Go TeamC/A
Chapter 4 Ahh, there go the walls; up up up. Angel watched discreetly as the brunette became more and more antsy and quiet as the sun dipped below the horizon, and this time, before Wes had even suggested calling it a night, Cordelia had said her goodnights and scooted to the relative safety of her room.
Shortly after that, Wes decided their discussion might keep her awake and prepared to leave, which was no mean feat as he was practically surrounded by large books. With Angel's help he was finally able to make his way into the lounge and stretched until his back popped before searching for his jacket.
That took several minutes, but was eventually found wedged between yet more books. With a rather anxious and guilty look around the beleaguered lounge, Wes wondered aloud if he should attempt to tidy up a little before leaving.
"No, that's okay, Wes; I'll clean up before going to bed." Wes nodded as he took in the pile of books littering the large couch.
"It doesn't really look as if you have much of a choice, since your 'bed' is rather cluttered," he observed quietly, and then straightened up and made his way towards the door. "I'll leave you too it then- if you're sure you don't want me to assist?" At the shake of the vampire's head, Wes made his escape, his mind already on a certain book he still had at home.
Angel double checked the locks behind the man and then turned to regard the untidy room with expressionless eyes. His acute hearing picked up the soft spray of the shower and decided it was best to delay his arrival just a little longer to at least give Cordelia a chance to get ready and pop into their bed…. Nope - her bed..
"That's right; keep reminding yourself of that," he muttered as he began the gargantuan task of clean up duties.
By the time all the books but the relevant ones were piled besides the crammed book case, the shower had long turned off and silence met his ears… well, almost silence; Angel could hear her hammering heart from where he stood at the far end of the lounge. Taking time to straighten the dining area into some semblance of order, he was feeling a little less guilty about the sleeping arrangement he'd more or less forced on the brunette- the slower pace of her heart helped with that.
Opening the door softly, Angel was relieved to find her heartbeat remained steady, and almost chickened out to instead return to the couch; but recalling the night before; he closed the door and silently walked towards the bathroom. On re-emerging when he'd finished showering, he found the little lump hugging one side had graduated towards the middle, and with a small sigh, he walked round to his side and carefully pulled aside the covers.
Bending over her sleeping form, Angel gently scooped her up ready to move her over, but the plan backfired when her arms immediately wrapped around his neck almost making him lose his balance. Great. Now what did he do? So much for decorum!
Easing his knees on the bed one at a time, Angel settled down on his side and rearranged her limbs until she was comfortably tucked into his body, their final position not unlike the night before. He had to admit that he kind of liked sharing her body heat- and as long as her flesh remained covered through the night, he was sure he could cope.
Waking up at the crack of dawn and slowly becoming aware that her full breasts were literally stuck to his chest without the modesty of her t-shirt, had come as a shock. That it was a very pleasant shock had had the effect of Mister Happy making an unexpected appearance, but even though Angel had attempted to peel her off him, she'd merely tightened her arms around his neck and flexed that golden leg over his hip until Mister happy eagerly nestled against her lower belly.
He was surprised to find sleep crept back over him, and had a few anxious moments when finding himself alone and wondering if Cordelia had noticed the hard time he'd been having. But, beside the odd look of discomfort, Angel had seen no sign of mortification on her lovely face.
Settling down, he unconsciously cradled her nape and assisted her in her search for the best spot for her face against his neck, and willed Mister Happy to be a good boy and stay down. As he drifted off to sleep, the thought of maybe purchasing a large teddy bear for her popped in his drowsy mind- then was expelled instantly at the thought of said teddy bear getting the heat and attention she was bestowing on him***
Angel was awoken abruptly yet again as the warmth he was cocooned in disappeared when Cordelia's body pulled roughly away. His eyes snapped open to find her thrashing under the covers, which soon fell away as she tugged and finally kicked away her pajama bottoms.
When her frantic hands went for her t-shirt, movement kicked in and the vampire loomed over her to grab her hands. The long length of golden legs that went on forever ended with a tiny pair of black silk panties. The sight of her tanned flesh contrasting with one of his two favorite colors was more than enough for him thank you very much.
As soon as his hands latched onto her wrists, Cordelia freaked out even more. "Get it off meeee!" she wailed, pulling at his grip on her until Angel finally released them and instead grabbed her in a bear hug.
Rolling onto his back and taking her with him, he softly soothed her until, eventually she calmed down, shuddering in reaction- but her eyes stayed firmly shut. Angel marveled how Cordelia could sleep through such an obviously traumatic nightmare, but on thinking of it, taking into account her serious lack of sleep over the past few weeks, it wasn't really that strange, he supposed. The weight of what she'd been dealing with alone hit him, breathing slowly but heavily Angel felt his chest ache for her. Stubborn, beautiful, vixen Cordy; always thinking she had to go it alone.
When she finally settled against his chest, Angel took stock of their new position. Things were not looking good. Maybe if her t-shirt wasn't wrapped around her waist it wouldn't have been so compromising; with this in mind, he eased the fabric down until it covered her to the tops of her thighs, then turned back on his side and settled her into her usual position with only a murmured complaint before draping herself over him and relaxed.
