Part 21
“I’m glad you’re all finally here. I was beginning to worry. Oz got here nearly an hour ago.” Giles pointed to the cage as if they wouldn’t notice the snarling werewolf.
Buffy, Xander and Willow joined him at the table.
“I’m sorry for being late… and for being a no show earlier.”
Giles observed his slayer’s sad eyes and slumping shoulders, nearly causing him to reconsider his decision. “That’s quite alright.” He removed his glasses and began polishing them. “Before we begin researching, there’s something I would like to discuss. Cordelia and Angel won’t be coming to the library..”
“They better not,” Xander grumbled under his breath.
“..Tonight.” Giles took a deep breath. “However I would like them to come in tomorrow.”
“What?!”
“Buffy, I know this will be difficult for you and for Xander, but we must look at the bigger picture.”
“We really don’t, Giles. How can you suggest they come here after what they did?”
“We need all the help we can get right now.”
Xander pushed away from the table and stood. “Neither of them is useful. Since deadboy came back from hell, the only thing he’s been good for is getting his ass kicked, catching diseases and stealing my…” He took a shaky breath. “As for Cordy, she’s only good for bitching, getting caught and being bait. We don’t need them.”
“I disagree.” Giles met Buffy’s gaze. He could see the hurt and betrayal in them. “Cord.. I was informed that Angel feels he has recovered and is back at full strength.”
“I’m sure my.. Cordy has been giving him quite the workout lately.” He sat down when Willow gently squeezed his hand.
“Angel is strong again?”
“We won’t know if he’s operating at 100% until he’s been tested. I suggest you take him on patrol with you tomorrow. Cordelia can remain here with us assisting in research. Wesley and I have found a few references to occurrences in the Ural Mountains. We’re hoping there’s something familiar to her from the conversation she had with the Mayor. Buffy?”
“OK”
Xander flew out of his chair. “You can’t be serious, Buff!”
“Xander..”
“No Willow. This is wrong. You can’t expect me to sit in the same room as them.”
“You won’t have to. Angel and I will be patrolling. If he is strong again, he’ll be an asset against the Mayor and Faith. I will need some help to take them both on. I know this will be hard for you too. After the ascension… Let’s just get through this. Please Xander?”
He couldn’t deny her pleading eyes. “OK but I can’t promise I’ll be my normal charming self.”
“Thanks.”
“You know I can’t say no to you.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m gonna go get a soda. Anybody want?” He slowly walked out of the library, his posture one of defeat.
“I must say I am quite proud of you, Buffy. I’ll go call… Uhh excuse me for a few minutes.”
Willow remained silent until Giles closed his office door. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Buffy?”
“I’m sure.”
The redhead nervously chewed on her lower lip. “You suddenly seem awfully.. calm.”
Buffy glanced around the library to double check that they were truly alone. “Don’t you see, Will? My plan can still work.”
Her nervousness doubled at her friend’s hushed words. “What plan?”
“If Angel really has recovered, we’ll be able to fight side by side again. It will be like old times.”
“Buffy, I don’t want to hurt you but some.. really big things have changed.. a lot. Cordelia is..”
“She’s irrelevant. Angel and I are meant to be together. Your spell made our future possible. Angel has.. All this stuff keeps happening to pull us apart. He’s confused right now. Once we start working together, he’ll start to feel better about himself. He’ll remember what we mean to each other.”
“Buffy, I… Maybe… Your plan may not work. Angel and Cord..”
“It will work. I know it will. I’m his soul mate. Trust me. It’s all going to work out.”
“What about Xander?”
“What about him?”
“While you’re off patrolling with Angel, he’s forced to deal with Cordelia. He’s hurting too and you’re making him work with her. That’s not exactly fair to him.”
Buffy looked conflicted but it quickly passed. “It could work for him too. Cordelia had a legitimate complaint about their relationship. He never let her forget that we were more important to him than she was. That wasn’t fair to her. I know we’re important to you but you would never treat Oz like that. You know there are times when you have to place him first. Xander never figured that out. Maybe this could be his wakeup call.
He is hurting over losing Cordelia so he must really care about her. They might be able to work it out after Angel and I get back together. This whole thing may turn out to be a valuable lesson for all of us. I’ve taken Angel’s love for granted. He needed someone to talk to and I wasn’t there for him. I always accepted it when he was silent; assuming he didn’t want to talk about whatever was bothering him. I was wrong. This is going to work.”
“Buffy, I..” She fell silent when the office door opened. “Are they coming in tomorrow?”
“Oh. I umm I uhh left a message. I’m sure everything is fine. I have no doubt that they will be here tomorrow evening.” He managed a small nervous smile.
