Lucifer's Litigator

by TJ Nichols

  They gathered in front of the hotel and, around them, the crowd watched, faces slack and stares as hard and judgmental as only angels could be. William sighed as hope crashed to the ground. The odds of his slipping his chain and being free were too great. He was too close to being staff.

  Tom sucked in a breath as he swept his gaze over the people. “Why can’t they leave us alone?”

  “They won’t.” William was used to some degree of surveillance—usually shadows—though he’d seen angels hijack bodies like they had the right to do what they wanted. But they could only pull that trick for a few minutes, and no human could be possessed more than once a day.

  Tom nodded, as though he were still assessing. “Until you become permanent.”

  “Yes.”

  “Is there any point in waiting to go back in?”

  William glanced up at the hotel. “No. I’m sure it will be unavailable.”

  Tom’s face was grim. “I don’t know what to do. Let’s get out of here.”

  Then Tom crossed the road and left William to follow. The angels turned to stare, their gazes sharp knives in his back.

  “There’s no point.” Everything they’d tried had failed, but the night listed uneasily in his gut. “I wasn’t using you.”

  “I didn’t mind either way. It was good to see you again.” Tom stole a kiss that William wanted him to take but couldn’t give freely without burning his lips.

  Then William reclaimed his suit coat from Tom, slipped it on, and pulled a business card out of the pocket. “In case you want to contact me.”

  He wouldn’t be surprised if Tom never wanted to see him again. If their roles were reversed, William would run. But Tom would have never gotten himself into such a mess in the first place. Tom’s good luck had always been handed to him on a plate and served up to him with a silver spoon.

  He expected Tom to decline the card or politely put it in his pocket and then forget any of this had happened. Tomorrow the edges would blur for Tom—he’d wonder how much he’d had to drink and blame it all on fond memories and too much liquor.

  But Tom looked at the card and slipped it into his pocket. His lips quirked up in a grin. “It was fun.”

  Tonight had been anything but fun, but William had enjoyed at least some of it. “You can say it. I’m an idiot.”

  Tom almost smiled. “We’ve all made bad choices.”

  Working for the gods was probably as bad as it came, but involving Tom was a close second.

  “I’m sorry, again.” He kept apologizing when what he really wanted was to ask for a date—a proper night out where they talked about something other than his problem.

  “I can’t tempt you into going home with me?” Tom reached for him.

  Their fingers brushed, and for a heartbeat, William wanted to agree and forget about everything else. But he couldn’t. If he went home with Tom, he’d be dragging him in deeper. “Then they’ll know where you live.”

  Tom leaned in and kissed William’s cheek. “We’ll think of a solution.”

  Will wanted to believe him. He needed to. But how could they solve a problem they couldn’t even discuss?

  A fire truck raced down the street, lights and sirens going. Tom shook his head as though he’d lost his thought… or had it snatched away. “I’ll see you around?”

  “I hope so.” But he was running out of time. “Don’t wait another twenty-five years.”

  Tom grinned. “I won’t wait twenty-four hours. I’ll give you a call tomorrow. Promise.”

  William watched him walk away. He was sure he saw a shadow embrace Tom, but he could have been seeing monsters where none existed.

  Summer

  Twenty-five years ago

  THEY’D BEEN on Rottnest Island for two days already. Only two were left. If he didn’t get up the balls to ask, William would never get the chance again. They were both a little sunburned from spending too long on the beach, but not so badly they wouldn’t do it again tomorrow. There was nothing else to do there except go to the beach, the bar, or bed.

  William turned off the shower and wished he’d had another beer before they left the pub. But he had to make his money last. It was bad enough Tom had paid for the room. The room was basic and could sleep six, and they had it to themselves.

  A blessing and a curse.