With a deep sigh, Angel closed his eyes, eternally grateful for the sweats he wore.***
Angel stared sightlessly at the thin thread of light that made its way across the ceiling and contemplated the things he'd sacrificed for the sanity of his Seer and not to mention the chance to sleep in a comfortable bed. He sighed heavily, and looked at the dark head resting on his shoulder, face burrowed into his throat.
Well, for a start he'd lost what little privacy he had left. Not to mention total control over his body. The face, well…he'd got that down pat, and no one could beat him when it came to an implacable, unreadable mask that he wore pretty much all of the time. Stillness was also something he had down to a fine art, and most of the time, his voice came out at just the right tone and level he wanted.
But that was easy; that was above the waist!
Waking up to find his seer again plastered to his chest, somehow managing to move his big body onto its back remained a mystery. Nobody moved him when he slept. Which meant his body had betrayed him. That was completely unacceptable. Skin melded to skin from the waist up and when he dared to look along her supine body, it was pretty obvious why he could feel every inch of her torso.
That damned t-shirt had ridden up yet again and her breasts were now flattened against his chest. A tattoo Angel hadn't even been aware of, graced her lower back, and its rich colors beckoned him. Beckoned him to look lower, where that scrap of black silk Cordelia dared to call underwear rode low on her hips and revealed an incredible, equally golden ass. This girl definitely sunbathed nude; no question about it.
Angel groaned silently, and attempted to ignore the way erect shaft nudged and pulsed low against her belly. One more inch and Mister Happy would have hit pay dirt and met Little Miss Hot'n'Wet on the brink of something that would most definitely change everything between them.
The groan slipped out involuntarily when the little sleeping vixen slid up that inch, one leg curling high to flank his waist. Jeeezus! Time to move before he liked this new position a little too much. Trouble was, his betraying skunk of a body wouldn't comply. Gritting his teeth, Angel eased her thigh down and went through the motions of gathering up the too-hot, tight, luscious and lithe body and eventually succeeded in pulling down that t-shirt, sliding her onto her back with only a few compromising moments that had made his head explode. The head in question had no right even going there.
Rolling off the bed, he trod stealthily to the bathroom, refusing to look at the wanton pose the brunette now lay in; arms splayed out and one thigh bent at an angle that just begged him to dive in. He looked- and moaned. When the door shut behind him, he rested against it with his eyes closed; snapping them open when the image engraved on his retinas became even clearer.
Cold shower; yup, a cold shower was the answer to all of his problems. Once in there, the icy spray running down his chest and body, the vampire looked hopefully down. Nope, still there.
Go away! he prayed- actually prayed for this stark pointer to his arousal to take a hike, disappear desist and deflate. He sighed again. It had been a while since spanking monkeys had been an issue; Hell kinda did that to you, but a vampire's gotta do what a vampire's gotta do.
It was either that or hide in the bathroom for the rest of the morning. His start to the day just couldn't get any worse…he hoped.
Chapter 5For the unlife of him, Angel could not keep his eyes from the cute little bundle sitting on the couch
Did she *have* to sit so…so.... casually? One lithe leg thrown over the arm of that lucky couch, the other somehow half-crossed and her head back showing off the very long neck- so flawless his teeth itched.
His eyes slid away from her for what seemed the thousandth time that day, and damn if he wasn't annoyed with himself
If she caught him, he'd get the raised brow and the "Watcha lookin' at? wanna picture?" moment he got one of the times he'd genuinely been staring into space- and Cordelia just happened to be occupying that space. Did she own every square inch of the world?
Knowing her, she most likely did. Portfolios being her second favorite word and all- 'money' being the first- though not so much now.
She probably had shares in Heaven - and Hell. God help him! No wonder he'd suffered so horribly down there. The sudden image of her dressed like a Dominatrix, brandishing a whip caused him to shift and rearrange the book on his lap.
He was tired; that was it- why else would he be having such strange and twisted thoughts that normally wouldn't even cross his mind where Cordelia Chase was concerned? But that was before he more or less knew her body pretty intimately- well his chest certainly did!. Hot satin. Good description- and oh, so soft and supple; the plaint to his solidity; yin to his yang…
He let out a sigh, which drew Wesley's attention and the narrowed, suspicious look on his face realllly made him wanna... but Wes was a friend, and you just didn't bathe in the blood of friends, did you?
That was the tired talking; there was no way Wes could even guess at the sleeping arrangements in Cordelia's apartment- and was too busy listening to the outraged little brunette to notice the absence of bedding on the couch yesterday morning. But the way he was looking form himself to Cordelia did make Angel wonder if he was making the big mistake of underestimating the ex Watcher.
Wes looked like he was going to say something, when the door was rapped sharply. All three looked at one another, shrugging and frowning identically. "Yo! Gunn is in the building."
Cordelia squealed- *squealed* and shot to her feet in a flurry of hair and legs. Angel raised his brows before lowering them in annoyance. She was acting like Gunn's arrival was the second coming. Then he frowned some more; that word had no place in his head where Cordelia and other men were concerned.
