The Dark Angels: With Wings (13 page)

How can I justify this? I know this is insane. So does he. But...
"Okay, how about the
benefits
are just for when we are here, like you said before?"

Angel arched his eyebrow looking like he was straight off their last album cover. "You want to be friends with benefits but only for our time in Bali?" He frowned. "Then what? You go back to being
straight
?"

"I guess," he said quietly.

Angel shook his head and laughed, "Yeah, this doesn't spell insane"

His mouth opened and then closed. He stared at Angel looking for some kind of help. Some kind of reason that would allow him to have Angel, have this even if it was just for a short time but not ruin their friendship. No harm no foul. Part of Dare's mental gymnastics was to convince himself he needed this so he could finally purge Angel out of his system then they could go back to just being friends...

It was quiet, only the white noise of the air conditioner could be distinguished from the silence that seemed to stretch between them like an endless ocean. He swallowed as Angel continued to stare at him.

He wasn't sure if the need he felt for Angel was written all over his face but he didn't try to hide it. He was tired of hiding and fighting what he wanted...what he needed. Darius looked down at the white pristine bedding and he whispered the admission that had been chasing around in his brain for days, "I want you. I am tired of fighting it."

He heard a low growl of frustration come from out of the depths of Angel. Strong arms wrapped him up crushing him with affection. He melted against him as Angel kissed the top of his head.

Angel's voice sounded thick when he finally spoke. "This is probably a mistake. You know that, don't you?" His fingers toyed with the hunk of blond hair that usually fell into Dare's face. "I am not going to make this easy on you just because you are a
straight
boy." The pause giving him time to think about what that meant. Angel continued. "But I can't say
no
to you."

Angel grabbed his chin and pulled their lips together laying claim to him.

"We just can't lose our friendship. It means too much to me. Okay?"

He found himself promising this wouldn't affect their friendship. In truth, Darius would have promised him anything as long as it meant Angel would kiss him again. He didn't have to wait long. Angel's mouth dominated his lips until he actually whimpered in need. Angel kissed him with hard passion. He tried not to but he couldn't help it. He gave himself over to it.

Angel ravaged his mouth as if he were starving for it. His hands were everywhere at once.

∗ ∗ ∗

As evening fell, Darius knew Angel could feel his hesitation. Angel pulled back from him to tilt his head in question.

He closed his eyes trying to find his breath. They had stayed in bed the rest of the afternoon putting the flesh light to good use again and again.

But now it was nighttime with its implications.

"You okay?" Angel put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

He scrubbed at his face with two hands. "Yeah. No. I don't know."

Angel sat up and just looked at him patiently waiting for him to put his mixed emotions into words.
I feel overwhelmed. What was I doing

"We don't have to do this, you know?"

Frowning, he said, "I know..."
But I crave it
.
Does that make me gay

"We don't have to do anything you are uncomfortable with. We can just forget about the whole thing." At Darius's groan of disapproval, Angel said, "Or we can take it really slow." He cupped his face and smiled at him sweetly.

Fuck, he is treating me like some fragile virgin. Virgin! But I am a
virgin, in this regard. Jesus, I was going to be giving it up to Angel. I was
going to let him inside of me. Instead of fucking...I was going to be fucked.

What the hell! When did I lose my dick and become a chick

"Hey, Dare. Babe, just so you know, we are not going to fuck tonight." Angel laid it out for him. "So stop freaking out."

"What?" He asked in confusion. He braced himself all afternoon for the inevitable. He had been positive. Tonight would be the night. "I thought..."

Angel grinned. "Well, you thought
wrong
." The cocky bastard seemed to be enjoying his confusion.

He bit his lip as something akin to disappointment crashed over him.

"But..." They had been making out for what seemed like hours. He thought that was the direction this was taking.

"What? That I was going to push myself on you?" Angel's grin widened as his voice dropped an octave. "No, my sweet." His voice caressed him down deep. "You are going to be begging for it when I finally take you." Angel exhaled with a smile at what sounded like a pleasant thought to him.

Angel's confidence made him shiver in anticipation. He may have been nervous but his cock was obviously ready to beg right then and there for Angel. Odd, how taking something completely off the table only made him want it more. It was like going on a diet or something. Immediately you were hungry for exactly what you couldn't have.

Angel's fingers tangled in his hair to pull him close. Angel was so close that his breath teased across his lips which parted in invitation. Angel's tongue traced the outline of his lips. "Not tonight my sweet," Angel whispered.

He blinked in dismay to find himself released and not ravished. It was confusing to be terrified of something then, when it doesn't happen, to feel the harsh bite of disappointment. He should feel relief not disappointment.

Angel chuckled at him. "Oh don't frown. I won't end our date without satisfying you. What kind of tease do you think I am?" He grinned. Leaning towards him, he confided, "This is one of the benefits of us both being guys.

We always both want
it
."

He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. Angel grinned at him. "Go get changed into some long pants. I am taking you to dinner. Meet me in fifteen minutes."

He blinked in surprise and watched Angel go to his closet to find something to wear to dinner. Darius just stood there staring, until Angel asked, "Are you going to wear that?"

Looking down at his tie dyed shorts that were a bit stained by stray fluids. "No, of course not," Dare choked out as he snapped out of his confused daze.

He went to his room and jumped in the shower for a quick soapy rinse, then changed into a nice pair of dress pants and a button down shirt.

Looking in the mirror, he fixed his bed head. He almost wanted to put on the makeup he wore for the show but stopped himself at lip balm. He smiled as he noticed his lips were swollen from all the kissing. He shook his head at the zing of excitement he felt. This was too crazy but it felt too fucking good to stop.

