***<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow is home safely, Mistress,\u201d Jude reported after returning to the mansion. \u201cShe asked me to give you this.\u201d<\/p>\n
He handed over a small gift-wrapped box to Cordelia who bestowed a mesmerizing smile upon her minion. \u201cJude, you\u2019re a jewel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Closing the door after him, the vampiress gleefully ripped the bright paper away from the box. Cordy walked up to Angel as she went along, eager to show him what she already knew to be inside. \u201cWe had fun at the mall today,\u201d she told him.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s mouth quirked in reaction. \u201cI saw the shopping bags. Did you leave anything in the stores?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sticking her tongue out, Cordelia gave him a smile. \u201cNot much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Opening the box, she pulled out a narrow frame that held a series of four pictures from the mall\u2019s photo booth. Just herself and Willow. Glancing over her shoulder, Angel saw that the first two looked fairly normal. Like two friends smiling and laughing into the camera.<\/p>\n
The others were vivid proof that the relationship was far from normal. The third picture showed Willow pretending to lick Cordelia\u2019s neck while the last revealed Cordy vamped out with her fangs poised over the redhead\u2019s throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is your idea of fun?\u201d Angel watched as his mate set the small frame down on her mirror-free vanity. \u201cShopping and pictures are fine, but giving the girl ideas about biting her is another.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWillow thought it was a riot,\u201d shrugged the vampiress.<\/p>\n
Angel countered, \u201cWillow thinks what you want her to think.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe does not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes too, Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, so maybe she does,\u201d admitted Cordelia with a sigh. \u201cCan I help it if I\u2019m a great inspiration to her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou control her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot often,\u201d Cordelia told him defensively. \u201cMost of what Willow does is her idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI warned you this would happen. The lines between her free will and your enthrallment of her have blurred.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you the I-told-you-so type, Angel?\u201d Cordelia stalked back to him. \u201cIf you have a problem with what I\u2019m doing, I don\u2019t want to hear about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToo bad, baby. It\u2019s time you got over this little game of yours. If having a female around to go shopping with is so damned important to you, use Dru. She seemed happy enough with the idea. Let Willow get back to her life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t control Dru.\u201d The idea dawned in his head. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t hang on your every word like Willow does as your pet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia frowned at Angel\u2019s quick realization. There was something about the other vampiress\u2019 visionary abilities that blocked out any attempt at mind control. Drusilla had her own abilities to enthrall humans if they were up close and personal, but she could not do so with the scope that Cordelia could or maintain the enthrallment over a long period.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I tried it when she left Spike. Wanted her to come back to him, but she only laughed at my attempts to turn her thoughts to my way of thinking. Dru told me it tickled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Resolve came over Angel\u2019s face. For the moment, he knew exactly what he was going to do. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s time you got a little of your own back. I happen to know a thing or two about tickling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her hazel eyes popped open wider at the unveiled threat. \u201cNo! No tickling. Vampires don\u2019t tickle one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I mentioned anything about you getting a turn,\u201d Angel glared mockingly as Cordelia darted away from him like he\u2019d told her he was going to bring out the bullwhip.<\/p>\n
With a shriek of loud laughter, Cordelia ran across to the other side of the bed using it as a shield. Yanking off her high-heeled shoes as he approached stealthily, she tossed them in his direction. Angel caught both and dropped them neatly onto a nearby chair. \u201cGet on the bed, Cordy. You might as well face this now because you\u2019re not going to leave this room tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGotta catch me first,\u201d Cordy stuck out her tongue and leapt onto the mattress while her sire attempted the longer route around. \u201cMaybe you need to start working out more. You used to be faster.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you calling me fat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey\u2014 if the Michelin fits,\u201d she joked suggesting that he had a spare tire around his middle. Not that he did, but Angel was just narcissistic enough to believe it.<\/p>\n
