16. Care Bears and Phone Sex

Chapter sixteen

Care Bears and Phone Sex

Over the next week, Oliver and Liel video chatted every night until long past Oliver's bedtime. It was only when he could barely keep his eyes open that Liel would insist that they ring off so he could get some sleep.

Liel's job in Boston was going better than he'd expected, and he was confident he'd be back in Hell by Saturday. They had tentative plans to meet Saturday night for that drink Oliver had promised, and he hoped they wouldn't have to postpone again.

He liked Liel. A lot. Probably more than he should have after only knowing him for less than two weeks. But he'd always been the type of person to get attached quickly, and the connection between them was as undeniable as the attraction. Talking with Liel was easy, and it was nice for something in Oliver's life to finally be easy.

Plus, he had friends now, and that, too, had been easy. The first weekend Liel was gone, Oliver went thrifting in Envy with Gem, Toni, and Zef. Gem bought practically a whole new wardrobe. Toni found a leather vest—sleeveless, of course—that he couldn't wait to wear to the club. Zef searched for a new dress for their next drag performance but left empty-handed in the end.

Tuesday after work, Jude crossed the veil and joined Oliver and his co-workers for poker night at Quin and Glyma's apartment above the cafe. Willow brought her boyfriend, an Incubus himbo named Krul, who worshiped the ground she walked on. Bob sat in the corner, playing with a chunk of balled-up aluminum foil, hissing at Oliver every now and then.

Much to Toni's chagrin, Zef won. Toni and Quin gave them a run for their money, and even Tad had lasted a while too before Rusty accused her of cheating. She'd vehemently denied it, but when Gem picked her up and shook her, numerous cards flew out of her sleeves. No one had been the least bit surprised.

Since most of them sucked at poker and had bowed out early, Oliver and Jude taught Gem and Rusty to play Euchre—

"For fuck's sake, Gem," Rusty snarled. "You're reneging again."

"Stop yelling at me! I don't even know what trump is right now," Gem wailed.

"Clearly," Rusty drawled. "I'm colorblind, and I'm better at this game than you are. Riddle me that."

Gem pouted. "Oliver swap with me. I don't wanna be Rusty's partner anymore."

"Yeah, good luck with King Renege, over there," Rusty muttered.

"Says the Pyclon who trumps all my aces!" Gem snapped back.

"Okay, maybe we should play Go Fish?" Oliver suggested.

—Glyma, Willow, and Krul worked on a puzzle and sipped wine until both women were flushed and giggling. Krul, oblivious to what they were laughing about, grinned along with them and twirled one of Willow's ivy strands around his finger, just happy to be included.

Even with the activities, Oliver found his thoughts drifting to Liel, wondering where he was and what he was doing. When they weren't video calling, they were texting, and Liel seemed to enjoy talking with Oliver just as much as he enjoyed talking to Liel.

They hadn't labeled anything, or talked about "what they were" to each other. It was too early in the game for it. But whatever it was, it felt like it could be something good. It felt significant. It felt important. It felt real.

When Liel curled up on his side and told Oliver about his childhood in Gluttony, about his siblings, about how he got the scar on his elbow from falling out of a tree and shattering the bones in his arm—it felt important.

When Oliver told Liel about his complicated relationship with his parents, who'd raised him only to wish he was someone else, and how he missed them still—it felt significant.

When Liel whispered, the lights in their rooms already out, the admission hidden in shadow, "I should have kissed you. That day in the cafe before I got on that train. I should have kissed you."

And Oliver said, "I wanted you to."

God, it felt real .

It was new, and it was fragile. But Oliver thought it could be good. He believed, maybe, it could be great. He just wanted Liel to come back so they could prove it.

"You know, we should go out Friday night," Gem said Wednesday afternoon as Oliver was wiping down the counters in preparation to head home.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, there's a new club in Gluttony that Toni and I have been wanting to try out. We should all go." Gem gave Oliver a knowing smirk. "Keep your mind off your man."

"He's not my man," Oliver huffed.

Flapping several hands, Gem blew a raspberry. "The way you go all goo-goo eyed when he texts you says otherwise. But I digress. Come to the club with us. We'll have a fun time out, and you can crash at mine after. And if Liel gets back to Hell Saturday, then you're already on this side of the veil. Win-win."

"I guess." Oliver knocked Rusty's shoulder as the Pyclon straightened from restocking the bakery case. "We're going clubbing Friday night in Gluttony. You in?"

