***<\/p>\n
\u201cSo\u2014 nobody else lives here?\u201d Buffy was asking as she looked around the building halls.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust me,\u201d Angel confirmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel opened the door to admit Buffy into his apartment. He had found Buffy at the far end of the cemetery in the process of finishing off the demon. Afterward, they talked about what happened with Cordelia in more detail.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll just get her bag and we\u2019ll be out of your hair,\u201d Buffy told him glancing around the empty living room. \u201cWhere is Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI put her in my bed\u2014 room. Less cluttered in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy found that Cordelia was in Angel\u2019s bed. On top of it, anyway. She was fast asleep and it looked like she had been crying. A twinge of pity surfaced as Buffy looked at the sleeping teenager. Then Angel swept around the side of the bed with such a quiet move that Buffy jumped at the sight of him bending over Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Using a hand to gently brush away long strands of chestnut hair, Angel softly called out her name to awaken her.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia,\u201d he repeated a little louder finally eliciting a response. \u201cWe\u2019re back.\u201d<\/p>\n
She reached out to confirm his presence with the touch of her hand over his. A contented sigh sounded at the contact as Cordelia realized how relieved she was to be within reach of him. \u201cYou\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here,\u201d Angel confirmed as his eyes swept over her tear-stained cheeks. The thumb of his other hand brushed along one striped trail to the point where it dropped off her jaw to the still damp spot where her shirt met her collarbone. He wanted to follow that same trail with his mouth, but stopped himself with more reminders that this girl barely knew him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here,\u201d Buffy corrected reminding him that she was also in the room.<\/p>\n
Cordelia flinched almost imperceptibly at the sound of irritation in the blonde\u2019s voice. \u201cHi, Buffy. You\u2019re okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pulling the hand cupping her face into her lap, Cordelia gave it a soft squeeze. \u201cAnd you, Angel? You\u2019re okay, too?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a scratch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d she smiled. \u201cI guess I fell asleep in your bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel curbed his tongue at the sudden urge to respond that she could sleep there anytime. \u201cYou should stay here tonight, Cordelia. This has been a stressful day, it\u2019s late and there is still a long walk ahead of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Cordelia was quick to reply.<\/p>\n
Buffy was not so happy with the idea. Asking Angel, \u201cWhere will *you* sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the sofa.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Slayer could not deny that normally she wouldn\u2019t jump at the opportunity to be in Cordelia\u2019s place\u2014 minus the not being able to see\u2014, but the truth was, \u201cI don\u2019t really know you that well, Angel. I\u2019m supposed to leave Cordelia here? Giles would say that was highly inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grmph! Cordelia didn\u2019t really care what the old fuddy-duddy librarian would say about this. She wanted an opportunity to get to know Angel better and if Buffy dragged her away, that was unlikely to happen.<\/p>\n
Buffy let out a big sigh. \u201cI forget that other people get tired faster than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Cordelia sat up a little straighter. \u201cThis body is in top shape, detecto-girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just saying that I agree with Angel,\u201d Buffy put her hands on her slim hips. \u201cNot that I wanna challenge you to a mud-wrestling contest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel suddenly found himself smiling at the image that popped into his head\u2014 until he felt a hand slap at his chest. Cordelia turned her head toward him, \u201cStop grinning like an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. You\u2019re a guy. I know what you\u2019re thinking.\u201d Cordelia felt certain she was right and rolled her eyes as if to say his thoughts would be obvious even to a blind girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing back to the point I was trying to make,\u201d Buffy cleared her throat. \u201cCordelia, I can tell that this has been a hard day on you. Maybe it was dumb to drag you through the cemetery. It\u2019s further away from home than I realized.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reluctantly, Cordelia suggested, \u201cYou could call your mom to pick us up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2014,\u201d Buffy realized that her mother would have to be told about Angel and how they came to end up at his otherwise abandoned apartment building. \u201cProbably not a good idea, Cordelia. Maybe you should stay here tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sensing Buffy\u2019s hesitance, Angel suggested, \u201cIf you are concerned why don\u2019t you stay here, too? I\u2019ll be out on the sofa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t. My mom would freak.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia couldn\u2019t believe that Buffy was giving up that easily. \u201cJust tell her you\u2019re staying at my house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s never met you before,\u201d Buffy pointed out.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was agape. \u201cLike that matters? What? Your mom needs to know my medical history and bank balance before allowing her daughter to grace my presence?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s overprotective.\u201d Had been ever since Hemery where she burned down the gym. Not that Buffy could blame her for it. Joyce Summers did not know that she was the Slayer or anything about her mission here in Sunnydale.<\/p>\n
Buffy wanted to keep it that way.<\/p>\n
