ANGEL: When Angels Cry (7 page)

***

Angel scribbled down the number and gave it
to Maddy. “You keep this. Memorize it.” he said. “This is where I’m
working. If Wade brings anyone into the apartment and they try to
mess with you, then run. Get out of the apartment if you can, and
call this number. The guy who answers will probably be Carl. Just
ask for me. Tell him it’s an emergency and he’ll come get me.”

Nodding, Maddy took the scrap of paper.
“Okay.” He murmured. After yesterday, the boy was even more afraid
to be left alone with their stepbrothers, and Angel hated to leave
him.

“Listen.” Angel hugged him then stepped back.
“Maybe I can talk to Wade about letting you get a job at one of the
corner markets or something. As a stock boy or something. He might
be okay with it if you’re making money. And you wouldn’t have to be
here with them the whole time.”

Maddy looked at him, hopeful. “Do you think
he would let me?”

“I don’t know.” Angel said. “Maybe. But,” He
looked at him seriously. “If he lets you take a job, you cannot
tell
anyone
about what goes on here. You understand? That’s why he doesn’t let
you go to school, he thinks you might talk. So he may not let you
get a job either. I don’t know. But if it involves money, he may
change his mind.”

Maddy nodded. “I won’t say anything. I
promise.”

Angel hugged him again and kissed his head.
“I have to go to work now. But maybe tomorrow morning I’ll talk to
Wade.” He drew back. “I would tonight, but they’re always drunk at
night. So I’ll wait till he’s sober.”

“When do you think you’ll be home?” Maddy
asked with a measure of anxiety.

“I don’t know.” Angel said and combed the
boy’s hair back from his face. “I usually work till after midnight.
But I’ll come straight home. I always do.”

Maddy nodded silently, eyes worried.

“Hey.” Angel murmured. “You’re gonna be okay.
Just…stay away from them as much as possible. With them, sometimes
it’s out of sight, out of mind. When they start drinking, they’re
easily distracted. So if they don’t see you, they will probably
just leave you alone.”

Licking his lips slowly, Maddy whispered, “I
hope Byrd don’t come over.”

Angel gazed at him, his stomach knotting.
“Has Byrd ever…tried anything with you when I wasn’t here?”

Maddy shook his head. “But sometimes…” He
raised his fearful eyes to Angel. “He looks at me like…he wants
to.”

Heavenly Reprieve

“Thanks.” Max leaned against kitchen door
frame, eyes down. “You’re a good guy, Dane.”

“So are you.” Dane gripped his shoulder. He
could almost feel the man’s pain resonating out of him and into his
palm. “You know…I’m a pretty good listener…if you ever want to talk
about it.”

Max nodded slowly, then shrugged. “Thanks,
but…it won’t change anything to talk about it.”

“Sometimes it helps to anyway.” Dane
murmured. “It can be a hell of a burden keeping something all to
yourself. I think we were created with that innate need to confide
in one another.”

Raising his eyes, Max looked at him. “You
speak as if from personal experience.”

His lips tight, Dane nodded. “Maybe so.”

“And are
you
ready to talk about it?” Max asked
quietly.

Pressure pushed out from the center of Dane’s
chest as he thought about it for only a moment. “No,” he whispered.
“I guess I’m not.”

Max smiled and gripped the side of his neck
lightly then leaned close and kissed him. Their arms wrapped around
each other and Max chuckled low against his shoulder then kissed
his neck. “I guess maybe we’re both just a couple of basket
cases.”

Dane hugged him tight. “I guess so.”

Silence settled over them as they held on to
each other in quiet desperation. Max shifted and rubbed his lips up
the side of Dane’s neck to his ear, causing a pleasant shiver to
race down through his body. “Maybe
talking
isn’t what we need right now.” He
said softly, then drew back slowly, meeting Dane’s heated gaze. The
man rubbed his hands down Dane’s chest and stomach and let his
fingers play around the snap of his pants. “I think…I might need
something more.”

“Me too.” Dane whispered thickly. Max kissed
him then took his hand and walked him down the carpeted hallway to
his bedroom. When they stepped into the room, Max hesitated, just
staring at the bed.

“Max?” Dane spoke low, soft. “Are you
okay?”

