{"id":4029,"date":"2015-07-06T00:34:42","date_gmt":"2015-07-05T23:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=4029"},"modified":"2015-07-06T01:06:03","modified_gmt":"2015-07-06T00:06:03","slug":"bad-timing-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/06\/bad-timing-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Timing. 25"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 25<\/b>: Just to Clarify<\/strong><\/p>\n

Twenty Minutes Later\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/em><\/p>\n

Cordelia had never had so much fun just kissing. In fact, rarely in her life had she spent 20 minutes merely kissing. Her closet time with Xander had been relatively innocent but he hadn\u2019t really known what he was doing. Since then, being with a guy had mostly been about pushing as many of the other person\u2019s buttons, usually as fast as possible.<\/p>\n

She had planned on doing other stuff when she straddled Angel and pulled his face up to meet hers. But it never evolved past the just kissing phase.Maybe because just kissing Angel isn\u2019t just kissing. <\/i>For some reason, it reminded her a lot of how she felt when she and Angel went for walks after dusk, or of staying up late into the night helping him with Connor.<\/p>\n

Because of the closeness, because it feels like we\u2019re sharing something, something that\u2019s just ours. <\/i>Kissing with Angel was all about closeness. Kissing with Angel\u2026.I\u2019ve been kissing with Angel!<\/i><\/p>\n

It hadn\u2019t been like the first time they came together. Angel was too aware now that she had just been released from the hospital. He wouldn\u2019t let things go to far, and while she had definitely liked the rush and the neediness of the first time around, she found she liked it this way almost as much. Long sweet slow get-to-know-you kisses. Learning every nook and cranny of each other\u2019s mouths.<\/p>\n

Soon she was too caught up in just how loved and cherished he was making her feel to whine about how he wouldn\u2019t let her take his pants off. Plus, I\u2019m sure there will be time for that later. <\/i>The way he touched her now\u2014the fingers threading through her hair, the knuckle brushing over her jaw, the hands running gently over her hips. No one had touched her so tenderly before. Almost worshiping. It felt like he was reaching in and touching her soul. She would be perfectly happy just kissing this man for the rest of her life. But she couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Giving her lower lip a soft nibble, Angel pulled away to look down at Cordy. There were dark circles around her eyes and her hair was a messy jumble. He could feel the bandage covering the stitches through their clothes and he could still faintly smell the tears she had shed earlier in the evening. And still\u2026she was lovely.<\/p>\n

She lay on top of him on the couch now with her legs nestled firmly between his and the top of her head just under his chin. He drank in the warmth that blanketed him, the feel of her soft hot breath against his throat and the occasional kiss she would brush on the patch of skin exposed by the unbuttoned collar of his shirt. He would be content to hold this woman in his arms for the rest of his life. But he couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy. We need to think about moving soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

She made a half-hearted whine. \u201cNo. No moving. Let\u2019s just stay here on this couch where we love each other forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t stay here forever.\u201d Although for the life of him, Angel couldn\u2019t remember why.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d she grumbled. She raised her head to look in his eyes. \u201cI miss Connor already. And we still have all that help the helpless stuff to do. And the earning your redemption gig. So\u2026how about five more minutes?\u201d<\/p>\n

She is adorable. <\/i>Angel cupped her cheek and felt the need to tell her again just how he felt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you,\u201d he whispered harshly. Then, in a happier, lighter voice, he continued. \u201cI love you and I finally get to tell you that.\u201d She kissed his chin, but he wasn\u2019t done yet. \u201cCor, I look in your eyes and it\u2019s\u2026I can see my future. I think, for once, that anything is possible. Redemption. Shanshu.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something dark flickered in Cordy\u2019s gaze and suddenly she was pulling her head out of his reach and burying her face in his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy? Cordelia?\u201d Angel felt hot dampness seeping through his shirt and pulled her face up so he could see her. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Maybe she doesn\u2019t want a future with me. Maybe she just wants a fling. She doesn\u2019t want forever.<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cLook Angel, I\u2019m confident enough to believe that you love me. It\u2019s not that I doubt that. It\u2019s just\u2026when you shanshu\u2026anything WILL be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

I thought that was a good thing. <\/i>Angel waited for her to say more.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and Buffy\u2026You\u2019ll finally be able to be together.\u201d Cordy said this quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey! How can you think\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLess than 24 hours ago you were kissing her,\u201d she reminded him. \u201cYou two are still\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