After that arrival, the quiet of the morning was gone. The young black man lounged and smiled widely as he listened to the enthusiastic chat of the bubbling brunette, looking all the world like he'd known her forever- and didn't that give the vampire craw to swallow. Not that he was jealous, because he would have had to have deeper feelings- feelings that passed the boundaries of friendship. It had to be the protective reaction of a big brother, just looking out for his little sister; that was all.
All he had to do now was convince Mister Happy of that fact.
"I thought I'd venture out into the big wide world today!" Cordelia's words dragged him back to cold reality and even as his eyes narrowed, his mind located the whereabouts of the cuffs he just knew he'd rescued from his old apartment.
"We've talked about this, Cordelia; I still think it's too soon to think of wandering off by yourself," Angel kept his tone even yet firm and was graced with a Pfft and an expressive roll of hazel eyes.
"Soon shmoon- and you've talked about it, over and over… this little bird is more than ready to fly the coop, Mister Worrypants- and anyway," her mouth widened into an excited grin, "Gunn here has offered to take me for some eats and show me around the 'hood'." Wes snickered at her attempt to speak street, and got a patented glare for his trouble.
"Something to say, Stuffy?" the young man instantly shook his head and dived his nose back into his book; the safest place in the world to be where Cordelia was concerned. "No, no…carry on." He muttered.
"Good, then it's settled! Oooh, freedom! So jonesing for some of that." She dived off the couch and darted to her room, slamming the door behind her. "Dennis? What can I wear?" he voice floated out in the suddenly silent room.
Wes finally cleared his throat and drew the other man's attention who, so far was unaware of the not so pleasant vibes radiating off the vampire. "So… what will be on your itinerary today?"
"Huh?" Gunn frowned at the man like he'd just climbed out of his spaceship and attempted to speak Alien to the natives.
"Where are you taking Cordelia, Wes meant." Angel intoned casually, glad that the question had been asked, but dammed if he was going to ask himself.
Charles Gunn shook his head at the English guy and turned his attention to the dark haired hulk spread, comparatively relaxed on the couch.
"Oh, here, there; about. Thought I'd take her to this Taco place they got going in the 'hood' where I live- does she like Taco's" he frowned for a moment then his handsome face cleared. "Yeah, everyone likes those babies." He stood up the instant the brunette trotted out of her room, "Now that's what I call sweet!" he eyed the golden length of leg below the thigh-high denim skirt and the gauzy softly draped top that thankfully had a matching opaque camisole beneath it. But Angel was still not at all happy with the tempting picture she made.
"Do you think it wise to walk the streets dressed in such revealing clothes?" Wes got there first, and at the outraged look on the young woman's face, Angel settled back on the couch quietly.
"I'm figuring you didn't mean what it sounded like you meant, Wesley Wyndham Pryce, ‘cos if you did, you're gonna be on the lookout for a couple of new kidneys," Gunn snorted aloud and stood back to watch.
"It-it was just a figure of speech, Cordelia; not at all meant the way you obviously took it," he stuttered, his face turning a nice shade of red. Snatching up her purse, Cordelia graced him with one more death ray and walked to the front door.
"Glad we got that sorted. Now I'm outta here- Gunn? Let's hit the town," her excited grin returned, and as the young man walked out of the door she held open, she sent one more killing glance at the cringing Englishman and left, with a slam of the door.
"Well…that was rather embarrassing," Wes tugged at the collar of his shirt. "I have the feeling I got off lightly there." He glanced over to the still silent vampire, whose dark eyes were pinned on the recently closed door.
"Angel, I'm sure Charles Gunn will take good care of Cordelia," Wes reassured him firmly. After several seconds of tense silence, the vampire rose to his feet and made his way to the kitchen.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he muttered, low enough not to be picked up on by the other man.***
Angel glanced at the wall clock for what felt like the millionth time. It was almost nightfall, and still no sign of that annoying little vixen and the young black man. To say he'd been getting a bit too sharp with poor Wes was an understatement, and by now, he could almost see the cogs turning in his intellectual head.
Wesley Wyndham Pryce may be a little naïve in the world of love and women, but he was far from stupid, and Angel knew he was coming across as a petulant lover. Sulking because another sweet tooth might be sucking his sweet little honey-gold lollipop.
The vampire groaned inwardly and wished to the Gods his mind didn't have that habit of using metaphors that sometimes seemed a little too close to the mark and open to outraged question. Comparing Cordelia to a lollipop was not just dumb it was mouthwateringly suicidal.
Finally! He stood and grabbed his duster the second the sun sank over the horizon, and was in the process of putting it on when he heard laughing behind the front door. Instantly shedding the half on leather, Angel tossed it into the nearby chair and sat back down on the couch, looking all for the world like he hadn't moved since She'd left.
"That was sooo cool! Gunn, we have GOT to do that again!" Cordelia giggled as she entered the apartment with the young grinning black man who strolled in behind her. "Hey, Wes; Angel- had a good day?" She refused to let the grin drop from her face when she was met with a mumbled "huh uh" from the lump behind a large tome, and the steady dark brown gaze of Mister Suck-The-Life-Outta-Everything.
