Deliciae. 3-5

Part 3

Mavie and Daven sat behind their long desk looking across at the nervous pair. “What’s up?” asked Cordy, as naturally as she could manage, even as her stomach was doing flips.

“You said your last name is Chase?” Mavie questioned, brows arched high. “You’re reservation was made under Angel Jones, and the credit card used to pay was under the name Wesley Wyndham-Price.” She was met with silence.

Mavie’s round, cobalt eyes bore into Angel. He knew Cordelia’s slip-up would come back to bite them in their respective assii, but Wesley’s oversight he hadn’t expected. He would have to go over the ‘undercover dos and donts’ discussion with his two inane employees.

More silence, before Mavie impatiently asked, “Well? Which is it?”

“Chase,” Angel answered hesitantly. My last name is Chase-Jones. I prefer Jones, but Cordelia likes Chase better. As far as the credit card used, Cordelia’s father paid for us.”

“Oh, so Wesley is the man I spoke to,” she remarked more to herself than to them.

“Spoke to?” Cordelia asked worriedly.

“Well, Daven and I noticed you and Angel don’t really behave like newlyweds—you don’t hold hands, don’t kiss, not even an occasional caress.” Mavie leaned forward, annoyingly perfect posture. “You are both incredibly attractive people, and you’ve only been married a year? You shouldn’t be so aloof towards each other.”

“So, we wondered if you two were really married, and we called Cordelia’s father,” confessed Daven. “He confirmed you two have indeed been married for a year. We just wanted to be the ones to tell you before you found out from him and questioned our motives.”

Angel was so relieved he had the forethought to have given Wesley’s phone number as Cordelia’s father under the emergency contact information requested upon their arrival. He had almost written a fake name and number, but decided Wesley could be an endorsement of some sort, if needed incase of…well, this. Cordelia looked just as relieved as he felt.

“I guess we have a lot of work to do with you two,” Daven concluded, stretching his muscular back as he stood.

“Is it trust issues you have with one another?” Mavie inquired.

“No,” Cordelia and Angel said in harmony.

“Well, what’s the problem?” Mavie persisted, watching them unremittingly, her eyes jumping from Cordelia to Angel.

“I guess we don’t really know. That’s why we’re here.” Angel answered lamely, but it was the best he could come up

with.Daven smiled reassuringly, exposing both dimples. “Don’t worry, before you leave here, you two will be kissing and fondling each other, like teenagers in the back of your father’s car.”

***

Back at their hotel room, Cordelia paced back and forth, all the while complaining.

“I seriously doubt they are going to force us to be intimate in front of them,” Cordelia mocked in her whiniest impersonation of Angel. “We’re just pretending, Cordy, you won’t have to do ANYTHING except for enjoy your vacation, Cordy.” She continued her mumbling, mostly to herself, but his vampiric hearing caught every bit of her resentful protest.

Angel offered her an apologetic look. He really hadn’t thought this through before signing them up for this undercover gig. Sure, it’s easy enough to say they’re married, but acting married was an entirely different cup of tea.

Then letting his dignity get the better of him, he blurted out, “Having to kiss me or to hold my hand is so upsetting to you? I didn’t realize I made such a revolting husband.” His frown was heartbreaking.

Cordelia felt slight jabs of shame digging at her conscience. She wasn’t disgusted by the thought of casually touching or kissing Angel, it was more a protection mechanism for her feelings. After his failure to take notice of her in Sunnydale, she had repeated to herself the many reasons why dating a vampire was not for her. Now that she worked with him in LA, she didn’t allow herself to see him as anything other than a good friend, or family member, even. So to be flirtatious with him seemed–ew, she reasoned to herself.

“I’m just not too enthusiastic about getting pawed by a guy whose heart belongs to a blonde fashion nightmare.”

No response. Crap, did she just send him to his lonely, broody place by mentioning *her* to him? Well if the miserable look in his dark brown eyes doesn’t answer that question, I don’t know what does. Damn…

“Angel,” She softened her tone, “I just think we should set some guidelines for our fake marriage performance. Like, kiss with no tongue and not that often. Maybe we make up for it by holding hands and hugging more in front of Mavie and Daven.”

“Okay.” He searched through one of Cordy’s accessory bags, “Fine by me,” his voice heavy with acidity. Finally finding the Styrofoam cup he was looking for, he then pulled a bag of blood out from the cooler they had brought. After pouring it into the cup, he departed, leaving Cordy alone with her guilt.

Great Cor! Way to make the guy mad. First insult his pride, and then bring up his tragic farce of a love life. Why not just dust him while he’s down.

***

After dinner, the group assembled in the main lobby for the second time today. When Angel had entered the hall, Cordelia made it a point to hug him and hold his hand. She hoped her gesture would improve his mood.

