Title: The Fine Line
Author: onlyann (Anne)
Posted: 01-19-2004
Email:
Rating: NC-17
Category:
Content: C/A
Summary: This is in response to a challenge posted by Psychofilly back in Sept. 2003 on the ‘Hiatus Challenge thread’.
Spoilers: BTVS Season 3
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made. Ryan Chamberlain and Kevin Collins- characters belonging to General Hospital – Jill F. Phelps, Executive Procedure; Port Charles Julie Carrruthers, Executive Procedure.
Distribution:
Notes:
Feedback:
Thanks/Dedication: Becky and Kel. Those lovely talented women have given me nothing but encouragement, help, and support on this story.Part 82
The doorway kept her steady as she watched Angel wake up the sprawled up kitten on the bed and put him on his lap. With the same gentleness as the previous times he dropped the medicine into Darcy’s eyes.
She picked at the hem of her shirt as she realized that soon his hands would be touching her.
She didn’t remember making a conscious decision to sit next to Angel but she was there and even found herself giggling when Darcy jumped off Angel’s lap. “I think you offended him.” She pointed at the kitten who was now vigorously rubbing his face.
“Well I was designated as the meanie, wasn’t I?” Angel put the dropper on the nightstand and turned to cup Cordelia’s chin. “What was next on your list?” He softly teased as his thumb brushed her lips. “Oh, yeah this.”
The muscles in her stomach flipped and then melted.
Cordelia didn’t know if she shifted closer or if Angel moved towards her. But, her new position enabled her to crawl onto Angel’s lap. Her fingers crept up the sides of his neck trailing her nails along until they reached the back edge of his hairline.
“Angel,” she whispered, needing to break the silence to prove she wasn’t dreaming.
“Hmm.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Nothing. Just want you,” she whispered.
She gasped as she found herself suddenly pressed down into the mattress. Angel molded her flesh as his lips made a path up her cheek. “You want what?”
She closed her eyes so that Angel wouldn’t see her embarrassment.
“Cordelia? What do you want?
She blindly raised her hand, resting her fingers on his lips. “I want you,” she whispered. “But …”
She opened her eyes.
How stupid could she be? Having sex with Angel was a forgone conclusion after everything that happened in the garden.
And if she didn’t, and he called her a tease, it would hurt more than when he called her Queen C.
‘Tease’ was never a label she cared about when she left the various guys she dated groaning with frustration. But with Angel it was different.
“I do. Want you, I mean. It’s just …” She sighed. “ I don’t know what you’ve heard about me …” She paused and shook away the memory of Xander’s cruder insults. “ I’ve never down this before.”
Her need to explain was lost as Angel’s lips covered hers.
Then suddenly he released her. “Do you want me to stop?” His hand traveled up her shirt to softly caress her breast.
Cordelia gasped as his finger teased her nipple. Her eyes squeezed shut as she slowly shook her head and wrapped her hands around his wrist.
“I just thought you should know.” She opened her eyes into his steady gaze. “It’s … no … big deal,” she stuttered.
He gave her a smile that teased her nerves and warmed her to her toes. And then his lips covered hers again.
She squirmed deeper into the mattress, trying to remain grounded as the kiss began to overwhelm her. She was almost grateful when he kneeled up and caged her hips with his thighs.
Cordy licked her lips, as his hooded gaze swept along her body, pinning her as effectually as his legs. “Beautiful.”
Shivers popped up along her skin even before he reached for her shirt.
Then Angel’s lips moistened every expanse of skin exposed as he peeled her blouse off.
Once again, she wiggled into the mattress as his hands and lips unwrapped her as if her clothes hid his most wanted present.
Goosebumps flared over her skin as the cool air swept over her skin and Angel worked his way to her navel. Each swirl of his tongue made her hips jerk. “Angel?”
After he took a broad lick against her belly, he looked up. “Mmm?”
“I …” She shook her head, not finishing.
Angel hadn’t waited. He’d already moved to the V of her thighs. She gasped and tensed, shivers racing up her spine and turning the ache of her belly to need.
She’d never let anyone else do this --- had never wanted to be in such a vulnerable position. She tried to inch further up the bed, but Angel’s firm grasp on her hips kept her in place.
“Relax, baby. I have to taste what has been teasing me,” Angel murmured.
“Teasing?” Cordelia looked at Angel.
“In the most intoxicating definition of the word,” he said, fingers brushing her skin in delicate patterns. “I want all of you.”
The wet roughness of his tongue triggered an onslaught of sparks. Cordelia lay back, no longer feeling vulnerable or doubtfully, but powerful in the knowledge that he wanted her.
Part 83
Angel lapped up the tangy sweetness. The reality was even better than the Mecca he had imagined; yet he refused to get lost in the sensation.
