{"id":5418,"date":"2015-07-15T13:30:17","date_gmt":"2015-07-15T12:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=5418"},"modified":"2015-07-15T13:41:42","modified_gmt":"2015-07-15T12:41:42","slug":"immortal-beauty-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/07\/15\/immortal-beauty-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Immortal Beauty. 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Title: Immortal Beauty \u00a0 \u00a0<\/b><\/a>\"ImBe<\/a><\/b>
\nAuthor: <\/b>Lysa
\nPosted: <\/b>01\/2004
\nEmail<\/b><\/a>
\nRating: <\/b>NC-17
\nCategory: <\/b>Smut
\nContent: <\/b>C\/A
\nSummary: <\/b>Undercover trouble during an investigation leads Cordelia to request a nude sketch from Angel.
\nSpoilers: <\/b>AtS Season 1 & 2 Episodes To Shanshu in LA thru Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been
\nDisclaimer: <\/b>The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
\nDistribution: <\/b>Anywhere\u2026please let me know.
\nNotes: <\/b>Challenge by Manders<\/b> – Cordy requests a nude sketch (but there has to be a reason). NC-17, Explicit Smut.
\nHmm\u2026.Cordy requesting sketch\u2026check. Explicit smut\u2026check, check. A reason\u2026hey, I even added a plot. FicPic by Califi.<\/b> Just for the heck of it, this fic also takes care of a certain challenge of the week posted by Cali.<\/b> She knows the one. Mwahahahaha!
\nThanks\/Dedication: <\/b>To Mandy<\/b> who stuck to the rules and gave me a little epiphany.
\nFeedback: <\/b>Absolutely! Any way, shape or form. FB keeps my muse happy.<\/p>\n

\n

Walking around the far end of the Olympic-sized swimming pool, Wesley took one last sweep of the area confirming that nobody was around.<\/p>\n

The glistening water of the pool, the lounge chairs and the striped cabanas were all empty. Everyone was inside allowing him a moment of privacy to call in a preliminary report.<\/p>\n

Angel picked up the cell phone on the first ring having been pacing across the lobby of the Hyperion for the past hour. There was no suppressing the growl in his voice, \u201cWes, I expected your call ages ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst opportunity,\u201d explained Wes, his eyes still maintaining a close watch on his surroundings. \u201cOur cover worked. The mystic glamour has everyone believing I\u2019m a local art patron.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having had no doubts that Wesley could pull it off, Angel gave him his due, \u201cGood job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe estate is hardwired with high-tech security devices,\u201d informed Wesley. Not that they expected any less after preliminary research on their target resulted in the discovery that Clayton Vandemere was a reclusive millionaire whose only public interests surrounded fine art. \u201cManpower is no less impressive. Guards are dispersed throughout the mansion and grounds, nothing unexpected. No immediate evidence of demonic influence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staying behind during this first part of their undercover infiltration of the weekend gathering of artisans and their patrons had Angel on-edge. He preferred to be in the middle of it, especially when they knew so little going in. \u201cWhat about the woman in Cordelia\u2019s vision?\u201d<\/p>\n