She smiled radiantly at him, but it was her eyes that whispered the apology. Angel felt a current of warmth run through his body. Smiling back at her, he squeezed her hand in acceptance of her request for forgiveness.

The two hosts were rambling something about how important it was to break down the barriers built up over the years by sweating and aching together. This was going to be another lame activity, Cordelia just knew it.

“These intimate exercises were developed by an exercise teacher named Keeler. You will be performing them on a nightly basis. The idea behind this activity is to discover your limits by getting to know your body in combination to the rhythm of another. You’ll find that giving is easier, but trust and confidence all lie in learning to accept what your partner is giving.” Mavie stood facing her husband, an arm’s-distance away.

“This is a back stretch exercise….slightly bend your knees.” Extending her arms out to Daven as he mirrored her stance, they held one another’s hands. “Slowly bend and crouch down, holding onto each other,” she instructed.

“This will create balance between your bodies.” They stretched their bottoms upward. “You should feel a slight tension between your body and his.” Allowing their arms to remain extended, she added, “Pull away from each other for a count of 10 and then repeat.”

They led the group through the exercise once again, while everyone tried to follow along. Angel felt silly–how was this supposed to establish acceptance and trust for one another? Then, he noticed Cordy’s movements and how she seemed completely at ease with him, their movements precisely in sync with each other. Also, he was actually enjoying the stretch in his back.

“The next one is a tummy crunch. Those of you wearing skirts will have to face away from the group,” Daven said looking at the two women wearing dresses.

Not liking the sound of that, Cordelia played nervously with the edge of her skirt, holding it down tensely.

Lying on his back, Daven’s legs extended upward, his body creating an L shape, his puce colored sweater taut against his abs, detailing the toned muscles beneath. Not a bad body, too bad he’s discovered the softer side of Sears, Cordelia shuddered, as she took in his heinous attire.

Mavie positioned herself in front of her husband, again, emulating his pose. They both shimmied closer together until their bottoms and legs met. They reached to hold the other’s hands and then took turns gently pulling one another up into a tummy crunch. “Take turns slowly pulling and releasing, and don’t bounce.”

Great. How do you put your legs up in the air without flashing the vampire in front of you? This was going to be fun. Cordelia frowned and motioned to Angel.

“You first,” she demanded gesturing for him to position himself on the floor. Angel complied, and she quickly sat in front of him, getting as close to him as possible before putting her legs up in the air. She made an attempt to hold her dress up between his legs and hers, hopefully it would stay up.

Angel was surprised to find he really was enjoying these exercises. It was nice to have someone to work out with again. while this was far from the workout routine he practiced on a regular basis, it was a good stretch, and it felt great.

He was also pleasantly surprised that Cordelia moved comfortably with him, they hadn’t experienced a single snag in their well-oiled machine. All the other couples had been loudly complaining to one another: slow down, too hard, speed up, quit pulling, blah, blah, blah. He had tuned them out and was focusing on Cordy’s melodious heartbeat.

They were almost done with this exercise. Cordy was pulling him up for the last crunch, when her skirt fell from between their legs. He got an unobstructed glimpse at the ruby satin thong she was wearing. He lost all balance and fell backwards, pulling Cordy up in a painfully fast maneuver. So much for the well-oiled machine. He couldn’t think straight, he had the vision of her molded firm ass etched in his mind.

“What the hell was that?” Cordy was rubbing at her sore arms. He realized he must have pulled her up forcefully.

“I’m sorry,” he had an unreadable expression. “I lost my balance.”

Luckily, he was saved from having to explain why his stealthy vampire senses allowed him to lose his balance while performing a SIMPLE exercise because Mavie interrupted with her annoyingly cheerful voice. “Okay, the next exercise is a thigh stretch.”

In demonstration, the couple stood back-to-back, linked arms, and bent at the knees to simulate a sitting position. “Make sure your bottom comes down to the level of your bent knees and hold for a 10-count.” Sliding back up, she added, “Then rest for 30 seconds and repeat.”

The couples once again followed, as the hosts lead them through the thigh exercises again. Fortunately, Angel was able to maintain his composure throughout the exercise, by keeping the visualization of Cordy’s shapely behind in the recess of his mind.

“The last one is a Kiss `n’ Curl,” Daven said, as he got down on all fours, pulled in his stomach and rounded out his back. Mavie did the same directly in front of him, so that their flawless, untousled heads were touching. He flattened his back, while Mavie curved hers upward, looking like angry cats hissing at each other.

“When you flatten your back, tilt your head up.” Daven demonstrated by slanting his head upward, effectively touching noses with Mavie. “Then, give your partner a kiss on the lips.” Kissing her and then beginning the process over again, this time alternating so that the roles were reversed.

