Part 3
Mmmmmmm…..warm……..soft….. Angel’s eyes fluttered opened, his view drawn to the beautiful, naked woman draped over him. For the first time in the hundred years that the demon had coexisted with the soul, Angel had slept without the nightmares of his soulless past. The woman lying secure in his arms had led him to this tranquil haven. Last night he made love to Cordelia Chase. No, Angel reminded himself, he made love to Cordy. Somewhere in the last eight hours things had changed; they had changed.
Memories scattered and collected, recalling the hours before his peaceful rest. A menagerie of thoughts swirled through his now painfully awake brain, bumping and colliding. Betrayal. Had he betrayed Buffy? They were no longer together, hadn’t been for a long time. Worse, had he betrayed his friend currently snuggled in bed with him? Maybe he had taken advantage of her emotional state; too emotional to heed common sense telling her to leave last night. He had persuaded her to stay; had coaxed her into their lovemaking. And maybe, Angel thought, he was looking for things to worry about, looking for a reason to brood. She hadn’t seemed upset last night. In fact, Angel reflected on their passionate night feeling quite proud of himself, Cordy seemed rather pleased.
Angel looked at the women again, her body pressed tight to his. Beautiful, his mind whispered; the after glow of their love making still lingering on her skin. Angel couldn‘t remember ever getting so lost in making love to a woman. Deciding to enjoy their new discovery Angel eased himself from under Cordelia’s warm, soft body, careful not to disturb her. Quietly dressing in sweats and a tank, he sauntered to the kitchen to prepare breakfast that he would serve to her in bed. Maybe he did not even need to get dressed other than boxers; after all, they were still mourning their friend and would probably want to spend the day in bed.
Flavorful aromas mingled and blended with a heavy, musky smell creating an unusual concoction that invaded her senses. Eyes heavy with sleep struggled to open; blurry vision scanned her surroundings. The tasty aroma making her stomach grumble with hunger was drifting from the kitchen. The musky smell was imbedded not only in the sheets surrounding her but her skin as well.
She listened to his activities in the kitchen clanking above the volume of classical music she didn’t recognize. Realization hit like a hard slap on her sleep lined face. She had sex with Angel. What was she thinking? Evidently she wasn’t. Had she not listened when she explained to herself that Angel belonged to Buffy? Evidently, she had not.
The need to escape before he returned to find her awake overrode the demand for food grumbling from her stomach. She needed to get out of Angel’s apartment, out of Angel’s bed. More important Cordelia needed not to be naked. Once home she could think more clearly and decide how best to handle what was sure to be an awkward situation. Easing from the bed, Cordelia tiptoed to the bathroom hoping to avoid detection by his vampire senses.
Glad to be clothed again Cordelia didn’t even care her clothes wore yesterday’s dirt and grime. Now if she could just figure out where her purse was she would be on her way. She couldn’t risk getting upstairs and not finding it there. She would never be able to make her way back down without being heard. Not in the bathroom, not on the chair, under the bed? Cordelia crouched down so that she could view the hidden space. No purse and not a single dust bunny in sight. Leave it to Angel to find time between saving the world and brooding to vacuum under the bed.
The scene that greeted Angel produced a giddy, butterfly flutter in the pit of his stomach. His girl down on her knees, that enticing, firm ass arched in the air. Spending so much time with other body parts, he had not enjoyed that particular delight. No worry, Angel thought, he would put that little morsel on his list of Cordy pleasure for them to experience. “Cordy, what are you doing?”
Damn. Double Damn. Damn Angel and his obsessive cleanliness.
“Why did you put your dirty clothes back on? I would have gotten you something to wear.”
“I….well I….I need my purse Angel. I need to go.”
Go? “Go, why do you need to go?” Angel questioned her nervous responses, holding the tray laid heavy with breakfast.
“Umm, that really smells good but Dennis must be frantic worrying where I am.”
“Call him. Tell him you’re staying here today.”
“Uh Angel, I’m already late for work and we both know I work for an anal retentive vampire that constantly complains about my work ethics.”
Angel set the tray on the foot of the bed and approached the anxious girl, whose face was a rosy blush and heartbeat was so fast, Angel feared Cordelia might faint from the blood rush. “Come on, lets get you showered and into some clean clothes, then we’ll have breakfast in bed.”
“Shower! Bed!”
“Yes” Angel chuckled “shower, clean clothes, food and I’ll bet your boss would be very understanding if you needed to spend the day in bed.”
“Bed! Angel I‘ve got to go. Smells really good though.” Really good, damn I’m hungry. “I’ll be back in a little while.” Yea right. Without another word, Cordelia turned and ran up the stairs.
Angel listened to her fast-paced stomp across the upstairs floor; heard her stumble and curse just before the outer door slammed behind her. So much for spending a lazy day in bed. He returned the tray, full of uneaten food, to the kitchen where he deposited it on the counter with a heavy plunk.
Angel trudged into the bedroom and plopped down on the lonely bed. He pressed a pillow to his face and inhaled her sex drenched, female scent. She needed time to think this through, after all this was a new experience for her. He just needed to give her some time and everything would be OK; she’d think, they’d talk and hopefully he’d get that lazy day in bed he had been denied today.
Should he call and make sure she was all right? No, she had not even had time to get home yet. Cordelia would return to the office in a few hours and he could talk to her then. Angel reached for the phone and dialed the first few numbers before slamming it back down on the beside table. Don’t call you idiot. What are you a lovesick puppy?
Cordelia impatiently turned her key inside the stubborn apartment door lock. Her jerky, twisting movements doing nothing to help the situation. “Dennis, open the door. Gees taking your first nap in like ever? Wake up and let me in!”
Ever her hero and anger set aside, Dennis slipped open the locks and swung the door open. She rushed inside bolting every lock and chain before leaning her weight against the door. Safe at home she could finally relax and catch her breath.
Cordelia could feel the cool air swirling around her, Dennis making his presence and irritation known. “Sorry Dennis, sorry I didn’t call; you won’t believe the night I had. Let me get a hot bath and I’ll tell you all about it.”
The cool, swirling puffs were instantly gone; seconds later hot water and bubbles were filling the tub. “You’re the best Dennis. What would I do without you?” Cordelia spent the next hour soaking and sharing with Dennis the heart breaking story of losing Doyle and the mind blowing story of her night with Angel.
