Go TeamC/A

The Offices of Angel Investigations

Until then, there was nothing obvious going on that Angel could pinpoint. Just the light flirtatious banter between friends. It was only when Doyle approached Angel directly to ask about Cordelia that the vampire decided he'd been playing the silent observer long enough.

Putting his feet up on Angel's desk as he sat casually in the chair across from the vampire, Doyle said, "So tell me about Cordelia."

The simple question did more than irritate Angel because he knew it was not just a simple question at all. It stirred up every possessive instinct he had. He'd spent the last few days short on sleep trying to be in the office from the moment Cordelia arrived in the morning.

Making up excuses for either one of them to stay behind when the other went off on some appointed task was easy enough. After dark, he went with them. Even to the clubs that played too loud music and required dancing in order to keep Cordelia occupied, happy and out of Doyle's arms at least part of the evening. It was keeping them separated during the daylight hours Angel found difficult. He couldn't follow them in sunlight. And he was starting to run out of excuses to keep Cordelia at his side.


Kate Lockley's Apartment

"Is that why you kept showing up at the station?" Kate asked Doyle.

Shrugging, Doyle admitted, "I'm afraid so. Coming to see you was much more pleasant than some of the other little tasks Angel came up with."

Kate's mouth twisted at the news, "Nice to know."

"There's that sarcasm again, Katie girl," Doyle told her. "You'll bruise my tender ego if you keep that up."

An indelicate snort sounded from Cordelia's direction.

Doyle complained at her response. "Katie here thinks I'm the caring sensitive type. Don't ruin my reputation."

"You don't need my help for that," said Cordelia with a grin.


Angel's Apartment

Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' played from the phonograph accompanied by the sound of a running shower. Despite the whitewash noises, a hard knocking on the front door came through quite clearly to Angel. Moments later, he'd turned off the water and emerged from the bathroom dripping wet, wrapping a towel around his waist as he went to answer the door.

No sooner than he opened it than Cordelia stepped in pushing a couple of bags into Angel's hands walking past him into the apartment. "Oh, God, Angel! It's so terrible!"

Angel opened his mouth to respond, but had no clue what might cause Cordelia to suddenly appear on his doorstep looking like she was planning to stay for a very long time.

"Oh my gosh," Cordelia turned around holding up her hands. "Don't even look at me! I'm such a mess. I am the lowest of the lowest."

Forget the fact that he was only wearing a towel, Angel considered that she hadn't even noticed. Gesturing toward the open doorway as Angel stood there gawking, Cordelia added, "And you're gonna want to get my other suitcase out there in the hall."

Glances out the door and back to Cordelia, he still couldn't seem to find his tongue. Though Angel wouldn't normally feel awkward about his state of undress, he wasn't so comfortable with the way that his body tended to react to Cordelia's presence at its own whim. Finally, he managed to ask, "What happened?"

"My apartment," Cordelia looked like the news was devastating. "It's like the barrio, or the projects or whatever. I'm like the girl from the projects!"

Almost drops one of the suitcases, Angel made a grab for his towel at the same time, "I don't know about that."

Cordelia was so focused on her own troubles that she never noticed Angel's struggle with his towel. "Get this. I even tried to call Doyle. He offered me a place at his apartment. But there was no answer. So here I am."

The idea that she would go to Doyle first really bothered him. "What, I'm your last resort?"

Shrugging, realizing that Angel wasn't exactly happy about something, Cordelia told him, "It's just that I have no where else to go." As Angel put down one of the bags, she went to sit down on the couch. Explaining her dilemma, "Roaches. Live ones, dead ones. All skinny feet and creepy antlers."

Angel's eyebrows curved upward, "Antlers?"

Cordelia stared down at the suitcase he'd just placed on the floor. "Oh, my God! I wonder how many stowed away in that bag?" This time she blinked as his towel made another attempt at hitting the floor. Damn vampire reflexes.

Not at all pleased with the idea of bugs coming along for the ride, Angel stared down at the other bag still in his arms.

Just for good measure, in case the look on Angel's face was any indication of his willingness to allow her to stay, she told him, "Also, the water is all brown and spurty, and not hot! I am dying for a shower."

By now, Angel had put down the other bag and was holding onto his towel with both hands as Cordelia approached him again. Her voice trembled as she told him, "I— I actually smell! Smell me," she ordered him stepping close and turning her neck up to his view. "I never smell. I didn't know I could. I'm just going to have to stay here until I can find a decent place, however long that takes, and when I do you are completely invited over."

"Hey, you can just dump my stuff on the couch – or let me have the bed," Cordelia's plush lips curved upward. That same sweet smile she used on him that first day she wheedled him into a job. "Also, my suitcase is still in the hall." Picking up one of her bags, she pointed toward the bedroom, "Your shower is in here, right? You have mousse? Of course you do."

Left standing there gobsmacked, steamrolled and whatever other term he could come up with, Angel realized Cordelia had suddenly invited herself to live with him. Maybe opportunity did come knocking. Even for vampires.

He resolved suddenly that this was one opportunity he would not let slip away. Now he wouldn't have to make up more excuses to keep Cordelia with him after dark. No matter where she went, she'd be coming right back here by bedtime.

Bedtime. That made for some interesting possibilities, Angel realized. Though his overeager thoughts were way, way ahead of any reality that he figured Cordelia would be ready for.

Carrying her suitcases through to the bedroom, Angel got dressed while she was in the shower. Just the thought of her naked and washing herself with his soap aroused him. Then reminding himself that Cordy came to him for help, not to be lusted after, Angel cleared out some closet and drawer space for her.