Getting into position, Angel and Cordy faced one another, heads joined at the forehead. Hands meeting at the fingertips, they began the stretch. Angel arched his back, then flattened, while Cordy flattened her back, then arched. Following up the movement with a featherlike kiss, a still not entirely coherent Angel was now overcome by the taste of Cordelia on his lips. He licked his lips, savoring the hint of spice buried in a pool of honey.

Never had he experienced anything so delicious in all his undead life, he wanted more. Kiss after delicate kiss, he would eagerly enjoy every last trace of her left on his lips. When the exercise was over, he was truly

disappointed.Cordelia got up from the floor, smoothing down her dress. “Finally over,” she muttered under her breath.

Catching her comment, Angel agreed reluctantly, “Finally.” Turning away from her attentive gaze, he put his fingers to his lips, in a ghost of a caress, the way her lips had felt on them.

“That’s all for tonight, feel free to enjoy your evening with our resort’s amenities. Or you can take a romantic walk on the beach, if you prefer,” Mavie said perkily and then wished them all a goodnight.

***

It was almost midnight, and Cordelia was finally drifting towards sleep. Her day had been taxing, mostly mentally draining, but her body also felt exhausted, like if she had run a marathon. All that pretending and lying was really hard work.

After pouring herself a cup of the wine Mavie had given them, she had sunk into the Jacuzzi tub, determined to enjoy a nice, long soak. Instead of a nice, relaxing bath, she ended up swatting irritably at the mosquitoes that kept pestering her. Impatiently, she had cut her bath short and quickly finished off the rest of her wine.

Putting on her pajamas, she had then curled up in bed and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, she had spent two hours tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Her mind kept replaying the day’s events. She kept reflecting on the look Angel had given her as he told the group she was gorgeous. The feeling behind his deep brown orbs had her melting in his gaze. It truly had felt like he really believed the words of admiration he had spoken about her. The tingling on her lips from the feather light kisses Angel had given her during the exercises, had lingered on her lips all night.

But the day’s memories were only part of the reason she couldn’t sleep, the main reason being Angel was still out snooping. As long as Angel was out probing the hotel, she felt uneasy and worried for him. It didn’t matter that he was a careful vampire, she still worried for him.

Finally, a little before midnight, said vampire had strolled into the room and her unease subsided at last, sleep finally claiming her.

***

DAY 2 – Soul Gazing

Angel woke up just before seven in the morning, unable to sleep a second longer. He had been having erotic dreams all night, featuring a certain brunette, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed, not more than 4 feet from the floor where he lay. But the dreams were not the reason he could no longer sleep. He sensed a new fragrance in the room. It was a heady perfume, spicy and rich–a very feminine musky odor. She was ovulating, and it was driving him wild.

Cordy awoke with a soft whimper, her hand on her lower abdomen. She got up and grabbed for her purse, shuffling through and fishing out a bottle of Midol, uncapping the bottle and forcing two little pills out onto her hand. Swallowing them along with a mouthful of Dasani bottled water she had left on the dresser the night before.

Angel watched her in awe. She was akin to a blossoming flower, and he desperately wanted to drink her sweet nectar. Instead, he decided to run away before he did something he would later regret…or, more accurately, she would later regret. Her scent was driving him crazy with desire, with a need to taste her and touch her.

Hastily, he vaulted up from the ground to the closet and snatched a pair of black slacks from the hanger they rested on. Then, searching through his suitcase, he found a light blue sweater (Cordy had forced him into buying). He stalked into the privacy of the bathroom with his wardrobe for the day in hand, shutting the door soundlessly behind him.

Out of politeness for his roommate’s sake, he had been sleeping in sweatpants and an undershirt. Stripping them off swiftly, he then covered his muscular body with the new ensemble. Emerging from the confinement of the small bathroom, he went to the sink to wash his face and brush his teeth.

Cordelia observed Angel moving about the room frantically as he finished getting ready. Waking up with cramps made her feel a touch irritable, but she wasn’t going to let a few aches get in the way of her plans for today. She was planning to spend as much time as possible lounging on the beach and soaking up the sun.

“Did you find anything last night?” Cordelia asked, mainly trying to get a conversation started with her wordless friend. She knew that if he had found something important, he would have told her already.

“Not really. I checked every single file they have here, and I have not found a trace of Mary Brodigan. Wesley, however, has gotten a bit more information,” He offered hopefully.

He was desperately trying to avoid breathing in Cordelia’s scent as he continued on, “She lives in Arizona, which is why we couldn’t find her in our city searches. He also discovered that she died during the birth, and he is currently trying to locate the father of the missing baby to see if he can give us any more information.”

