ANGEL: When Angels Cry

by CJ Bishop

  Warm tingles drifted down through Dane’s body, settling in his toes, curling them up and making him shiver. He smiled and groaned and hugged the boy tighter, kissing his hair. “You are truly an angel.” He whispered. “My angel.”

  Just when he began to drift off as well, Angel stirred in his sleep. Dane tightened his arms and murmured softly in his ear. The boy whimpered–as if in pain–then suddenly strained against Dane’s embrace. His whimpering grew louder, laced with fear. “No…” he moaned, his sleep encased voice cracking, thickening with tears. “Don’t…” A sob choked up his throat and he began to fight Dane’s arm. “Sto-op…please!” He was starting to gag on his cries and thrash beneath the blankets.

  “Angel.” Dane whispered close to his ear. “Baby, wake up.”

  The boy screamed, making Dane jump. “Nooo! It hurts! Stop!”

  “Angel!” Dane shook him hard. “Baby! Wake up!”

  “Stooop!” He screamed shrill, tears rushing down his face.

  Dane’s eyes burned, his throat tightening and he pulled Angel over onto his back, holding his arms to keep him from flailing. “Angel!”

  The boy calmed suddenly, still asleep, but he was shaking, sobbing quietly now, his head twisting back and forth slowly and his beautiful face a mask of anguish. “Please, God…” he mumbled, crying softly. “Please…protect Maddy…please….”

  ***

  Nothing was mentioned of the night before, and come morning, Gabe had seemed his old self again, no remnant of the troubled look in his eyes. Still it bothered Cole; the man had lied to him about the phone call. He was sure of it. He knew the difference between a dream noise and one outside the dream, reaching in. Someone had called Gabe late last night.

  Cole had told himself to let it go, and not let it eat away at him. But it bothered him to think that Gabe was keeping secrets from him. And just what kind of secrets? He didn’t believe for a minute it had to do with another man–sexually speaking. Gabe loved him, he saw it in the man’s baby blue eyes every time he looked into them. He wouldn’t cheat on him, he wasn’t worried about that. But Gabe had been troubled last night, so something was going on that he wasn’t telling Cole about.

  “Earth to Cole.”

  “Huh?” Cole blinked, his hand gripping his drink as he leaned against the bar, staring blankly out across the crowd of customers.

  Gabe chuckled. “Where’d you go there for a minute?”

  Clearing his throat, Cole shifted. “Nowhere. I’m here.” He leaned over and kissed Gabe. “With you.”

  “Well, heads up because the octopus is back.” Gabe grinned and tossed a nod towards the other end of the bar and the entrance beyond where Faron Ryland stood, scouring the club with purposeful eyes.

  “Oh shit.” Cole groaned. “Hide me.” Ryland was a true genetic anomaly; as soon as he stepped into a private booth–his two hands became eight hands. And his special affection seemed well intact as his gaze sought out Cole and rested heavily, a smile quirking his lips.

  “Aww he loves you.” Gabe cooed then kissed his cheek quick. “How could he not, you sexy thang you?” He dodged Cole’s fist and sashayed away, wriggling his eyebrows.

  “Fucker.” Cole muttered and rolled his eyes as Gabe laughed and disappeared into the sea of bodies, leaving Cole to swim alone with the octopus.

  “Cole.” Ryland’s smile widened as he approached. Apparently the man hadn’t been taught about respecting personal space as he moved right in on Cole, practically pushing between his legs. “Got a thick wad for you.” He murmured, smirking, and stuffed a bundle of cash into Cole’s crotch, fingering his cock while he was in there. “You got a thick wad for me too?”

  Sighing, Cole tugged his hand from his pants, but then the other hand was immediately between his thighs, rubbing his package. “Mr. Ryland…we’ve talked about this.”

  “I’m a hands-on kind of man.” He smiled as Cole had a hell of a time keeping the man’s groping under control. Ryland wasn’t a bad guy, or even bad looking–just way too handsy. “Come on, let’s do a little one on one. I’ve been thinking about you all week.” He shoved close, his mouth diving in and touching Cole’s neck. “It’s been embarrassing trying to function around the office all cock hard and horny as hell.” His hand was back in Cole’s crotch, rubbing, squeezing. “Come on, baby.” He panted softly, his own hard crotch rocking against Cole. “I need some attention.”