The thought also came to him that it had been a very long time since he lived with a woman; that one being his sire and not remotely like Cordelia. Pushing thoughts of Darla aside, he headed back to the living room to await Cordelia's emergence from the bathroom figuring they'd have to discuss her situation, not to mention sleeping arrangements.


Angel's Living Room

Emerging from the bathroom wearing a cotton tank top that clung to her still-damp body and thin, loose pajama pants, Cordelia padded barefoot along the carpeting. "One of those bags has food and movies. I don't want you to think I expect you to feed and entertain me while I'm here."

Angel silently considered some interesting forms of entertainment.

Then Cordelia asked as she looked around the tidy living room, "Oh, do you even own a TV and a VCR?"

"Sure," Angel told her with a shrug. "Doesn't everybody?" Not that he used his very often.

"I guess." Feeling suddenly awkward about barging in on him, Cordelia found her eyes wandering across the broad shoulders revealed by his white muscle shirt. His thick muscles bunched beneath the thin cotton, easily defined all the way down to where the shirt tucked into his black sweat pants.

Cordelia swallowed thickly as Angel explained the whereabouts of his equipment. His entertainment equipment, she clarified her own thoughts before deciding even that needed spelling out to herself: the television and VCR.

"They're in the bedroom," Angel told her. "I like to relax in bed while I read or watch television, usually documentaries."

So any movie-watching with Angel would have to be done in his bed? "Oh, well I guess that would make things…cozy."

That wasn't Angel's word for it. "Just make yourself at home, Cordelia. You should be comfortable while you're here."

"It's just temporary," she suddenly felt a little nervous about the whole idea, "until my place gets fumigated. Weird, I never had a bug problem before, but it's like these creepy things just attacked overnight."

"That place is a dump," Angel looked like he wanted to burn the place to the ground. "I don't want you there."

Cordelia put her hands on her hips, telling him with a huff, "It's all I can afford on the pitiful salary you pay me."

Frowning, Angel figured that while he wouldn't mind the idea of Cordelia being here indefinitely, she might have other ideas. "We'll have Doyle check out some options. Until then, you can stay here."

"You shouldn't have to sleep on the couch forever," Cordelia automatically assumed that was where he would be staying. "Not in your own apartment."

"I didn't say I was giving up the bed."

That caught her full attention. Her mouth dropped open. "You'd make me sleep on the couch? I thought you were supposed to be chivalrous, a gentleman."

Angel said, "Don't know where you got that notion in the first place, Cordelia, but I'm not suggesting you should sleep on the couch."

Hazel eyes widened at the possible scenarios. "You mean… share the bed?"

"Why not?" Angel made it sound simple.

"Hello! It's not that big. No way you'd stay on your side," Cordelia figured he'd be a bed hog. Not that she wasn't. She normally slept in the middle.

Smirking at the thought of it, Angel explained, "I didn't mean at the same time. Our sleeping patterns are different enough that we could take turns."

Considering it, she asked, "Time share? I get midnight through dawn and you get dawn to noon. That might work."

"It beats sleeping on the couch."

Cordelia smiled at his brilliant idea. "Thanks for letting me barge in on you like this."

"Anytime, Cordy."

Staring at him for a few seconds as he looked back at her, Cordelia edged back toward the bedroom. "Guess I'd better unpack."

"I'll help you," he offered. "Then maybe we can watch one of those movies you brought with you."

"Hope you like Keanu and Brad. I don't own anything else," Cordelia admitted.

"Who?"

Laughing, Cordelia grinned widely. "Guess you'll find out. Why does it not surprise me that you've never heard of them being as culturally deprived as you are?"

"Guess that depends on your definition of culture," Angel returned smoothly.

"Don't get so defensive, Broody."

Angel's Bedroom.

Cordelia stared at the bed in a whole new light. It hadn't seemed quite so intriguing when she thought it was just going to be where she slept. "Umm. Which side do you want?"

Keeping the mask of disinterest firmly in place, Angel pointed at the right side of the bed, "That one."

"Okay," Cordelia managed to sound nonchalant despite her nervousness at the idea of being in bed with Angel even if it was for something as innocent as watching a video. Pfft! She was being ridiculous, but this called for a little distraction. "Here's the tape. I'll be right back."

Glancing down at the tape of 'A Walk in the Clouds', he looked up to see Cordelia run off toward the kitchen. Angel put the tape in and grabbed the remote control from the top of the television, hopping onto the bed with a little more enthusiasm than he probably should be feeling considering that he was just going to be watching a movie with a friend.

Only Angel was way past trying to convince himself that was all he felt for Cordelia these days. Though he certainly believed friendship was all she felt for him. If she had a hint of his feelings about her, surely Cordelia wouldn't be so quick to trust him like this.

Cordelia reappeared, this time with a jar of peanut butter in her hand. "I'm back. Just had to get a snack for the movie."

Frowning down at the jar like it was a dangerous object, Angel asked, "You're going to eat in bed?"

"It's peanut butter. Sheesh! You'd think I was having a five-course meal," Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"What if it gets on the sheets?" Angel pointed out worst-case scenario. "We have to sleep there."

Having already discovered that Angel was something of a neat freak, Cordelia figured this shouldn't have surprised her. Not being much into food, he wouldn't understand life's little perk of getting to eat in bed. "I've been eating peanut butter since I was a kid. Trust me."

Looking doubtful, Angel watched as Cordelia put the peanut butter jar down on the nightstand before crawling onto her side of the bed. She faced away from him while kneeling down to push the covers toward the end of the bed. The move drew Angel's gaze down to the way her pajama bottoms fit across her lush buttocks. No panty lines there, he noticed despite trying to focus on the previews flickering across the television screen.

Turning around, Cordelia plumped the pillows next to him giving Angel an unintended eyeful of the cleavage that peeked out from the scooped curve of her top. Finally settling down, Cordelia flopped over and snuggled into the pillows to find just the right spot.

Beside her, Angel asked with equal parts amusement and arousal, "Comfy?"

Eyes glued to the opening credits, Cordelia answered, "Uh-huh."

Halfway through the movie, which Angel was actually enjoying much to his surprise, Cordy scooted out from the spot she had gravitated to up against his chest with his arm around her shoulder. He frowned as her warmth left him wanting to reel her back in. But she only moved as far as the peanut butter before returning to her place next to him.

Angel pointed out despite the fact that he didn't want her to move, "You forgot your spoon."

"Nope. Don't plan to use one." She figured it was only the fact that the vampire didn't breathe that there was no horrified gasp sounding in her ear. Opening the lid, she scooped out a small amount of peanut butter onto her fingertip putting it directly into her mouth.

As that finger disappeared into the warm cavern of her mouth Angel lost all interest in the movie. Instead, he watched Cordelia's tongue peek out, curl wetly around her finger and her lips close down around it. A tiny moue of pleasure hinted at Cordelia's obvious enjoyment as she lapped up the peanut butter.

Hearing a rumble from Angel's chest, Cordelia mistook it for hunger. "Hungry? We could pause the movie. I could warm up some blood for you."

His blood was warm enough at the moment and it all seemed to be rushing in one direction. Shaking his head, Angel didn't want to do anything that would cause her to move away from him again. He'd been surprised by her unconscious snuggling as they watched the movie. Any tenterhooks she might have felt by joining him on his bed had apparently vanished.

Cordelia glanced up at him, unconvinced that he wasn't hungry for something. She held up the plastic jar, "Peanut butter?"

Still silent, all of Angel's thoughts were focused on not responding to her warmth. It was a good thing his sweat pants were heavy and dark because his body started to stir despite his good intentions.

Turning on her side to face him, Cordelia stuck her finger back in the peanut butter and offered her finger up to him trying to tempt him into a sample. "It's thick and creamy. Irresistible peanuty goodness."

That was one offer Angel wasn't about to turn down and it had nothing to do with the peanut butter and everything to do with having his mouth on her. Holding her wrist, he sucked the slender digit into his mouth, moving his tongue sensually on her finger until all traces of peanut butter disappeared and all that was left to taste was pure Cordelia.

Finally, he pulled her finger back out, but still held her wrist captive. "You're right, it's good… that way."

"Oh?" Her heart was beating so fast at the sensations he caused. Then he gave her finger one last unnecessary suck before releasing her. Cordelia's lips felt strangely poofy, her breasts full and tingly, and the rest of her just seemed hot and flushed.

Her reaction wasn't lost on Angel who followed a whim and dipped his own finger in the peanut butter jar. "Want more?" Figuring he probably shouldn't be asking her that, Angel knew it was far too soon to go after what he really wanted even if the opportunity and the setting seemed perfect.

Cordelia looked a little uncertain at the offer of that finger. The spark of desire in her eyes proved she wasn't entirely immune to him. She closed her hot, wet mouth over his fingertip and licked the peanut butter away never taking her eyes off of his. Then she dared to ask, "Do you want more, Angel?"

They both know she wasn't talking peanut butter. Angel stifled a moan, "I want more than I should, Cordelia."

Leaning closer, she lifted her upper body until they were face to face. Cordelia held her breath as she waited for him to meet her halfway. The sudden need to kiss him had her forgetting all about the countless reasons why it might not be the best idea.

Angel's hands moved to clasp her upper arms, setting her back on the bed at a safe distance. Scooting off of it to stand beside her as Cordelia rose to her knees, giving him a puzzled look, Angel explained his actions, "It's past midnight. Time you were asleep. You've had a rough day."

"The movie's not over," Cordelia glanced at the television screen where Victoria and Paul were fighting the raging fire in the fields. She wasn't at all happy with the idea that he planned to tuck her into bed and slink off to the living room after teasing her with the damn peanut butter. So what if she'd done her equal share of teasing.

"It's over for tonight," he said firmly which only made Cordelia feel that Angel wasn't just talking about the movie.

Cordelia Chase wasn't about to beg anyone for kisses. Giving him a look of complete disinterest, she plopped back into the middle of the bed, yanked up the covers and told him, "Goodnight, then. Turn then light out when you leave."

Reaching for the remote at the same time, they jerked their hands away as if burned by the sensation of their colliding fingers. Angel reached down again, pressing the off switch and putting the remote down on the nightstand. His dark eyes moved across her face like a caress and Cordelia felt mesmerized by the way he looked at her.

"See you at dawn," Angel stepped back from the bed and moved toward the door.

Back in the Bedroom.

"Wake up," Angel said for the third time. "Cordelia, wake up."

Despite the louder tone, Cordelia only mumbled, snuggling deeper into her spot at the middle of the mattress. One word came across clearly enough, "No."

Trying again, Angel told her, "C'mon, Cordy, you agreed to this. I'm not sleeping on that lumpy couch."

"Sleepy." More mumbling followed.

"Then the couch awaits you," he offered.

Not budging, Cordelia covered her head with the pillow stifling the noise of Angel's constant chatter. Grumbling in complaint, she begged for a reprieve. Who's stupid plan was this anyway? "Just go to sleep."

Angel was already dressed for bed. Not that he usually wore anything, but this time for her sake he had donned a pair of boxers. Though he didn't need as much sleep as Cordelia, he still needed a few hours. There was no way he was going to squeeze his big body onto that small couch.

The alternative was far more pleasant, though, Angel knew, "That's not such a good idea."

From beneath the pillow, Cordelia yawned her answer, "You sleep. I sleep. We both sleep."

Angel paced back and forth along side the bed. Should he or shouldn't he? Cordelia seemed willing enough to share. Not that she was fully awake to make the decision. But this was his apartment, after all. Cordy had barged right in without an invitation.

She'd climbed into his bed of her own free will.

Well, Cordelia could just stay there if that's where she wanted to be. He'd warned her fair and square that it was his turn in their little time-share agreement. No way was he sleeping on the damned couch. Climbing in, Angel scooted her over to one side of the bed and Cordelia rolled that way only reluctantly.

Immediately, Angel felt the heat left behind, his body automatically turning into it and placing himself closer to the warm female lying next to him. With her scent surrounding him, Angel drifted off to sleep content in the knowledge that Cordelia was on one side of the bed and he was on the other.

Hours of blissful sleep passed.

Cordelia sighed as she awakened completely rested only to find herself curled all over the hunky manpire in the bed. Her arm was thrown over his waist, her breasts pressed fully into his hard chest as his body angled toward hers and one of her legs curled over a powerful thigh. As her senses focused on the large palm cupping her bottom Cordelia realized his hands had done a little wandering of their own during the morning.

Was it morning? She seemed to recall, vaguely, that Angel tried to get her to wake up. So this was possibly not his fault.

Considering that waking up in Angel's arms in no way felt wrong, Cordelia took time to stare at the handsome face of the sleeping vampire. Yup! Still a hottie. Finally, she decided to extract herself from Angel's grabby embrace, hearing him mumble a protest. Maybe she liked being there in his arms, but she still had reason to suspect he might be thinking she was someone else.

The thought immediately spurred Cordelia into action. Squirming, her leg stretched out along the bed. She let out a yelp as her foot connected with something soft and mushy. Realizing exactly what it was, Cordelia's hazel eyes darted to the vampire expecting him to wake up at her soft screech.

Fortunately, he slept like the dead now that she was out of arm's reach. Tossing back the covers, Cordelia stared down at her foot surrounded by the peanut butter jar that she'd somehow forgotten at the bottom of the bed.

"Eew!" she shuddered at the sensation. "This gives a whole new meaning to the words toe jam."

Sliding the jar off of her foot, Cordelia grimaced at the icky feeling and scrambled to get off the bed. Escaping to the shower, she took the evidence with her.

Angel's Apartment, The Kitchen

Cordelia sat on one of the kitchen chairs, garbed in her fluffy white robe, combing through her wet hair. She glanced up at the sound of the elevator as Doyle emerged calling out, Angel, are you around?"

The seer stopped in mid-tract, stunned to see Cordelia in such a freshly showered state of undress.

"Hey, Doyle," she greeted him without a hint of embarrassment at being found there. "You ever get the feeling that you just can't shower enough. Like something's happened and you're never going to get clean?"

Staring at her, Doyle wasn't certain he could stand hearing the details. "What?"

Angel suddenly stormed up behind them, holding up one hand and accusing Cordelia, "You got peanut butter on the bed."

"Really?" Her look of complete surprise made Angel stare back in awe of her sheer nerve at trying to avoid culpability. "I don't think so."

Showing her his hand, Cordelia noticed that several fingers were covered with sticky peanut butter residue. Her tongue swept across her lip as she remembered last night. Angel's gaze focused directly on her mouth and Cordelia realized that they had an audience of one gaping Irish seer.

"I'll go look," she scampered off to the bedroom before Angel could say anything else.

Doyle watched until she disappeared through the doorway. Turning to face Angel who was wiping his hand on a kitchen towel, he shared his amazement, "I-I don't believe it, man."

"Hold off on the accusations," Angel figured Doyle was about to accuse him of taking advantage of Cordelia or stepping on his toes. "Just because you—"

Not letting him finish, Doyle grinned widely, "You finally made a move. Good on you, Angel."

Stunned, Angel could only ask, "What? Made what move?"

"With Cordelia," he patted Angel on the shoulder. "If I flirted with the girl anymore, I'd have to start dating her myself."

Now he was really confused. Angel shoved his hands in the pockets of his open robe. "You don't want that? Besides, I saw her flirting with you."

"Personally, I'd eat up the attention in a minute if I thought Cordelia meant anything by it," Doyle revealed to Angel as he took a seat at the kitchen table. "Her interests are obviously with you."

"Me?"

Frowning at that question, Doyle's brow furrowed, "You say that like it surprises you. After last night…"

Angel was quick to say, "Nothing happened." Mostly.

"If you say so, but what was Cordelia doing in your bed?" Doyle wasn't leaving this apartment without hearing how such an event would occur without anything at all happening.

"Sleeping," Angel returned quickly, hardly letting Doyle finish. "Her apartment is overrun with roaches. She needed a place to stay."

Looking innocently at the vampire, Doyle slowly nodded his head in understanding, "Roaches." Bet the vampire had no idea the number of favors he'd had to call in just to arrange that little scenario.

Then Angel realized Doyle had come over for a reason. "Why are you here, again?"

"I came to talk to you about a vision," the seer immediately got back to business.


Kate Lockley's Apartment

Realizing that this had to be where the whole tell-Kate-everything scenario came in, their hostess commented, "So you told Angel about the…uh…PTB's message. That vision thing. About bringing me in on the big secret."

Doyle shook his head. "Not yet. This one was ju—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold it right there," Cordelia held up both hands to put a stop to the conversation. Turning to Doyle with a look of incredulity, "You purposefully infested my apartment with bugs."

Recognizing Cordelia's fury, Doyle sent a pleading look toward Angel who was smart enough to stay out of the middle of it. Trying to reason with her, Doyle said, "It was for your own good."

"That's why they appeared so quickly," Cordelia shuddered at the reminder of the scores of roaches crawling all over her furniture. "That's why you never answered your phone. You were setting me up."

"It worked," Doyle reminded, sending her a dimpled grin.

Cordelia couldn't deny that. "Lucky for you. Be happy I never had to set foot in that place again. Otherwise, there would be major payback coming."

From across the table, Kate told Doyle, "You're rather devious when you want to be."

"All in a good cause."

Kate admitted to Cordelia, "I'm not sure how I'd feel about starting off a relationship thanks to roaches and a jar of peanut butter."

"It's better than ending one impaled by rebar," Cordelia returned.

At Kate's curious look, Cordelia added, "Hmm. Come to think of it, that one started on a buggy note as well. Xander and I were hiding in the basement from this icky bug man."

Next to her, Angel sounded out a little growl under his breath. "We can drop the subject of Xander Harris anytime now."

"High school boyfriend," Cordelia explained to Kate. "Not that Angel cared at the time. He had other distractions."

"You wanted me way back when, sweetheart," Angel reminded her. "Even when I was dat—"

Using his own words against him, Cordelia bantered back, "We can drop the subject of Buffy Summers anytime now."

Kate felt certain an argument was about to break out and thought about offering up dessert as an incentive for a little peacemaking. Then Cordelia smiled at Angel, the most brilliant, teasing, loving smile she'd ever seen. It drew an echoing response from Angel, something Kate wasn't accustomed to seeing him do during their short acquaintance.

Looking at the two of them, Kate could swear she was almost melting from the heat they generated. Talk about sexual vibes, talk about charisma, those two had it in spades and it was all for each other. She felt like she needed to stick her head in the freezer just to cool off. "Dessert, anyone?"


Angel's Apartment.

For two weeks, Cordelia and Angel struggled with their arrangement. Cordelia's apartment remained strangely bug-infested despite the exterminators. Doyle's attempts at finding her suitable accommodations were either overpriced, horrifying or simply turned down as an option by Angel. They were unsuitable, unclean or unsafe in his opinion and Cordelia wasn't in an argumentative mood considering what Doyle had come up with.

So they kept to their arrangement. Time-sharing the bed. Only they made a serious effort to make certain that there would be no sharing simultaneously. The television and VCR mysteriously appeared in the living room one day and Cordelia wasn't about to argue the reason for the move.

Sitting on the couch together, they still managed to gravitate toward each other. His arm around her shoulder, and her curled up beside him. There was a conspicuous absence of peanut butter. Cordelia found herself a snacking alternative.

M&Ms seemed safe enough. They came in a form that required no finger-licking of any kind. Cordelia liked tossing them up and catching them in her mouth. Until one missed and dropped straight down her cleavage.

Leaping up, Cordelia bounced up and down trying to dislodge it without sticking her hand down her shirt. When that didn't seem to knock the little brown candy loose, she stared down her shirt looking for it.

"Trying to find something?" Angel suggested with a smirk, "Maybe I can help."

"Funny," drolled Cordelia. "One of the M&Ms fell down my shirt."

Oh, he'd noticed. "Melting?"

"Umm. No. They melt in your mouth, not in your hands," Cordelia automatically used the catch-phrase only to immediately shift her thoughts to Angel's hands and mouth exploring her cleavage for that stray M&M.

She wasn't the only one thinking it. "Need some help?"

"No," Cordelia darted off to the bathroom, her heart thumping madly at the thought that Angel was actually flirting with her again. How many times over the last couple of weeks had she imagined that to be true? Or caught herself flirting with him in return before they both seemed to come to their senses and pretend nothing had happened.

In the bathroom, Cordelia extracted the candy, dropping it onto the counter. Staring into the mirror, she gazed at her reflection accusingly. Omigod! You're attracted to Angel. That's bad, so bad. You want him so bad. He's your friend, your boss. Not just a stray hunk of salty goodness. Oh, God, there's only one thing to do.

While she was gone, Angel thought about the fact that he'd gotten to know Cordelia over the past couple of weeks. They'd talked to each other more than the sum of all of their conversations back in Sunnydale. Cordelia was as complex and layered as she claimed to be, far more than what appeared on the surface. He ached to know more.

Angel realized that he had told Cordelia more about himself than he ever thought to share with Buffy. Mostly because Cordelia demanded answers to her questions and didn't bat an eyelash when he told her the truth. She just accepted the facts and seemed to understand why this mission meant so much. Why he felt he had to fight for redemption. Though it was unspoken between them, he knew she understood why he'd chosen to end it with Buffy and therefore why he was reluctant to do anything that might jeopardize their own growing friendship.

After noticing that Cordelia was gone quite a while, Angel started to wonder if his words had been that upsetting. Finally, she emerged from the bathroom only to pause in the bedroom doorway to stare at him from across the room, nibbling on her lower lip.

Walking over to her, Angel was concerned he had upset her with his inappropriate comments. Quick to try and fix things, he told her, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize."

"Cordy, I was out of line," he took the blame. "I shouldn't have said anything."

Releasing the lip she'd been nibbling at, Cordelia suddenly looked puzzled having thought she understood his behavior matched her own, "Are you saying you don't want to touch me?"

Angel felt the fall of silence between them as her question sank in. Dark fire lit his eyes as he read her expressive face. Needing to ask, "Do you want my touch?"

"I asked first."

"Yes, you did," Angel moved forward crowding her against the doorframe and not answering her question. Asking again, "Do you want my touch, Cordelia?"

Feeling the beam of the doorframe at her back, Cordelia lifted her chin a little higher as she held his gaze. "What do you think?"

Deciding that Cordelia had left her fears behind and was just as eager as himself to explore whatever this was between them, Angel returned smoothly, "I think you're avoiding my question."

"You avoided mine first."

"Forget the questions," he suggested. "Why don't we just find out? Let's look at the evidence."

Cordelia echoed, "Evidence," wondering what that might be.

"Your heart's beating fast," Angel pointed out as the beat pulsed in his ears. "I think you're excited, Cordelia."

Vampire senses, she realized, catching her breath.

"Forgetting to breathe? I don't want you fainting on me tonight," he told her.

"Tonight." Did that mean what she thought it meant? Hoping so, Cordelia felt his magnetism. She'd been trying to compartmentalize their relationship for the past two weeks, forcing it into the category of friendship. The truth was that some part of her had placed Angel in a category all his own.

Angel stood mere inches from her, no longer hiding the desire in his eyes as his deep sensual voice washed over Cordelia's skin like smooth silk. "Your body is reacting to me even without my touch. Flushed skin, puckered nipples, parted lips, the scent of your arousal driving me wild."

"Wild." That sounded a lot like the feelings running rampant inside her. Cordelia had gone into the bathroom to escape, but staring into the mirror at her reflection only made her determined to figure out if she'd been kidding herself or if Angel really did want her.

That tempting male mouth curled at one corner, his amusement showing. "One word answers, sweetheart? That's evidence enough, I think."

"How's this for evidence, Detective Broody?" Cordelia flung her arms around Angel's neck, kissing him passionately.

Going still in her arms for a fraction of a second, Angel tasted the warmth of her lips on his realizing this moment would change everything between them. He smiled under the touch of her soft kiss, moving his hands along her back to pull Cordelia just a fraction closer before taking the lead. Angel kissed her with all the love and passion burning inside him, stealing Cordelia's breath away with its tenderness and power.

Cordelia gripped the taut muscles of his shoulders, then frantically moved her hands up to clutch at the short strands of his hair keeping his mouth on hers as she opened up to him. Their tongues danced and retreated, their lips sliding across each other as their bodies strained to get closer, ever closer.

They stumbled as one, Cordelia's back hitting the doorframe. A moan sounded only to be swallowed by Angel's mouth as he used his impressive strength to hitch her body up the surface of the door, pulling her legs around his waist. As the hard bulge in his pants pressed tight against her heat, Cordelia dragged her mouth away from his to stare down into those gold-rimmed dark brown eyes.

"Angel," she panted for air as her hand found his face. "Are we really doing this?"

He touched his forehead to the flat surface of her sternum, so close to the tempting curves of her luscious breasts, the scent of her skin and the thumping of her heart that he found it difficult to process the question.

"Jesus, yes, Cordy," his words felt heavy coming from his throat, both confirmation of his intent and a plea that she wasn't backing out. "I want you so damn much. You're all I think about."

Gently, Angel lowered Cordelia into a standing position, still holding on as her legs seemed unsteady. Hazel eyes sparkled as they met his. The confession of his feelings returned her to that state of momentary silence that always left him edgy. Instantly, a huge grin spread across her face, leaving him in no doubt that she was okay with the admission even before she commented, "Then I guess it's only fair to say that I feel the same way."

The words were barely out of her mouth before Angel swooped in to claim her with another heated kiss. Searing need built up again as passion's promise soared between them. Masculine hands danced across cotton threads and silken skin, sensuously teasing and efficiently undressing Cordelia simultaneously.

Just as busy, her slender rose-tipped fingers slid over hard angles and heavy muscle, fisting handfuls of Angel's shirt to tug him closer before dragging the annoying barrier up over his head.

Belts and pants and socks and shoes dropped to the floor one by one in rapid succession. Skin to skin, they clasped each other close. Her breasts, pebble-tipped, pressed firm against the cool wall of his chest eliciting a soft groan of relief as the sensation quenched some of her inner heat. The hard proof of his desire felt like a velvet steel shaft against her belly causing a deep-centered ache, her body heating up and melting for him.

"Decide now, Cordy," Angel offered her one chance before letting his own instincts guide him. "Before this night is over, you'll have it all, but what is it you want first? Slow, tender lovemaking with my hands and mouth touching every inch of you? Or do you want to be fucked? Hard. Fast. Now."

Cordelia felt her body quake in reaction as her hot gaze traveled down the length of his torso to focus on the towering staff of his sex tucked between them. The upward climb seemed more difficult, her eyelids heavy as they made their way back up the chiseled wall of his chest. Standing there, with his eyes dark and glittering, Angel held himself taut as he waited for her decision, his body aroused to the point that in another moment his offer might be forgotten altogether.

"Do it now," she told him, eagerness overtaking reason. Slow sounded good, but slow could happen later. Cordelia was already stepping into his arms again as she confirmed on a throaty moan, "I don't want to wait."

Angel's large hands moved across her golden skin, his thumbs grazing the curves of her breasts for just a moment before he swept her into his arms and carried Cordelia the short distance to the bed. Bouncing down upon the mattress, they were a tangle of arms and legs from the moment they hit the surface. His mouth pressed a heated path along her throat as his expert fingers trailed down between them to wet, silky heat of her core.

"Now," Cordelia pleaded, bucking her hips toward him as his thumb circled the highly sensitive peak of her swollen clit. Then two of Angel's fingers parted her slick folds to slip inside her tight center feeling her clutch around him as he plumbed her depths. "Geez, that feels so good. Inside me, Angel. I need you inside me."

Her words brought a fervent sound to his lips. Now sounded damn good to him as well. Angel teased her for just a moment more, his fingers moving along her inner flesh feeling her rippling response. Then his fingers butted up against a barrier he hadn't expected to be there. A flash of surprise lit his features as Angel lifted his head to stare down into her eyes, his incredulity at the discovery of Cordelia's virginity apparent even through the haze of her own lust.

"What are you waiting for?" groused Cordelia anxiously, her body still tingly and wanting him without further delays.

Seeing that something seemed to be a problem, she glanced down between them to confirm the continued presence of the rigid length of his erection. Nope, still there. Boy howdy, was it ever. Then with a dawning light, Cordelia realized, no matter how much they both wanted this, Angel shouldn't be doing anything that involved getting happy.

"Oh no, Angel," Cordelia's eyes widened at the thought of being in bed with Angelus should this lead to a blissful moment. Considering that it was certainly headed in that direction, she let out her frustration on a groan as Angel slowly slipped his fingers from inside her. "We forgot about your curse. Happiness clause. We can't do this, can we?"

The clear disappointment in her voice made Angel's mouth twist up into a smirk as he silently thanked Willow for the manipulation of the spell that had returned his soul to him. Not that it was public knowledge. The fact that Willow kept it a secret even from her friends told him she was concerned about what would happen between him and Buffy if the slayer ever found out the truth. Angel had been determined to take it slowly, and in the process discovered that trialing that clause was the last thing on his agenda.

Now it was not just something Angel could take or leave. He wanted Cordelia make no mistake. Now. Being with her was as necessary to him as breathing was to her. "There is no curse, Cordelia. There hasn't been since I returned from hell. My soul is my own."

Instant relief and joy danced in her eyes as Cordelia clutched him close. Arms looped around Angel's neck; she buried her forehead against his shoulder and he felt the hot rush of her breath wash across his skin as she reacted to the news. After pressing a kiss on the hard muscle of his shoulder, Cordelia asked tentatively, "So what's the problem? Is it me?"

This might be new to her, but she was pretty damn certain that Angel had been just as eager as she was a minute ago. There was no doubt in her mind that he wanted her. So, it wasn't her at all. It had to be him.

"You're a virgin," Angel spoke bluntly. Despite that deep down the idea made his demon exult at the idea that Cordelia was going to be his, only his, there was still the slightest measure of guilt barring the way.

Cordelia blinked at him feeling his body taut, straining, obviously aroused and in need. A little embarrassed that Angel was making a big deal out of it, she snarked, "So were you fifty million years ago."

A smirk lifted the corners of his mouth. "Are you saying I'm fossilized?"

"Something's certainly hard," Cordelia's hand snaked down between them, wrapping around his solid shaft. Just because she hadn't gone all the way didn't mean she was clueless. "You're not going to let this go to waste, are you?"

Laughing at her bravado, even as his eyes closed and he arched into her touch, Angel leaned close to press his lips against her ear. "No worries, Cor. I'm all yours. This just calls for a change of plans."

He felt huge and hard in her fisted hand. Cordelia's heart thumped against her chest at the thought that Angel would join his body to hers. That he would put this, all of this inside her. Something deep inside clenched tight at the sheer notion, wet heat blooming within her. As for changing plans, "No way. Want you now."

Reeling in the instincts that told Angel just to go for it, to spread her legs wide and plunge into her tight depths over and over and over, he called upon every ounce of restraint left within him. Hard and fast could come later. Anywhere and often, his lust-charged brain promised that might be the reward for chaining his demonic urge to take what Cordelia offered.

"Is this what you want?" he moved his hips so that his cock slid across her grasping palm teasing himself unmercifully, darting pleasure shooting across his flesh.

"Yes, yes, now," Cordelia tried to move her legs, to wrap them around him and bring the hard tip of his erection toward the aching center of her need. But Angel obviously had other ideas as his mouth closed over the soft curve of her earlobe, sending a hot wave of sensation along her throat shooting straight down to her loins.

When Angel's hands extracted hers to thread their fingers together and hold them up above her head, Cordelia knew that he'd exchanged hard, fast and now for option number one. Slow, tender kisses that left her body tingling with each touch of his mouth; caresses that burned across her skin leaving her aching, wet and wanting.

Finally, he released her hands and Cordelia snatched the opportunity to touch him everywhere she could reach as she writhed beneath him. Palming her breasts, he caressed their outer curves, swept his thumbs along the edge of the dark circle of her areolas and blew cool air across the peaking nipples that begged for his mouth.

"You're so beautiful, Cordelia," the truth reverberated in his voice as Angel's eyes lifted to hers. His fingers stroked softly and her hands moved up and down the length of his sinewy forearms as Angel caressed her there.

