To me this chapter seems a bit out of character, but I couldn't help it. If ever they have an intimate scene, this is exactly how I would picture it. Hope you enjoy!
For the scene with the record player, the song I pictured playing is: I'll Try Anything Once by The Strokes.
Alex ran his hand up and down side of her curvature in light brushes. Neither spoke because there was no need. His touches lead her to bring her hand up to the back of his neck.
"Alex, I want you to come over tonight," she proposed quietly. He brought his hand to his side and tried to think logically before answering.
"Maybe that's not the best idea tonight, Norma. Like you said, I-I don't want to screw anything up." Cringing to himself, not wanting the evening to be cut short because of his prudishness. The reality was he desired her so terribly, that if he had the opportunity to have her, it would become intense and at a pace neither was really ready for yet.
Her eyes squinted disapprovingly and she scoffed at him. "I wasn't implying anything. It's just that the house is so lonely right now. Dylan's off with Emma for the weekend, and Norman's still at the hospital." Norma sat up and pouted at him. Alex was still on his back, gazing up at her.
"I'll bring you home, maybe stay a while," Alex replied, trying to hide the anticipation in his voice. They both got up and collected their things. Norma was surprised he had agreed.
Arriving back at her house, Norma fumbled with the key. The door finally opened, and Alex followed her inside. Norma flicked on the lights and stood in front of Alex as he kicked off his shoes. "Is it weird to just ask you to stay. To-to keep me company. I feel safe with you here." She stared off up the stairs to avoid eye contact at this point. It wasn't a proposal of amorous activity.
He tried to wrap his head around what she had said. The only answer he could string together was "okay."
She reached to take his hand, and Alex gulped. Leading him up the steps, she realized how it seemed. Alex went along with it, and didn't utter a word. This night was not going as expected for either of them. They were standing in her room. Norma turned on her bedside table lamp. In the low light, he could make out the anxiety in her nuances.
"I'm just going to go to the washroom. Where is it?" He felt a blush rising.
"Two doors down on your left," she chimed. As soon as he had walked off, Norma frantically cleaned up the room, moving things that were out of place. She then opened the window a crack, letting in a cool breeze. But somehow the atmosphere wasn't right. A record, she thought. Norma picked up Dylan's single vinyl from the storage unit that she knew was melancholy and romantic, she placed it on the turntable. She played the record so that it would be able to be heard, but still play softly in the background.
Norma allowed herself to collapse onto her bed. Staring up at the ceiling, she realized she was still in her dress, but had no desire to get up. A creak at the door caused her to snap up from where she lay. Alex stood at the doorway, rubbing his eyes and chuckling.
"Norma, relax. It's just me." He hesitantly came over to the bed, towering over her uncomfortably.
"Make yourself at home. It' just a bed for crying out loud," she retorted. Norma left room for him to join her. He overplayed his confidence level, and sat next to her on the bed. He noticed the record playing, and just listened. Waves of cool air entered the room, which he was relieved about. The room was too warm for either of their liking. Alex sank deeper into the bed, head resting on the headboard, hands nervously placed on either thigh.
"Thanks. For everything you do. Including staying tonight. It's comforting," she said, curling up to him. The gesture was supposed to be a reassuring expression of gratitude, yet he found himself tensing from her touch.
"It's no problem." Norma studied him as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"It's very warm in here. I'm going to get changed. I'll be right back." She scurried off to the bathroom, grabbing some clothes from her drawer. Left alone, Alex gathered himself. He ran a hand through his hair, and checked to see if he was sweating. Mortified to see that he was, Alex crossed his arms to hide any evidence of this. It took 10 minutes before Norma came back, and he had started to drift off.
Norma's stomach dropped at the sight of him sinking into the bed, eyes fluttering shut. She stood at the door for a moment. His chest was rising and falling gently, and he sighed to himself as if he had just finally relaxed. Beaming at this, she edged over to join him, hoping he wouldn't notice her.
But Alex was observant, and he squinted his eyes open to take in a glimpse of her. Alex skimmed his eyes down her body to get a better look at the navy blue silk tank top and matching shorts she was wearing. A groan escaped his lips from the sight, but he covered it up by stretching simultaneously. He turned on his side to face her. Norma was sitting up, deep in thought. She was trying to figure out what she wanted. It wasn't the level of intimacy that she knew he wanted. It was something else. Norma wanted closeness and comfort, and that was very different.
When she looked back at him, she saw his eyes were filled with admiration, and it scared her. God knows what he's thinking, she thought.
"You must be overheating. The air conditioner has been broken for a couple weeks now."
"If I'd known going into this that I was coming over afterwards I would have brought a change of clothing," he grinned.
"You can take off a layer if you're too warm." Alex noticed Norma's change in intonation. Relieved, he peeled off his leather jacket and unbuttoned a couple of the top buttons on his shirt, exposing a hint of chest hair. Norma pretended to be preoccupied while this was happening, but watched him acutely with her peripheral vision.