"Well, we did!" she answered her own question and went on to regale the two other men with their escapades of the day, dropping her purse on the side and shedding the engulfing denim jacket she now wore, handing it to Gunn with an even bigger grin.
"We went to the hood and he introduced me to some of his homies, and we even hung out at his crib…totally cool!" Angel raised a brow at her turns of phrase whilst Wes lifted his head from his book and sat there staring at her with his mouth gaping open. "Whassup, Wes?" Cordelia walked over and lifted his chin up with a finger. His jaw snapped shut and he blinked. Whassup? And it got worse!
Wes was always rather pole axed and cringed when it came to how the American people massacred the English language. Centuries of fine tuning it to the point of musical and poetic, stripped down to 'yo's' and 'homies'.
"Careful Wes, I see drool- so not attractive." Cordelia moved back and plunked herself on the couch, bouncing the cushions and causing the book Angel had hastily grabbed, to slide off his lap. "Oopsie; did I lose your page?" she grabbed it and opened it, "What number…. oh, no numbers; how uncool -and totally stupid!" Shrugging carelessly she left it where it was opened to and dropped it back into his lap, causing Angel to flinch as the heavy book connected with his tender parts, shutting it and leaning forward to place it on the coffee table.
"Come and sit down, Gunn; plenty of room- if tall, dark and silent shifts his pasty ass a bit," Cordelia shoved up and used her hip to push at the Vampire's, who moved without taking his startled eyes from her averted face. Satisfied she's made enough room, she patted the empty cushion with a sunny smile.
"Yup, take the load off, gotta tell ya, Girl can shift out there," Gunn accepted the offer and dropped into the seat, causing Cordelia to almost end up in Angel's lap. With an quick apologetic grin, she slotted herself between them.
"I feel like a ham sandwich," she giggled, and glared at Wes who muttered, "Well, you know where the kitchen is". Har har, funny guy." She turned to look up at the still-silent vampire with a quizzical expression.
"Did you two go on some kind of ancient dig today?" Angel frowned down at her confused.
"I think you mean archaeological dig," Wes murmured patronizingly and received a stink eye.
"Yeah, Whatever," she replied, glancing at Gunn and rolling her eyes expressively, causing his face to split into a wide grin.
"Can I ask what drove you to ask such a nonsensical question, Cordelia?" Wes just had to ask, didn't he?
"Oh, just wondered if that's where you unearthed the fossilized remains of your humor, stuffy." Cordelia replied, her sharp reply reminding Wes abruptly that, although Cordelia Chase sometime acted like a ditz, her brain was as sharp as a tack.
Angel couldn't help the small smile that touched his face at her snarky comments and caught the brunette's attention. "Ooooh, I'd watch out there, big guy; the cracks are showin'." The smile disappeared abruptly just as Gunn shook his head and got lazily to his feet, stretching high before turning to look down. The vampire stifled the growl when the girl's eyes lingered on the brief flash of rich skin as the young man's top separated from his low-slung pants.
"Well time to hit the streets in a way that don't include cotton candy and wolf whistles, Barbie." Gunn winked at the brunette before glancing at the other men. "Got me some wood to sharpen and put out. Later," with another grin, Gunn made his way towards the front door.
Cordy immediately shot to her feet, and in her haste to show her new friend out, tripped over one of the vampire's feet, her dark head inches from hitting the coffee table in front until two powerful arms grabbed her and pulled her back. Her balance still compromised, she ended up perched in his lap.
"Really, Cordelia, you are an accident just waiting to happen," Wes shook his head, glancing at Gunn and nodding again pleasantly. "It was nice to see you again Mister Gunn," he replied politely.
"Just Gunn; don't wanna sound like no ass face lawyer dude," he corrected easily, clicked his tongue and lifted a hand as he turned.
All three watched him exit and close the door behind him lightly, and then Cordelia realized to her mortification that her ass was a little close to parts that would remain forever pushed down into the recesses - but obviously not Angel's… seemed someone was feeling a little perky today!
"Oops!" scrambling out of his lap, Cordelia walked swiftly to the kitchen. "Drinks on the way." She called as she made her exit, her face flushing prettily, leaving Angel to grab the book and shove it back in his lap, and Wes to shake his head in disbelief at the little whirlwind that had came, conquered and left in not so much of a wave of glory.
"A complete and utter mystery," he muttered under his breath, going back to his book and settling back into his chair with a sigh.
Angel kept his eyes on the kitchen archway, shifting uncomfortably at being found out in a not so private moment of a Mister Happy appearance; this couldn't go on. He knew that- but what the hell was he supposed to do about it?
Maybe it was time to step up his search for another abode before things became too volatile between him and the gorgeous brunette who was slowly driving him crazy.
"After the nightmares", he promised himself, and then he would start looking. Mister Happy instantly became depressed at the thought of moving out and away from Little Miss Hot'n'Wet.
Chapter 6The rest of the evening went like a bomb- the kind that could explode at any moment, and Wesley Wyndham Pryce wished he were anywhere but in Cordelia's apartment right now.
The brunette in question seemed oblivious to the charged atmosphere, and the discreetly sulking vampire; maybe that was a bit strong- change that to being deep in thought? Even as he did so, Wes had a feeling he was right with his first description.
