The Older Man Named Noel

I met Noel at an art exhibit, he and I had the same tastes in a local artist who was having a showing of his work at the city's art museum. He and I fixated on one of the his paintings that had caught both our eye. The man a great eye for color, his brush strokes perfectly mastered, the detail in all that he painted was amazing.

I stood there I was hypnotized by this painting, Noel came up, standing beside me he too saw the same thing I saw in this painting, it truly was eye catching. Noel and I sneaked looks at each other, he and I standing there our eyes on each other. Noel gave me a smile, the man's smile was contagious, he was a very handsome man for sure.

Noel was an older man he was fifty nine years old he looked to be about forty five, his greying hair cut short, actually quite stylish. His face with grey side burns, with a slim mustache above his upper lip, with a goatee. His teeth perfect in every way, his eyes a blueish green, even his nose fit his face perfectly.

He was tall and slim, his designer clothing was so perfectly fit to his body the man had excellent fashion sense, he and I stood there our eyes on this one painting. I knew if I had the money I would have bought it outright, but being in university I could not justify a purchase of a painting when I had so many other necessities I needed to buy.

I was twenty one, I was in my third and final year of studies till graduation, it felt like an eternity till I would be able to get my career off and started. I was six foot tall, slim, felt I was dressed to kill. With my long brown shaggy hair and a wisp of a moustache I had the world by the tail at the time, or so I thought.

Noel and I stood side by side, he and I still focused on the painting in front of us both. Had I really looked around I would have found that I was the only man of my age in the entire building, all the other men in the building were of Noel' s age and older. He and I traded looks more than once, I was never one to be shy or nervous to start conversation with anyone.

"Hello my name is Tom, I see you and I have the same tastes in art it seems."

"Yes it seems we do, I'm Noel very nice to meet you Tom."

Noel and I shook hands, this man's hand held my own in his, I was captivated by his look, he really was a very handsome man. I myself always attracted to an older gent, I never dated men my own age I always found I had nothing in common with them. I was not one to do hookups, not one that was into casual sex. I liked to be asked out on a date, the man should pick me up at my door, treat me like a lady so to speak.

Noel and I started a conversation, he told me what he liked about what the artist showed in his paintings, we traded criticisms, but it was hard to fault the man he was a very good artist who paid such close attention to every detail.

Noel and I got a drink and walked the exhibit, we discussed what we liked in each and every painting he had on display. He and I talked music, we had similar tastes in music as well I was not into todays music, Noel it seems had the same taste when it came to music as well. Noel planned to attend the ballet this coming weekend, it was one I wanted to see but I was not able to easily afford.

Noel was also into opera, I always wanted to attend but that too was not something I could easily afford. Noel and I talked the night away, from Broadway plays to the symphony, he and I seemed to have similar interests in all we talked about. The gallery was about to close we had gotten lost in conversation, time had slipped away from us. Noel suggested we go for a drink as we were about to get our coats. I was all for us continuing our conversation, he and I exited the gallery, Noel had his car waiting his driver ready to take us wherever we needed to go.

Noel took me to this lavish Hotel downtown, I felt very underdressed for this place. He and I enjoyed a cocktail, slowly sipping our drinks it was nice to sit and talk with him. The man told stories of his life, how he had gotten started in his career, how his career had taken control of his life.

Noel had no social life, his life consisted of work and more work, he was very well off but he was very much alone and lonely. He never married, he rarely dated, if he did date they soon lost interest as Noel was never around, his career took priority in every part of his life. Now that he was fifty nine he was alone, well off, he owned his own company, but he had no one to enjoy his life with at this point.

I told him I was always one to be goal orientated, school my priority, then it would be work, I had no time for dating, not that anyone ever asked me on an actual date. I was never one to be interested in dating anyone my own age, I preferred older gentlemen, who treated a man the way a date should be treated. Noel grinned at me as I said the last of that.

"So Tom would you go on a date with me? Or am I much too old for a young man like yourself?"

"Noel you are not too old, you are a wonderful man, I would love to go out on a date with you Sir."