“When are we supposed to meet with the group in the main lobby?” she asked, suddenly switching subjects on him.

“At 10 a.m., just like yesterday.” Angel was now pouring a fresh bag of blood into a Styrofoam coffee cup. Once he placed the lid on the cup, he walked to the door.

Unexpectedly, he picked up the scent of a demon nearby. He could probably catch it if he hurried, sparing one last look at Cordy, “I’ve gotta go, I’ll explain later.” He opened the door, finding no one out in the hall.

A mosquito flew around Cordelia’s head vanishing before she had a chance to swat at it, “Damn bloodsucker.” Enduring the annoying drone of the mosquitoes during her bath the night before had been maddening, and now in her crampy mood she was easily provoked.

Angel was really taken back by her comment. Whoa, what did I do now? No time for this now, I have to find that demon. Still, his expression was one of complete distress, as his cup of blood disappeared behind his back and out of her sight.

Cordelia instantly realized he thought she meant him and giggled a little at his ridiculousness. “Not you, dork, the mosquitoes that won’t leave me alone. It’s this darn tropical environment.”

Relief flooded his face, “Okay, I’ll see you later,” he said as he closed the door and ran down the hall.

***

Finding no trace of a demon, Angel walked over to the elevator. His perception must be off. He couldn’t take much more of this place. He was already frustrated by the case, and the lack of information, but what really had him wound up was Cordelia. He decided this place was to blame– the activities, they were too much.

He needed to solve this case so that he could get out of here and feel more like himself again. At home, he could hide in his dark office when Cordelia’s feminine cycle was in full bloom. The next few days would be agonizing, with her alluring scent beckoning him, in addition to whatever new intimacy exercises Mavie and Daven had planned.

He spotted the maid’s lounge and went inside, hoping maybe he could find someone who could give him some useful information.

The only maid in the room asked him politely, “Can I get you anything, sir? Are you out of toiletries or

towels?””Um…yes, I need a few more towels please.” He wasn’t sure how to approach the issue, without setting off warning bells.

The maid went to a nearby cabinet and pulled out a large stack of towels, “Here you go, please let me know if I can get you anything else.” She said smiling courteously.

“Thanks.” A long shot, but worth a try, “My friend Mary was right. You are all so nice here. I’m glad she convinced my wife and me into coming to this retreat.”

“Mary? She was here about three months ago, right?” Angel nodded, not really knowing the time frame but not wanting to interrupt a possible clue. “Oh, she and her husband–Mike, right? They were such a delight to have as guests.”

“You remember her?” Angel inquired casually.

“We don’t have that many guests every week, and Mary was so kind to me, she spent a lot of time talking with me and many of the other staff members here. Please tell her I said hi.”

“I will,” Angel said glancing at her nametag, “Thanks, Becky!”

After leaving the room, he took out his cell phone, cursing a little as he tried to figure the damn thing out. Finally, he managed to dial the office number.

“Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless, how may I be of service to you?”

“Wesley, it’s Angel.”

“Oh, hello,” Wesley said cheerily.

“I managed to pry some information that might help you in your search. Mary did stay here about three months ago, with her husband Mike. That’s all I got, but at least it’s a start.”

“Mike Brodigan? I’ll search for him and give you a call when I locate something.”

“Thanks.” Pressing the ‘end’ button on his cellular phone and then glancing at his watch, Angel grumbled to himself. “Damn it, late for the stupid soul gazing class.”

Hoping Cordelia wasn’t too upset with him for leaving her alone for a few minutes with the group she seemed to dislike so much, he hurried toward the main lobby.


Part 4

Entering the main lobby 15 minutes after ten, all eyes were on Angel as he walked across the room. It was painfully obvious that everyone had been waiting on him to arrive so they could begin the day’s activities. Making his way to stand by Cordelia, he muttered some apologies to the group.

Promptly commencing the lesson, Mavie stated, “Today we are going to educate you on one of the core lessons in the ancient art of Tantra. Created in India, Tantra means ‘to manifest, to expand, to show and to weave.’ In other words, sex is believed to expand consciousness and to entwine the polarities of male and female into a harmonious whole.”

Daven added, “Tantric sexual practices focuses on prolonging the act of making love and teaches us to make use of powerful orgasmic energies more effectively. Our breathing is one of the methods Tantric teachings use to help you maintain control. You can prolong an orgasm, to maintain a state of sexual ecstasy for as long as possible, by maintaining long, slow, deep breaths.”

