DTR (NSFW Short Story) 🔞

“Hey! Get up.” An irritated voice grumbled.

With a whump, a rogue pillow smacked the side of Cal’s face and snapped him awake. Sleepy tears welled in the corners of his scrunched eyes. He yawned and stretched his arms to the dusty attic ceiling of The Paragon Eye.

“It’s almost noon and I knocked for five minutes. You guys should really get up.” A deep voice said to Cal’s left.

Propping himself up on his elbows, Cal registered Danny’s massive, muscular frame searching one of the room’s dusty book stacks. Bright, yellow daylight poured in through the skylight window and painted Danny’s back with sun. 

Cal smacked his lips a few times and scratched his shaggy bedhead. His long, unkempt hair draped his bare, red shoulders.

Tucking a few magical tomes under his arm, Danny turned to face the two of them. A coy smirk spread across his face.

“Late night?” He asked, arching an eyebrow at Cal. 

As if on cue, Norman grunted and turned over, pulling the covers with him. Soon after, soft snoring emanated from his blanket cocoon.

Cal chuckled and rubbed Norman’s back, “Yeah. You could say that.”

An approving grunt escaped Danny’s lips as he made for the stairs. His thick hiking boots clomped on the attic hardwood floor.

“Gam wants to see you both. Get dressed.” He said, descending the steps down into the shop. 

Cal sighed happily and raised a hand to shield his eyes. The intense daylight was starting to dry heat the room. The green, potted plants by the window stretched up and out as if to welcome the rising day. 

Another day of freedom on Earth. Cal smiled.

A limp arm snaked its way across Cal’s abdomen.

“Mm mornin.” A half-asleep Norman murmured.

Cal turned his smile down at him and scooched back under the covers. He rubbed his nose up against Norman’s and kissed him. 

Norman's eyes lazily blinked open. Butterflies fluttered excitedly in Cal’s stomach as Norman’s gaze found his.

“Good morning, handsome.” Cal said tenderly and kissed him again.

“Mmm no. You’re the handsome one.” Norman grinned drowsily.

His arms came fully alive and wrapped around Cal’s waist. They tightened their embrace as the two of them continued to make out. After a few moments, Cal felt something long, hard, and warm press up against his thigh. It throbbed on his naked skin.

Between kisses, Cal reached down and grabbed Norman’s erection with a firm hand. Starting slowly at first, he began stroking it up and down. Norman responded with a rewarding moan into Cal’s mouth. The contract mark on their forearms pulsed with an orange hellfire light.

“Looks like someone's close to finding their true love.” Cal teased seductively. 

“Maybe.” Norman chuckled playfully, cupping Cal’s face in one hand. “Does that mean I get to call you my boyfriend?”

Heat flushed Cal’s cheeks and his eyebrows shot up. His hand stopped stroking. Norman focused on him while Cal pondered the request.

“That’s a title I never thought I’d go by.” Cal replied, surprised.

“Oh, how come?” Norman asked hesitantly, pulling himself up on his elbows.

The sexual heat between them evaporated as the conversation grew serious.

“Well, most demons don’t really do relationship statuses.” Cal said with a matter-of-fact tone.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Cal questioned how his message sounded. He turned his head to face Norman, but couldn’t keep the worry off his expression.

“I...uh...I mean...” Cal said nervously, scratching the back of his head. 

Fuck. Cal cursed himself. He figured they were going to have this conversation–relationships and statuses–eventually, but Cal was still anxious about receiving Norman’s response.

“Don’t get me wrong. Some demons do.” Cal continued, talking with his hands, “What I mean is there are definitely some demons that participate in defined relationships like monogamy.”

As he talked, Cal felt a thick knot forming in his throat. It didn’t help that Norman’s expression was impossible to read.

“Wait, so you don’t want to date me?” Norman asked. His voice sounded agitated and filled with hurt.

The question skewered Cal's heart with an imaginary knife.

“N-no! That’s not...that’s not what I’m trying to say.” He tried to interject but fumbled over his words.

Norman scoffed and frowned. His body tensed and Cal quite literally felt Norman’s emotional walls go back up. Cal’s thoughts begged him to shout in protest, but his lips remained shut.

“I mean, I get it. The sex is nice.” Norman continued, becoming visibly frustrated and disappointed. “But I thought we had something special growing between us.”

Cal desperately wanted to blurt out the three words his heart had felt since the day they met, but the knot in his throat choked back any such response. What came out instead was a garbled-ass mess.

“Listen, I’m not closed-off to the idea…” Cal began, speaking with his signature macho-cocky-demon attitude, “But most demons tend to sway toward a polyamorous dynamic.” 

No no no! What are you saying?! Cal’s conscious screamed angrily at him in his own head. Tell him the truth! Tell him how you feel!

“Most demons love multiple partners. Well, not love love. I don’t mean the L-word in that way–it’s more physical than emotional. Even though demons can definitely feel love. Definitely. Especially towards humans.” 

As he rambled, Cal began to sweat nervously. His heart, mind, and mouth were all operating out of sync. The urge to facepalm was overwhelming.

“What I mean is, demonic relationships are more about the strength of a connection than the exclusivity.” He finished, hoping his landing stuck.

Norman stared at him silently for a long, awkward moment.

“I think I need some space.” He said flatly, buttoning his pants. 

Cal’s heart dropped.

“Norman…” Cal said softly, voice full of regret.

Tell him! Cal’s conscious shouted. Tell him you love him! Tell him he’s your Soulmate!

After a minute, Norman looked over at him with disappointed eyes.

“I really...care...about you.” Cal said shakily.

The stiff silence between them grew awkward. Wood boards creaked as Norman made his way to the stairs. The knot in Cal’s throat twisted. Watching his soulmate walk off in frustration was unbearable. It left him feeling raw and wounded. 

Cal desperately wanted to take back everything he’d said, but he couldn’t find the right words to replace them.

“I care about you too.” Norman replied sadly and headed down the stairs.

© James Schleisman August 2020 All Rights Reserved