by CJ Bishop
“Fuck I am.” Byrd nodded and ground out the butt on the table. “And besides, Angel’s kind of pretty. The little fag boy is probably more girl than boy anyway. I mean, fuck, I’d pay to have that cute little mouth on my cock.”
Axel cracked up. “Ahh! You fuckin’ queer.” He shut up abruptly when Byrd slapped him in the side of the head hard, tears welling in his eyes. “Asshole.” He swallowed hard.
“I ain’t no fuckin’ queer.” Byrd stated dryly. “I’m just saying…Angel is enough like a girl for even a straight guy to want at least a blow job from him.”
Wade leaned forward on his elbows and smiled wryly. “So how much would you pay for the little faggot to suck your cock?”
Smirking, Byrd leaned back and dug down into the front pocket of his jeans. Angel stared at him, horrified by the direction their conversation had taken. The guy produced a small wad of crumpled bills and some loose change and smacked it down on the table, grinning. Wade grabbed up the bills and began smoothing them out. He nodded towards the living room without shifting his eyes from the money. “Go on.” He murmured. “Collect.”
When Byrd scooted his chair back and stood up, Angel noticed the bulge in his crotch. His pulse spiked and he lunged off the sofa away from the approaching man. “Stay away from me!”
“Come on, beautiful.” Byrd smiled, one hand grabbing his crotch. “It’ll be fun. If you’re gonna be a little fag, you gotta learn to suck cock. That’s a requirement. Can’t be in the queer club and not know how to blow.”
“No!” Angel was crying.
Maddy looked at him then at Byrd, eyes frightened. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, little buddy.” Byrd assured. “Just watch your cartoon. Me and the angel here are just going to take a little trip to heaven.”
“Stay away from me!” Angel cried again then ran for the bedroom. Byrd followed at a casual pace as Axel and Wade laughed, and Maddy huddled lower on the sofa, face buried in his arms, trembling.
***
Angel stared blankly at the bedroom door, arms curling around his waist, vision blurring. Byrd had trapped him the bedroom and threatened to collect from Maddy if Angel didn’t blow him. He didn’t know how to relax his jaw or his tongue, and gagged repeatedly on the guy’s engorged member. When he finally came, it had shot across the back of Angel’s tongue and slid down his throat, thickening as it went. He’d vomited right there on the floor, then had to clean up the mess himself.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, stomach hurting from tension.
That wasn’t the last time Byrd had paid for his services.
Chapter Four
Deliverance
Seeking out the least twink-like customer in the club, Dane made his move. The last thing he needed was to be making up to a guy who reminded him of Angel in any way whatsoever. But he was pretty sure there was no danger of that with this one. The man was well muscled, thick through the waist, indicating he hadn’t applied the proper exercises to maintain that narrow, lean waist that made a muscular man more appealing–to Dane anyway. But he didn’t care, he wasn’t looking for a date or a life partner. He just needed someone as far from Angel’s appearance as he could get, to distract him from his unwelcome thoughts of the boy.
Angel had yet to return to the club, but would surely be showing up soon.
The customer was handsy, and those hands were damn strong. But Dane knew how to handle even these types of men, though they weren’t really his preference. Once they were in the booth, the man dropped into the leather chair and grabbed Dane’s hips. “I like a man with meat on his bones.” The guy smiled. He was good looking and seemed like he belonged on the front of a bodybuilding magazine. His strong hands rubbed down over Dane’s ass and squeezed with force. “Fuck, baby, you have a fine ass. Nice and tight, hard glutes. There’s no way you have a body this beautiful and not work out.”
Dane smiled, eyes heavy with seduction, and shoved his fingers through the guy’s stylish dark hair, moving in closer. His lips glided over the bare surface of his face as he sat down in his lap and slowly worked his ass against the man’s hard crotch.
“Oh fuck.” The customer groaned and laid his head back as Dane let his lips brush lightly down his throat. The guy still had a firm grip on his ass and was beginning to move with him, breath panting. “Oh fuck yes…” He raised his head a little, eyes weighted with lust. “Can I take off my pants?”
