„No, not like that…. Put it in straight. You're holding it wrong."
"I'm holding it wrong? Why don't you put in it then? Clearly you know much more about it than I do."
"Seems just like it." Even said, smiling, as he took the key card from Isak, gave him a wink, and with a swift motion put it in the slot, there was a click, the light switched to green and the door opened before them.
"Master of opening doors. And lockers. That's me." Even said, beaming, as he entered the small hallway before them.
And hearts, Isak thought, following him in. But he didn't say it. That would have been far too cheesy.
"Wow!" Even exclaimed, when they reached the center of the impressive hotel room, with light coming in from all sides.
"The Polar Suite! Isn't it great?" Even put his backpack on a nearby armchair and walked over to one of the wide windows that encompassed the place, his face so close to the glass that he was almost touching it.
"You can see everything from here."
The sun was slowly setting over Oslo, early as it was, but quite usual for this time of year. There was a persistent golden stream of light though that seemed to break up the clouds, forcing its way through and bathing the city underneath them in silent happiness.
"We're on top of the world here. It's beautiful, isn't it?" Even said, turning around to Isak, smiling like only he could.
"Sure is." Isak said, smiling back, laying his own backpack on the floor. Even's enthusiasm was infectious, as always, but in parts it had all been a bit much to digest. Only thirty minutes ago they met at Kaffebrenneriet with Isak assuming they would just go back to his place, like they usually did, but Even had had other things in mind. As beautiful as the room, no, the suite was, someone would have to pay for it, and it seemed unlikely that Even's part time job at the coffee shop would make him enough to cover it. Maybe his parents were loaded, Isak thought. But Even never actually talked about his parents much. Neither did he, to be fair. These things were some of those topics they still kind of skirted around.
"Wow, look at this!" Even had made his way into the bathroom, turning the light on. Isak, taking his jacket off, followed him there.
The bathroom was indeed glorious. There was a huge bathtub, large enough for five people to squeeze in, complete with spectacular lighting, and an almost as grand shower, with immaculate see-through glass panels surrounding it.
Even looked at the shower and back at Isak, grinning from ear to ear, which made Isak's face flush. Of course he knew where that grin was coming from. With all the different things they were doing together in the shower lately, this seemed like the perfect place to redo it all. It seemed so well planned out, almost like a scene in a movie.
"It's just perfect." Even said, striding back into the main room of the suite. "Isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's perfect." Isak said. He had forgotten to take his shoes off at the entrance, so he was doing it now, kicking them off while following Even back into the suite. It was probably the first time for him that he was in a hotel, or at least a fancy hotel like this one. It didn't feel like the rules of home life applied here and he didn't really know where to put his stuff and where to leave his clothes. He decided to put his shoes near the entrance, where they were usually stored. There was indeed a small closet just for shoes, so this is where they landed. The carpet underneath his feet felt thick and warm and there even seemed to be some kind of floor heating, which made it all the more cozy.
He was pretty sure they weren't here to sleep though, or not yet at least. You're not going to a hotel like this to sleep. You're going to a hotel like this if you want to do things that you wouldn't do elsewhere, at least when roommates are present and you're about to make noise. Isak was feeling a little self-conscious perhaps, not knowing what to expect, but not self-conscious enough to not enjoy the thought of it happening soon, the promise of a day and night of spending time only with Even, making love to him like crazy and feeling like this is where he wanted to be, forever. In his arms. In his hands. In his fingers. Yes, in his mouth as well. Below him and on top of him. On top of the world.
Isak stood in the middle of the room studying Even intently, the way he moved from place to place to check on the surroundings, the way his smile, his beautiful smile, lit up whenever he discovered something new and exciting.
Look here, the armchair is adjustable. Ow, wow, the television can be moved up and down the wall. Man, have you seen the prices on this menu? They have mini-burgers….
On and on it went. After a while Isak didn't really hear Even's words anymore. He was enamored by bliss washing over him, and maybe also a little tired from school. His mind went back to the conversation with the lady at the reception earlier. Even had called him his boyfriend, maybe for the first time ever in front of other people. Not that he was surprised by that… it was clear they were together. But the ease with which Even spoke about it, their relationship, how he even seemed to exude so much pride in showing him off… It was all still very new to Isak. Would he ever feel as comfortable, doing the same in reverse, when the opportunity arose? Would he introduce Even to his parents at the concert, like he had planned to do, and would it feel strange to do it? Would he feel strange doing it?
He had never introduced a girl to his parents before. That said, he had never wanted to introduce a girl to them. But with Even it was different.
He's mine. And I'm his. And I want them to know…
"What is it, are you dreaming?" he heard, when Even suddenly stood in front of him, out of the blue, jolting him out of his thoughts. Even had gotten rid of his jacket in the meantime and started to embrace Isak, tenderly wrapping his arms around his waist.
"What do you want to do?" he said, whispering warm words into Isak's ear. "I know what I want to do…." he added, breathily, kissing Isak's neck.
It was easy, too easy sometimes for Even to break his defenses. Even now these hands on his back, caressing him and the soft words whispered into his ear were almost too much to resist.
