***<\/p>\n
It was like the ground was sucked out from under her. Balancing precariously on the edge, Cordelia tried to distance herself from the vampire that surrounded her until he threatened to slide down her throat and wrap around her heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know I\u2019m dying?\u201d<\/p>\n
An eyebrow arched cockily. \u201cBecause without you I\u2019m dying and if I go I sure as hell am not leaving you behind.\u201d He slid his thumb along her cheekbone, reveling in the feel of her coppery skin. \u201cCome with me Chase.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen was the last time you asked me a question?\u201d<\/p>\n
The demon was suddenly thrown for a loop. He\u2019d had enough experience with women, but it was safe to say that this Chase woman was a damned enigma.<\/p>\n
From the moment she\u2019d dragged him out of he gutter to the day she\u2019d taken the bullet for him, Angelus had not been able to understand her. \u201cIs this a trick question?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jerking away from him, she crossed her arms and regarded him with cool inquiry. \u201cGo ahead. Ask me one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you PMSing?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel eyes turned a scathing caramel. \u201cAsk me IF I want to go with you Angelus.\u201d<\/p>\n
A smile threatened to tug at the corner of his mouth. \u201cWhat\u2019s the damned point? You\u2019ll only lie to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee!\u201d Throwing up her hand, the young woman started to pace. \u201cEver since this whole mess started I\u2019ve not been given a single choice. Not one. I\u2019m a fairly independent woman. I live my life my way and I\u2019m my own queen. Don\u2019t interrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n
She held up a firm hand when he opened his mouth and Angelus held his tongue more in amusement than in agreement. \u201cFrom the moment I made the sad mistake of saving your fangless ass, I\u2019ve been scratched, dragged, beaten and shot at! I\u2019m a cheerleader for god\u2019s sake not a slayer!\u201d
\n\u201cSeer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeer then!\u201d She hissed, careful to keep her voice lowered, but let her temper run rampant. \u201cFirst you parade yourself hopefully under my nose, screaming innuendoes and don\u2019t think I\u2019m a complete idiot. I know a ploy when I see one. This is what you wanted. You LEFT me in that kitchen so you could come up here today and seduce me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t seduced you yet Hazel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Her mind wrapped around that concept for a moment and her mind was assaulted with possibilities before she pressed her hands against her temples.<\/p>\n
\u201cARGH! Stop! Just stop and listen to me for a moment\u2026what are you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
He held her hands in his, stroking her knuckles gently. \u201cAs much as I\u2019d like to take credit for this Brighteyes, I\u2019m afraid you\u2019re the seducer in this picture.\u201d<\/p>\n
He mouth opened before snapping shut with a frown, her hands forgotten in his, skin tingling pleasantly under his thumbs. \u201cHow do you figure that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Eyebrows knitting together he seemed to concentrate on tracing patterns on her skin. \u201cProblem is Chase, I\u2019ve been asking you all the questions. You\u2019ve just never given me a damned answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he lifted his eyes they were tinged with ochre and her heart pitched into her stomach at the sudden stillness in the night. \u201cFrankly, I don\u2019t think you have it in you to give me any answers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hazel eyes averted and her hands trembled in his, colder than his undead ones. \u201cAngelus\u2026 we\u2019re\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked up sharply at his bitter laugh. Almost like he couldn\u2019t believe it himself. \u201cYeah baby I feel bad for you. I think so does everyone else that you\u2019re stuck with a bastard like me.\u201d Then his gaze hardened hands tightening on hers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not a bastard Angelus, you\u2019re a cold blooded killer. Pun and all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it that scares you more Cordelia? That I killed? Or that I killed for you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dumbfounded with his aim, the young woman stood gaping up into the intelligent face of her adversary. \u201cI don\u2019t care what your reasons were!\u201d She squawked indignantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to be responsible for the death of innocents.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he innocent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not the one to decide vampire.\u201d<\/p>\n