Willow glanced over at Buffy to judge her reaction. There were a number of reasons Cordelia and Angel wouldn’t be answering the phone and none of them were good for her best friend’s plan or her heart.
***
Angel shoved the host aside and pulled Cordelia’s chair out for her.
Cordelia smiled apologetically at the man. “He doesn’t get out much.”
“It’s quite alright. I can hardly blame the gentleman for wishing to be the one who assists such a beautiful woman with her chair.”
She beamed at the compliment.
The host’s smile faded under Angel’s hostile glare. He handed the couple their menus. ‘Your waiter will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.” She waited until they were alone. “You could’ve been friendlier. It’s his job to pull out my chair. You didn’t need to shove him out of the way like that.”
“You’re my date and a gentleman pulls out his lady’s chair. I may not have obeyed my parents but I did learn a few things. Besides I didn’t like the way he was looking at you. I told you that dress wasn’t appropriate.” His gaze was drawn to the tempting glimpse of cleavage the low neckline afforded.
“I like this dress. You said I looked beautiful in it.”
“I also said you looked sexy. Too sexy.”
“There’s no such thing. Unless you’re suggesting I went past sexy and onto trashy or slutty. Is that what you’re trying to say?”
“No. Too sexy means men will stare at you.”
“Not to sound totally vain, but men usually stare at me.”
“Yeah well I don’t like it. There are too many men looking at you and they’re having thoughts, thoughts they shouldn’t be having about my girlfriend.” He looked around the restaurant, searching for any such men.
“You’re being silly. No one is staring at me.” She casually glanced around the tables, her eyes connecting with several men. She noticed quite a few women admiring Angel as well. Her eyes narrowed. “What the hell are they staring at?” She studied the vampire sitting across from her. His black on black ensemble could use some color but he was still sexy as hell.
His scowl turned into a smirk when he realized what was bothering her. “It makes you want to stake your claim right in front of everyone, doesn’t it?”
“I thought you said kissing wasn’t a spectator sport.”
His voice dropped taking on a sultry tone. “Who said anything about kissing?”
Her cheeks tinted a deep crimson. “You’re terrible.” His eyes sparked in mischief. “Don’t even think about it. I don’t do the public thing.”
He pulled an innocent face. “I don’t know what you mean.” He pointed to the small dance floor in the corner of the room. “I was referring to dancing.”
She looked skeptical. “Uh huh.”
***
“Hey boss. You wanted to see me?”
“Yes. I have a job for you.”
“Cool. What is it?” Faith sat down the chair. She stopped herself from resting her boots on the edge of his desk.
The Mayor slid a photo and a scrap of paper across his desk. “I need you to go to that address and kill that man.”
She shrugged. “OK.”
He laughed as she rose to leave. “You are quite the little firecracker, aren’t you? This task can wait until tomorrow. Tonight I thought we’d do a little shopping.”
“For what?”
He inspected her leather ensemble. “You need some new clothes for one thing.”
“What’s wrong with the way I dress?”
“Now I didn’t say there was anything wrong but you’ll need a pretty dress for graduation day. I can’t have my girl wearing old clothes, can I?” He tapped the tip of her nose with his index finger.
“You’ll be as cute as a button on our special day.”
***
Angel pushed his food around on his plate. He had no appetite for human food, although it wasn’t too bad when Cordelia fed him. Eating mainly served as a reminder he wasn’t human. Being surrounded by humans aggravated his instincts but he wanted to make Cordelia happy.
She deserved to be romanced. He wanted to ensure she sacrificed as little as possible to be with him. He wished she didn’t have to sacrifice anything.
“Is your dinner not to your liking, sir?”
Cordelia had been observing Angel’s changing expression for several minutes. She wanted him to have a good time but he looked as if he were being tortured.
Slowly. He also seemed at a loss for a response. “The food is fine. I told him not to eat such a late lunch.” She smiled sweetly until the waiter left. “You really don’t have to force yourself to eat.”
“..I’m not.”
Her smile turned sincere. “If you’re eating for my benefit, don’t. I just want to be with you. You don’t have to conform to some image to make me happy. If I wanted to be with,” she pointed around the room, “some normal guy, I would. I was dating Xander for heaven’s sake. You’re more normal than he is.” She reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
“It means a lot to me that you brought me here,” she glanced at his half-eaten dinner. “It means so much that you’re trying to blend but just so you know, Cordelia Chase doesn’t blend. I like men that stand out. I gave up only dating guys that my friends would drool over, not that you aren’t totally drool worthy. I don’t require being envied. I want to be happy and being with you makes me happy. This is one of those times where it’s the thought that counts.” She took his fork away.