Hopping back onto the floor, she ran toward the door only to feel the whoosh of air pass close as Angel used a burst of speed to block the doorway with his broad frame. \u201cWhat was it you were saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia was standing in the middle of the bedroom as he leaned back against the door. Eyeing his tall frame with her twinkling gaze, she suggested, \u201cMaybe you should take off your shirt and let me check things out. I wouldn\u2019t want you to get a complex.\u201d<\/p>\n
The shirt was gone in about five seconds leaving Angel half-naked and all yummy. \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think maybe I was right the first time,\u201d Cordelia couldn\u2019t resist saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
The look on his face was priceless. \u201cMmm! Salty goodness. You\u2019re such a hottie. You\u2019re perfect, my Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire wasn\u2019t so slow that he didn\u2019t catch on to her strategy. \u201cThe compliments won\u2019t get you a reprieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but now you\u2019re more naked than I am,\u201d Cordelia pointed out. \u201cJust try to tickle me, mister and you\u2019re gonna get your fair share of the torture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel held her gaze as he walked up to gently curl his hands around her head capturing her lips with his own. \u201cThink so?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her hands came up to his chest in a move that was more a caress than an effort to stave him off, knowing that this was just distraction. He had broken the kiss to remind her that this wasn\u2019t over. Well, she was quite happy with his distraction techniques. Cordelia had a few of her own.<\/p>\n
Kissing him again, Cordelia let her hands wander over his shoulders and down his back being careful to avoid any overly ticklish regions. It was so hard to think, damn him. He kissed her like her lips were the only thing he\u2019d ever known. Made especially for him and something he worshipped daily.<\/p>\n
Distantly, Cordelia hear the sound of a zipper and felt the whisper of cloth fall away from her skin. Though her eyes were half-closed with pleasure and lips slightly swollen with his kisses, Cordelia lifted away long enough to realize that she was now standing before Angel in only her matching lace bra and panties.<\/p>\n
Geez! He was good. When she lifted her eyes back to his, Cordelia found them sparkling with a mixture of amused triumph and arousal. She lilted, \u201cThink you\u2019re winning?\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Angel could respond affirmatively, Cordelia grabbed onto the belt buckle she had undone when her mate was otherwise distracted with her. Yanking it out of its loops, she took a step back and watched his pants fall open revealing the grey briefs underneath. \u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d she sing-songed.<\/p>\n
All Angel had to do was zip up again, but getting dressed again was rather pointless. \u201cIf you want me naked, tigress, all you have to do is ask. I like having those hungry eyes on me. Even if you do think I\u2019m fat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not fat, dumbass!\u201d Cordelia kept backing away closer to the bed. She was now holding the belt folded over in one hand like a weapon. \u201cThere\u2019s no need to tickle me. You know I hate that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLove it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLove me touching you.\u201d<\/p>\n
So she couldn\u2019t deny that. Besides, Angel was distracting her again. After kicking off his shoes and peeling his socks away, he stripped off his pants tossing them away. Though she knew he was looking at her, Cordelia\u2019s eyes automatically dropped away from his handsome face to travel down the length of his smooth torso to the regions below. Oh, my, but he was built. Just right. Just for her.<\/p>\n
Angel tucked his thumbs into the waistband of his briefs and let them fall away from his body eliciting a mewl of need from Cordelia. He could scent her own building arousal, see it on her face and the response of her flesh.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n
She was more than ready. Nodding, Cordelia\u2019s voice sounded in a husky octave. \u201cFor you, I\u2019m always ready. Want you now, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen give me the belt,\u201d he held out his hand.<\/p>\n
Having forgotten that she was holding it, Cordelia seemed surprised to find it there in her hand. \u201cWhy do you want it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive it to me,\u201d Angel ordered, his tone brooking no further defiance on the matter.<\/p>\n