“As long as you keep your shorts on.” Dane murmured then stood up. The man stood as well and shoved down his expensive slacks, revealing snug briefs that highly accentuated his raging erection. He opened his shirt but left it on then sat back down, legs parted wide, giving Dane room to maneuver between them. His hard abs flexed into rippled concrete slabs as his stomach tightened with sexual tension. Dane concentrated on the music, turning his ass to the man, sinking low against his crotch again, feeling his hard cock much more pronounced now that there was less fabric between them.
The guy’s hands were back on his hips, though not forcing him. “What’s your name?” he panted, lifting his crotch to push against Dane’s ass.
“Dane.”
“I’m Oliver.”
Dane shifted around and faced him, riding his lap again. He combed the guy’s hair back with his fingers and teased him with an evasive kiss. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, Oliver.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” Oliver smiled and gripped his ass once more, pushing up against him, grinding. His head dropped back again as a hard groan burst from him. “Fuck, you’re gonna make me come, baby.”
Dane smiled and worked his hips around and around, lifting up a bit then lowering down once more, creating a rhythm that was shoving the man over the edge.
“Oh fuck yes…yes…oh my god…” Oliver was squeezing Dane’s ass hard, eyes clamped shut and jaw tightening. “Uuuhhh!! God!”
He knew he should let up and back off a bit, but the guy was being nice and he’d shelled out a nice stash of cash. Dane didn’t mind giving a little bonus now and then.
It didn’t take much more rubbing and grinding before Oliver gave it up, exploding in his shorts, grunting and panting, clawing Dane’s ass and back, pumping his crotch against him until his strength suddenly fled and he sagged into the chair.
***
Dane was coming out of one of the booths with a powerfully built man when Angel entered the club. He couldn’t help but devour Dane’s glistening body, clad only in a pair of tight shorts that showed off the majority of his beautiful ass. The customer was talking to him, clearly satisfied with their session, then leaned close and kissed his cheek, giving him a light smack on the ass before walking away.
Jealousy simmered but Angel pushed it down. He lingered in the entrance as Dane approached the bar and ordered a shot then downed it in one swallow. Another customer was already approaching him, this one less physically built, but still quite attractive with his expensive haircut and costly attire. He wasn’t shy about flashing a thick wad of cash before Dane, and equally bold about working it down the front of his shorts. Dane flashed him a smile that made Angel’s knees go weak, then walked off with the guy.
Those are the kind of customers you need to be setting your sights on; the ones willing to pay the big bucks.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Angel was suddenly backed against the wall and pinned by a thick, sweaty man with patchy scruff on his jaw and chin. He had a stink to him that ignited Angel’s gag reflex. He wasn’t anything like the typical customers Angel had seen around the club but reminded him of the men from…
“Get off me.” Angel said tightly.
“What? My money ain’t good enough here?” Angel turned his face away quick when the guy tried to kiss him. There was a distinct odor of cheap liquor on his breath, mingled with stale cigarettes, a smell that conjured up bad memories.
“Come on, baby. You look like the perfect fit for my fat cock.” The overweight, smelly man grabbed Angel by the arm and dragged him towards the back
room of the dingy club.
“Hey!” Wade called, and for a second Angel thought he might object to this filthy pig fucking his little brother. Wade snapped his fingers. “Cash first, asshole. A hundred bucks.”
The man grunted and dug out his wallet while still clutching Angel’s arm. He fumbled through the billfold and produced five twenties, slapped them into Wade’s hand then shoved Angel into the back room.
“Get off me.” Angel’s eyes began to burn as he pushed against the customer’s thick, somewhat meaty chest. Unlike the other places, here at the Phoenix, it was the dancer’s choice whether or not to accept an offer–Max had made that very clear.
“Is there a problem?” Cole was suddenly standing at the entrance, hands clamped on his hips, eyes narrow, hard, as he glared at the persistent customer. His gaze swept quickly over the man with disgust and he reached out, touching the guy’s shoulder with just his fingertips. “How about you back off my boy for a moment.”
