Part 9<\/b><\/p>\n
I can handle this. I can handle this. I can!<\/i> Cordelia thought, trying to smooth her rumpled emotions. She stood in the office, facing her computer, but staring at it blankly. Angel hovered nearby, waiting for her to access the information that would help solve their latest case. The only problem was that, in his stress, he\u2019d placed his hands on her shoulders and was kneading her taut muscles gently. All she wanted to do was sigh and lean her shoulders back into his solid midsection, then roll her head forward and groan as he worked his magic. And damn, did the man have magic fingers. Magic everything, practically. It had to be preternatural, because no normal human guy could have this effect on her.<\/p>\n
It had been a week since they\u2019d moved in together. Surprisingly, they\u2019d both managed to find a way to work through this without either of them spontaneously combusting. It was strange, but Dr. Van Buren\u2019s theory had actually worked. After the initial painful sizzle of that first night, they\u2019d managed to find their stride. They did, on a frequent basis, experience overwhelming surges of lust for each other, but they were able to face those urges and work through them.<\/p>\n
The only time they found themselves totally, completely in awkward vulnerability was in the innocent honesty of sleep. Every night, they went to bed with a space wide enough for two people between them in Angel\u2019s bed, and every morning, they woke up entangled together like two necklaces in a jewelry box. Cordelia had learned his body intimately just from her positions as she awoke, and it was all she could do to keep from snuggling deeper into his embrace and trailing her lips down the marble contours that she found so mouth-wateringly appealing.<\/p>\n
During the day, they\u2019d found ways to cope with their feelings. One defense mechanism they\u2019d managed to develop was this weird, non-verbal code, a kind of look that they gave each other when a \u201chands-off\u201d time was imminent. Whenever they felt too crazy, they\u2019d just look at each other and know. The only problem was that sometimes, like right now when Angel had his hands on Cordy\u2019s shoulders absentmindedly, that the forbidden pleasure was just too fabulous to pass up.<\/p>\n
Her mind wandered back to the lazy, haze-inducing kiss they\u2019d shared that morning in a darkened corner of the lobby. They\u2019d had some great ones so far, always keeping them away from the bedroom after the awkwardness of that first night. If kisses were menu items at Starbucks, they\u2019d tried nearly everything from a sweet mocha frappuccino to the tantalizing caramel macchiato. They\u2019d both managed to avoid the double shot espresso, knowing that it would be playing with fire.<\/p>\n
Of all the tasty kisses they\u2019d shared in the last week, though, this morning\u2019s kiss had surpassed them all. She\u2019d immediately likened it to her newest Starbucks favorite, Tazo chai; a homey, pumpkin-pie spiced coffee alternative that made her want to snuggle into Angel\u2019s embrace by a warm fire and rest in the safe haven of his arms forever. His mouth on hers had never seemed so warm, so comforting, so beautiful. It had been like coming home, and it was all she could do to pull away and face the harsh light of day.<\/p>\n
Bringing herself back to the present, she took a deep, calming breath, and moved the mouse to click on the link to the page she needed. Within minutes, they were in full investigation mode, checking out a weird cult that had moved into the area and was trying to summon a very nasty demon. Of course, the morons didn\u2019t realize that their \u201cgod\u201d was going to devour them with the zealousness of an overweight teen inhaling deep fried Twinkies, but then again, these types rarely played with a full deck.<\/p>\n
Behind her, Angel reluctantly removed his hands from her shoulders when he realized that he was only prolonging his misery. Touching her had lately become like blood to him; it was necessary for his survival. He\u2019d begun to live for the sweet, barely restrained kisses they shared both morning and night as part of their current arrangement. But every time he touched her, he felt like he had to have more. He was addicted, totally and hopelessly, and he knew there was no 12-step program to help him out of it.<\/p>\n
On top of everything, Dr. Van Buren had been acting really strangely at their sessions. More so than normal. She\u2019d always been a little quirky, ever since the beginning, but in the past two sessions, ever since they\u2019d moved in together, she seemed increasingly nervous. It almost seemed like she desperately wanted to say something, but kept holding it back. Angel feared she might be losing it herself, and it would be bad, very bad, for their therapist to need a therapist of her own.<\/p>\n