"Tom would you join me this Friday night at the ballet we talked about earlier, I have seats and I always book two in hopes of a date?"

"Oh my yes I would love to attend the ballet with you."

"Then it will have to be dinner then the ballet, then drinks afterwards."

"Sounds wonderful Noel, I really cannot wait, thank you so much."

We traded information so he could contact me and know where to pick me up on Friday night, he and I could text each other as the week went along. Noel and I sat and enjoyed our drinks, he and I so comfortable with each other like we knew each other for years.

Noel and I talked for hours, the hostess came up to let us know it was last call, I had not realized it was so late I had to get home I had classes the next day. Noel offered to drive me home this way the driver would know where to pick me up. Noel dropped me off at the dorm where I stayed, he even walked me to my door, he and I kissed, we held the kiss for a few minutes.

I have to say it was incredible to kiss this man, he and I connected not only personally but physically as well, I could feel his and my own getting harder. Noel reluctantly went to his car he and I gave each other one last wave goodbye as his car drove off. I texted Noel the next day at lunch time, telling him how much I enjoyed our conversation, and how happy I was to meet him.

He quickly replied saying he really enjoyed our conversation as well and looked forward to Friday night, I agreed as well. I knew I would have to purchase or rent a tux for this date it was not going to the movies kind of date, I was sure Noel would bring me to a very upper class restaurant, then the ballet would be black tie as well, I am sure he would have balcony seats.

I found a men's store that had just what I needed, I could easily rent the suit I needed, I had the shirt the shoes all of it. Noel showed up at my dorm, he and I a dinner reservation, then we would be whisked off to the ballet.

The food was incredible, the wine divine, Noel a total gentleman, he and I enjoyed conversation, it seems he and I had no problem talking about anything. The ballet was everything I knew it would be, I could not keep my eyes off the dancers, we had some of the best seats in the entire place.

Noel and I enjoyed a glass of wine during intermission, the entire evening was magical, I got to meet some of Noel's friends, they were all surprised to see Noel with a date. None of them surprised it was with a man, or that I was also so much younger than Noel was. We had some really good conversation with his friends, we all looked forward to the rest of the ballet.

The entire ballet was incredible, as we stood to give them a standing ovation, I leaned in and kissed Noel in front of everyone. He of course turned every shade of red, he was not used to someone so forward, or someone who showed affection like I did. We said our goodbyes to his friends, they all hoped to see me at the next ballet or possibly the upcoming opera.

Once we were in the car Noel and I decided not to end our evening just yet we would go for a drink at the same Hotel we had gone to the first night he and I met. We sat enjoyed our drinks talked of the ballet, Noel brought up the fact that I had kissed him at the end of the ballet.

"Noel I am one to show affection, I love to kiss, I would kiss you right now if you and I were seated closer to each other."

Noel of course turned every shade of red, he was not used to someone being so straight forward, so affectionate.

"Tom you embarrass me, I am not used to someone kissing me in public, I have never been with a man who openly showed affection to me like you did at the ballet."

"Should I be nervous or embarrassed to kiss you, to show you affection, to touch you, to hold your hand in public because someone may find it offensive?"

Noel did not respond, I could see he was processing the whole idea of two men kissing in public, holding hands, showing affection to each other.

"Tom I was raised in a very homophobic environment where affection was not to be shown, only behind closed doors. Affection between two men never shown in public, you did all of that hidden away."

"That was then this is now Noel, it's okay to show the man you are with or like how you feel, I am one to touch, hold and kiss the man I am with, I especially love to kiss."

Noel and I talked of the ballet, the man knew his stuff, he saw the flaws in the performance I did not see, the man's eye for detail was amazing. We talked for hours, had a few drinks, Noel asked if there would be another date.

"That Sir depends on you, if you ask I can tell you I would say yes for sure."

"Tom there is a show at the museum I wanted to take in but I did not want to attend on my own, would you be my date to the museum?"

"I would love to be your date to the museum Noel, when is it and how does one dress to go to a museum exhibit?"

"Well Tom it is not dressed like we are tonight but one had to always look their best, I will take you out to dinner before we attend the show at the museum."