(Although it features hardcore scenes, this novella is meant to be a plot-driven character study, exploring the dynamics in male intergenerational sex)
CHAPTER 4
It was a cold Saturday morning in early January, as Rolf walked out of his home in Nacka on his way to the city centre. It had snowed heavily during the night, and at almost 9 AM, the sun had just risen. Rolf could see his own breath in the crisp air. He enjoyed the sight of the frosted trees and the screeching sound of his boots thrusting into the fresh snow. He made his way to the station, hopped on the suburban train and put on his headphones listening to a playlist of his favorite country-blues songs. The trip would last half an hour to Slussen station downtown. The train windows were fogged, but he still had a glimpse of winter sunrise over the suburban landscape. Icicles hung everywhere from the snow covered roofs.
Rolf had actually planned to spend the morning at the city's most renowned bathhouse, which had sauna cabins, steam baths, and a large swimming pool. He could have taken the subway, but decided to walk across the Knights Firth, which divided Stockholm in two, connecting the Baltic Sea to the lakes of the interior. The strait was practically frozen, although the ice was thin and cracked. The sky gradually lightened up getting a pale blue color, and the sun had taken its orange glow typical of winter. Rolf took the long pedestrian bridge over the water, and down below on the island of Gamla Stan, he saw the cars crammed in congested traffic because of the snow. Despite the chilly weather, he passed several people stopping to photograph the chiseled spires of the Knights church and the City Hall.
The cold on the long bridge out in the open was harsh, and Rolf fastened the pace, making large footsteps. He was dressed in blue jeans under a thick blue waistcoat, and wore brown suede boots. He had a rugsack on his back. His sailor cap that made him look like Captain Haddock in the adventures of Tintin. In fact, the cap visor also gave him the vague bearing of a cop. Some people cast him wary looks, as his bulky silhouette, greying beard, gruff expression and fast pace conveyed an intimidating feel. As he finally had reached the other side of the strait, Rolf turned to the right, and crossed the archways of the Parliament House. As he passed Sergel Square, he saw the water jets had frozen into surreal shapes around the glass obelisk, as the big dial clock on the Åhléns department store showed 10.00. He walked along the five Hötorg towers that looked like icy white dominos, and it took him less than ten minutes to the entrance of the bathhouse.
It was barely crowded for a Saturday morning, as the low temperature deterred most people to go out without a good reason. Rolf removed his clothes hurriedly, wishing to quickly enter the sauna to warm himself up. He bought a can of peach flavored ice tea from the automat, as he would enjoy a fresh beverage when the heat of the sauna would start to sting seriously. Through the small window in the wooden door of one of the booths, Rolf saw that there was only one man inside. It would be more comfortable and easier to move around, so he opened the door, stepped in and closed back again immediately. Then he removed the white towel from his waist, and took all the place he needed for himself on the bench. Rolf was waiting for the hot air to make its effect, and sighed as he felt the first drops of sweat on his bald forehead.
He had barely paid attention to the other man sitting there before he had arrived. The guy was quite young, slim and well-shaped, with a very white complexion, short blond hair and a light mustache. Rolf may have not paid attention at all, if the young man had not cast him a very straightforward glance with his deep blue eyes. Suddenly, Rolf was reminded that he was attracted to young men, as he was not yet fully used to the idea. He was afraid that he or the other would get an erection in what was after all a public place, and decided to ignore his neighbor as well as he could.
Erik scrutinized the new arriver, at once impressed by the man's beefy looks. He was the incarnation of ripe manhod, reminding him of the statues of the Greek god Zeus. The hairy body was solid and powerful. The balding head and salt-and-pepper beard gave it a distinct gentlemanly signature. Erik could tell that the man was a straight, from the shiny wedding ring he wore at his finger. Then suddenly, he had a look at the man's hands. He had rarely seen hands like these, they were large and robust, he must have been doing some manual job to have such paws. He had the healthy bearing of a lumberjack or a fisherman. But for sure, he emanated a sound and sturdy vital energy. Erik was wondering what sort of lucky person had the privilege to touch such a majestic body.