  He wanted Tom to himself… but he wanted Tom to stop keeping him hidden, like what they had was a secret. Tom kept everything separate—his friends on one side, his family on another, and William separate again. That was the bit he didn’t like. When Tom was at William’s house, things were different. He was different. Tom relaxed and laughed and didn’t seem to care that William’s mum knew they were more than friends. Though William was careful not to call them boyfriends, at least not out loud.

  Maybe he shouldn’t ask Tom for this. He shouldn’t have to ask, but it hadn’t come up in conversation, even though William had dropped hints. The lube and condoms wouldn’t go bad. He’d just keep them for another time. But he didn’t know when that would be.

  Tom was going to Japan with his family for Christmas skiing, and when he got back, he’d have only a few weeks before he headed to Canberra. They were running out of time.

  “Come on. What are you doing in there?” Tom called.

  Trying to figure out my life.

  He’d known getting involved with Tom was a bad idea. Boys who thought they were straight were the worst. But somehow, he hadn’t been able to stop himself from falling. It had been a crush at first, and now it was more, but he couldn’t tell Tom. Tom would never call himself gay. This was a… a summer fling to him. Nothing more. Certainly nothing serious.

  So why couldn’t William treat it that way?

  William finished drying off. This was a fling and they never had to see each other after. He had nothing to lose by asking. And while it would rip his heart out when Tom left, there’d be others eventually. He wasn’t going to hang everything on the first boy he fell in love with. That would be lame. Next time he’d fall for some guy who wasn’t so deep in the closet that he didn’t realize he was boxed in.

  He wrapped the towel around his waist and opened the bathroom door. Tom was lying on the sofa in his shorts and singlet. His shoulders were pink, as was his nose. Sunscreen really did wash off in the ocean.

  Tom smiled, and his gaze skimmed down William’s body. Unlike Tom, William didn’t have muscles from playing sports, but he did more than just read books. He rode his bike most weekends—anything to get out of the house and enjoy a few months of freedom before university. With school over, he didn’t have to worry about his scholarship. It was easier to sleep and breathe.

  To enjoy.

  “You made me hurry up.” He knocked Tom’s feet off the sofa. “Go on, get showered.”

  “Just wanted to see you naked.” Tom gave the towel a tug, but William kept it in place.

  They’d been naked together, skin to skin until they came. He drew in a breath, but he wanted more than touching and sucking tonight. He leaned over and kissed Tom, his heart doing a nervous dance against his ribs. “Have a shower. Then I’m all yours.”

  Tom threaded his fingers into William’s hair. His lips tasted of beer, but they moved carefully and hungrily. He learned fast when he was interested in the subject. William drew back, his dick already hard. He was going to ask… when Tom got out of the shower.

  Tom hauled himself up and went into the bathroom, but he never took long. William rummaged through his backpack until he found what he wanted. He put them next to his pillow. For a while he’d imagined what it would be like to be fucked. Specifically, he imagined it was Tom doing the fucking. He trusted Tom in a way he’d never trusted any of the other guys he’d kissed.

  The shower rattled to a stop, and William remained sitting on the bed. Some action movie from ten years ago was on the TV. Things were exploding on a regular basis, and he wasn’t sure there was a plot. Tom glanced at the sofa and then saw William on the bed. He dropped
his towel on the floor and came over, his dick thickening with every step.

  Tom leaned over and kissed him while he undid William’s towel. This was how they’d spent every evening—grinding and groaning, sucking and sweating and ending up needing another shower and another beer. Only to repeat before falling asleep in a tangle.

  Their hips pressed together, but as good as it felt, it wasn’t enough tonight. “Do you want….”

  “What?” Tom said between kisses.

  William couldn’t quite get the actual words out. “I’ve got condoms.”

  Tom’s eyebrows drew together. “For? Oh.” Tom rocked back a little. “You want me to….”

  William wanted the thin mattress to swallow him. He drew in a breath, knowing his face was no longer pink from just sunburn. “I want you to fuck me.” Tom’s silence worried him. “You have had sex before?”

