Part 9<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia had turned into a stalker.<\/p>\n
The thought flitted through her lust-fogged mind as she stood in the open doorway of Angel\u2019s suite. It was very early morning, just before sunrise, and the vampire in question was out cold on his bed. He lay there, still as death, and she stared at him, wide-eyed and salivating.<\/p>\n
Finally, she blinked, the rational part of her brain scolding her for her crazy behavior. Closing her mouth and swallowing, she placed a hand on the doorframe, half for support, half to keep herself from running into the room and jumping Angel. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to tamp down the urge as it swept over her. God, she had turned into such a freak.<\/p>\n
It had been one week since she and Angel had first slept together. One week since they\u2019d been possessed at the ballet and had let things go too far. The second time had been later that night in the basement, and after that, she\u2019d sworn that she would stay away from him, no matter how sexy he looked or how horny she felt. She\u2019d finally gone home in the wee hours of the morning, locked herself in her apartment, determined to stay strong.<\/p>\n
Her resolve had lasted less than 24 hours.<\/p>\n
The next day, she\u2019d come into work feeling somewhat normal. But as soon as Angel had walked into the room, her desire for him had swamped every portion of her brain and body, and it was all she could do to keep herself planted on her chair. Angel had sensed it, drawn to her like a moth to a flame, but he, too, had attempted to stay away. They\u2019d been successful for nearly an hour, but somehow, they\u2019d both passed the bathroom at the same time, their arms brushing each other, and it was as if a fire had been lit. Their eyes met each other, his gaze liquid heat, and they\u2019d stumbled into the bathroom, screwing in a frenzy that scared them both.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d been together ever since then at least once, sometimes two or three times, every day. Cordelia would go home at night, determined to get through a day without attacking him, but it seemed impossible. The lust would overwhelm her, making her clumsy, almost feeling as though she\u2019d been drugged. Her eyes would focus on him, her gaze hot, heavy, and he\u2019d respond to it, his own eyes darkening with an answering desire. They\u2019d both have enough mental capacity to make excuses for leaving, then find the nearest dark corner or closet and take each other wildly.<\/p>\n
It was almost violent, the way she needed him. There hadn\u2019t been a time since the ballet that they weren\u2019t rough with each other; she had the bruises and scrapes to prove it. There was no doubt in her mind that Angel had claw marks and bruises as well. It was just that she felt on fire until his cool body connected with hers. And then, when he entered her, it was like throwing a bucket of ice water on the lust that threatened to consume her from the inside out. Her mind instantly cleared as she climaxed, every single time, and remorse inevitably followed.<\/p>\n
Always, they had sex in the dark. Always. If there was some light present, she\u2019d stare over his shoulder at some random object and go through the motions without looking at him. She couldn\u2019t look at him. She was too ashamed of herself. Every time they parted, she\u2019d wonder why he never said anything, why he let her use him like this. She was taking advantage of Angel and she hated herself for it.<\/p>\n
On top of that, she\u2019d had dreams of Sebastian nearly every night. Dreams where he touched her as Angel had, but she didn\u2019t like to think about it. The dreams left her aching, desperate for the evil vampire, and it scared her.<\/p>\n
Opening her eyes, Cordelia once again felt drawn to the still figure on the bed. Angel hadn\u2019t moved an inch while she\u2019d been recalling the events of the last week, and as far as she knew, he hadn\u2019t realized she was even in the doorway.<\/p>\n
Cordy let her mind open, just for a moment, to the possibility of walking across the room to him, and she swayed with the surge of lust that followed. Closing her eyes and groaning, she reached her other hand up and gripped the opposite side of the door frame, squeezing her legs together tightly and gripping the wood until her knuckles were white and her fingers were numb. God, if she could just resist, just once . . .<\/p>\n
But, like the passage of time, it was inevitable. Slowly, her mind fogged with the urgency of her need, and she felt herself moving, her feet bringing her, unwillingly, to the side of the bed. Pale moonlight streamed in a crack between the drapes, illuminating Angel\u2019s face and the upper portion of his chest.<\/p>\n
She stood near him, panting. Holding one hand out, she reached for him, hovering just above his upper arm, her fingers shaking. Clenching her teeth, she determinedly curled her fingers into a fist, and quickly brought it back to herself. She tried, one last time, to control her urges, stuffing her fist against her lips, tears welling up.<\/p>\n
But again, she couldn\u2019t help it. She reached for the hem of her shirt, pulling it over her head, the rest of her clothing following quickly.<\/p>\n
Angel woke just as her panties fell to the floor. Slowly, he opened his eyes, seeing her there, naked, tears glittering against her cheeks. One hand was covering her mouth, as if to control the tears, and his heart broke at her despair. Her eyes met his in the dim light, and they held the gaze for a moment.<\/p>\n
Then he sat up, the sheet pooling around his hips, and he leaned against the headboard. She stood there, hesitating, her body screaming for release, but her mind\u2019s shame was preventing her from following through. Angel, having seen her go through this every time they\u2019d slept together in the past week, decided to spare her the torment. He raised his arms to her, holding them out in blatant invitation, waiting.<\/p>\n