“How about you go fuck yourself?” The man growled. “I got the cash, and I want some fucking ass.”
Cole looked at him dryly. “The only ass you’re getting in this place is an ass kicking if you don’t take your fucking nasty ass out of here.” He took a step closer to show he wasn’t joking. “The Phoenix is a high class club. There is a dress code, as well as a shower code. Our boys are clean and smell damn good…the same is expected from the customer. So how about you go home, scrape off the stink and don’t come back.”
“I have the cash.” The guy insisted, seemingly incapable of comprehending that Cole was kicking him out.
“Do you now?” Cole smirked, moving forward, causing the man to back away from Angel. He slipped his arm around Angel’s shoulder. “Well the cost of some private time with this fine specimen here is five hundred dollars. And that’s just the starting price. You got that kind of cash?”
The man looked Angel over skeptically. “He ain’t worth no five hundred bucks.”
Cole’s arm tightened around Angel’s shoulder and for the first time in a very long time, possibly ever, he felt safe and secure. At no time with his so-called family had he ever felt so safe or protected…or cared for. “This kid’s fucking sweat is worth five hundred bucks. And consequently more than your life is worth.”
The man grunted, started to retort, when a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind. “How the fuck did you get in here?” Trevor growled. “I didn’t let you in.” He glanced at Cole. “Sorry about this. I just stepped away from the door for a second. Didn’t know this slug was going to slither in.” Trevor’s mere appearance said he wasn’t someone to fuck with. He turned the guy around with force and shoved him towards the front doors. “Get the fuck out, you nasty ass motherfucker.”
The unwelcome customer spewed a load of profanity at them but offered no challenge and walked out. Trevor looked at his hands and grimaced. “Now I need to go fucking sanitize my hands.” He glanced at Cole. “Watch the door for a sec?”
“No problem.” Cole chuckled as the guy headed towards the restroom. His arm remained around Angel’s shoulder and he looked down at him. “You okay?”
He swallowed thick and nodded. “Yeah.” He whispered. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” Cole smiled. “You know, that nasty fucker’s lucky it was me and not Max who came along.” He chuckled low. “Max would’ve probably just shot his ass and dumped him in the alley out back, for trying to come into his club looking and smelling like that.”
A tight smile squeezing his lips, Angel murmured, “I thought you handled it great.”
“Aww, you’re just saying that.” Cole feigned modesty and Angel laughed. “So, you want to watch the door with me?”
Angel nodded and Cole walked him out to the front of the club.
“So,” Cole mused. “Your dance lessons look like they’re coming along well. Ricky’s a hot dancer, isn’t he?” Angel nodded, lips tightening. He felt Cole’s eyes on him. “Yeah, Ricky can teach you the saucy moves.” He said as he accepted the entrance fee from an incoming customer. “But if you want to learn the smooth, sensual stuff,” he winked, “You should get Dane to teach you.”
Chapter Five
Where Angels Fear To Tread
“Hey, boss.”
Max glanced up from behind his desk when Dane leaned in the door. He waved him inside and had him close the door behind him. “What’s up?”
“Have you heard from Caleb?” he perched on the arm of the sofa. “Do you know what’s going on with Coulson’s trial?”
Leaning back in his chair, Max nodded slowly. “It should be starting soon. But Samuel doesn’t anticipate it lasting long. Coulson isn’t contesting the charges, so they won’t have to go through a court battle.”
Dane stared at his hands, eyes distant. “And the others?” He looked up. “How soon will Samuel put together Nick and Christian’s cases?”
“He’s working on them.” Max stood up and walked over to the sofa. “He’ll take care of Christian first. Nick won’t leave the prison until Christian is out.”
“That’s understandable.” Dane murmured and lowered his eyes again. “I wouldn’t either, in his place.”
“Well that’s because, like Nick,” Max squeezed his shoulder. “You’re a hell of a good man.”
“Yeah.” Dane whispered but didn’t sound too positive about it.