Sparing a quick glance at Cordelia, who was rolling her eyes in disbelief, Angel’s imagination went into overdrive. How is it that she can look so cute making those obnoxious expressions? Well she is a hottie, I bet her orgasmic energies are mind-blowing…why is she staring at me…crap, she’s giving me a not-a-chance-in-hell look—how could she possibly know what I was thinking? What is she a mind reader now? Forcing his mind to try focusing on anything besides Cordelia, Angel turned away from her annoyed glare and watched Mavie as she continued the lecture.

“The exercise you will be doing today helps connect you with your partner by clearing your mind and helping you focus on each other. The idea is to harmonize your breathing.” Mavie sat down cross-legged on the floor, resting her hands over her knees with her palms facing upwards.

Sitting cross-legged across from her, Daven mirrored her position. “Take soft, but deep breaths. Gaze into one another’s eyes, making sure to keep them open. Now pay attention to your breathing and match your breaths to one another, or try breathing alternately—as you inhale, your partner exhales. Maintaining eye contact, go beyond the surface, into the soul.”

Mavie turned away from Daven, and faced the three couples, “Now it’s your turn, but, before you begin, we thought for this exercise it might be nice to go outside and enjoy the beautiful breeze – whaddaya think?”

Instantly cutting in, Cordelia declared unwaveringly, “Angel is very sensitive to the sun. We can’t go out there right now. He’ll break out in hives all over his body.”

Puzzled by Cordelia’s outburst, Mavie responded nonetheless. “There is a terrace in the back that is fully covered, Angel can keep out of the sun’s rays but still enjoy the beach breeze.”

Putting his hand on Cordelia’s shoulder as a silent thank you, Angel nodded agreeably to Mavie. “It would be nice to be out in the breeze.”

The group followed Daven as he led them out to the covered terrace. It was a beautiful tropical haven amidst the sandy beaches. English ivy hung from the roof, dangling around the columns holding up the covering, adding even more shelter from the sun. Orchids and Tuberose encircled a large fountain in the middle of the patio. The sounds of cascading water from the fountain and waves crashing from the ocean, combined with the smells of the exotic flowers and the sea breeze, were invigorating.

Mavie placed cushiony mats down on the ground near each couple, telling them to sit down and begin the exercise once she set down the mat.

More prepared today than she had been yesterday, Cordelia chose to wear dark denim jeans and a pink tank top. Her skin had a fresh glow from her morning excursion to the shore. She had spent two hours basking in the sun, and now her skin had a golden luminosity. Her morning cramps were forgotten with the warmth of the sun and the feel of the sand on her bare toes.

Now positioned on the mat sitting cross-legged, Cordelia curled her arms up over her thighs, the gentle wind carelessly tousling her hair. She faced Angel, her knees lightly touching his, as deep brown eyes met shining hazel ones.

Angel was grateful to be outdoors. Although he could still smell Cordy’s enticing fragrance, it was not as overwhelming out here. They stared into the depths of each other’s eyes. Angel, attentive to her breathing, simulated inhaling and exhaling to correspond with her. With every deliberate, deep breath he would take in more of her scent. The energy of their gaze moved back and forth connecting their minds with an invisible bond.

Cordelia gazed into Angel’s eyes without blinking. His deep brown orbs were full of conflicting emotions, moments became minutes as she lost herself deep in his eyes. She could see into his very soul. The man who she had drooled over when she first met him in Sunnydale, then later had disregarded because he became the slayer’s lapdog.

She saw the vampire who rescued her when she came to LA, not only physically, but emotionally, too. She trusted him with her heart and soul. He was her savior, her family, and her best friend, and she loved him for it. She was surprised by how much emotion she was experiencing by looking into his eyes. It was like touching his soul.

Angel focused his eyes on the sparkling hazel orbs before him. She was so full of life, so full of strength. She was a wonderful enigma—one moment she could appear to be shallow and unshakable, and the next she was insightful and vulnerable. Lost in her gaze, as the minutes slipped away, he became more and more fascinated by her.

He saw her spirit, radiant like her smile. She was the girl who connected him to life. Before her, he had merely existed; with her, he was living. She was his savior, his family, and his best friend, and he loved her for it. How was it possible he hadn’t realized how important she had become to him? Her eyes full of emotion, as were his thoughts. It was like touching her soul.

They were snapped out of their reverie by Mavie’s immaculately manicured hand waving back and forth between their gaze. Looking around, they noticed the rest of the group was gone.

“You two have been in a daze for an hour! Maybe there’s hope for you two yet,” she exclaimed with enthusiasm. “Now, come join us for lunch.”

Cordelia jumped up instantly from her cross-legged position on the ground. She didn’t know what had just happened between her and Angel, but she wasn’t about to dwell on it. Suddenly feeling lightheaded, she staggered backwards, nearly falling over, before a strong arm curled around her waist and steadied her.