Cordy\u2019s breath hitched in a sob and she hesitated a fraction of a second before throwing herself into his arms. The moment her skin touched his, her tears were forgotten. She straddled his thighs, yanking the sheet violently out of the way, grasping him in her hand. He was ready for her in seconds, his heavy breathing underscoring his desire, and she quickly pulled herself up, guiding him into her. She groaned, burying her face in his neck as his cool length began to soothe the burning inside.<\/p>\n
It was difficult for Angel, more so than it had been all the times before, to have her in his arms. The tenuous bond they\u2019d had since he\u2019d bitten her had given him some link to her feelings, but only the strongest ones, like fear, lust, and despair. He hated not knowing what she felt right now. What she felt besides the lust.<\/p>\n
This time, the hopelessness was even greater than usual. He\u2019d been dreaming about her, dreaming that she loved him, only to wake up and find her there, the reality of his situation mocking him. His own eyes welled with tears, the depth of his despair eating away at him like acid etching metal. His hands grasped her hips, setting her rhythm, and he closed his eyes as the lust washed over him, shoving away the pain for baser pleasures.<\/p>\n
Being inside her was like touching heaven and hell at the same time. Heaven because he wanted her so badly, because he loved her so much. Hell because he couldn\u2019t have her. Hell because she\u2019d never said she loved him. Since the ballet, not once had he looked into her eyes as he stroked her from the inside out, and suddenly, that\u2019s what he wanted more than anything else.<\/p>\n
One hand left her hip and reached for the lamp on the bedside table, flipping it on. Cordy\u2019s eyes flew open, the look in them panicked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d she whimpered, stopping her movement long enough to reach for the light. He caught her wrist, not letting her turn it off.<\/p>\n
When she opened her mouth to protest again, Angel brought her hand to his lips, drawing her fingertips in his mouth and sucking on them. Her eyes closed as the nerve endings tingled, sending shocks throughout her body, and she forgot about the light, forgot about her self-loathing and began moving atop him again.<\/p>\n
Angel focused on her face, releasing her hand and bringing his up to cup her jaw, stroke her cheek, run his fingers across her open mouth. Watching her gain her pleasure was so mesmerizing. He could tell that she was close, the steadiness of her rhythm being broken as the urgency became greater. Suddenly, the love Angel felt for her bubbled up in him and overflowed, spilling from his eyes in tears. She was so beautiful, and he loved her more than he\u2019d ever loved anyone.<\/p>\n
Atop him, Cordy kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut, blocking out the light. She felt her body begin to tingle all over as she approached her climax, but still, she couldn\u2019t bring herself to look at him. She knew she would see loathing in his eyes, and she couldn\u2019t bring herself to face it. Not from him. Not from someone she cared about so much. She brought her hands up to his shoulders to give herself more leverage, and Angel took his other free hand, bringing his thumb to her clit and stroking softly in circles. Gasping, she felt the sensation overwhelm her, and she increased her speed.<\/p>\n
Within moments, her orgasm overtook her, her jaw going slack as her body convulsed. Her eyes opened against her will as her mind cleared, and in the golden light, her gaze locked with his. What she read there shocked her.<\/p>\n
Tenderness poured from his eyes, raw and open. Suddenly, his touches seemed softer, his movements more gentle, and she realized that there was something different here. Something she couldn\u2019t define, but it bathed her with its warmth, reassuring her on the most elemental level. She moved again, stroking him with her body, and watched as his face contorted in pleasure, then morphed into his demon as he came. He rested his head against her shoulder, his mouth nuzzling her neck, his fangs lightly scraping her skin.<\/p>\n
In wonder, Cordelia cradled his head to her neck and realized that somehow, this time was different than the basement had been. Watching Angel\u2019s face just before he came made Cordelia realize that this was really making love. They weren\u2019t just having sex, as she\u2019d thought before. The look in his eyes had been so much more than that. It was something deeper. She was afraid to ask what, but knowing that it was more than the lust of his demon was enough to make her feel less miserable.<\/p>\n
Pulling his head gently away from her neck, she kissed him, slowly, deeply, for the first time in a week, her fingers running over the ridges on his face.<\/p>\n
Coming back to himself, Angel opened his eyes, turning them away from her, his lips set in a grim line. She could almost hear the self-flagellation going on in that head of his.<\/p>\n
It was way past time they talked about this.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel,\u201d she said softly, bringing her hand up to trace the now-bumpy eyebrows. Yellow eyes came up to meet with hazel ones, and the pain and despair in them nearly broke her heart. She leaned over and kissed his mouth again, softly, running her tongue along his bottom lip and lingering there.<\/p>\n
He let her kiss him for a moment, then pulled back and looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, listen to me,\u201d Cordelia said softly. His eyes reluctantly came back to meet hers. \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on in that head of yours right now, but you need to stop feeling so bad about this.\u201d She took a deep breath. \u201cWe both do.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u201cCordy, what we\u2019re doing here, it\u2019s. . .\u201d he trailed off, his face shifting back to the human mask she loved so much.<\/p>\n
