26.

~ Norma looked slightly uncomfortable as soon as Alex shut the bedroom door. Had he misunderstood something? Did she want him to leave?
"Um… I should go change. In the bathroom." she said awkwardly and avoided eye contact. He caught the embarrassed smile flight across her face and her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink as she stepped around him towards the hallway.

"I'll, um, I'll go and check on the boys to. Make sure that they're asleep." she whispered quickly as she left him alone.

Alex nodded and felt slightly out of place in the bedroom without her. Norma's decorating taste was far too feminine for him. Alex was used to his own factory setting, non descriptive, monochromatic style. Colors that never deviated from black, silver, and maybe mahogany. He never bothered with art on the wall and the only photo he ever had out and in a frame was of him and his mother when he was a small child.

Norma, however, was much warmer with her color pallet. She mixed blues, pinks, yellows and greens into a very comforting and homey bedroom. She'd had the boys create paintings for her bedroom wall and proudly framed them in dollar store frames so that they looked like real high end art work.

Alex averted his eyes when he saw the run down chair that Norma used to hang clothes off of. Just now her a lacy slip was carelessly draped off the back.

Alex turned away and focused on her dresser. A safe place where Norma kept her make up and perfume, along with a myriad of family pictures.

She had nicely framed pictures on her dresser. Just herself, Dylan, and Norman he noticed. Nowhere were there pictures of her parents or any other family members. For a woman like Norma Bates, Alex thought that a was little odd. She seemed so devoted to the idea of family; to the role motherhood. He thought she would have likely had at least one picture of her parents.

Instead, it was a timeline of baby pictures and a much younger looking Norma holding Dylan in a hospital bed.

Alex looked over this picture carefully. She couldn't have been much more than a teenager when she had him. Her face so young and fragile looking. Even more than it was now. He thought she looked too thin, too frightened and unprepared for the world. She gripped her newborn son fiercely and stared back at the camera without smiling. Her large blue eyes were like a protective animal guarding it's young.

"The boys are asleep." came a whisper as Norma opened the door back to the bedroom.

Alex was still holding the picture of her and a newborn Dylan and felt his breathing pick up when he saw she'd changed into that blue robe he liked so much. It was more like an old fashioned dress than a robe. The way it moved across her body and fitted neatly round her slender waist. It's hem hitting the floor so modestly yet he knew it hid very shapely legs.

"Are you sure it's okay I'm here?" he asked.

She only smiled and nodded to the picture he was holding.

"I see you found my pictures." she said.

"Yeah." he looked back down at the teenage girl Norma had been. "Is this you with Dylan?"

He didn't mean to sound judgmental, but he knew his tone was a little critical of her age.

"Yeah, I um…" she took the framed picture away from him and looked it over sadly. "I was seventeen when I had him. I had to go to night school to get my high school diploma."

She put the picture back in it's place and readjusted it.

"He was worth it." she added quickly.
"Of course." Alex agreed.

"I didn't have a good home life." Norma explained. "I thought, well, I wanted a way out. I found a way when I got pregnant with Dylan. Um… by… my high school boyfriend." she said carefully.

She refused to look at him and Alex sensed she wasn't telling him the truth about something. That maybe there were things in her past she couldn't tell him about it.

"It's okay." he said gently. "I get it. It's like you said, Dylan was worth it."

"He is." Norma said earnestly. "He's a miracle. He's… he's so good and that he could come from all that." she swallowed hard and her lower lip trembled slightly.

Alex nodded to another baby picture.

"Is that Norman?" he asked hoping to change the subject.

"Yes!" Norma giggled. Her mood lightening instantly when her youngest was brought up. "You know when he was born, it was like I'd been given another chance. It's like when we came here. When you arrested Sam and we were able to start over. I felt like it was a sign."

She looked longingly at Norman's baby picture and then back up at him. Her eyes sparking like not quite like fire, but more like embers. The remains of fire that was calm but still giving off heat.

"We don't have to do this. If you're not ready, Norma." he whispered. "I-I don't want you to feel like you have to do this."

"Why would I feel like we have to do this?" she asked with an amused little smile.

He nodded towards the wall.
"Well, the piano. I don't know. You might think, that-that-" he stuttered.