The last time they had used his belt, Cordelia\u2019s wrists had been bound together as her sire punished her by not letting her touch him. Angel knew she got as much pleasure out of touching him as he did her. Being bound was almost worse than the thought of being mercilessly tickled. Unless Angel planned to do both.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia,\u201d a gruff growl sounded from his throat commanding that she comply with his demand. Finally, the vampiress turned over the belt into her sire\u2019s keeping.<\/p>\n
Angel stalked up until he was so close his thick erection bobbed against her flesh causing her to shudder with need. Cordelia\u2019s head was tilted back to meet the amber glint in her sire\u2019s gaze, the early sign of his change, but he controlled it. Raising the hand holding the belt, Angel lifted its supple loop up to her face letting it brush along her skin. Then Angel moved it away, replacing it with his mouth as he kissed his way down to her neck tasting and teasing her with his flickering tongue and the soft smooch of his lips.<\/p>\n
Hearing a little chink as the belt hit the floor freeing up Angel\u2019s hands to touch her, she let out a moan. \u201cOh, yes, finally. Put your hands on me.\u201d Cordelia dragged his hands up to her lace-covered breasts holding them there for a moment even as Angel continued to nuzzle at her throat.<\/p>\n
Angel moved his mouth to her ear. \u201cTell me what you want, tigress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Too much. Everything. Fisting her hand in his hair, she brought him up to meet his gaze. \u201cI want your mouth on me. Everywhere. I want your tongue between my thighs making me cum. I want to touch you, feel you, every inch of you. Then I want you inside me. How\u2019s that for a start?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot bad,\u201d Angel\u2019s sexy mouth quirked into a lopsided grin, but his eyes were suddenly twinkling with more than lust, \u201cbut it won\u2019t be the start. We can do that somewhere in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still reeling from the images she had created in her head, Cordelia could only respond with a confused, \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly, she was down on the mattress with Angel looming over her. The hands that had been evoking such pleasure were now doling out this strange paradox of sensations as his fingers touched her skin. Tickling her with his gentle touch over sensitized areas that he knew all too well, Angel watched her squirm beneath him.<\/p>\n
Howling with laughter, Cordelia held onto his shoulders, trying her best to do as she had threatened and do the same, but she was helpless to react. Her ankles clutched at the back of his thighs. Then the tickling was interspersed with his mouth against her upper breasts as his lips made a path across the lacy edge of her bra. The combination drove her to the point where her hips gyrated against his.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Angel,\u201d her voice sounded in a plea, but for what she didn\u2019t quite know. Cordelia\u2019s hair cascaded around her in a wave of silk as her head twisted back and forth against the mattress. Screaming, laughing, moaning, yearning\u2014 whatever he was doing, Cordy felt like she was coming unglued. There were fireworks going off in her head and he hadn\u2019t even made an effort to remove her panties.<\/p>\n
\u201cWant me to stop?\u201d His husky voice questioned offering her a reprieve.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s fingernails curled into his shoulders at the collarbones coming close to breaking the skin. \u201cYou know what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the answer I was looking for,\u201d Angel told her and started in on the tickling again, this time circling a finger around her bellybutton.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot there, not there,\u201d Cordelia panted. He knew her navel was especially sensitive. After a minute of causing her to cry out his name, she felt his palm press into her waist. Upon opening her eyes, she found her mate staring down at her.<\/p>\n
Slowly, Angel extracted himself from the legs that had curled around his to stand beside the bed. Intently, his gaze traveled down the length of her body and his hands followed the course back up from her ankles to her hips. There, he gave a tug on her lacy green panties and Cordelia cooperated by lifting her hips so that he could pull them away.<\/p>\n
Sitting up momentarily, Cordelia unfastened the clasp of her bra, but got no further than that before Angel gave her a gentle push to send her back onto the mattress. Both straps of her bra slipped down her arms, but her full breasts held the cups in place. Cordy was too busy watching Angel to care that she hadn\u2019t finished her task.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have such sexy legs,\u201d Angel murmured as he lifted her left leg extending it up so that he could run a hand along its length.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shuddered with pleasure at his touch, her entire system still buzzing from the effects of his tickling. He kissed her ankle, caressed the curved muscle of her calf and darted his tongue into the soft spot behind her knee. That caused her whole body to jerk as his tongue flicked across the sensitive area. Every time he did that the nerve endings seemed to dart little shots of pleasure back to her loins.<\/p>\n