Buffy suddenly worried that Cordelia would let something slip to her mother about the reason for her blindness or the encounter in the graveyard tonight, even if the brunette had a totally clueless take on what really happened. Besides, she had no reason *not* to trust Angel. He\u2019d been watching out for her, helping her with his cryptic messages.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know\u2014 maybe Cordelia should stay here,\u201d Buffy suggested. \u201cI\u2019ll be at school in the morning and mom will be at work. What about you, Angel. Are you going to be home during the day?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2014 yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019ll be okay, Cordelia?\u201d Buffy wanted to make sure she wasn\u2019t pushing the other girl into this just to keep Mom from finding out.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. You\u2019ll call tomorrow, right? To let me know what happens with Amy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nodding her head, Buffy asked Angel for his phone number. He had to admit, \u201cI don\u2019t have a phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia wore a strange expression. \u201cNo phone or television\u2014 you are lacking essentials, Angel. How do you survive without a phone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t been in town long,\u201d Angel told her. \u201cJust haven\u2019t bothered to set it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d Cordelia knew she would go through withdrawal if her phone was taken away. \u201cI\u2019ll give you my cell number, Buffy. Use that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy left soon after that still wondering if she was doing the right thing by leaving Cordelia Chase with this admittedly hot and helpful almost-stranger. He was supposed to be here to help. This was helping.<\/p>\n
Wasn\u2019t it? Still, Buffy felt a twinge of jealousy as she left the apartment despite her concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI better turn my phone on,\u201d Cordelia told Angel after Buffy\u2019s departure. \u201cI turned it off because I knew Harmony and Aura would be calling about the accident in Driver\u2019s Ed. Can you grab my phone from my purse?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to open your purse?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laughing, Cordelia promised, \u201cNothing in there will bite.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d Angel sounded doubtful. Opening the zipper, he fished around until he found her cell phone. Pulling it out he saw that there were a lot of buttons not only with numbers, but also symbols.<\/p>\n
Putting the phone in her hand, Angel hoped she could figure out how to turn it on. Cordelia took two seconds to find the appropriate button. \u201cI\u2019ve used this thing in the dark so a little blindness isn\u2019t gonna get in my way now.\u201d<\/p>\n
She leaned over and felt for the nightstand Angel had told her was there and placed the phone on the edge. Angel asked her, \u201cAre you still tired? Do you want to go straight to sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, I\u2019d like to put my stuff away and take a shower.\u201d Cordelia felt him move off from the edge of the bed where he had been sitting since returning with Buffy. \u201cCould you help me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Help you shower? The silent question popped into his head. Definitely. \u201cWith your stuff? Sure. You don\u2019t have much with you. Come here to the dresser and choose the easiest drawer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia got out of bed and followed the edge around to the other side. \u201cThis way?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn left and go about four steps forward,\u201d Angel instructed<\/p>\n
Feeling in front of her, Cordelia had to take a fifth step before she came into contact with the wooden high-boy dresser. There was a ridge separating the second and third drawers. Pulling at the handles of the third drawer, she told Angel, \u201cI\u2019ll take this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel quickly cleared out his neatly paired and folded socks moving them into another drawer. Then he helped her to take her things out of the gym bag and place them in the drawer. He latched on to the last piece of clothing in the bag and pulled out a nightgown of hot pink silk and matching lace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs this what you\u2019re wearing to bed?\u201d There was a choking sound accompanying Angel\u2019s question.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Cordelia asked, curious at what had brought on that reaction. \u201cBuffy just grabbed stuff at random.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a short pink thing\u2014 with lace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d she knew the one. \u201cI don\u2019t suppose the matching robe is in there?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel peered into the bag already knowing it to be empty. \u201cNo. I have an extra robe. You can use it.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a snort of laughter, Cordelia held out a hand for the nightdress. \u201cIf you\u2019re concerned about drowning in your own drool, then let me borrow a t-shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I can handle it as long as you wear the robe.\u201d Angel figured having her dress in his clothes would be even worse.<\/p>\n
Cordelia felt around in the drawer planning to grab a pair of clean underwear while Angel was distracted, but he was apparently following her actions. He snatched the panties out of her grasp and gave her a second pair. \u201cNot those.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other ones were emerald green,\u201d Angel explained. \u201cThese have little pink flowers that match your\u2014 uh, nightgown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Certain that she was turning red, Cordelia requested, \u201cCan you take my other stuff into the bathroom? I need you to show me where everything is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel gathered her shampoo, conditioner, brush and comb, toothbrush and lotion into one armful, guiding her with the other into the adjoining bathroom. \u201cStand there for a second,\u201d he instructed while putting everything in a location he thought she could find. Grabbing his extra robe from the hanger behind the door and some clean towels from the cupboard, he placed them on the towel rack just outside the shower.<\/p>\n
