Chapter Text
Chapter 7: No Rest For The Wicked
The red light flared to life as Husk walked in, and Angel didn’t hesitate to cross the room, intending to wrap his arms around Husk’s shoulders but Husk was quicker. That the first words out of Husk’s mouth were
“Where were ya?” Was no real surprise. Last time he’d been off he’d been in a fight and Husk was bound to worry - but Angel didn’t like people worrying about him so didn’t miss a beat in replying.
“Gettin’ my tits done, d’ya like?” Angel quipped, opening his robe to reveal his still-flat chest. As far as distractions went it was impressive and Husk’s hands automatically slipped down under the fabric to slide down his waist and gently pull him closer.
“Fine.” Husk chuckled softly at the joke, shaking his head. “Don’t tell me. I’ll just leave, shall I?” He suggested, but his wandering hands said otherwise.
“Nosey bastard, ain’t ya? I can tell ya but it’s not wild or sexy or anythin’.” Angel said pointedly. “I went with a friend to an appointment.” He shrugged, happy to leave it at that.
Husk paused.
“Cigarette?” He suggested. Angel did not disguise his pout becoming more pronounced - he didn’t mind smoking with Husk but prefered the nights they started in bed and wound up on the balcony rather than the reverse.
“You’re the boss.” He huffed, flouncing dramatically toward the glass doors. Husk shook his head, mildly amused by the attitude, and followed him out.
With his skin still buzzing, Angel was too amped up to focus on his cigarette as Husk lit it for him. He’d been laid less than an hour ago, had no real reason to be so wound up, but a week without his favourite customer had apparently done a number on his libido and Husk wanted to talk instead of fuck which was just a nuisance, if he was honest.
“So what appointments happen at midnight, outside o’ this place?” Husk asked, lighting his own and coughing upon the first draw.
“Ya should quit, y’know, s’bad for your health.” Angel warned mockingly, echoing an earlier statement from Husk, who flipped him off. “Nah her appointment wasn’t at midnight, one o’ the girls here got herself in trouble - in the Catholic sense o’ the word…” he made a vague gesture toward his own abdomen. Had it not been quite a serious subject the panicked look on Husk’s features would have been comical. “Calm your fuckin’ face down it wasn’t Tiff, you’re off the hook.” He swore.
“Anyway she didn’t want another mouth to feed, so I went with her on Monday to get it sorted but she still wasn’t feelin’ great after so I stayed the night with her.” He dismissed. Husk took a moment to let Angel’s story sink in - he hadn’t been enjoying a wild night on the tiles, but helping a friend through what had to be a physical and probably emotional shitstorm… and yet he sat there, naked save for a pink dressing gown, shrugging it off as though his altruism was no big deal. Husk smiled softly.
“Huh… knew ya had a good heart under all that bullshit.” He muttered.
“I held a hooker’s hand durin’ an abortion an’ kept her company after, I’m hardly up for a fuckin’ sainthood.” Angel scoffed, rolling his eyes.
Husk wanted to tell him - wanted to let Angel know of all the good that had come into the world from his night’s absence, but in that moment he decided not to. Angel had been out doing good in his own way and though he wanted to credit Angel with the donations, to inform him of all the money that had gone to good causes because he’d taken a day off would be bragging, stroking his own ego and nothing more, and that sat especially uncomfortable with Husk as Angel had missed his largest paycheck of the week because of it. Instead he drew from his cigarette and silently thanked Angel on behalf of those who’d benefitted.
Angel shifted awkwardly in his seat. The conversation had taken such a dark turn, and he still wanted to salvage some of the heat of the night - but his cigarette was barely half way done. Flouncing slightly he got up from his own plush red chair and moved to sit on Husk’s lap. Husk seemed slightly surprised but rearranged himself to accommodate properly, making sure his own lit cigarette stayed far away from Angel.
“Forgive me,” Angel purred softly. “But her business is her business an’ I was kinda hoping’ tonight would be more hot an’ heavy than just y’know… heavy.” He whispered, settling himself comfortably in position. Already Husk could feel his cock stirring in his jeans with Angel’s weight atop him. “That ya’d show me just how much ya missed me?” Angel teased. Husk’s free hand moved to rest on Angel’s hip and he nodded slowly in approval.
