Ivo & Jami

"You are worse than any woman I know," Sonja sighed and sipped a glass of wine while watching him. Jami, who now checked his appearance from the mirror for what must have been at least the tenth time, snorted at her comment.

"You just don't understand; this man is divine! And it's very important that I look okay," he said, brushing his hands over his clothes, giving a critical eye to his reflection.

"Honey, you don't look okay, you look perfect, okay? Just relax, the clothes are fine, your hair is fine, everything is fine." Sonja smiled and stood up approaching him. "You will have a wonderful evening I'm sure," she said, stopping next to him. Jami turned to her.

"So this is fine? Or was the previous outfit better?" He asked, eyeing her expectantly. Sonja laughed.

"Jami! They were all looking good on you!" She answered grinning and Jami frowned, turning back to face the mirror.

"I still have one more outfit to choose from, perhaps I should..."

"No!" Sonja almost shrieked. "No more trying on clothes, keep those, you look sexy in those, okay?"

"Okay, if you are sure?" Jami asked and his friend nodded grinning.

"I am. Now, take a glass of wine and try to relax." She said and walked to the kitchen to get him the said glass. "What is it about this guy anyway? I've never seen you like this before."

Jami took a seat down on the couch and thanked her when receiving the glass of wine from her. "He's just so... mmm... "

"Mmm?" She giggled.

"Yeah, you'd understand if you would see him," Jami nodded.

"I thought you once said that you would never sleep with another Russian again, after that one guy... Remember, how you went on and on how they just fuck you and leave you cold, act all macho and... straight?" Sonja took a seat down next to him looking at him carefully. Jami waved his hand.

"It was ages ago. Besides, you can't judge a whole nation because of one person. I did have the right to be upset though that guy was a jerk! I mean honestly, he just got his fun out of it and didn't even bother to try and get me off, it was like; thank you, and goodbye! – Selfish prick." Jami fumed at the memory and took a sip of his glass. "Hm... I forgot what his name was though..."

Sonja chuckled. "You are such a slut," she teased.

"Hey! I object! And you are in no position to judge me."

"You are right, we are both sluts," Sonja nodded. "And his name was Pavel by the way."

"You keep a book of the men I've slept with? That's creepy by the way." Jami snorted. "And okay... I do remember his name, I've just tried my best to forget," he sighed then eyeing his wine glass. "And I'm not a slut, not anymore; it was when I was naïve and young, easily fooled... Wild days of the youth..." Jami sighed.

"Yeah, we're so fucking old now, huh?"

"Nah... Just... " Jami shrugged and glanced at her. "I haven't had sex in ten months," he whispered. "What if I have forgotten how?"

"Sex is like driving a bicycle..." Sonja answered without much thought and sipped her wine before almost choking on it. "Wait, what? ten months?! How the hell did that happen?"

"It's been my own choice," Jami answered and rolled his eyes at his friend. "Ever since what's his face..." He muttered and took another sip.

"Karri," Sonja said the name, and Jami sighed.

"Yeah... I'm just tired and I want a relationship, a proper relationship... I'm a little worried though, Ivo is bi and... I dunno it would be just my luck to later find out that he like... has a wife and family in Russia... Something like that... And I'm so sick of married men."

"Like Karri," Sonja nodded. "His wife still doesn't know?"

"Nope... In my weak moments I've almost picked up the phone to tell her, those moments when he's just called me drunk and begging to allow him to come over, he's such a loser..."

"Perhaps you should tell her?" Sonja wondered.

"Uh... I don't really want to take part in it, they have kids and all...It would be such a mess..."

"Yeah..." Sonja sighed and took a small pause before adding. "So Russian and bisexual, there go two of your promises."

"Well, he's worth the risk... if he jerks me over, I'll... I'll turn straight!" Jami nodded and Sonja started to laugh.

"Just like I often wish I could turn lesbian... but even the idea of... uh licking... ew... no, let's not go there..."

"Uh, yeah please let's not," Jami agreed.

"See, you can't turn straight," Sonja grinned.

"Yeah, it's true... Ah, besides it's just our first date, it could turn out that it's an epic fail from the start so I shouldn't worry yet... Though... I do have a hopeful feeling, he seems so... wonderful," Jami concluded smiling. "Oh and you know, he knows that model, Joni Lehto? I did his hair the other day."