Then stepping behind Cordelia, Angel led her around the bathroom to show her where everything had been placed. Cordelia never knew that a tour of a person\u2019s bathroom could be so exciting. The feel of his tall frame leaning against her back as he moved her from place to place made her want to sink into him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, a couple of steps from the door is the sink,\u201d Angel moved her forward until her hips touched the edge of the counter. \u201cReach for the handles. Hot is on the left. Cold is on the right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs usual.\u201d Cordelia found the water faucets and gave them an experimental twist, turning them back off after she heard splashing water hit the ceramic bowl of the sink.<\/p>\n
\u201cToothbrush is hanging on the wall holder to your left. Mine is there too. I put yours on the left.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia repeated, \u201cToothbrush and toothbrush holder on the left. Got it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cToothpaste on the counter just below.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel continued with the orientation, showing her where her brush and comb had been placed. Then moving down the space beyond the sink. \u201cToilet ahead on the left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat reminds me,\u201d Cordelia interrupted. \u201cYou\u2019re out of toilet paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d Angel hadn\u2019t thought of that. \u201cI\u2019ll run out and get some later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Come to think of it, Cordelia would probably want food at some point and he had none of that in the apartment either. He had been so quick to suggest she stay with him that he had forgotten she might need some human necessities.<\/p>\n
Moving forward again, \u201cThree steps to the shower stall. Towels and robe on your right. Uh\u2014 give me your night things. I\u2019ll hang them here too.\u201d<\/p>\n
She had bundled the panties and nightie into a ball and kept it in the crook of her arm, so he had to straighten things out in order to drape them over the towel bar. \u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes?\u201d He stared down at the beautiful face with its unfocused hazel eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re being so patient with me,\u201d she smiled. \u201cI just wanted to say thanks for putting up with me. I mean\u2014 it\u2019s not like you had to help. Unless the Guardian Angel thing is some mandatory requirement for you night owl types.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNight owl?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shrugged. \u201cJust figured. First off, you were roaming around the neighborhood cemetery. Not exactly Sunnydale Park if you know what I mean. Second, you suggested that you\u2019d be home all day to take care of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do prefer the nighttime,\u201d Angel admitted. \u201cKind of allergic to sunlight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. I think I\u2019ve heard of that,\u201d Cordelia thought she had seen something on t.v. about it. \u201cPhotosensitivity?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilar,\u201d Angel figured he wouldn\u2019t go into the details of bursting into flame. \u201cCome here. Let me show you the shower.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia held her breath as they stepped into the shower stall together. They were sandwiched up against each other and it was all too easy to think about being in there minus their clothes. She kept reminding herself that Angel was a virtual stranger, that these were dangerous thoughts, but she felt so safe in the circle of his arms and her whole body tingled at his closeness.<\/p>\n
\u201cSoap is here. I took out a new bar,\u201d Angel lifted her hand to the soap holder. \u201cYour shampoo and conditioner are straight ahead on the shower caddy. Yours is on the\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeft?\u201d She guessed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. Just keeping things consistent,\u201d Angel smiled into her hair as he leaned close to look at the two bottles. \u201cYou know which one is which?\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling the containers of shampoo and conditioner, Cordelia correctly identified each one. As she put them back in place, Angel found himself reaching down to her waist to touch the hint of bare skin peaking from her midriff top.<\/p>\n
She felt so good, her skin so smooth there. He imagined she would be smooth all over. Just touching her silken flesh, soaping her wet silken flesh with his hands. Cupping those tantalizing breasts and washing them until they were foamy with soapy bubbles. Then letting his hand wander down the flat surface of her belly to the curly forest at the apex of her thighs, his fingers brushing through it to find what secrets lay between. Touching her there, making her cry out his name with the pleasure she received. Feeling the wet curve of her lush bottom against his groin just as he positioned himself to take her.<\/p>\n
With his eyes closed, Angel could picture it all. It was a fantasy he would give anything to make reality, but that was not going to happen. Cordelia was here for his protection, not to sate his lust. Forcing himself to pull away, Angel realized he needed to put some distance between them before Cordelia felt the proof of his lust\u2014 he was so hard and engorged it was close to being painful.<\/p>\n
Sensing him move back, Cordelia turned around to face him. Angel couldn\u2019t have gone far since the shower stall was small for two people. \u201cAngel, this may be a strange place to ask, but suddenly I\u2019m curious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d Angel managed not to groan aloud as she took a step toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat you look like.\u201d Cordelia had been wondering about it, thinking at first that he had been one of the ugly guys from the Bronze. Now she wasn\u2019t certain he was involved in the gang at all, just an acquaintance of Buffy\u2019s through the school Crime Club. \u201cWhat color is your hair?\u201d<\/p>\n