Angel repeated the process with her right leg, kissing his way from ankle to knee before grasping her lower thighs and scooting her to the edge of the bed. Then he sank to the floor on his knees and began the slow process of kissing every inch of her supple thighs. Cordelia kept her eyes fixed on what he was doing, the sight of it as exciting as the touch of his mouth, hands and teeth on her thighs.<\/p>\n
With blunt teeth, Angel nipped his way up to the spot that he liked to bite, but contented himself with laving it with his tongue. He was so close to the apex of her thighs that his hair tickled at her intimate flesh causing Cordelia\u2019s hips to dig into the bed. His hand was kneading the other thigh ensuring that it did not go ignored until he turned his attention there.<\/p>\n
By the time her sire worked his way back up to the inner curve of her thigh, Cordelia had moved her hand down her belly to weave though the soft curls covering her mons. Two fingers pressed against her outer labia exposing her clit to their light touch.<\/p>\n
Turning his head, Angel kissed those fingers and then met her gaze, \u201cI\u2019ll take care of that, baby. Just relax.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tension that had built up in her shoulders dissipated. She trusted him to be true to his word. Mmm. He was going to make her cum and then it would be her turn to play. Would Angel let her tease him the way he had been teasing her? She wanted to kiss and bite her way across his sculpted flesh until he was begging her to bring him off. Then he would see how it felt as she made him wait.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s thoughts of lustful revenge got lost the instant she felt Angel\u2019s mouth on her. She tried to watch what he was doing, but her eyes kept closing and her head lolled back upon the mattress. Losing all track of time, Cordy had no idea how long he stayed down there or even the number of times he brought her to orgasm. Keening cries and purring sounded in her ears along with the occasional comment from Angel that was as pleasure- inducing as his touch.<\/p>\n
In the midst of another climax, Cordelia felt herself being shifted. Opening her eyes to look at him, she saw that her sire was on his feet and lifting her hips at angle to meet his. Angel paused for a moment as Cordelia\u2019s legs curled around him in a demonstration of her extreme flexibility. He entered her with one smooth movement, groaning in pleasure as he felt her inner muscles clasping him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel so fucking good, baby,\u201d Angel withdrew and thrust again as his human features gave way to reveal his true face.<\/p>\n
Cordelia flashed a grin before saying, \u201cYou\u2019ve told me that before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s worth repeating,\u201d he leered down at her while maintaining a steady rhythm. \u201cBefore the night is over, I\u2019ll wager you\u2019ll be telling me the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, really? Think you have that much stamina, big boy?\u201d Cordy moaned and rotated her hips with the next thrust.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust try me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMmm, I\u2019m glad we went to bed early,\u201d Cordelia purred.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s this all about then, chit?\u201d Spike inquired as he caught up to Cordelia the next evening. She was dressed head to toe in black blending with the night, but he had tracked her scent. \u201cIsn\u2019t that the Watcher\u2019s house?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Cordelia answered as she leaned up against a tree. \u201cI thought I\u2019d check on Giles, but it looks like he has guests over. There are five or six people in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Slayer isn\u2019t one of them,\u201d concluded Spike after a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWanna crash the party?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shook her head. \u201cNot really. Those are probably members of the Watcher\u2019s Council\u2014 Giles doesn\u2019t have any friends left in Sunnydale who are willing to talk to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of your revenge, luv?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d Cordelia shrugged finding the subject of Giles getting to be a bore. It wasn\u2019t the same as getting back at the Slayer directly.<\/p>\n
Spike wondered, \u201cWhat exactly is your plan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s simple,\u201d Cordy told him with a lethal grin, \u201cI\u2019m going to make Buffy\u2019s life here in Sunnydale pure Hell on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that\u2019s figurative,\u201d Spike raised a brow at the memory of Angelus\u2019 plan to make it reality.<\/p>\n