“It’s not that bad.” He reached for his fork.
“Angel, can you really tell me you’re enjoying your dinner?”
“…”
“I like to feed you because I enjoy watching your reaction, because I want to know everything about you. I don’t want you to pretend.”
“Bite or avoid.”
Her brow scrunched in confusion. “What?”
“Those are my two modes around humans, bite or avoid.”
A laugh bubbled up. “Which category do I fit in?”
“You created your own category.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her palm.
“You are getting so much better at the sweet talk.”
The waiter walked up to their table. “Are you finished with your dinners?”
“Yes. We’d like to see the dessert cart.” Cordelia glared at Angel. “Not a word.”
“Cordy, you told me to say something horrible. I apologized. You know I didn’t mean it.”
“Uh huh,” she turned to the waiter. “My boyfriend thinks I’m fat.”
“I do not.”
The waiter took a step back. His eyes dipped, taking in her form. “You’re much too beautiful to believe that. Your boyfriend must have had a moment of temporary insanity.” The man took another step back at what sounded like a growl. “I will be right back with the dessert cart.”
Cordelia laughed at the way Angel’s eyes tracked their waiter’s movements. “See. He doesn’t think I’m fat.”
“Cordy, I…” He saw laughter dancing in her eyes. “You enjoy torturing me, don’t you?”
She placed a hand on her chest, her face a mask of innocence. “Me?”
“Yes you.” The waiter returned with the dessert cart. Angel inspected the desserts, wishing they could share one like they did in the privacy of her kitchen. The images of their lovemaking on the kitchen floor and the table replayed in his mind.
Cordelia slipped her shoe off. She lightly ran her toes up his leg, grateful she’d worn stockings allowing her foot to slide easier. She studiously avoided looking at him, choosing to inspect the desserts instead. Her toes curled, massaging his inner thigh, urging his legs further apart. “What do you recommend?”
“The tiramisu is quite delicious. My personal favorite is…”
Angel tried to listen but he was too busy concentrating on not moaning. Her foot moved higher. The blood that hadn’t already rushed to his groin sped there. He forced his eyes to remain open.
She lazily traced and retraced his hardened length with her big toe. “I think I’ll have the tiramisu.” She finally met Angel’s gaze. “What would you like?”
“I uhh I..”
She sent the waiter a gorgeous smile. “I know it’s not on the cart but since you serve ice cream, could he get a hot fudge sundae?”
“Of course.” The man couldn’t resist returning the beautiful young woman’s smile.
Her toes curled, squeezing the cotton encased erection. “With extra hot fudge please, he has a weakness for it.”
Angel groaned the moment the waiter left. “You’re evil. You know that, right?”
She continued stroking him. “Whatever do you mean? I thought you liked hot fudge sundaes?”
“You.. mmm.. know what I mean.” He panted for air his dead lungs didn’t need, a low growl rumbling through his chest. His hands gripped the table.
Cordelia lowered her foot and slipped her shoe back on. “You could have stopped me if you didn’t want me touching you.” Her lower lip curled in a pout.
“If I wanted to stop you, I would have.”
She smiled and slipped her shoe off again. Her foot quickly returned to his lap.
“But you do need to stop.”
Her pout returned.
“Taking you on this table might cause a scene and that’s what I’m about five seconds from doing.” He held her foot against him for another moment before pushing it away.
“How about we get dessert to go?”
“I need a few minutes before I can stand.”
***
“You look lovely, Faith.”
“You think?”
“Yes.”
“You said that about the last three.”
“You looked lovely in all of them.”
“Thank you but that doesn’t help. How am I supposed to choose?”
“You shouldn’t.” The Mayor turned to the salesgirl. “We’ll take all of them, except this one. It’s a little too.. modern.”
“Yes sir.” The young woman left to return the dress, which barely had enough material to be called a dress, to the racks.
Faith sighed. The one dress she’d picked out she couldn’t have. “I’ve been giving the problem with B some thought.”
“Have you come up with a way to distract her?”
“Yeah.”
“You can’t kill her, Faith. It’s not that I want her alive, far from it. I just would never rob you the joy of fighting her to the death, which is why you can’t kill her yet. I have no doubt you’d win but you could be injured in the process. I need you in top form, just in case.”
“Don’t worry.” She shrugged. “OK. That was my original plan, but I gave it more thought. I think Angelus had the right idea. With B, the joy is in breaking her gradually.”
“Wonderful. What did you have in mind?”