It had been a *long* time since Angel had thought about his coloring. He was always scrupulously aware of his clothes and hair, but having not seen himself in a mirror for nearly two and a quarter centuries he wasn\u2019t certain how to describe it. \u201cBrown.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrown hair,\u201d Cordelia nodded. \u201cEyes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrown.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBrown hair and eyes. Complexion?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2014 pale. My family is Irish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso allergic to sunlight,\u201d Cordelia remembered. \u201cCan I touch you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d Angel\u2019s thoughts immediately descended into his pants.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour face,\u201d she clarified. \u201cTo see you Helen Keller style.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my face.\u201d Angel cursed himself silently for letting his brain fall into the gutter. He wasn\u2019t certain that letting her touch him anywhere was a good idea, but could not deny her anything she wanted. \u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reaching up, Cordelia\u2019s hand moved up uncertain of its destination until Angel lifted it higher pressing it to his face. She had to step a little closer to reach the top of his head where she felt the short spiky hairstyle. \u201cYou use mousse?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2014 yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re how tall?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSix-foot-two.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s mouth quirked into a smile as she let her fingers wander over the angular features of his face. Feeling the shape of his nose, she moved outward to his cheekbones and then traced her fingers over the curves of his ears.<\/p>\n
He let out a laugh, squirming a bit. \u201cThat tickles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSensitive ears?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then her fingers moved down the curve of his jaw, meeting at his chin. She licked her lips in anticipation of touching his. Angel watched the sweep of her tongue over her lush mouth fighting the intense need to taste her, to cover her mouth with kisses until she was so out of breath that she saw stars. Then her thumbs softly touched the curve below his bottom lip moving along its sweeping length to the corners.<\/p>\n
She repeated the action with his upper lip before both thumbs together pressed his lips closed in a mock kiss. He pursed his lips to caress the pads of her thumbs.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s hands dropped to his chest as a silent gasp left her throat. Had she imagined it? That soft kiss? Then her thoughts were diverted by the feel of a hard sculpted torso under the cloth of his shirt. My, but Angel was certainly well made. Her hands wandered over his chest and up to his broad shoulders.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Angel snatched her hands away holding her wrists to the side. He could read the arousal in her eyes and knew that he let this go on too long. \u201cDo you know what you are doing to me, Cordelia? This needs to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
His abrupt move jerked Cordelia up against him. Her full breasts were pressed hard into his chest, their pointed nipples aching at the contact. As her hips connected with his it became rather obvious exactly what she was doing to Angel. His large hands immediately fell to her hips holding her there for a moment as she instinctively wiggled against his tumescent arousal.<\/p>\n
Setting Cordelia away from him, Angel turned and stepped out of the shower stall. She was looking embarrassed by what happened. In fact, Cordelia hurried to apologize, \u201cI am really sorry, Angel. I didn\u2019t mean to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn me on?\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice was so husky that Cordelia\u2019s insides curled with tingling pleasure at the sound. \u201cI just wanted to feel\u2014 see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it was a mistake to convince Buffy to let you stay,\u201d Angel admitted.<\/p>\n
Cordelia did not want to admit that he was right. She was greedy and wanted to be around him. \u201cYou mean at the end of the day, when you hang up your Guardian Angel attire, you are really just a\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Just a leering vampire with lustful intentions? Angel\u2019s thoughts whizzed by in his head.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2014 a normal guy?\u201d Cordelia finished. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t have touched you. My bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, you would tempt a saint,\u201d Angel wanted to make certain she knew he was not rejecting her. \u201cI\u2019m no saint. Take your shower. I\u2019ll be outside until I hear the water turn off and then I have to go out for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long will you be gone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be back soon. There is an all-night supermarket nearby,\u201d Angel explained. \u201cWe need a few things. I wasn\u2019t as prepared for overnight guests as I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry to be a burden,\u201d Cordelia now felt like she was intruding.<\/p>\n
Angel cupped her face, his thumb roving over her cheek. \u201cDon\u2019t think that. If I didn\u2019t want you here, I would have sent you away with the Slayer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe who? You mean Buffy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh\u2014 yeah. That\u2019s her name in the Crime Club.\u201d Angel hated lying to Cordelia, but he knew that Buffy\u2019s status was supposed to be a secret.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Mr. Giles is the Watcher and Buffy is the Slayer?\u201d Cordelia thought she had it right. \u201cWhat are Willow and Xander? Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cErm! Secret identities. You have to be part of the club to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cParty pooper!\u201d Cordelia was smiling again flashing him her megawatt grin. \u201cSo who are you, the Dark Avenger?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuardian Angel, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, yeah.\u201d She waved a hand at him shooing him out of the bathroom. \u201cSo go guard the door from the other side. I\u2019ll see\u2014 talk to you later.\u201d<\/p>\n