“So, Az said he could get us in, because we aren’t members, but maybe you could help us with that? We just want to… ummm… watch?” Gabe finished unsurely, blushing again.
Az tried not to stare at Gabe too adoringly. He was so cute; Az just wanted to turn him around and cuddle him up. He smiled down at Gabe, then looked over at Samael, who was staring at him with a look of surprise.
“Yes, of course Az could get you in, but he doesn’t need to. I can take care of that,” Samael said. He started typing things into the computer, pulled out some wristbands and slid them over, and then looked up at Az again.
“You really weren’t sent for collection?” he asked.
“Collection of what?” Az asked, confused by the whole exchange.
“Well, you know, sometimes demons like to stay topside. The leadership team frowns on that, we know, but…” he trailed off, staring at Gabe like somehow he was going to be of assistance.
“Of course,” Gabe replied confidently. He leaned forward then, whispering, “I have a pet frog who is really a demon. I’ve had him for twenty years. Az did move his aquarium out of the bedroom, but that’s as far as he sent him,” Gabe chuckled.
Samael breathed a sigh of relief, finally smiling. “I wouldn’t think Az would mind the audience,” he laughed.
Gabe blushed again. “Yes, that was definitely for my benefit,” he admitted. “So, do we just put these on and go in?”
Samael went into a flurry of explanations then, describing the main club, the side rooms, how to reserve a room, and anything else Gabe might want to know. Az listened with half an ear, still trying to process the fact that apparently there were demons who were staying topside and trying to fly under the leadership team’s radar.
Samael ushered them into the main room, which was set up with lots of plush chairs and couches, a dark wood bar off to one side of the large room, low lighting, and soft music. It looked very much like an upscale bar and lounge, except there were quite a few half naked men walking around, and from a glance Az saw there were a few discreet sexual acts occurring.
Az also noticed there were a few demons sprinkled in. He looked at Samael, who was looking at him rather anxiously, and then at Gabe, who gave him an almost minute shake of the head.
“Thank you, Samael; I think we’ll figure it out,” Gabe said, patting the demon’s hand reassuringly. “We’ll let you know if we need anything.”
Samael nodded, looking a little relieved. Quite a few pairs of demon eyes were on their little group, but Samael shook his head and smiled, and they all seemed to turn away and go back to whatever they were doing.
“I assure you, sire, you won’t be bothered. Although if there is anything you need, you only have to ask,” Samael said, addressing Az.
Az nodded, pretending he understood what was going on right now, still surprised Samael wasn’t the only demon who was here. Samael backed up, watching them, so Az led Gabe over to a loveseat and sat, pulling Gabe down and cuddling up next to him.
Once Samael had left the lounge area and was back at the front desk, Az leaned down and whispered in Gabe’s ear. “How did you grasp the situation with Samael when I didn’t? I didn’t expect you to have a better handle on things, considering we are in a sex club.”
Gabe laughed, turning toward Az and giving him a peck on the lips. Az tried to hide his smug happiness, but he doubted he was successful when Gabe laughed again.
“I’ve taught high schoolers for quite a few years. I knew that look. It’s a combination of guilt, righteous indignation, and fear—with a dash of covering up for someone else thrown in,” Gabe chuckled. “I figured he thought you were there because he had done something wrong, and he was hoping not to get into too much trouble, but he was also halfway ready to stand up for what he believed in.”
“You got all that from a look?” Az asked.
“It’s a very teenage look,” Gabe smiled. “Plus, when you asked about sending him back, his look of panic pretty clearly explained things. He doesn’t want to go back. Apparently this is a haven for summoned demons who haven’t returned to hell like they were supposed to.”
“But why wouldn’t they want to go back?” Az asked. “The underworld is lovely. We have hot springs and scenic firefalls and orgies.”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Only you would include orgies with scenery.” Gabe shrugged then. “Why doesn't Mr. Frog want to go back? My guess is sometimes people just want a change. Maybe they form attachments. Is that so bad?” Gabe asked, a touch of anxiety in his voice.
Az looked at him, thinking about his own train of thought earlier. He didn’t want to go back himself, so yes, he could certainly understand the sentiment.
He squeezed Gabe close, whispering in his ear, “No, it isn’t bad at all. Caring about people is never a bad thing, Gabe.”
“Even if it hurts when they leave?” Gabe asked, and Az knew they weren’t talking about random demons anymore.
“Even then,” Az replied. “I would rather know you and miss you for all eternity than have never met you, Gabriel. You matter to me.”
Gabe stared into his eyes, and Az stared back. He would not hide what he thought of Gabe, how much this mortal had come to matter to him. He would not deny how special he was.
Gabe sighed, leaned in, kissed him, and leaned back. Az was still amazed at how casually Gabe was kissing him now, and he tried to keep his thoughts from straying to sex, which was rather hard to do in a sex club.
“Well, let’s get on with this experiment then, Asmodeus, Prince of Lust,” Gabe smirked.