"Thought you didn't give me the piano." she teased and pressed her lips together so she wouldn't grin too much.

He was relived she was joking and let out a sigh. His body relaxing at last.

"I don't want to hurt your arm either." he nodded to her left arm. "That doctor shouldn't have taken it out of the cast so soon."

"It's okay, Alex, I have a brace for it." she said with a grin. She opened her dresser drawer and pulled out a plastic arm brace. "My doctor just wanted me to try and get my strength back. He wants me to wear this while I sleep and to avoid anything that feels like it will be too much strain."

Alex took the brace from her and quickly fastened it around her arm for her. He was careful to avoid making it too tight. Aware that her bones were still healing.

"Too much strain, huh?" he asked. "So I guess we'll just be sleeping tonight."

Norma looked like she wanted to make a joke but decided not to. Her lips curling into a smile that let Alex know she wasn't mad at the suggestion of wanting to take things a little slower.

"It's just…" he sighed after securing her arm brace. "There's not rush, Norma. I mean, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to talk to Tom in the morning and I'm going to tell him that I…" he cleared his throat to chase away the anxiety he suddenly felt. "That um… I care about you and that-that if I want to, to spend time with you, see you, personally…" he shrugged. "That's our business."

Norma was silent for a moment as he said all this. To Romero, it was the most honest and romantic thing he'd ever expressed to a woman. Yet, looking back, he was sure Norma didn't agree.

"Well, as long as you clear it with Tom Wilson first." she said sarcastically.

"Norma." he said and his hands went to her hips before she could move away. She glared at him coldly. "You know it's not that simple."

"Yes, it is." she argued. "I know that you're attracted to me. I've known it since the first time we ever met, Alex. If you want to be with me then that's what I want. I don't like the idea that you have to treat me like I'm some kind of guilty pleasure. That we have to be a secret. We've done nothing wrong and we can be happy together."

"I know we can." he said calmly. He moved her hips closer to his so she couldn't get away. He liked how her eyes sparked to life again. Like fire about to blaze hot and dangerous. He found his heartbeat picked up an excited rhythm at seeing her grow angry at him. That unlike any other relationship he'd recently had, Norma Bates wouldn't want it to be casual. To be his occasional lover when she was lonely, and then pretend she didn't know him as soon as the morning came. He was thankful she wanted more from him. Demanded more from him.

"I-I know we can." His lips moved in closer to hers but he wound't kiss her yet. He lingered there for a moment waiting for her to give into him. For her to lean into him and surrender to him. Her body seemingly refusing to yield though. Her hips still cradled in his hands as her fingers pulled roughly on his shirt.

He closed his eyes and felt her breath, and still she wouldn't kiss him.

"Baby." he whispered.

As if by magic, she melted into him and her lips, soft and beautiful, met his and she belonged to him. He wasn't as gentle as he should have been when he pushed her pelvis harder against his. Her hands pulling his shirt so that his chest would be drawn closer to hers. He could feel her slight body against the soft fabric of her robe and when she suddenly and cruelly pulled away from him, it was only to loosen the belt of the powder blue robe and let it slip off her shoulders.

Alex watched, his breathing coming hard, as she let her robe fall down and pool around her ankles. She was wearing that delicious night slip that perfectly matched her skin and had the oh so famine lace at the hem. A thing that he'd seen through her window and made his entire body hurt with longing for her.

"Oh." he sighed helplessly. "You… you look…" he swallowed hard and could think of no other words. "You look beautiful."

"You sure you just want to go to sleep, deputy?" she asked teasingly. She stepped away from him when he reached for her. He body felt alive with need for this woman. Blood coursing though him with an almost anger like lust.

"Come here." he whispered when she maneuvered away from him again. A smile blooming across her face at the new game of cat and mouse.

"Am I going to be you little secret, deputy?" she asked in a teasing voice.

"No." he promised. "No. Never."

She looked him over appraisingly and Alex understood how woman like Helen of Troy launched a thousand ships and caused great wars. Just now, he was willing to give anything to satisfy the beasts within him. Norma stopped trying to escape him and allowed his arms to insnare her waist. Allowed him to capture her at last.