He would have had to be completely deaf and blind not to have picked up on the subtle shift in the last couple of days, and he had to wonder what had caused it, as for two weeks previous, all had been quite calm after the storm they'd endured.
Angel seemed a little tense the past few days, and surprisingly tired-looking, and although Cordelia seemed her usual bubbly self, there was a tinge of discomfort that reared its head whenever within touching distance of the vampire. What had changed? That he couldn't be sure about. Fair enough, those two had always been so close; familial in fact.
He'd picked that up as soon as he'd seen them together that first time since Sunnydale. And that dreadful incident with the demon pregnancy had shown him a side to the vampire Wes never wanted to experience again. Gentle and supportive towards Cordelia, but out of her range his eyes had shot fire, his broad shoulders tensed with restrained violence. He often wondered how that Christopher guy had fared when Angel had caught up with him.
Today had been a catalyst, and now the English man found all his questions answered in just a few hours of being stuck in the same apartment with the pacing and tense vampire. Angel was the victim of that sometime evil taskmaster, Love, and although Angelus was no longer a threat, it didn't ease Wes' worries at all. Cordelia, he reckoned, was oblivious to the subtle signs, and for that he was partly relieved: a nineteen-year-old human woman-child, and a 240-plus vampire… not a good combination at all, in his personal opinion.
Something else he'd picked up on. Yesterday morning when he'd arrived at such a godforsaken time, even through Cordelia's ranting, he half noticed the lack of bedding on the couch. Now some could say that the vampire was an early riser- and that could be the reason for his tiredness and seeming irritation lately; but no. His own usual arrival time of nine o'clock would often find the Vampire answering the door straight from his makeshift bed. Another thing bugged him too.
Before Cordelia had espied his additions to their newly forming library, he could have sworn he saw anxiety and embarrassment in those hazel depths at his early arrival- plus she had been dressed, which in itself was somewhat a miracle. Normally the brunette wouldn't surface from her room until at least a few hours before lunch, and even then would exit in her night garments and robe
Something definitely was up, but his fearful mind just couldn't even formulate his suspicions inwardly, never mind put into a verbal question. Was it his business anyway? This was what he had to decide before an attempt was made to find out what the hell was going on in this apartment in his absence.
Cordelia's attempts to stifle her yawns dragged him out of his contemplations, and he belatedly realized it was fast approaching midnight. Her first adventure from the apartment since she'd arrived home from the hospital had obviously caught up with her, and with a decisive snap of his book, Wesley surged to his feet.
"Well, I don't know about you two, but my eyes are rather tired, so I think that is my cue to get off home." He pronounced diplomatically, and was sure he caught an expression of relief briefly flitting across the vampire's face.
"Well, must admit I'm pretty whacked myself; long day," Cordelia agreed with a sigh, rising up from her place on the couch, "I'll get your coat, Wes." She offered, walking over to the coat stand where, for once, he'd hung it instead of its usual place amid the piles of growing books.
Angel remained on his own on the couch, head still dipped in seeming concentration on the book in his lap, only glancing up with a "See you Tomorrow, Wes", before dropping his head back down and leaving Cordelia to open the door as the ex-Watcher juggled a few books in his arms.
Wes let his own sigh of relief puff out when the door closed behind him, glad to leave the tension-filled room, not realizing how bad it was until the weight of it dropped from him when stepping across the lawn towards his motorbike.
This was something he needed to deal with in his own way; observe and absorb until he was sure of his suspicions- then decide if he had the right to verbalize his misgivings. That decided, he strapped the books securely, put on his helmet and rode off into the night***
Cordelia turned from the door with her own sigh. "Dennis? Could you put the kettle on, please?" she asked with a smile, and grinned even more when she heard the sound of the tap coming on.
Walking over until she stood directly in front of the sitting, silent vampire, she tilted her dark head. "You want some red goodness, Angel?" his grunt made her frown. What was his problem? So she asked.
"That's a pretty big bee you got in your bonnet, broody; wassup?" his head jerked up at that and finally met her eyes. Clueless as ever- that was a good thing in a way, as he himself really had no real idea why he was being so grumpy.
Yes he did. Gunn was something he possibly never would be; street smart, able to take care of himself and an ability to protect his loved ones, yeah, Angel matched him and more on those areas. But, Gunn was the one thing he may or may not ever be: human. Some would say that with the news of his coming Shanshu, that was a moot point. But Cordelia could be long cold in her grave by the time that major event happened.
"Nothing," his single reply only aggravated her more. She tried to recall when the vampire became more broody than usual, and slowly it dawned on her that it had started shortly after Charles Gunn had arrived.
"Is it Gunn? Doncha like him?" her hands crept up onto her hips, pulling his dark gaze to the barely-there skirt she still wore, and his own scowl deepened.
"I have no problem with him, no," he answered truthfully- well, it was partly true, anyway! He'd always admired the young black man, and he'd come through for him at some pretty bad times; nope, he liked him… just didn't like his seer's seeming interest in him.
"So why the grouchy face? Lucky for you Gunn didn't notice, or you would have put his nose outta joint, what with you making him feel unwelcome in MY home." Her emphasis on that word stiffened his spine.