He had to think beyond his desire. He had to ensure that Cordy’s body only recognized his as the one that could make her tremble in pleasure. He would be the first and last man to touch her.
Cordy’s gasps hummed in his ears and he groaned as her hips began to adulate. Her hands gripped his hair and he smoothed his palm over belly and pressed down to hold her in place. He concentrated his tongue and blunt teeth on the perfect bud swelling between her legs.
“Angel…I can’t…too much,” she gasped, trying to move away again.
“Yes, you can.” He reached up and linked their fingers. “Just hold on to me.”
“That’s it,” he smiled as her nails pierced his skin and breath caught in her chest.
“Oh, god.” Her voice choked in a burst of air.
Angel calmed her tremors with baby kisses and easy caresses, and finally she settled limply on the bed.
***
Cordelia barely felt Angel’s weight as he edged up her body. She was to intent on the lingering sensual buzz his mouth had left behind.
A whimper escaped as Angel’s lips brushed hers. She gathered enough energy to bring her hands around his back to hold him closer. “Angel?” She whispered.
“Yes, Cordy.”
Cordy’s eyes inched open to see Angel leaning over her. “You still have your clothes on.”
“Yes.” He nuzzled her cheek.
She cupped his chin, bringing his eyes up to meet hers. “That’s a bad thing.”
Angel’s brows dipped in mock concentration. “How bad?”
“Very, very bad,” she smiled, her hands leaving his face to reach for his sweater.
Angel kissed her deeply, finally leaving her with a slight tug on her lower lip.
“Hey.” Her hand reached up to stop his retreating form.
“I thought you wanted me naked.”
“You can’t multi-task?” She whined.
He chuckled, stripping quickly.
Her heavy eyelids lifted. Angel oozed pure masculine sensuality, she thought, following the descending path of dark down on his stomach.
She wetted her lips, but she couldn’t help being nervous. “Angel?”
He didn’t answer but settled his body over her. His solid weight soothed her nerves.
Cordelia caressed the hard lines of muscle on his back. “I hope Mr. Perky came with a how-to- guide.”
Angel chuckled into her throat. “Yep. Table of contents and index, even.”
“Funny guy,” she whispered huskily.
“Told you. Now shush, while I try out chapter one.”
Part 84
Angel breathed in her scent as his hand caressed over the feminine swell of her belly. His fingers drank up the silky texture that covered the firm flesh.
Cordy’s chin nudged his lips back to hers. He explored her mouth, sinking further into her welcoming warmth.
But when he edged his hand to her thighs, Cordy instinctively clenched them closed.
“Trust me. Let me have all of you,” he murmured into her neck while his fingers stroked her legs open again.
“I thought that’s what was happening.” Cordy gasped.
Angel was surprised at the sound of his laugher. He rolled onto his back hugging Cordelia to him.
“Hey, are you laughing at me?”
“Never,” he said, smiling assuredly. “It‘s just that you are truly one of a kind.” Then he slid his hand between her legs.
“So warm,” he whispered. “You were made for me.” He trailed his kisses to her lips as he aligned his hips with hers.
Cordy moaned as he nudged inside her. “I’m not so sure,” she winced.
Angel paused. “Just relax.” He hid his frustration with soft words and a coaxing touch.
Cordy lay there for a moment, then let out a huff. “Oh screw it,” she grunted and jerked her hips up forcibly.
“Christ, Cordy,” Angel choked, as her quick action plunged him into molten quicksand. He forced himself to still.
Cordy’s eyes widened with what looked like fear. “Oh no.” She shoved him violently “Get off of me!”
Angel groaned. “Don’t move.” He grabbed her hips.
But she struggled even harder.
“Dammit, Cordelia. STOP. Please.”
Angel let out deep sigh as she finally stilled beneath him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on staying calm.
“Don’t kill me,” she said in a small, terrified voice.
Angel’s eyes snapped open as her words penetrated his brain. He looked down at the young woman that only moments ago wanted him. Now fear seeped from her every pore.
“Kill you?” He brought his hand up to her face, but she flinched.
Angel forced himself to roll off her, though he kept a leg across her thighs. “Cordy?”
“Get off me, Angelus!” She struggled, trying to get out from under him completely.
“What?” Angel stared at her. Then he saw where she was pointing. “Aw, fuck,” he grunted, as he touched his ridged forehead.
“Get OFF!” Cordelia yelled and yanked at his hair in a feeble attempt to get him away from her neck.
“Dammit, Cordy, stop.” He lifted his head only when he was sure that his vampire face receded. “I didn’t lose my soul and I’m not going to kill you, okay?”
“Oh, sure, like I’m going to believe, you, Angelus.” She shoved him, again.