Rusty grimaced. "Who's we?"

"It's not a question; it's a statement. We're all going, and that includes you. Don't be a buzzkill." Gem leaned into Oliver and whisper-shouted. "With Rusty, you don't want to ask, 'cause he'll just posture and bitch a lot before eventually giving in. Just tell him he's going, and you save a lot of time."

Flipping Gem his middle finger, Rusty bared his canines as he spat, "Blow me."

"Hmm, I mean, I could, but just like drugs, it's best to say no." Gem turned back to the espresso machine and continued cleaning it, throwing one last smirk Rusty's way. "Besides, I'd be a ride you would not survive, babe."

Rusty scoffed, crossing his arms over his black cut-off tank top. "I think you strongly overestimate yourself."

Gem pressed their top hand to their chest and simpered. "Aw, honey, you are literally half my size, and I have ass for days . I would kill you."

"You do have ass for days," Oliver said, looking at Gem's deity-blessed derriere.

Gem preened. "Thank you, Oliver. That's so sweet."

"Even at half your size, I would fucking destroy you," Rusty seethed, and Gem gasped dramatically.

"Puh-lease! I would ruin life for you. You would orgasm and then just give up and die, because you'd know another second in this dimension would be an utter waste."

"I don't think you two are making the arguments you think you are," Oliver said.

Gem held up a hand in his face. "Hush, Ollie. I'm winning right now."

"Um, no, you're not. I am," Rusty said.

"You both realize that winning means you somehow fucked each other, right?" Oliver said, and both Gem and Rusty froze.

Then they both gagged.

"Ew, I need to shower!" Gem squealed. "I feel so dirty and ashamed."

"I just threw up in my mouth a little," Rusty wheezed. "I need mouthwash. Or bleach."

"Just throw battery acid on me. Burn it all!" Gem cried.

"I should've gotten that lobotomy when I had the chance," Rusty lamented.

Oliver laughed. "You two are so dramatic."

"You didn't just have your entire life flash before your eyes, okay?" Gem said miserably. "I should never have gotten that haircut when I was thirteen. I should have known that I could never, ever pull off that neon green pantsuit. Oh, and that bitch Connor from second year? I should have ripped out his wings when I had the chance. Pompous little prick!"

"What?" Oliver said.

"I don't know, Ollie. I'm distraught!"

"You talking about Connor?" Toni interrupted from the doorway, hands on his hips. Gem nodded, expression murderous. Toni shook his head. "What a bitchass."

"Such a bitchass," Gem echoed.

"Who's Connor?" Rusty asked.

"Don't you say his name!" Gem pointed a threatening finger in Rusty's face. "Or you'll meet the same fate he did."

"Swimming with the fishes," Toni said with a chilling grin.

"Seriously, what?" Oliver said.

Inhaling deeply, Gem exhaled in a rush, then smiled sweetly at Toni. "We're going to the club Friday."

Toni's black eyes brightened. "The new one?"

"Of course."

"Yes!" He fist-pumped. "I'm gonna wear my new vest. Zef, we're going out Friday."

"We are?" Zef asked from the kitchen, sounding curiously confused.

"Yeah, we are, so put on something sexy." Toni frowned. "Actually, you probably shouldn't or else people will hit on you."

"Oh, I do not like that. It is very unpleasant," Zef said morosely.

"Then put on something ugly!" Toni clapped twice. "It's gonna be great. I'm so fucking pumped!"

"I'll text Willow," Gem said, pulling out his phone.

"I'll text Jude," Toni said.

Oliver rounded on him. "Wait, why do you have Jude's number?"

Toni stiffened, eyes going wide. "Uh… what was that, Zef? You need me? Okay."

"Why do you have Jude's number?" Oliver shouted after him as Toni disappeared into the kitchen.

Rusty snorted. "Come on, Oliver. You're not that stupid."

"Oh shut it, Care Bear!"

He frowned. "I still don't know what that is."

"It's from an old kid's show. About cute, cuddly, happy little bears," Oliver whispered, and Rusty's pale eyes narrowed. "And one of them is pink. Just like you."

"You take that back!" Rusty growled between clenched teeth.

Oliver shook his head. "I will do no such thing."

"Oh. My. Gods," Gem gasped, lifting his gaze from his phone to beam at Rusty.