He thought his questions might be answered at this evening\u2019s session, though. Dr. Van Buren told them at the last appointment that they\u2019d never truly debriefed the subject of each other\u2019s past loves, and it was important to clear the air on that issue. Now that time had passed since the disastrous massage discussion on the same topic, both Angel and Cordelia felt that they could handle a mature conversation about it. Neither wanted to hit that hornet\u2019s nest again, but it seemed inevitable. Besides, every other assignment Dr. Van Buren had given to them had proved to be invaluable to their relationship, so it made sense that she wouldn\u2019t fail them this time, either.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally,\u201d Cordelia muttered in front of him as the next page loaded, and he smiled as he watched a wayward strand of her hair fly up as she blew it out of her eyes. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to talk Wes into getting a high-speed connection, Angel. The guy may be good with a budget, but there is such a thing as productivity. With a slow dial-up like this, we may have an apocalypse come and go before we can even check our e-mail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll talk to him,\u201d Angel promised absently, staring down at her as his fingers itched to touch her again.<\/p>\n
Just then, Cordelia glanced over at the clock next to the monitor. She gasped, then double checked the time on her watch. \u201cAngel! It\u2019s so late. We have to be at our appointment in a half hour! I have to go get ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look fine, Cordelia,\u201d Angel soothed.<\/p>\n
She frowned at him. \u201cThen I definitely need to change. Fine isn\u2019t good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped her with a hand on her arm. \u201cYou\u2019re beautiful, Cordy, no matter what you wear.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled at him, reaching her hand up to squeeze his where he touched her. \u201cThanks, Angel, but I think its kind of a faux pas to go out wearing a ketchup stain from lunch,\u201d she said, pointing to a small red spot on her light yellow blouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d he said, flustered by the attention drawn to her open collar and the cleavage exposed beneath. He dropped her arm quickly, stuffing his hands in his pockets. \u201cGo get ready then. I\u2019ll wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hurried away, and he sighed for what seemed like the millionth time in the last week. It wasn\u2019t until Cordelia screamed that he looked up, then utilized his superhuman reflexes to catch her before her head struck the hard floor.<\/p>\n
Wesley and Gunn came running from the other office, frowns of concern on their faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cVision?\u201d Gunn asked.<\/p>\n
Angel nodded. \u201cLooks like a bad one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordy clutched her head with one hand and gripped Angel\u2019s upper arm with the other as he steadied her gently. \u201cCult freaks,\u201d she gasped, eyes closed tightly shut. \u201cThey\u2019ve gone ahead with it. Demony guy looks pretty nasty. Oh, eww!\u201d she groaned after a moment, her mouth dropping open in disgust, her eyes opening and the haze in them clearing after a moment. \u201cHe\u2019s going to bite their heads off. Soon. Like in an hour or so if you don\u2019t get there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d Angel asked, absently pulling her closer and rubbing the back of her neck with his fingers, soothing the throbbing in her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cVenice Beach. Something about the salty air, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, we\u2019re on it,\u201d Gunn said, striding over to the weapons cabinet and grabbing his favorite axe. He retrieved a sword and tossed it to Wesley.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the same demon we\u2019ve been researching, Cordelia?\u201d Wesley asked, concerned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYep, horns and all,\u201d she said, sighing and rubbing her temples. After a minute, her eyes shot open and she looked at Angel in panic. \u201cOh, god, the session! We have to call Dr. Van Buren and tell her we aren\u2019t coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the demon\u2014,\u201d Angel began, but she interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you have to before you go. I can\u2019t deal with it right now, not with the USC marching band doing their thing in my head. Go,\u201d she said, shoving at him ineffectually. \u201cCall her. Please!\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded, then turned to Wes and Gunn. \u201cGo, I\u2019ll catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n
They agreed and took off. Angel settled Cordelia on the sofa and then turned to the office. A minute later, he called back, \u201cYou have her number here somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, no,\u201d she said, trying to think. \u201cAnd she isn\u2019t in the phone book. It\u2019s too old and we haven\u2019t gotten a new one. Check the internet.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a moment of silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe? The Internet?\u201d he finally said, sounding terrified.<\/p>\n