Stepping back into the shadow of a marble Poseidon statue, Wesley told him, \u201cCordy has been sticking to her like glue. Apparently they have similar taste in shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a pause, Angel asked, \u201cHow is she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no sign of any trouble at all. Friendly young woman,\u201d Wesley sounded almost chipper as he spoke. Remembering that according to the vision she was supposed to disappear like all the other victims, his voice darkened as he revealed a few specifics, \u201cCordelia learned that Marnie Mitchell is the girlfriend of one of the artists. She has no previous connection with Vandemere. Never met him before last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel frowned into the phone. \u201cInteresting, but I meant Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Letting Cordelia go off on this mission without him immediately by her side was most likely tearing the vampire apart with worry, Wesley realized. He\u2019d barely agreed to the plan in the first place. Ever since the attack by Vocah that gave Cordelia never-ending visions and the pain that accompanied them, Angel had been overprotective. They\u2019d all grown closer since the incident, though it remained a mystery precisely what Wolfram & Hart was up to in arranging the nearly deadly distractions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe same,\u201d Wes answered, \u201cdetermined we stop Vandemere from claiming another victim. Our only problem remains that we have no idea how he is involved in the disappearances of the eleven young women in Cordelia\u2019s vision or how Marnie Mitchell may play into this scenario.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like you\u2019re having as much luck as I am,\u201d Angel commented drolly as he went on to explain that he managed to contact Detective Kate Lockley. \u201cShe\u2019s still as angry and bitter as ever and made it perfectly clear to me that I shouldn\u2019t be nosing into police business.\u201d<\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t sound positive; Wesley let out a sigh. Not that he had expected otherwise now that the detective blamed Angel for her father\u2019s death and for all of the deaths he had caused in his years as Angelus. \u201cSo you didn\u2019t get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I did,\u201d Angel countered much to his surprise. \u201cNot that it helps. Kate was willing to confirm that Vandemere has no police record. Only that his name shows up in connection with all of the victims. They all attended a party at his estate within a few days of their disappearances, but the evidence shows that they all made it home after the party ended.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based on Cordelia\u2019s vision, they suspected that much already. What they didn\u2019t know was how Vandemere was involved or how the women disappeared. \u201cI\u2019ve arranged for your arrival tonight as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wesley felt a tap on his shoulder and nearly dropped the phone, \u201cYiiiaahh! Cordelia, what are you doing out here?\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced around to see how it was possible that she snuck up on him. Cordelia was grinning, \u201cJust practicing a few stealthy techniques.\u201d She rolled her eyes and then held up the high-heeled shoes she had removed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWes, put Cordelia on,\u201d Angel\u2019s voice sounded in his ear as he still had the cell phone in his hand.<\/p>\n

Cordelia grabbed the phone away before Wes could even make a move, \u201cAngel, hi! This is so great. My bedroom is to die for and the bathroom has a sunken tub and the food is like\u2026well, I guess you wouldn\u2019t be interested in the food, but it\u2019s wow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you were focused on figuring out why Marnie Mitchell is in danger?\u201d It certainly didn\u2019t sound that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I am,\u201d Cordelia assured him. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t enjoy myself a little. Clay told me to make myself right at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

What was she doing talking to Vandemere or calling him Clay for that matter? As far as her undercover identity was concerned, Cordelia was supposed to be Wesley\u2019s assistant, not spending time with their potentially dangerous host. \u201cBe careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a laugh, Cordelia told him, \u201cHe\u2019s a little heavy on the leering, but he has great taste.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re supposed to be gathering information,\u201d Angel reminded her, raging inwardly at the idea that their target was leering at his seer, \u201cnot smooth-talking Vandemere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe came to me, not the other way around. Marnie and I have been bonding. If you thought I knew anything about fashion, you should hear her talk. She\u2019s not really into art\u2014 other than her boyfriend,\u201d Cordelia added with a snort trying to assure him that she was doing her job.<\/p>\n

Angel tried to redirect her back to the fact that she\u2019d been involving herself in the more dangerous part of the case, direct contact with Vandemere. He heard her soft \u2018pfft\u2019 over the phone. \u201cDon\u2019t talk to him again, Cordy. Not unless I\u2019m with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSheesh! Overprotective much, Angel? Kinda hard to avoid the host of the party and even harder to make sure you\u2019re there,\u201d she pointed out. \u201cWhat do you want me to do\u2026hold the cell phone up so you can hear the conversation?\u201d<\/p>\n

Standing next to her, Wes gave her an exasperated look. \u201cWill you finish up, please, Cordelia. We\u2019ll be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Bow Tie is harassing me to get off the phone,\u201d Cordelia said as she wiggled her feet back into her high-heeled sandals one by one. \u201cSee you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSooner than you think,\u201d Angel commented grimly, ending the call.<\/p>\n

Cordelia stared down at the phone now buzzing with a dial tone. Glancing at Wesley, she asked him, \u201cYou don\u2019t think Angel would do anything silly, do you? Like find a way to come across town in broad daylight.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Angel stood in the middle of a large foyer, his leather jacket still warm from the sun as it had acted like a blanket of protection all the way across town. Determined not to wait a minute more, Angel had called upon Charles Gunn to drive him across town and deliver the rest of his clothing and supplies. While Gunn wasn\u2019t too keen on pretending to be the vampire\u2019s lackey, he offered to help out where he could.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting me here is enough,\u201d Angel thanked him as they stood in the shadows of the columned entryway.<\/p>\n

Now inside, he was immediately greeted by members of Vandemere\u2019s staff who had already informed him of the newcomer\u2019s presence. A minute later, the man himself appeared, tall and trim with longish golden-brown hair and a short beard. From the research, Angel knew him to be in his mid-forties, but he looked younger. He carried a confident air about him, as if nothing could touch him. Suited in expensive, yet casual clothes, Clay Vandemere still maintained a formidable presence.<\/p>\n

His hand was cupped around the elbow of the beautiful young woman walking next to him, Cordelia, wearing one of those short little pieces of nothing that left her legs long and bare to his view. As Angel\u2019s eyes swept over Cordelia and saw the way that their target touched her, he fought to maintain the mask of his human features. The demon in him shouted in rage that Vandemere had his hand on her, that once again Cordelia had defied him and put herself in danger and for some reason that Wesley was nowhere in sight to protect her.<\/p>\n

Cordelia caught the dark glint in Angel\u2019s eyes as he met her gaze. Keeping her smile as sunny as possible, she kept to the game. This was not a moment to get trapped in lessons that included the words \u2018I told you so\u2019. Grabbing the lead, Cordelia decided to make introductions before Angel skipped the whole investigation and ripped off Clay Vandemere\u2019s head. Not that he would, but the look in his eyes wasn\u2019t exactly the friendliest at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wyndam-Pryce showed me some of your work,\u201d Vandemere commented as he took in the fact that the artist appeared to be short on manners. Dealing with any number of eccentric artists, he would normally brush off the fact as being something unworthy of his attention, but he\u2019d seen the flash of gold in those dark eyes. \u201cI have been looking forward to meeting you and seeing more. My instincts tell me you\u2019ll be an interesting guest, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m paid to be here,\u201d Angel got into character, his own instincts warning him that the man before him was talking in subtext. \u201cWyndam-Pryce keeps my wallet flush and gives me anything I want so long as he gets to play show and tell with my work.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the hand clutching Cordelia\u2019s elbow started to move to a more intimate position along her lower back, Angel reached out and slowly tugged her toward him. She gave him a look of surprise, but Angel was too focused on staring directly at their host and making his point, a smirk twisting his handsome mouth at one corner as he added, \u201cAnything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The too bright smile on Cordelia\u2019s face wavered a bit as she felt Angel\u2019s large hand close around her ribs, sweep along her waist and spread out over the rounded curve of her bottom. Plastered against his side, Cordelia felt her heart leap up in her throat as his iron grip held her in place. She was too busy counting up the number of ways to turn Angel into a dust pile to notice Vandemere\u2019s reaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I assume you will not require separate accommodations,\u201d Vandemere nodded without blinking an eye. \u201cMy assistant will show you to Cordelia\u2019s room shortly, but as your host, I must ensure you have everything you need during your stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a brief nod, Angel thanked him. The sooner they got to that room, the better off they would be. A storm of hurricane proportions was building up inch by inch in the tense woman in his arms and he wanted them out of hearing range before she let it blow. He\u2019d just reacted and now it was all he could do not to squeeze the lush curves beneath his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are a sketch artist with the eye of a master. The detail is superb,\u201d Vandemere was quite free with the compliments. Then he quickly got to what he assumed would be the interesting part of this conversation, \u201cI suppose that your only other medium is flesh\u2014 and blood. That is usually the way with vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia\u2019s eyes snapped back to their host, wide with shock. She grabbed a handful of Angel\u2019s jacket, promising, \u201cI didn\u2019t tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vandemere laughed as he watched their reactions. Panic settled across that beautiful face as Cordelia nibbled on her lower lip realizing she should have kept her mouth shut and let Angel do the talking. There was a first time for everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not fear that I will alert the other guests. May I say that I admire the bravado of your daytime arrival. The cloak of darkness would have been safer, but not seen as suspicious by this crowd. As long as you maintain your decorum amongst them, there will be no difficulty,\u201d Vandemere assured smoothly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere aren\u2019t many who can identify my kind by sight alone,\u201d Angel commented, the danger signals glaring by this point. Their host was no ordinary human, but what he was Angel had no idea.<\/p>\n