He didn’t like it when Angel got fake and acted up, not for one minute - but the eagerness was believable if Angel was using him as a distraction too. The blond was the embodiment of temptation for Husk - not just physically, but a mental crutch, a distraction from bigger vices. Husk was firm in his reason for returning, the solid belief that he offered Angel the same sort of escape. A brief break from the world. And if he’d spent last week comforting a friend then got straight back to the grind (quite literally, in his case) Angel was likely earnest in his request.
“We’ll get to that.” Husk swore, voice soft. “Just wanted to check in on ya first.”
“Yeah yeah, you’re real sweet.” Angel drawled, taking a drag from his own cig and curling the smoke around the pair of them like a cloud as he exhaled. “But I ain’t lookin’ for sweet,” he whispered “you’re here to fuck me into the furniture.” Angel reminded him, in case he’d forgotten.
Oh there was no lie in that, Husk would swear to it. Angel was unashamedly good to go, and Husk found himself smirking at the transparency of it.
“I’m sure I can manage that.” Husk said, rolling his eyes and passing the tendrils of smoke back as he spoke. Angel stole a kiss - though Husk was usually the one to initiate those, he could dole them out too and they worked very well as a distraction.
“You.” Angel whispered against his lips. “Smoke too fuckin’ much.” He chided, snatching another kiss.
“I’ll quit if you do.” Husk offered, free hand skimming up Angel’s side to tangle in his hair. It was starting to get long again, and Husk privately thought it suited him better, content with running his fingers through it. Angel mewled and pulled back only far enough to take another drag.
“Fuck you,” he smirked “I got clean, didn’t I? The nicotine’s my only vice left.”
Husk could relate, his own vice of choice sat on his lap. He nodded, reached over and docked his own half finished cigarette out in the ash tray.
“Suit yourself but I can think of more fun things to do.” Husk promised. Angel grinned and copied, stubbing his own out beside Husk’s and exhaling a final spiral of smoke. He hopped to his feet.
“Me too.”
Not sure what possessed him, Angel turned on his heel and suddenly bolted from the balcony into the bedroom, with Husk following at surprising speed. With a swipe of his hand, Husk had caught up. He snaked an arm around his waist and spun him into a frenzied kiss, the pair toppling with the speed of it and crashing to the carpet.
The Valentine Motel had an established panic button system - if the safe hadn’t logged an update to confirm a longer stay, or a customer hadn’t returned at the end of their booked time, the ladies downstairs could hit it on a hooker’s behalf but as what went on in the bedrooms was private the call was often theirs to make.
If any other customer had chased and caught him in such a rough way, Angel may have been tempted to discretely tap his own watch pin to trigger the silent alarm, to have security come up and deal with him. He liked rough, under the right circumstances, but most customers were an immediate red flag if they grabbed without discussion. As it was Husk, and as he’d started the brief game of cat and mouse, the thought of alerting someone never crossed Angel’s mind and he allowed himself to be captured and toppled to the floor.
Husk’s fingers interlocked with his own and kept them firmly either side of his head - pinned.
Trapped.
Unafraid.
There was nothing to fear when Husk was kissing at his neck and throat so thoroughly.
Though a gambler through and through, someone who played his cards close to his chest, there were a few secrets Husk couldn’t help but wear on his sleeve and to Angel it was blindingly obvious. The desperation for affection he clearly wasn’t getting at home bled through every motion, and it was almost a tragedy in itself.
Money can’t buy what it is you’re lookin’ for.
Almost overwhelmed by it, Angel kissed back whenever Husk’s face came within kissing distance, but aside from that there was very little else he could do to retaliate. The words would not have sounded out of place with such a tender entanglement, Angel could very easily say the words Husk wanted to hear, could offer a placation in the form of
“I love you” but it wouldn’t be real. It wouldn’t truly sate either one of them. Angel was capable of most roles… but he wasn’t the wife Husk was seemingly wanting to hear it from. Under the circumstances he could only be the methadone used to soothe, and not the heroin high Husk sought to purchase.
And so he kept quiet, he laid back and let himself be worshipped as a substitute.
Hardly an ordeal even if it did play his oversensitive heartstrings for every ounce of pity he could muster.
To remove his clothes would mean removing his hands from Angel’s skin, and that just wasn’t an option, so Husk stayed dressed, but the steady grinding of his hips gradually pushed open Angel’s robe. Sometimes he was bare beneath it, sometimes he wore something lacy and provocative - Husk could only assume it depended on his mood. As flesh was bared it became obvious tonight was a “robe and nothing else” night, Husk’s jeans rubbing against sensitive skin.
