Part 12<\/b><\/p>\n
Thursday, 12:02 p.m.<\/i>
\n4 days after the wedding<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s head ached as she steered her car in the direction of the hospital. It was a good thing that traffic was light, because her mind was too full of other things to worry about safe driving. The last four days had been a living nightmare.<\/p>\n
After the wedding, she and Angel had gone back to her apartment in complete silence. Even Wesley hadn\u2019t said anything except good-bye when they left Mrs. Chase\u2019s room that day. Angel drove them home, and the tension in the car was thick. When they arrived at her apartment, she locked herself in the bedroom and didn\u2019t come out until morning.<\/p>\n
Her anger toward Angel had dissipated somewhat during that night. She\u2019d had a dream in which she and Angel declared their love for each other, slept together (but no Angelus), and then he cheated on her with Buffy. She woke up abruptly, her face covered in tears, her heart breaking, and it took her several minutes to calm down and realize that it was just a dream. Having it affect her so much made her realize that Angel was much more important to her than she\u2019d been willing to admit. She was falling in love with him, and she couldn\u2019t ignore it any longer.<\/p>\n
The only thing stopping her from admitting her feelings was that she was deathly afraid that he would abandon her at the first chance he got. She knew he was attracted to her, but she didn\u2019t think he loved her, not really. He loved Buffy, not her. They had a love that was an epic, tragic romance, the stuff that poems and songs were written about. All she and Angel had was friendship and an unwanted supernatural connection. And her own track record was horrible. She\u2019d loved Xander, and he\u2019d cheated on her. She\u2019d loved her parents, and they\u2019d practically abandoned her. She didn\u2019t think her heart could take the abuse of Angel leaving her, too.<\/p>\n
It hadn\u2019t helped that every day since the wedding, he\u2019d used every opportunity possible to touch her and be near her. He would brush up against her, smile at her softly, or stare at her from across the room. But he never said anything to indicate a change in his feelings. For all she knew, he was still just trying to tease her. His behavior was so unnerving that Cordelia began to avoid being in the same room with him. He was playing with her heart and she couldn\u2019t take it anymore.<\/p>\n
An SUV honked insistently behind Cordelia, and she shook herself out of her thoughts to realize that the light had turned green. She would be at the hospital within a few minutes. Her mother needed her now, and it was too tiring to keep thinking about Angel.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel awoke to the silence in Cordelia\u2019s darkened living room. He\u2019d heard her leave earlier and had feigned sleep, knowing she\u2019d rather not talk to him. He stared at the ceiling and contemplated the sad state of his life.<\/p>\n
His plan was failing miserably.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d tried several times to get a response out of Cordelia like he had the morning of their wedding. He\u2019d walked around in his pajama pants, discretely flexing his muscles and stretching to the best advantage. He\u2019d \u201cforgotten\u201d his clothes when he took a shower and paraded around in a towel, but she acted like she didn\u2019t notice. He was uncomfortable flaunting his body like that, but he knew how it affected her, so he did it anyway. It hadn\u2019t worked. He\u2019d tried touching her in ways that seemed inadvertent, but she wasn\u2019t paying attention. He\u2019d touch her hand, and she\u2019d move hers away absent mindedly. He\u2019d brush up against her, and she\u2019d move aside. He\u2019d try to catch her eyes, but she\u2019d avoid his gaze.<\/p>\n
Every time he turned around, she was walking out of the room or putting more distance between them. And the harder he tried, the worse it became.<\/p>\n
He wanted to just grab her and kiss her senseless, make<\/i> her acknowledge the attraction they had to each other, but he couldn\u2019t get her to stay put long enough for that to happen. He knew that short of forcing her to comply, he wouldn\u2019t get his chance anytime soon. Angel knew he\u2019d messed up by giving her no choice but to really marry him. He\u2019d broken Cordelia\u2019s spirit and betrayed her trust. She\u2019d relied on him to help her get her out of trouble, and all he\u2019d done was dig the hole deeper. It was no wonder she was avoiding him.<\/p>\n
The guilt was killing him. And that, combined with the love for her that only seemed to grow daily, was going to eat him alive inside.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Mom, how are you feeling?\u201d Cordelia asked Mrs. Chase, her happy mask firmly in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been feeling wonderful, Cordy. The doctors started me on a new set of medications before your wedding, and they seem to be working great. Almost no pain at all.\u201d Her attitude and color seemed to enunciate her words. She did look much healthier than she had days earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s so wonderful, Mom. I\u2019m so happy that you\u2019re feeling better,\u201d Cordelia squeezed her mother\u2019s hand, then fell into silence. She looked down at their intertwined fingers, and with her free hand, picked at the lint on the blanket covering her mother.<\/p>\n
The silence concerned Mrs. Chase, as well as the fact that Cordelia\u2019s smile didn\u2019t reach her eyes. \u201cCordelia, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing, Mom, just tired.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Chase looked at her strangely, then smiled knowingly. \u201cHad some late nights, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia sighed, not picking up on her mother\u2019s innuendo. \u201cYeah. I haven\u2019t been sleeping very well. Bad dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-huh,\u201d Mrs. Chase said, her tone implying that Cordelia was just making excuses.<\/p>\n
Finally, Cordelia got it. She frowned and tried to decide whether or not to set her mother straight. It wouldn\u2019t do any good; her mother had an annoying habit of believing whatever she wanted to believe, and adjusting the rest to fit her wishes. This wasn\u2019t going to be any different.<\/p>\n
As Cordelia was frantically trying to come up with something else to talk about, her mother\u2019s doctor strode into the room, his bearing that of a confident, friendly professional.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Mrs. Chase. How are we today?\u201d He smiled dazzlingly at Cordelia\u2019s mother, and Cordy was shocked to see her mother blush in return. The doctor was a handsome, 40-something married man, if the ring on his finger was any indication. But it was just as obvious that her mother was smitten with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m doing just great, Dr. Murphy,\u201d Mrs. Chase replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cWonderful,\u201d he said, distracted by the information on the clipboard at the foot of the bed. He scribbled some notes at the bottom of one of the pages, then clicked his pen closed and returned it to his pocket.<\/p>\n
He turned his attention to Cordelia. \u201cI understand congratulations are in order, Cordelia,\u201d he said warmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Cordelia said, embarrassed.<\/p>\n
He continued, the smile on his face growing wider as he imparted his news. \u201cYour happy event may have just saved your mother\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Cordelia said, confused. How could a wedding cure cancer?<\/p>\n
Dr. Murphy returned the clipboard to its hanger on the end of the bed, crossed his arms, and smiled conspiratorially at Mrs. Chase as he continued. \u201cYour mother and I didn\u2019t want to get your hopes up unnecessarily, but we found out just the day before your wedding that it appeared your mother\u2019s cancer had been eradicated. That bad spell last week was her body fighting the final, winning battle against the cancer. She had her final evaluation just this morning, and she\u2019s officially been given a clean bill of health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stunned, Cordelia gaped at her mother, who smiled reassuringly and squeezed Cordelia\u2019s hand. \u201cIsn\u2019t it wonderful, sweetie? I\u2019m healed! And thanks to you!\u201d<\/p>\n
She turned back to the doctor, elated at her mother\u2019s recovery but still baffled as to how she was at all responsible. \u201cHow did I have anything to do with it?\u201d<\/p>\n
His answer was the last thing Cordelia expected. \u201cMrs. Chase was very down about the state of her health, and it has been medically proven that a patient\u2019s mental state is an important factor in recovery. She was convinced that she was dying, and her predictions were about to become self-fulfilling. Your marriage changed all that. Your mother was so happy for you that it ensured her recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was silence as Cordelia digested this. \u201cI\u2014, I don\u2019t know what to say,\u201d she stammered. \u201cThis is wonderful, Mom. I\u2019m so happy for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs. Chase sighed. \u201cI know. I\u2019m so excited myself. The best part is that I get to come and live with you and Angel until the hospital releases me to move out of the country! We\u2019ll have so much fun, Cordy!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re coming to live with me?\u201d Cordelia said, dread creeping up her spine. She knew she\u2019d suggested this, but she didn\u2019t think it would actually happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes! Isn\u2019t that fantastic? I know your place is small, but you have a hide-a-bed in your sofa, so I\u2019ll sleep there. That way, you and Angel won\u2019t have to leave your room. I know how newlyweds need their space.\u201d She winked at Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s heart skipped a beat. Her mother was coming to live with her. She only had one bedroom. One bed. One queen-sized bed.<\/p>\n
Oh, god. She was going to have to sleep with Angel.<\/p>\n
Part 13<\/b><\/p>\n
Thursday, 6:45 p.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
Cordelia eyed the outside of her front door with trepidation. Since her mother\u2019s shocking announcement at the hospital this afternoon, she had avoided coming home to face Angel. She\u2019d caught several sales at the mall, and it had been discouraging to realize that shopping didn\u2019t really right the world\u2019s wrongs for her like it used to. Prada on sale didn\u2019t quite fix the problems that came with apocalyptic visions and domineering mothers. Only a vampire with a soul could do that for her now.<\/p>\n
Sighing, Cordelia gave in to the inevitable. Gathering her purchases in one hand, she brought out her keys to open the door, but it swung open before she had the chance to unlock it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Dennis,\u201d Cordelia said gratefully. Noting the virtual silence in the apartment, she asked, \u201cWhere\u2019s Angel?\u201d<\/p>\n
The dry erase marker floated from its resting place and \u201cshower\u201d was scribbled on the board.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Cordelia said, still puzzled. She couldn\u2019t hear the water running.<\/p>\n
Just then, the bathroom door jerked open and Angel exited, drying his hair with a towel. He was shirtless, his black pants halfway zipped and unbuttoned. He stopped when he saw her.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia,\u201d he said, surprised to see her. \u201cHow is your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n
She frowned in answer, a look that was more consternation than concern. Sitting down heavily on the couch, Cordelia threw her bags onto the floor and propped her feet up on the coffee table. \u201cApparently, my mother is completely healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems our wedding was the ticket to her recovery. She was so happy, she got better.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get it.\u201d Angel said. He\u2019d been around sick people before, and being happy didn\u2019t usually make a change like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose were my thoughts exactly. Apparently, she was getting better before our wedding but the doctor didn\u2019t want to get my hopes up,\u201d Cordelia said dryly.<\/p>\n
There was a brief pause as Angel absorbed this.<\/p>\n
Cordelia suddenly jumped up from the couch, pacing back and forth, throwing her hands around as she talked. \u201cI am so angry at my mother right now. I know I shouldn\u2019t be, but I am. We didn\u2019t have to get married. She wasn\u2019t dying! And she knew it, too. I could see the look in her eyes today. The one that says she\u2019s satisfied that her little plan worked,\u201d her eyes narrowed. \u201cOooh, I hate it when she does that,\u201d she griped, stomping her foot for emphasis.<\/p>\n
Angel wisely held his tongue as he recalled how much he hated it when she did the exact same thing to him.<\/p>\n
Trying to be supportive, Angel said, \u201cWell, at least she\u2019s not going to die now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia stopped and turned to face him. \u201cOh, you haven\u2019t heard the half of it. I spoke with her doctor alone today. He cautioned me not to give my mother any big surprises in the next few months because her body was still weak and she might not be able to survive the shock. So I can\u2019t even divorce you any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel couldn\u2019t help but smile at this bit of good news. Her next words wiped the smirk off his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019s coming to live with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLive with us? As in here, at your apartment?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded. \u201cYes. I can\u2019t even begin to think about how awful that\u2019s going to be. I hate living with my mother. She\u2019s messy, she\u2019s nosy, she talks way too much, and she doesn\u2019t listen to a thing I have to say.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel raised an eyebrow. He knew she didn\u2019t realize it, but Cordelia had just described herself six months ago. The visions had changed her somewhat, but not enough to completely erase the similarity.<\/p>\n
Cordelia resumed her pacing. \u201cAnd she had the nerve to tell me that she\u2019d sleep on the couch and we could have the bedroom, since,\u201d air quote, \u201c\u2019Newlyweds need their space.\u2019\u201d She rolled her eyes. \u201cCan you believe it?\u201d she said, shaking her head incredulously.<\/p>\n
Satisfaction spread through Angel what Cordelia was insinuating. Maybe his plan wasn\u2019t going to be a total loss. Sleeping in the same bed with Cordelia was going to be a fantastic opportunity to make her see they belonged together.<\/p>\n
Cordelia wasn\u2019t paying attention and she missed the look on Angel\u2019s face. \u201cSomehow, we\u2019re going to have to figure out how to get my mom to stay someplace else. She can\u2019t stay here. I am not<\/i> sharing a bed with you,\u201d she vowed, whirling to face Angel.<\/p>\n
By that time, he\u2019d adjusted his features into a noncommittal mask. \u201cWhat are you afraid of, Cordy? I don\u2019t bite.\u201d<\/p>\n
She scrunched up her nose at him and rolled her eyes. \u201cHa, ha. Funny Mr. Vamp guy. And I\u2019m not afraid of you,\u201d she said untruthfully. She was very afraid of him, but not that he would hurt her physically. She knew instinctively that one night in bed with him, curse or no curse, would change her life irrevocably. She didn\u2019t think her heart could handle the torment of sleeping next to Angel, desperately craving his touch, but knowing that he was in love with someone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, great. Then it\u2019s decided. Your mother will come to live with us and we\u2019ll stay married.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?!? Who died and made you king? We didn\u2019t decide a damn thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before he could argue further, the phone rang. Angel was closer, so he answered it. A calculating gleam crept into his eyes as he greeted the caller.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, hello, Mrs. Chase! Congratulations on your recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia narrowed her eyes and tried to shoot him a \u201cif you even THINK about telling her she can live here, you\u2019re going to die\u201d glare, but he ignored her.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-huh, she\u2019s doing just fine. I\u2019m taking really<\/i> good care of her.\u201d His tone left no doubt as to the level of care she was receiving.<\/p>\n
Cordelia clenched her jaw at his implications.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be so great to have you here with us, Mrs. Chase.\u201d Pause. \u201cWell, if you insist. I would be honored to call you Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s grin graduated from calculated to evil as he stared down Cordelia.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I believe the sofa bed is quite comfortable, but it\u2019s rather close to the bedroom. I hope we won\u2019t keep you up at night. Cordelia is very . . . enthusiastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s mouth dropped open at what he was insinuating, and her face colored when she imagined her mother listening to them making love. Unwanted flashes of Angel\u2019s body on top of hers, his mouth on her skin, his hands on her, swept through her mind. Oh, god. I can\u2019t take this.<\/i><\/p>\n
His laugh at her mother\u2019s response jerked her out of the lust-inspired fog. \u201cYes, she is.\u201d Pause. \u201cI\u2019ve got it. Tomorrow, 9 a.m. I won\u2019t be able to be there; I have to work. Cordelia will pick you up and bring you home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having regained control of her senses, Cordelia motioned for him to give the phone to her.<\/p>\n
He ignored her again, and he could see the steam start to seep out of Cordelia\u2019s ears. \u201cWell, thank you, Mom. It will be wonderful to have you here.\u201d Pause. \u201cOkay, same to you. Bye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hanging up the phone, Angel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, a self-satisfied smirk on his face.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was livid and embarrassed; not a combination that brought out the best in her. \u201cWhy do you have to be such a bastard, Angel? I wish I\u2019d never asked for your help in the first place. All you\u2019ve done is make this more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the big deal, Cordelia? It\u2019s just your mother. We\u2019ve shared living space before, and we\u2019re both responsible adults. I think we can manage to keep our hands to ourselves,\u201d he said. You\u2019re going to want me so bad by the time I\u2019m through with you, you\u2019ll be begging me to take you.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Cordelia said, her voice biting. \u201cBut at least I have tonight away from your grabby hands. Just stay out of my way, Angel.\u201d She glared at him one more time for full effect, then stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door. Oh, you think you\u2019re so smart, huh, Angel? Well, you\u2019ve never seen a cold shoulder like this one. I\u2019ll make you sorry you ever laid a hand on me in the first place<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Even as her angry thoughts formed, Cordelia recognized a twinge of anticipation in herself. She knew that, eventually, he\u2019d wear her down. She couldn\u2019t help the fact that the thought of being with him made her entire body sizzle.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Friday, 7:30 p.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Mom. It\u2019s so nice to see you well settled in our little home,\u201d Angel greeted Mrs. Chase as he strode in the front door, looking for all the world like he\u2019d just spent a hard day at the office. Actually, he\u2019d hidden in the closet in Cordelia\u2019s bedroom when she brought her mother home, then spent most of the day patrolling underground tunnels when they were out shopping. He\u2019d returned only when he saw them come home.<\/p>\n
In an effort to avoid talking to him, Cordelia was in the kitchen, trying to fix dinner. She only knew how to make a few things that turned out edible, and soup was one of them. Water. Vegetables. Meat. Seasoning from a packet. It wasn\u2019t rocket science, and Cordelia got it right every time. Okay, so she wasn\u2019t Julia Child, but who cares? She couldn\u2019t do everything.<\/p>\n
At the moment, her frustration was being released as she brutally chopped vegetables with a knife that would have been more at home between a broadsword and an axe in the weapons cabinet than it was in her kitchen. A loud *thwack* sounded every time she brought the blade down, and it was almost as satisfying as hurling dishes at the wall, but much less expensive.<\/p>\n
Her current irritation in a mile long list was how Angel kept insisting on calling her mother \u201cMom.\u201d She knew he did it because it annoyed her, and that knowledge just made her that much angrier. When would he stop being such a jerk about this?<\/p>\n
\u2018When he gets what he wants,\u2019<\/i> the annoying little voice inside Cordelia\u2019s head answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, yeah? And what, exactly, does playboy vamp want?\u201d Cordelia muttered, viciously cleaving a helpless stick of celery in two.<\/p>\n
\u2018You. Naked and writhing beneath him, screaming his name.\u2019<\/i> The knife stopped mid swing as the thought ricocheted off the walls of Cordelia\u2019s brain, and she nearly lost her grip on the handle as the images those thoughts inspired flitted through her mind.<\/p>\n
She began chopping again, this time with more force, each swing punctuating her words. \u201cWhat is the matter with me? I\u2019m starting to sound like some sex-starved groupie at vamp appreciation night. How am I ever going to survive tonight?\u201d she whispered, trying to let the sound of her own voice drown out the thoughts in her head.<\/p>\n
\u2019Why do you have to survive? Why not just give in? You know it will be the best sex of your life. Who cares if he doesn\u2019t love you?\u2019<\/i><\/p>\n
Cordelia recognized the voice: it wasn\u2019t exactly her conscience, more like her inner vixen. In human form, it would be Cordelia at her sexiest . . . and coldest. Short, tight red dress, strappy heels, pouty lips, and a sly wink accompanied by a come-hither look. This was the Cordelia that called Angel \u201csalty goodness\u201d when she first saw him at the Bronze, and later when she tried to woo him away from Buffy. This was the Cordelia that flaunted herself in front of Wesley time and again in high school. This was the Cordelia that asked Wilson to stay and sleep with her, but it was suspiciously silent when she was pregnant with demon spawn. When she had conversations with herself, this part of her psyche was the one that always got her into trouble. She knew better than to let it talk her into anything, but sometimes, the voice sounded too good to ignore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI care, moron. If he sleeps with me and leaves me. . .\u201d she trailed off, hands pausing in her work. After a beat, she shook herself out of morbid thought land and dumped the vegetables in the pot on the stove.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t take that chance. He\u2019ll leave me, and I wouldn\u2019t survive it,\u201d as if to emphasize her point, she brutally ripped open the package of seasonings and dumped them into the pot.<\/p>\n
\u2019He can\u2019t leave you. You\u2019re his link to the Powers,\u2019<\/i> her inner vixen reasoned.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, he may not actually leave me, but he\u2019d act like nothing happened, or he\u2019d avoid talking to me. In the long run, he\u2019d know he made a mistake,\u201d she argued back, stirring the pot vigorously. \u201cNo, it\u2019s better not to even go there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo where?\u201d Angel\u2019s voice nearly made her heart leap out of her chest. She twirled around, and smacked his shoulder with the spoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cJeez, Angel. Don\u2019t creep up on me like that! You scared me half to death!\u201d She glared at him.<\/p>\n
Angel took advantage of her ruffled composure and leaned down, pressing a light kiss to her lips. \u201cHello to you, too, baby. Bad day?\u201d he asked, smirking, his eyes dancing with the fun he was having at continuing their charade.<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s eyes narrowed and her speech dropped to a near-whisper, \u201cKeep the Ozzie Nelson crap down to a minimum, honey,<\/i> or you\u2019ll be sleeping at Wesley\u2019s tonight.\u201d Her voice dripped with sarcastic warning.
\n\u201cAnd how would you plan to force me to do that?\u201d Angel asked, wary of her confidence.<\/p>\n
It was Cordelia\u2019s turn to be smug. \u201cI have my ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally,\u201d Angel said dryly. \u201cAnd what would those \u2018ways\u2019 be this time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to find out, darling,\u201d she said, batting her eyelashes and smiling sweetly as she noticed her mother peering into the kitchen, watching their low conversation.<\/p>\n
Before Angel could pry further, Mrs. Chase\u2019s voice intruded into the kitchen. \u201cCordelia, sweetie, do you need help with dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
Panicked, Cordelia said, \u201cNo, Mom, thanks. Angel\u2019s a great cook; he\u2019ll help me.\u201d<\/p>\n
To Angel, she whispered, \u201cShe\u2019s a worse cook than I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that possible?\u201d Angel asked, his face a picture of saintly innocence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d she yelled, hitting him again with the spoon. \u201cThanks a lot, dork.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel smiled at the glimmer of his Cordelia that had shone through her statement, the girl he knew before her mother made a mess of their lives,. \u201cOh, good, I\u2019m back up to \u2018dork.\u2019 That\u2019s an improvement over \u2018undead jerk.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019re both,\u201d Cordelia retorted, trying to hold on to her anger. His smile was making it so difficult.<\/p>\n
Angel decided to quit while he was ahead. He leaned into her, peering over her shoulder at the pot. \u201cShouldn\u2019t there be water in there with the vegetables?\u201d He asked guilelessly.<\/p>\n
Cordelia spun around, gasping as she saw the smoke curling up from the pot. \u201cCrap! Help me, Angel!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s me. The Dark Avenger. Help to the helpless. Rescuer of damsels in distress,\u201d he said drolly, removing the pot from the stove and putting it under the running water in the sink.<\/p>\n
Cordelia looked at him strangely. \u201cStick to the detective thing, grr guy. Being a comedian wouldn\u2019t buy you jack squat.\u201d<\/p>\n
He held her gaze for a moment as the pot filled. When the intensity became too much, Cordelia looked away and pushed past him, heading toward her mother in the living room.<\/p>\n
As she left, Angel allowed himself a full-fledged grin as he thought about the possibilities tonight held. His grin disappeared as quickly as it came when he remembered the bane of his existence: the damned gypsy curse.<\/p>\n
After a moment of self-pity, his smile returned, this time tainted with lustful anticipation. He may not be able to make love to her, but he could still give her the greatest pleasure of her young life.<\/p>\n
Part 14<\/b><\/p>\n
Friday, 8:20 p.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel sat back in his chair at the head of the table, looking for all the world like the reigning patriarch. He patted his stomach and groaned, then said, \u201cCordelia, honey, that was a fantastic meal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia blushed demurely. \u201cThank you, Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel actually hadn\u2019t been lying; she\u2019d made a dinner that was even palatable for him. He\u2019d salvaged her soup but let her finish it. While he\u2019d occupied her mother with inane conversation, Cordelia had got out another pot. She\u2019d spooned some of the soup into the new pot, then added a generous helping of blood, heating it up to the desired temperature. To make the rest look like Angel\u2019s version, she\u2019d added tomato sauce to the first pot. Her mother never knew the difference.<\/p>\n
Cordelia began clearing the bowls and Angel got up to help her.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Chase sighed in pleasure at the domestic scene before her. \u201cCordelia, you\u2019re so lucky to have a man who helps with the housework.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her back to her mother, Cordelia rolled her eyes. To Angel, she whispered, \u201cThis coming from the woman who\u2019s never washed a dish in her entire adult life.\u201d<\/p>\n
To her mother, she answered, \u201cI know, Mom, isn\u2019t it great? He\u2019s so helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
After clearing the dishes, the \u201chappy couple\u201d joined Mrs. Chase in the living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel, I thought Cordelia said you worked nights,\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
Cordelia jumped in to answer for him. \u201cHe does, but today he had a daytime appointment. He\u2019ll probably be out late from now on. Right, honey?\u201d She said, patting Angel\u2019s knee.<\/p>\n
\u201cYup. But not too late. I wouldn\u2019t want to miss Cordelia at bedtime,\u201d he looked pointedly at her, his eyes dark and sexy.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Chase grinned as Angel lusted after Cordelia in her presence. \u201cSpeaking of bedtime, I\u2019m feeling rather tired myself. Would you two mind if I retired now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course not, Mom,\u201d Cordelia said, jumping up from the couch, desperate to get away from Angel and his heated looks. \u201cI\u2019ll go get your bedding. Angel can pull out the hide-a-bed.\u201d She quickly escaped to the bedroom.<\/p>\n
She returned after a few minutes with some sheets, blankets, and a pillow. The bed was unfolded and ready to be made up. As Cordelia and Mrs. Chase began to make up the bed, Angel turned to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night, Mrs. Chase,\u201d Angel said. \u201cCordelia, you won\u2019t be long, I hope?\u201d His eyes held hers, the brown depths making Cordelia shiver involuntarily.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm, yeah, I\u2019ll be there soon,\u201d she answered shakily.<\/p>\n
She and her mother made up the bed in silence. As she tucked in the last corner, Cordelia felt a rush of cold, then hot, flow over her body. Her feet felt like lead, and she didn\u2019t know if she had the strength to go into that bedroom, shut the door behind her, and crawl into bed with Angel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe still has the power to make your knees weak, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d Mrs. Chase asked softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d Cordelia sighed dreamily.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re lucky, that will never go away,\u201d her mother answered, her tone filled with the knowledge of a woman thoroughly worshipped by her man.<\/p>\n
She continued when she saw Cordelia\u2019s hesitation. \u201cGo to your husband, Cordelia. You love him. He loves you. Let him show you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia turned angst filled eyes to her mother, then swung them back to the door to her bedroom. She thought about Angel waiting on the other side, and she started toward the door, suddenly wanting to run to get there.<\/p>\n
As the door shut behind her daughter, Mrs. Chase smiled softly. What she wouldn\u2019t give to be 20 years old and in love for the first time.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Cordelia\u2019s desire to run intensified when she shut the bedroom door behind her, but the desire had splintered in two different directions. One wanted her to bolt for the front door and never come back; the other wanted her to sprint across the room and rub her body against Angel\u2019s. She leaned against the door, trying to calm her fears and keep her inner vixen from jumping him.<\/p>\n
He was standing near the window, looking out at the night sky, his back to her. He could sense her elevated heart rate, her fear mingled with the unmistakable scent of desire, and he was torn. She was vulnerable right now, and Angelus was shouting at him to take her. His need was so strong that he had to fight to keep his feet planted and his eyes facing the window.<\/p>\n
His soul was more cautious. Now faced with the possibility of making her his own, Angel was afraid of pushing too hard. He knew that if he pounced on her, she\u2019d run and he\u2019d ruin his chances with her. He also knew that if he didn\u2019t take advantage of the opportunity, he might not get another one.<\/p>\n
Oh, screw it,<\/i> Cordelia thought, pushing away from the door and crossing the room toward the bathroom. I don\u2019t want to think about it anymore. I\u2019ll leave it up to him. If he tries something, I\u2019ll deal with it then.<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel heard the bathroom door close behind her and he sighed, running his hand through his hair. You\u2019re such a wus,<\/i> his demon mocked. She\u2019s practically dripping, she wants you so bad, and you stand here like a virgin schoolboy!<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Cordelia,\u201d Angel argued back. \u201cI can\u2019t afford to screw this up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh, jeez, can I throw up now? Please? You finally have the opportunity to get a piece of that luscious ass, and you have to bring *love* up and ruin it. This isn\u2019t about love. This is domination. Power. Pure and simple.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not!\u201d Angel hissed, annoyed to be arguing with his alter ego but unable to stop himself. \u201cI do love her. If I hurt her, that \u2018luscious ass,\u2019 as you so suavely put it, will be miles away from me, and not likely to return no matter what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fine. Be the gutless wonder and ignore what\u2019s right in front of you. But you know as well as I do that tonight will be really painful, and your cold hand is a sad replacement for her hot little body.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cWhether I make a move or I don\u2019t, it will be painful, because I\u2019m not about to \u2018get groiny with her\u2019 as she would put it, and let you out to terrorize her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh I know where she could put it, soulboy. Right on my\u2014<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cShut up!\u201d Angel angrily interrupted his demon. \u201cI am not going to let you ruin this for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused, debating his course of action as the voice inside him retreated back to his cage.<\/p>\n
Coming to a decision, he said aloud, \u201cNo. I can\u2019t take that chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you say something to me, Angel?\u201d Cordelia asked, exiting the bathroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said tersely, looking at her intensely for a moment, then heading toward the bed. Getting under the covers, he lay on his side, facing away from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night, Cordelia,\u201d he said, his voice dispassionate.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was stunned. She\u2019d expected to come out of the bathroom and have him attack her, his eyes liquid heat and his hands insistent. She\u2019d never considered a stony silence. Disappointment flooded her.<\/p>\n
Damn him. Enough with the mixed signals, already.<\/i> she thought, climbing into bed herself. She snapped off the light.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night, Angel,\u201d she said softly, her voice betraying her disappointment and confusion.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Saturday, 4:27 a.m.<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel woke slowly, feeling warmer than he had in a very long time. Hair tickled his chin and he inhaled, the smell intoxicating: a hint of peaches and Ivory soap, but mostly just the simple, clean fragrance of Cordelia. He looked down her body, only to find that he was sprawled half on top of her, his leg curled around hers, his arm wrapped around her middle, holding her close to him. Her head was buried under his chin, her warm breath grazing his chest.<\/p>\n
His arm had worked her tank top up, exposing her stomach to his view, his skin warmed by hers. Her chest rose and fell with each slow breath, and he marveled at the perfection of her form. She was so beautiful.<\/p>\n
And she was his.<\/p>\n
He adjusted his position downward, placing his face near hers. Reverently, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, then drew away. Amused, he watched her crinkle her nose in her sleep, then press her lips together as if to keep the feel of him with her. He kissed her again, this time lingering there. In her sleep she responded, turning her body and pressing into him. He darted his tongue out to touch her lips, running the tip along the seam between them. She opened her mouth slightly, and he took the opportunity to deepen the contact, slanting his mouth over hers and thrusting his tongue inside.<\/p>\n
She whimpered as his tongue rubbed sensually against hers and her hand came up to touch his face. He pulled back, separating them, giving her time to breathe, and she sleepily whined her protest. She moved her hand to the back of his head and pulled his lips back to hers. This time, she was the aggressor, seeking his tongue with her own. Angel\u2019s body responded, hardening at her drowsy attempt at dominance.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s hand strayed from her middle to travel up her torso, pushing her tank top further, uncovering her breast for his touch. He rubbed her nipple with the backs of his fingers and it hardened instantly. Enjoying the stimulation, Cordelia pushed her breast more firmly into his hand, and he cupped the soft sphere, molding it and shaping it, stopping only to pinch the sensitized tip between his fingers.<\/p>\n
As the kiss grew more passionate, so did their caresses. His mouth moved to her neck, lightly kissing, nipping the sensitive skin. Cordelia\u2019s hand traveled the length of his back, reaching down to graze the top of his top of his butt with her fingertips. The fingers of her other hand curled tightly into the hair at the back of his head, pulling the short strands as he teased her with his touch.<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s head lifted from her neck, and he looked down at her face, a study of passion personified. He paused for a moment, dwelling on how much he had come to love her, then moved his fingers down her body slowly, softly grazing her belly, then her hip, and finally diving beneath the waistband of her pajama pants. The moment his fingers grazed her wet heat, Cordelia\u2019s eyes shot open and her jaw dropped, her breathing heavy in the stillness.<\/p>\n
He became completely still, his hand cupping her gently. Her eyes changed from hazy desire to confusion and finally to anxiety as she awoke completely and realized what she was allowing him to do to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel?\u201d she said shakily, her eyes laced with growing panic. What had she gotten herself into?<\/p>\n