With a brief flash of a smile, \u201cMoney buys many connections in this community. I hear quite a lot and have learned to trust my instincts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not here to snack on your guests, Vandemere,\u201d Angel hoped to end this discussion soon. This required a little time for regrouping.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to hear that,\u201d came the amused response. \u201cHowever, I would be happy to arrange provision of a supply of fresh blood\u2026unless you already have one,\u201d his gaze drifted back to Cordelia. \u201cI don\u2019t see any obvious marks on that lovely skin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia snapped, \u201cThere are none,\u201d and felt Angel\u2019s hand tighten in response.<\/p>\n

Telling another male that he let his property go unmarked did not produce a calming effect for the vampire. Even if Cordelia didn\u2019t actually belong to him in the way that Vandemere suggested. Angel quickly explained, his emotions masked firmly behind a practiced poker-face, \u201cCordelia is unmarked because I choose to enjoy the perfection of her skin. I like her warm and willing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel felt her gaze burning into him. He\u2019d guess she was pretty damn hot right now. Mount Vesuvius was going to blow no matter her professed acting skills. He hoped she realized he was trying to convince Vandemere that she was off limits to protect her, not that his words contained hidden truths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barely maintaining her hold on her tongue, Cordelia kept repeating a mantra to hold off the urge to tell both of them exactly what was running through her head. Any other time, she wouldn\u2019t hesitate, but there was a mission at stake.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is indeed lovely,\u201d Vandemere\u2019s blue eyes wandered down her frame despite the possessive hold of the vampire. Then joking, \u201cKeeps your drawing pencil sharp, does she?\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel heard Cordelia\u2019s soft, \u201cEew!\u201d close to his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Cordelia will make a lovely model for my next commission. I have a yen to see her on canvas,\u201d Vandemere tapped his finger to his chin thoughtfully.<\/p>\n

Reminding him, \u201cI don\u2019t paint,\u201d Angel closed that subject.<\/p>\n

Or thought he did.<\/p>\n

Clay Vandemere stepped within arms reach of the vampire and the beautiful woman he had claimed to be his. Ignoring the dark glare and possessive tone, he chuckled as his hand lifted to curl a finger along one of Cordelia\u2019s silky chestnut tresses. \u201cMy dear Angel, I plan to paint her myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the freakin\u2019 hell did you think you were playing at?\u201d Cordelia stormed up to Angel the moment the door to their room closed behind the servants who carried up his bags.<\/p>\n

Their room<\/i>, the thought resonated in her head. It was their<\/i> room, not hers just because Mister Big Mouth Vamp had to go all Super-Psycho just because she was talking to the potential bad guy.<\/p>\n

Rubbing the tension at the nape of his neck, Angel tried to get out of this without appearing to whine and beg forgiveness. Not that he was anywhere near feeling sorry for the fact that he\u2019d tried to make it clear that Cordelia was off-limits to their host. If anything, his spontaneous strategy only seemed to draw more interest.<\/p>\n

Now Clay Vandemere was adamant about painting Cordelia and only after Angel\u2019s assurance that he would consider allowing it did he allow them to head upstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrop it, Cordy,\u201d Angel told her, stance wide, hands on his hips and making his body appear even larger engulfing hers as she approached like an angry whirlwind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not dropping anything,\u201d she snapped, \u201cuntil you tell me where that lamebrain act came from. Clay was behaving like a gentleman until you came along and turned him into Mister Male Chauvinist Pig.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nostrils flaring, Angel made an attempt to put a damper on his own temper. After all, if Cordelia had stuck with the girl instead of letting Clay Vandemere put his hands on her, this would have been a non-issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink about it. Your own vision showed you that he\u2019s the one behind these disappearances. So it stands to reason that he puts on a performance for the public. You just caught a glimpse of the man behind the fa\u00e7ade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raking both hands through her hair, Cordelia tucked it behind her ears. She swiped her tongue across her lips, glared at Angel and then poked him in the chest hard enough to make sure she had his full attention. \u201cHe\u2019s a creep. I get that. For the record, I\u2019m not some simpering twit who\u2019s going to drool all over him because he\u2019s kind of a hottie and has money to burn.\u201d<\/p>\n

