ANGEL: When Angels Cry (10 page)

Serenity

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot
change…courage to change the things I can,
Horatio stared
down into his wine glass, “And wisdom to know the difference.”

“That’s from the
Serenity
prayer.” Horatio glanced
up from the bed where he lounged naked beneath the silk sheet, and
gazed at the young man emerging from the bathroom, a white towel
wrapped around his waist. His youthful body glistened with droplets
of water, his black hair wet and glossy, slightly messed from being
towel dried. He smiled and his emerald eyes seemed to glow with
life. “My mom taught that to me and my younger brother when we were
kids.”

Horatio had found him on the beaches of
Cancun, vacationing with some college buddies. When he’d passed him
during a stroll down the beach, it had been like stepping back in
time and meeting Max’s younger self face to face; ebony black hair,
green eyes, body of the gods. At first glance, Horatio had
determined to admire the young man from a distance, but when he’d
turned to watch him walk on down the sand–the guy was looking back
at him as well. An exchange of smiles, an introduction and shake of
hands, and the next thing he knew–the kid was on top of him in his
hotel room, riding him into sexual bliss.

The kid flopped on the bed beside him and lay
on his back, staring at the ceiling. “This room must cost a
mint.”

Horatio shrugged and sipped his wine. “All I
have is money.” He murmured. “Might as well live in luxury.”

“I take it you travel a lot.”

Sighing, Horatio nodded and raised the glass
to his lips yet again. “As much as I possibly can. I spend more
time in my private jet than I do on the ground.”

“Private
jet?
” The guy twisted onto his side and
propped on his elbow. “No shit? You have your own jet?”

“Yeah.” Horatio chuckled at his wonderment.
It was easy to forget that the things he took for granted were
luxuries far beyond the reach of the average human being.

“Wow.” Seth shook his head and turned onto
his back again, laughing low. “Your life must be amazing.”

Swirling his glass slowly, Horatio whispered,
“It should be.”

“I can’t imagine flying on a private
jet.”

Horatio looked at him. “Would you like
to?”

“What?” Seth asked.

“Fly on my jet.”

He sat up and cocked his eyebrows. “Are you
serious?”

Smiling, Horatio leaned over and kissed him
softly. “I am.”

Seth licked the kiss from his lips. “I’m here
with my friends.” He said, somewhat dejectedly. “We planned this
trip together. I guess I would be a shit to walk out on them.”

“Fuck, bring them along.”

An uncertain smile curved the boy’s lips.
“For real?”

Horatio shrugged. “Sure, why not?” he smiled.
“I’ll take you anywhere in the world you and your friends want to
go. All-expense paid trip.”

“Why…would you do that?” Seth asked,
puzzled.

“I told you, all I have is money, and time.”
He gazed at the kid. “I don’t have anything else. Might as well
share the wealth.” He cupped Seth’s neck and drew him into a strong
kiss. “And too–you’re great in bed. I’m not sure I’m ready to let
you go just yet.”

Laughing softly, Seth grinned, “Well hell,
baby, keep me as long as you want.”

Groaning, Horatio laid him down on the bed
and tugged his towel loose. “Be careful what you say.” He murmured
and wrapped his hand around the guy’s hardening cock. “I might just
take you up on it.” He moved lower and licked up the side of his
shaft, captured the head between his lips and sucked firmly. Seth
gasped, his body flinching hard as his fingers twisted into
Horatio’s hair.

“Oh fuck,” he moaned loud. “Please
do.
”

***

“
Please…don’t…” The boy whimpered and cried when
the man stepped back. He choked on a hard sob when the tip of the
whip bit his skin, not hard enough to cut but enough to sting
fiercely. The guy had barely started when the men clamored at the
edge of the small stage, shouting and yelling for the man to–“Fuck
him!”

They weren’t really there for a show–they just
wanted to watch the virgin boy get fucked good and hard. The guy
walked the perimeter of the stage, shouting in a deep voice–“Show
us the cash!” The second man remained in front of the boy, on the
other side of the pole, unmoving, but he could feel his eyes on
him.