The young man had a tense, troubled look on his face as he stared at the floor. Max raised an eyebrow. “Want to talk about it?”
“Huh?” Dane looked up, frowning. “About what?”
“Whatever it is that’s bugging you.”
He sighed then shook his head. “Nothing’s bugging me.” He stood up. “I just wanted to see how things were going with Caleb.”
Max gazed at him warmly. “You miss him.” He wasn’t asking a question.
Clearing his throat, Dane stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Yeah, I…I guess I do.”
“Can I ask you something?” Max picked up the decanter of scotch and poured himself a third of a glass.
“Yeah…sure.” Dane replied uncertainly.
Max gestured at the liquor and Dane shook his head. He sipped from his glass. “Are you in love with him?”
“Who?”
“Caleb.” Max walked over and leaned against the front of his desk.
Licking his lips slowly, Dane’s gaze drifted from Max’s face and settled on the floor again. “I…thought I was. But…I think maybe it was just…” He shrugged and whispered, “I don’t know.”
“Deep affection for the boy?” Max offered and lifted the glass to his lips.
“Yeah, maybe.” He murmured dully.
Max wasn’t blind to the behind-the-scenes dance going on between the young man and their new recruit. He suspected that Caleb may have been the first boy Dane had truly ever cared about, and facing the reality of such heartache could cause a man to run scared when confronted with it a second time. Especially so soon.
“So what made you decide that maybe it wasn’t all out true love?”
The guy seemed to contemplate his answer, then merely shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because…when it’s the real thing…it goes both ways.” He looked up and his dark eyes were damp. “Like with Caleb and Samuel.” He shrugged again. “And Abel and Devlin.” He sighed. “And Cole and Gabe.” He laughed low, with only a measure of humor. “The list is growing.”
Max nodded and smiled. “Maybe you’ll be next on that list.”
Releasing a slow breath, Dane stood up. “No, I don’t think so.” He said quietly. “And that’s…whatever. I’m fine on my own.”
“Are you?” Max murmured.
Dane looked at him then walked over and kissed him without warning. “As fine as you are on your own.” He whispered, his dark eyes speaking volumes that never reached his lips. He turned away and left the office without saying anymore.
Sighing heavily, Max downed the rest of the scotch and shook his head. As fine as you ar
e on your own. “In that case, baby,” he whispered. “You’re fucked.”
***
“Oh, by the way,” Cole caught hold of Dane’s arm as he brushed past him on the way to the dressing rooms. Dane halted, the skin around his eyes tight, the dark orbs somewhat piercing.
“What?” His tone was brittle and Dane knew he was overreacting to Cole’s and Gabe’s earlier ribbing about Angel, and even he didn’t really understand why it was pissing him off and putting him on edge. It was as if this whole situation was causing pressure on a deep rooted splinter which, if left alone, was fine–but became irritated if messed with.
Cole released his arm. “I suggested to Angel that he ask you for some dance lessons as well. Ricky is into the hot moves, but he isn’t as skilled with the slow sexy stuff as you are.” He winked.
“Don’t be volunteering my services.” Dane ground out tightly. “To anyone. Especially not—” His mouth clamped shut abruptly when Angel and Ricky appeared at the far end of the corridor that ran down in front of the dressing rooms. They were engaged in light conversation, laughing now and then. Dane’s hairline sizzled hotly when Ricky took hold of Angel’s hips and commenced to show him a sexy move that required their crotches to rub and grind.
Turning slowly, Cole followed his hard eyes.
His breath shoving forcefully through his nostrils, Dane muttered, “I think Ricky’s got it covered.” Before he could turn his back to them, Angel glanced past Ricky and caught Dane’s stare, sending his heart rate through the roof. What was it about this kid that seemed to turn his world upside down?
Cole was watching him, an amused quirk to his lips.
He tore his eyes from Angel. “What?” he asked sharply.
“Nothing.” Cole held up his hands defensively, grinning. “But it kind of looks to me that maybe Angel might be interested in some of your…moves.”