The description startled Angel for a moment. She thought Vandemere was a hottie? Maybe it was the beard. Shaking off the flash of jealousy distracting him, Angel got back to the point of his whole charade. He didn\u2019t care if his words cut too close to the truth that he hadn\u2019t fully admitted to himself yet as he said, \u201cI don\u2019t want him near you, Cordelia. You saw how he looked at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2014 like a man looks at a woman?\u201d Cordelia questioned hotly, anger glittering in her hazel eyes. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s escaped your notice, but guys actually find me attractive. Just because you\u2019re a eunuch doesn\u2019t mean the rest of the male population has to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel dropped his hands to his sides, balling them up into tight fists as the urge to grab hold of her hit him. Not notice? A eunuch? If she had any clue just how often and how much he did notice, he was certain Cordelia wouldn\u2019t be screaming in his face and all but daring him to show her just how wrong she was about that eunuch comment.<\/p>\n

Jaw tight, Angel ground out the words, \u201cI\u2019m not a eunuch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPfft!\u201d Cordelia crossed her arms, turned her head to one side and refused to look at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were there when Wes found the loophole that made my soul permanent,\u201d Angel reminded her taking one step closer so that his towering form brushed against her. \u201cDon\u2019t yank that chain, Cordelia, unless you want it wrapped around you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound of her own pulse thundered in her ears as Cordelia slowly peeked up at him from the corners of her eyes. Teeth clamped down on her lower lip as she realized maybe, just maybe she\u2019d pushed him just a little too far bruising his male ego in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat still doesn\u2019t give you the right to paw me,\u201d she took it down a notch, \u201ceven for show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dammit, now he had to say it, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Cordy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should be,\u201d Cordelia told him not leaving well enough alone. \u201cPersonally, I think some serious groveling is in order here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amazed that she\u2019d actually suggest it, he could only question her sanity for doing so, \u201cGroveling? You\u2019re crazy if you think I\u2019m crawling and begging to gain forgiveness for something that was your fault in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy fault! I\u2019m to blame for that testosterone challenge in the lobby?\u201d Her voice gave off a shriek as her temper flared again. \u201cThat was all you, buddy. And don\u2019t talk to me about yanking your chains, Angel, because after that act, I think you need to take a hard look in the mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s jaw snapped shut again just as his hands moved with incalculable speed to pull her hard against his chest. One moved up to bury itself in her hair, tilting her head back and her face toward him. \u201cVampires don\u2019t have reflections,\u201d he reminded her, closing in on the soft circle formed by her mouth.<\/p>\n

A short gasp was all Cordelia had time for, her eyes wide saucers as Angel closed in on her lips. Just as the distance between them vanished to naught but a sliver of light, a knock sounded at their door followed quickly by the turning of the handle. In the space of a second, Cordelia was left standing alone with Angel on the far side of the room leaning up against the wall and taking great interest in a crack on the ceiling.<\/p>\n

Wesley entered quickly, shutting the door behind him. Noting Angel\u2019s presence and immediately picking up the tense vibes, he had no doubt they\u2019d been arguing. As he approached, the sound of their raised voices had been audible, but indecipherable. No doubt it had something to do with Cordelia spending more time with Vandemere than Angel thought safe and the fact that Angel had somehow arranged to get here in broad daylight.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you made it,\u201d Wes said by way of an opening hoping the tension would dissipate.<\/p>\n

Angel nodded without explaining the details. He was slowly forcing himself to calm down. Cordelia had him so stirred up he\u2019d almost kissed her. Dammit, what the hell was he thinking? That was the problem, Angel realized, thinking had nothing to do with it.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, Wesley noticed that Angel\u2019s suitcases were lined up at his feet. This was potentially interesting. \u201cWhy are these not in your room?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Cordelia who answered, her fake smile showing again. \u201cThis is<\/i> Angel\u2019s room.\u201d<\/p>\n