"Shit," Oliver squeaked.

Slowly, Gem turned his screen around to show an internet search image of the Care Bears. "You are a Care Bear!"

The horror on Rusty's face was one for the history books. "No!"

"And look at the pink one. She has a rainbow on her belly." Gem shrieked. "Ahhhhh! Her name is Cheer Bear?"

If looks could kill, Rusty's would have struck Oliver dead. "Look what you've done!"

Oliver winced. "I'm so sorry. Forgive me."

Sounding more animal than, well, demon, Rusty snarled, "Never!"

"So, we're all going to a club Friday night," Oliver said as Liel popped a piece of steak into his mouth.

"Oh? Which one?" he asked around his bite, and Oliver shrugged.

"Not sure. A new one in Gluttony."

"Ugh, jealous!" He wiped his mouth with a napkin and swallowed. "I wish I could go dancing with you."

"You like dancing?"

"Of course. I told you; I may work hard, but I know how to play hard too."

Tugging his sheet over his shoulder, Oliver settled deeper into his pillow as he watched Liel eat his late dinner. "I don't know how you can eat a whole meal this late at night."

"Well, when you haven't eaten since noon, the late hour stops mattering so much."

"What did you eat for lunch?"

As Liel cut himself another piece of steak, he thought about it. "Oh, there were croissants in the conference room. I ate them with butter and jammy. They were very delicious."

"Sounds like it," Oliver said with a grin, and Liel narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he took another bite.

"So painting Gluttony blue on Friday night with your friends—"

"Red," Oliver interjected.

"Hmm?"

"It's painting the town red."

"What did I say?"

"Blue, but that doesn't matter. Keep going."

With a blush, Liel looked away as he took a bite of vegetables. "Will you still want to see me Saturday? Or will you be too tired from painting Gluttony purple?"

Oliver chuckled. "I'll definitely be up for seeing you Saturday. I'm crashing at Gem's Friday night, so depending on when you get back and wanna meet up, I'll be in Lust at his place."

"Okay, good. I look forward to that drink you promised."

"Me too."

Silence descended between them as Liel finished his plate, wiping his mouth clean with his napkin before pushing the room service cart away. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm getting tired of restaurant food. I want to come home."

"Do you always get homesick?"

Liel shook his head and fell back on the bed, his hair fanning out over the white duvet. "No, I've never been homesick before. Not really." He set the phone down on the bed beside his head and curled up on his side. "Not to sound melodramatic, but I never had anything—or anyone—to miss before."

The words speared into Oliver's chest and latched on. Liel averted his gaze, scratching a snag in the duvet fabric. Oliver swallowed thickly, searching for something to say.

"You miss me?" he eventually asked, and Liel's fingers stilled.

"Would that scare you off?" he whispered.

Oliver shook his head, and Liel's eyes lifted to make contact with the camera. "I miss you too," Oliver admitted. "I want you to come home."

Liel smiled, tucking his face into the blanket. "It's nice. Being missed. Or does that make me egotistical?"

"The court will allow it," Oliver said, and Liel laughed.

"May I ask a possibly inappropriate question?" Nerves fluttered to life in Oliver's gut, but he nodded all the same. Liel inhaled deeply, picking at the snag in the blanket once more. "When you go to the club on Friday, will you be… how to word this delicately?"

"I won't be looking to hook-up, if that's what you mean," Oliver answered, and Liel wrinkled his gently sloping nose and covered his face with a hand. "I'm not looking for or talking to anyone else right now. Just you."

Peeking at Oliver through his fingers, Liel's eyes sparked. "Same. For me as well. With you, I mean." He cleared his throat, and his hand fell away. "Not that you owe me anything, of course."

"Liel," Oliver said, and Liel captured his bottom lip with his teeth and hummed in acknowledgment without looking at him. "I don't really play the field. It's not my style."

"Of course. I just… if you wanted—"

"I don't."

"Not that you need my permission," he rushed out. "I have no right to even ask your intentions—"

"Why not? I like transparency, remember? So ask for what you want."

He turned on his back, and Oliver studied his profile as he stared up at the ceiling. "I want to come home so I can take you on a date. Then I want to kiss you. And maybe"—Oliver tracked the bob of his throat—"you'll come home with me, and we'll do more than kiss."

And cue Oliver's erection.

"Okay," he said weakly, and Liel looked at him from the corner of his eye.

"Too much?"