“Actually, I’ve lied more with a soul than with-out.”
“Huh?”
Angel pulled her up and settled her on his lap, “I’m sorry, Cordy,” he said softly, cupping her face. “I didn’t realize that I changed.”
Cordelia scooted away. “You went ‘grr’ and you expect me to believe that you didn’t go all Angelus on me?”
“I told you that my soul was bound. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
“How do I know that?” she shot back. “You just said that you lied more with a soul than without. That means you could be Angelus --- except then you would be telling the truth. Arggh, I’ve always hated riddles.” She stared at him. “Okay, if you’re Angel, why did you try to kill me?”
“I --- “
Cordelia’s hand shot up. “You did. Don’t deny it.”
Angel tried to ignore the way Cordelia’s breasts were pushed up in the cradle of her arms. He really wished that he could just ignore her question and take what her body offered --- except that her body was no longer offering.
Angel wondered if she would accept his apology if he pointed to his deflating penis to prove his innocence.
An indelicate ‘hmmph’ drove any hope that a simple gesture on his part would solve his current problems. But then he realized that while the scent of her arousal was absent, so now was her fear.
Angel leaned against the headboard, making sure to brush his thigh against Cordelia’s.
Part 85
Cordelia licked her lips as her gaze traveled along the body laid before her. She bit her bottom lip as an inner voice shouted ‘stop talking and jump him’ in her brain.
With a deep breath she shoved it aside and focused on his face. Not much better, she admitted, but the hint of his smug smile made it doable.
Angel sighed. “Cordy, how much do you know about vampires?”
“They’re bloodsuckers.”
Angel shook his head. “Cordy, you do realize that you’re in bed with a ‘bloodsucker.”
“Pig’s blood, duh.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that I’m a vampire.”
“Yeah, but you have a soul. Big difference.” She rolled her eyes.
Her expression turned into a glare as Angel mumbled something about Buffy and déjà vu.
“Hey!” She slapped his arm. “I’m not Buffy. So don’t you dare compare me to her, especially without a really good explanation as to why.”
Angel rubbed his face. “She didn’t understand either,” he mumbled.
“Understand what? So far you haven’t said anything. Say something that makes sense or I’m kicking you out.”
“Cordelia, have you ever tried to get rid of a vampire.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Have you ever seen a truly pissed off Cordelia Chase?”
***
Angel really wanted to know when the promise of the night turned into another visit to hell. He was sure it was his fault or more accurately, he was sure that’s what Cordelia would say. He rubbed his face again, trying to remember how the whole horrid situation started in the first place. He sighed. It was his fault, first for losing control and then mentioning Buffy.
“Cordy.” He took another deep breath. “I’m a vamp ---” Angel stopped at Cordelia’s snort.
“Fine, we’ve covered that.” He raised his finger to her lips to stop her from making another disgruntled sound. “This face,” he said consciously switching into his demon guise, “- is the face that a vampire wakes up with. It’s what the demon wears. It’s who I am, with or without a soul.”
He paused, ready to yank Cordelia back if she moved. To his surprise, she stayed put.
So Angel switched to his human face and then back to his demon one. “It’s the same, I’m the same.”
Angel waited but Cordelia’s frown of concentration remained the same. “If this is your welcome-to-the-world face, then why can’t I remember seeing it before except when Angelus played rough and tumble on me in the grave yard. He –“
“Cordy, you don’t have to remind me --- I was there.” Angel snapped, increasingly irritated that Cordelia was following Buffy’s example and choosing to ignore the very real fact that he was not only a vampire, but also Angelus. He could accept it with Buffy. He understood that Buffy did it for self-protection and justification for loving him. And he didn’t argue the point, not wanting to break her illusion and create even more barriers in their relationship.
But, the thought that Cordelia was splitting him apart made him want to force her beneath him and use her body until she had no doubt of who and what he was.
“Geez. Angel you’re the one that gives yourself two names. You can’t be mad at me for using them.”
Cordelia pulled his hands from his face. “So, how about trying again, but this time skip the obvious.”
Angel shook his head. He didn’t understand her. “You’re looking for a simple explanation.”
“Well, it can’t be any worse than your attempt at the ‘History of the Vamp Face’. Cordelia reached for the edge of the comforter they were sitting on.
Angel reached out and yanked the cover away. “What are you doing?”
She tried to yank it back. “I’m cold.”
Angel pulled her on his lap then wrapped the cover around both of them.
“Hey.” Cordelia squirmed on his lap. “You’re cold.”
“Keep that up and I’ll be warm soon enough.”
She tried to push away. “You haven’t ---“
Angel interrupted her with a hard quick kiss. Her protests couldn’t hide the scent of her renewed arousal.