Alex pulled her close and she gasped in alarm at the feel of his hardness already pressing against her leg.

"No strenuous activity." she whispered. Her eyes flashing wide with a lovely pretend fright that only excited him more. His didn't wait for her to kiss him this time. His skin burned hot and when he touched her, when he started to slip off that nude colored night dress, he knew he could never let her go.

~ Norma hadn't expected all of this to happen. At least, not tonight. Not like this.
She'd envisioned making love to Alex Romero dozens, if not hundreds of times but she had to marvel at her own audacity. She was never bold enough to make the first move sexually and never really had to. Always preferring to play a coy defensive strategy instead.

Alex was different. She wanted him and was tired of pretending that she didn't want him. She was bored of this game they were playing of not noticing the way he looked at her. The way his breathing changed and his eyes grew soft when she knew he wanted her.

When he hands lifted the straps of her night dress and started to pull them down she watched his response to seeing her naked body for the first time. She waited eagerly for his appreciation of the beauty of the female form.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. His words coming out slightly husky and his voice trembling with desire.

"Stop being so polite." she ordered harshly.

Alex looked insulted and wasted no more time in pulling down her slip, finally exposing her to him.

He looked her over like she was a work of art. His hands caressing her hips, buttocks, moving up her back, her waist and lightly touching her breast and nipples.

"You're so beautiful." he admitted painfully.

Norma seized the flannel of his shirt and started pulling it off of him. Alex looked slightly alarmed she wanted him to be naked with her. That somehow his own nakedness couldn't compare in beauty to hers. He allowed her to strip him though. His capable hand assisting her with his complicated belt. She'd been surprised to find he'd worn a holster with a concealed handgun tucked in back. Surprised she hadn't noticed it before.

"It's alright." he whispered and slipped off the weapon before she had a chance to become worried. He safely stashed it high on top of her dresser where even she couldn't reach it without standing on tip toe.

"You always carry a gun?" Norma asked when Alex stripped off the black T shirt he wore and she went to work unzipping his pants.

Their lips met politely and she enjoyed the contact of his bare chest on her naked breasts. It was always a sinful delight to feel foreign flesh on a body part that was normally covered with clothing.

"Always." he answered. His hands were gently cupping her naked bottom as she slipped off his pants and felt his erection pressing dangerously on her hip.

She was a little surprised he was already so aroused. Thankful she wouldn't have to do much, and flattered he couldn't keep his hands off her.

"Baby." he groaned painfully. His hands pressing her hips hard against his.

His lips were caressing her neck and Norma found it difficult to concentrate on what was happening now.

Alex had a beautiful body. His chest was well toned and firm. He obviously worked out religiously and his arms and hands felt perfect and strong when he touched her. His hands always gripping greedily on her bottom, reminding her that wanted her. Reminding her that she wasn't just a mother of two. That she could do much more than cook and clean and laundry. He easily let her know that she was a beautiful woman, and she was desired. That she was needed and that he could hardly contain himself much longer.

"Baby." he groaned again and his hands pushed her hips away from him.

Norma looked up at her would be lover in alarm.

Alex looked at her savagely. She'd never seen that expression on his face before and knew it wasn't one of love.
"Get on the bed." he choked.

Needless to say, there WILL be EROTICA in the next chapter. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!

I'd LOVE to write more for you but I have to study. I have three quizzes this week and Monday, Tomorrow, I have to be ready to perform a full 60 min Swedish full body massage and I need to look over my notes. I'm not ready for it at all!

Everyone in class is freaking out! AHHH! So that's something!

I thought Massages are supposed to be relaxing! Problem is, I don't really have anyone to work on and practice on. Everyone I know works including my husband and I have to go to bed at around 8 or 9 at night to get up as early as I do. I'm even gonna miss "FUED: Bette and Joan" and I'll have to record it. Love Bette Davis! She's my girl!

So, Hopefully I'll get it all done. I'm a Rock Star. Or so I've been told by my classmates. All that I've done in the past year is kick ass and take names. I can do anything!

I had an awesome time during my live Instagram chat last night. Very fun. I'll try to do it again next week to. Make it a weekly thing. IDK. No promises.