This time he interrupted. \u201cNo. That kiss, it was, it was a goodbye kiss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel I am very aware that you, that how you feel about me, compared to how you feel about her\u2026\u201d Cordy couldn\u2019t seem to finish the sentence. How do you tell someone that you know you will always be their second choice?<\/i><\/p>\n

How can someone so strong be so insecure about this one thing? <\/i>Angel wished she had more faith in his love for her. But then, he hadn\u2019t really given her many reasons to feel that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy. Stand up,\u201d he ordered. When she did, he shifted so he was sitting up, then he pulled her back down, cuddling her in his lap. He just held her for a minute, taking his time to plan what he would say. It was very important that she understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow I feel about you, it\u2019s, it\u2019s not something I can compare to anything. Not Buffy, not anyone. Nothing I\u2019ve seen or read or felt in 250 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you and Buffy were soul-mates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel held back a growl. \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve had it up to here with this soul-mate crap. Buffy and I weren\u2019t soul mates, we were just in love. And do I think that you and I are soul mates, that we were destined to be? No. You and I met again in LA by pure and simple chance. The luckiest coincidence in the world. And I fell in love with you because of who you are and who you make me, not because of something pre-ordained. Destiny is bullshit.\u201d<\/p>\n

He felt her body tense as it prepared to interrupt him again. He squeezed her tightly. \u201cLet me finish. That day, in the basement when I told you I\u2019d never known anyone like you? I can\u2019t CONCIEVE of anyone being remotely like you. So I don\u2019t know there are the right words to describe how I feel about you. I only know that I\u2019ve never felt this way before\u2014I\u2019ve never felt so much before.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was silent but her hands had started tracing interesting patterns on his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head. \u201cBetter?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

She pulled her head off his shoulder and smiled at him. In answer she brushed a soft dry kiss on his lips. He sighed. \u201cWe need to get back to the hotel,\u201d he reminded her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe?\u201d Cordy really would have preferred staying away from the hotel for a little while.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes WE.\u201d He stood up with her still in his arms and Cordelia couldn\u2019t help but give a small shiver of delight. I could really get into dating a guy who can pick me up without groaning or making cracks about cutting down on dessert. <\/i>\u201cConnor\u2019s teething,\u201d Angel continued, \u201cand you aren\u2019t making me go through that alone. Plus, you and Buffy\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

OH SHIT! I forgot about Buffy. <\/i>Cordy wiggled until Angel put her back down. \u201cShe tried to hit me when she thought it was just me and my one-sided crush on you! She\u2019s going to really kick my ass now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t try to kick your ass. And, hey, even if she did, you know how to defend yourself now.\u201d Angel felt a thrill at the thought of how much fun training sessions were going to be after this.<\/p>\n

She sent him a withering glance. \u201cNo offence to your training abilities Angel, but your spinny kicky move, versus her Kung-Foo Slayer strength? She\u2019s going to Slayer-ize me! Or Slayer-tize me, which ever is more painful!\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel knew she was genuinely a little worried but it was hard to keep a straight face. She was so amazing. So funny and impulsive and\u2026alive. <\/i>. He grinned at her. \u201cI wonder if I\u2019m ever not going to be surprised by what comes out of your mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled and raised her eyebrows at him. \u201cYeah, well just think how surprised you\u2019ll be by what can come into my mouth.\u201d Wow, I’m naughty.<\/i><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s brain shut down as all the borrowed blood in his body rushed to a place that wasn\u2019t his head. When he finally could speak, it was barely coherent.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou, uh, you\u2026until that whole business with the curse and the soul and the,\u201d he took an unnecessary breath, \u201chappiness,\u201d he squeaked, \u201cuntil all that is solved, never say that again. Ever. Never.\u201d<\/p>\n

She giggled. He pushed her towards her bedroom. \u201cGo. Change. We need to get back to the hotel.\u201d She rolled her eyes but headed in to her room, leaving Angel in the living room to contemplate just what could come in her mouth.<\/p>\n

Part\u00a026<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 25: Just to Clarify Twenty Minutes Later\u2026\u2026\u2026.. Cordelia had never had so much fun just kissing. In fact, rarely in her life…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4029\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}