"Well, I'll make sure to find another one just as soon as I can since I'm cramping your style so much," her eyes widened, then narrowed with annoyance.
"Don't be facetious, Angel. And if you're gonna get all hurty feelings every time I have my say, god know how you'll survive in the long run, cos that's just the way I am." she folded her arms across her chest, unknowingly propping up her full breasts and drawing his gaze from her face. "Thought you woulda known that fact by now." Hearing the kettle boil and bubble, Cordelia turned away from him and stalked into the kitchen.
By the time she'd poured the hot water into her mug, Angel had followed her in and stood a few feet away, his large hands hidden in his pockets. "Wanna drink?" she asked again, glancing over her shoulder in time to see him shake his head.
"I'm sorry," he finally spoke, but his voice showed anything but apology. Turning round fully, Cordelia clutched her coffee mug and walked over to the kitchen table, but didn't sit down, merely placed her drink on the Formica top.
"Just say it, Angel, cos, hello? Not as much time as you to wait for you to spit it out." Folding her arms tightly across her chest again. Angel clenched his hands into fists in his pockets and thought about how to put his feelings of concern into words.
"I just don't want you hanging around with a guy like Gunn" he finally stated baldy, wincing at the shocked expression on her face.
Cordelia pursed her lips and eyed him caustically before speaking.
"Is it cus he is black?" she asked just as baldly, her way of speaking reminding him again of the day she'd spent with the street talking young man.
"God, no! I-I just meant-"he denied instantly, surprised she'd even think that would cross his mind. Her eyes turned calculating as she deliberately weighed her next words.
"Look, If I happen like a little color in my men, well damn, It has nothing to do with you," Cordelia cringed inwardly as her own words echoed in the room.
Yeah, she liked Gunn, but hadn't considered him as more than a friend- and not because of his color; that had nothing to do with attraction whatever the race or color the opposite sex happened to be. But Angel had a nerve! What other reason would he have a problem with it? Sometimes she forgot just how ancient and sometimes old-worldly he actually was.
"I bet he wouldn't mind having a little color in you, either" Angel muttered under his breath, then swallowed hard, hoping the brunette had not heard that, then groaned when her eyes widened almost comically.
"What did you just say?" her voice a whisper as his comment soaked into her stunned brain. He did NOT just go there!
"Nothing" he denied. Taking a step back instinctively. Fuck, he'd really done it now; Angel the most socially inept being on the planet.
"It didn't sound like nuthin to me" she returned coldly, ice forming over her beautiful eyes, "And you can just set yo 'white' pasty, racist ass on the couch tonight, and think of 'nuthin' all night long" she added, forgetting her fresh drink and stalking out of the kitchen, pushing him out of the way as she did so.
Angel stared after her rapidly retreating form, debating what to do next, then sighed heavily; looked like his brief sojourn in her bed had come to an end- at least for tonight, anyway… and as the thought entered his mind, he swallowed again even as he tensed.
Cordelia kicking him out of bed and they weren't even a couple yet. The 'yet' jolted him and he sank slowly into a seat at the table and reached for her discarded drink.
God, was he in trouble!
Cordelia slammed her door and huffed her way over to her bed where she threw herself across it and cursed the already cursed vampire. Well, what's one more to add to it? She decided angrily. Then it sank in what she'd more of less said a few minutes before.
She had kicked him out of her bed and they weren't even a couple yet. The 'yet' jolted her whole body, and her hands fisted her covers as she hid her burning face in a pillow, groaning when his all male scent hit her in delicious waves.
God, was she in trouble!
Chapter 7Angel's eyes opened, and for a minute he wondered why he was awake. It had taken him several hours before blessed sleep had crept up on him, the couch feeling even more uncomfortable than before his little break from it. So why had he woken up now?
Then he heard it: a muffled but distinct whimper.
It was not unlike a tidal wave, gathering speed softly until it reached its crescendo and gushed high and strong, and before the shrill scream pierced the air, Angel was already on his feet and in her room. This was a bad one. Sweat dampened her hair and glistened on her distraught face, her body thrashing about and pushing down the tumbled covers.
Without a second thought, Angel climbed onto the bed and pulled her into his arms, slipping into the routine of soothing and whispering soft words in her ear. But this time, although Cordelia settled, her eyes opened drowsily, slowly narrowing when they locked onto his dark, concerned orbs.
"Another nightmare, jeez, lucky me," her voice shaky, then her mouth tightened as she attempted to shrug him off. "All better now, so why don't you just toddle off back to your couch?" Even as his large body stiffened, Cordelia felt a wash of shame; he'd come in to help her and what did she do? Throw it back in his face.
"I'm not going anywhere, Cordelia." He finally replied, his voice husky with hurt feelings. "I promised to be here for the nightmares, so suck it up." He added, his own mouth firming with stubbornness. When she merely shrugged and settled down next to him, he couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised. Where were the outraged yells, or the pushing and poking she so enjoyed inflicting on him?