“Could you get your hands on any type of poison? My first watcher told me about one that caused wicked pain.”
***
Cordelia took one small bite of her dessert. “So are you ready to go home yet?”
It was his turn to give a little torture. He pointed to the dance floor with his spoon. “I thought we were going to dance and what happened to seeing a movie?” Angel suppressed a groan. He didn’t dance and he wanted to get her home as quickly as possible. Making love on the kitchen table felt like ages ago.
She saw the hunger behind his mask of patience. Dancing to the music of a string quartet looked terribly romantic in movies but it didn’t appeal to her very much. It wasn’t her kind of dancing but going to the Bronze was definitely out.
Buffy and the others were probably at the library but the danger of a public confrontation was still high enough to err on the side of caution. She smiled at Angel. He didn’t need to know that. “This isn’t my kind of music. Let’s go to the Bronze. I have yet to see your moves on the dance floor.”
Her brow scrunched in thought. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you dance.” She licked her lips. “I know that body of yours can move and we do have good rhythm together.” She bit her bottom lip.
The pleasurable possibilities raced through her mind causing her temperature to rise, sweaty bodies grinding against each other to a hard sultry beat, strong hands holding her tight, a firm thigh pressed hard and high between her thighs. Her breathing deepened.
Her scent, the rapid beat of her heart and her deep ragged breaths caused him to grip the table. His control was already stretched too thin. He nodded at the waiter.
“Yes sir?”
“Check,” he grunted, his grip nearly splintering the table.
“Of course. Would you like to take the rest of your desserts home?” The man gulped at the way Angel’s intense hungry stare never wavered from Cordelia.
“No.”
“I’ll be right back with your check.” He couldn’t blame him. The beautiful young woman was better than any dessert.
Cordelia folded her arms on the table and leaned forward, the movement causing her breasts to push up slightly. “So dancing at the Bronze?”
He conceded defeat gracefully. Patience had never been his forte. “We’re going home.” He pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it on the table. “Now.” He stood and pulled her to her feet.
“But what about your change? That was too much.”
“I don’t care. We’re leaving.”
She stifled her giggle, doing her best to keep up with his face pace. “What’s the hurry?” Moments after the cool night air hit her heated skin, she found herself pushed against the hard brick wall of the restaurant. Before she could speak, his lips covered hers.
Both hands cupped her butt, pressing her hips to his. She tangled her fingers in his hair and happily enjoyed being devoured. Her tongue sliding against his, battling, tasting, exploring, she groaned in protest when he ripped his mouth from hers.
“We have to get out of here.”
“Mmm hmm,” she mumbled against his neck, kissing and nipping the soft flesh. “That would be the sensible thing to do.” Her hand snaked in between their pressed bodies and slid down, lightly rubbing the wonderfully hard bulge. “I’m nothing if not sensible.”
He caught her lips with a growl, his tongue plunging in. A wolf whistle ringing through the air brought him back to reality. He stepped back, breaking contact with her warm pliant form, his body screaming in protest. “Let’s take this somewhere private.”
Her body was humming in desire but she knew he was right. She enjoyed teasing him but she didn’t want to perform for the enjoyment of others. “Home?”
“Yes please.”
Cordelia almost giggled at the please but she was too busy sprinting to the car, not an easy feet in 3 inch heels.
***
“What an intriguing idea, Faith. It’s quite ingenious.”
She smiled at the compliment. “Ya think?”
“Absolutely. I’ll make a few phone calls. I will have it here in 48 hours or less. I have no doubt it will keep Buffy rather distracted. Excellent work, Faith.”
“Well I haven’t done anything yet.”
The Mayor beamed like a proud father. “Nonsense. I asked you to come up with a plan and you did. A real doozy of a plan, I must say.”
***
Angel regretted his insistence that he drive as the car swerved. Again. “Cordelia, you really should be wearing a seatbelt.” His eyes fought to stay open.
“Just don’t crash.” She continued kissing and sucking on his neck. A hickey already decorated his throat. Her hand finally managed to unbutton his shirt. She moved her oral attentions to his chest, blunt teeth worrying a nipple to hardened peak.
“You’re making that almost impossible.” The car swerved. They were lucky the road was deserted.
“You can always tell me to stop.” Her hands made quick work of his belt buckle and zipper. She freed his straining erection from its prison of cotton and silk, stroking him. “No does mean no after all.”
Angel tried to force his mouth to form the word no but the only sound that came out was a strangled moan as her hot moist tongue darted out to taste him.
She lazily swirled her tongue around the tip before gently suckling it. “Do you want me to stop?” Her lips wrapped around him, swallowing him, lips gliding along his shaft. A deep growl vibrated through him sending sparks straight to her core making her melt and burn at the same time.