Rolf had started sweating streams, and as drops started to fall on the wooden bench, he opened up the can of ice tea, and started quenching his thirst. The sight of the beefy gentleman sipping a cold drink in the sweltering heat was incredibly sensual. Erik got afraid to have a woody himself, and he discreetly covered up his crotch with his towel. Rolf got aware of that, and as he had felt the boy's persistent look riveted on him for several minutes. Tension was building up inside the booth. Rolf looked back at Erik for a few seconds, and the deep blue eyes waned facing the equally intense wolfish gaze. Then he looked away and continued drinking slowly as the sweat was pouring out of himself.
The door opened, and a young man with curly hair entered the cabin. As soon as he sat down, he started to cast side glances to the two men, looking embarrassed. It felt as though a sexual energy was running through the booth, added to the scorching 90°. The curly guy soon went out hurriedly, but as he opened the door, a short Asian looking employee wearing rubber boots appeared with a bucket of a water, splashing its content over the burning stone. There was a sizzling noise as a cloud of thick steam invaded the booth, stinging both the nose and the ears. The two men started coughing, and exchanged a wink through the mist. A first contact between them had been established.
The temperature was hardly bearable anymore, so that Rolf decided to get out. He would have hoped to escape the tension caused by Erik's persistent glance, but there he was again, now joining him under the circular shower. Rolf decided to ignore him once more, coating himself with soap and methodically rubbing every part of his stocky mature body one after the other. Erik was more concentrated on watching than on washing. He couldn't keep his eyes away from Rolf's mighty hands vigorously scrubbing his chest, genitals, ass, legs and feet. Once he was done, he let the water stream all over himself to rinse the soap away, rubbing his eyes, patting his face and breathing out. As the young man walked away and went back into the booth, he felt a mixture of deception and relief.
Rolf went upstairs to the cloakroom to get his bathing suit and water glasses, and proceeded to the large swimming pool. There were not many people inside either. The air felt cool after the sauna, and the large window panes immediately reminded of the winter outside. The pool was almost a historic landmark, as the white tiles indicated it was near to a century old, designed in the Bauhaus style. Rolf crouched on the edge of the pool, and entered the tepid chlorinated water. He decided he would make twenty lengths, and started swimming front crawl. He felt his inner tension releasing as he entered the water. Physical activity would help him stop thinking, as he would concentrate on his breathing and on his moves.
He must have swum ten or twelve lengths when he felt that another bather was trying to overtake him. At first, he only had a glimpse of him, as the swimmer immediately turned back after touching the pool's edge. As Rolf was now swimming the other way behind him, he could tell it was a young man with short hair and milky skin, and wondered if he was the one who was sitting in the sauna booth. He could see his legs opening and closing like scissors in front of him, his crotch moulded in blue bathing briefs. He tried to overtake him in his turn, irked that a younger man would swim faster. But he failed, and just bumped into him.
- I'm sorry, said Rolf panting, as water dripped from his greying beard.
- You're most welcome, replied Erik pulling up his water glasses, and this time Rolf recognized the blond face with the same straightforward blue gaze.
The young man immediately continued:
- I've never seen you here before. Do you come here often?
- Not so often, but I guess you weren't even born the first time I was here.
Rolf tried to put a distance by underlining their age difference, but Erik was thrilled that the stranger would answer at all.
- I can tell, you definitely have the body of a long time swimmer.
Rolf felt blushing, not knowing what to answer next. Then he took his breath.
- Are you chasing me or what?
Erik looked at him calmly, with disarmingly frank eyes.
- I am, but If I'm disturbing, I swear I'll leave you alone. No hard feelings.
Bang! The young man admitted impassively that he was chasing him indeed, as though it was the most normal thing to do. Rolf felt a punch in his stomach, and was again scared to get an embarrassing physical reaction. But he managed to keep control.
- You don't disturb me at all, uh... I love meeting new people, Rolf lied, visibly embarrassed. Then he went:
