Chapter 16<\/b><\/p>\n
Cordelia finally gave up trying to get Angel to speak to her. The rest of the walk back to the hotel was done in utter silence.<\/p>\n
The vampire wouldn\u2019t even look at her, the only time he even touched her was to lower her down into the manhole near the entrance to the door in the alley and then to pull her up into the entrance of the basement of the hotel.<\/p>\n
He let her pass and go upstairs. Angel followed but stopped in the doorway as soon as he saw Wesley, Gunn and Fred run up to Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Wesley turned to the vampire. \u201cAngel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake her to the hospital.\u201d Turning to go back down into the basement, back into the sewers.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d Wesley asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. Angel\u2019s just being stupid, really stupid.\u201d Glaring at the retreating form of the vampire. \u201cI just want to go home. Can someone please take me home.\u201d She turned to Wesley and Gunn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll take Angel\u2019s car.\u201d Wesley grabbed the keys. Gunn and Fred quickly followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone doesn\u2019t need to go.\u201d Cordelia snapped. Her frustration at Angel\u2019s lack of response towards her was turning into anger.<\/p>\n
They needed to talk. But he was being all broody and stupid. And she sure didn\u2019t want to talk about what happened with Wesley, Gunn and Fred.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, we were worried. Wesley said it was Angelus. Why does Angel think you should go to hospital?\u201d Fred\u2019s eyes got big. \u201cThat was Angel right, and if he thinks you have to go to the hospital… What did Angelus do? Are you all right? Maybe you should go to the hospital. I shouldn\u2019t have left you alone with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will say this only one more time- I AM FINE. Gunn, take me home. Wesley, you stay here, if Angel comes back, he may want to talk to you, but I doubt it,\u201d she grumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, Fred, don\u2019t ask Angel any of your one million questions, if he does come back. He isn\u2019t in the mood; he\u2019s in a stupid, guilty broody mood. And I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley nodded to Gunn.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Gunn turned to Cordelia and started to speak. She cut him off with a glare. \u201cI\u2019m not in the mood to answer any questions, either.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter 17<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wouldn\u2019t talk, but she seemed okay. I guess. She ran into her apartment and slammed the door on me. Has the vamp come back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Wesley took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething happened.\u201d Gunn said sitting on the counter. \u201cI saw vamp marks on her neck.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley rubbed even harder. \u201cLet be it for now. They\u2019ll talk when they\u2019re ready. I hope.\u201d He shoved on his glasses.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cGo away Dennis.\u201d Cordelia waved at the floating robe behind her. Cordelia stepped closer to her mirror, her fingers touching the bite marks on her body.<\/p>\n
She closed her eyes as she remembered the feeling of Angelus\u2019 fangs penetrating her flesh, then his lips and tongue kissing and licking the wounds, easing the sting, giving pleasure just as he gave pain. What were they going to do now?<\/p>\n
Her bare feet made no sound as she went to the bathroom. Cordelia settled down in the hot water, letting the water soothe her aching body, wishing it could do the same for her heart and mind.<\/p>\n
What Angelus had done had the capability of destroying her relationship with Angel, if they let it. Cordelia was willing to put it behind her, place it with all of the other bad things that Angelus had done.<\/p>\n
It was Angelus not Angel. She could keep separating the two. She could, if Angel would let her. But, he wasn\u2019t doing that. He was acting all stupid like he had done those things to her. But it wasn\u2019t Angel.<\/p>\n
Cordelia sunk further into the tub, trying to wash away Angelus words, the words that claimed that Angel and he were one in the same. That just wasn\u2019t true. Cordelia needed for Angel to say it. Cordelia jumped up from the tub.<\/p>\n
Chapter 18<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia?\u201d Wesley looked up at the young woman standing in the doorway.<\/p>\n
\u201cHas he come back yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia turned and headed for the basement. \u201cCordelia, where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo find him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, I don\u2019t think\u2026.\u201d Wesley sighed. \u201c You should.\u2019 He finished to the closed door.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked around in the dark sewer. Where would she go if she was a guilt-ridden, stupid vampire that just lost her soul and bit, terrorized, threatened and almost raped her best friend?<\/p>\n
Damn. She was in the wrong place. Cordelia turned to go back to the hotel and stopped again. She would just stay here and wait. If brood guy had been watching her apartment then he would know she left and he would know she came to the hotel.<\/p>\n
It shouldn\u2019t be that long.<\/p>\n
She looked up as Angel emerged from the dark shadows.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should\u2019ve gone to the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t need to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine. And going to the hospital would have done nothing but raise a lot of questions.<\/p>\n
Angel turned and started to walk away.<\/p>\n
Cordelia ran up to the vampire and yanked on his arm. \u201cAngel, stop. We have to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel took her hands off him and pushed her. \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to,\u201d Cordelia ran back to him. \u201cYou have to.\u201d She repeated. \u201cPlease, Angel. Don\u2019t let what Angelus did destroy us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stopped and faced her. \u201cYou want to talk, so talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere? It\u2019s gross down here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel took a deep breath, he wasn\u2019t sure if it was to stop himself from hitting, kissing or running away from the young woman in front him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere would you suggest, then?\u201d He said lowly.<\/p>\n
She pointed back to the path to the hotel. She scrunched Wesley was there. \u201cWe could stay in the basement or go to your room.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy room?\u201d Angel took another deep breath. \u201cLet\u2019s go, then.\u201d He grabbed her arm and pushed her back to the hotel.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I can walk. Nevermind.\u201d She mumbled at his glare.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Both Fred and Wesley looked up from their books as Cordelia and Angel came through the basement door.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave.\u201d Angel said to them as he pulled Cordelia towards the stairs to his suite.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy?\u201d Wesley got up, fumbling on the counter for a stake.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019m okay. Bye. We\u2019re going to talk.\u201d She gave an odd smile to Wesley and Fred. \u201cBye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley studied the pair a moment and beckoned Fred to come with him. \u201cWe\u2019ll be back very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake your time.\u201d Angel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d Wesley said. \u201cWe\u2019ll be back. Come on, Fred.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia pulled against Angel\u2019s tug. \u201cAngel, now that they are gone we can just talk here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you wanted to talk in my room.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI also said the basement.\u201d She countered.<\/p>\n
\u201cUpstairs.\u201d He pulled her after him. Angel pushed her into the room and locked the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, why are you trying to scare me?\u201d She glared her arms crossed against her chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause, Cordelia you should be scared of me.\u201d The vampire moved closer his eyes glowing yellow.<\/p>\n
Cordelia smacked him. \u201cStop it. I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re up to, but just stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stepped back and reverted to his human guise. \u201cYou really are stupid.\u201d He laughed, his voice a perfect imitation of Angelus mocking tone.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stumbled back. Angel studied her. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Cordy, am I frightening you now. Aw, love, how special. Do you know what\u2019s so intoxicating about fear for a vampire? It\u2019s gives the blood such a more intense flavor, the air just becomes drenched in the scent. Quite, wonderful.\u201d He stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is Cordy, I\u2019ve got my soul, what are you afraid of? Afraid that I will tie you to the bed, rape you, feed off you, hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia straightened and swung at the vampire. \u201cOuch.\u201d She cried, holding her fist.<\/p>\n
Angel placed his hand over his jaw. \u201cDo you really think that could stop me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is your problem? Why are you doing this? What? Angelus didn\u2019t do enough damage now you want to finish it? Stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel started to laugh again, this time not mockingly but in resignation and sadness. He sat on the edge of his bed, shaking his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, talk to me.\u201d Cordelia sat down next to the vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo away, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t. You know that. You\u2019re hurting and it\u2019s making you act weird, weirder than usual. I can\u2019t leave you like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head in his hands. \u201cWhy won\u2019t you ever listen to me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do listen to you, but you aren\u2019t making any sense right now.\u201d She placed a small hand on Angel\u2019s thigh. \u201cYou aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I am, Cordelia.\u201d He took her hand off his leg. \u201cYou just don\u2019t want to hear what I\u2019m saying. Just like you didn\u2019t listen to Angelus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you heard him say that we were one in the same, I am Angelus Cordelia, I am my demon. I hurt you, I bit you, and I tried to rape you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you stop saying that?\u201d She jumped up off the bed and glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not until you understand and leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel jumped up. \u201cDamn you, what do I have to do to get you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do understand.\u201d Cordelia did understand or at least she was pretty sure she did. Angel just refused to believe it because he seemed to expect that if she really understood, she would leave him.<\/p>\n
He was the one that didn\u2019t understand, not her. She waited for his next move. Angel was angry, very angry. His eyes were flashing from brown and gold, his body tense. Well, she would see if she was right or if he was.<\/p>\n
But, she wasn\u2019t that worried, he was almost never right when it came to their relationship.<\/p>\n
Cordelia stood still as Angel stalked towards her and ripped at her clothes until she was nude in front of him. Melodramatic, that was her vampire. He pulled her in front of the mirror forcing her to look at her reflection; he roughly placed his hands on the evidence of Angelus bites. \u201cThis is what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia wasn\u2019t looking at her reflection; she was staring at the mirror though. The mirror. Angel put that in after one of her many complaints about there not being enough mirrors in the hotel.<\/p>\n
Why hadn\u2019t she questioned why Angel put a mirror in his bedroom? Why hadn\u2019t he? She wondered if he even realized it. She hadn\u2019t until now. \u201cAngel, why did put a mirror in your bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stepped back, his anger completely lost in confusion. \u201cYour mirror?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like you need one. Why here? Sure, you put one in the guest room, I use, but why here? I like this one better. Why did you put the best mirror in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel just stared at the nude young woman. \u201cCordelia, I just ripped your clothes off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. That wasn\u2019t very nice. I liked that outfit. You could\u2019ve just asked. I would\u2019ve taken them off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stumbled even further back, his legs hitting the edge of the bed, his hands clutching at the covers. He closed his eyes as he pulled up blanket. \u201cHere. Sorry.\u201d He handed the covering to her.<\/p>\n
Cordelia shrugged and wrapped the blanket around her body and got on the bed behind the befuddled vampire. \u201cAngel, I do understand. I might not have, but I do now, okay. Your little melodrama clued me in okay. So, you can stop with the I am Angelus bullshit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCord..\u201d He stopped as her hand covered his mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are a vampire, Angelus is a vampire, you both share a lot in common, you both are obsessive, prone to over dramatics, a thing for blondes, \u201c she paused as growl vibrated through Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cA tendency to get growly, when someone says something you don\u2019t want to hear or does something you don\u2019t like, you are both possessive, both like blood, both have a capacity of great and violent rage, but where Angelus is a psychopath in that he\u2019s amoral, no boundaries to curb his actions or desires, you have a soul, a moral compass that allows you to be a good man, allows you to love and be loved. Angelus doesn\u2019t have that and that is why you are different from him. Angelus may be a part of what you are but he isn\u2019t all of you.<\/p>\n
Even without a soul, you weren\u2019t the same Angelus that you were 150 years ago or even four years ago. Angelus may have wanted to terrorize me, though it was kind of weak, well, up until\u00a0that last part, but before that he still wanted me to be comfortable. Rocky road ice cream. He got me ice cream, didn\u2019t have any of course, but he got it. And those curtains, those were almost exactly like the curtains that I wanted for the lobby, but you wouldn\u2019t let me get, said they were too expensive.\u201d Cordelia paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, nobody’s using those curtains now, they\u2019re just hanging in an abandoned warehouse, I mean\u2026\u201d She scrunched up her face. \u201cNobody was killed for them were they, because if they weren\u2019t then we could get them and hang them\u2026.?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel turned to her. \u201cShut up. And don\u2019t read too much into Angelus desire to make you comfortable before he tortured you. Pleasure and pain that\u2019s what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s good at it.\u201d Cordelia shrugged. \u201cAt least you stopped saying it was you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was me, Cordy, I hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia rolled her eyes. \u201cStop.\u201d Cordelia cradled his disbelieving face and stared into his guilt filled eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you\u2019ve hurt me more with a soul than you ever could without one and I still love you. I love you because after each back step you take a greater step forward. Watching you learn to accept your humanity, to believe in your right to be happy, watching you begin to really love all of us as a family, not that obsessive blind tragic crap that you and Buffy dwelled in, but real love, love that makes you happy and laugh is beautiful.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why I\u2019ll never leave you, because I have to see the end or at least try to, I want to be there when you finally get to walk out in the sun, I want to take you to the beach and get some color on you. I need to see it, I need to see you happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngelus\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you\u2019re missing the point. God, you\u2019re dense. Angelus does scare me, I can\u2019t deny that, he scares me because he means death and pain to those I love, he means that you are further away from your redemption, but he isn\u2019t what really terrifies me, he was once, but you changed that, you changed that when you with a soul, terrified me more.<\/p>\n
You hurt me and scared me, when you cut yourself off from us. Angel, with a soul, you have the capacity to cause more harm to your redemption, to me, to all of us than Angelus ever could, all that demon can do is kill us, you could\u2019ve destroyed us and the mission that we believe in by your choices with a soul. You have choices in your behavior, Angelus doesn\u2019t, not really since he\u2019s an amoral vampire.<\/p>\n
You are so worried about how I feel about what happened with Angelus, don\u2019t be, be worried about how I will feel if you ever turn your back on your soul again.”<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said you \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t. We\u2019ve never really talked about it. Things and circumstances just happened and we became okay again, better than okay, but it didn\u2019t go away, Angel. It was still there. This stuff with Angelus will go away. Because it wasn\u2019t you, the whole you, but the other was.\u201d Cordelia sighed as she saw Angel retreat back into himself, trying to hid even further from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, don\u2019t. I love you. Don\u2019t go back into brood mode. I forgave you, I just never said it, but I did. I love you and you\u2019ve shown that you don\u2019t want anything like that to happen again. I just mention it so you would put what happened with Angelus in perspective. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel gently brushed Cordelia\u2019s hair from her face and stared intently into her eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t understand you. I\u2019ve never met anyone like you before.\u201d He said with awe and disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, duh, I\u2019m Cordelia Chase.\u201d She quirked a big smile.<\/p>\n
He laughed and pushed her to the bed, hugging her close to him.<\/p>\n
Cordelia giggled. \u201cIf this was a movie, we\u2019d be kissing right now and then making love or at least you would say you loved me too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel leaned up looking into her eyes; her lighthearted tone couldn\u2019t hide the need for a response from him. \u201cAnd you think you know me so well,\u201d his lips moving closer. \u201cI love you, my unique, beautiful Cordelia Chase,\u201d ending the sentence with a soft kiss.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wrapped her arms around the vampire pulling him closer, deepening the kiss for as long as she thought wise, and then just a little bit longer. With a sigh, she broke the kiss. \u201cUm, Angel.\u201d She whispered, moving away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m naked and well\u2026.and while Angelus may not be my biggest fear, I don\u2019t want him back.\u201d She scooted back.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither do I, so I\u2019ll avoid all black ooze in the future, but not this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, sex, joy, bad guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, you understand more than I do about a lot, but trust me on this, I won\u2019t lose my soul, not from the joy of making love to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow come?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause to do that now, I would have to be able to forget the risks, and I can\u2019t. You can\u2019t and neither can I, so no matter how much love and joy we feel we both know that it isn\u2019t completely true not while my demon still exists.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmmph.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou aren\u2019t happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy, that I can\u2019t send you into oblivious joy, no, but I\u2019ll settle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t pout. I love you and you do send me to joy, just not oblivious joy and you don\u2019t want that- just know that you are the only one that can lead me to my humanity. Because you are my humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia blinked at the tears forming in her eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s the sweetest thing anyone\u2019s ever said to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her smile turned to a frown as she thought more about what Angel said. She scooted up. \u201cSo that means you can have sex whenever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be great. Can we start now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d She pushed at his reaching hands. \u201cI mean you could just go out and have sex with anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI always could.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEwww.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t. \u201c Angel quickly defended. \u201cNot, since well, not since Darla and that wasn\u2019t fun, well not joyful anyway. And no one before that except Buffy and I didn\u2019t know the risks, then.<\/p>\n