"I'm tired, so shut up and go to sleep," she muttered instead, and closed her eyes, tucking her face into his throat. With a deep sigh of tired confusion and relief, Angel did just that.***
"Please, Angel, please; touch me," Cordelia groaned, Angel chuckled low and held her warm body closer to his.
"Tell me where and I will, " he nipped gently at her throat, one hand between them both, fingers playing with the edge of silk panties that were now damp with her want. She moaned deep in her throat and urged her hips closer to his hand, but he refused to play. "Uh uh!" he shook his head, holding her hips slightly away with a firm hand.
"Touch me!" she growled, eliciting another chuckle. Angel shook his head and lathed her throat with a cool, hungry tongue. Cordelia arched into him, panting heavily and throwing a long silky leg over his hip. When she realized he stubbornly wanted to hear it first, she finally took courage in both hands.
"My…my clit…touch me there; God, Angel, do it!" she moaned, nipping on his ear lobe and sending a shudder through his large frame.
Pleased with her compliance, Angel let his fingers slide into her panties and rubbed her throbbing clit with the pad of his fingers. The response was immediate; hips bucking sharply into his hand and she mewled aloud. Her heat called to him, and with a quick sharp flick of her clit, he slipped the finger lower and gently slid it deep into her core…. God! So hot, tight and wet! He didn't stop pushing until he was in to the knuckle. He had to see her face, see those moans rounding her full, delicious lips….
Then he blinked.
"Shit!""
Yes, she was draped over him like a human blanket, and yes, his finger was embedded deep into her heat…. but Cordelia Chase was fast asleep.
It had all been a dream; an incredibly hot, melting dream- but still a dream his subconscious mind had made up as it went along. And now he lay there with his hand down her panties, the pad of his thumb on her throbbing clit- and a finger plumbing her tight wet depths.
A soft feminine moan jolted his big body, and he quickly checked her heart shaped face again. Still asleep, and probably thinking she was having a wet dream, going by how drenched her core was right now. He just hoped it wasn't a certain street kid she was dreaming about. An involuntary growl slipped past his lips before taking a deep breath.
Gritting his teeth, Angel slowly slid the offending finger from her heat, watching her face carefully as he did so. With the care a collector of fragile glass ornaments would have been impressed with, he rearranged her mussed nightclothes and laid her onto the mattress, sliding out of the bed and padding silently to the bathroom. Once there, he knocked his forehead against the wall repeatedly and groaned softly.
God! He was a pervert of the worst kind. He's taken advantage of a young woman in her bed- when he was supposed to be there, protecting her from monsters that attacked her in her sleep. His mouth twisted bitterly at the irony of that. Opening his eyes, he raised the guilty hand and stared hungrily at the offending digit.
Her creamy juices coated his flesh, and without even realizing it, his hand had crept closer to his mouth, until with a choked moan, the finger disappeared between his lips. Her taste exploded on his tongue, and Angel realized he'd done the second most stupid completely wrong thing tonight. Now that he'd had a taste, the vampire knew he wouldn't be able to rest until he had more.
He'd once told the Slayer that it wasn't the vampire who was the problem here; it was the man. Always weak and governed by his body's needs; he'd thought that weakness had been safely tucked away out of sight and mind. Ha! That was a joke. But the demon in him played a part too. His unreasoning jealousy had been to the forefront for most of yesterday, twisting his gut and planting thoughts of blood, death and revenge against his male friends and acquaintances. It had to stop.
There was no way at all he could climb back into that bed with her tonight- if at all, ever again. His subconscious desires had tipped the odds, and his control was a hair trigger; knowing what or who could set it off wasn't helping here. The nightmares were still a nightly occurrence, and he couldn't suddenly go back on his words just because he was a dirty old man who should know better.
Could his unlife get any worse? Angel figured not.***
The room brightened enough to drag Cordelia out of her deep sleep and she blinked owlishly as she took stock of her surroundings. Two things hit her: no sign of the big undead lug…. And her panties were really, really icky. Her face flushed ten shades of red as she imagined him waking up and scenting her, giving away the topic of her dreams last night. She could still feel his hand touching her there, a thick, long and slightly calloused finger penetrating her welcoming, overheated core- God! How was she going to face him today?
Glancing at her bedside clock, Cordelia was surprised to see the hour hand creeping up to 11am, and with a shocked gasp she shot out of bed and dived into the bathroom. Suddenly- with a large sense of relief, his absence made more sense; especially as she'd belatedly heard the soft murmur of male voices as she made her rapid way to the beckoning, get-rid-of-the-evidence shower.***
"Drink" Cordelia slammed it down in front of him and it slopped over the edge, hitting his fingers as he'd reached out to grab it.
Without thinking, Angel absently slid two blood-spattered fingers into his mouth and sucked them clean. When he looked up, Cordelia's eyes were transfixed on his mouth. He swallowed and slowly dropped his hand until it rested on the tabletop, not missing the way her dilated eyes watched its descent. Then she seemed to snap out of it, swiveling on her heels and stalking out of the dining room.
"ohcrapohcrapohcrap" the two words that had become her best friends tumbled rapidly from her lips as she made her way unsteadily back to the kitchen, sliding numbly into one of the chairs and dropping her dark head into her hands.