A furrow appeared on Wesley\u2019s brow, \u201cBut this is your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTry explaining that to Don Juan the Artiste over there,\u201d Cordelia nodded her head in Angel\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n

Pushing away from the wall, Angel stalked over to join them. \u201cI thought it necessary to tell Vandemere that Cordelia wasn\u2019t up for grabs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSays Mister Grabby Hands himself,\u201d she muttered and drew a wide-eyed look from the Englishman.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re saying that you informed our host that you two are sleeping together,\u201d Wes deduced while attempting not to let his imagination run away with him. Since they had recently moved offices from Cordelia\u2019s apartment to the Hyperion, he had hoped the building tension between the vampire and seer would cool off a little. That hadn\u2019t happened and now Wes saw that it was reaching a boiling point. \u201cStrangely, I have to tell you that I\u2019m glad you made that inference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia\u2019s nose crinkled in reaction. \u201cHuh?\u201d Even Angel raised a brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve garnered a little more information from our outside sources on the women who have disappeared,\u201d Wesley explained. \u201cAll of them were the girlfriends of the artisans who have come here as guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what?\u201d Cordelia shrugged, not getting the connection. \u201cYou\u2019re saying that Clay is the jealous type. There\u2019s plenty of that to go around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel ignored the verbal barb to comment, \u201cMaybe he covets what he can\u2019t have as his own.\u201d Then making a leap, \u201cHe paints them. Captures them on canvas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wants to paint me,\u201d Cordelia\u2019s hand crept up to her throat, remembering the way Clay commented on her unmarked skin.<\/p>\n

Conceding that there could be a connection, Wesley pointed out, \u201cThat still doesn\u2019t explain the cause of the disappearances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPack up,\u201d Angel ordered decisively having never taken his eyes off of her. \u201cYou\u2019re going home tonight. We\u2019ll handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning on him and completely ignoring Wesley\u2019s presence, Cordelia laid into him again. \u201cDon\u2019t pull the macho protective stuff with me, Angel. I\u2019m part of this team\u2014 Vision Girl, not just your secretary and certainly not someone who\u2019s going to run at the first sign that it\u2019s getting dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then her voice softened, \u201cI\u2019ve come a long way since Sunnydale and I\u2019m not going to let you endanger this mission because you think I can\u2019t take care of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCordy\u2026,\u201d Angel couldn\u2019t deny any of it and found that his words were suffocated by the truth.<\/p>\n

After seconds of silence that felt like eons, Wesley cleared his throat. Addressing Angel, he put on a practical expression before saying, \u201cI assume you\u2019ll be sleeping on the couch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPfft! Duh!\u201d<\/p>\n

After that, it seemed like a non-issue to Wesley who informed them both that it might be a good idea for Cordelia to sit for Vandemere\u2019s painting. This might be the only way they would gain access to the evidence that would prove him guilty of a connection to the disappearances. Angel was dead-set against the idea. No way was he going to let that happen. Just to prove her point, Cordelia took the opposite argument, even though the idea gave her the creeps.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo against one,\u201d she quipped sticking out her tongue at Angel when the urge hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d he ground out. \u201cJust keep in mind that when you do this, he won\u2019t have you wearing anything except your skin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cordelia\u2019s spine stiffened at the thought of those leering blue eyes, but she wasn\u2019t about to back down now. \u201cYou don\u2019t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

A harsh laugh sounded from the vampire\u2019s throat. \u201cAfter the way he went on about your flawless silky golden skin? Bet on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just as Cordelia was trying to recall if Clay had used those words, Wesley decided he had heard more than enough. He didn\u2019t like the idea any more than Angel, but if he had his way, things wouldn\u2019t get that far.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a good time to snoop around a bit. Vandemere is supposed to be otherwise occupied until suppertime. Cordy, you might want to get back to Ms Mitchell.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Title: Immortal Beauty \u00a0 \u00a0 Author: Lysa Posted: 01\/2004 Email Rating: NC-17 Category: Smut Content: C\/A Summary: Undercover trouble during an investigation leads…<\/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-5418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5418","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=5418"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5418\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}