When he left his room, Angel extended his hand. Darius took it and followed him out of their villa. A golf cart was waiting outside to whisk them to the top of the resort. There, in the center of the reflection pool, was a table for two on a cement platform. He was amazed at how quickly the staff was able to accommodate Angel's request for what looked like a special reservation.

The table was beautifully set. The two red candles enhanced the Balinese floral pattern on the china. As he sat in the chair Angel held out for him, his eyes were drawn to the millions of stars made visible without all the city light pollution.

When Darius was done star gazing, he looked across the table to find Angel staring at him. The intensity of the stare made him uncomfortable as if Angel was yet again seeing far more than he should.

Grasping for something to say, he fell back on their music. "I can't believe we are basically done with all the songs for the new album. Robin's songs were so amazing for a guy his age. To be able to write like that is incredible."

Angel willingly followed him onto the safe topic of work and music.

"Yeah, the kid is excellent. His words just seem to touch the soul."

He knew exactly what he meant. "Yeah. Exactly."

"Though I think our songs are pretty good too. Some are a little bit bubble gummy, but the younger fans like that. Though most are deep and soulful. Can't wait for the guys to hear them."

"I hope they like them."

Angel laughed confidently. "Of course they will." Angel reached across the table to touch his hand. "I took the liberty of ordering for us. So the courses will just arrive. Are you ready for the first course?"

Darius was a bit overwhelmed by all of this. In all honesty, he had never taken a girl on a date this romantic and fancy before. So for Angel to be doing this for him was mindboggling. He remembered he had been asked a question. "Yeah, I am ready."

Angel smirked and took the opportunity to tease him. "Yes, but only for food though. You won't get what you really
want
tonight."

He inhaled deeply and tried to glare at Angel. The bastard knew he was causing him to ache with his words.

Angel grinned but changed the subject, surprising him completely.

"Since we are almost done with the songs, I was wondering if you would be up to changing resorts."

Darius shrugged. He didn't care. "Yeah. Sure. Why?"

"Well, Ubud is great for seeing the towns, Balinese life, and for quiet.

But I am up for the vacation part of this trip, you know? They have gorgeous beaches here." He took a sip of his wine before continuing, "There is a resort called the Winding Tree. Tommy says it is one of the top resorts in Asia."

The first course arrived. It was a salad that had been flown in, no doubt, from the States. So the usual precaution of not eating fruits or raw vegetables that weren't peeled or cooked didn't apply.

Angel picked up with their plans. "I thought tomorrow we could slowly drive to the beach area. You wanted to see Bali, so I thought we could stop at the Mask Making Village, Stone Carving Village, Wood Carving Village, and the Painting Town."

He smiled. "Wow! I would love that."

Angel beamed back at him. "I thought you might. They are all pretty close together." He reached across the table to touch his hand before complimenting him. "You have a beautiful smile, Darius Stone. It always warms me up on the inside when I see it."

He looked down and wondered if Angel could tell he was blushing in the candlelight. Being romanced by Angel was pretty potent stuff. The beautiful setting, the thoughtfulness of the dinner and now Angel's comments made him almost giddy.

They started eating their salads and talking about everything from music to politics. Darius had thought their views were similar but on closer examination, they were nearly identical.

As the courses came, he grew more and more impressed. Each course showed how well Angel knew him. Salad dressing was on the side. Lots of vegetables, but a nice thick piece of red meat cooked to perfection. No mushrooms anywhere in sight. And the dinner was ending with a sinfully delicious three chocolate dessert.

Each course had come with its own wine to compliment the flavor of the dish. After not drinking for so long, he was feeling very relaxed. Angel took his hand as they walked back down the mountain through the shadows to their villa.

Occasionally, one of them would break the silence with a comment, but for the most part they just enjoyed each other's company as they walked back. It was probably all the wine he'd had at dinner but he adored holding Angel's hand. Such a simple thing, but it felt so right. Stupid since he rarely held a girl's hand. He was turning into a romantic fool.

Once in the villa, Angel pulled him over to the sofa. "Come here, Dare."

Darius turned to look at him and held his breath as they sat down.
Is
he going to kiss me? Should I kiss him?
All the worry was for naught because Angel's fingers caressed his hair, toying with it lightly before grabbing on and pulling him into an embrace.

A soft wet mouth traced over Darius' teasing it open. Angel's tongue slipped in and licked the roof of Dare's mouth before deepening the kiss. The kiss seemed to intensify Dare's need for Angel to do more.

Angel's other hand ran down his chest to his belly. Heat was coiling making Darius tight and ready. Fingertips teased the waist of his pants, then slipped under the waistband touching skin.

It made him want and wish for more. A broken moan of need escaped causing Angel to pull back with a look of worry.

He chuckled as he reached for Angel. "Thought you said you weren't a cock tease."

Angel's quick grin turned into a smirk. His large hand fell into his aroused lap so he could palm his cock through the fabric. "Mmmm, you are so hard." Angel was almost purring as he stroked him. "What do you need?"

"You," he answered without thinking. Truly, the answer required no thought. The only thing he needed at that moment was Angel. The wine loosened his lips enough to be completely honest about it. "You, please.

You."

Angel groaned. He licked along Darius's jaw to his mouth for a hot wet kiss. His hands undid his belt and pants. With a little help from Angel they were down around Dare's ankles and then completely disappeared with his sandals.

Angel dropped to his knees in front of him to blow hot moist air over the straining cock he found there. Fingers worked the buttons on his shirt open but neither bothered to take it off because enough skin was exposed.