“Are you alright?” Angel’s expression was pure concern.

“I’m fine, just a bit nauseous,” she managed to verbalize, feeling her on-the-go breakfast of yogurt and graham crackers coming back up. “I think I’m gonna go back to our suite and lie down for a bit.”

Not liking the feeling of helplessness, Angel watched Cordelia withdraw from his embrace and head for the entrance of the hotel. “I’ll come with you….” He walked fast and caught up to her.

“I’m not hungry anyway,” Angel added essentially for Mavie’s benefit.

Cordelia turned to glare at him, her eyes dared him to defy her, “I’m FINE, just need some rest. Plus I’m kinda wanting some alone time.”

He growled a little, but let her go. Damn her stubbornness. That woman never accepts anyone’s help.

***

After brushing her teeth, Cordelia splashed cold water against her face. She had exhausted the past ten minutes emptying the contents of her stomach, and she wasn’t feeling any better. Thinking back over the past 24 hours, she couldn’t remember what might have caused her to feel this way.

Dinner last night had been nothing unusual, just baked chicken and steamed vegetables. She drank wine last night, but only one glass, hardly enough for a hangover. This morning’s yogurt didn’t taste spoiled. Maybe she was too content enjoying the sun’s warmth to realize that the yogurt had gone bad. That must be it. Food poisoning.

This was so like her life, the luck of the early worm, rather than the early bird. As if on cue, the damn mosquito decided to come buzz around her head some more. Yup, pretty much sums up my existence. Here on a beautiful island with many more sights to see, and here I am with food poisoning and mosquitoes.

She collapsed on the bed, instantaneously falling asleep.

***

As soon as lunch was over and he was able to make his escape from the group, Angel fled up to his room to see how Cordy was doing. Finding her passed out on the bed didn’t comfort him in any way. He felt her forehead, wasn’t warm. She didn’t have a fever.

Restlessly, he paced back and forth in the large suite. Every few seconds he would glance over to her motionless form. Finally, after two excruciatingly long hours, she began to stir. In a burst of vampiric speed, he was next to the bed, holding her hand.

Cordelia opened her eyes drowsily. Remembering her lousy afternoon and why she was sleeping, she groaned. Angel’s large hand tightened painfully around her smaller hand.

“What’s wrong Cordy?” He was obviously frightened.

“Your hand,” she yelped. “It’s crushing my bones,”

After apologizing, he reluctantly let go of her hand, then sat on the bed next to her. She sat up, no longer feeling queasy or faint. Getting up and smoothing out the wrinkles in her shorts, she said, “I thought I had food poisoning, but I guess not, I feel fine now.”

“Regardless of how you feel now, you should probably get some rest— make sure you don’t get worse.” Angel was beginning to sound like worried parent.

“I’m okay now, Dad, no need to worry. I’m really kind of hungry, think I’ll head out to get some lunch. Coming?”

***

Angel was beginning to wonder how he ever got along without Cordelia. She had picked out a quaint little restaurant not too far from the resort, telephoned the island shuttle service and told them to park under the awning at the entrance of the hotel. Not only did she get him to the restaurant *without* bursting into flames, she also brought along blood, disguised in the usual coffee cup.

Another terrific couple hours spent in the company of Cordelia Chase. He couldn’t believe how much he had discovered about her in the past 48 hours. It was like he had never really appreciated her before now. Angel was glad that he had tricked her into coming; she was the best travel companion he could have.

“So, I was thinking…why can’t there be couples more like Josie and Travis at this retreat?” Cordelia was recounting her morning trek out to the beach. She had been telling him something about a really great couple she had met, but Angel had not been able to follow along, all his attention on her animated expressions as she talked. He was mesmerized by her, she was absolutely captivating.

“Angel?” Dammit, must have zoned out…

“Yes, Cordelia?”

Oh boy—was he trying to act like if he’d been listening all along? She had no idea what Angel had been contemplating during lunch, but she knew for a fact he had not heard a word she had spoken. “Pay the bill, it’s in your hand…you’ve been holding it for the past 10 minutes.”

On their way out of the restaurant, Angel’s cell phone started beeping. He picked it up and put the receiver to his ear, “Hello….Hello? Hrmph, they hung up.” He stated angrily.

“That beeping means you have voicemail.”

“Oh,” was his embarrassed response, as he began pressing many different buttons on the handset.

“Dumbass.” She grabbed the phone out of his inept hands, and quickly dialed the combination to retrieve his voicemails, listening to the message and then handing him the phone when it was over. “It’s Wesley, he said he found Mike. I guess that must be Mary’s husband.”

“That’s right.” Angel realized he never informed Cordelia about what he discovered earlier. “They were guests here about 3 months ago.”