“Shut up and listen while I warm both of us up. Okay?” He cupped her chin.
Cordelia let out a long-suffering sigh but cuddled even closer.
“So,” she said to encourage him to start talking.
“Shush, I’m feeling.” Angel whispered into the crook of her neck, savoring the lush body flush against his.
“Shouldn’t that be thinking?”
“Nope.” Angel caressed the distinct lines of her toned back with his fingertips. He teased the shivers along her skin.
“Angel.”
He heard the censure in her soft murmur, but smiled because it was accompanied by her own caresses along his back.
“You have seen it before. Bruno.” He said softly.
Angel watched as Cordelia’s incomprehension turned into one of understanding. “In the parking lot when you scared him away.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it, but yeah.” Angel nodded.
Cordelia leaned back to stare at him. “You were trying to scare me?”
“No. Never.” He said seriously. “I went ‘grr’ with Bruno to scare him. I went ‘grr’ while fighting the Phermitica –“
”I didn’t see you --- oh wait, I was on the ground.”
“Right, I’m sorry, but then vamping out enabled me to fight hard and dirty enough to win. It was a conscious choice just like with Bruno. But with you,” Angel leaned in to look Cordelia in the eyes, “It was an instinctual reaction to sudden intense pleasure. The sensation literally wiped all thought or control from my brain. I had planned to go slow, but you,” he paused to pierce her with his gaze,” had a different plan.”
“I’m more of the ‘rip the band-aid off’ type of girl.”
“Yes, I know that now.”
He watched as Cordelia scrunched up her nose. “Intense pleasure, huh?”
“Yep.”
“So, then the vamp face was a compliment.”
“Very much so,” Angel said softly as his hands reached up through her hair to cup the back of her head, urging her face closer.
“I’ve got absolutely no problem with compliments,” she whispered in the same soft tone, before meeting Angel’s lips in a kiss.
The initial gentleness of the kiss disappeared as Angel savored her taste. Angel dragged his lips away and settled on the pulse in her throat, sucking hard on the soft skin, swallowing each frantic beat that fluttered underneath.
Cordelia palmed his chin and urged him away.
“Cordelia,” he growled.
She brushed at his smooth forehead. “No intense pleasure, huh?”
Angel didn’t know how to answer her.
“No vamp face. How come?”
“Jesus, Cordy.” He half groaned and chuckled as he moved her hand away and dropped his forehead on hers.
“Well?”
“How about --- now I’m fully prepared for any and all intense pleasures.”
“I guess that’ll do.”
Angel shook his head. Was this the same girl who only moments ago, was sure he wanted to kill her.
“What about the growling?”
“I didn’t --- “ Angel stopped. “ Okay, I guess, I did. Let’s just call that … encouragement.”
“Cool.” She smiled. “So much sexier than the cheesy adolescent grunts and groans of ‘fuck me, baby, fuck me, baby.”
Angel’s smile turned into a concentrated straight line. “Oh, don’t misunderstand, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Cordelia stroked the hard lines of his clenched jaw. “Like I said, so much sexier,” she replied in a husky whisper as her tongue darted along his bottom lip. “I think you just may be warm enough now.” She reached down, running her finger along the base of Angel’s hardened cock.
Angel groaned, jerking into her feather-light touch. In a quick move he pushed Cordelia down on the bed and covered her body with his. He braced his weight on his forearms, caging her in, leaning down until he was a hairbreadth away from the desire in her eyes. “Before we go any further, you need to understand that everything --- I mean everything --- we do brings me intense pleasure. Except,” he shook his head to silence the emergence of words from her mouth. “When you interrupt me.”
“Geez, Angel, all I was going to say was ‘fuck me, baby, fuck me, baby.”
Pure lust battled with his desire to laugh. “Christ Cordy,” he growled, leaning down to capture her mouth, his lust winning out at her silent demand hidden underneath the teasing.
Part 86
The doorway kept her steady as she watched Angel wake up the sprawled up kitten on the bed and put him on his lap. With the same gentleness as the previous times he dropped the medicine into Darcy’s eyes.
She picked at the hem of her shirt as she realized that soon his hands would be touching her.
She didn’t remember making a conscious decision to sit next to Angel but she was there and even found herself giggling when Darcy jumped off Angel’s lap. “I think you offended him.” She pointed at the kitten who was now vigorously rubbing his face.
“Well I was designated as the meanie, wasn’t I?” Angel put the dropper on the nightstand and turned to cup Cordelia’s chin. “What was next on your list?” He softly teased as his thumb brushed her lips. “Oh, yeah this.”
The muscles in her stomach flipped and then melted.
