Chapter 10: By Dawn’s Early Light
Dawn hinted at the horizon, colorful hues brightening the starlit sky as Angel slipped into the mansion. The endless night coming to a close, he returned to seek out the cleansing heat of a shower and the cool sheets of his bed. His stint of demon fighting was over for the moment.
Not that the real battle was successful. Far from it. That war raged on inside his head even now. Long past midnight and into the wee hours of the morning, he’d been distracted by thoughts of Angelus and Cordelia. His emotions were so tangled it was no wonder he’d come away bruised and sore from the fights, having given his opponents openings not normally left so defenseless.
Anger was the most obvious troublemaker. He relished it. For it was the one emotion that had an outlet. He felt mad at the world tonight, but mostly himself for giving his consent. Not giving it would have meant more trouble. At least this way the two of them would be under his watchful eye.
Loss pulled acutely at his senses. Maybe it was a selfish thing. Cordy had belonged to him. She was his friend. Stupidly, his attention had been elsewhere when Angelus insinuated himself into her good graces. Despite his personal experience with Cordy, he’d underestimated her ability to forgive and forget.
Jealousy bubbled up like the slow stench from a gaseous swamp. Though he hated to think of Angelus being the one to show her the meaning of ecstasy, it wasn’t just the idea of sex that irritated him. Once his eyes were opened to what was going on with the two of them, Angel realized Cordy’s soft looks and bright smiles were no longer for him, but for Angelus. The rare moments they had alone became rarer still.
Denial failed to cover up any of those emotions. Trying to blame them on legitimate concerns got him nowhere. As the night wore on, Angel realized that fighting random demons was no substitute for hashing it out with his own. So he’d quit trying to beat up Sunnydale’s demon populace just for the hell of it and come home.
Now closing the door behind him, Angel immediately noticed the high-heeled sandals Cordelia had been wearing lying haphazardly on the foyer floor. Thinking back, he remembered she’d put them on again at the front entrance after her barefoot walk through the park. Clearly, she had removed them for reasons that were all too easy to imagine.
Instant seduction, no doubt.
Angelus’ skills in that arena were well-honed and Angel knew precisely how the vampire handled women. How he worked at it when the occasion called for it. Over the past 250 years Liam’s charm and the predatory urges of the demon created a vampire versed in the art of seduction.
Cordelia was no pushover, not like most of the women that Angel or his soulless alter-ego had taken to bed. She genuinely had feelings for Angelus and it startled Angel to realize his double claimed to possess feelings for her as well.
Not that Angel thought it impossible. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want her? Not that wanting meant they deserved her attention or her friendship. Angel valued the trust that had been building up between them and her efforts to make peace for him with the Scooby Gang.
He cherished their budding relationship. It was unlike any other, inclusive of what he had with Buffy. Though lately, he’d been behaving like an overbearing jerk toward Cordy. He had no clue why.
Okay, so maybe the jealousy factor provided a minor clue. That didn’t make it right. Nor did it explain his deplorable actions in the library that night when he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Controlling his emotions and urges had gotten him through the past hundred years, but that ability had failed him.
Guilt was the brickwork of his emotional landscape. The sturdy mainstay of his daily diet. After the library, Angel had fed on that chunk of guilt until it choked him. Cordy had every right to look somewhere else for friendship after that. If it had been some random guy treating Cordelia that way, Angel figured he would have put the bastard in the hospital. Kind of hard to do that when you only had yourself to blame.
The irony lay in the fact that his behavior led to Cordelia’s rancorous suggestion that he look for a way to separate himself from Angelus. Doing so may have given Angel what he wanted: a permanent soul, but it had far-reaching circumstances that he’d never imagined possible. For the trust and friendship she willingly bestowed, Angel would deny Cordelia nothing.
Even Angelus.
Not that the decision was automatic. Especially since the serious nature of Cordelia’s feelings for the other vampire were revealed by Angelus himself. Had it just been an informal statement, Angel would have ignored it, but Angelus used every trick in the book by initiating a formal ritual.