"Nope," Oliver said, fighting the heat rising up his neck to paint his cheeks. "That's, uh, a good thing to want."

"But is it what you want?" Liel asked, some of his confidence returning as he lay back on his side, lips curling in a seductive grin. "What you want is just as important."

It was Oliver's turn to hide his face in the pillow. But he managed to nod.

"That's very good, Mr. Barnes," Liel whispered, and Oliver shivered.

"I can't have phone sex like this," he admitted with an embarrassed laugh. "It's too humiliating."

The sexual tension broke as Liel burst into laughter. The video image blurred as Liel moved, the focus returning when he propped the phone on the side table, probably against the lamp Oliver knew was there. His cheeks were a darker brown with his own blush, but he was smiling brilliantly.

"Well, we should turn off the cameras then. Or is sexting less embarrassing? I'm not sure; I've never really done either. At least not successfully."

Thankful for the reprieve his teasing brought, Oliver exhaled his nervous energy and chuckled. "I mean, same. I tried to sext with Cory, but it was just awkward."

"Exactly. And it feels strangely… juvenile. Not that I endorse juveniles sexting, but—"

"No, I get what you mean." Oliver yawned, but he tried to hide it under his sheet.

"I should let you go," Liel said.

"Okay." Oliver grabbed his phone from its spot propped on his water glass on the nightstand. "You should get some sleep too. You look tired."

"Another reason video sex won't work," Liel joked. "I can't say I'm in a sexy nurse outfit because you can clearly see I'm not. And I can't hide the bags under my eyes."

Oliver rolled his eyes and snorted. "For what it's worth, I think you're sexy even with the bags under your eyes."

"Oh? Exhaustion-chic works for you?"

" You work for me," Oliver divulged, and Liel's smug smirk returned.

"I like that very much." Leaning in close to the camera, Liel wet his lips with his tongue and whispered, "A shame we're too old to sext. I'm kind of turned on now."

Oliver made an unattractive choking sound, and Liel winked.

"Goodnight, Mr. Barnes."

"Goodnight," Oliver said weakly as Liel rang off.

As he set his phone down, he raked his other hand through his hair and exhaled in a rush. His cock was painfully hard, and he reached down to give it a squeeze. Why had Liel signed off with that brazen declaration? Was that an invitation for sexting? Or was he just a sadist who enjoyed Oliver's sexual frustration?

Shit, Oliver was not savvy enough for this.

Before he could overthink it, Oliver grabbed his phone and sent a text.

Were you just flirting or are you actually turned on?

Response bubbles appeared, then disappeared. Then appeared again.

I'm very often turned on when thinking about you.

"Oh god, this is happening." Oliver sat up in his bed and shook out his hands. "Be sexy. Don't be weird. Just be sexy. It can't be that hard."

Same.

Goddamn it, Oliver, his brain screamed as he stared at the stupid text reply he'd sent.

That was not sexy. And it also added nothing to the conversation. Liel was going to think he wasn't into this, and judging from the pulsing erection in his underwear, he definitely was into this.

"Okay, if I was Gem, what would I say?" Oliver considered that a moment before dismissing it. "Nope, I'm not ready for that. What would Toni say? Toni's kinda smooth, right?"

What do you think about that turns you on?

There, that was good. Maybe a bit vague. Shit, what if Liel came back with something crazy. Like golden showers or tickling? The tickling, he could probably work it. Piss play, not so much.

You in Boston with me. In my room. In my bed.

His fingers shook as he typed a reply.

What would I be doing if I was in your bed?

He waited for what felt like ages, but was only a few seconds as Liel typed, then erased, then typed again. Then erased again. Then Oliver yelped as his phone buzzed to life.

"Fuck!" he cried, nearly throwing the damn thing across the room. "Oh come on, we were sexting. That's so much easier."

Staring down at Liel's contact name, Oliver considered not answering. But he didn't want Liel to feel rejected or embarrassed.

You're a goddamn adult, Oliver, his brain declared as he settled more comfortably against his headboard. You can have phone sex. You can be sexy. Just… go with the flow. Be cool and collected. And whatever happens, don't make any weird cum noises!

The mental pep talk bolstered him, and he inhaled deeply as he pressed the green icon on his screen. "H-hello?"

"I can't type and get myself off at the same time," Liel said breathily. "Phone sex will have to do."

"Oh my god," Oliver squeaked.

