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.