“Guests here? I thought you said they weren’t in the hotel’s database.”

“I couldn’t find her name. I’m sure they removed all traces of her stay, but the maid, Becky, actually remembered Mary and mentioned her husband’s name.”

“Well, you better call Wesley and see what’s going on. Do you need me to dial?” Cordy had a hint of a grin on her face. Angel, however, didn’t look amused at all.

“No, I can make a phone call, thank-you-very-much!” he said indignantly, then hoped to God he really could without difficulty.

***

Wesley had uncovered quite a bit of useful information. He had spoken to Mike and found that he and his wife had been unable to remember the events of the last night of their stay at Deliciae. He had mentioned that Mavie and Daven did exactly what they promised they would do: ignite the flames of passion in their relationship. He said the morning they left the resort, Mary had been sore, and Mike proudly accredited it to their unreserved lovemaking the night before.

When Wesley inquired about the baby’s abduction, Mike seemed clueless. There was no abduction, the baby was born prematurely. Mary was only in her first trimester, at 13 weeks. She and the baby died during the delivery. He had been with her as the hospital staff tried to stop the hemorrhaging. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he shared with Wesley how he had held his wife’s hand as she slowly bled to death. He somberly commented that the hospital had denied him the right to see his deceased baby.

***

Angel knew that Mary’s and Mike’s inability to remember the last night at the resort had something to do with Cordelia’s vision. Unfortunately, he didn’t know who was involved or what that had to do with Mary’s and the baby’s deaths.

Now it was basically a waiting game. He and Cordelia would play the role of bait and hope that they could lure the demon. He would be listening carefully and paying close attention. The last night of their stay, he would be focused on Cordelia’s safety, alert to everything transpiring around them. That was his plan.

“You’re INSANE!” Cordelia said speedily packing her clothes back into her suitcases. “Your plan sucks. I’m the one that would be at risk, and I gotta tell ya–I do NOT want want to end up pregnant and then bleed to death. So, alrighty then…I’ll see you in LA.”

“Cordelia…” He captured her arm, but she brushed him off and continued in a rush towards the door, suitcases in hand. “Cordelia!” Angel’s voice was abrasive and his movements lightning quick as he bound to the door faster than Cordy could bat an eyelash. Barricading the door with his bulky body, he seized her suitcases and stared unblinkingly into her eyes.

“I would NEVER let anyone hurt you Cordelia. You have got to trust me, this is the only way we are going to solve this case.” He placed the luggage down on the floor, and took hold of her upper arms. “Look at me, Cordy.” She guardedly lifted her head, her hazel eyes overflowing with trepidation. “I would NEVER, EVER let anyone hurt you, do you trust me?”

She sighed, allowing all hesitation to evaporate from her thoughts, “With my life.”

He relaxed his hold on her arms. “Dork.” Smiling, she joked, “You’d better not let *anything* happen to me, otherwise, you’ll be buying me a whole new wardrobe, or maybe a car.”

***

The couples assembled once again in the main lobby, this time for a lecture on the male and female anatomies. Fortunately, it didn’t last too long, because Cordelia couldn’t take another second. It was ridiculous: they introduced the group to the different parts of the male and female bodies, naming them and exploring each one to a shameful extreme. She had very little experience in the intimacy department, and even she could have taught this class. Yet, as she looked around the room, she saw the mentally challenged morons taking notes.

When class was over, they all went to the dining hall to eat dinner as a group. Cordelia and Angel sat at the large round table, surrounded by all the other couples. Danny and Marcy, dressed in their typical Hells Angels garb, were yelling and cursing at each other like usual. Greg and Leoni Finley, a geeky, middle-aged couple, were obviously introverts. They barely whispered a sound throughout dinner. Evan and Kara Beckers were very much like Mavie and Daven, annoyingly bubbly, but without the inappropriate groping. Kara had been talking Mavie’s ear off, while Evan and Daven chattered about sports.

This part of the retreat was hell. Having to socialize with these couples drove Cordelia mad. She was happy when the food arrived and the Dellevues and Beckers were *silently* stuffing their faces. Normally she would have been appalled by their manners, but all she cared about, at this moment, was peace and quiet.

Relishing the silence as she ate her meal, she was unaware of Angel’s watchful gaze. He studied her polished table manners. She was elegant and refined, clearly didn’t fit in with this table full of hungry barbarians.

Daven observed Angel’s unwitting admiration for the gracious girl. Getting up, he walked over to stand next to Angel. “It’s obvious you love her with all your heart,” he said to Angel. “It makes no sense to me why you two would have intimacy problems with that kind of emotion.”