He exhaled and tried to loosen up. Seeing his discomfort, Norma smiled and stood up. Alex folded his arms behind his head against the headboard. To lighten, or possibly make the mood more lust-heavy, Norma wanted to loosen him up.
The record had ended, and so she started it again. She turned up the volume and whirled around to face him. Standing in front of the bed, she giggled knowing that what she did next would most likely have the opposite effect she was aiming for. Norma slipped off one of her tank tops straps. She ironically bit her lip exaggeratingly. Then, slipping off the other strap, the reaction she was hoping for happened. Alex grinned, making the corners of his captivated eyes wrinkle. He childishly covered his eyes and laughed. But Norma wasn't going to stop there.
She crossed her arms and lifted the shirt over her head and flung it to the floor. Norma had no idea why she had decided to do this now. It didn't seem like the right time, but at the same time it seemed entirely apropos.
Alex uncovered his eyes. The sight of her made his throat constrict, and he swallowed nervously at his view. She was wearing a white lace bralette. Alex took in every detail he had never laid eyes on before. She was astoundingly beautiful, he thought. Of course he had never told her that sober. Norma was enthralled by his reaction. It was comfortably numb, like time had stopped, and he hadn't the slightest idea that she was analyzing him too.
The song swelled in his ears, his chest pounding unimaginably quickly. The blood flow began to take the route he feared it would. He crossed one leg over the other, and waited for what she would do next. Norma clutched the waistband of her shorts, and achingly slowly pulled them down her legs. At her feet, she kicked them aside, and playfully jumped onto the bed. Both of them uncontrollably chuckled at each other's actions. They fed off each other's newly discovered comfortable yet jittery feelings. Norma crawled up beside him and wrapped her arms around him, either leg hugging his side. Alex tilted his head down, and hesitantly kissed the top of her head. She purred at that, and rested her chin on his shoulder.
Sensing the erratic beating from his chest, she slid her hand across his chest and let it linger there. She didn't comment on it, because she knew it was because of the irregular closeness of their skin. The air between them electrified when Alex placed his hand at her bare waist. Norma's skin heated up again as he brushed her waist with the back of his hand. She reached for the buttons of his shirt, managing to undo one before Alex covered her hands in his. Without a word, he unbuttoned his shirt, and wriggled out of it, dropping it off the edge of the bed.
His chest was toned and tan, and the corner of Norma's mouth smirked slightly as she ran her hand up and down it. One of Norma's legs that was wrapped around his waist felt the increasingly more prominent bulge within his jeans. She pretended like she didn't notice, because she knew that he wouldn't take his pants off. That would be the end of the innocent cuddling. Resting her head on his chest, the rise and fall was coaxing her to sleep. She fell into a deep sleep almost instantaneously.
For Alex it wasn't as easy. He was an insomniac, and to him, there was nowhere he'd rather be than staying up to the sight of her so at peace. Alex nuzzled into the crook of her neck light enough so that she wouldn't wake. Her scent made his head spin, and he eventually drifted off as well.
Norma awoke first the next morning, head still on his soft chest. Taking in his sleepy complexion, she fixed her hair subconsciously. Morning sun was streaming in through the ajar window, striking the bed and warming the white sheets. Checking her watch, it was only 9:15. Restless, she moved away from him and stared up at the ceiling. Minutes later, Alex woke up, turning on his side to face her. It did not make any sense to her how he could still look that pristine first thing in the morning, besides the dark stubble forming along his cheeks. He smiled widely at her, eyes low-lidded.
"Morning, gorgeous," he rasped. He closed his eyes again and scrunched up his face at what he had said. Norma bit her lip and laughed at that. She lifted herself overtop him, lining up with his body perfectly.
She let herself rest completely on him, placing both arms on his collarbone. Norma then rested her chin on her hands and hazily eyed him. Alex put his hands at her behind, reaching a new comfort.
Norma's breathing quickened. "Am I too heavy," she asked abruptly.
He stifled a chuckle, and journeyed his hands back up to her back.
"No, you're just fine," Alex assured, in a state of bliss he had never quite been in. Her gold necklace swung over him, hitting him in the face as she leaned in to kiss his jawline. He fiddled with it absentmindedly as she did so.
Norma sat up in a straddled position over him. Hugging her shoulders, the loss of body heat they had shared together caused her to shiver. Seeing this, Alex sat up, pulling her off his lap to retrieve his shirt. All she could do was weakly smile at his gesture. Taking the shirt from him, she put it on. Watching her do so was a dream, and Alex yanked her back onto his lap. She wrapped her legs around him, both sitting up on the bed this time. Neither could bring themselves to move from their unkempt, vehement closeness. All that filled the space was silence, because there was no need for explanation.
Hints of next chapter: bathroom, brunch, and behavioral problems.