The boy twisted his head, sobbing, clutching the
pole as it began to grow slick with sweat and tears. The crowd
tossed bills onto the stage, in a frenzy to see the boy’s innocence
ripped from him.

The guy came up behind him again and this time he
felt bare cock touch his ass cheeks. “Don’t.” he choked,
crying.

The man began to stroke himself, a low chuckle
vibrating his chest. “Baby boy, it’s time to become a man.” His
breath was quick, ragged with anticipation. He tugged aside the
thin strip of leather that ran down through the boy’s ass cheeks
and pushed his cock head against his tight virgin anus. Just the
slightest pressure caused a burning as the thick tip tried to
enter.

“
No-oo!” The boy struggled, trying to escape the
pain.

“
Hold him!” The man snapped at the second guy, his
breath puffing hard with frustration, then shoved the boy forward
hard against the pole as the other man grabbed him, holding him
still. “Relax, baby.” The first man panted in his ear. “You’re
gonna love cock.”

The man gripped his hips and the boy’s face pressed
against the metal pole as the second guy held him secure. Tears
rushed out and he stared into the dark orbs looking back at him
from behind the mask. He could see nothing in there, only darkness.
The boy squeezed his eyes shut, sobs piling in his throat,
wondering if he would even make it through this night alive.
“Please God,” he choked on his whispered prayer. “Please protect
Maddy.”

His fingers tightening against the boy’s hot skin,
the man before him whispered something that the boy couldn’t quite
make out over the music and shouts of the raucous crowd–then the
other man was shoving into him with force. The boy screamed.

***

Angel came awake with a cry, heart pounding.
He was naked under the sleeping bag where he had crawled after Byrd
had finished with him. The exhaustion of lack of sleep and having
just been fucked so fiercely had pulled him into a heavy sleep.

He rubbed his eyes and found his face wet
with tears. It was almost dark outside and he had to get to work.
He glanced at Maddy’s bed and started to tense when he found it
empty–until a body shifted next to him, on top of the sleeping bag.
Maddy lay huddled up to him, arm around his waist. Did he know what
Byrd had done? Would the guy have gone out there and admitted that
he had fucked Angel as well as getting a blow job? Did he want Wade
and Axel to know he was
that
much of a fag?

Lying back down for a moment, Angel drew
Maddy’s head onto his chest and softly stroked his hair. “We’re
going to get away, Maddy.” He whispered thickly. “We will.”

The boy shifted and sniffed, the wetness of
his breath betraying his own tears–and that he wasn’t entirely
asleep.

Angel kissed his head. “I have to go
work.”

“Did Byrd…” He choked on his whispered words,
shaking.

He thought about lying to him, but Maddy
wasn’t a child anymore. He understood most of what was really
happening to his older brother. “Yes.” Tears thickened his
voice.

Maddy hugged him tighter and began to
cry.

Sometimes it seemed that what was done to him
hurt
Maddy
the most.

***

Max stared at the thin plaque, his eyes
following the engraved letters that made up the
Serenity Prayer
. He’d found it
in a thrift shop over a decade ago and bought it, in hopes the
words could somehow help him come to terms with his life. He prayed
it every day, but had yet to receive the comfort he was seeking.
When Horatio had first seen it, he’d told Max they were just empty
words, they wouldn’t change what he felt in his heart or help him
accept
the
things he couldn’t change.

Lying the plaque on his desk, Max leaned back
in his chair. The man had been right.
Denying
himself wasn’t the same as
acceptance
.
He was nowhere near accepting the things he couldn’t change in his
life. And he was quite sure he would go to his grave still
unaccepting
that life had fucked him over.

He closed his eyes and rested his head
against the back of the leather desk chair. Lately, he felt like a
recluse, shutting himself up in his office, barely showing his face
around the club. Horatio’s recent visits had done a number on him
that he was beginning to think he may never recover from. And then
him walking out, telling Max he wouldn’t be coming around
anymore…that had been the final rip through his heart. He knew why
Horatio had said it, and why he would keep his word.

He loves you enough to not want to be the source of
your pain and torment.

“But you always will be, baby.” Max opened
his eyes and warm tears drained out. “No matter how far you fly
away from me.”