"I might as well wear a sign around my neck stating 'Angel fingered me in my dreams" she muttered softly, nearly falling off her chair when a dark shape appeared in her line of vision. Angel almost stumbled as he caught her words; the brunette had no idea just how true those words were -that is, if you changed 'dreams' to 'sleep'!
He swallowed convulsively several times; truly glad Cordelia seemed suddenly fascinated by the light Formica top of the kitchen table.
"Cloth for the spill, he hastily explained, marveling at his steady, even tone. Grabbing a tea towel, he left as silently as he'd arrived.
Holy cow!. Hey! That was good! New words; Cordelia concentrated on that fact rather than consider the idea that the vampire of the amazing, supernatural ears had heard her little oopsie. "Hmm…maybe I should introduce them to 'oh. Crap'?" She seriously considered, still refusing to think beyond her trips of temporary insanity. Well, they said talking to yourself was the fist sign of insanity- and giving social lives to words must be up there in the fifth stage at least.
"That's it, I'm officially insane" Cordelia rose from the table with an erect spine and a firm expression. "And as such, I'm gonna walk in there and act like nothing was said- and if he dares to mention it, I can tell him I'm a psycho and therefore not responsible for what my psychotic brain makes me say" she finished breathlessly, and walked regally back to the dining room, smiling brightly at the two men who'd glanced up at her entrance.
Taking a seat at the far end of the table, Cordelia reached out to grab a book and pinned her eyes to it, absolutely refusing to look at the large, pale hand that rested casually on the tabletop. This fixation had to end now! If she was to get any peace of mind, and with the coming night oh so quickly creeping up on them insidiously, she had to find her center… well, maybe a little bed-edge hugging tonight was in order if she were to keep what little sanity she had left!
Angel had watched the industrious brunette with hooded eyes all through the late morning and afternoon, as she'd flitted around the apartment, barely sitting down since she'd got up. The fact that her had eyes refused to meet his made him quickly realize she still hadn't forgiven him for the night before.
He was also truly grateful that she'd showered before joining them. If he'd had to put up with her earlier arousal attacking his senses, well, lets just say, she would have ended up being manhandled into the bathroom and held under the shower until every trace had been washed away. He would have naturally left her clothed when he'd done it, of course, 'cos that was just.... hell, he was a vampire, not a robot, for chrissakes! But no doubt her clothes would have become transparent, and what was a vampire to do? Yes, thank the Gods Cordelia enjoyed her showers, that all he could say.
The thought of Wes hammering on the door demanding to know what the hell he was doing wouldn't have done much for his libido anyway, so maybe he would have been able to manage that little task without totally embarrassing himself and giving the brunette a coronary. All this thinking soon made him realize Cordelia was on his mind far too much to be healthy.
He valued his family jewels, regardless of the fact they'd been left to gather dust since that eye-opener of a night with Buffy Summers. He wondered how bony the brunette's knees were, and instantly regretted the thought, as a personal version of Cinemax shot into his slowly frying brain: long, golden and going on forever- so not the image he needed right now when self control was as necessary as feeding. No longer being a soulless vampire had it's disadvantages.
Back in the day, he would have taken what he wanted and blow the repercussions… but then again, Cordelia would have ended up dead or worse; undead like himself.
Angel could imagine too well what kind of vampire the feisty brunette would be, and shuddered in awe and a tinge of fear at the thought. And people thought she had an evil streak now! Shaking himself discreetly, the vampire shrugged that thought out of his head- it was the last thing he wanted; her heat was something he selfishly wanted to keep.
Then there was this thing: Was she actually aware and waiting to drop her knowledge of his dirty little secret at a really, really bad time; or was that muttered comment merely due to her own x-rated dreams? No way would she be sitting there now all seemingly relaxed and casual if she'd known where his fingers had been last night. Stakes would have most likely been somewhere in that particular scenario.
So what was with the sudden hand obsession? Maybe Cordelia had developed this fascination with hands in general? But as he'd covertly watched her all afternoon, it seemed more and more that his hands were the only ones that drew her absorbed attention; never once looking at the Englishman's - and she did mention his name in that hot little sentence. He'd heard that loud and clear.
Had she been dreaming about him? Could it be possible that he would feature in such a highly erotic dream? And could there be a chance she was attracted as much as he? If vampires had had the ability to flush and sweat profusely, his growing arousal at that thought would be a neon sign to all present- being forever grateful for the cover the table afforded.
So uncomfortable with her presence and his thoughts, he found himself actually relieved when his seer abruptly had a vision minutes later. Not that the relief lasted long as she convulsed with pain and small screams in his confining, protective hold. It seemed their quiet period had come to an end, but it was probably a good idea for him to get out for a while anyway. Sitting around her apartment wasn't helping clear his head.
Or maybe he should start keeping a journal again? Angel shook his head instantly at that thought as he left her apartment. Cordelia was naturally nosy, and if she ever came across a journal that would most probably end up looking like a personal version of the Karma Sutra… he shuddered at the thought. Nope, he would just have to spend a bit more time away from her home, or else a bit of quality time in the bathroom alone with Mister very, very Frustrated.