The balcony on the fifth floor

The balcony on the fifth floor

The elevator of the old block always took the same time: a sigh of pulleys and three unnecessary stops before arriving at the landing of the fifth. Manuel, a road engineer and new tenant of 5-B, loaded a box of books when the 5-A door opened and a man appeared in a T-shirt of straps and wrinkled linen pants.

"Excuse me," said the neighbor, giving him a hand. "I am Bruno, and I know that I am the one who has stolen the light from your landing every evening of this month.

Manuel dropped the box on his step and smiled. Bruno’s grip was warm, callous on his thumb.

"Manuel. And I turned off the light; I like twilight. Do you have a minute? I need to ask you a favor.

The favor was simple: watching the balcony while Bruno hung some new pots. When he finished doing so, both ended up leaning on the wrought iron railing, watching the city dye orange.

"Before you tell me that the railing is loose," said Bruno, "I confess that I checked it this morning. I have the habit of trying everything that weighs.

"Even the people?" asked Manuel, barking his head.

Bruno laughed and scratched his neck.

—It depends on the weight and the intention.

The silence that followed was comfortable, like a fabric that fits without finishing the seam. The air smelled like jasmine and hot cement. Finally, Manuel straightened himself.

"I like the way you talk about weight and intention. Would you mind if I asked you something straight?"

• Go ahead.

"I'm single. I'm attracted to you. I'd like to know if you're interested in anything more than talking about handrails.

Bruno held his gaze for a second, then lowered it to Manuel's lips and lifted it again.

"I am interested," he replied. "But before we take a step, I prefer to talk about boundaries. I have the habit of trying everything that weighs.

The two laughed. Inside Bruno’s flat, the window of the living room was ajar and he let the voice of a radio announcer hear commenting on the match the night before. Manuel entered first and took off his sandals at the door. Bruno locked, neither quickly nor slowly.

"Water or white wine," he offered as he walked into the kitchen.

"Water for now," said Manuel. "I want my head clear as we speak.

They sat on the beige linen couch. Bruno opened his hands on his knees and waited. Manuel started.

—My main limit: nothing without a condom. Secondly, I like to hear what will be done before I do it. Thirdly, I do not like to be held by my wrists.

"I understand," said Bruno. "My own: no shared saliva if one of the two has recent cold sores. I like the other to set the pace when it's on top. And I don't like them touching my hair if I don't ask for it.

Manuel nodded and drank a sip.

"All heard and respected."

The silence was filled with electricity. Bruno raised his hand and grazed the back of Manuel’s, asking without words. Manuel turned his palm and interlaced his fingers.

"Can I kiss you?" asked Bruno.

• Yeah.

The kiss was slow, with lips that are discovered by touch. When the tongues met, Manuel sighed and Bruno smiled at his mouth.

"Come," said Bruno, taking him to the balcony through the sliding door. "The air is better here."

The balcony was narrow; two bodies fit right. The railing reached hip height. Behind them, the city was already a sea of small lights. In front, only the violet sky. Bruno leaned his back on the wall and let Manuel decide the distance. Manuel shortened it until his breasts touched.

"Go on?" he asked.

"Go on," answered Bruno.

They kissed again, longer. Manuel’s hands went down Bruno’s ribs, feeling the heat that passed through the shirt. Bruno raised his arms and let them remove his garment. The chest hair was dark and soft; Manuel passed his thumbs through his nipples and Bruno released a serious sound.

"Tell me what I'm going to do," said Manuel.

"You're going to put my pants down and put your hand inside my underwear," said Bruno. "Then you're going to kneel if you feel like it.

Manuel unbuttoned the button and lowered the zipper. The pants fell with a whisper. The briefs were black, elastic cotton; the erection pressed the fabric. Manuel rubbed the fabric with his palm and Bruno put his head back.

• Can I put them down?

• Yeah.

Bruno’s cock jumped free, thick, slightly curved to the left. Manuel took it with his right hand and stroked it once from top to bottom, measuring weight and heat. Then he knelt on the tiled floor that still kept the sun of the day.

"I'm going to suck you," said Manuel.

• Do it.

He opened his mouth and surrounded the gland with his lips, slowly, allowing the tongue to explore the contour. Bruno groaned and leaned one hand on the railing. Manuel went down more, swallowing an inch by an inch, until his nose rubbed his pubic hair. The taste was clean, a little salted by the heat. He went up and down with a steady rhythm, sucking up, letting the tongue press the vein of the vein as he went down.

"Manuel," said Bruno with a hoarse voice, "if you continue like this, I'll come soon."

Manuel released his cock with a damp sound and stood up. He unbuttoned his belt and dropped his own pants. He wore grey boxers; the fabric was already wet on the tip. Bruno put his hand inside and surrounded Manuel’s erection, masturbating him with deliberate slowness.

"Do you want me to penetrate you?" asked Bruno.

"Yes," replied Manuel. "Right here, standing, against the railing, but slowly at first.

Bruno entered the floor for a moment and returned with a condom and a lube envelope. He scratched the wrapper with his teeth and put on the rubber carefully. Then he opened the lubricant and anointed two fingers. He placed behind Manuel, sticking his chest behind his back.

"I'm going to prepare," he said. "Tell me if anything bothers.

The first finger entered easily; Manuel breathed deeply and relaxed against Bruno’s body. The second finger was slower, opening, turning, looking for the point that would make Manuel’s knees tremble.

"There," said Manuel. "Once again.

Bruno repeated the movement until Manuel pushed his hips back, asking for more. Bruno then withdrew his fingers, put the tip of his cock in the entrance and pushed slowly, millimeter to millimeter, until it was completely inside.

"Tell me when," Bruno whispered.

"Now," answered Manuel.

Bruno began to move with short and deep onslaughts. Every time he went in to the bottom, Manuel let go of a choked moan against the arm he had leaned on the railing. The air of the night refreshed their sweaty skin. Bruno bit Manuel’s shoulder softly, unmarked, and increased the rhythm.

"I'm going to run," Manuel warned.

Bruno put his hand in front and masturbated Manuel to the beat. Manuel ran first, contracting around Bruno's dick, who gasped and followed him seconds later, burying himself to the bottom with a grunt content.

They stood still, breathing together. Bruno kissed Manuel’s neck and withdrew his hand.

"All right?" he asked.

"All perfect," answered Manuel, turning his head to kiss him sideways.

Bruno carefully pulled aside, removed the condom, bolded it and left it in an empty pot that he would later use to throw it away. He returned with a damp towel and gently cleaned Manuel. Then he cleaned himself and collected the clothes from the floor.

"I can offer you a shower," he said, "or a glass of wine on the couch. Or both.

Manuel dressed slowly, feeling the body heavy and satisfied.

"The two things," he replied, "and talk about the next time."

Bruno smiled and opened the sliding door.

"Don't let it be said that in this block we don't take care of railings.

Manuel rio and entered the floor, where the radio was still talking about the game, foreign to the new scoreboard that had just added two neighbors to the fifth floor.