Cordelia didn’t know if she shifted closer or if Angel moved towards her. But, her new position enabled her to crawl onto Angel’s lap. Her fingers crept up the sides of his neck trailing her nails along until they reached the back edge of his hairline.
“Angel,” she whispered, needing to break the silence to prove she wasn’t dreaming.
“Hmm.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Nothing. Just want you,” she whispered.
She gasped as she found herself suddenly pressed down into the mattress. Angel molded her flesh as his lips made a path up her cheek. “You want what?”
She closed her eyes so that Angel wouldn’t see her embarrassment.
“Cordelia? What do you want?
She blindly raised her hand, resting her fingers on his lips. “I want you,” she whispered. “But …”
She opened her eyes.
How stupid could she be? Having sex with Angel was a forgone conclusion after everything that happened in the garden.
And if she didn’t, and he called her a tease, it would hurt more than when he called her Queen C.
‘Tease’ was never a label she cared about when she left the various guys she dated groaning with frustration. But with Angel it was different.
“I do. Want you, I mean. It’s just …” She sighed. “ I don’t know what you’ve heard about me …” She paused and shook away the memory of Xander’s cruder insults. “ I’ve never down this before.”
Her need to explain was lost as Angel’s lips covered hers.
Then suddenly he released her. “Do you want me to stop?” His hand traveled up her shirt to softly caress her breast.
Cordelia gasped as his finger teased her nipple. Her eyes squeezed shut as she slowly shook her head and wrapped her hands around his wrist.
“I just thought you should know.” She opened her eyes into his steady gaze. “It’s … no … big deal,” she stuttered.
He gave her a smile that teased her nerves and warmed her to her toes. And then his lips covered hers again.
She squirmed deeper into the mattress, trying to remain grounded as the kiss began to overwhelm her. She was almost grateful when he kneeled up and caged her hips with his thighs.
Cordy licked her lips, as his hooded gaze swept along her body, pinning her as effectually as his legs. “Beautiful.”
Shivers popped up along her skin even before he reached for her shirt.
Then Angel’s lips moistened every expanse of skin exposed as he peeled her blouse off.
Once again, she wiggled into the mattress as his hands and lips unwrapped her as if her clothes hid his most wanted present.
Goosebumps flared over her skin as the cool air swept over her skin and Angel worked his way to her navel. Each swirl of his tongue made her hips jerk. “Angel?”
After he took a broad lick against her belly, he looked up. “Mmm?”
“I …” She shook her head, not finishing.
Angel hadn’t waited. He’d already moved to the V of her thighs. She gasped and tensed, shivers racing up her spine and turning the ache of her belly to need.
She’d never let anyone else do this --- had never wanted to be in such a vulnerable position. She tried to inch further up the bed, but Angel’s firm grasp on her hips kept her in place.
“Relax, baby. I have to taste what has been teasing me,” Angel murmured.
“Teasing?” Cordelia looked at Angel.
“In the most intoxicating definition of the word,” he said, fingers brushing her skin in delicate patterns. “I want all of you.”
The wet roughness of his tongue triggered an onslaught of sparks. Cordelia lay back, no longer feeling vulnerable or doubtfully, but powerful in the knowledge that he wanted her.
Part 87
Angel lapped up the tangy sweetness. The reality was even better than the Mecca he had imagined; yet he refused to get lost in the sensation.
He had to think beyond his desire. He had to ensure that Cordy’s body only recognized his as the one that could make her tremble in pleasure. He would be the first and last man to touch her.
Cordy’s gasps hummed in his ears and he groaned as her hips began to adulate. Her hands gripped his hair and he smoothed his palm over belly and pressed down to hold her in place. He concentrated his tongue and blunt teeth on the perfect bud swelling between her legs.
“Angel…I can’t…too much,” she gasped, trying to move away again.
“Yes, you can.” He reached up and linked their fingers. “Just hold on to me.”
“That’s it,” he smiled as her nails pierced his skin and breath caught in her chest.
“Oh, god.” Her voice choked in a burst of air.
Angel calmed her tremors with baby kisses and easy caresses, and finally she settled limply on the bed.
***
Cordelia barely felt Angel’s weight as he edged up her body. She was to intent on the lingering sensual buzz his mouth had left behind.
A whimper escaped as Angel’s lips brushed hers. She gathered enough energy to bring her hands around his back to hold him closer. “Angel?” She whispered.
“Yes, Cordy.”
Cordy’s eyes inched open to see Angel leaning over her. “You still have your clothes on.”
“Yes.” He nuzzled her cheek.
She cupped his chin, bringing his eyes up to meet hers. “That’s a bad thing.”
Angel’s brows dipped in mock concentration. “How bad?”
“Very, very bad,” she smiled, her hands leaving his face to reach for his sweater.