“Gimme a minute.” Husk murmured, pulling away only long enough to shed his shirt and jeans, before diving back to Angel’s neck.
“Take… ah… take all the time ya need but ya only booked an hour…” Angel reminded him, almost mockingly, tilting his neck to one side to give Husk better access.
“Y’already know I’m stayin’ the night, fuck you.” Husk whispered against his collarbone, absolutely no venom in his voice.
“I’m tryin’ but you’re too busy leavin’ lovebites.” Angel cackled, rolling his hips upward to continue the friction now that Husk’s boxers were all that was between them.
“Tired?” Husk murmured.
Hand on his heart, the honest answer was yes - between dealing with medical crap far beyond his sphere of knowledge, the emotional burden of a friend in need, and soothing Valentino’s temper tantrum about him missing a shift, Angel was burned out.
But that wasn’t what Husk was asking. In context he wanted to know if Angel was capable of achieving an orgasm, and fulfilling whatever ego boost Husk got from getting his partner off. If the fire burning in his veins was anything to go by, Angel was sure he could muster the energy for that, he’d been reeling all week after all.
“I’m good.” Angel promised, his lie quiet.
“Good to know.”
A slight shift in position had Husk pinning Angel’s wrists above his head with a single hand and his free one gliding with purpose into Angel’s robe pockets where he knew he’d find what he needed. A condom was set aside, temporarily unnecessary, and lubricant acquired. The press of his fingers inside him when they were readied wasn’t at all unfamiliar, but the weight of his body flush against his as Husk continued to nip and bite at his collar bone only heightened everything.
With barely any space between their chests, neither could take so much as a single breath without the other being aware of it. Meaning every whine and gasp Angel offered was felt as much as it was heard. Every sound passed between them seemed to further fuel Husk’s fever, probing and curling his fingers in reply until he earned another. And another. And another.
Only when Angel’s whimpering grew almost pitiful did Husk silence him with another fierce kiss accompanied by the slow withdrawal of his fingers. Noises like the crinkling of a condom packet and the click of the lubricant bottle cap were lost to Angel, seeming distant and faded, but the slightly awkward shuffle to further part his thighs gave him a very brief warning just seconds before Husk’s cock breached him.
Angel would categorically deny it, if questioned, but he was almost certain he squeaked at the intrusion. If anyone asked it had been a moan. But whatever sound he’d uttered it was quickly swallowed by a searing kiss, transformed into breathless panting as Husk kept up the proximity but began to buck his hips.
Angel’s mind went blessedly blank, focused only on the sensation of it. With every inch of Husk’s cock inside him, he could want for nothing else in the moment.
Every roll of Husk’s pelvis was accompanied by either a kiss or a nip - some that flirted with the boundaries of both. Angel gave as good as he got in that department but with his body pinned to the carpet there wasn’t much wriggle room for him to control the pace.
So he moved at Husk’s tempo, speed slowly building as the temptation of Angel’s body became too much to resist.
The pressure on his wrists let up when Husk moved to place his palms flat on the carpet, in a sort of press up. Lower bodies still joined everywhere it counted, but parting further up.
The movement gave Husk more leverage, and allowed him to thrust deeper. It was a heavenly sensation and nothing Angel would ordinarily complain about but between breathy moans he missed the weight of Husk’s upper body on him. With his arms now free, Angel raised them, entangling them round the back of Husk’s shoulders and carding his right hand fingers through the dark curls at the nape of Husk’s neck to draw him back a little closer. Husk didn’t hesitate to continue the kissing, a little more arched than before but still able to access.
For all Valentino’s faults, and the fact his tackiness knew no bounds, Angel was grateful for the plush carpets. Husk was certainly not the first to be so eager they didn’t make it to the bed, and the fluffy carpets - though most likely a nightmare for the maids to clean, were as soft a landing as one could hope for. Angel wasn’t immune to carpet burn, and could practically feel the sores that would form around his shoulders and his hips, but they were unlikely to last longer than a day or two. Angel could tolerate a few war wounds, often left with battle scars from over zealous customers ignoring the rules about leaving lasting marks.
His splayed legs moved of their own accord, rising and wrapping around Husk, the balls of his feet pressing against Husk’s ass to draw him impossibly nearer with every snap of his hips. Husk seemed to enjoy it, but any words confirming it were lost against Angel’s own lips as they both determinedly refused to break the kiss for conversation’s sake.
