wasn't I right?"

"There's nothing wrong with your insight. I was glad you put him in his place soon enough, I didn't like that sycophant. Okay, back to our bananas. I think it's the same with people. There are those that choke you and keep you from moving forward, and there are... those that give you strength, help you fight external negative factors and ultimately make you happy," Norman said this to hint that he was ready to be the person for Soni who would be a support and protect him in times of need, but he didn't expect to hear the following: 

"You're a philosopher, Norfman! I wonder what category I belong to for you? Do you see me as a parasite or a companion?"

Norman did not dare to answer this question, fearing that the conversation would go in an unfavorable direction for him, so after a few seconds he spoke, getting to his feet:

"Get out...the food's getting cold. I'll go set the table."

***

After a very late breakfast, Norman helped Soni clear the table, and headed out, as it was already 2:50 pm on the clock, with only 10 minutes to go before the work day started. This was the first time he would get to business on time if he hurried, rather than a few hours earlier as usual.

"And a goodbye kiss?" - came playfully from behind him as he took hold of the doorknob. Turning around and without thinking for long, the man covered the distance to the boy in two steps. Putting his arms around his waist and taking the glass of water from his hands, he nestled his wet lips with all the tenderness he could muster.

Their kiss was like a flirtation of body parts with each other, tongues caressing and pushing back, lips sucking and pulling away, teeth also making themselves known at certain moments, contributing their playful part to the game. Norman was unable to be the first to let go of his lover, already thinking of undressing his lover again and being late for the Club, and so Soni did it for him, slowly pulling away and speaking softly:

"You should go... I'll see you at work."

***

As soon as Norman entered the office, Aran ran in after him, his normally narrow eyes the size of saucers:

"Khun Norman, there's... there's Ms. Makoto here for an inspection. She's asking for you."

"Hm, that's strange. She didn't give any warning. Good. Make sure everything is in place, it should go smoothly," Norman grabbed his work tablet and headed upstairs with a quick step, while an excited Aran overtook him and rushed ahead to fulfill his boss's instructions in time.

The Queen and her two guards were waiting for the manager at the restaurant entrance, and as soon as she saw her attorney, she tucked her hair on one side behind her ear and, Lion cocking her left eyebrow upward and narrowing her eyes, immediately reprimanded him:

"I had to wait for you, Norman. You're late today, not like you, but I'll forgive you for the first time. Let's start with the restaurant."

Makoto listened attentively to the manager's report on every part of her favorite brainchild each time, and occasionally asked clarifying questions. After the restaurant, they headed to the Bar, where Norman had to leave the Club owner behind, apologizing, and politely harassing a "bastard bitch" customer who was getting a little rough with Red. When he had resolved the situation and returned to the hive queen, she immediately questioned the red-tie employee and asked to see his progress report. The numbers she saw satisfied her and they went on to inspect the dance area.

After finishing with the main part of the Red Dragon, the woman decided to go down to Norman's office for the first time, which surprised him slightly. As soon as they entered, the queen elegantly sat down on the edge of a leather chair and indicated to her vassal with her hand to take his place at the desk. He immediately complied.

"My dear, you are doing quite well. The Club's profits and status are on the rise, which is nothing short of gratifying. I do have one question, but I don't want to spoil the mood for me or you today, so we'll put it off for later," - the too sweet beginning of the conversation on the part of this ruthless and cold woman did not bode well, and Norman tensed a little. - You're a smart bull, and you must have realized that the Club is just a tiny tip of a huge iceberg. I have developed networks in many areas, both legal and not so legal. Under me are networks of jewelry salons, loan offices, money changers, casinos and a dozen more clubs in the country besides Dragon. I also support some politicians with money. Ha, those pompous turkeys don't realize I get more from them than I give. Weeell, and going lower down, you could say I'm not the least bit involved in the darkest niche: prostitution, drugs, guns, human trafficking."

"What is your point?" - The manager didn't understand why he needed to know about all the nuances of her activities.

"All my life I've been surrounded by people who are by nature 'doers' and that's all, there are good ones among them, I can't remember the bad ones - they're back where they came from in this world. I've watched you long enough, Norman. You stand out from the rest," Makoto stood up and walked over to the table, running her finger along the edge of the open laptop. - As you know, I have no family and thus no receivers. I've been thinking for a long time about who would be able to pull it all after me, and so far no one comes to mind but you. What do you think?"

"Khun Makoto, thank you for the honor and trust, but I don't need it," Norman was confused, he wasn't at all enamored with the role of the head of a mafia group.

"Ha ha. Afraid of getting your hands even dirtier, sweetheart? You've got a rod in you and I'm sure you can pull a lot more than that. I don't need your answer right now. I'm not going to leave this world just yet, ha ha ha ha. So get ready for me to start slowly involving you in the rest of the projects in a month. Until then, find a good replacement for my Dragon's manager position. That will be all. You don't have to see me off," the woman took one last look into her interlocutor's eyes, smiled and, tapping each fingernail of her right hand alternately on the tabletop, turned and left the room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Norman leaned back in his chair and mentally cursed his life again:

"Human fucking trafficking! Drugs! I'm not getting my hands even more dirty. What will happen if I say no...? Fuck, I should have taken that slippery slope so badly! On the other hand, I wouldn't have met Soni otherwise... Shit! He's due soon!"

The man picked up his cell phone, pulled his tablet closer, and began to put into action the plan that had occurred to him on the way to the Club today.

***

Indigo entered the office without knocking and walked to the desk and sat down on the edge next to the boss's chair so that part of the silk robe slid down, exposing a white thigh:

"Norfman, what's going on?"

"What is it?" - Without distracting himself from reading the document, the man clarified.

"A client for 6:00 p.m. didn't show up. Not that I'm upset, but it's weird."

"He canceled his visit literally five minutes before, I had the assistant let you know, apparently he got worked up again and forgot, we have a huge shipment of food and supplies today. Get some rest," Norman really wanted to put his palm on that thigh and run it down to the guy's thong-covered buttocks, but he promised himself to play his part to the end.

"Next client at 8 p.m.?"

"Uhums," the man nodded and went back to his paperwork.

Soni sat for another minute, then silently got up and left the office, while Norman stretched a satisfied smile.

Almost two hours later Soni entered the office again, only his step was firmer and his face reflected irritation and incomprehension of what was happening. Standing in front of Norman, he spoke seriously and even a little threateningly:

"What is this? Is this some kind of joke? Explain yourself!"

"Something wrong again, Sunny?" - the manager asked with a smile and, rising from his seat, walked slowly toward the lad, bypassing the table while he was indignant:

"I've been sitting in that nasty blue room again, waiting to be fucked. Do you know how unpleasant that is? Waiting is the unknown, fuck knows what the client will ask for this time. I have a vivid imagination... these images... one, scarier than the other... Rejection again? Why didn't you warn me?"

"I'm sorry, Sunny... I'm sorry... I really acted like a child by starting that prank... I haven't seen myself like that in a long time," Norman hugged the boy, speaking and inhaling the scent of his hair.

"What do you mean?" - Soni asked already more calmly.

"I prescribed you ghost clients and... paid for your time. You're booked through the end of the month," Norman kissed the dazed guy on the forehead, smiled, and stepped back and sat on the edge of the desk.

"Are you...like...serious?" - A light sparkled in the kid's eyes, and his lips, as much as he tried to control them, began to curve into a smile.

"Yes. Complete your mission quickly and quietly, then leave," the man smiled at him. - Don't be afraid of the Rainbow Men, they won't leak information, but don't make a big deal out of it. I'm not sure of the loyalty and honesty of the entire staff yet."

"You're not made of ice, I see... I'll pay you back," Soni spoke softly and moved closer without breaking eye contact with his savior. As he touched the man's forward protruding knees with his hips, he stopped and Norman heard the scent of jasmine again, which heightened the erotic pulsations in his body.

"You don't have to return it, Sunny. I've got enough saved up...I can handle it, unless you're going to stay here for more than six months," Norman said and couldn't choose where he wanted to look, so he moved his gaze smoothly from his favorite eyes to the tantalizing lips and back again, stopping his pupils from moving lower, to where Soni was weightlessly running his finger along the inside of his thigh, and where his shaft was rapidly increasing in size.

"And what do you want to get in return, corn? - these words were said in such a sweet tone that the man's erection reached its limit. - You don't have to answer though, the answer to that question is obvious..."

Soni's fingers traced tangibly across his thighs, and he came close, standing between Norman's legs. Then his lips nestled against him and kissed his ear, his cheekbones, his neck, while his hands quickly undid the belt of his pants. The man fell into stupefying foreplay for a few seconds, but immediately pulled out as his brain signaled him to stop and elaborate. He immobilized the boy's hands with his own and said, looking seriously into his eyes:

"Wait a second... Sunny, like I said, you don't owe me anything. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, I understand everything... more than ever before. You should relax and not think so much," the boy brought his face closer and gently pressed his lips against the man's for a couple of seconds.

"We'll continue, only if the pea wishes the same..." - spoke into the lips of his lover Norman.

"The pea can't wait for the corn to bare its cob," chuckled Indigo and continued what he had started as Norman let go of his hands.

"I'll lock the door... Wait a second," the man got to his feet and made his way to the exit. When the lock clicked, he turned around and saw the blue robe fall to the floor, exposing a neat body in relief and an aroused cock protruding from a black, lacy thong.

Norman practically flew up to Soni, immediately imposing his pace, but this time he took the initiative, pushing the "attacking" beast toward the couch. The master of the office did not resist, fell on the light soft leather and watched his pants being pulled off. 

As soon as Norman's loaded shaft showed itself in all its glory, Soni's pink petals of lips were immediately nestled against it, his tongue peeking out, gently licking the oozing head in a circle. It was as if the boy was studying the new toy, looking at it, then at the man's eyes, which did not let the man's every movement out of his sight, and at the same time circling every swollen vein of the shaft twitching in anticipation with the playful part of his mouth. He broke away from sucking on the head for one second and took his partner's cock in his mouth, smiling, pushing it halfway down his length, and the man's whole body shook.

Norman had been given more skillful blowjobs, there were so many partners he'd get tired of counting them. Three or four times a week, he'd hook up with someone on the dance floor before closing time and satisfy his physical needs. He couldn't say it didn't bring him joy, but what was happening now went beyond mere tension release.