If she could\u2019ve, she would\u2019ve giggled at the fear in his tone. \u201cYou can handle it, big guy,\u201d she said, the humor in her voice unmistakable, even through the pain. \u201cClick on my favorites button, the little star on top.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was silent again, then, \u201cGot it!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, now click on the shortcut to Google.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, got it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen type her full name with quotation marks around it, and hit search. Check the links, and you\u2019ll probably find her website.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has a website?\u201d Angel asked, incredulous. God, he was a technological doofus. He hated times like this, when his age caught up with him.<\/p>\n
He clicked the link that looked the best from the description, then waited for the page to load. When it popped up, his mouth dropped open. It was her website, all right. Dr. Van Buren\u2019s smile was front and center, her picture clearly professional and airbrushed. The site was done in the same warm colors as her office, and her phone number and address were prominently displayed.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t any of those things that had startled him, however. It was the slogan on the top of the page. Dr. Van Buren\u2019s business motto, and her title, in prominent view.<\/p>\n
There, in bold, elegant letters, was the heading: Dr. Marsha Van Buren, Sex Therapy. And in quotation marks next to her picture: \u201cTurning the dying embers of stale relationships back to the passionate infernos of first love, one couple at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn,” Angel’s mind was reeling. \u201cWell,\u201d he said with a dry laugh. \u201cNow the massage and Twister make perfect sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part 10<\/b><\/p>\n
Angel managed to close his mouth after moments of staring blankly at the computer screen in front of him. Dr. Van Buren was a sex therapist. He shook his head. It made so much more sense now. All the focus on lust and feelings, all the focus on touching, the emphasis on kissing.<\/p>\n
How did they end up with her?<\/p>\n
His eyes narrowed as he remembered Wesley. Angel would be his undead life that Wesley had known exactly what was going on the entire time. The little sneak. But the only way that Wesley would send them to a sex therapist knowingly was if he thought Dr. Van Buren could . . .<\/p>\n
No way. No way in hell would Wesley take a chance like that unless . . . unless there was some way around the curse.<\/p>\n
Hot damn, that\u2019s what the woman was hiding. It had to be.<\/p>\n
So should he tell Cordelia? Or wait?<\/p>\n
Her voice interrupted his musings.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, did you find some blonde bimbo porn on there or something? You\u2019re taking forever, and I don\u2019t think Wes and Gunn can handle the demon in my vision all by themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel clicked out of the browser and closed down the computer, pleased with himself that he could do it without directions. He walked back into the room and looked at Cordelia, noting her drawn and tired features, as well as the wrinkle in the middle of her forehead that always accompanied vision pain.<\/p>\n
With his first question, he closed the door on his secret and saved it for a more appropriate time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d he asked softly, coming to stand in front of her. He looked casual, as if he had all the time in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d feel better if you go out and kill that thing. Go, Angel. I don\u2019t want to worry about Wes and Gunn on top of the vision pain.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded, then reached a hand out, brushing the backs of his fingers against her soft cheek. Her startled eyes met his, then they softened and she smiled slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe careful, Angel,\u201d she whispered, biting her lip.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways,\u201d he answered, then curled his hand around the back of her neck and leaned down, placing a cool kiss on the top of her head. In a moment, he was gone.<\/p>\n
Cordelia turned her eyes to watch him go out the door, but he had vanished before she could even make the move. She rolled her eyes and shook her head at his theatrics. All the guy needs is his own theme song,<\/i> she thought, smiling. Suddenly, she remembered the ill-fated commercial she\u2019d tried to make around the time of Doyle\u2019s death. What had she called him? The Dark Avenger? Angel did have charisma, despite his dorkiness around her, and he had it in spades. The guy oozed dark mystery, and truth be told, it was one of the things she loved most about him.<\/p>\n