It was all too easy to look for hidden agendas behind Angelus’ request. He was an arrogant, self-possessed creature. Having feelings for a human seemed to defy his own nature. Coming to Angel with that confession floored the souled vampire. Fury raged. He accused his double of playing games with Cordy.
Before their argument came to blows, Angelus asked him knowingly, “What would you have done if you’d met Cordelia before the Slayer came along?”
“That’s not a fair question,” Angel dodged away from the answer that blared loudly in his head. “I did meet Buffy first. She’s the reason I came to Sunnydale. We’re in love and that’s all that matters.”
Angel wanted to wipe the smirk off Angelus’ face. “Remember who you’re talking to, Soul Boy. I’ve been locked in that head of yours for too many years. I know how you think.”
“What are you saying?”
“If your little blond Slayer didn’t have you wrapped around her pinky finger, the first time you saw Cordelia Chase you would have taken everything she had to offer and more,” Angelus assured him. Harshly, almost accusingly, he added, “By the time Cor figured out you were a vampire, she wouldn’t have given a flying fuck about it.”
Denying it, Angel still wondered at the possibility. “It wouldn’t have happened.”
“We’re talking what-ifs,” Angelus countered. “You would have had Cordelia in your bed so fast it’s not funny. None of this pussy-footing around like you did with the Slayer.”
He’d insinuated himself in Buffy’s life for a purpose. Though an attraction was there, she never tried to make him a part of her life outside slaying. Cordelia hadn’t known that he was a vampire and wasn’t part of Buffy’s circle. It was only natural that she had looked at him as a man rather than a vampire. Had Buffy not been in the picture at the time, Angel could see himself being pulled in by Cordy’s natural allure.
Even if it came with a sharp wit and tactless tongue. “So what’s your point?”
“Don’t you know what would have happened next?”
Angel had the feeling his double was going to tell him whether he wanted to hear it or not. So he simply gave him his attention.
“Bliss,” Angelus answered. “Don’t even try to deny that one. Your soul would’ve been gone and Cordelia would be mine. Just as she should be mine now.”
“Never!” Raging at the idea, Angel stepped forward intent upon crashing his fist into that smug face.
Watching Angelus pace to the left, Angel tracked his twin’s movements, choosing to hold back for the right opening. If he kept up with this ridiculous notion of claiming Cordelia, then Angel might have to forget all about the deal with the Fates and just kill the bastard.
“Never? Are you saying that you wouldn’t find bliss in Cordelia’s arms?” Scoffing at the idea, Angelus mocked him with a sneer.
“I’m with Buffy,” Angel reminded with a menacing growl. “Your scenario doesn’t mean a damn thing. The only thing that counts is the fact that I’m not letting you have Cordelia. I won’t risk her life or her sanity by handing her over to you.”
“Even if she wants me?”
That comment certainly hadn’t calmed him down. “The hell she does.”
“Ask her.”
“I will,” Angel snapped, already imagining the meeting with Cordy. That was when the truth hit him like a sledgehammer. The signs he’d ignored or simply missed. It was clear that something was going on, but it couldn’t be serious. “She’s not in love with you. She couldn’t be.”
Angelus clamped his mouth shut, his jaw working and locking in restraint as he bit back some response. No doubt a retort pointed directly at Angel’s relationship with Buffy Summers. Angel could see it in his eyes. The struggle was all too apparent.
“Cordelia wants me.” Angelus’ certainty and the depth of emotion pouring from the darkened depths of his eyes caused Angel to reel back in shock. Knowing Angelus had never once felt a legitimate need for anyone, much less with such a visible show of feeling, left him momentarily speechless.
Then his soulless counterpart spoke the magic word that magnified the guilt that lay so close to the surface. “Please,” Angelus forced it out, but it came with a sincerity could not be dismissed. “Do this for me. You already have the woman you say you want in the Slayer. Cordelia’s feelings run just as deep. It’s obvious that she wants me.”
“Maybe it is,” admitted Angel, still thunderstruck by the realization.
“I want her too,” Angelus struggled for the words to convince him. “I need her to get through this nightmare I’m living. She makes it all worthwhile, Angel. Don’t deny me the right to claim her.”
Fuck.