  From the way Tom talked and what William had heard, he had gone all the way.

  “Yeah, but with girls. This is different. Have you… um… done this?” Tom’s forehead creased as he stared down at William.

  He was glad of the sunburn masking his embarrassment. “No, but I want to try. Unless you don’t want to. That’s fine.”

  William closed his eyes and tried not to die. He’d ruined it all.

  “I want to. I just don’t know how it works. It’s your butthole.”

  “Forget about it.” William wished he’d never brought it up, but there was no taking it back.

  Tom kissed him slowly. His dick pressed against him, still hard. “I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

  William relaxed a little. If that was the reason Tom was hesitant, that was okay. “I’ll let you know. We can work it out together.”

  “Are you sure you want me to take your virginity?” His face was pure seriousness, as though it was of great importance, but the line sounded well practiced.

  William lifted an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure that ship sailed. We’ve been having sex for a few weeks.”

  “I suppose we have.” Tom’s face brightened. “Butt virginity.”

  “You’re such an idiot.” William smiled. It wasn’t the big deal it had almost become. And he did want Tom to be the first. He’d never wanted to try with anyone else. That had to mean something, so he handed Tom the lube. “You’re going to need this.”

  Tom took the tube and rocked back onto his heels. “What if I do it wrong?”

  “Go slow. One finger first.” He’d done that to himself, and he’d gotten to two. It was awkward as hell, but he wanted to know what it would feel like. Then he’d wanted more, and the idea had consumed him for the last couple of weeks.

  Tom squirted lube onto his fingers and teased William’s hole. Then he pushed one in. His face was a mask of concentration. He’d never looked so serious when studying, and his gaze kept flicking from between William’s legs to his face. “Ohh… is that okay?”

  “Yes,” William breathed as Tom wiggled his finger inside of him.

  “It’s tight.”

  “Uh-huh.” One of the guys at school had said it hurt. He’d gone to a nightclub and let a stranger fuck his butt just so he could say he’d done it. William was not that brave or foolhardy. The ads were all over the TV. He knew about AIDS and STIs, and he wasn’t taking any risks.

  Tom pressed a second finger in, and William gasped at the stretch. Maybe Tom’s dick would be too much. But as Tom’s fingers moved, it started to feel good. He wrapped a hand around his own dick and stroked.

  “That looks hot.”

  “Feels even better.” Which was mostly the truth. It was still a little weird to feel Tom’s fingers fucking him, but he’d jerked off with his own finger up his butt, so it wasn’t totally alien.

  “’kay.”

  Tom pressed a third finger in, and William almost stopped breathing. That was it. He couldn’t take any more. He was sure of it. A little part of him wanted to say enough, but the rest of him had reached the point where he just wanted to get on with it. He might not get this chance again, so he breathed slowly, his dick leaking and making his grip slick.

  It was going to happen. He just had to give Tom the go-ahead. Tom was watching his fingers move. What a sight that must be. “Put a condom on and plenty of lube.”

  “You sure?”

  No. “Yes.”

  Tom withdrew his fingers, and William passed him the condom. “I hate these things.”

  “Got to use it for this.” He didn’t mind getting come on his skin, and they never swallowed. “You did use it with the girls, right?”

  “Yeah. I don’t want a kid.”

  They were probably safe, but Tom had the condom on and was lubing his dick up. Anticipation coiled around William’s balls. He’d imagined this for weeks. Now here he was, spread on the bed, about to get his butt fucked. His heart almost stopped. “Should I turn over?”

  “Like doggie?”

  “Yeah.” Would it be better if he wasn’t looking at Tom?

  “I dunno….” Tom circled William’s hole, and his fingers slid in easier. “Fuck…. If you’re going to move, do it now, because I want you so bad.”

  “Nah. I’m good.” He wanted to watch Tom. William lifted his hips a little, and Tom tried to get in position. The head of his dick pressed and slid away. They tried a few times.