Wearily, she got up with the stiffness of an old, arthritic woman and trudged up the stairs into the bedroom she shared with Angel. Methodically divesting herself of clothing and donning one of Angel\u2019s oversized t-shirts, she slid into the cool sheets and snuggled into the softness of her pillow. She closed her eyes, sighing dreamily as she looked for sleep to ease the throbbing in her temples. And for those few moments, in the ethereal, misty place between asleep and awake, she let herself live the dream of loving him, without the guilt or pain. The soothing thoughts carried her safely into healing, contented sleep.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Dr. Van Buren waited anxiously for her most important patients to arrive to their make-up appointment. When they\u2019d called yesterday and said that Cordelia had had a vision and was not in any shape to attend, it was all Dr. Van Buren could do not to scream in frustration. At that session, she was going to push the envelope. She was going to force them to talk about their pasts, to clear the air that hung between them over this unresolved issue. She\u2019d hoped that by getting them to see that there were no obstacles in their way, they would see a clearer path to being together.<\/p>\n
Now, though, nearly 24 hours later, Dr. Van Buren decided it was best that they hadn\u2019t brought up that topic. For all she knew, the couple may already be engaging in some pre-coital activity, and dredging up past aches and pains may hinder progress rather than facilitate it. In the interim between the cancelled appointment and this rescheduled one, the therapist decided that this session would be more of a probe by her as to their current feelings and activities, rather than a truly thoughtful discussion about her patients and their therapy.<\/p>\n
She squirmed a bit in her chair as she realized how this plan smacked of unethical behavior, but the fate of Los Angeles, hell, the whole world, depended on these two working out their differences and finding love together. It wouldn\u2019t do to have Angelus terrorizing the countryside again. Against her will, images of bloody throats and broken bodies flashed in her brain, and the eerie sound of maniacal laughter echoed as a morbid sound track. She bit her lip and closed her eyes, trying to squeeze the unpleasant thoughts out of her mind, but it wasn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n
God, she felt so guilty. If she hadn\u2019t been so self-righteous about the injustice of Angel\u2019s suffering, she wouldn\u2019t be here. If she hadn\u2019t thought she could fix everything, tie it all up in a nice, neat little package with her connections and good intentions, she wouldn\u2019t be on the verge of insanity. There was only one week between today and destruction, and it was entirely her fault.<\/p>\n
Getting up from her seat, Dr. Van Buren began pacing, so anxious that her thoughts couldn\u2019t form a linear pattern. The nearer the clock inched toward the appointment time, the more stressed she became. Desperate for some mental clarity to get her through the next hour, she fell back on her meditation techniques, hoping that they would calm her. They did, but the guilty self-flagellation still echoed in the back of her mind like a the annoying drip of a leaky faucet.<\/p>\n
If she managed to survive to see a positive outcome, Dr. Van Buren swore that she\u2019d never use her position within the Gypsy clan in such a potentially destructive way again.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Amazingly, Dr. Van Buren looked to the outside world like she\u2019d spent the day writing a book on relaxation and meditation. Her face was serene, unlined. Her eyes were clear, bright, and intelligent. None of the stress she was currently facing showed in her expression. She was very proud of herself.<\/p>\n
Unbeknownst to her, Angel had noticed a change in her. Due to his enhanced sensibilities, he caught the rapid rate of her heart, her unsteady breathing, and the twitching of her muscles that she frantically tried to suppress. His face darkened slightly as he confirmed what he\u2019d already suspected: Dr. Van Buren had a secret, one that affected him and Cordelia. But now was not the time to confront her with it. Angel was willing to sit back and see how this appointment fared, then go from there.<\/p>\n
Next to him, Cordelia was oblivious to the undercurrent of tension in the room. She was actually beginning to feel comfortable in Dr. Van Buren\u2019s care, despite the probing and personal questions that the woman tortured them with. Cordy didn\u2019t know why she felt this way, considering that the last few sessions had been especially pervasive, but she did. At this point, she refused to question it. She felt good, her vision pain was nonexistent at the moment, and she and Angel were on very good terms.<\/p>\n
Her eyes glazed as she remembered the kisses from last night and this morning. She\u2019d been struggling to stay awake when Angel had returned from slaying the demon, and the relief that flooded through her at seeing him uninjured had brought tears to her eyes. She\u2019d run to him, smiling, then stopped abruptly, uncertain. He\u2019d just smiled back at her, reaching out and pulling her into his embrace, and lightly kissed her goodnight. It had been a short kiss, but it was sweet, and so, so tender. It gave her goose bumps even now to think of it.<\/p>\n
