Angel and the Assassin

quick steps and threw himself at Kael, wrapping
    his arms around Kael‟s broad chest. At six feet five inches, Kael stood taller than
    most people. Angel was barely five feet eight, so his head rested against Kael‟s
    chest. He looked down at the boy, cupping Angel‟s head with his hand.
    “Don‟t be afraid of me, Angel. I won‟t hurt you.” But that was a lie; Kael had to
    hurt him.
    For a long time they stood with the water rushing over them, not moving. Kael
    could feel Angel‟s thudding heart begin to slow as the boy calmed down.
    Overwhelmed with confusion, Kael did not know what to do. All he knew was that
    he felt happy the boy trusted him, and angry that the poor kid was putting his trust
    in a hired killer.

    18
    Fyn Alexander

    Kael took Angel‟s chin in his hand and tilted it up to look into his eyes. His
    face was lovely—pale porcelain skin and a delicate, pointed chin. But it was his eyes
    that drew Kael in, wide, silver, and completely trusting. Kael had told Angel that
    Kael wouldn‟t hurt him, and the boy appeared to believe him. He dropped a little
    kiss on Angel‟s forehead, turned off the shower, and stepped out, taking Angel with
    him.
    Secreting the scalpel in the fold of a towel, he took a couple more towels from a
    shelf and threw one at Angel. Kael toweled the water from his head and body,
    watching the boy do the same. Angel‟s hair got blonder and blonder as he rubbed it
    dry. When he was finished, he dropped the towel on the floor, looking at Kael. “Why
    did you kill Sven?”
    Kael pointed at the towel. “Put it in the wash basket.” Angel obeyed at once.
    That was the second time he had done as he was told immediately. He seemed
    submissive and eager to please, but then, what choice did he have? Avoiding the
    question, Kael asked, “Did you love him?”
    Angel shook his head, his hair falling into long, soft spikes. It looked like it
    was cut to be spiky. Kael wanted to touch it, and he beckoned the boy with one
    finger, fully expecting him to come, and he did. He ran his hands through Angel‟s
    hair, thick and soft and very fair.
    Kael usually had no idea why his targets had to be eliminated, but Conran had
    kindly told him. He reveled in the memory of Conran‟s discomfit that day. “He sold
    guns to bad guys,” he said as if talking to a child.
    “That doesn‟t surprise me,” Angel said. “What do we do now?”
    We?
    He should kill the boy and leave the house at once. His instructions had told
    him there would be cleanup on this job, but they would probably be slow to arrive
    because of the location. “Come and have sex with me. I‟ll decide after that.”
    A little sigh escaped the boy, and his pale cheeks flushed with pleasure. “Yes,
    please, sir. But what about Sven?”
    “He‟s not going anywhere,” Kael said.
    Angel issued a small laugh. “After you.” He gestured at the bedroom door. Kael
    took him by the arm, directing him in first. He never turned his back on anyone.
    The bedroom was fairly typical for a young man of Angel‟s age. Clothes
    scattered on the floor, a laptop computer sitting on the desk, a TV, an iPod with a
    speaker ring, an Xbox, and mess everywhere. The walls were covered with posters
    of idiots with guitars. A single birthday card stood on the dresser. Kael picked it up.
    “When‟s your birthday?”
    “Today,” Angel said.
    “Happy birthday, boy.” He glanced at the inscription. “Who is Maria-Jesus?”
    “She‟s the maid.”

    Angel and the Assassin
    19

    Kael pointed at the duvet falling off the bed and the rumpled sheets. “Did you
    just get up?”
    “No.” Angel looked confused.
    Sticking out from under the bed was a sliding stack of dog-eared magazines.
    Kael bent to retrieve a handful. “ Bear Magazine .” He looked at the boy, who no
    longer seemed frightened and had a very obvious erection. “Is this what you like?”
    “I like really masculine men,” Angel said, his flushed cheeks growing pinker.
    Kael looked down at his chest, carefully waxed to remove all hair. “I don‟t like
    hair; I have it all removed, except this.” He pointed at the short dark blond hair
    around his cock and balls.
    Angel looked him up and down, saying quietly, “I like men without hair too. I
    just like them big and manly.” He paused, looking down as if he was shy to say the
    next thing. “And older.”
    “How old are you, just so I know this is legal?” Kael said.
    “You just shot a man in the back of the neck,