Angel kissed her deeply, finally leaving her with a slight tug on her lower lip.
“Hey.” Her hand reached up to stop his retreating form.
“I thought you wanted me naked.”
“You can’t multi-task?” She whined.
He chuckled, stripping quickly.
Her heavy eyelids lifted. Angel oozed pure masculine sensuality, she thought, following the descending path of dark down on his stomach.
She wetted her lips, but she couldn’t help being nervous. “Angel?”
He didn’t answer but settled his body over her. His solid weight soothed her nerves.
Cordelia caressed the hard lines of muscle on his back. “I hope Mr. Perky came with a how-to- guide.”
Angel chuckled into her throat. “Yep. Table of contents and index, even.”
“Funny guy,” she whispered huskily.
“Told you. Now shush, while I try out chapter one.”
Part 88
Angel breathed in her scent as his hand caressed over the feminine swell of her belly. His fingers drank up the silky texture that covered the firm flesh.
Cordy’s chin nudged his lips back to hers. He explored her mouth, sinking further into her welcoming warmth.
But when he edged his hand to her thighs, Cordy instinctively clenched them closed.
“Trust me. Let me have all of you,” he murmured into her neck while his fingers stroked her legs open again.
“I thought that’s what was happening.” Cordy gasped.
Angel was surprised at the sound of his laugher. He rolled onto his back hugging Cordelia to him.
“Hey, are you laughing at me?”
“Never,” he said, smiling assuredly. “It‘s just that you are truly one of a kind.” Then he slid his hand between her legs.
“So warm,” he whispered. “You were made for me.” He trailed his kisses to her lips as he aligned his hips with hers.
Cordy moaned as he nudged inside her. “I’m not so sure,” she winced.
Angel paused. “Just relax.” He hid his frustration with soft words and a coaxing touch.
Cordy lay there for a moment, then let out a huff. “Oh screw it,” she grunted and jerked her hips up forcibly.
“Christ, Cordy,” Angel choked, as her quick action plunged him into molten quicksand. He forced himself to still.
Cordy’s eyes widened with what looked like fear. “Oh no.” She shoved him violently “Get off of me!”
Angel groaned. “Don’t move.” He grabbed her hips.
But she struggled even harder.
“Dammit, Cordelia. STOP. Please.”
Angel let out deep sigh as she finally stilled beneath him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on staying calm.
“Don’t kill me,” she said in a small, terrified voice.
Angel’s eyes snapped open as her words penetrated his brain. He looked down at the young woman that only moments ago wanted him. Now fear seeped from her every pore.
“Kill you?” He brought his hand up to her face, but she flinched.
Angel forced himself to roll off her, though he kept a leg across her thighs. “Cordy?”
“Get off me, Angelus!” She struggled, trying to get out from under him completely.
“What?” Angel stared at her. Then he saw where she was pointing. “Aw, fuck,” he grunted, as he touched his ridged forehead.
“Get OFF!” Cordelia yelled and yanked at his hair in a feeble attempt to get him away from her neck.
“Dammit, Cordy, stop.” He lifted his head only when he was sure that his vampire face receded. “I didn’t lose my soul and I’m not going to kill you, okay?”
“Oh, sure, like I’m going to believe, you, Angelus.” She shoved him, again.
“Actually, I’ve lied more with a soul than with-out.”
“Huh?”
Angel pulled her up and settled her on his lap, “I’m sorry, Cordy,” he said softly, cupping her face. “I didn’t realize that I changed.”
Cordelia scooted away. “You went ‘grr’ and you expect me to believe that you didn’t go all Angelus on me?”
“I told you that my soul was bound. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
“How do I know that?” she shot back. “You just said that you lied more with a soul than without. That means you could be Angelus --- except then you would be telling the truth. Arggh, I’ve always hated riddles.” She stared at him. “Okay, if you’re Angel, why did you try to kill me?”
“I --- “
Cordelia’s hand shot up. “You did. Don’t deny it.”
Angel tried to ignore the way Cordelia’s breasts were pushed up in the cradle of her arms. He really wished that he could just ignore her question and take what her body offered --- except that her body was no longer offering.
Angel wondered if she would accept his apology if he pointed to his deflating penis to prove his innocence.
An indelicate ‘hmmph’ drove any hope that a simple gesture on his part would solve his current problems. But then he realized that while the scent of her arousal was absent, so now was her fear.
Angel leaned against the headboard, making sure to brush his thigh against Cordelia’s.
Part 89
Cordelia licked her lips as her gaze traveled along the body laid before her. She bit her bottom lip as an inner voice shouted ‘stop talking and jump him’ in her brain.