He pulled into her driveway; grateful he managed to bring her home safely. His head fell back against the headrest the moment he put the car in park, his eyes finally able to close. He felt the familiar tightening and pulled her mouth to his for kiss. He very carefully fixed his pants.
“Angel?”
“We’re here.” He climbed out and walked around the car as quickly as he could. She had the same confused look on her face when he opened her door. He pulled her out and slung her over his shoulder.
“Hey!”
He slapped her on the butt. “You weren’t moving fast enough.” He managed to open the front door.
“I was in the middle of something.”
“Really? I had no idea.”
“You know sarcasm just isn’t attractive on you.” She squeezed the perfectly sculpted cheeks she was dangling so close to. “You’re lucky this is so… yummy.”
Angel lifted her skirt, admiring her bottom so enticingly propped on his shoulder. “Yours isn’t so bad either.” He tugged on her panties, pulling them down her legs.
“Hey!”
“I’m just saving some time.” He kicked her bedroom door open.
“You did NOT just break my door!” Her shriek echoed through the room as she was sent flying through the air landing sprawled on the bed.
Angel smiled at her indignant expression. The fire in her eyes burned brighter. He began undressing, his gaze never leaving hers. “I didn’t break it. The door was ajar.”
She licked her lips.
“You have until I’m naked to get out of that dress before I rip it off your body.”
“You wouldn’t dare. This is new.”
He pulled his belt free. “You’re running out of time.”
Cordelia reached behind her back and wrestled with the zipper. She managed to unzip it and pull the straps down, when hands appeared, yanking, tearing it off her body. “Angel!”
“I warned you.” He pushed her back and crawled on top of her.
“But it was new and I liked it.” Her lip curled out in a pout.
“I love that lip.” He caught it between his teeth, nibbling and sucking it into his mouth.
Arms and legs desperately tried to bring him closer. She’d been aching for him since he first told her how beautiful she looked in her now shredded dress. She was more than ready to feel him inside her, filling her. “Please Angel.”
He pressed into the cradle of her thighs, teasing her moist center. “Please what?” He planted kisses down her neck. He tried to move lower but her grip refused to budge. “I want to taste you.” He tried to wriggle free.
“Later. I need you inside me now.” She tried unsuccessfully to flip him onto his back. “Angel now!”
“Cordy, I..”
She lifted her head and bit his neck, hard.
Angel roared. His features shifting as he drove into her in one hard thrust. His startled eyes locked with hers. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
She grinned. “Nope but I’m not too happy about the whole dramatic pause.” Her hips bucked. “Get moving.”
He laughed in her ear, shaking off his vampire features. He set a fast hard rhythm. “You’re very demanding tonight.”
Cordelia covered the skin she could reach with moist kisses. “I’m demanding every night.” She attempted to flip him over again. This time he allowed himself to be moved. She sat up astride him still impaled. She timidly began to rise and fall, unsure of her actions, afraid she might be doing it wrong.
He gripped her hips and directed her movements. He saw the exact moment she found the angle she liked. A look of pure ecstasy diffused across her face. She was all fire and passion atop him.
She sped up her pace, riding him harder. Her hands clutched his chest as he hit a spot deep within her again and again that made her muscles quiver.
Watching her pleasure clearly displayed on her face almost eclipsed the liquid joy coursing through him. He felt her inner walls begin to tighten. He clutched her hips and drove skyward sending her screaming over the edge.
She collapsed on top of him, sated and panting for breath. A soft feminine smile graced her lips. She could feel him still hard inside her. She lifted her head, their gaze locking. “So what do you want to do now?” A giggle bubbled up as she was rolled beneath him. Her legs wrapped around his waist.
Angel captured her lips, swallowing her laugh. His thrusts were slow and gentle as he built her need up again. His tongue explored the deep cavern of her mouth.
Her nails clawed his back. She could feel inner muscles turn supple only to begin to tighten again. She wrenched her mouth free. “Oh god Angel.” Her heels dug into the back of his thighs trying to urge him to move faster, go deeper, to do something to relieve the ache burning out of control. “Please.”
He drove into her harder, faster. He felt his features shift again unable to hold it back. Hazel eyes locked with amber.
“I love you.” She pulled his head to her neck.
Her display of trust, love and acceptance sent him soaring over the edge. He slammed into her and sent her flying as well. His face remained buried in her neck but he didn’t bite her. He listened to her rapid heartbeat begin to slow.
He dropped a kiss on her pulse point before lifting his head. “I love you too.”
