{"id":4495,"date":"2015-07-08T22:46:55","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T21:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=4495"},"modified":"2015-07-08T22:54:16","modified_gmt":"2015-07-08T21:54:16","slug":"oblivion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/08\/oblivion\/","title":{"rendered":"Oblivion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Oblivion<\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>Little Heaven<\/strong>
\nPosted: <\/b>07-02-2004
\nEmail<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>NC-17
\nCategory: <\/b>Angst, smut
\nContent: <\/b>C\/A
\nSummary: <\/b>Dennis knows Cordelia is dying. And he\u2019s hell-bent on making sure Angel finds out. Sequel to Deluge<\/b> <\/a>
\nSpoilers: <\/b>Spoilers through Birthday, S3
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>Just Fic, Volition, GT, anyone else, just ask.
\nNotes: <\/b>A sequel to Deluge<\/b>. Set after That Vision Thing<\/i>, Season Three.
\nThanks\/Dedication: <\/b>Written especially for my friend and mentor Starlet2367<\/b>. Love you, babe! Thanks to my fanfic gurus Laurie Andrews<\/b> and Julie Fortune<\/b> for the beta.
\nFeedback: <\/b>Please!<\/p>\n

\n

Fresh raindrops spattered against the windshield as Angel eased the Plymouth into a parking space near Cordy\u2019s apartment. The street and sidewalk looked like wet obsidian, reflecting the misty halos of the streetlights in the puddles that had formed there.<\/p>\n

Cordelia shifted and sighed in the passenger seat, but didn\u2019t wake.<\/p>\n

The storm that had drenched them — and saved her life, back in the rocky canyon — rumbled away to the north, and another was sweeping in to replace it. A weak flicker of lightning danced along the horizon, illuminating a tower of clouds, the apartment building in stark silhouette against them. It was coming fast, and it was big.<\/p>\n

He killed the engine and glanced over at Cordelia, and then at the glistening hood of the car. It felt like a dream, her warm body beneath him, around him\u2026 He inhaled deep. Acknowledged the leftover adrenaline, the pump of borrowed blood, and the smell of sex that clung to them both.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t understand what had happened. Why Cordy had initiated it. That wasn\u2019t her. Wasn\u2019t them.<\/p>\n

Something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

Lightning pulsed again, brighter this time, and an answering grumble of thunder made the car shudder. Cordy flinched, and opened her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we home?\u201d she asked, her voice rusty.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pulled his damp coat closer around her, and peered through the windshield. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose there\u2019s an umbrella rattling around in your trunk-of-death back there?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cSorry, no.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed, looked up at the sky, and reached for the door handle. \u201cProbably not a good idea to be waving metal objects around out there, anyway.\u201d There was a long, uneasy silence, during which she avoided his eyes. Finally, she pushed the door open.<\/p>\n

Fresh, rain-scented air rushed into the car as she swung both legs out onto the footpath, and looked back over her shoulder. \u201cUm, I\u2019ll see you tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u201d he said, too fast, too loud. He couldn\u2019t leave it like this. Couldn\u2019t let the strange, strained vibe fester overnight. Couldn\u2019t ignore the deep gut feeling that something was wrong. Or the frown she was now sending in his direction. \u201cI mean — I should escort you inside. Make sure you\u2019re –\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe?\u201d The word came out as a short, barking laugh. \u201cI just killed some big stinky demon with nothing but an axe — and saved your ass in the process, by the way — and you\u2019re worried about me walking 30 feet to my front door?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the middle of the night, half-naked, yes,\u201d he said, trying to ignore the sudden memory of her, dappled in raindrops, pulling his palm to her breast.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, someone went all Incredible Hulk on my clothes,\u201d she replied, her face softening as she adjusted the coat again.<\/p>\n

Angel pocketed the car keys. \u201cSo I owe it to you to get you inside with your modesty intact. Humor me.\u201d<\/p>\n