Cordelia laughed at him, nudging his shoulder with her own. \u201cDork! I\u2019m not doing the Acathla suck the world into Hell thing. Buffy\u2019s world is the only one I care about and I\u2019m going to rip it apart piece by piece until she has nothing left.\u201d<\/p>\n
If anyone was capable of doing that to the Slayer, he figured that Cordelia Chase could pull it off. Through sheer determination she would succeed, but was she considering the fact that Angel still thought of Buffy Summers someone he had to protect? What would happen when he had to choose between them?<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how\u2019re things going now that Peaches is back?\u201d<\/p>\n
Meeting Spike\u2019s gaze, Cordelia felt the smile drop away from her face. Even though the vamp was something of an asshole at times, he was someone she could talk to without the threat of reprisal. Dru would run to Angel; Willow would run to Buffy, while the minions simply wouldn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so confused, Spike,\u201d she admitted. \u201cThe soul complicates everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not get rid of it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia actually growled at him. \u201cYou think it\u2019s that easy?<\/p>\n
\u201cWasn\u2019t that hard for the Slayer,\u201d Spike pointed out. \u201cOne good shag and poof! It was gone. What the hell have you two been doing? Or not doing? Peaches been holding out on you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia slugged him sending Spike reeling back across the front lawn of the neighboring house. \u201cAngel is my mate and your grandsire. He deserves more respect than that despite being cursed with a soul. I know I do, Spike, and if you need reminding of that I\u2019m more than willing to help you remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust stay there, chit,\u201d Spike held up a finger. \u201cWe can\u2019t fight that way. If you come back with bruises, Angel is gonna get pissed and take it out on me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Holding out her hand, Cordelia helped the blond vampire up to his feet. \u201cThen don\u2019t be such a jerk, Bleach Brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo\u2014 what part of what I said set you off?\u201d Spike dared to pick up the conversation.<\/p>\n
After a moment of silence, Cordelia admitted, \u201cAll of it. Tomorrow is a year to the day that Angel lost his soul, the anniversary of my death as a human. Why do I have mixed feelings about having Angel around? I should be celebrating, but I can\u2019t because I know that any minute he\u2019s going to remember what happened and start brooding about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGive him a reason to forget about it\u2014 or remember in a good way.\u201d Spike suddenly wondered if his earlier guess had been on-target. He added, \u201cUnless Peaches really is holding out on you. Cordelia, are you okay, luv?\u201d<\/p>\n
The fact that he had used her real name instead of calling her chit, cheerleader or luv was enough to prove Spike wasn\u2019t trying to rile her. \u201cYou must have been out until the crack of dawn last night or you wouldn\u2019t have any reason to doubt that Angel and I are together in just about everyway we can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike\u2019s little nod confirmed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve me when I say that I can\u2019t get enough of what Angel does to me,\u201d Cordelia let out a sigh, \u201cbut sometimes I think he\u2019s holding something back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBloodrights?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not that.\u201d Cordelia told him that sex with Angel rarely ranged into pure violence as she knew that it could, but he never denied her blood. \u201cIn fact, I was the one to hold out on him at first. Not that it lasted long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike grunted in response. He figured he had better let his thoughts remain silent on that one else Cordy might shove her fist in his face again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like Angel purposefully keeps us constantly on the edge. Not too violent. Not too tender.\u201d Cordelia hopped up onto a low brick wall keeping them deep in the shadows. \u201cAngelus could be both. I can do without the punishment he dealt out when I misbehaved a time or two, but I miss the moments when he left all that behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking her hands in his, Spike tried to offer a bit of advice. \u201cLook, luv, I don\u2019t know what the poof is thinking. Having the soul\u2014 well, I don\u2019t know what that is like and I hope I never find out. But he\u2019s got it and I gotta imagine that he plans to keep it since he isn\u2019t out looking for some magical mumbo-jumbo to remove it again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia listened quietly, letting his words sink in.<\/p>\n