And this morning\u2019s kiss? Hello, wow! He\u2019d come down the stairs, grabbed her like something out of Gone With the Wind, and planted a wet, sultry kiss on her that left her grasping for breath. Then he\u2019d practically dropped her and sauntered into the kitchen for his breakfast like nothing had ever happened. When Cordy\u2019s heart rate had finally returned to normal, she hadn\u2019t been able to keep the smile off her face, despite the gloomy outlook on their future. Might as well live in the moment. Carpe Diem and all that.<\/p>\n
She shook herself out of her memories to listen to Dr. Van Buren\u2019s opening statements.<\/p>\n
\u201c. . . not talk about your prior relationships, as I\u2019d indicated last time,\u201d she was saying. \u201cI think its best that we save that topic for later in your therapy. You seem to be doing very well, for all intents and purposes, and I wouldn\u2019t want to rock the boat too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia was surprised to find that she was disappointed. Everything that had been said the night of the massage wasn\u2019t reliable; they\u2019d both been really angry and had said things they didn\u2019t mean. She\u2019d been looking forward to hearing Angel\u2019s true feelings about Buffy with Dr. Van Buren there as a mediator. It would be nice, once and for all, to hear the whole story. She had a feeling that it wasn\u2019t going to be as bad as she\u2019d thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are we going to talk about, then?\u201d Angel asked, surprised that she\u2019d changed her mind when she\u2019d been so adamant before.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, a few things,\u201d she said vaguely. \u201cI actually think this appointment will be rather short, since we had to reschedule and squeeze you in. I have another appointment in. . . ,\u201d she consulted her watch, \u201cfifteen minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cFifteen minutes? How are we supposed to get anything done? Why did we even come?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Van Buren frowned and stared Cordelia back into her seat. \u201cFifteen minutes is plenty of time to get some valuable information. And since you seem so reluctant, let\u2019s begin with you, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n
A wrinkled nose and a practiced eye rolling were Dr. Van Buren\u2019s only answers. Cordelia didn\u2019t care if she looked like a petulant teenager. She was irritated. Dr. Van Buren was playing them again, and she hated being manipulated. Even for therapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, so go ahead. Whatever,\u201d she said, waving her hand dismissively.<\/p>\n
Dr. Van Buren let that one pass. \u201cLet\u2019s begin by a description of how the cohabitation arrangement is proceeding. Have you noted any progress?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel fought the urge to roll his eyes. This woman was definitely a kindred spirit to Wesley. She liked to use big words arranged in sentences that had to be translated to everyday English.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d Angel said, not elaborating.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd sleeping together?\u201d she prompted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSleeping\u2019s sleeping,\u201d Cordelia said with a shrug. \u201cWhat did you expect? Angel doesn\u2019t breathe so he doesn\u2019t snore, so I have no complaints.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe either,\u201d Angel said. Definitely no complaints.<\/p>\n
Sighing, Dr. Van Buren rolled her own eyes. \u201cThat is not what I meant, and you know it. The entire reason this experiment was undertaken was so that you could explore and work through your feelings of lust for each other. How is that<\/i> portion of your arrangement going?\u201d<\/p>\n
The couple was silent for a moment, but Cordelia gave in and answered eventually. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, I guess. We\u2019re doing the kissy thing like you asked, and its been nice. Kind of hard, sometimes, when it gets really personal, but I think we\u2019re dealing. You were right, I guess, about the escape thing. When I can\u2019t get away from him, I have to deal with it, and it gets easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Van Buren nodded, frowning, then looked at Angel.<\/p>\n
He smiled slightly. \u201cWhat she said,\u201d he answered, pointing over at Cordelia.<\/p>\n
The good doctor gritted her teeth in annoyance. It was obvious that these two were just as clueless as they had been before they began sleeping in the same bed. Maybe the exes talk would have been better. Still, she had to salvage this somehow.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously,\u201d she continued, looking every inch the irritated martinet, \u201cyou are not being candid with me. You mean to tell me that you\u2019ve been living together for a week, kissing each other at least two times a day, and you\u2019ve never had the urge to tear each other\u2019s clothes off? You\u2019ve never imagined yourselves reaching across the bed in the darkest part of the night and stroking each other intimately? Never imagined a hot, sweaty, curvy body writing against a cool, hard, glistening one?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel and Cordelia gulped in unison as Dr. Van Buren painted a word picture worthy of Skinimax\u2019s \u201cUp All Night\u201d marathon.<\/p>\n