Cordelia was the one responsible for Angelus toeing the line and playing by the rules. The sudden positive turn in Angelus’ behavior and in his willingness to fight at the Slayer’s side had little to do with the Fate’s decision. It was all about her.
What would happen if he told the vampire no? If he formally denied him his wish to claim Cordy? There would be a fast fall from grace, he presumed. Angel knew that there were loopholes in the design of their agreement, far too many loopholes. If Angelus wanted to take advantage over them, he would do it without a hint of regret or remorse.
Fuck.
Cordelia Chase surprised him. For someone who had been so fearful of vampires and had shut him out of her heart the instant she learned he wasn’t human, she’d done a 180 on this one. Not only was she personally interested in involving herself with a vampire, but it was Angelus— the embodiment of his most demonic qualities.
How had she brought out such feelings in Angelus?
His double hinted they were there all along just hibernating. Then Angel had caved in to the idea of Cordelia and Angelus. Talked himself into it. Because of Buffy. Because of his guilt. Because in some demented way, it would be like seeing her with himself.
Fuck.
Picking up Cordelia’s sandals, Angel arranged them next to each other at the bottom step and then headed directly up the staircase to the second level. The closer he got to the top of the landing, the more the vampire noticed Cordelia’s scent permeating the air. He’d first noticed it downstairs to a minor extent, but now it was everywhere. Angel figured it was just his overactive imagination causing him to exaggerate what he was sensing.
As he walked down the hall toward his bedroom, Angel’s face became a dark mask of anger. Instead of her scent becoming lighter as he moved away from what should be the primary direction of the source, there was a heavy concentration focused directly behind his bedroom door. It wasn’t just her strawberry shampoo, cinnamon-glossed lips or her soft perfume, but her full arousal.
The scent of her essence mixed with— with his own.
This was his bedroom, his territory. Angelus had the gall to bring Cordelia here to his bed. What the hell? As if he didn’t have to deal with enough anger at his own stupidity for agreeing to Angelus’ plan, now he had to face this? Dammit, it went beyond teasing him about what he was missing. This was a blatant taunt, a stab at him for dragging his decision out.
Pissed off, Angel didn’t care if his bedroom door was locked or unlocked. He could have turned the handle to test it, but this way was so much more satisfying. Flexing his thigh, he kicked open the door. Hinges squealed in protest. Wood splintered. The shards scattered across the carpet.
Barging in, Angel immediately saw the empty bed. His anger only marginally deflated as he found his room vacant. Other than the cloying scent of sex, they’d left physical evidence behind. The comforter was balled into folds and the pillows askew. On the floor, Angel found clothes in piles. It looked like Angelus’ entire outfit minus a few buttons. Cordelia’s skirt was on the floor as well as her lacy green bra.
Grabbing them off the floor, Angel proceeded to fold them into a neat pile trying to vent more of his anger into this constructive project. Only now Angel had Cordelia’s scent on his hands. He lifted them to cup his face and let himself breathe her in.
Would Angelus really invade his space this way just to torture him? Maybe. Angel could also picture Cordy, the self-admitted curiosity seeker, making her way to his room just to see inside.
Cordy needed to learn to stay in her own space where her lover had his rooms. Maybe he’d have to teach her to keep her temptations to herself. In that moment, the thought of turning her over his knee made him hard. His cool hand warming her reddening flesh. Cordy obviously enjoyed whatever Angelus did to her in his bed, just as he would enjoy his little payback.
With their neatly piled clothes in his arms, Angel darted out of the bedroom to tear up the stairs toward the third floor. After making her come however many times and ways, Angelus apparently brought Cordy to his own bedroom. They should’ve gone there in the first place.
Maybe they both needed a lesson, Angel fumed. Right after he beat some sense into Angelus, he would give their tactless little snoop the spanking she deserved.
Halfway up the stairs, reason set in.
Growling at the extent of his reaction, Angel paused on the steps as he realized this was no way to behave. Even if Cordelia did invade his space, he had no right to touch her much less paddle her deserving little ass. She might be tactless and far too interested in other people’s things for her own good, but Cordy certainly wasn’t his to discipline.