A heat began to uncoil in his abdomen and any lingering doubts Angel had had that he wouldn’t be able to climax were abandoned as it crept up on him, pleasantly familiar. As the nerve endings in his entire being lit up, his fingernails formed small crescents on Husk’s shoulders, clinging to him as if for dear life. The cry of ecstasy he emitted was the longest Husk’s lips had been parted from his body the entire endeavour, but a worthy cause to break the spell.
He came so hard stars glittered in his vision, the more ambitious first spurt catching Husk’s chest but largely aided by gravity it mostly covered his own stomach and chest. Husk didn’t let up, continuing to slam his hips until Angel was convulsing in his entirety and nothing but a few final pearly droplets were beading at his tip.
Angel had admittedly anticipated the move - ever since he’d revealed his secret preference for preferring things messy, Husk had taken advantage of the permission. He was the only patron currently allowed to, and that Angel believed he’d stay within the boundaries of safe sex was a sign of trust no other customer had reached. Even those who’d discretely slipped him a few extra bills that Valentino didn’t know about in order to ditch the condoms had never been truly trusted to behave.
Still, when Husk pulled out, discarded the condom and moved quickly, shifting to jerk his final throes of ecstasy over Angel’s already splattered torso alongside his own release, Angel was taken aback a little. The genuine moan Angel gave was straight out of a blue movie, unable to explain why he liked it so much.
There was something in being absolutely covered, left messy and obviously well-used, wearing the evidence of their misbehaviour that just did something for him. Panting and shivering he ran his fingers through the Pollock-esque canvas Husk had turned him into. Fingers were all he was permitted to do, and technically he wasn’t even supposed to do that, so he trembled under the heated gaze Husk sent his way as he did.
Every ounce of strength left his body and he fell back to the carpet, dazed.
“Jesus fuckin’ H Christ.” Angel panted, staring up at the ceiling above him, dizzy with it. “I’m gonna have to skip work more often if that’s how much ya miss me every time.”
Through winded lungs, Husk huffed a laugh.
The world’d be a way better place if ya did he thought to himself, but didn’t voice it out loud. Instead he lay on his back next to Angel on the carpet and joined him in gazing upward to the very pink ceiling. Above the door the red light glowed, just visible in the heart shaped mirror above the bed they hadn’t quite made it to. Husk sighed at the uncomfortable reminder of exactly why he was there.
“Money’s in my wallet.” He murmured.
“Ugh. Give a guy a minute to enjoy the afterglow, fuckin’ heathen.” Angel groaned, knowing he probably should get to it but not wanting to move. His muscles ached pleasantly, something deep within him truly sated for the first time in what felt like an age. Reluctantly he grabbed his robe and wiped away the mess they’d made across his chest and stomach. Far too early in the night to just stay messy.
Later, he promised himself.
Summoning strength he didn’t know he had, Angel somehow made it to his feet. That he fetched the money from Husk’s wallet and stumbled to the safe without collapsing from over exertion was nothing short of a miracle. By the time he got to the bed, where Husk had migrated and made himself comfortable, Angel was done for.
The late hour, the physical toll of three customers back to back, and the mental weight of a long week, combined with strong arms enveloping him and the aftermath of one of the most mind blowing orgasms of his life (in the missionary position no less) all contributed to his exhaustion and against every instinct in his mind, Angel fell asleep there and then in Husk’s arms, just an hour into his session.
The first Angel became aware of it was the irritating beep of his wristwatch rudely waking him, confusing him to no end because he silenced it on Husk’s visits, it wasn’t supposed to go off until six am…
Except the numbers read 6:00, and that made no sense to his sleep addled brain. It couldn’t be six am… he’d only closed his eyes for a minute?
Looking around the motel room, Angel realised Husk was gone, that the only clothing left on the floor was his own cum-smeared pink Valentine robe. He’d left.
“Fuck,” Angel hissed, panic clawing at his chest. Well-rested didn’t factor into his mood, and Angel was left only with a sense of dread that eclipsed it. He owed Husk a five hour refund and Valentino was going to have his head for it. Hoping that Husk hadn’t left early and informed the front desk, so they could square it on their own next week out of Angel’s own money, Angel flung back the covers, annoyed.
“Why the fuck didn’t ya wake me, asshole?!” He snapped to the empty room.