Soni's movements were slightly clumsy, but nonetheless carried a different form of pleasure. Any touch of this man to his physical shell had him in a state of glee. He was ready to cum again and again at the mere sight of his favorite lips on his cock.

When Norman noticed the tears in the kid's eyes, he ran his hands through his hair to his armpits and lifted him up, sitting him down and thus taking the "candy" from his mouth.

"You... don't like it, do you? I'm not good at it, but I really wanted to do it..." - Soni muttered, blushing but not taking her eyes off the man's face.

"Any touch you have on my body is beautiful," whispered Norman in response.

"I don't remember you saying that when I had you face down on the floor in the ring," the bully chuckled.

"You're not going to get that today," with those words the man plopped the desirable body on the couch and with a sharp motion tore the thin panties that were in the way. The sound of tearing fabric caused tingles all over her body, especially in the stomach area, as if electric shocks had run through it.

When he saw his lover's cock aroused and arousing even more, he nestled his mouth on it and began to apply all his knowledge in the part of oral caresses. He was not bad in the art of blowjobs, as his previous one-time partners had said. Soni wriggled and moaned under his partner's pressure, and finally poured himself into his tormenting mouth, letting out a long, squeezed cry that made Norman's skin gooseflesh from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.

"You look at me so tenderly... How much do you like me?" - sounded in Norman's head as he looked at the boy recovering his breath, and said aloud:

"Did you like it? Do you want to stop?"

"Don't... can't you tell by me? Asking a lot of questions, Norf... You want me... As far as I can tell... your corn is about to explode. I didn't order popcorn, bring a condom," Norman was glad to see Soni smile and, giving him one in return, quickly ran off to get the necessary.

Half an hour later they cummed together again and Norman, recovering his breath, mouthed into the neck of Soni lying beneath him:

"Honey...I have to...go."

"Whatever you say...just give me two seconds...or better yet ten," the boy muttered and clenched the limbs hugging his partner's body even tighter.

"Do you feel good with me?" - Norman promised himself that he would go with the flow and not ask about anything so as not to give his lover any reason to think much about their relationship, but he couldn't help himself.

"It's been a long time since I've felt so warm and comfortable," the words spilled honey over a heart that had long demanded something sweet and strengthened the hope in the man's heart.

"I'm glad we're both good with each other. How are we...? So, with you I've completely forgotten about time, I've got to go," Norman wanted to know more, dozens of questions swarmed in his head, but he didn't want to pounce on a guy who didn't love him and probably never would, so after swallowing the unspeakable, he stood up and mentally admonished himself:

"Just be happy with what you have, Norman. Don't think about the future."

"Why don't you join me for a jog tomorrow morning? I'll wake you up early, take a shower and go to the park," Soni pulled on his robe and spoke with his back to his companion.

"Wait, you want me to sleep over again?" - Norman was ready for Soni not to invite him again, since his main problem was solved, but the guy turned around and answered seriously:

"I'm not retracting what I said to you this morning. Nothing has changed, even the opposite. I want to try to start a new relationship. You are the perfect contender for my heart. Your actions speak better than words, they fit together perfectly, like biscuit layers soaked in l... liquor, and sex with you... mmmmm... like a delicate cream with dense peaks. I love it, and I'm ready to move in the same direction. Are you?"

Norman looked at Soni carefully, his face was serious at this moment - he wasn't joking, and his gaze was so tender that he wanted to pull the guy into his arms again, but the man held back as he had work waiting for him:

"Sunny, I don't need any luscious words from you, just be honest, as it is."

"I'm being honest, are you being honest with me?"

"I'll...come to you tonight...and keep you company tomorrow. You can go home at 2:00," Norman wanted to answer that question positively, but he couldn't because there was something he was hiding and didn't want to tell until he reciprocated his feelings.

He knew it was cowardice on his part, but having been burned repeatedly, he didn't want to stick his finger in the fire anymore.

"Well, there you go... You're back to being an ice cube," the kid grinned and made his way to the exit of the office, and then, turning around, added: "The spare keys to my apartment are in the side pocket of your bag."

The guy turned the lock and disappeared behind the door, leaving Norman wondering at what point that morning he had slipped him the keys.

In a succession of cases, time passed quickly, forty minutes before midnight Norman pressed his heel against the chair in his office with a happy smile and closed his eyes.

"I should ask them to make me some coffee," just as he thought about it, a message came through on his cell phone from one of the employees:

<Claude: "There's an emergency at the Bar."

Norman immediately snapped out of his seat, and within a couple minutes he was already watching Red lying unconscious on one of the couches, with the hands of an old man he was seeing for the first time fumbling around, and the staff just standing around watching the action.

"Khun, what's going on here? Who are you?" - sternly, but nevertheless maintaining polite speech, the manager asks.

"Good evening. I am a doctor, my name is Sunan. The boy has become ill, he's been bouncing around here all evening with a high fever. Unfortunately, I don't have my medical bag with me and your doctor couldn't come up. I will take him by cab to the hospital where I work. Here are my documents and my business card," the elderly man spoke calmly but quickly.

The manager checked the documents and immediately made a decision:

"Okay, Dr. Sunan, take him to the hospital, only it will be our car with our driver."

Norman turned on his radio and mouthed, "A car in a minute to the entrance. Phil take the wheel. Take the doctor and staff member to the hospital, bring them to the room and report back."