His mouth twitched. \u201cActually, you\u2019re the one that decides.\u201d When her pretty hazel eyes widened he chuckled and slid one finger across her jaw down to her chin sinuously.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe damned chip in my head is not my leash Hazel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my god!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOH MY GOD!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was about intent.\u201d Stepping away from her, he ran a weary hand through his hair. \u201cFor the first time in my twisted unlife I didn\u2019t kill because I was hungry. It was because I was saving an innocent. The only innocent that mattered. I\u2019d figured it would be easy. I kill a few things, which is something I do anyway, and the PTB eventually let go.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s a few centuries to a demon? But then they threw you into the damned equation and I\u2019ve been beating my head against a wall since then. For you Chase \u2013 I\u2019d do anything. But I\u2019ll be damned to hell again before I let you lie to me. So tonight you\u2019ll get your wish. I\u2019m asking the questions. And if you lie to me, I\u2019m going to toss you over my knee and beat the truth out of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her pretty hazel eyes were wide as she tried to shove herself away. \u201cAre you threatening me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m taking your advice.\u201d Cordelia stifled a gasp as she was spun around and pinned back against the railing of the balcony. \u201cWhy did you drag me out of the gutter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were wearing designer leather,\u201d she shot back venomously, struggling under the bulk of his muscle holding her immobile against the railing. How she always ended up here with an agitated, enamored vampire bearing down on her, she wondered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t I ever seem to scare you enough?\u201d<\/p>\n
And the answers were already there in his eyes. Just like they\u2019d always been, but no honest words would make it past her throat while his large frame leaned against hers, the coolness of his body burning every inch of her.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn you Angelus, get off me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you talk to me Chase? Why did you stay with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t have a choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t you?\u201d His eyes narrowed and she realized that he wasn\u2019t playing anymore. The anger and clarity was potent in his low gravel tone. Hard and taunting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you ask Giles to unchain the demon? Why did you fucking bother to bring me blood every damned morning? Why didn\u2019t you let me bleed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried!\u201d She struggled to break free, eyes spitting with anger. She hated how he always seemed to corner her.<\/p>\n
Wrenching answers out of her when all she wanted was to be left alone. \u201cDon\u2019t you think I tried!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo more lies Cordelia Chase!\u201d His fingers tightened and for the first time she saw the man, her struggles ceasing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fine little web is spun by you. You pulled the fucking strings. You did the seducing. These wide hazel eyes. Your sunshine tainted smile. I had their pity, but the only thing I got from you was understanding. YOU understood the demon! Wake up and smell the brimstone woman! You saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n
An enticing curl fell over her forehead as he shook her, hating himself for wanting to hear the truth from her mouth. \u201cWhy did you take my bullet Hazel?\u201d<\/p>\n
With his breath whispering against her mouth, Cordelia squeezed her eyes shut, willing him to leave her alone, but dreading the distance she\u2019d already put between them. \u201cWhat do you want to hear?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you\u2019re afraid to tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re a demon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a demon when you fished the bullet out of my chest. I was demon five minutes ago when you kissed me back like you could never stop. I was still the damned demon when you looked into my eyes lied to me that you feel nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n
She flinched at the memory. \u201cSeems like ages ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop the damn dance Chase, my right hand\u2019s itching.\u201d<\/p>\n
The flash of anger was instantaneous. \u201cDon\u2019t you dare!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen be honest for a second! For fuck\u2019s sake you owe me that much at least!\u201d<\/p>\n
She let out an exasperated sigh and tipped her head back, gaze sliding over the stars smiling down at her condescendingly. Yeah, laugh it up, she glared at them before dragging her eyes back to his. \u201cI saved your life in the alley because I had nothing to lose that night. I saved your life because the alternative didn\u2019t occur to me. I saved your stupid life because seeing the Scourge of Europe wallowing in the mud was so achingly familiar to what I was feeling that I just thought if could put you back on your feet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