At their silence and obvious discomfort, Dr. Van Buren allowed herself a small surge of triumph. Now she was getting somewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, have you?\u201d she demanded, an eyebrow raised.<\/p>\n
\u201cS-sure,\u201d Cordy said, stammering slightly. \u201cYeah, of course. It was inevitable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Van Buren pinned Cordelia to the couch with her laser-like stare. \u201cAnd its never become overwhelming? You\u2019ve never felt that surge of heat and desire that\u2019s nearly impossible to control? The need to reach over and slide your hand under his shirt, touching him, stroking him, teasing him, until you feel like you\u2019re going to explode from wanting him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, um\u2014\u201d she stopped, her eyes darting around nervously, extremely uncomfortable. She laughed once, a nervous twitter, then swallowed. God, she had to get out from under this woman\u2019s microscope. What could she distract her with? Somehow, she didn\u2019t think a gasp and a \u2018Oh, god! What\u2019s that?\u2019 with a point and a surprised face would work this time. But maybe . . .<\/p>\n
Angel! That\u2019s it, he could take it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about him?\u201d Cordy asked pointing frantically to the stoic vampire on her right. \u201cAsk him!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe?\u201d Angel said, startled out of his safe spot in the shadows beyond Dr. Van Buren\u2019s spotlight. \u201cWhy me? What did I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Angel, what have you done?\u201d Dr. Van Buren asked calmly, her eyes pinning him now.<\/p>\n
Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief. Reprieve for now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has the last week been like for you, Angel? Doesn\u2019t your soul long to join with hers? To connect on a deeply elemental level? To slide inside the liquid heat of her and lose yourself in her goodness?<\/p>\n
Angel glared at the cruel woman again. She may be up to something, all right, but she still had her arsenal primed and ready. She definitely knew how to find the jugular and go for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell?\u201d she prompted when he remained silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course my soul longs for a connection with someone I care about,\u201d he sidestepped, making it sound like friendship.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd your demon?\u201d She continued, a verbal bulldozer on the quest for truth. \u201cDo you feel your demon whispering nasty little thoughts into your head? About how you want to take her? How you want to dominate her, subdue her, claim her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling like he\u2019d been crushed as she seemingly read his mind, he swallowed, then forced himself to answer. \u201cYes.\u201d It was a pained, hoarse whisper.<\/p>\n
Cordy nearly gasped. What the hell? Did his demon really think that kind of stuff? That was . . . well, that wasn\u2019t nearly as much of a turn off as it should be. Yikes.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d she said, straightening up and switching the heat of her gaze off so quickly that a chill swept through the room. \u201cIt is clear to me that the two of you have yet to work off your lustful feelings for each other. If you do not try harder to bring these feelings to the surface and purge them, this entire course of treatment will be ineffective. I suggest that you examine your feelings more closely in the next twenty-four hours before your next session. If you\u2019re feeling especially vulnerable, talk it over with each other and study the feelings clinically. I believe it will help you discover the source of these feelings, and by extension, solve the imbalance in your relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stood, straightening her skirt. Motioning for them to get up, she smiled tightly. \u201cThank you for taking time to reschedule. I realize this was a short meeting, but I believe an effective one regardless of some skepticism.\u201d She looked pointedly at Cordelia, who felt duly guilty.<\/p>\n
Guiding them quickly out the door, Cordelia and Angel were surprised to find the door closed in their faces. They turned to each other and laughed simultaneously, still feeling the charged electricity between them but sharing the humor in the situation nonetheless.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat woman is wacky,\u201d Cordelia said as they walked toward the exit and the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cuh-huh,\u201d Angel said, nodding absently. The woman was definitely up to something. Looks like he was going to have to have a little heart-to-heart with the good doctor.<\/p>\n