With a deep breath she shoved it aside and focused on his face. Not much better, she admitted, but the hint of his smug smile made it doable.
Angel sighed. “Cordy, how much do you know about vampires?”
“They’re bloodsuckers.”
Angel shook his head. “Cordy, you do realize that you’re in bed with a ‘bloodsucker.”
“Pig’s blood, duh.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that I’m a vampire.”
“Yeah, but you have a soul. Big difference.” She rolled her eyes.
Her expression turned into a glare as Angel mumbled something about Buffy and déjà vu.
“Hey!” She slapped his arm. “I’m not Buffy. So don’t you dare compare me to her, especially without a really good explanation as to why.”
Angel rubbed his face. “She didn’t understand either,” he mumbled.
“Understand what? So far you haven’t said anything. Say something that makes sense or I’m kicking you out.”
“Cordelia, have you ever tried to get rid of a vampire.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Have you ever seen a truly pissed off Cordelia Chase?”
***
Angel really wanted to know when the promise of the night turned into another visit to hell. He was sure it was his fault or more accurately, he was sure that’s what Cordelia would say. He rubbed his face again, trying to remember how the whole horrid situation started in the first place. He sighed. It was his fault, first for losing control and then mentioning Buffy.
“Cordy.” He took another deep breath. “I’m a vamp ---” Angel stopped at Cordelia’s snort.
“Fine, we’ve covered that.” He raised his finger to her lips to stop her from making another disgruntled sound. “This face,” he said consciously switching into his demon guise, “- is the face that a vampire wakes up with. It’s what the demon wears. It’s who I am, with or without a soul.”
He paused, ready to yank Cordelia back if she moved. To his surprise, she stayed put.
So Angel switched to his human face and then back to his demon one. “It’s the same, I’m the same.”
Angel waited but Cordelia’s frown of concentration remained the same. “If this is your welcome-to-the-world face, then why can’t I remember seeing it before except when Angelus played rough and tumble on me in the grave yard. He –“
“Cordy, you don’t have to remind me --- I was there.” Angel snapped, increasingly irritated that Cordelia was following Buffy’s example and choosing to ignore the very real fact that he was not only a vampire, but also Angelus. He could accept it with Buffy. He understood that Buffy did it for self-protection and justification for loving him. And he didn’t argue the point, not wanting to break her illusion and create even more barriers in their relationship.
But, the thought that Cordelia was splitting him apart made him want to force her beneath him and use her body until she had no doubt of who and what he was.
“Geez. Angel you’re the one that gives yourself two names. You can’t be mad at me for using them.”
Cordelia pulled his hands from his face. “So, how about trying again, but this time skip the obvious.”
Angel shook his head. He didn’t understand her. “You’re looking for a simple explanation.”
“Well, it can’t be any worse than your attempt at the ‘History of the Vamp Face’. Cordelia reached for the edge of the comforter they were sitting on.
Angel reached out and yanked the cover away. “What are you doing?”
She tried to yank it back. “I’m cold.”
Angel pulled her on his lap then wrapped the cover around both of them.
“Hey.” Cordelia squirmed on his lap. “You’re cold.”
“Keep that up and I’ll be warm soon enough.”
She tried to push away. “You haven’t ---“
Angel interrupted her with a hard quick kiss. Her protests couldn’t hide the scent of her renewed arousal.
“Shut up and listen while I warm both of us up. Okay?” He cupped her chin.
Cordelia let out a long-suffering sigh but cuddled even closer.
“So,” she said to encourage him to start talking.
“Shush, I’m feeling.” Angel whispered into the crook of her neck, savoring the lush body flush against his.
“Shouldn’t that be thinking?”
“Nope.” Angel caressed the distinct lines of her toned back with his fingertips. He teased the shivers along her skin.
“Angel.”
He heard the censure in her soft murmur, but smiled because it was accompanied by her own caresses along his back.
“You have seen it before. Bruno.” He said softly.
Angel watched as Cordelia’s incomprehension turned into one of understanding. “In the parking lot when you scared him away.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it, but yeah.” Angel nodded.
Cordelia leaned back to stare at him. “You were trying to scare me?”
“No. Never.” He said seriously. “I went ‘grr’ with Bruno to scare him. I went ‘grr’ while fighting the Phermitica –“
”I didn’t see you --- oh wait, I was on the ground.”
“Right, I’m sorry, but then vamping out enabled me to fight hard and dirty enough to win. It was a conscious choice just like with Bruno. But with you,” Angel leaned in to look Cordelia in the eyes, “It was an instinctual reaction to sudden intense pleasure. The sensation literally wiped all thought or control from my brain. I had planned to go slow, but you,” he paused to pierce her with his gaze,” had a different plan.”