But this moment, this day was special, this place was special and Isak wanted it to last as long as he could. He also wanted to leave the day they've had so far behind them, to forget it all. It was only him and Even from here on. And what better way for that would be to…..
"I want to have a shower. With you. A long, hot, fucking shower in that huge, fancy-ass bathroom." Isak said, whispering into Even's ear.
He heard an approving chuckle, Even wrapping his arms around him even tighter.
"I like that. Will you let me undress you?"
There was nothing but the sound of the stream, no laughter, no tears, no words. Just an endless gaze.
From the outside, nothing was discernible. Just the steam filling the stall, slowly, until they disappeared to the world. There was a hand on the glass, briefly, when Even went down on Isak, to the point that he almost came, water streaming over Isak's fingers, and over Even's head. There was another hand on the glass, briefly, when Isak did that thing to Even that he had done to him before, the thing that was sure to drive Even wild, to the point where he almost couldn't take it anymore. And then they disappeared again, behind another cloud of steam.
Will this be how it is forever? Isak thought, dazed by the moment. Just the two of us, like this?
All those thoughts about parallel universes and all the different Isaks and Evens that were around….
Kissing Even, he thought for once he wanted them to be the only ones just like this, in this moment. No-one else, not anywhere, just Even and him. Just here and now.
They kissed deeply, warm water streaming over their heads. It reminded Isak of the first kiss they shared, in that pool in the basement. Just that they had shared so much more in the meantime.
"I can't take it anymore…" Even said, whispering into Isak's ear. "Let's go to bed… please."
Darkness had fallen over the place. The city lights were bright and burned their way through the windows, a constant source of red and white and all the colours of the night. The bathroom light was still on, but it seemed distant, irrelevant. They did not take much time to dry off, instead they buried themselves in the clean bedding, the sheets crisp and fresh, the warmth of their bodies doing the rest.
Soon they kissed again, entangled in embrace, with Even on top of Isak. And there was the idea, the mere glimpse of a thought, that today might end differently to the way it usually did. Isak could feel Even's erection next to his own and whatever they did now would be enough to make this fulfilling, the way they had done it before on several occasions. But there was also something else, an itch that they had never allowed themselves to scratch, even though they had come close.
He felt Even shifting his position slightly, so that he was angling for a different spot. But Even held back, as he had done before. Despite wanting to desperately, this was nothing he would ever decide to do on his own.
Their faces were close as they took their breaths, holding still.
"Do you think we…." Even whispered breathlessly.
"I'm not sure I can do it." Isak said, just as breathlessly. A wave of desire washed over him, just as he was saying these words. The thought was scary, it was. But he also wanted it. He wanted to feel Even inside of him, wanted to take him in. He had wanted it many times before, but never allowed that thought to surface fully.
"But do you want to?" Even said, caressing Isak's face with his lips.
"Do you?" Isak said, breathing into Even's ears. Whatever made Even feel good, he was in for it. Despite it all.
"Only if you do. We'll do it if you want to." Even said, with all the sincerity and desire there was. True, he wanted it, had wanted it all along, but there was no way he'd do it if Isak didn't agree. It would only be good if they would do it together, if both of them wanted it the same way.
Isak could feel Even holding back, waiting for him to give the go. His erection was pulsating and he couldn't think straight, but in the few moments he had in between, feeling Even against him, he knew it would be now or never.
"I want it." Isak whispered. "I want you. I do."
It took them a while to ease into it. Even was taking it slow, being careful. There was pain, yes, but also immense satisfaction. The feeling of providing a place for Even to join him was unmeasurable to Isak. Soon they were moving in unison, Even inching in, bit by bit, but mindful not to overdo it.
It was almost too much for Isak. It was too good. It was this that he had wanted all along without knowing that he wanted it. But now, he knew. It was clear. Every fiber of his body told him that he wanted it. And Even was right there, alongside him, making sure it was right.
They were lying next to each other for the longest time, the day a distant memory. The food they'd eaten earlier, the remnants of which still gracing the floor where they had left their platters. Their clothes strewn all over the place, Even's and Isak's backpack sitting side by side on the armchair, like a reminder of a different time and place where the outside world, their school life, other things were relevant. It seemed so alien a thought right now, where it was only them.
Even was stroking Isak's cheek, his ear, his expression one of utter devotion. The boy he loved had turned into the man he loved, the one that he desired to be loved by, just the same. There was no turning back now, not ever, not anymore. The only thing left now was to conquer the fear of what that meant.
"How many Isaks and Evens do you think are out there, lying like this just now?" Even said, running a strand of Isak's hair though his fingers. Looking at his lover almost seemed unbearable right now, his beauty so overwhelming, with Isak just lying there looking back at him.
"Infinite.", Isak said. Even's touch felt warm, gentle and he never wanted it to end.
"Do you know the only way of keeping something forever is by losing it?"
"Don't say that." Isak said.
"I was only kidding." Even said after a while, continuing to stroke Isak's hair.
Are you?... Isak's thoughts were dancing in his head as he closed his eyes, the long day finally catching up with him.
Even Bech Næsheim…. Try to lose me, I dare you. I dare you… before he drifted off to sleep.
- The end -