At this comment, Cordelia nearly choked on her food. “Yes, all his heart. I’m his whole world. Hmmm, maybe if I was blonde, we wouldn’t have intimacy issues.” Okay, that was malicious, maybe this wasn’t the time to bring out Angel’s poor taste in women.

Ignoring her comment, Daven continued, “What you two need is a few intimacy rituals, start the foreplay long before the actual lovemaking. Let’s see, Mavie’s favorite one is bathing one another, or drinking wine together in the nude. Obviously, those are to be performed in privacy, but there are rituals you can complete in public, such as feeding one another.”

Cordelia couldn’t hold back her acerbic views any longer. “Yeah, ’cause everyone loves to watch couples publicly drool over one another,” she scoffed.

“Cordelia, clearly you are the one holding your relationship back. With a negative attitude, you two will never achieve perfect bliss.”

“That’s a good thing,” she mumbled indistinctly.

“Why don’t you take one of the chocolate covered strawberries and feed it to Angel?” Daven suggested, motioning to the dessert tray.

Backed into a corner with no way out, she sighed, resignedly reaching for the strawberries. She seized one between her thumb and index finger and thrust it towards Angel’s mouth. Before Angel had a chance to react to her movements, she crushed the fruit into his lips, leaving a mess of chocolate on his face.

“Not like that,” Daven said impatiently.

Angel took the napkin from his lap and swiped grouchily at the chocolate. “Thanks for the advice, Daven, but I think we’ll stick to our own intimacy rituals.” He gave Cordy his best I’m-gonna-get-you-back-so-don’t-look-so-smug look.

Daven relentlessly persisted. “Angel, why don’t you give Cordelia a taste of the chocolate pudding.”

Payback was his immediate thought as he at once reached for the pudding. Taking a large spoonful until Daven stopped him, “No, not with the spoon, use your finger.”

“Ew,” Cordelia scrunched her nose up in disgust.

Angel disregarded her expression and scooped up a small finger full of pudding with his right index finger. As his finger approached her face, she appeared nervous, so he took pity. Deciding to be the mature one, he gently placed his finger to her lips, and, as they parted, he slipped the pudding into her mouth. He allowed a faint groan to escape him as she sucked the chocolaty goodness off his cool finger, her tongue velvety smooth, circling around, making sure she got every bit.

Cordelia was surprised at how erotic the simple gesture had felt. A blush crept up her chest and bloomed in her cheeks as his finger slid out of her mouth. She suddenly felt embarrassed and indecent for performing such an intimate act with Angel, in front of a table full of people, no less. She excused herself from the table and went back to the suite.

***

She reached the room, still flushed from thoughts of Angel’s finger swirling around in her mouth. Her heart was hammering in her chest, while her mind envisioned doing other, more erotic things with him. This damn resort! What were they turning her into? …A ravenous sex maniac, that’s what! Sloppily pouring herself a glass of wine, she shakily brought it to her lips, swallowing it down hurriedly in an attempt to calm herself.

Angel arrived soon after, immediately noticing the wineglass in her hand. Snatching it aggressively from her grasp, he demanded hotly, “Were you drinking wine?”

“Y-Yes.” She tried to sound bold, but the stutter gave away her nervousness.

“Damn it, Cordelia, would that be the wine Mavie gave us?” his voice softening faintly when he saw the alarm in her expression. Lifting the glass to his nose, he sniffed at the contents, “This has something other than just wine in it.”

“I drank some last night, and I’m still alive.” She stated insolently.

“I’m not saying it’s poisoned, Cordy, just remember that Mary and Mike couldn’t remember anything that happened their last night here–it could be drugged. So, please, be more careful from now on.” He reached over, placing his hand on her cheek, in a light caress. “I made a promise to you, remember? But it’s kind of difficult keeping you safe if you don’t listen to me.”

Cordelia nodded a gesture of acquiescence. “Okay, I’ll be more careful…now, if you don’t mind making yourself scarce, I’d like to bathe and go to bed.”

Angel left the room, taking this as an opportunity to obtain residue from the bottom of the wineglass and mail it to the office so that Wesley could do a thorough laboratory analysis to determine its contents. But until he knew for sure what was in the glass, he would be worried for her health.

***

Angel had a restless night. He had remained attentive to Cordelia’s breathing and heartbeat patterns all night long, even though the overwhelming scent of her fertile body had, again, tormented him unrelentingly. Determinedly, he had remained in the room watching over her, concerned that the drug he had detected in the wine would cause her internal damage of some sort.

On a couple of instances, he had sworn he sensed a demon in the room, but could find nobody in the room, except for Cordy, and no one out in the hallways or the balcony. The sweet tang of her womanly fragrance must have been throwing him off his game.

Part 5

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