\u201cEwww.\u201d Cordelia moved even further away.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy.\u201d Angel tried to pull her back. \u201cThe curse was love, joy and sex and forgetting who I was. I\u2019ve had sex without\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop. Ewww.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, I\u2019m neither a virgin or a eunuch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEwww.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you stop making that sound?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you stop talking about your blondes\u2026ewww. I can\u2019t make love to you. Ewww.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel rubbed his face hard. Okay, this wasn\u2019t fatal. This wasn\u2019t angst filled Angelus or beige period talk. This was just blond talk. Ewww. Maybe Cordy was right.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, you know that I wouldn\u2019t let Darla come between us again. If she ever shows her face back in LA, I will stake her before allowing her to hurt you or anyone else. The reason why I slept with her is non-existent now. I know what I would lose. And it isn\u2019t worth it, it never was, I was just too stupid to realize it at the time, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia shivered. \u201cIck, I know that, don\u2019t ever mention that again, it makes my skin crawl.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy, the other blonde, you could go back to her now that you\u2019ve figured out the love, joy, sex loophole. I\u2019ve got to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel just stared, his hand shot out as Cordelia moved from the bed, yanking her back on. \u201cAngel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, now you are being really stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you are the one that said that my love for Buffy wasn\u2019t real, just obsessive, blind tragic stuff and you were right. Why in the hell would I want to go back to that when I have real love here, love that gives me joy and makes laugh\u2026.and frustrates the hell out of me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, she was the \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you say the love of my life, I\u2019m going to growl, if you say she\u2019s blonde, I\u2019m going to rip that cover off you and pound into you, until you can\u2019t ever say that word again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you just threaten me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u2026\u2026I\u2026\u201d she knelt on the bed. \u201cJust don\u2019t,\u201d she pounded into his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will, if you keep being stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. \u201cShe is blonde.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it.\u201d Angel grabbed Cordelia throwing her on the bed, his full weight covering her body. \u201cIt\u2019s not fate, or a fetish, just a coincidence that the two woman that most effected my life, prior to you were blonde and in the scheme of things, their hair color had nothing to do with it. It was Darla\u2019s bite and Buffy\u2019s willingness to love, and anyway Buffy\u2019s not a real blonde.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course she isn\u2019t, she needs a better hair dresser; you could always see the roots.\u201d Cordelia agreed automatically. Then she thought about what Angel said. \u201cEwww.\u201d Cordelia smacked him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how I knew too, the root thing.\u201d Angel laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up. So, I affected your life?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re fishing now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? So, I want to hear how wonderful I am, what\u2019s wrong that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing, because you are.\u201d Angel laughed and kissed her. \u201cI love you, you make me feel and laugh. A very special thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia smiled and looked down as Angel divested her of the blanket. \u201cUm, Angel, are you going to bite more, I mean if you have to okay, but I got an awful lot of them, they\u2019ll go away won\u2019t they? Summer will be here soon, and well they won\u2019t be hidden in a bikini.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s was the point,\u201d he grumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel leaned up and traced the marks still apparent on Cordelia\u2019s smooth skin. Guilt and possessiveness overrode the joy he had begun to feel with Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will go away. Except, these won\u2019t,\u201d His hand moved to trace the wounds at her neck. The one spot that Angelus made sure would never leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, so I can wear my bikini, then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel stared down at the young woman. He was very tempted to start the marks all over again. He\u2019d seen her in a bikini and he really didn\u2019t think anyone else should. What was there was his and only his. Angel sighed. Cordelia was right. Angel was just as possessive as Angelus.<\/p>\n