Every inch of him exuded strength and power, yet Angel touched her with the utmost care. Cordelia moaned as his mouth closed over her, his wet tongue circling one hard nub before tugging gently with his teeth and then sucking her into his mouth.

Those knowing hands caressed every inch as his mouth continued to explore her body making his way across the slope of her belly, the dip of her navel and the soft nest of curls that guarded her sex from his view. Up on her elbows, Cordelia's eyes were fixed on Angel's every move as he parted her thighs and settled himself between them, pushing her legs open wide with gentle hands.

Angel simply stared at her for what seemed like ages though in reality only seconds passed. His tongue tip peeked out running across his bottom lip. Biting her own lip, Cordelia couldn't take the delay even if it hadn't been a long one. "Are you gonna do it or do you just like looking?"

The amber-rimmed eyes that stared back at her suggested that Angel liked doing a helluva lot. Trailing the back of his fingers in a random pattern across the soft skin of her inner thighs, Angel moved closer to the plump mound now glistening wet along its petaled folds. Her scent perfused his body with her arousal and Angel pressed his cock down into the firm surface of the bed in reaction.

No verbal answer came her way, just the touch of his fingers sliding around the slick surface of her most intimate flesh, the descent of his dark head between her open thighs and the wild reaction of her body as Angel's tongue swept across her skin.

After that, Cordelia found herself focused on one thought and one thought alone. Now, now, now, now, now. Pleasure streaked through her body, tingling waves traveling across her nerve endings spreading sensation from her heated core to her fingertips. Her toes curled as her legs closed in to clasp his back and hold Angel even closer.

There'd be no escape for him. He just needed to keep doing that forever and it might just be enough.

Clenching her eyes closed, Cordelia saw bright flashes of light like brilliant start filling the void of her vision as her body erupted with uncontrollable pleasure. Her arms flew up above her head as it turned side to side whipping damp strands of chestnut hair across her flesh and the cotton sheets beneath them. Angel's hands restrained her bucking hips, his mouth open and tongue tirelessly gathering every drop of her honeyed response.

Before the last wave of her orgasm wracked her body with pleasure, Angel moved up to position himself at her slick entrance. A deep moan left his throat as he thrust into her tight body just so she stretched around the tip of his cock. Slowly, he reminded himself. Slow. Take it slow. All he wanted to do was plunge right in. To bury himself inside her hot channel.

Cordelia's eyes flashed open as he entered her, the sensation a combination of pain and pleasure. A moment of self-preservation hit as she pushed at his shoulders, but Angel didn't budge. Not to leave her, but not thrusting any further. Reaching up, he palmed her cheek, soothing her with his words and promising that at the end of the night this moment would be a precious memory.

"Tell that to someone who hasn't been impaled by rebar," Cordelia panted against the slow forward thrust that felt like a hot poker driving into her body. She said the words even as she wrapped her arms around him again, holding him close as Angel worked his cock back and forth in shallow thrusts letting her get used to the feeling that he was inside her.

Trust Cordelia to say something like that now when he was trying to concentrate on not hurting her too much. Angel smiled as he leaned down to kiss her, distracting her with the taste of him and her on his mouth. Soon, their heated kisses and the feeling of being stretched to the limit had her moaning into him. Angel thrust deep on his next move garnering a surprised gasp from the woman in his arms.

He stilled for a moment, taking in the shock in her hazel eyes before claiming the open circle of her mouth with his own again. Angel's hand swept down her body, cupping her hip, his fingers pressing along the lush curve of her bottom. Buried to the hilt with Cordelia's hot sheath clenched tight around him, Angel felt the strongest wave of possessiveness streak through his body.

Finally, Cordelia Chase belonged to him. All the other ways his demon wanted to claim her would wait. This night he resolved to make love to her, man to woman. To let his demon churn in need as a build-up for the future because he knew Cordelia would be there, would be his, just as he was going to prove tonight that he was hers in every way that counted.

And so he made love to her, all through the night until they lay together in a puddled heap of damp flesh and tangled limbs.


Kate Lockley's Apartment

Angel & Cordelia shared a secret smile, their fingers threaded through each other's as they remembered their first night together. There would be no telling Kate and Doyle the details of that any time this century— or even the next one considering the millennium was right around the corner.

"So what do you say, Katie girl?" Doyle tore his attention away from his friends. "Are you interested in joining our team?"

Kate struggled to focus, her blue eyes continually straying back across the table. She figured that Angel couldn't be all that bad. Anyone who could love someone that much had to have something good in him. "This is all still strange, vampires and demons. There are enough everyday criminals to fight much less the supernatural."

"We're not asking you to give up your life," Angel turned his gaze her way, "but having a resource on the police force who understands what we're fighting and can help when needed… that'll go a long way."

Making his case, Doyle reminded her, "You've seen darkness of the human kind every day. We're fighting the same fight, Kate. Only ours occasionally saves the world as well as Los Angeles."

After a long silent pause, Kate nodded. "You were right, Doyle. You can be very persuasive. I think I'll accept the offer."

Doyle dimpled, "Just understand that they'll be no flirting with me during office hours. My heart still belongs to Cordelia. I pine away for her. I lust aft—"

Giving his friend a stern look, Angel said, "You don't if you know what's good for you," then laughed.

With a long, exaggerated sigh, Doyle leaned toward their new teammate, "In that case, Katie girl. I'm all yours."

The End

Lysa's Standalone ~&/Or~ My Challenges fic

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