"Put yourself on speaker."

"Um, I have roommates."

Liel's chuckle was deep and raspy. "I suppose you can do it one-handed, can't you?"

"Uh, yeah. Wait, do you need both hands?" Oliver asked, distracted by that train of thought.

"Usually," Liel said.

"Oh." Oliver wasn't sure how to take that, but it was still sexy, so he went with it. "That's… hot. Uh, are you touching yourself?"

A quiet moan sounded in Oliver's ear, and he let his head fall back against the headboard as Liel said, "Yes."

"Oh fuck."

"Are you hard, Oliver?" Liel panted, and Oliver nodded.

Then he remembered he had to talk because Liel couldn't see him. "Yeah. Really hard."

"That's good. Will you touch yourself for me?"

"Are you sure you've never done this before?" Oliver asked as he shoved his underwear down with one hand. "'Cause you're really good at this."

"I like being good at things, remember? Fake it 'til you make it, isn't that what you humans say?"

"Probably. I just—ah, shit." Oliver circled his cock with hand and shuddered.

"Feel good?"

"Mhm. Just need… hold on." Oliver set the phone down so he could yank open his side drawer and retrieve the lube. It was nearly empty—fucking eight-month dry spell—and he smacked the tube against his palm until he got enough to slick his cock.

He brought the phone back to his ear. "Sorry, needed… supplies."

Liel chuckled throatily. "I was hoping that banging wasn't you jerking off. It sounded violent."

"Lube's almost gone," he said, then cringed. "Not because I'm fucking so many people or anything. Just myself. Oh god, why did I say that? I'm not good at this."

"I think you're doing marvelously," Liel said through another breathy laugh. "Now, are you putting the lube to good use?"

Oliver glanced down at his lubed-up dick. "Yup."

"Are you stroking your cock?"

"Uh-huh."

"That's very good, Oliver. I wish I was there to see it. I bet you have a beautiful cock."

"Haven't gotten any complaints," he said, already wincing at how not sexy that sounded. "I mean, um, I wish you were here too. I'd go to town on you. Fuck, that sounded better in my head."

"You're thinking too hard, darling. Just close your eyes, and focus on how good it feels."

Obeying, Oliver squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on the slick glide of his hand and the sound of Liel's voice. "Feels good."

"Yeah," Liel gasped. "Imagine it's my hand, my mouth."

"Jesus, I'm not gonna last if you say shit like that."

Another husky chuckle. "That's kind of the point, love."

"I'd touch you too. If I was there right now, I'd touch you everywhere."

"Yes, I want you to. Oliver, I want you to fuck me."

"Oh god, yeah. That."

"I want you to fuck me so good."

"I will. It will be so fucking good."

"I know you will."

"I'm gonna go down on you for days."

"Oh fuck," Liel choked out.

"I'm gonna make you come so hard you'll blow out the whole city grid."

"Yes, Oliver," Liel moaned. Oh god, he moaned , and it was the sexiest sound Oliver had ever heard. "I'm gonna come."

"Yeah, you are. I'm gonna fuck you until you come on my cock."

"Ah, I'm coming. Fuck!" Liel cried out, and Oliver followed him right over the edge.

"Shit, Liel. Oh Jesus." Oliver worked himself through his orgasm, spilling all over his hand and stomach.

Liel moaned again, long and breathy, and Oliver smiled. He panted into the phone as he came down, committing Liel's every gasp and groan to memory.

After several minutes, their labored breathing calmed, and Oliver cleared his parched throat. "Well. That was, uh…"

"I would call that a success," Liel said with a smile in his voice.

"Um, yeah. Very successful," Oliver agreed.

"You're very sexy when you come," Liel said, and Oliver's warm face heated to boiling temperatures.

"You too."

"I might make myself come again later," Liel said, almost conversationally.

Oliver closed his eyes and grinned. "Oh yeah? That's good. Say my name, okay?"

"Is that an order, Mr. Barnes?" Liel crooned.

Oliver's cock twitched as he swallowed thickly, breath still labored. "Just a suggestion."

Liel chuckled darkly, and Oliver felt it all the way to his toes as the demon said, "I will take your suggestion into strong consideration."

And when Oliver woke the next morning, it was to several texts from Liel with only one word. Oliver's name. Over and over. Needless to say, Oliver came again in the shower. Then he texted Liel back.

Just once.

Just his name.