\u201cShhh,\u201d she whispered. \u201cAngel, what we\u2019ve been doing is definitely complicated. Crazy, even. But\u2014\u201d she said, when she saw his eyes cloud over even further, \u201cI need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He seemed to think about this for a moment. \u201cHow?\u201d he finally said.<\/p>\n
She frowned, trying to come up with an answer. \u201cI don\u2019t know, it\u2019s. . . complicated,\u201d she said again. \u201cEver since Sebastian bit me, its been hard to control myself around you. It\u2019s like I\u2019m drawn to you as a vampire. Like I\u2019ll go insane if I can\u2019t be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I\u2019m making it worse,\u201d he said, worriedly, remembering all the times that he\u2019d been the one to grab her and drag her off someplace. She hadn\u2019t been the initiator all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d she was quick to counter him. \u201cYou\u2019re making it better, Angel. After the basement, I felt better than I had since he bit me. Almost normal. And every time since then, it helps me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stopped, brushing his lips with her thumb. \u201cIt just doesn\u2019t last very long. That\u2019s why I keep coming back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He kissed the palm of her hand, his fingers stroking the soft skin of her lower back. \u201cThis isn\u2019t good for us, Cordy,\u201d he said softly. \u201cWe can\u2019t keep this up.\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned, not wanting to think about it, about a time when she couldn\u2019t be with him like this anymore. \u201cIt\u2019s just until we kill Sebastian.\u201d Her eyes searched his. \u201cI need you until then, Angel. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll stay sane without you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stayed silent, his love for her warring with his need for self-preservation.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease?\u201d she whispered, and he broke inside.<\/p>\n
Finally, he nodded, leaning forward to kiss her lightly. \u201cI\u2019ll be here, Cordy, for as long as you need me,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
She sighed in relief, sinking against him. \u201cThank you,\u201d she whispered. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally!\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley\u2019s sigh pierced the quiet tension in the room. Before him, a thick, dusty book sat open, its pages filled with a scrawl that looked more like tangled ivy than a legitimate language.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou found something?\u201d Fred asked excitedly, rushing up to stand near his elbow. She closed the book she\u2019d been holding, shoving her finger between the pages to hold her place.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Wesley said, nodding, and everyone else in the room gathered near his desk. Cordelia and Angel made certain they were standing very far away from each other. Being distracted right now was not a good idea.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d gathered to do their research in the brightest part of the day, knowing that Sebastian couldn\u2019t stream through the sunlight even in his incorporeal form. Wesley had done enough research to find out that he had to recorporealize on a regular basis if he didn\u2019t want lasting side-effects. That meant they could assume, somewhat safely, that the middle of the day would be Sebastian-free.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this will work,\u201d Wesley said, continuing. He pointed his finger at an engraving on the book\u2019s page. \u201cThis urn is what we need. We can trap Sebastian\u2019s essence in it and then destroy him inside it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d Angel said, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall. \u201cHow do we get him in there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI discovered that yesterday,\u201d Fred said excitedly. \u201cWe have to catch him in the middle of his tricks. When he\u2019s between solid and incorporeal, his power is weak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we can use an incantation to direct the particles of his essence to the container,\u201d Wesley finished for her.<\/p>\n
Gunn shook his head, frowning. \u201cSounds kinda weak to me,\u201d he complained. \u201cWon\u2019t he be prepared for this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Their boss sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. \u201cProbably, under normal circumstances. But I would imagine that by now, he\u2019s worked himself into a frenzy because he\u2019s waited so long. He probably won\u2019t be focused on anything but getting to Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
A wave of fear passed through Cordelia, but she swallowed, then breathed deeply to calm herself. \u201cIt sounds like a good plan to me, Wes,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you ever figure out how he\u2019s able to do all of this?\u201d Angel asked. He\u2019d heard rumors of vampires with special powers, but he\u2019d never encountered one before Sebastian. Gunn and Groo\u2019s reconnaissance of Sebastian\u2019s mansion had turned up nothing helpful.<\/p>\n
Shrugging, Wesley pushed back in his chair. \u201cI called Giles earlier this week. He told me that Dracula had contacted Buffy sometime last year, and he\u2019d had similar powers. It seems that they are some form of Gypsy magic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel frowned fiercely at this. \u201cDamn Gypsies,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n