she trailed off, remembered the last drink she ordered at the bar before leaving. Her last martini. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was visiony things then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t the visiony thing then and sure as hell isn\u2019t the visiony thing now.\u201d At the bewildered confusion in her pretty eyes, the demon shook his head, his mouth twisted into a lamenting snarl.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think this shit happens in a flash? Like two poles of a damned magnet? You cultivated this. I only wanted you Chase. You needed me.\u201d The grumble was filled with regret.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need you.\u201d<\/p>\n
A muscle tightened in his jaw. \u201cYou know I\u2019d thought I would revel in hearing the words from your mouth. Willingly telling me everything your eyes scream the moment they meet mine, but I can see right now that your mouth won\u2019t obey anything but your pride. So let\u2019s strip you first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat!?\u201d Her eyes widened and he allowed exactly one breath before it was stolen from her.<\/p>\n
Cordelia Chase had to physically bite down the need to scream her head off. Dangling over the trellis, her ankle still in the demon\u2019s grasp she struggled and swayed like a pendulum with its tongue in between its teeth. \u201cAngelusss!\u201d She hissed. \u201cPull me up!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSay the words Chase.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shit-faced ignoramus, when I get my hands on you!\u201d<\/p>\n
He shook her slightly and the woman gasped, her very nice silk gown nearly sliding all the way off until she caught it with both hands, her pretty hazel eyes wide. His mouth widened into a sickeningly sweet grin. \u201cYou do realize I can see everything anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPull me up!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cListen Chase, you have a few minutes before the blood starts pooling in your brain and you pass out, after which I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you off for a night of unadulterated passion and although I know I can have you begging in two shakes, let it not be said that any woman goes unwillingly into my den. I am Angelus. Just realized that you don\u2019t respond to coaxing. So.\u201d<\/p>\n
He gave her another shake and the woman yelped nearly losing her hold on her skimpy clothing. \u201cWhat\u2019ll it be?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI HATE YOAAHHH!\u201d Her hiss turned into a startled yelp when she dropped a few inches, her heart pounding into her throat. Oh dear god he was crazy! Batty and completely out of it! What the hell had she gotten herself into?<\/p>\n
A life time of this foreplay and she\u2019d be a basket case in six months. She whined before looking up into his face. He was taking heinous pleasure at her predicament. \u201cFINE!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Squeezing her eyes shut, the helpless tears building behind her eyelids she realized there was very little point in keeping something from him that he already knew. Dammit, hadn\u2019t she been through enough?<\/p>\n
Did she really need to be subjected to this humiliation of admitting her feeling for a dead thing that loved to look up her skirt at every given moment by possibly pitching her over balconies? For fun.<\/p>\n
And she\u2019d thought Drusilla had been psychotic. \u201cPull me up, I\u2019ll tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDammit Fang! Do you really want me to say this while I\u2019m about to pass out and in a position to break my neck if you lose your grip!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m bordering on lunacy. No one said vampires were logical creatures. I could drop you and meet you in hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh god! I LOVE YOU! Okay! Now please\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod complex thing aside baby, I do have a name\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared up at his self-satisfied smirk and wished he would just let her fall. Death was better than this.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus?\u201d She tried to hold his gaze as best as she could with the blood pounding in her ears. She was very close to actually making good on his threat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you. I love you enough to want to die for you, you arrogant, self-serving, half-wit \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n
And she was in his arms, her nose buried into his chest; she wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him almost like he\u2019d dropped her. But then she wasn\u2019t really sure he hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Still muttering curses and shaking and delirious with the rush of blood to her head, Cordelia let the tears slide. His satisfied laughter melted into soft soothing whispers, his hands sliding over hair and back, holding her through it.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy baby, let it go. I\u2019ve got you. It\u2019s okay to cry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She struggled, tried to push him away, but he held her. \u201cNo. No I\u2019ll never be able to stop then!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I\u2019ll just have to stay with you forever Chase.\u201d And then he felt her body racking with soft muted sobs and felt his shoulder getting wet from her tears. But Angelus could care less.<\/p>\n