Angel’s violent plans sickened him. What the hell was he thinking? What the hell was Angelus thinking, for that matter? He’d obviously known what kind of reaction this would create and hadn’t cared enough to stop it. Looks like they needed to have a little chat about his belongings again, but there was no need to burst in on the two of them like a crazed lunatic just to get his point across.
No, he would have words with Angelus later after he calmed down.
Slowly, he traveled the steps back to the second floor landing and gazed down the hallway toward his bedroom. No way was he going back in there right now. He’d just go to sleep on the couch in the living room or pick out a book from the study. Maybe he’d stop in the kitchen to get something to eat. These violent urges might simply be a sign of hunger after his long night of fighting demons.
Especially his own.
***
Cordelia came out of the bathroom toweling her freshly washed hair. Angelus had bought her favorite shampoo during his trip to the grocery store and she imagined him pulling the caps off twenty bottles and sniffing them to find the one with the right scent. That was so sweet. She could hardly believe the tenderness and gentility he showed last night or these sweet gestures. For a soulless vampire, Angelus was certainly proving that he could control the darker side of his nature.
Angelus did tell her that sex with him wasn’t always going to be quite so tame. Even last night, it hadn’t stayed that way for long. He’d wanted their first time together to be something she would treasure. He came through with flying colors. Their night together was more than just incredible sex, but Cordelia didn’t really know how to classify it.
Her big concern right now was just making it through cheering at today’s Razorbacks football game. Cordelia knew she’d be thinking about him all day. Not to mention the fact that sleep had been minimal last night.
Nibbling at her lower lip, Cordelia slowly grinned as she stared at the vampire lying in the middle of the huge bed. She had been stunned at the first sight of it. “Is that a bed or a practice mat for a gymnastics team?”
That bed was a double king-size custom-made monster and they probably tumbled across every inch of it. Now Angelus lay sleeping in the center of it with a contented smile upon his handsome face. As she approached the bed, still drying her hair, Angelus opened his eyes. Cordelia dropped the towel on the floor and crawled up on the bed to place a soft smooch on his mouth.
“Hello again,” Cordelia sighed across his skin as she remembered the way she had awakened in his arms to find him watching her. They had simply started out kissing again, but then both wanted more. Cordelia had tucked her legs around his waist as he rolled over her to lie between her thighs. Angelus had brought her to ecstasy again, this time with a slow steady pace that had her pleading for completion.
The too large robe made it difficult for Cordelia to maneuver herself across the bed, but Angelus let her come to him. “I think you better run off to your game before I decide to cancel your plans for the day. I prefer you beside me while I sleep.”
“Lazy bones.”
“It’s more convenient that way. What if I wake up and want you again?”
Cordelia laughed at the pitiful look on his face. “Poor vampire. I’ll be back later this afternoon. Just expect that you’ll be helping me unpack some of my stuff before you get to see me naked again.”
She was about to retreat when Angelus’ strong hands pulled her back to him. “Not so fast. I need more of a goodbye kiss than that.”
Pulling her back into his arms, Angelus kissed her thoroughly. Cordelia was moaning against his lips as they rendered her helpless against the mounting desire that crept up on her every time he touched her. When he let her go, there was a reluctant sigh on her lips. “I need to grab something to eat before I leave for the game.”
“Want me to cook something?”
“No,” Cordelia grinned at the offer. “I’ll just have a bowl of cereal. You stay in bed. I want you to get your beauty sleep.”
“Think I need it?” His eyebrows quirked upward in response.
Cordelia’s gaze wandered down the bare column of his muscular chest and abdomen to return to his face. Laughingly, she said, “I wouldn’t want to wear you out.”
Tightening the belt of the oversized robe, Cordelia stepped out of the bedroom and firmly shut the door behind her. Food was definitely a priority, but so was finding her clothes. It wouldn’t do to trek through the park to her Corvette dressed only in a bathrobe. Assuming Angel had picked up the ‘Vette in the first place as he promised, she planned to head back to her parents’ house to change for the game.
