Ebony Angel

"I'm off duty now," Austin said. "I can think of all sorts of ways you could serve me."

Yep, amused. "I think you misunderstand my meaning," Jude said quietly but his hand wrapped around Austin's bicep, neither pulling him closer nor pushing him away. He slid his hand up Austin's shoulder to the collar of his T-shirt, and with a hooked finger drew out the pendant. "You were given this as a young man, correct?"

"Yeah, and there are a lot more interesting things to talk about than that." He ducked his head to look at Jude through his lashes -- a trick that got him what he wanted far more often than it failed. "Or we don't have to talk at all."

"I will not object," Jude whispered and Austin kissed him, his hands on Jude's thighs. Jude's hands went into his hair, tugging on the short strands before curling against his scalp. Jude kissed him awkwardly but eagerly, his tongue hot and slick against Austin's, his lips soft in his impossibly angular face. He tasted like water and he smelled like a forest, like cool stone and clean pine.

"You taste amazing," Austin whispered.

"You taste like beer," said Jude, which made Austin laugh.

"Sorry. I was having a drink before I saw the kids leave. What are you doing here, anyway? You're not a student and you're not like the Rack's regular crowd."

"Why did you kiss me?" Jude responded.

"Because you're hot." Jude laughed softly and Austin added, "And you looked like you wanted me to."

"I did. I do. For your sake. You wanted to fight that boy -- and if not that boy, someone, anyone. Or you would find another way to release this aggression." His fingers curled in Austin's coat.