"Really?" Sonja asked with curiosity and Jami nodded. "Oh, my God! This Ivo has a brother called Dima, right?"

"Hmm... yeah." Jami lifted his brow.

"My god! Such a small world! My cousin has dated Dima and she's met Ivo too!"

"Seriously?" Jami asked and Sonja nodded eagerly.

"So no worries, Ivo doesn't have a secret family back in Russia, she has no bad words to say to any of the three brothers. I think she regrets leaving Dima."

"This is strange..." Jami chuckled.

"How was that model boy by the way?" Sonja inquired leaning slightly forward. "Because my cousin knows him as well. They went to the same school together and she said he's vain and annoying and that he jerked around with her best friend, she doesn't like him at all."

"He didn't seem so bad to me..." Jami answered carefully. "I mean, he's young, and being a model I think it's natural to be concerned about looks, but vain and annoying? No, I didn't see that side," he shrugged. "He was the one to set me and Ivo up for a date," Jami chuckled then. "I can't of course get a whole picture from one meeting, but I thought he seemed nice and if he was that bad why would he have such great friends?"

"That was what my cousin wondered," Sonja shrugged. "Well, I don't know what's up with that, I've found it quite strange when she's raved about him. You know like once she happened to visit my place with my little sister and there was one ad on the TV with Lehto on it and Eva started going on and on about how much she dislikes him. My sister and I just looked at each other, finding her rant a bit odd and obsessive."

"Hmm... Maybe your cousin has had a secret crush on him and just can't deal with the fact that he's gay and thus doesn't pay any attention to her?" Jami suggested. "Or a secret crush on her gay friend who was played around with? Women are strange creatures after all," he grinned and Sonja threw a pillow at him rolling her eyes and smiling.

"Maybe you're on to something though... " She said. "Hmmm... But I really think she misses Dima most of all."

"Or! She misses Dima because she wants to be close to Joni, around his annoying good looks and such frustrating gayness for a straight girl!" Jami chuckled, making Sonja roll his eyes.

"Ah, the kitchen therapist; Jami Ketola strikes again," she teased, grinning.

"Yup, actually I do think I would have a lot to offer to the world of human psychology... That would make my mom proud of me at least, for once." Jami said smiling, but Sonja detected sadness behind his gaze.

"Your mom is proud of you, both of your parents are," she tried to assure and Jami got up, sighing.

"No they are not," he said. "I'm a gay hairdresser and now if I start dating a Russian, it will be just the icing on the cake. They are prejudiced, I am sorry to admit it," he said refilling his wine glass.

"Well cheer up Jami, you have a wonderful evening ahead, just enjoy, okay?" Sonja smiled and Jami glanced at her smiling back and nodding. "You have condoms or have they expired already during this sex free ten months?" The woman grinned. "I can give you some if you need them?" Jami rolled his eyes and walked back to sit on the couch.

"Should I sleep with him on the first date? I mean if it goes that far to make the option?" He wondered and felt a pinch in the bottom of his stomach. "Gods, now I started to feel nervous."

"Why?" Sonja inquired, tilting her head. "I mean just go with what feels good at the moment, why plan it, and why feel nervous?"

"Because I like him because I wish this could turn into something because I'm afraid that I'll be clumsy and horrible in bed... Because I don't know what he likes."

"I'm sure you're a great lay," Sonja giggled. "Honestly Jami, don't worry so much, one doesn't forget how to have sex..."

"I suppose so..."

"You know so. Just enjoy the evening with him, don't overthink, and follow your instincts," Sonja encouraged and Jami smiled at her feeling slightly more relaxed.

"Don't overthink, got it," he nodded.

**^^**^^**^^**^^**

Ivo sat near the bar counter waiting for Jami, when he saw the young man entering the pub, he smiled and stood up to greet him. "Hey, you look handsome," Ivo said when Jami was closer and hesitated a moment before lowering his hands on the shorter man's shoulders and kissing both of his cheeks. Jami blushed slightly which also found adorable.

"Thanks, so do you," he murmured, smiling at the taller man. Ivo's gesture had raised a few curious heads around the pub.

"What would you like to drink?" Ivo asked with a clear, Russian accent-covered voice that made the last of the curious eyes turn back to either their drinks or companions.

"Beer?" Jami suggested looking up at him and Ivo smiled nodding.

"Go and sit down, I'll bring the drinks," he said, nodding towards the free table nearby.

"Thanks," Jami smiled, took a deep breath, and approached the table taking a seat down. He looked towards Ivo, feeling the butterflies in the bottom of his stomach, he could have never believed that Ivo was interested in him, he hadn't dared to hope. Sure Ivo had always acted somewhat peculiar. Seeming to flirt with him, but then Jami had just thought that maybe it was just some Russian thing to behave that way and he shouldn't fool himself into thinking that the man might be gay and thus be serious in his flirting, or what seemed as such and now was proven to be such!

Thinking back made him feel kind of stupid and amused because the signs had been kind of obvious. What straight man would let out a satisfied moan while his hair was being washed by another man? And then comment on how pleasurable his hands felt and joked if he would like to come and wash his hair every morning. And Ivo had always inquired of his life, been concerned if he had been off from work for being sick and... He had commented on his looks, as if he had a new pair of pants, telling him how perfectly they seemed to fit on him...

Suddenly Jami struggled not to start snickering to himself, how could he have missed it? He had just placed Ivo strictly to the straight, don't even think of it box and that was that, while of course secretly always wondering how Ivo would look like naked and how his hands would feel and...

"What's so funny?" Jami raised his head to the voice, looking straight into Ivo's kind amused eyes, and felt the heat spread on his skin. Surely it had to be some crime to be so incredibly handsome? He wondered as the blond sat down opposite from him, handing the other beer to him.

"Um, nothing, I mean... Just, you know, remembered something funny from work and..." Jami shrugged, reaching for the glass. He had never felt so nervous on a date before, it wasn't a bad kind of nervousness just this... electricity? The; oh god I want this man so much and I will make an ass of myself in front of him, right?

"Care to share?" Ivo asked curiously while watching him intensely, with a boyish grin resting on his features. Jami took a sip of his beer hoping it would relax him and wondering just how nervous he would be without having those two glasses of wine before.

"Well, there's just this odd elderly woman with weird hair that isn't our customer but yet comes regularly to ask about hair products that she never ends up buying because it's so much cheaper at the supermarket. She's over sixty with bleached hair and a bad perm. Her head looks like a giant cotton candy basically and then she likes to tell us about her very weird life and how she is convinced that the government is spying on her. Today, since one of my customers made no show, I had nothing better to do than to listen to her ranting. The scary part is that she invited me over to her house to show me proof that aliens have visited her basement. She believes it's their secret base and that is why the government is interested." Ivo started to laugh.

"My God, are you going to go?" The blond Russian asked grinning.

"I think if I go, there is a huge risk of getting sucked into some dark hole never to be seen again, so..."

"Well, we wouldn't want that to happen..." Ivo smiled softly. "It's scary how many weird people roam the streets, huh?" He asked then and Jami nodded.

"Yes, and I think for some reason they are all drawn to me, like seriously I tend to attract the most fucked up people! Um..." The young man blushed. "Present company excluded," He murmured, cursing in his mind; he was making an ass of himself!

"Are you sure?" Ivo couldn't help but tease. "I might have my foil hat that I wear at home at night in case of an alien attack..."

"Now you are teasing me," Jami smiled, still with a hint of blush covering his cheeks.

"I can't help not to when the response is so adorable..." Ivo grinned, Jami looked back at him and smiled, he couldn't hold the gaze for too long, too shy for it; was this the feeling everyone spoke of? It was certainly a new one, wonderful and terrifying at the same time.

"So you were at work today?" Ivo asked, leaning towards the table, and to him, Jami nodded.

"It was a short day, luckily..." Jami answered, lowering his elbows on the table. "Hmm...How is Joni?"

"He's okay, very pleased with the way you did his hair, I think you have a new customer," Ivo said, tilting his head slightly.

"Really? Then I am pleased as well," Jami smiled. Professionally it was wonderful news to him; Joni was a popular model after all and with customers like that he might even succeed in opening his own salon one day. "May I ask how he came to stay at your home? You don't have to answer if I'm being too inquisitive."

Ivo took a sip of his beer before answering. "Well, he and my brother Misha have this thing going on," he smiled slightly. "But as Joni told you about his ex, it's still complicated but I'm sure they are heading in the right direction finally and pretty soon will become a couple officially. I have to ask you not to talk about this, about his situation elsewhere."

"I understand, I told my friend about meeting him, but I didn't tell her any details," Jami assured, deciding it was best not to continue about the subject more than that. "So um, how's your day been?" He asked then and smiled while observing the taller man.

"Slow... One of those days when the clock just didn't seem to move fast enough for my liking...But that's all changed now," Ivo grinned again and Jami grinned back at him leaning towards him without really thinking about it.

"I felt the same way, about the whole week," Jami confessed. "It still feels so... Hmm... I can't really believe I'm sitting here with you," he added and glanced down at his drink, his cheeks started to hurt from smiling so much and he felt a bit silly.

"Why?" Ivo asked moving slightly, their feet touched under the table and even from such a simple touch Ivo felt heat spreading on his skin.

"I just convinced myself that you're straight and..." Jami shrugged, looking back at him. "I don't have to tell you that you're a very attractive man, right? I'm sure that many have told you that."

"Hearing it from you makes it more special... "Ivo said and shifted on his seat, leaning even closer to Jami, whose arms rested on the table, their hands now almost touching. "And I'm sure you know... " He took a small pause and smiled. "That I find you very sexy."

Jami grinned, looking down at his hands, very aware of how close Ivo was, he could sense his warmth, feel his gaze on him, sense the lust between them both, but was it only that? Did Ivo only desire him for sex? For brief passing fun, only to later find a woman to truly be with? "Thank you," Jami murmured, smiling as he brought his gaze back up to the man.

"And interesting," Ivo added and took another sip of his beer, not taking his eyes away from him. "You have to forgive me if I'm not capable of holding an intelligent conversation this evening, I'm still relishing in the joy that you agreed to go out with me. I wanted to ask you out for so long, but I wasn't sure how you would react..." Ivo explained while tracing his finger softly up and down over the beer glass, even this simple gesture seemed disturbingly sexy to Jami and he swallowed thickly.

"Surprised and delighted, perhaps slightly disbelieving at first," Jami finally answered, smiling at the man.

"Come on, surely I was giving some sort of hints? I believe I was rather pathetic in my attempts to flirt with you, I was sure that one day you'd discreetly move me to another barber... " Ivo grinned. "Saying to them; help, this weird old Russian guy is getting on my nerves, hitting on me while I'm just trying to do my work..."

Jami chuckled and shook his head, he tried to calm down, Ivo was still grinning at him, observing him with such intensity... "Come on Ivo, you're not old..." He said then.

"But I am weird."

"I like weird," Jami grinned.

"And I am nine years older than you, it doesn't bother you?"

"Hey, we're both adults, why should it bother me?" Jami smiled and shrugged. "Had we met like ten years ago, then it would have been a problem."

"So you like older men?" Ivo wriggled his brows in a way that made Jami laugh.

"I confess I tend to date older men than myself. And you really shouldn't feel old because... Okay, confession, the last man I dated was... forty... two...forty-two." Jami made a face, closing his eyes briefly before looking back at Ivo with a somewhat shy, embarrassed smile.

"Well, that makes me practically a teenager then!" Ivo chuckled. "Did the age come between you then?" He asked, smiling softly at the other. Jami was quiet for a moment, took a sip of his beer and then finally shook his head.

"No, his wife did," he replied quietly observing Ivo's reaction which was difficult to read. The blond was quiet, didn't take his eyes away from him as he brought his glass to his lips and for a moment Jami regretted saying anything. "For my defense though I didn't know about her when I met him... Uh, you think ill of me now, right?" He asked worriedly and Ivo grinned, shaking his head.

"Of course I don't, it's not your fault that he had a wife and we can all make mistakes... I'm just happy that you are free now to be on this date with me." Ivo smiled and got a relaxed smile back from the other man.

"Your last relationship...hm... was it with a guy or a girl?" Jami asked then.

"With a young woman," Ivo replied calmly. "It didn't last very long though."

"Which do you prefer?" Jami asked carefully.

"Right now I prefer you," Ivo grinned. "Right now and for some time you represent exactly what I've been looking for."

"Oh..." Jami smiled, feeling quite pleased with the answer. "So... I don't have to worry about you having a secret wife and family in Russia or anything?" He smiled at the man who