The immediate response was, "Roger that, boss. The car is already out front."

Norman himself carried Red's motionless body to the car and placed it carefully in the back seat. As soon as the car disappeared around the corner, he called Troy and told him what had happened. The man stood outside until Phil called him and told him that the patient had been processed and was under the care of the doctors in the room.

Back in the office, he continued to worry about the guy:

"I escorted him out yesterday. He's an adult, why put yourself in such a pickle? Should I have checked on him today? On the other hand, he has Troy, who is the one who brought him to work."

Finally concluding that he wasn't a babysitter to check all employees for fever, Norman forcibly quieted his feelings of guilt toward Hope and Hia. At the same time, the fact that the local doctor had once again failed to show up on time when he was sorely needed did not come out of his mind. His name was Abhisit, he'd been working within the Club's walls for over a decade now, and Makoto trusted him a lot, even stopping by to see him on occasion.

Just in case, he dialed the doctor, who immediately apologized and told him that one of the very important clients got dizzy and had to put him on an IV. Norman was not lazy and went to the medical room, which was also a floor below, but at the other end of the building. The VIP was indeed lying under the IV, and the doctor, who was adjusting the bandage on his arm and looking like a dandelion of God, was obviously surprised at such a sudden appearance of the manager, rounding his eyes.

"Doctor, I've had a headache all day. I feel like I'm getting sick. Don't let me die," Norman smiled strainedly, deciding to deceitfully conceal the real reason for his arrival.

As he walked out into the corridor with a packet of paracetamol, he mentally noted that he was twitching at nothing.

After a day of work, the man came to Soni's apartment and found him sleeping in his pants, carefully covered the motionless body with a light blanket, took a shower and sat down at the table. He rested his head on his arm and pondered, looking through the clear glass of water at the peacefully sleeping Soni:

"Will we work out? Will he love me? I thought I had extinguished my feelings for him, but they were just sleeping, waiting to happen. Norman, this is your last chance... a chance for mutual love."

Turning out the light, he lay back in bed, moved closer to his lover and left a weightless kiss on his cheek.

"It's so good to have you near..." - Soni whispered and fell back into sleep, while Norman stared for some time at the beautiful features of the man whose one phrase could make his heart race.

Sunday. August 22

When Norman opened his eyes and saw the sunlit room, he immediately turned toward Soni. The boy was lying on his stomach, having thrown off the blanket. His naked back was adorned with muscles, several long scars from stab wounds in the upper part and a protective tattoo in the shape of a palace with nine spires and inscriptions. The man ran his finger along the nearest spike, and didn't notice as he circled all nine. Soni, letting out a long, sweet moan that sent shivers of arousal running through her partner, turned her head in his direction, making his shoulder muscles roll over in a smooth wave.

"Kao-yot, that's what it's called. The tattoo was supposed to grant me protection, good luck, and finding a family. It's usually placed near the neck, but when I decided to get it on, I had a deep wound in the right place for it, the size of my palm. I still decided to put it closer to my buttocks. Ha, I guess that's why it went through the ass," the sadness in Soni's ajar eyes gave a prick to Norman's heart, and he moved closer to the guy, resting his head against his face.

"I love you so much, you don't need protective tattoos as long as I'm around," his heart was prompting the right words, but the filter of his mind wouldn't let them out, so another was spoken aloud:

"Good morning, Sunny. It's eleven. Shall we have breakfast and go for a run?"

"Mmmm, where did showering together disappear from that list?"

"If we shower together, we won't make it to the walk," Norman's hips uncontrollably moved closer to his warm, newly awakened body as he gently tousled his lover's disheveled hair.

"What makes you want me so much? Of course, I realize there aren't many handsome men like me around, but still, you can find some," followed a question Norman was afraid to begin to answer, and again Soni's foxy gaze.

"I know you well, trust you, and-"

"Loved me once... And after me, did you love anyone?" - The boy finished Norman's thoughts for him, rolling over onto his side. They were so close together now that they could feel the beating of the heart of the one lying beside them.

"I didn't. Didn't have time, I was totally devoted to work. Speaking of her... Stop talking or I won't have time to spend with you. I should get to the workplace early today," Norman pulled away and quickly got out of bed.

"Okay. Someday you'll give detailed answers to all my questions! I'll wait patiently, Norfman!" - shouted Soni with a smile following the man hiding behind the bathroom door.

***

It was only a fifteen-minute walk to Chatuchak Park, one of the capital's oases, but the boys covered that distance much faster as they immediately started practicing.

The territory of this green area was riddled with small canals with miniature bridges. Colorful boats slowly floated along the water, and closer to the shore large flocks of voracious fish were splashing about, waiting for treats from the hands of the many visitors of this place.

The coolness of the shady alleys beckoned to spend some quality time: there were many locals, like Soni and Norman, running along the spacious paths around the small artificial rivulets, or riding bicycles or scooters, and there were others who just sat in the shade of the trees, reading books or having leisurely conversations.

After making a dozen laps around the small park, the guys sat down on the bank of the canal and enjoyed this wonderful day, which gave them gorgeous weather.