Good thing that Angel did have that moral compass.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia,\u201d Angel pulled her up so that she was sitting next to him, her gaze on his. \u201cThese marks,\u201d he moved to the ones on her chest, abdomen, hip and thigh, “will go away, they will heal, not deep enough to scar, but this,\u201d<\/p>\n
His hand drifted to her neck. \u201cWill remain, unless you get it removed. They were made to mark you as the property of Angelus. And any vampire that attacks you knows that he does it at the risk of Angelus wrath.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProperty? I\u2019m not anyone\u2019s property.\u201d She glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. That\u2019s why my moral compass would never allow me to do it. Anyway, it\u2019s not needed, anyone touches you- they\u2019ll feel my wrath mark or no mark.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. \u201cOh, so you wouldn\u2019t do it, but you would still act on the principle that I was your property.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, I am a vampire. You said you understood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed. \u201cSo, if I keep them, then the vamps that could attack me might not because they\u2019re all squiggly over the Angelus legend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe younger vampires are a little ignorant of the old ways but they should recognize another\u2019s mark.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t like this, Angel. It smacks of ownership and other stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen get rid of it, it\u2019s a scar, it can be removed.\u201d Angel moved a little.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want me too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you don\u2019t. You\u2019re an old fashioned vampire. Fine. I\u2019ll keep THIS one, but no more, I can\u2019t have you marking me up and ruining my look in a low cut blouse or dress or what if I want to wear a halter or a midriff or a bikini. It just won\u2019t do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Again Angel was very tempted to ignore Cordelia and just mark the hell out of her, keeping her wrapped in a full bed sheet or naked on his bed, but he forced the feeling aside. He knew who she belonged to. And the mark on her neck was sufficient to keep the demons away unless they wanted to face a very vengeful Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, can we make love now,\u201d Angel asked hesitantly. If Cordelia said no, there may be a problem with his moral compass, but he was hoping that wouldn\u2019t come into play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about, I\u2019ve been waiting like forever for you to get over whatever issues that you\u2019ve been brooding about.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Angel could\u2019ve thought of a way to strangle Cordelia and make love to her he would\u2019ve, but as it was, he just leaned in and kissed her.<\/p>\n
Cordelia reached around and fumbled at his coat. She pushed up.<\/p>\n
Angel sat up and growled. Now what?<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, you\u2019re still wearing your coat, sure it\u2019s a cool coat, but get rid of it and the rest of your clothes while you\u2019re at it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strangling was too good for her. Angel tore off his jacket and clothes in an instant. He was back on her in a second. She laughed holding him close. \u201cBetter.\u201d She nuzzled into his chin, her lips and teeth nipping at his flesh.<\/p>\n
Okay. Strangling was definitely out. Angel growled and pushed her hands away and moved his head away from her lips. He moved his lips to her collarbone and trailed down to her breast. Cordelia wiggled, pulling against his grasp. As soon as Angel released her hands, they flew to his back kneading and caressing, her legs moving up wrapping themselves around his solid body.<\/p>\n
Cordelia moaned as Angel\u2019s mouth encased her breast. She pressed her hands and pushed, her legs tightening around him. He was teasing her and she wanted him now. She moaned and pushed.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley, are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey been up there too long, I think we have to check.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slowly they opened the door after no one answered their knock. Wesley eyes shot wide as he saw the bed. He closed the door and motioned everyone back. As they all went down the stairs, Wesley said. \u201cGunn, get the tranq guns. Fred, go now to Caritas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, the black ooze?\u201d<\/p>\n
Wesley just shook his head. \u201cTrust me. Go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fred bit her lip and ran.<\/p>\n
\u201cWes, man, what did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and Cordy. In bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u2026OH, shit. Going.\u201d Gunn ran to get the dart pistols.<\/p>\n
Both men went back stealthily going towards the bedroom. They cringed as they heard soft moans, and growls.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter sooner than later, right, right.\u201d Wesley said as he opened the door. Both men shot.<\/p>\n