\u201cPersonally, I always thought the big prick was something of a wanker,\u201d Spike verged on the disrespectful again, but held tightly to her hands. \u201cHe never cared about anyone or anything. Not his bitch of a sire. Not even Dru except that he cared about driving her mad before he turned her. Me\u2014 I was just his whipping boy when times were bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
She had heard the story in many different versions, but never from Spike\u2019s point of view. What did it have to do with anything now? \u201cSo you never liked Angelus. What\u2019s your point?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus was too wrapped up in his own self to care about anyone.\u201d Spike told her. \u201cHe isn\u2019t the end all, be all when it comes to relationships. The guy can fuck, but that doesn\u2019t make him king of the jungle.\u201d<\/p>\n
To Cordelia\u2019s dismay, she actually let out a snort of laughter upon hearing Spike\u2019s words. Still, she had to defend her mate. \u201cHe\u2019s different with me. He\u2019s always been different. As Angelus. As Angel. Sometimes he can be a dumbass, but he cares.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes he care enough, Cordelia? Why is it he still has the cursed soul? Is he incapable of a moment of happiness with another vampire? Or is it because whatever part of him that touches that soul is still wrapped up in the memory of our dear friend Slutty the Vampire Slayer?\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a good thing that Spike held onto her, because she suddenly reeled back at the thought nearly falling off of the wall. \u201cYou\u2019re wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, luv,\u201d Spike dropped her hands to her lap so he could touch her face. \u201cIf you think that, you\u2019re already behind in the game. Peaches will always have feelings for Buffy Summers. That\u2019s the way it works. I\u2019ve been around the block a few times, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019ve known a few Slayers in love with soul-having vampires?\u201d Cordelia\u2019s voice turned sour.<\/p>\n
Spike had to admit, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen keep your advice to yourself,\u201d she grumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you love him?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question startled her again. \u201cWhat\u2019s love? I have vague memories of it. Childhood memories of something I thought was love from my parents\u2014 not. Silly crushes on men who existed only on movie screens.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about your boyfriends?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPfft! They worshipped me. I let them get close, but not as close as they wanted to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you were a tease,\u201d Spike grinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWas not!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you say so, luv.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cXander\u2014,\u201d Cordelia started to explain that Xander Harris was the only boyfriend who had ever stirred any true feelings within her. Irritation, anger bordering on hatred, and the birth of desire that went unfulfilled. \u201cI killed him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spike wondered if this little discussion was only making things worse. \u201cSome people think vampires incapable of love. Bollocks! I love Dru. Just look at the mess I was in after she left me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPitiful!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Spike had to agree. \u201cWhat did you feel when you thought Angelus was killed by the Slayer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was my mate. I was devastated at his loss,\u201d Cordelia answered. \u201cWhat do you think I felt? Why do you think I\u2019m avenging him?\u201d<\/p>\n
The blond vampire had her riled up, but at least she was thinking about it instead of just pounding him with those sharp little knuckles. \u201cObsession. The ties of your blood. The loss of the one who made you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lover!\u201d Cordelia added with a roar watching him step away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour lover.\u201d Spike was already turning to leave when he added, \u201cJust think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
A tentative knock sounded on Angel\u2019s bedroom door. Having recently returned to the mansion after a night of demon-hunting, he had just emerged from the shower. Willow had been downstairs in her usual position in the study helping Jude with the computers and keeping a close eye on the door for Cordelia\u2019s return.<\/p>\n
Wrapping a towel around his waist, Angel opened the door to find the redhead looking nervous and nibbling at her thumbnail. Her eyes widened a bit at his state of undress, but she pasted a smile on her face quickly enough when he demanded to know what she wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted\u2014,\u201d Willow started to speak only to break off as Angel let out a groan.<\/p>\n
The vampire looked irritated. \u201cNot again, Willow. I already told you that I\u2019m not giving in to your whining. I know that I told you that you\u2019d have to go through me first, but I wasn\u2019t offering myself on a platter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blushing, Willow rushed to tell him, \u201cI\u2019m worried about Cordy. I wanted to talk to you about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d If Angel was capable of blushing, he might have done so. \u201cThis couldn\u2019t have waited until I was downstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaking her head, Willow stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. This was too important. \u201cSome of the minions are down there. I didn\u2019t want their super hearing in on the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me throw on some clothes first,\u201d suggested Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t bother me,\u201d Willow shrugged eyeing the towel he had hurriedly slung around his hips.<\/p>\n
Angel followed the direction of her gaze. \u201cI\u2019ll be right back. Stay there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d She immediately wandered over to Cordelia\u2019s vanity and rearranged the framed photograph to a better angle.<\/p>\n
Having grabbed a pair of boxers and his robe, Angel returned wrapping the belt tightly around his waist. He gave her a look noting that she had moved. \u201cSo what are you so worried about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy has been acting frustrated,\u201d Willow told him pointedly. \u201cI think it\u2019s your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow ignored the anger in his voice and kept going. \u201cIt\u2019s got to do with your soul, I\u2019m betting.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy soul,\u201d Angel parroted the words wondering where the witch was taking this.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re holding back because you\u2019re afraid you\u2019ll become Angelus again,\u201d Willow told him. It was a hypothesis she had pieced together from conversations with Cordelia. Not that Cordy had said anything directly, but sometimes when she opened her mouth to talk it didn\u2019t close for a while.<\/p>\n
Holding back? Maybe he was, in a way, Angel admitted to himself. Telling Willow was not going to happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you know I\u2019d do anything for Cordy. Just anything. She deserves to be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes, he knew that Willow would do anything even beyond the course of reason to ensure that her mistress was happy. Her own frustrations with the fact that Cordelia continued to treat her as her best friend had to be hitting a sore spot. Now the girl was coming to him to tell him of Cordy\u2019s frustrations? There had to be a catch.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have some news for you, Angel,\u201d Willow revealed with a confident smile. \u201cSomething you\u2019ll want to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot so fast. Can we negotiate just a little? Trust me\u2014 you want to know what I have to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
His chest rumbled with a low growl as Angel approached her from across the room. \u201cWhat is it, Willow? What do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
Looming over her, Angel presented an ominous picture, but Willow figured he wouldn\u2019t really hurt her. He was supposed to be protecting her. It gave her an edge and she ran with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be so growly when I\u2019m around,\u201d she listed her first demand. \u201cCordy is my friend. I like Cordelia and she likes me so you shouldn\u2019t be so mean to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel gripped her chin, tilting it up in a way that was not comfortable without actually causing real pain. \u201cStop dancing around the issue, little witch. I know what you want with Cordelia. You\u2019re just a pet begging to be sired. You want your mistress as a lover, want her touch on your skin and her fangs in your throat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEep!\u201d Willow let out a squeak.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re still playing by the rules, Willow,\u201d the vampire told her. \u201cYou haven\u2019t touched what\u2019s mine and now you\u2019ve come to me for permission\u2014 but it\u2019s denied.\u201d<\/p>\n
He released her, causing the petite teenager to stumble back against the door. Willow was unable to tell him that while in the back of her mind that was really what she wanted, it wasn\u2019t the primary reason for her coming to see him.<\/p>\n
\u201cForget the negotiations,\u201d Angel growled dangerously as he grabbed her by the arm with one hand and opened the door with the other. Thrusting her out into the hallway, he told her, \u201cKeep your secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow stood agape as Angel shut the door in her face. Forgetting all about the potential audience, she lifted her closed fist and pounded on the door. \u201cDumbass! It\u2019s about your soul.\u201d<\/p>\n