Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

wearing clothes?
    Oh, and not real.
    The man in the dumpster, lying on his stomach, was naked as the day he was born. He was also really hot. Sinewy muscle lay underneath creamy tanned skin. His butt was round and high, making a mountain in the lines of his body. His sandy brown hair was cut to his shoulders and snarled, as if he didn't own a brush. What had he been through?
    Bran shook his head and looked up at the tall buildings surrounding him. A jumper, probably. Except if he was moaning, he was still alive. As carefully as possible, he climbed into the dumpster and reached for the man's wrist to check for a pulse. He was no doctor, so it was not that easy to find.
    They make it look so easy in the movies!
    There. The thumpa-thumpa came through on the third try. Faint, but he might not have done it right. He was just pulling his hand away, when the world spun around him and he was on his back looking up into the darkest blue eyes he'd ever seen.
    And he had a knife at his neck. Wonderful. What a night!
    CHAPTER 2
    Samael awoke to find a human touching him. He no longer recognized his surroundings, and his heart was racing. Danger could be anywhere. It had begun. He was human. Now what?
    He was surprised to find that he had all of his memories intact. He'd expected their removal, and did not know whether to be pleased to remember or horrified that he would always know what was lost.
    "Whoa, whoa. Ummm… could you please put the knife away?" Samael looked into the little man's big brown eyes and saw his fear. The idea that he caused it made his heart squeeze in his chest. He had always hated that look but, as Death, he had come to expect people's abhorrence of him.
    "Who are you?" He refused to put away his only line of defense until he determined what was going on.
    "Umm… m.. my name is Brandon. I... I was in the alley when you… uh… showed up. I was just checking to see if you were okay, man. I meant no harm." The kid's hands were up near his head, in an open, pacifying position. He did not appear dangerous. Matter of fact, he was much smaller than Samael and could easily be overtaken if he tried anything. Besides, he looked as if someone had already given him a once over with their fists. He would be weak, his energy depleted. Removing the weapon, Sam pushed himself into a sitting position next to the human.
    "Where am I?" The man called Brandon sat up beside him, still looking like he would rather be anywhere else.
    "Ummm, we're in an alley, off South Hill Street." The response was somewhat muffled as the human next to him wiped what looked to be blood off his mouth.
    "Where is that? What city?" Samael was not looking forward to the imminent conversation. Who does not know where they are?
    Brandon's eyebrows went to his hairline and he just stared for a minute. When he spoke again, his voice made it sound like he was speaking to a crazy person. Sam did not blame him. "We're in L.A…. umm…. Los Angeles."
    Samael chuckled, raised his eyes upward and then shook his head. "The City of Angels. You always did have a sense of humor."
    "Who?" The kid's voice drew him back.
    He was young, early twenties, if that. Skinny and lanky, he had some muscle, but it was long and lean. No bulk about him. He had jet-black hair, cut short in the back and long in the front, so that it hung over large chocolate eyes rimmed with kohl. High cheekbones, long lashes, full lips. Attractive looking man. He was wearing all black; the kid must like the color.
    "Never mind. Thank you for your help, but I must go now." Samael stood, and groaned. Pain radiated around his body. He almost fell over, but Brandon steadied him.
    "Hey, are you okay? Well, of course you're not, you just…. erm… What happened to you?"
    "I fell." He didn't know a better way of explaining.
    "Okay, well, maybe you should go to the hospital and get checked out, because you… um… 'fell' pretty damn hard." The man didn't seem like he bought it. Sam looked up and saw a decent drop from the top of the building. He glanced back at Brandon and realized the kid had thought he was trying to kill himself.
    "No, I didn't…. I really did fall. I don't need a physician. I'll be fine."
    "Uh, whatever you say, man." He started to walk away, but the kid stopped him again. "Listen, I don't think you should go anywhere like that, you'll be locked up before you could snap your fingers."
    Samael blinked at Brandon, and then looked down at his nakedness. Oh, right. No