  Cole could turn him down, he had the option. But the guy paid a fucking huge price for Cole’s attention. And he knew if he did turn him down, Gabe would be relentless, teasing him about being afraid of the guy. He’d rather deal with the groping for a short while than Gabe’s endless jabbing. Well, his teasing. The jabbing he was rather fond of.

  Before he could say either way, Ryland grabbed his hand and tugged him away from the bar. Well look on the bright side, he thought sourly, at least he’s not a prissy little fag who talks like a valley girl.

  He passed Max on the way to the booth and his boss arched his eyebrows and smirked. Cole shot him a ‘shut up’ look before Ryland yanked him inside the booth.

  Faron Ryland dropped into the leather chair, legs loose, crotch bulging. When Cole turned on the music, he smiled and waved his hand. “I don’t need the strip tease. Just undress and dance for me, baby.”

  “As you wish.” Cole nodded and peeled off his shirt as he stood before the man. Ryland’s hands were immediately on his stomach and chest, rubbing hungrily. He unfastened his pants and stepped back a little, shoving them down his legs and kicked them away.

  “Fuck.” Ryland groaned. “You are sinfully sexy, Cole. Just too fucking gorgeous for your own good. Certainly for my own good. I haven’t saved a cent since I met you.” His mouth twitched. “I make all my deposits in you.”

  You wish, buddy, Cole mused. He moved in closer, his hips swaying. Ryland whimpered and ran his hands up the back of his thighs and over his ass, squeezing hard. “Oh fuck, when’re you going to take that bonus I keep offering and give me some cock?”

  “Sorry.” Cole tsked.

  “Aw come on, baby.” Ryland rubbed his lips across Cole’s cock, barely confined in the shimmering blue G-string underwear. “At least show it to me.” His fingers teased around the band playfully, tugging lightly, as he grinned up at Cole. “Just a little peek?”

  Cole gripped his hand and moved it away. “This isn’t a peep show.” He smiled, turning around gracefully in time with the beat of the music and wiggled his ass in the guy’s face. “This is as close as you get to viewing the goods.”

  Ryland groaned but seemed plenty pleased with the rear view he was receiving. He rubbed up over Cole’s firm cheeks, thumbs dipping into his crack. When he leaned close and Cole felt his wet tongue try to squeeze in as well, he danced away and turned to face him again, shaking his head, lips twisting sensually. “You’re just a naughty boy, aren’t you?”

  Chuckling, Ryland licked his lips and leaned back, shrugging, hands splaying out. “Guilty as charged.”

  When they emerged from the booth after the end of the song, Cole dressed once more and the wad of cash in his hand, Ryland kissed him without warning and told him he would see him again real soon–then squeezed his ass and walked out.

  Cole stared after him, shaking his head, chuckling. So the guy wasn’t that bad. He sighed and thumbed through the bills then folded them in half and shoved them in his pocket and headed for Max’s office. The man had a safe that he let the club boys store their earnings in until they left for the night.

  Max was at the bar, so Cole didn’t bother to knock and opened the door. He paused suddenly when he heard Gabe’s voice, tight, tense, as he spoke low into his phone. The noise of the club made it impossible to hear his exact words, but his troubled tone was unmistakable.

  Who the fuck was on the other end of that call? The same one from last night?

  Cole’s guts twisted with apprehension and he quietly closed the door, retreating.

  ***

  �
��Angel?”

  The bad dream left a tightness in Angel’s gut that dissipated the moment he opened his eyes and saw Dane leaning over him, gently shaking him awake. But when he reached for the man, Dane withdrew and left the bed. He began to dress, his back to Angel, a stiffness to his frame.

  “We should get back to the club.” His voice was neutral and Angel had no way of interpreting what he was thinking, or feeling. “We’re already late as it is.”

  “Is…” Angel’s throat tightened and began to ache with a rush of emotion he didn’t understand. “Is something wrong, Dane?”