Wes half-smiled. \u201cOne good thing is that they always have some sort of antidote for their magicks. They believe in balance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo now we have to go dig up some dusty urn?\u201d Gunn said, his voice tired. He\u2019d been sent on countless errands for rare books in the past week, and it wasn\u2019t lost on him that he\u2019d probably be sent out for this, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Wesley said, shaking his head. \u201cThe spell calls for any sort of container with a lid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunn raised his eyebrows. \u201cSo we could use Tupperware and it would be all good?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley frowned at Gunn\u2019s irreverence. \u201cI suppose,\u201d he admitted reluctantly.<\/p>\n
Cordy laughed wryly. \u201cThat would be too funny. \u2018Vampire Destroyed by plastic container.\u2019 Sebastian\u2019s so upper crust he\u2019d probably be insulted with anything less than a silver urn.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a clay pot with a lid, or some type of jar would probably be our best option,\u201d Wesley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet a glass jar,\u201d Fred suggested. \u201cThen we can just set it out in the sun, and . . . poof! Dust bunnies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s smile, a sinister curve of his lips, stretched across his face at the thought. He deserved it, the bastard. Death by sunlight was painful, or so he\u2019d heard. Much worse than staking.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s do it,\u201d he said, nodding.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery good,\u201d Wesley said, closing the book after marking his page with piece of scrap paper. \u201cHe\u2019ll make his move soon, I would think.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shivered. Somehow, she knew Wesley was right.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
That night, Angel sat alone in his suite, staring into the darkness outside and frowning fiercely. A half-empty bottle of Glenfiddich sat near him, a glass in his hand, half-full. Cordelia had just left him, and while the sex this time had been less painful emotionally, he was still confused and heartbroken. She needed him, but she\u2019d never said she loved him.<\/p>\n
He shoved aside the ache in his heart and turned toward the worry beside it. She was getting worse, and it scared him. The haze in her eyes before she came to him got worse each time, her movements clumsier, her need greater. Tonight, she\u2019d stumbled to him, practically falling into his arms, and he\u2019d had to get her started before she was able to take over and get what she needed from him. He\u2019d tried to be gentle, but it seemed to be painful for her, and when he\u2019d quickened his pace and roughened his movements, she\u2019d sighed with relief. He\u2019d brought her off quickly, and her eyes had cleared, finally.<\/p>\n
The partial claimings were taking their toll on her. Sebastian\u2019s had been deep, powerful, his intent clear. Angel\u2019s at the ballet had been weak, his soul preventing him from completing it, but it had added to her condition. Every day, she got worse, and every day, he feared he\u2019d lose her.<\/p>\n
More than all that, his worst fear was that when Sebastian came, he wouldn’t be able to save her. That she\u2019d go to him, unable to help herself, and he wouldn\u2019t be fast enough to stop him.<\/p>\n
Losing Cordelia was not a scenario he was willing to consider.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
They were nearly ready. Every day, he checked on them, streaming in through the windows at dusk to hover in the corner near Cordelia\u2019s desk, observing her activity. Even in his incorporeal state, he could smell the scent of her arousal, thick around her. Often, as if she could sense his presence, her eyes met Angelus\u2019s and they left, despair and need coming off them in waves. Every time, it got worse. Every time, the ache in Angelus\u2019s eyes grew thicker, his torture more prominent. He loved her, and it was killing him to be with her like this.<\/p>\n
Every night, Sebastian followed Cordelia home, having found a way to keep her ghost from attacking him. One brief Gypsy incantation had made him impervious to the over-protective ghost\u2019s actions. Dennis had howled furiously at this, but Sebastian had only smiled in triumph.<\/p>\n
Sebastian would meet Cordelia in her living room, his essence brushing the back of her neck and sending shivers up and down her spine. He would watch lasciviously as she bathed, stroking the rough loofah over her soft skin. He would admire her sleek curves as she readied for bed and climbed beneath the covers. He would bask in the glow of her beauty as her eyes fluttered shut, her breathing evening out as she fell into the deepest of sleeps.<\/p>\n
Only then would he allow himself to touch her. The particles of his essence would swirl, rearranging themselves into his corporeal form, and he would walk to her bedside, gazing down at her. Another whispered incantation would put her under his thrall, her eyes opening, her mind telling her she was dreaming. He would run his fingers lightly down her arm, then all across her body, teasing her into readiness. Only when she was panting, her body tingling and aching, would he dissolve and remove the thrall, leaving her to her unrequited desire.<\/p>\n
Every night, he dutifully resisted the urge to complete his claim, knowing that revenge would be the sweetest when she was at her most vulnerable, Angelus at his most desperate.<\/p>\n
He smiled in undisguised glee. Yes, they were nearly ready. Soon, very soon, he would make his move.<\/p>\n
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