Padding down the carpeted steps, Cordelia tonelessly hummed a happy little tune as she descended toward the first floor. Reaching the second floor landing, she turned to find Angel sitting on the second step from the bottom with his legs stretched out. Obviously lying in wait, Angel hadn’t even made an effort to remove his jacket after coming in. Cordelia was a little wary of seeing Angel this morning, not only because he knew what went on between her and Angelus, but because by now it was likely that he had been up to his bedroom.
With her heartbeat sounding in her ears, Cordelia turned back to head up the stairs. It would be easier to face Angel if Angelus was by her side. So what if that made her a coward? She hated it when Angel got mad at her, especially when he had good reason for doing so.
“Get down here, Cordy,” Angel ordered not even bothering to turn around to face her. He knew she was there.
Caught, Cordelia knew that she had no choice, but to face him alone. Taking in a deep breath of resolve, she took the stairs slowly until she stood next to him. Glancing down with a hopeful smile, she saw a fixed look of fury and knew that this was not going to be a fun conversation.
Noting the tidy pile of clothes on the step beside him, Cordelia jumped in first with, “Those are my clothes.”
Angel’s gaze moved down from her eyes to see the way her nude body alternately filled out or was swallowed by the large robe. Her painted toenails peeked from beneath its long edge. Countering her comment with a short growl, he pointed out, “That’s my robe.”
Feeling her mouth drop open, Cordelia quickly explained where she found it. “It was in Angelus’ bathroom. How was I supposed to know it was yours? I’d take it off and give it to you, but I’m not wearing anything underneath. You have my things.”
Lifting up the entire pile of clothes, Angel bided his time. How was she supposed to know? The same way she should have known not to go into my bedroom.
Sifting through the clothing that was a combination of Angelus’ and her belongings, Cordelia noticed something missing. Indignantly, she glared at the vampire. “Hey! Where are my panties?”
Angel gave her a look that suggested she should know the answer to that question. “I don’t have them.”
Clutching the clothes close to her chest, Cordelia continued to glare at him as if he would suddenly change his story.
The vampire lifted his empty hands, “Frisk me if you want. I don’t have them.”
“Fine,” Cordelia told him, “but I’m not frisking you.”
“I don’t have your panties.” Angel couldn’t believe that she thought he would want to keep the lacy little scrap of fabric. At least it was his guess that she wore something lacy.
“Okay, sheesh.”
Adding somewhat furiously, Angel’s nostrils flared, “It’s not like I need them to have your scent around. I can get that in the kitchen or the living room or my study. Is there a room in the mansion that you didn’t initiate last night?”
Blushing and covering it with a joke, Cordelia pointed in the direction of the old servants quarters and utilities. “The laundry room. I didn’t get to see that.”
Noting that Cordelia didn’t bring up the subject of his bedroom, Angel decided to wait a little longer. To see if she would apologize for it. Still, there were other things on his mind and he wanted to reassure himself that all went as well for her as it had appeared to. “So you’re okay this morning.”
“Better than okay!” Cordelia grinned at the memories, eyes sparkling in automatic response. “Just exhausted. I’d sleep in except I have an away game today. Y’know, cheerleading responsibilities. People depend on me to show up.”
Angel sounded surprised as he asked, “Angelus is letting you go?”
“Letting me? Pfft!” Cordelia rolled her eyes at the notion he would even bother trying to stop her. “I just hope I don’t fall asleep during the game.”
She made it sound like it wasn’t a big deal. That it was entirely her decision to leave her vampire lover’s bed. “You’ll soon adjust to a new schedule. There will be lots of adjustments.”
“I know,” Cordelia sounded a bit awed. “Not all of them have to do with sleeping. I’m so sore this morning. I think I stretched a little too much last night.”
What did she say?
Angel’s jaw dropped open at the thought of Cordelia’s flexibility as a cheerleader. All of the exotic positions that she would be able to accomplish with a little practice. He would bet anything that she’d be eager to try something new and seriously doubted that Cordy would have issues with who got to be on top. Unlike some people.
Maybe she meant the way Angelus stretched her from the inside. He wouldn’t doubt Cordelia saying something like that. When had she ever put a limit on sharing her thoughts. The idea suddenly accompanied a lusty image and he felt his body tighten in response.
Artlessly, Cordelia added, “Must have slept weird. I’m used to sleeping alone.”