  “This isn’t quite right.” Tom pushed one of William’s legs up.

  William lifted the other and brought his knees toward his chest as though offering his butt to Tom… which he was. He shuddered at the idea as Tom tried again. The lube made everything slick. He held William’s hip with one hand and thrust forward and in.

  William sucked in a breath at the sharp stretch and the pain that wasn’t quite all pain as Tom sank deeper and then stopped.

  Tom’s chest lifted with each breath. “Um… keep going?”

  “Yeah.” He was in now, and it was starting to feel a bit better.

  Tom started to move, his thrusts becoming more certain and deeper each time. Tom’s gaze was firmly where their bodies met. William couldn’t get past the way Tom’s dick was filling him. It wasn’t all that amazing, but it was starting to feel good.

  Tom lifted his gaze. “Fuck. I just wanna come.”

  William stroked his own dick as Tom fucked him. Tom gave a couple more thrusts and then groaned. William could only imagine what it would be like to not have the condom between them, to have a butt full of come. His dick twitched as come splashed on his belly.

  Neither of them moved for several breaths.

  Tom slowly pulled out. “I think we’re going to need another shower.”

  William’s butt ached, but not in a totally bad way. Tom wrinkled his nose as he ditched the condom and went into the bathroom, and William lay there, his heart beating too fast. He’d expected it to be better.

  The shower turned on. He should get up. He was sticky and lubey, so he grabbed his towel from where it had been dropped and joined Tom in the shower.

  One more night. Maybe they could try again tomorrow.

  Chapter 6

  BEFORE HE even opened his eyes, Tom knew he’d drunk too much. When he was twenty, those few drinks wouldn’t have bothered him. Now, while he didn’t have a full-blown hangover, he was lethargic and there was a dryness in his mouth that only alcohol could induce. He kept his eyes closed, prolonging the moment before he had to get up.

  Memories of the night before flicked to life. At first glance his fantasy about getting back with Will had come true—that bit was definitely real—and he smiled as he wondered if he’d get a chance to see him again. The rest… he couldn’t be sure. Had he really walked Will out of the function with a broken glass as a weapon? Why had he done that? He remembered everyone watching, probably because he was acting like a lunatic.

  He grimaced. Not his finest moment, so why had Will agreed to get a room with him?

  Nothing was adding up. He was missing too many bits. But he remembered the fear in
Will’s eyes and the way he’d wanted to tell him something important but hadn’t. Or couldn’t?

  Tom tossed back the covers and got up. He refused to dwell on the past—he couldn’t change it, nor could he undo last night, which was probably also a mistake. Getting back with an ex for one night, even an ex he’d thought about for years, was never going to end well.

  If there’d been email and cell phones back then, it would’ve been easier to keep in touch and maybe things would’ve been different. For years he’d carried the guilt for dropping their friendship. But he had forgiven himself, hadn’t he?

  He shook his head. He wouldn’t be dragged back to the worry of being eighteen and the fear of being discovered.

  With annoyance and something sharper that he didn’t want to name simmering in his blood, he dragged on his running gear, even though he’d rather have breakfast and do nothing for the rest of the day. But if he didn’t run now, he’d only feel less like it later, and it was hard enough to keep fit. In his twenties he’d done the drills and never really thought about it. Now he was racing just to maintain. The six-pack he’d once had was barely there. Miss a few runs and it would be gone.

  The morning was already warm, and the sun was sharp even with sunglasses. The magpies would be breeding soon, swooping anyone they deemed a threat, and the pair that lived around the corner already didn’t like him. He’d have to avoid that route for most of November.

  He walked without headphones or music—he’d never had that luxury in the Army, and he liked to be aware of his surroundings. Birds chirped, people mowed their lawn, life was happening, and he could listen to music any other time. When his body felt warm enough, he started to jog, determined to pick up the pace as he went and push last night as far away as possible.