He shook his head slowly. “Not really.” There
was a sudden rasp to his voice, and when he looked at Dane, his
eyes were damp. “It’s just that… not very long ago…” He glanced at
the bed again and shook his head once more. “It doesn’t
matter.”

Everything in the man’s demeanor said it
did
matter,
but Dane didn’t push for details. Max shoved his hands under his
shirt and peeled it up off his head then kissed his chest, hands
caressing his hard torso. Dane’s breath shuddered in his throat and
they went about undressing one another then slid between the
sheets, wrapped up in each other. In no rush, but rather taking
their time kissing and caressing, touching and exploring, they took
turns pleasuring one another with hands and mouth.

“Oh my god.” Max shuddered when Dane scooted
down between his thighs and began to kiss and lick his stiff
member. He held Dane’s head tensely, lifting up to him, his body
begging for more. “
Yes…
”

Taking him slowly into his mouth, Dane sucked
gently on his firm cock head, using his tongue to tease and massage
the ultra-sensitive groove on the underside of the crown. Max
jerked and gripped his head tighter.

“Fuck!”
he gasped sharply.

Dane moaned and took him deeper, sucking,
stroking, working him until the man was writhing on the bed, his
cries echoing off the bedroom walls, fists clutching Dane’s hair
fiercely as his hips lifted and dropped repeatedly, thrusting into
his mouth, breath puffing and panting hard.

When he pulled off him, Max was trembling. He
released Dane’s hair and gripped the sheets, chest heaving. Dane
smiled as he moved up over the top of him and kissed his lips,
slipping his tongue sensually into his mouth, moaning softly as he
drew out the kiss. Max let go of the sheets and rubbed his hands up
Dane’s back then down over his ass. Their kiss released gently and
Max shuddered hard. “You’re an amazing lover, Dane.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Dane murmured
against his lips and grinned then kissed him again. “Turn over.” He
whispered. “I’ve only just begun.”

***

“Don’t be nervous.” Ricky smiled. “It’s a
small crowd. Just block them out and let me guide you. I’ll stay
close so you can follow my movements.”

Angel nodded, his gut tight with tension. He
didn’t like being on stage, but it was kind of a necessity if he
wanted to keep his job as a stripper.

“We’ll keep it simple.” Ricky was saying.
“It’s not like we’re in some
Dance USA
contest or anything.” He grinned.
“We’re just out there to tighten the men’s crotches and loosen
their wallets. Trust me, it don’t take much. Most them are already
cock ready when they walk in here.” He squeezed Angel’s shoulder.
“So relax, baby. You’ll do great.”

“Yeah.” Angel whispered doubtfully. He’d been
on stages plenty of times in the shitty little clubs, but very
little dancing actually took place. This was different. There was
an art to real seduction, and the guys here were artists. Angel
just wasn’t sure he was as well.

He glanced around as some of the other boys
wished him luck. Dane was nowhere to be found. He’d seen nothing of
the man when he’d come in for work. Why it even mattered, he didn’t
know. The guy wasn’t interested, and it was probably best that he
wasn’t. Angel didn’t need the distraction. He had enough to deal
with at home. He needed to focus, start collecting cash. Otherwise,
Wade would keep bringing in the other men.

Angel trembled at the recent memory of the
man from last night. His body still ached, but such aches were
something he’d grown accustomed to. He’d had to learn a long time
ago how to push down the pain and keep doing what he did. If he
complained too much, or tried to resist–Wade would beat him. So
he’d created a room in the back of his mind in which he’d lock up
the hurt and pain, and just pretend it wasn’t there.

“Ready?” Ricky cocked an eyebrow and
grinned.

“No.” Angel murmured, then smiled.

Ricky slipped his arm across his shoulder and
walked him towards the rear entrance to the stage. “You’ll be
great. I promise.”

A low sigh slid up his throat and he cast one
last look around for Dane, but the man seemed to be M.I.A.

***

The two young men emerged onto stage and the
men in the audience raised their voices, eager for the show. It was
a small gathering, which was probably just as well for Angel’s
sake. The boy was clearly nervous as hell up there.

Cole walked over closer to the stage area and
stood at the back. When Angel caught his eye briefly, he smiled and
winked, giving the kid an encouraging nod.

“How do you think he’ll do?” Gabe asked,
appearing at his side.