Giles had been right. It couldn\u2019t be harder to stay together than it was to stay apart.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d thought she had no tears. She thought she\u2019d cried them all. And she thought she won\u2019t feel because she wouldn\u2019t allow herself to feel something so deep. She\u2019d been scared of feeling love for anyone again.<\/p>\n
And if anyone had seen closely as she\u2019d walked down the roads, void of any real human contact, they would see the emptiness in her eyes. The dark space where love should have been. The gaping whole in her soul.<\/p>\n
But she never would have pegged Angelus to fill that gap for her. But he was here.<\/p>\n
And for the first time since the day she\u2019d found her parents gone \u2013 Cordelia Chase let go.<\/p>\n
For a moment he really feared she wouldn\u2019t stop. But then his shirt wasn\u2019t getting wetter and the woman had stopped shaking. Her arms were still wrapped around him like a vice and Angelus realized couldn\u2019t believe something so unnatural could ever feel so damn good.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d seen his soul\u2019s relationship with the slayer and he\u2019d seen vampires and humans falling in and out of love. Why did it feel like this sharp-tongued child could give him the world?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou realize that you\u2019ve ruined perfectly good Armani silk.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled against his shoulder. \u201cIf I wasn\u2019t broke, I\u2019d buy you ten more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not broke with me around Hazel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smile widened into a grin. \u201cYou do know how to woo a woman\u2019s heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSexiest vampire alive. Well. Almost alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tipping her head back she looked up into his black eyes, the odd calmness to the vampire laced with the prospect of the coming future. It made her shiver with anticipation and a hint of fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hear LA is really nice this time of the year,\u201d he purred, softening her for the possible smooching she knew he was plotting.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re welcome to come with.\u201d Her eyes dropped to his mouth and it stretched into a full-blown Angelus-patented smirk.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s better. I\u2019m sick of this town anyway. Not enough nightlife.\u201d He nodded sagely and bent his head to finally taste her without resistance.<\/p>\n
Or so he thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore nightlife, there\u2019s something we need out in the clear.\u201d Putting one finger over his lips to delay her loss of coherency she could foretell in his eyes, Cordelia spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so not a plaything. If I\u2019m to accept this role as your beautiful seer and seducer, then I expect to play heroine. Not a sidekick.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus rolled his eyes. \u201cDamn you mortal seers are demanding.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he bent down for his kiss she pulled back again, this time though, he saw the impish twinkle in her eyes. \u201cAnd! I want new clothes.\u201d He raised a humoring eyebrow as she pondered the options.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd shoes! And a penthouse suite in a big hotel!\u201d<\/p>\n
Grabbing her wrist he dragged her against him, his nose sliding along hers, eyes holding hers captive. \u201cFor you Chase, I\u2019ll buy the whole damned hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFuck yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grinning at the adorably greedy awe in her big hazel eyes, he pressed a hard kiss on her mouth. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
She blinked before grinning widely, the happiness reaching her eyes for the first time in weeks. \u201cLet me get my bag.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it,\u201d he took her hand. \u201cJust grab your shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n
She blinked at his illogical trail of thought. \u201cMy shoes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t then,\u201d he shrugged noncommittally as he pulled her toward the railing. \u201cHave I ever told you about my fetish for bare feet? I remember this child I ate once; she\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShoes!\u201d She squeaked. \u201cShoes are good. I love shoes. Yes. See me wear shoes!\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelus grinned at as the brunette ran all the way to the door; tiptoed inside, grabbed her shoes, tiptoed back and ran into his arms.<\/p>\n
When they disappeared over the railing, Harmony rolled over in her bed and grunted. \u201cAbout time.\u201d<\/p>\n