Soni and his serious tone were the first to break the silence:

"It's been a long time since I've felt so calm... While running, I thought about my life first: the love I had for Fiat, the pain I experienced, and the hatred that still tears me to pieces. And... my heart felt like it was on fire the whole time, and then... when I looked at you, the pain was dulled and it was easier to breathe. Norfman, I know I don't have to say it out loud, but that's just the way I am, the way I was born. You can keep quiet, but I'll just keep saying my thoughts over and over again. It makes me feel better. Do you mind?"

"Do as you feel more comfortable," Norman nodded, looking at his sneakers. His soul at this moment was tossing between joy for the fact that his lover felt good around him and jealousy for the guy who had died four years ago.

"Then I'll continue," Soni gave the man a gentle smile, threw an arm around his shoulders, and continued. - "Thank you for the 'for the first time'. With you, I enjoyed sex for the first time in the last four and fuckin' years, and then again for the first time... a different kind of sex. Ha ha, shit, that sounded a lot better in my head, sorry. Other than that, you ended my suffering in that nasty room... I'm grateful to you."

"But..." - Norman wanted to make a point about not wanting Soni to be with him out of gratitude and was willing to let him go, but he was immediately interrupted:

"I know what you mean. But apart from gratitude, I am strongly attracted to you physically, I like your character and I feel very good around you, whatever you are doing at that moment. I believe that love can grow out of any warm feeling, and when there are so many, it should speed up the process."

Norman's heart was going into nervous convulsions, he couldn't get a word out of himself, the right ones were stuck in the sieve of his mind and others seemed worthless to say out loud, so he simply lifted his hand and entwined his fingers with Soni's:

"Love me... This will be my 'first time' in thirty-four years."

***

The days flew by, one after another, Norman's time was packed to the minute: work, taking care of Hope and the other rainbows, and secret meetings with Soni, which he looked forward to.

On Wednesday, Soni had been in his office since 5:00 p.m. and they hadn't been apart until Norman got a call from one of his clients - it was Riley Foldi. The rich man's son informed him that he had another present for Green. The man, sighing, left Soni and went to meet the VIP client. He was not happy to carry weighty and bulky presents to the rainbow guys' lounge room for the next day. This time it was a bouquet of sweets the size of a man, and Norman once again had to jokingly reprimand his handsome employee, although in his heart he was very happy for him - in the eyes and words of this trio read very tender feelings, and in their actions - touching care.

Indigo, who had come in during this banter, made another sarcastic remark to Red, and Norman, remembering that he had not told him about the boy and Troy, promised himself that he would do so tonight. 

Jake was going to be at Red's that night; he'd called last night and asked to see the blond, and Norman mentally commended himself for his shrewdness in putting him on the schedule last week.

The manager cheerfully announced it to the guy in red, thinking that he would be pleased, but his words somehow caused the opposite reaction - on Red's face read fear, so the man, having escorted him to his room, immediately rushed into his office and put on his headphones. At first the meeting was tense, and Norman stood "on a lower start", but then the couple made up, they took a shower together, and afterwards the usual communication of two lovers began. Norman didn't bother to finish listening as he had business upstairs. Having done his duty, he came to the red room when Jake's time was up, and at the kid's request gave them another half hour.

Back in the office, the manager saw Soni at his desk. The kid rested his head on the back of his chair and swayed.

"Why do you keep picking on Red?" - Norman didn't procrastinate on this conversation.

"Don't get mad, Daddy. I have my suspicions about him. Remember the client in his room last week? He may have been the one who gave him the drug and was also behind the past cases," Soni pushed back and made a circle on the office swivel chair.

"That's not possible. Soni, Red is Troy's adopted son who has been raising him for four years now. You think Hia wouldn't notice if the kid had a shitload of shit?"

"Wooah! Now that's a twist! So why didn't you say anything?" - The guy pitched forward.

"Wanted to say something and forgot... Too much has come up. Red's here, like you, on special terms, me and Green are covering for him. So don't even get involved in his business unless you want to get the Commander's ass kicked," Norman thought he'd made his point, but he heard something vague from his interlocutor:

"I see... I'll think about it..."

"Sunny!" - Norman began to boil, but the boy immediately came up to him, wrapped his arms around his neck and, taking the palm of his hand around the back of his head, tilted his companion's head toward him, drawing him into a deep, passionate kiss, thus completely disarming him.

The evening ended with a report to Troy about Red and Jake's meeting. And after the Club closed, Norman went back to bed with his lover, unable to imagine a morning without him. Now his awakenings weren't gray and ordinary, Soni brought a happiness to his life that Norman hadn't experienced in a long time. He became the best version of himself next to this man: he had someone to take care of and fight for, the man respected his soul mate and his decisions, as he understood the feelings of the guy, and most importantly - more and more often removed the mask, which he wore for many years, and showed his real self. And even though the main words had not been said yet, the man felt the attraction between them. There was hope in him that Soni would love him back one day.

***

The next day, the brown-eyed boy again seduced Norman for a terrific sex in his office, but at the most interesting moment it had to be interrupted, because there was a knock at the door. Troy's school was somewhat similar to the army, so the first thing the new recruits were taught was to dress quickly if necessary. Thirty seconds later, the superintendent opened the door while Soni hid in the bathroom. It was Red, who, obviously very worried, asked for a week's vacation to go to the sea with the class.

Giving his consent and letting the boy go, the man returned to his soulmate:

"Troy's son has asked for a week off, to go to the seaside. Eh, I'd love to take a vacation too," Norman was saying, running his palm over his lover's smooth, rounded buttock.

"And when is he leaving?" - Soni asked, and in parallel was removing Norman's clothes that he had so inconveniently had to put on.

"Saturday," the man was already nestled against the boy's neck, inhaling the scent of jasmine.

"I see... Shall we pick up where we left off?" - the provocateur, getting on all fours, slowly pulled Norman's pants down, caressing his cock with his tongue and bringing it back into a fighting state.

"Mmmmmmmm... Come here," Norman lifted the guy up by his buttocks and planted his desirable body on the marble countertop of the sink.

***

The next morning, Friday, nothing much happened except that as soon as the couple woke up, Soni put on a nice burgundy suit and, saying he had an important unscheduled meeting, left the apartment around 12 o'clock. Norman didn't question him about where and why he was going, as he trusted his soulmate, but in the end he had to regret it.

Saturday. August 28

Norman woke up to the words "I'ma rough boy, I'ma rough boy" repeating over and over again from Soni's phone, which was sound asleep at the time and didn't even move.

The man looked at the electronic clock on the bedside table, which showed the ninth hour, which meant he was only three and a bit asleep. The call ended and then came again, and Norman reached for his cell phone, annoyed, "Who's so annoying? Who's the immortal 'tough guy' calling this early?"

The contact was called "tough guy" and the man felt a pang of jealousy, he wondered who it was, so he didn't hesitate to pick up the phone.

📞 "Soni, have you lost your fear, you lousy bastard? Where do you live? Quickly give me your address! I'll be here soon to kick your little ass!" - Norman immediately recognized the menacing voice of his interlocutor, and since there was clearly a problem, and Soni was in danger of a swift reprisal, he decided to deal with it. Carefully standing up so as not to disturb the sleeper, he entered the bathroom, then calmly replied:

📞 "Hia, good morning, it's Norman. What's wrong?"

📞 "Norman? Is Soni around? Get him on the phone right now! I've got a serious conversation to have with that scumbag."

📞 "He's asleep, talk to me. I don't know what he did, but I'm willing to vouch for the fact that Soni didn't mean to do anything wrong."

📞 "So you two are in on it? What the fuck is going on, Norman? You're the one I didn't expect such a feint from! Your detective games have gone too far. That bastard came to my son's school yesterday and threatened him! Hope is an innocent soul, he even stood up for the bastard, but I can see that! Why bring the boy into your Macote drug business? You're grown fucking men, ain't you ashamed? Can't figure it out for yourselves? What did I teach you?"

Norman sighed heavily, realizing where Soni had gone yesterday:

📞 "Hia, I'm sorry, I was out of the loop. I'll be sure to resolve this matter. He won't go near Hope again. Let's stay calm, please."

📞 "No, I'm coming anyway. Did you get hammered and stay in the Dragon?" - Norman heard the sound of the engine starting.

📞 "No, we're at Soni's apartment."

📞 "And what are you doing there at this hour? As far as I know, you have your own place."

📞 "I'm staying at his place temporarily... Soni has a temper sometimes, but he's not a bad guy, you know that right? Count on me, I'll talk to him."

Troy was silent for about ten seconds, apparently pondering his words, and then asked a question:

📞 "Do you two have something in common besides the Club?"

Norman couldn't lie to his Commander, so he answered as is:

📞 "We... share the same bed."

📞 "HIS bed. Interesting. And what is it about that bed that beckons you so much? Special linens?" - The interlocutor calmed down, the last words were said with a smile.

📞 "These are our private matters, Hia. Wouldn't want to go into details."

📞 "I see. Norman, you know I love all the Farm boys like sons. But, I won't just stand by and watch your antics. Promise me Hope won't be dragged into your dark deeds."

📞 "I promise, Hia."

📞 "Good. I'll trust you. Give my regards to that... Soni. Hanging up."

As soon as Troy hung up the phone, anger began to boil up inside Norman:

"Why didn't he share his plans with me? "Why didn't he let me hear what I had to say? Is revenge more important than Troy...than me? That's so unlike him. Does he still love Fiat? Doesn't care about me?"

He took a cold shower to calm himself, then quietly left the apartment. His feet carried him through the streets of Bangkok, his head filled with unpleasant thoughts and his insides turning over with a nasty, pervasive feeling of jealousy, along with the pain of being essentially betrayed by the man he loved. For over half an hour he walked aimlessly forward.

Suddenly, the thought, "I can't believe I'm nothing to him. I must first listen to what he has to say" turned Norman 180 degrees, and he walked back.

On the way to Soni's apartment he was already filled with quite opposite thoughts and feelings. He remembered his favorite features and his lover's sincere words that he wanted to give him a chance. The faith in the presence of common sense and in the good qualities of his soul mate, the hope that all the actions of the guy pursued a different purpose, not related to Fiat, and unspoken love, which blossomed in him in recent days brighter than before and filled every corner of the soul and body.

When Norman entered the apartment, a worried Soni immediately ran up to him:

"What happened? You're gone...and your phone is off."

"Took a walk, got some fresh air," Norman went straight to the kitchen and started making coffee. Soni stood by the door for a moment and then walked over to him, gently touching his shoulder and asking:

"Is something troubling you, Norfman?"

"I'd choose a different word... Troy called. He was out of his mind. Do you know why?" - the man suddenly said it calmly and coldly to himself.

"..." - Soni was silent.

"You went to Red's school yesterday..." - Norman turned on the coffee machine and waited for the boy to confess everything himself. When the mug was filled and a tense silence hung in the apartment, the man turned and looked at his lover. The lad's eyes stared into emptiness and he nibbled his lips.

"Why did you do it?" - Norman didn't put off the question that was troubling him.

"So Tomato has already complained to Daddy..." - Soni muttered snidely, breaking away from his musings.

"Wipe the smirk off your face. It's not you... And about the 'tomato' thing - Red even stood up for you, but you know Troy... Why, Soni?"

The scalp disappeared, the brown eyes darkened, and the boy, rubbing his fingers together, answered seriously:

"I can't... can't stick around the Club forever, Norfman. It's not safe...for you especially. Now you're dragging yourself along with me to the edge of the abyss... If Makoto finds out about everything, she won't look at the fact that you're her favorite. I don't want to... lose you too..."

There was no hint of past love and revenge in those words, which was a balm to Norman's soul, he walked over and hugged the most precious thing in his life right now tightly:

"Please don't do anything without my knowledge. I promise I'll think of a way for us to speed up the investigation of this case."

***

Norman put his words into action.

There were many cameras in the Club, video surveillance was not kept only in the basement, as important customers did not want to be filmed in that place. So Norman had arranged for a two-man technical team to send him all the video footage from the last two weeks and continued to send it to him daily.

It was a huge amount of work, even on fast-forward, it was taking a long time to watch. Soni stared at the screen twenty-four hours a day, with Norman joining him in his spare time.

A week passed, but they still hadn't found anything suspicious. Norman thought more and more that the Club was clean, and that Soni's information about the unknown drug was nothing.

Saturday. September 4

Saturday morning started out cheerfully. Soni woke up later than Norman and entered the bathroom just as the man was standing naked by the fogged mirror, trying to trim his beard with a trimmer.

"Here, let me help you," the guy said, sat the man down on the toilet lid and before he started, took off his pajama pants and boxers, whatever he was wearing at that moment, and saddled up to him.

"Did you have to...take your clothes off?" - Norman was already constantly feeling aroused around his lover, but he still couldn't stop provoking him.

"Of course, otherwise all your clothes will be covered in your hair later," Soni said slowly, slowly enunciating each word, concentrating on doing his job as a barber.

Norman was already turned on, and his hand reached for the two hard shafts that were already in contact. The man squeezed them and began rhythmically running his brush along their length as the trimmer buzzed and moved along his cheekbones.

After a few minutes, Norman reached over to the shelf of bathroom supplies, and a short time later his fingers were already preparing the guy's hole to accept something bigger. Soni, biting his lip, tried to concentrate on the job at hand, but occasionally stopped, pulling the machine aside, arching his back and bringing his hole closer to his fingers. The boy moaned without opening his lips as he continued to bring beauty to his man's face.

When Soni already had four rams in her, he turned off the electric razor and said slowly, without his usual smile, looking at the result of his efforts:

"I think it turned out... pretty good. You have... very attractive face. Probably... drove quite a few guys crazy..."

"That's not true..." - Norman said and wanted to add "No one has ever loved me back..." but when their gazes met, he stared numbly at the most beautiful man on this planet and couldn't say anything, love had rendered him mute.

"I don't believe it..." - Soni lifted himself up and bringing the man's cock to his slippery hole and slowly accepted it, sexily opening his mouth and closing his eyes.

Their caresses and the pace of the galloping rider were so passionate that the moment Norman was releasing his seed into the guy's channel with a scream, the white horse beneath his buttocks could not withstand such an onslaught. First there was a cracking sound, and then the toilet bowl rattled and fell apart on the ceramic floor. A fountain of water from the wall immediately slammed over the men, cooling their heated bodies.

"Fuck! Hold on!" - Swearing, Soni managed to stop his partner from falling onto the sharp earthenware edges.

While Norman tried to plug the hole in the wall with his pajamas, the guy ran to shut off the water.

The first minute of the joint cleanup passed in silence, the first to giggle was the rider, the man immediately joined in, and their light laughter gradually turned loud and hysterical.

"Fuck these... wall-hung toilets... I didn't get to cum," Soni spat out the words through tears.

"This needs to be... urgently... fixed! We'll clean it up later," Norman rubbed his cheeks with a few quick movements, which ached from the long laughter, and then grabbed his lover's naked body, threw it on his shoulder and carried it to the bedroom.

***

Norman smiled at everyone and everything that day, not out of necessity, as he usually did, but because he kept remembering the morning's sexual mayhem at Soni's apartment.  It wasn't until Troy called and warned him that Jake would be at the Club today to watch his son and asked him to pay special attention to the situation that he concentrated, not wanting to let his mentor down.

The manager made frequent runs into the room with the dance floor to make sure everything was in order, and each time he left he asked security to keep an eye on the actions of the blond-haired waiter and the sad-looking man in the black jacket at table five.

Shortly before the end of Hope's shift, he received a radio transmission that a customer at table five had decided to pick a fight with a group of recently performed drummers, and Norman rushed to help. Having resolved the situation quickly and without much consequence, he immediately instructed Aran that Red was to work exclusively in the restaurant from that day forward, out of harm's way.