They climbed out of the car, and as they ran up the path, the rain intensified — a million little starbursts on the concrete. Cordy\u2019s front door flew open as they approached, and Angel put a hand on the small of her back and hustled her inside, slamming it shut behind them.<\/p>\n

She jolted at his touch, jerked away like he\u2019d pinched her. But when her eyes flashed to his, the shame he expected to see wasn\u2019t there. Only — heat. What the hell was going on? Was there something in a sulphur demon\u2019s blood that enchanted people? Not that he knew of. Probably something he needed Wesley to look into.<\/p>\n

And then he thought again of Cordelia, curling eager fingers around him, and decided Wesley definitely did not need to know about this.<\/p>\n

The thermostat on the butter-colored wall clicked up several degrees, and the lamp-lit room began to warm, a cozy haven against the storm outside. Dennis, ever present, jiggled silk flowers in their blue glass vase, obviously glad to have her home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere, you see? Safe,\u201d Cordy said. She waved her hand around the room. \u201cMonster-free-zone.\u201d As if on some movie-track cue, thunder cracked overhead, and the lights flickered.<\/p>\n

Angel shuffled his feet. \u201cOkay, well. Good. I\u2019ll go then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour coat.\u201d She grasped the collar and held it out from her body, towards him, like he needed a reminder of how it looked.<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow,\u201d he said, putting his hand up in the international signal for \u2018stop\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u201d She let the damp material fall. \u201cThat\u2019s, uh, yeah. Good idea. Goodnight, Angel.\u201d She leaned towards him, lips heading for his cheek, but at the last moment she pulled out and offered him her hand instead, and then pulled it away and looked at her nails before he could touch her.<\/p>\n

More thunder, rolling across the sky like a giant barrel, tumbling through the clouds. Angel could feel the hair on his arms rising, energy crackling in the air. Whether it was coming from the electrical storm, or his proximity to Cordelia, he wasn\u2019t sure.<\/p>\n

He turned to go. He needed to go. It was the only safe thing to do. Whatever was wrong, it could wait until tomorrow, when he didn\u2019t have her taste on his tongue, and her scent curling up from beneath his clothes.<\/p>\n

If it were just a matter of controlling himself, clamping down on the feelings stirred up by the way she\u2019d touched him, he could deal. But it was obvious he wasn\u2019t the only one having trouble shaking off what had happened.<\/p>\n

Cordy always got her own way. He wanted to be at maximum safe distance if she decided once wasn\u2019t enough. And by the look in her eyes, and the heady scent that drifted off her as she got warmer, he figured \u2018if\u2019 was about to become \u2018when\u2019.<\/p>\n

Angel squared his chin. Took a deep breath and pulled the door open. Concentrated hard. Just step out, and keep walking, he thought. Go home and take a cold shower. Everything will look different in the light of day.<\/p>\n

A brilliant white flash — framed by the doorway — dazzled him, and the immediate roar of thunder that followed made the air vibrate. He recoiled a little, then squared his shoulders, headed out into the night and —<\/p>\n

bounced straight back into the room like a bungee was attached to his belt. He staggered, and regained his feet just in time to avoid crashing into Cordelia. The door slammed shut so hard the wall shuddered, and pictures jangled on their hooks.<\/p>\n

Cordy gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. \u201cIs this some sort of new vampire rule? \u2018Cause I thought I pretty much knew them all by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Angel said, shaking his head. He reached over and felt the doorframe, searching for the electric shimmer of magic, then tried the handle. It opened straight away.<\/p>\n

There was a gush of energy, and the knob was wrenched from his hand as the door banged shut again.<\/p>\n

Cordy made a little clicking sound in her throat, a noise of frustration. \u201cDennis! What are you doing? Let Angel out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The door rattled resolutely and the lock clicked shut.<\/p>\n

Dennis never did this sort of thing without a good reason. Angel shivered — an icy finger trailing down his spine, prodding the foreboding in his stomach back to life. What could be so wrong to make Cordy act as reckless as she had tonight, and to make Dennis try to stop him from leaving?<\/p>\n

Sure, she\u2019d been through a tough week. The fake visions from Wolfram & Hart had really knocked her around. But she said she was fine now. Had she lied? He cast his mind back to that night, to Cordy — crying, lacerated, burned and disfigured, telling him she was scared. Scared all the time.<\/p>\n

Hell, she was just a girl, and sometimes he forgot that. Expected her to deal with things the same way Wes and Gunn did. But they had training, street-smarts, the kind of hardness that came with a life spent immersed in the fight against evil. Cordy was a rich girl from Sunnydale who\u2019d caught a bad break and faced it with more courage than he\u2019d thought she possessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Cordy said, putting her hands on her hips. The coat bagged open at the neck, giving Angel much more of a view than he expected.<\/p>\n

He dragged his eyes to her face. \u201cSorry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour brood face just went on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it didn\u2019t,\u201d he protested, trying to look nonchalant. Times like these he wished he could see his reflection in the mirror behind her.<\/p>\n

She waved a finger at him, and took a step forward. \u201cAngel, after all this time you think I can\u2019t tell when you\u2019re brooding about something? What gives?\u201d<\/p>\n

One beat. Two.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you — okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

She gave a nervous-sounding little laugh. \u201cOf course, why wouldn\u2019t I be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, tonight, when we — you know\u2026\u201d he fumbled for the words.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoinked?\u201d she said, one eyebrow going up.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, yes. I don\u2019t understand. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGod, Angel,\u201d she sighed, turning away, black-shrouded shoulders slumping. \u201cDo we have to analyze this?\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t know what else to say — couldn\u2019t think of any way to word it that wouldn\u2019t make her angry. The silence pulled thin between them, broken only by the sound of rain lashing her big picture window.<\/p>\n

Then she shrugged and turned back to him, her face wide open, and when she spoke her tone was soft and vulnerable. \u201cI don\u2019t know what came over me, really. I almost died back there.\u201d Two steps closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when you looked so freaked, it just — got to me, I guess, that you cared that much. Plus, with the touching. I am a woman, you know.\u201d Another step towards him. \u201cAnd you\u2019re pretty hot, for a dead guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was too close. He could feel the heat shimmering off her, like haze in the desert. \u201cI *was* scared, Cordy. You know how much you mean to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, duh,\u201d she said, her voice suddenly lower, breathy. \u201cIt\u2019s not every day someone busts an evil guy out of a fiery prison for me. I don\u2019t forget that stuff in a hurry.\u201d She reached out, pressed a hand against his chest, as if feeling for a heartbeat.<\/p>\n

He swallowed hard. \u201cSo tell me what\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

She flinched, took her hand back and held it protectively against her chest. He felt the walls slamming up around her, and that hot, wanting look in her eyes died. \u201cNothing. I\u2019m just tired. It\u2019s been a tough week. I\u2019m fine, really. I\u2019m all over fine like a rash.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the mantelpiece, Cordelia\u2019s cheerleading trophy rattled, a loud, angry sound, and a few pens and matchbooks clattered to the floor. She whipped around, and hissed through clenched teeth. \u201cDennis!\u201d The noise stopped.<\/p>\n

Cordy pushed past Angel, tried the door again; slapped her palm against the wood. \u201cUgh!\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel could smell her frustration, see her desperation to get rid of him, knew he\u2019d hit too close to the mark. \u201cWhy don\u2019t I just sit awhile, let you take a shower and get out of that wet coat,\u201d he suggested, lowering himself into a nearby chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d she sighed. \u201cDon\u2019t make my upholstery wet.\u201d She turned and vanished into the hallway.<\/p>\n

A towel bobbed into the room, and dropped in Angel\u2019s lap. He stood, folded it over twice, and placed it on the chair. \u201cThanks, Dennis,\u201d he said, sitting down on it.<\/p>\n

He heard the bang of the bathroom door, and after a few moments the sound of water flowing through pipes. He leaned forward, put his elbows on his knees, rested his face in his hands. Every instinct he had told him something was deeply wrong. Something Cordelia was hiding —<\/p>\n

He rose, removed his wet boots, parked them by the door, and walked as quietly as he could to Cordy\u2019s bedroom, keeping one ear on the sound of running water. Thunder rumbled ominously as he stood in the doorway and his conscience pricked, just a little, as he contemplated what he was about to do.<\/p>\n

In the corner of the room the laundry hamper shook a little, and the lid slowly levitated, a white cotton shirt rising like a charmed snake from the depths. It floated towards Angel, hovered just in front of his face. Why was Dennis bringing him dirty laundry? He reached out to catch it and the smell curled around him.<\/p>\n

Disinfectant. Drugs. A flash behind his eyes — Buffy, pale and cold in the sterile room, his bite livid red on her neck — Wesley, bruised, charred, a long plastic tube snaking from his arm — Cordelia, strapped to the bed, screaming and crying, sheepskin cuffs around her wrists as she kicked and strained\u2026<\/p>\n

Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cDennis, Cordy\u2019s been to the hospital?\u201d Angel whispered, his stomach clenching. He dropped the blouse back in the hamper and closed the lid. Dennis knocked once. \u201cWhy?\u201d After a small pause there was a hissing sound, and a large plastic box slid out from beneath Cordy\u2019s bed, bumping against Angel\u2019s socked feet.<\/p>\n

He bent down, released the lid at the corner and peered inside. Bottles, lots of bottles, some almost empty. Half-a-dozen different types of drugs. Brown envelopes addressed to her. The sticker on the top left corner was the same on all of them. St Matthew\u2019s Neuro-Psychiatric Unit.<\/p>\n

Oh, God. The visions.<\/p>\n

All the blood in his veins turned to ice. Things were so bad she\u2019d been seeking medical attention — for what looked like a long time — and she\u2019d never mentioned it, not once. Why would she keep that from them? Unless\u2026<\/p>\n

Above the rhythmic sound of the rain, he heard the shower squeak off. Hands shaking, he jammed the plastic lid back down, kicked the box under the bed, and slid back into the living room, grateful for vampiric speed and stealth.<\/p>\n

He sank, shaking, into his chair, and picked up a magazine, staring at it with unseeing eyes. If he was right, then she was dying. Oh, God. Obviously she didn\u2019t want him — anybody — to know. But why? They could help, take the visions away before they did too much damage\u2026<\/p>\n

His mind boomeranged back to that night just a week ago, when he sat by her side on the bed. Her voice, croaky, faltering. \u201cIf I lose the visions, I wouldn\u2019t be able to help you any more.\u201d Back further, to the night they\u2019d returned from Pylea, as they all sat in Lorne\u2019s wrecked club, settling their nerves with scotch and tequila.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d told him how the Groosalug was supposed to take her visions. One little com-shuk and she\u2019d have been free. She knew then that they were hurting her, and yet she still clung to them. Stubborn, loyal Cordelia. Dammit.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there\u2019s something you don\u2019t see every day.\u201d Her voice made him startle and fumble the magazine. He glanced up, guilty. She was snuggled in a midnight blue terry-cloth robe, pink-faced, hair towel-dry, and she quirked an eyebrow when she saw his face. \u201cJeez, Angel, you look like you just discovered hair gel has gone out of fashion.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wanted to rear up out of the chair, grab her by the shoulders and shake her so hard that her eyeballs rattled like marbles in her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello? Earth to Angel? I\u2019m not letting you read Cosmo any more if it freaks you out this much.\u201d She pulled the glossy volume from his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m — do you think the door is open yet?\u201d he said, suddenly desperate to escape. He wouldn\u2019t let her know, wouldn\u2019t give her the chance to refuse help again. Had to get back to the Hotel and find a way. Take them before she could stop him. Do it before she knew what was going on. Maybe she was too brave and stubborn to admit she was sick, but he wasn\u2019t brave enough to lose her.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill jammed,\u201d she sighed, pulling on the knob. \u201cDennis, you are *so* dead. No Friends for you this week!\u201d she shouted at the ceiling, hands on her hips.<\/p>\n

Angel could feel the anxiety, the tension building, every muscle in his body singing. Had to get out. Had to save her — \u201cStand back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no you don\u2019t.\u201d Cordy stood against the door as if shielding it from a bullet. \u201cNot this time, buddy. The Super already thinks I\u2019ve got an anger management problem. No more breako dooro. Capiche?\u201d<\/p>\n

He got in her face. Close. Closer. \u201cGet out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

She gave him her death-stare, brows knitting together in an angry frown as her finger came up to wave in his face. Opened her mouth to speak —<\/p>\n

And then the world drowned in a blaze of light. A great, percussive boom rent the air and Angel felt his eardrums compress. There was a shower of sparks outside the window, and the room plunged into darkness.<\/p>\n

With a gasp, Cordelia threw herself against him, fingers squeezing his still-wet sweater against his shoulders. Her heart hammered like a little bird\u2019s wings against his chest. Blood, adrenaline, life singing in her veins — but for how much longer?<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t lose her. Couldn\u2019t let her go. \u201cCordelia,\u201d he said, the word crumbling in his throat.<\/p>\n

She tilted her face up, her breath coming in little, hot puffs against his chin. For a moment they were both frozen, and he knew he should pull away, ignore the way his body responded to the scent of fear and sex. But then he caught the gleam as her tongue wet her lips, and no power on earth could have stopped him winding his arms around her, lowering his face and pressing his mouth to that damp, shining spot.<\/p>\n

For a second he felt her stiffen, then relax, melting against him. Angel walked her back, feet tangling, and his arms hit the wall. He leaned into her, pressed her full-length against the plaster. Rocked his hips against her stomach and reveled in the friction as he began to get hard.<\/p>\n

Tongues darted out, tangled, melted together as their kiss deepened. Hands grasped, fumbled, worked their way into clothing, and he sighed into her mouth as her warm palms found his stomach, branded her prints onto his chest, rubbed his nipples into hard little points. His knees trembled, and together they slid down the wall to the safe harbor of the floor.<\/p>\n

There, beneath the archway, he pulled Cordy into his lap, fisted a hand into her hair, and ate her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngel,\u201d she gasped, pulling back, dragging in deep breaths. She freed a hand from his sweater, and in the watery blue light he could see her fumbling with the tie of her robe. He grasped the ends, yanked, and there was the sound of tearing cotton as it came away, loops and all, and slithered into the darkest corner of the hall.<\/p>\n

A frustrated groan rumbled in her chest. \u201cI\u2019m not going to have any clothes left if you –\u201d<\/p>\n

He ducked his head, gently bit the side of her breast, and her words died away, replaced by a moan that brought him to fullness in seconds. Lightning strobed, filling his vision with bright flashes of hard, damp nipple and dimpled flesh.<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s mouth watered and he sucked her in, relishing the warmth against his lips, the hard little bud rolling over his tongue. He worried it with his teeth, felt her squirm in his lap and the movement against his cock was so good, he wanted to press her against the floor and bury it deep inside her, now.<\/p>\n

Maybe she felt him react, press back against her, because an indecent little moan vibrated against his mouth and she did it again, grinding her ass against him. God, she was so warm, with the smell of rain and arousal and come oozing from her — and this was going way too quickly…<\/p>\n

He released her breast with a soft \u2018pop\u2019; took a deep, calming breath and blew it out across her nipple. Felt the tightness in his balls subside just a little as she hung her head back and allowed the cool air to flow over her. He followed her momentum, eased her all the way down to the polished floor and peeled back the robe to expose her, head to toe.<\/p>\n

She was glorious, skin luminous in the blue flicker of the lightning, long, lithe legs, the dark triangle of curls between her thighs, heavy breasts spreading across her chest, and the seductive curve of her neck. Her pulse rang loud, filled his ears until it could have been his own heart beating. Her eyes, deep, dirty pools. They drew him in, begged him for so much.<\/p>\n

And he noticed, for the first time tonight, the large, dark rings beneath them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re staring,\u201d she murmured, her voice so quiet he could barely hear it above the rain.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look tired,\u201d he replied, heart lurching. He reached down to touch her cheek, run a finger over the blue-gray hollow below her eyelashes. One solitary tear escaped, leaving a diamond track across her temple, and disappeared into her hair. His gut twisted again. Couldn\u2019t lose her. \u201cCordy–?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShhhh.\u201d She reached up and pressed a finger to his lips. \u201cNo talking. Just — get naked already.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel hesitated, torn between the want burning in his groin, and the need to help her, save her, now.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease?\u201d Cordy drew her finger down, over his chin, his Adam\u2019s apple, and let her hand fall to her chest. The other came up to join it and she cupped her breasts, lifting them, pinching the nipples, and Angel\u2019s brain short-circuited, every rational thought swept away by need.<\/p>\n

He grasped the hem of his sweater, pulled it up and off, tossed it across the floor. Cordy\u2019s fingers were already on his belt buckle, tugging the wet leather free. Her wrists nudged his erection, and he couldn\u2019t get his pants undone fast enough.<\/p>\n

He staggered to his feet, shucked them off, kicked them aside. Toed off his socks and stripped the boxers down his thighs. She sat up, grabbed them and pulled them the rest of the way, until they slid from his ankles and joined his other clothes — a damp black pile against the door.<\/p>\n

He was totally naked before her, for the first time, and she knelt, hungry gaze fixed on him, standing proud and full. For the second time that evening, her tongue wet her lips, and, oh God, was she really about to –?<\/p>\n

Her fingers touched the back of his thighs and Angel felt his eyes roll back, his stomach quiver, as she palmed the thick muscles there, pushed her hands up, over his ass, and squeezed. Her lips, hot and wet, closed over his hip and he felt her breathe deep.<\/p>\n

Angel put his hands in her hair, just rested his fingers on her head as she kissed him, with long, moist sweeps of her tongue. Just below his navel, his thigh, the crease at the top of his leg where the hair grew darker and thicker. Dammit, she was everywhere except where he really wanted her, and without realizing it, he growled.<\/p>\n

Cordy\u2019s eyes shot up, took him in, and he could see the hot spark catch and burn in her pupils as one hand slipped between his legs and cupped his balls. There went his knees again. One touch from her and he was jelly. He leaned forward and splayed his hands against the wall for support.<\/p>\n

And then her fingers were on him, pulling him to her. Angel struggled to keep his eyes open. Wanted to see himself disappear into her, inch by inch. Jesus God she was so warm and moist, her tongue lithe and mobile, taste buds rough on the head of his cock. Sweet torture, the long slow drag as she pumped him with her hand, sucked deep and hard with her mouth. Angel hung his head, let the wall take his weight, and surrendered to her.<\/p>\n

Cordy, his touchstone, his friend. His heat, his sun. So precious.<\/p>\n

And if this was what she needed, right now, he\u2019d give it to her. He\u2019d give her anything.<\/p>\n

Just a couple more strong pulls and all the energy in Angel\u2019s body began to spiral downwards, concentrating at the part of him nestled in her right palm. He bit his lip, willed himself to stillness, but his body was a traitor, hips jerking forwards, upwards. Cordy didn\u2019t flinch, but increased the pace, the pressure, opened her throat and welcomed him.<\/p>\n

With a shout he was gone, emptying himself into her. The white flashes behind his eyes were mirrored outside as the storm raged on. Wave after wave crashed over him, and when he could think, see again, he was trembling.<\/p>\n

Cordy rose, her robe spread on the floor behind her like a shadow. She reached up, pressed the palm of her hand to his cheek, then leaned in and kissed him. Angel could taste himself on her tongue, salty, rich. His hands left the safety of the wall, spanned her slim waist, slid down and around the perfect curve of her bottom.<\/p>\n