Heaven Here and Now

Dane spotted the boy as soon he entered the
club–and saw right away that something was wrong. There was a
desperation that tightened his face as he looked around the club,
seeming to scope out the customers. His eyes came to rest on Dane
and he walked towards him with purpose, causing Dane’s pulse to
quicken and glitch.

Determination mingled with desperation when
Angel told him, “Teach me the private dancing.” There was a
forcefulness behind his words that was unaccustomed to the boy and
sent a shot of blood straight to Dane’s cock. “This penny-ante shit
isn’t doing it. I need some real customers.”

“Okay.” Dane frowned and held up his hands.
“Slow down.”

Angel swallowed hard and some of the force
left his voice. “Please?” A slight sheen of tears glossed his eyes.
“I’ll…give you part of my earnings if you help me. I just…I really
need this.”

“No compensation is necessary.” Dane assured
him. “I’ll help you.”

Shifting anxiously, his eyes suddenly
evasive, Angel murmured, “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to sound
so…demanding. I mean, you don’t owe me—”

“I said I’d do it.” Dane smiled, and when
Angel looked up at him with a rush of gratitude–what little grip
he’d had on his heart broke loose and he fell, right then and
there.

“Thank you.” Angel whispered, a slight
shudder to his voice.

Dane looked at him uncertainly. “Are you
okay?”

The boy stared back at him as if
contemplating the question. His gaze wavered and shimmered, then he
glanced away. “Yeah.” He murmured thickly. “I’m fine.”

You’re lying, baby
. “Okay.” Dane offered
doubtfully.

Angel cleared his throat and asked quietly,
“How soon could we start?”

“Well…” Dane’s attention was pulled to the
club entrance as Oliver walked in, paused and looked around then
smiled when he spotted Dane. “What about right now?” he shifted his
gaze from Oliver to Angel. “Best way to learn is to just jump right
in.”

“You mean…
with
a customer?” Angel looked
uncertain.

Dane nodded. “That way, you get the lesson as
well as the payout.” He smiled. “Kind of like getting paid to
learn.” He watched Oliver make his way across the club towards
them. “And I have the perfect customer for the job.”

Turning and following his stare to Oliver,
Angel’s eyes widened a bit. “Him?” he breathed, almost
fearfully.

Laughing softly, Dane nodded. “Trust me–he’s
a
gentle
giant.”

***

The man had muscles that Angel hadn’t even
known existed on the human body, accentuated by his tight, yet
classy attire. He was pretty sure the guy could snap him in half
with the slightest effort. Dane shook his hand and flashed a
charming smile. “It’s good to see you again, Oliver.”

“Likewise.” The man spoke low. He had a nice
voice.

It occurred to Angel that this was the same
man he’d seen come out of the private booth with Dane before.
Apparently he had truly been satisfied–for he was back for
more.

“So,” Oliver caressed Dane’s body with his
eyes. “A little one on one?”

“Actually,” Dane slid his arm across Angel’s
shoulder. “I was thinking maybe a little…two on one.” He smiled.
“This is Angel. One of our new boys. He’s new to this and needs
some lessons. Perhaps you could…help us out? Two for the price of
one?”

Oliver chuckled and looked at Angel. “Now how
can I pass up such an offer?” He held out his hand. “It’s real nice
to meet you, Angel.”

“You too.” Angel murmured, still intimidated
by the man’s size.

“Very fitting name.” he observed. “You look
like an angel.”

I don’t feel like one
. Angel simply offered him a
shy smile.

Dane’s arm remained across his shoulder as
the three of them walked towards the private booths in the back of
the club. There was a comfort in the man’s casual touch that
afforded him the same sense of security he’d felt with Cole, yet
with an added…
something
. And he knew what that
something
was; Cole was just a
friend, but with Dane…there was so much more to it.

His thoughts cleared and nervousness squeezed
his stomach when Dane ushered Oliver into the booth, and then
Angel, stepping in behind them and closing the heavy curtain. Angel
realized he wasn’t
dressed
for the occasion. He looked at Dane and
spoke low, “I didn’t change.” He indicated his clothes.