"Phew...tough on them," the man said, collapsing onto the couch and closing his eyes in his office as Soni watched the surveillance video at his desk.

"Who do you mean?" - The kid immediately looked away from his laptop.

"Red and that client who paid for a month with him. They're obviously not exactly smooth with each other, but with our Commander's son working like that, it's going to be hard for Jake to just ignore everything. I know from me..." - Norman relaxed and inadvertently said something unnecessary. There was silence, and he preferred not to open his eyes.

"Is that you talking about me? - The guy came over and sat down next to him, putting his hand on his chest, and then spoke in a quiet and slightly timid voice. - 'Norfman... will you answer the question? Do you...feel anything for me...other than sexual attraction?"

Once again the dam of life experience blocked the flow of words wanting to break free. The man felt everything inside him clench, so he cowardly ran away from the answer again:

"I'm going home today, I need to get some things, and see if everything is okay. I haven't been there for two weeks."

"I see... And where do you live?"

"In a small house forty minutes from the Club," Norman opened his eyes and looked at his lover's puzzled face.

"I see... Okay... And tomorrow... should I wait for you at my place?" - Soni said this almost in a half whisper, turning away.

"Soni, is something wrong?" - Norman could feel his soulmate's mood change.

"Nothing's wrong," the guy stood up, went to the table and continued watching the video without looking at it.

"It's supposed to be simple, Norman! Simple words - I love you and I can't imagine my life without you," the man berated himself again for being a coward, but there were many reasons to lock those words away and never let them out. Feeling guilty, he turned to Soni with a suggestion:

"Do you want to see my house?"

The guy lowered his gaze to the keyboard, and only after a couple seconds did he look up at his interlocutor and reply:

"Of course I do. I was even a little offended, to be honest, that you didn't offer right away."

The pouty lower lip beckoned to fondle it, Norman did not restrain himself from this desire.

***

They arrived at the house, which was in a nice cottage village not far from the center of Bangkok, at four in the morning. Soni had fallen asleep in the cab, so they left their acquaintance with the new place for the morning, and went straight to bed.

Norman woke up at about eleven o'clock. Soni was not there, so he quickly jumped out of bed and went to look for him.

He wasn't on the second floor, nor was he on the first, so the man went out into the yard, where he found his missing person sitting on the grass by one of the flowerbeds.

"Good morning, Sunny. What are you doing?" - Norman moved closer and saw his soulmate gently stroking the inflorescences of his favorite plant.

"Hi. The buds of this flower look like a heart.  What's it called? And why is it the only one growing in your flowerbeds?" - Soni raised his head and squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight.

"This plant is called Dicentra, I have many varieties of it here. The literal translation from the Latin is 'Bleeding Heart'. See how it looks like there's a drop of blood dripping off the heart? It's the only one that grows because... hmmm... I like it."

"Looks good, but sounds lousy. Have you ever had your heart broken, Norman? Well, except...the incident at the Farm," Soni lowered his gaze as soon as he finished speaking.

Norman looked at the guy, the skin on the exposed parts of his body was smooth and light, the sunlight reflected in his opalescent eyes, his dark hair glistened and framed his delicate facial features. Fascinated by this picture, without thinking, he replied:

"Many times... No one has ever loved me...".

Soni got to his feet and began to gaze intently into his eyes.

Norman felt an urge come over him... a huge urge to confess his feelings to Soni. Swallowing again the words that came out of his mouth, he said the first thing that came to mind:

"You know, in Germany there is a belief that if a girl or a young man put a plucked dicentra flower under the shirt, closer to the heart, then on the way will definitely meet their love. You may try it."

"Ah, that's why there are so many bushes of this plant here. Tell me honestly, do you carry those little crying hearts with you every day?" - Soni smiled playfully and then slid his hand under his landlord's shirt, feeling and pinching his left breast.

"That tickles, Soni! Stop it!" - The man laughed and started to defend himself. The boys fell to the lawn with merry laughter, and began, without agreement, to play a game of who's on top, rolling around on the grass.

Norman, like a true gentleman, let his mate win, after which they froze and recovered their breath without breaking eye contact.

"Khun Norman, are you all right? Should we call the police?" - The boys were distracted from their "high thoughts" by the exclamation of an elderly woman who stood at the ajar gate.

"Khun Maa, good afternoon, all is well. This is my guest. His name is Soni," Norman got to his feet and, smiling, shook off his pants.

"Hello, Khun," Soni folded his palms as a sign of respect, to which the woman only shook her head and began to wail, inspecting the flowerbeds:

"I hope nothing got dented... I put so much effort into this beauty."

"She's helping me - looking after the house and garden in my absence," Norman whispered in the ear of the guy next to him.

"I see," Soni replied with a smile, and then discreetly touched the back of the man's palm with his index finger, but did not stop there, and slipped it between his fingers.

The gesture carried more than just sexual overtones for Norman, it seemed like something more. His heart racing, he intertwined their fingers and put his hands behind Soni's back so Khun Maa wouldn't see.

They slept in that house two nights in a row. Norman was happy to see how quickly Soni had taken to the territory, and he could no longer imagine this once empty, uninhabited house without his laughter and suggestions for making their now shared nest cozy.