Holding back a laugh, Angel realized he would just have to get used to her veracity. Whenever she opened her mouth, blatant truth followed. She couldn’t seem to stop it and it was his own fault if his imagination took him where it shouldn’t. “Cordy, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. I just want to make a few things perfectly clear.”
Frowning at the idea, a pout appeared on her lips. “More rules?”
“Essentially, you’ll be living here with two vampires. Just be careful about—”
Cordelia startled at his words. That sounded like more than just guesswork. “How did you know about me staying here? Maybe I still want to stay with my parents. Jump to conclusions, much? Maybe I just want to come and go from the mansion.”
“Come and go?” Angel put a heavy emphasis that suggested another meaning entirely. It left her face flushed as he tagged on, “Poor choice of words, sweetheart.”
Gasping, Cordelia hurried to correct his impression, “I meant—”
“I know. I’m just teasing, just giving you a taste of your own medicine,” Angel told her.
“I don’t tease you.” Cordelia let out a huff and reached up to tuck a wet strand of hair behind her ear.
Angel smirked at her quick response noting that her neck was now exposed to his view. “Yes, you do. Every time I see you.”
“Do not.” Her hazel eyes flashed with defiance.
The discoloration along her throat drew his gaze. Angelus had marked her skin. “Do too,” he answered back with a bit of a growl.
“Don’t.”
“Do. My point is this, Cordy,” Angel warned her dropping the light tone for a serious one. “Don’t do it in front of Angelus unless you want to be punished.”
“Pfft! Again with the punishment talk?”
“Seriously.”
Cordelia tossed the pile if clothing onto the steps and buried her hands deep in the pockets of the robe. The move made the robe gape over her cleavage. Angel tried his best to avoid looking, but wasn’t having much luck. “We went over this last night. Angelus is not going to hurt me.”
“I said punish,” Angel stressed the word. “That does not necessarily include pain. As I said… you have a lot to learn about vampires.”
“Yeah.” Cordelia had to agree with that last part as a far away look and secret smile suddenly appeared on her face making Angel wonder what caused it. He soon found out as Cordy told him musingly, “For instance, I never realized vampires purred. It started right after I—”
Cutting her off sharply, Angel jumped to his feet. Sternly demanding she stop right there, “Cordelia! I don’t need to hear what you did to make Angelus purr.”
Positioned on the second step, Cordy met him eye to eye, “I wasn’t going to give you the graphic details, just saying that it happened after I—”
“Cordy! I don’t need to hear it.”
Poking a finger into his chest, she raised an eyebrow, responding coolly, “I already know vamps growled. I don’t need another demonstration of that.”
Then, with a loud huff, Cordelia stalked past him toward the kitchen. Automatically following, Angel thought to himself that she’d be damned lucky if that was the only demonstration he’d give her.
Not bothering to look at him, she commented, “I thought I could tell you anything.”
Torn between being completely open with her and not needing the torture of details, Angel reiterated, “I meant if Angelus hurt you that you should come to me for help or if he frightened you in any way. Not to tell me how you pleased my evil twin to the point of purring.”
Pulling down a bowl from one of the cabinets, she asked him curiously, “Why does it happen?”
Seeing that she was not letting the subject go, Angel had no choice but to answer her. “It’s a sign of contentment. For someone like me…like Angelus, that’s rare.”
Cordelia suddenly felt pleased with herself. “Purring— I like it. Just like a big cat with that deep sound rumbling and vibrating from his bare chest to mine.”
Warningly, Angel issued another sound of discontent, all too easily picturing her nude and lying on top of him. “Cordelia.”
“What? I’m not allowed to like it?” Seeing nothing wrong with what she had said Cordy opened the cabinet where Angelus had stored the cereal and grabbed the box of Cheerios.
“I want your honesty, but I don’t need to hear you describe what goes on in your bed.” Especially if it’s mine, he added silently.
“Geez! I was just talking about a simple vampire habit. Surely you purr too, Angel. Is it that big of a deal?” Cordelia put the open box down on the counter a little too forcefully spilling Cheerios everywhere.