Immediately the tension began to build again. For a brief moment he wondered how, in the space of a few short hours, his control had been broken so completely. And then Cordy\u2019s arms curled around his neck, her mouth harder and more desperate against his, and even the word control was a distant memory, washed away like leaves danced and swirled in the gutter during a downpour.<\/p>\n

Angel wanted to feel her life force. Wanted to be inside her. Deep. Full. Complete.<\/p>\n

He lifted her and she took his lead, raising her legs, gripping his waist with her thighs. Her center came crashing down on his, and already he could feel blood returning, filling him again. The sofa was just steps away and he backed towards it, not breaking the kiss.<\/p>\n

He sidestepped the coffee table and when his calves hit fabric, he relaxed, let himself topple back, and she rode him down into the soft chocolate-colored cushions.<\/p>\n

She pulled away, sat back, tilted her head to one side. There were those dark eyes again, so full of unspoken things.<\/p>\n

Thunder broke the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, as her gaze swept over him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t see you,\u201d she said, leaning forward so her breasts brushed his chest, and her lips scorched his earlobe. \u201cWant to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the coffee table, a candle sputtered to life, the small flame growing tall and bright. Across the room, another. And another.<\/p>\n

Cordy sighed, stretched like a cat, and her skin glowed golden in the dancing light. Her breasts, round like suns — he had to fill his hands with them. Her breath made a harsh sound in her nose as he touched her there, and she shuddered against his thighs. Angel could feel her pulse in that hot, slick place, drumming against him.<\/p>\n

Heat was pouring out of her, soaking through his skin. Warm, God, so warm. So full of life.<\/p>\n

His hands left her breasts, running down her body. It was like stroking hot velvet, and he smoothed his fingers down her sides, curled them over her hips, and stretched his thumbs to meet over the most sensitive place of all. Cordy shivered, stilled, then shivered again, pressing against them. Angel felt every muscle in her body go taut with need, with anticipation.<\/p>\n

He pulled her closer, stomach to stomach, so he was pressed against her entrance. She reached between them, guided him in. So wet, so ready. She engulfed him, drove her hips forward, swallowed every inch.<\/p>\n

For a long moment she was still, and Angel reached up to touch her face. Her eyes zoomed in on him, glittering with unshed tears, lonely, lost. Then she blinked, and the shutters came down. She planted her palms on the back of the sofa, either side of him, and began to move. He pinched her hips, guided her speed, thrust gently.<\/p>\n

If he was right — if she was dying — he was damn well going to make her forget about it tonight. He might not be able to get her to admit it. Might not be able to save her. But he could at least do this.<\/p>\n

He could give her oblivion.<\/p>\n

Angel leaned forward, captured her mouth, reveled in the twin wells of warmth as his tongue echoed the thrust of his cock. Long, slow, languid. He held her hips back, teasing, making her wait, then easing back in. Deep. Deeper.<\/p>\n

Rain hammered on the windowpane behind them, a steady drumming, mixing with the sound of Cordy\u2019s heartbeat, her breath. Her thighs quivered against his hips, and soft little moans purred in her throat. He could feel her, tight, close to the edge, and released her hip, slipping one finger down through the mat of shining curls, seeking out her sweet spot.<\/p>\n

She began to vibrate, like the air outside shook with thunder, and then she popped, clenching around him and riding him hard. He let go of her, fisted great handfuls of cushion, gritted his teeth, held his own orgasm at bay.<\/p>\n

This was not over yet, not by a long shot.<\/p>\n

When she stilled, Angel laid her back against the cushions, settled between her thighs, pulled his legs up onto the sofa and pressed his feet against the armrest. Cordy made a little humming noise, ran her toes up the backs of his calves, settled them behind his knees.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay?\u201d he asked, stroking her forehead. Sweat dampened his fingertips.<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm,\u201d she said, and when her eyes opened, the darkness, the blank emptiness was gone. Warmth shone there. \u201cThat was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNice?\u201d He mock-frowned. \u201cJust — nice?\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled. A real, full-blaze Cordy grin. \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Angel said, moving his hips just enough to make her gasp. \u201cI think we can do better than nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