“He should be fine.” Cole murmured. “Ricky
will see him through it.”

Gabe rubbed a slow hand over his mouth. “It
should be Dane up there with him.”

“He should be.” Cole’s eyes darted around the
club. “Have you even seen him this evening?”

“Earlier.” Gabe said. “But then he just
disappeared.”

Cole grunted and returned his attention to
the stage. The music came on, an upbeat song that wasn’t
too
fast but
had a moderate beat and nice dancing rhythm. Ricky rested his hands
on Angel’s hips and began to move both of their bodies together.
Angel fell into the rhythm nicely. He had a natural grace and
movement, but his nervousness still shown through. He was doing
good though, following Ricky’s lead, allowing his body to sway and
rock gently, seductively. The men watching were displaying no
complaints as they moved closer to the edge of the stage.

Quite skillfully, Ricky danced both himself
and Angel close to the men, allowing them to stuff their G-strings
with bills.

“He’s doing good.” Cole murmured. Gabe nodded
silently.

The routine continued to go well and Angel
seemed to be relaxing–until Ricky moved him up against the pole. A
sudden stiffness gripped the boy and he froze, clutching the metal
rod in tight fists.

“What’s wrong with him?” Gabe asked low,
tight.

“I don’t know.” Cole frowned as he watched
Ricky attempt to keep the rhythm as he whispered in Angel’s ear.
The boy shook his head and he seemed on the verge of breaking down.
He suddenly pulled away from Ricky and rushed off stage.

Stunned, Ricky shot a quick glance towards
Cole and Gabe. Cole gestured that he would take care of it and for
Ricky to go ahead and finish the routine.

“Come on.” Cole nudged Gabe’s arm and they
moved quickly towards the back of the club.

“What do you think happened?” Gabe asked with
concern.

Cole shook his head silently. Angel had
looked as if he were having some form of
panic attack
.

***

The pillow pressed against Max’s cheek as he
hugged it close, body tense. He closed his eyes and focused on the
pleasurable sensations Dane’s lips and fingertips were creating as
they moved down his back. A deep breath pulled into his lungs when
the man kissed the small of his back then the upper swell of his
rear. He had a touch that could soothe away heartache, if only for
awhile.

“You have a beautiful body.” Dane murmured.
His hands rubbed down over his firm backside and his cheeks
instinctively flexed against his palms, inciting the man to squeeze
a little. “And your ass is just…
heavenly
.” With that compliment, he began
to drop kisses down the crease between his cheeks.

Max moaned and lifted up to him a bit, his
cock hard as steel underneath him.

Dane’s thumbs slipped between his cheeks and
he spread him open, dragging a single thumb tip down through the
crack, massaging his tight entrance.

“Fuck
.” He breathed hard and shoved his face into
the pillow, his anal ring flexing and squeezing with anticipation.
Another gasp burst from him when Dane’s warm, slick tongue circled
the puckered hole then pushed into it, stabbing at it gently.
“Uh!”
Max
bit the pillow, body straining.

Squeezing his cheeks harder, Dane licked up
through his crease then down low, grabbing at his sac with his
lips, sucking his full balls.

“God!” Max panted, groaning tightly. “Fuck!
Your mouth feels so damn good.”

Dane moaned and dragged his tongue back up to
his tight ring, let spit fall onto it then worked his finger inside
him, then two, and three.

“Oh fuck!” Max raised his ass and pushed
against Dane’s fingers as the man began to stroke him deep, seeking
out his magic button and blowing his mind.
“Uuh!! Fuuck!”
He fucked his
fingers with urgency, panting into the pillow, clawing the fabric.
“Oh god, Dane! Please fuck me! Now!
Please!
”

Needing it as bad as Max, Dane shifted onto
his knees and urged Max up as well then applied more saliva to his
crease. “Fuck, Max.” There was an emotional strain to his voice as
he rubbed his hands up his back then back down over his ass cheeks.
He spit into his palm and coated his cock then pushed into Max
slowly, holding his hips firmly, gently pulling him back onto him.
“Fuck.
Uuuhh…”

“Oh god!” Max clawed the bed beneath him as
his arms strained, holding himself up on hands and knees.
“Fuck, baby!
Yes!
Shit, you feel so
fucking good.
”