Cordelia ignored the mess and was staring at him awaiting an answer. Finally, Angel let out an irritated sigh and then snapped, “I told you— it’s rare.”
“You’re acting snippy and snarly this morning. It’s no wonder you don’t purr. Just ask Buffy to—”
“Dammit, Cordy! It’s none of your fucking business if Buffy makes me purr. You keep out of my bed and I’ll do the same for you.” Angel’s voice had gone beyond stern control and verged on yelling. Added harshly as he stalked around the kitchen island to stand next to her, “In your case, I do mean that literally considering that you climbed into mine last night.”
Defensively, Cordelia shrugged, “We we’re touring. And it was on top. Not in.”
“Makes no difference, sweetheart.” Angel sounded out the words that had Cordelia backing away at their tone. She reached for the refrigerator door handle trying to make it look like his anger meant nothing, that she was cool enough to continue organizing her breakfast by taking out the milk.
“Want some breakfast?” Cordelia asked him rather proud of the fact that her voice did not quiver.
Ignoring the question, Angel stood so close she couldn’t open the door. “Stay out of my rooms unless you get invited. I don’t want your scent in there.”
“I don’t smell!” Then she recalled that vampires had superior senses compared to humans and that included the sense of smell. After what Angelus had done to her in Angel’s bed last night it was no wonder he was a little mad.
“You have no idea what your scent is like to a vampire. It lingers in the air long after you’re gone. Especially when you’re aroused like you were last night. Except that it wasn’t just simple arousal, was it?”
“Maybe.” Cordelia gave a little shrug as she recalled leaving behind a wet spot.
“Now you’re being coy?”
“You don’t want details, remember.”
“I already know these.” Angel lifted one arm to press a hand against the refrigerator door just next to her shoulder. “Do you have a clue what it’s like to have my double running free around town? To have to live with him here in the mansion sharing my things? To have you standing there in my robe and despite your shower still smelling of me, knowing that it’s him?”
Gulping at the idea, Cordelia softly admitted, “No, I didn’t realize.”
“That’s why I don’t want your teasing. That’s why I can’t listen to the details,” Angel told her roughly. Then his voice deepened, “Not because I don’t want to share your laughter or answer your questions. It’s because I don’t want to forget that you’re no longer mine.”
Her lower lip trembled at the intensity in his eyes and his somber tone. “I was never yours, Angel. Not in the real sense.”
Letting out a dark laugh, Angel brought his other hand up to grasp the top of the refrigerator, completely blocking her into the open prison of his arms. Angelus had made the same move, their habits in some ways so similar to each other.
“Oh, it was real. You never knew it and I never acted on it, but that doesn’t mean it never existed.” Angel gave her a hard stare, “Now it has to stay that way.”
If that was how he felt, why the heck had the vampire kissed her just before turning her over to Angelus? Accusingly, she demanded to know the truth. “You kissed me. Why?”
For a moment Angel thought about doing to do it again. Only seconds after telling her that he couldn’t and wouldn’t act on their former ties, trying to pretend that he would find it easy not to touch her despite having had a taste of those lips, derisive thoughts echoed in his head. You like making it hard on yourself, don’t you?
Cordelia watched as Angel drew closer, his mouth hovering only inches from hers. She held her breath trying to think of something snarky to say to get him to move away. Then she felt a soft flutter against her cheek as Angel pulled her lost panties down from the top of the refrigerator.
“I think these are yours, sweetheart,” he deadpanned.
Snatching them out of his hand, Cordelia immediately stuffed them into the pocket of the robe. She collapsed back against the refrigerator door while watching Angel walk away, relieved that this confrontation was over. Then she realized Angel had never responded to the question about kissing her.
Disappointed that he hadn’t answered, Cordy also wondered, And what’s with this sweetheart business?
Forcing herself to move, Cordelia cleaned up the spilled Cheerios. The past twelve hours had been mind-boggling. Starting with the revenge against the two band members who had tried to rape her, followed by her talk with Angel and his startling kiss, to having sex with Angelus, this was already more than just a memorable day. Now all she needed was for the opposing football team to be under some kind of demonic spell and her day would be complete.
What more could possibly happen?