He thrust once.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

Another, harder. Her toes curled against the backs of his knees.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain.\u201d This time her voice was dark, needy.<\/p>\n

He slammed into her, felt like he was arrowing straight up into her chest.<\/p>\n

She caught him in the full beam of her eyes, and a fire burned there. The word came out slow, dirty. \u201cMore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deep inside, his demon turned, restless.<\/p>\n

He rammed home again, and this time her hips shot up to meet him. Bones collided, skin bruised.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Cordy hissed, throwing her head back, exposing her throat to him.<\/p>\n

So alive, blood roaring beneath her skin. Angel\u2019s forehead rippled. God, he could fuck her to shreds\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he grunted, dragging himself back from the edge, feeling the ridges subside.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarder,\u201d she panted, bucking against him. The sofa trembled. Cordy\u2019s fingers dug into his ass. The spear of pain went straight to his cock, and she must have felt his response, because she did it again, nails cutting into flesh.<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy.\u201d Her name ground its way between clenched teeth.<\/p>\n

Five minutes ago she had been day, now she was night. Drawing him in, her fists pounding his back, her lips forming his name, soundlessly. She wanted more, more than he was able to let himself give. So close, so easy just to surrender. Too dangerous.<\/p>\n

He grabbed her wrists, stretched his arms over her head, buried his face in her neck. Felt the pound of her pulse beneath his lips. Let the desire pour through him, accepted it, and channeled it to where his body merged with hers.<\/p>\n

Time began to stretch. The tightness in his stomach, his balls, grew. Dimly, he felt Cordy pull a hand free, her body twisting as she stretched her arm out, and then there were hot trails of fire down his back. Angel\u2019s head snapped up. He saw the flicker of the candle above him, the drip of wax as she tipped it, letting hot drops rain on his skin, where his tattoo straddled his shoulder-blade.<\/p>\n

The pain burned to his core, melted the dam, and the tide broke free. He lunged, roaring, every muscle on red alert, engulfed in the sensation of spilling himself inside her.<\/p>\n

And then, exhausted stillness. Cordy\u2019s harsh breath against his ear, her heartbeat thudding through him. The crackle of wax solidifying on his back. Angel breathed deep, gathered himself, let the sound of rain and wind ground him again. So long since he\u2019d let so much go.<\/p>\n

Cordy tapped the back of his calf with her foot. \u201cYou\u2019re heavy,\u201d she grumbled.<\/p>\n

Angel propped himself up, elbows sinking into the cushions, hands on her shoulders — took in her glowing face, wild, rumpled hair, chest and neck flushed red, mischief sparkling in her eyes. Like she didn\u2019t have a care in the world. His heart squeezed tight in his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoo doggie.\u201d She slapped his butt.<\/p>\n

A weak tremble of thunder, and the wind knocked at the window. Time to get back to the hotel and start researching.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s late,\u201d he sighed, carefully pulling out. She had to be sore, but she didn\u2019t show it. He stood, looked around for his pants. \u201cI should go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still nasty out there,\u201d she said, and for a second that dark look crossed her face again. Conveyed unsaid words. Stay. Hold me.<\/p>\n

Angel hesitated. What if there wasn\u2019t time? Every second could count.<\/p>\n

Her eyes caught his, begging.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow. He\u2019d start first thing. Somewhere there would be a way to fix this. But for now, she needed him here. He held out a hand, and pulled her up. \u201cMaybe I should wait it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The vase on the coffee table rattled approvingly, and the candles winked out one by one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you should,\u201d Cordy replied. She squeezed his fingers, and led him to the bedroom.<\/p>\n

Ends.<\/b><\/p>\n

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

Title: Oblivion Author: Little Heaven Posted: 07-02-2004 Email Rating: NC-17 Category: Angst, smut Content: C\/A Summary: Dennis knows Cordelia is dying. And he\u2019s…<\/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-4495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4495","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=4495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4495\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}