  “No.” The answer came too quick, too sharp. He didn’t look at Angel as he stepped towards the bedroom door and mumbled, “I’ll get your clothes.” Then he was out the door.

  Angel stared at the empty doorway, his heart pumping forcefully. Something was wrong. Why was Dane suddenly acting so…distant? Fear coiled Angel’s heart as the possible truth of the situation began push against his mind, causing a dull thumb in the center of his forehead. No. It isn’t that. It isn’t.

  He crawled off the bed, found his briefs and slipped them on. Dane returned with his clothes and dropped them on the bed, his dark eyes evasive. “We should get back as soon as possible.” Then he was gone again, going back downstairs.

  Tears tried to form and Angel blinked them back. It felt as if the guy just wanted him out of his apartment. But that made no sense. Everything had been fine. Perfect. Why would he act this way now?

  Don’t you know? Deep down–don’t you know?

  “No.” Angel whispered, choking on a quiet sob. “No, he wouldn’t do that.” He wiped at his eyes, drying them the best he could, then walked slowly down the stairs. Dane cast him a quick glance then grabbed his keys.

  “Ready?”

  Angel hesitated at the bottom of the stairs as Dane moved towards the front door, eager to go. Or just eager to get rid of you? The lump in his throat swelled, pushing more tears up into his eyes. “Yeah.” He whispered thickly, wetly, and followed the man out of the apartment.

  The drive back to the club was weighted with heavy, suffocating silence. Dane kept his eyes forward, tension in his face. Angel wanted to ask him what was going on, make him tell him what had gone wrong. But when he tried, the words lodged beneath the knot in his throat and wouldn’t come up any further. He turned his face away and stared out the passenger window as his vision blurred and his heart began to break apart a piece at a time.

  When Dane pulled the car into a parking space to the side of the club entrance, he made no move to get out, but seemed to be waiting for Angel to exit the vehicle. “Aren’t you…coming in?” Angel whispered.

  Dane looked out the side window. “No.” he murmured, his mouth resting against his hand.

  What did I do? Why are you being like this? Angel’s eyes filled and he grabbed the door latch, popping open the passenger door. What he wanted to say, he couldn’t. And beyond that…what else was there to say?

  He shoved open the door, barely containing the sobs squeezing his throat. He could feel the tears seeping out into his lashes, ready to drip down his face.

  “Angel.” Dane stopped him and his heart leapt with hope.

  “Yes?” he whispered, afraid to try and speak any louder, certain his emotions would break and he might throw himself at the man, begging him to not shove him away.

  “I, uh,” Dane cleared his throat but still wasn’t looking at Angel. That wasn’t a good sign. “I had a good time tonight.”

  Licking his lips slowly, uncertain where this was heading, he said quietly, “So did I.”

  Dane rubbed his mouth, his elbow resting against the driver door as he stared blankly at the outside of the club building. “I like you, but…”

  But? No…

  “I’m not really looking…” his words faltered, seemed unsteady, but then he neutralized them again. “…for anything serious. And with us being co-workers…maybe we shouldn’t do this anymore.” His lips tightened and he continued to stare out the side window. “I’m not trying to hurt you, but…I don’t want you to think that we’re…together.”

  Angel stared at his hands and had no control over the welling tears as they rose up and rolled down his face. He used you. Just because he didn’t abuse you…doesn’t mean he’s any different than the others. Except he got to fuck you for free.

  ***

  The boy stepped out of the car and closed the door quietly. He didn’t say a word, didn’t ask any questions. He just…walked away.

  His lean frame blurred as Dane watched him enter the club, arms wrapped around his waist, shoulders weighed down by Dane’s words. A quick swipe of Angel’s hand caught tears off his cheek as he was surely attempting to appear that nothing was amiss when he walked inside.

  Dane shifted his wet eyes to the rearview mirror and stared at himself. The emptiness inside him consumed his mind, his heart, and hollowed him out. How could heaven turn to hell so suddenly?

  An ache wound up through his face and stabbed into his eyes, drawing out more tears as he backed the car out of the parking lot and drove away, thinking maybe he could just keep on driving and never stop. Maybe outrun all the pain inside…and all that he’d caused outside.

  -THE END-