“I’m more of the ‘rip the band-aid off’ type of girl.”
“Yes, I know that now.”
He watched as Cordelia scrunched up her nose. “Intense pleasure, huh?”
“Yep.”
“So, then the vamp face was a compliment.”
“Very much so,” Angel said softly as his hands reached up through her hair to cup the back of her head, urging her face closer.
“I’ve got absolutely no problem with compliments,” she whispered in the same soft tone, before meeting Angel’s lips in a kiss.
The initial gentleness of the kiss disappeared as Angel savored her taste. Angel dragged his lips away and settled on the pulse in her throat, sucking hard on the soft skin, swallowing each frantic beat that fluttered underneath.
Cordelia palmed his chin and urged him away.
“Cordelia,” he growled.
She brushed at his smooth forehead. “No intense pleasure, huh?”
Angel didn’t know how to answer her.
“No vamp face. How come?”
“Jesus, Cordy.” He half groaned and chuckled as he moved her hand away and dropped his forehead on hers.
“Well?”
“How about --- now I’m fully prepared for any and all intense pleasures.”
“I guess that’ll do.”
Angel shook his head. Was this the same girl who only moments ago, was sure he wanted to kill her.
“What about the growling?”
“I didn’t --- “ Angel stopped. “ Okay, I guess, I did. Let’s just call that … encouragement.”
“Cool.” She smiled. “So much sexier than the cheesy adolescent grunts and groans of ‘fuck me, baby, fuck me, baby.”
Angel’s smile turned into a concentrated straight line. “Oh, don’t misunderstand, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Cordelia stroked the hard lines of his clenched jaw. “Like I said, so much sexier,” she replied in a husky whisper as her tongue darted along his bottom lip. “I think you just may be warm enough now.” She reached down, running her finger along the base of Angel’s hardened cock.
Angel groaned, jerking into her feather-light touch. In a quick move he pushed Cordelia down on the bed and covered her body with his. He braced his weight on his forearms, caging her in, leaning down until he was a hairbreadth away from the desire in her eyes. “Before we go any further, you need to understand that everything --- I mean everything --- we do brings me intense pleasure. Except,” he shook his head to silence the emergence of words from her mouth. “When you interrupt me.”
“Geez, Angel, all I was going to say was ‘fuck me, baby, fuck me, baby.”
Pure lust battled with his desire to laugh. “Christ Cordy,” he growled, leaning down to capture her mouth, his lust winning out at her silent demand hidden underneath the teasing.
Part 90
Angel’s body hummed with contentment as he stared down at Cordy’s sleeping form. It was the perfect opportunity to capture her on paper. But then he would have to leave her and that wasn’t something he planned to do anytime soon.
He appeased his thought of the perfect sketch by memorializing her contours with his touch. He then palmed his hand over of the small of her back. Finally, she was his, he thought, curling his fingers around her waist.
Cordy murmured as his fingers began to draw patterns along her skin. He watched as she scrunched up her nose and rubbed at her face. Angel lightly massaged along her back and side as he waited for the cloud of sleep to fade from her eyes.
“What? Where?” She blinked and rubbed her face again. “Angel?” Her still hazy eyes met his in question. “Oh. So not a dream, huh?”
He brushed the hair from her face. “And what have you been dreaming, Cordy?”
She glanced quickly around the room and then turned back to him.
“What?” he asked, leaning back to give her some space while he twirled her long hair around his fingers.
Cordelia chewed on her bottom lip. “No, ‘sorry, this was a mistake’?”
Angel sat up, pulling Cordelia with him. “I’m over two hundred years old,” he said, feigning confusion. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes --- have a lot to be sorry for.”
Her eyes narrowed.
He pretended to get it. “Oh, you mean, this.” He waved at their naked bodies. “ Uh, no. ‘This’ isn’t anyway near that list.” Angel sighed at her continuing doubtful gaze. “Cordy, I wish you would just trust me.”
He placed his finger over her mouth to stop any denial. “What else am I suppose to think? We made love. I’m here, but you’re scared and on the verge of running away. I guess the real question is--- Are you sorry?”
He heard Cordelia’s heart skip. Her gaze stayed on the mattress for more than a second before she finally raised it to him with an unwavering grin. “My dream was just the standard.” She shrugged as she reached for him. “You know --- flying, falling, and having wild monkey sex.”
“That’s some dream. Care to relive it?”
“Well, since you woke me up…”
Angel stopped the rest of her retort with a kiss and pulled her under him.
Part 91
Cordelia curbed her need to shake the pins and needles out of her arm. Rather, she squeezed her eyes tighter and attempted to string even two coherent thoughts together. She silenced her groan at the impossibility. Okay, so there was no doubt that making love to Angel, once again, wasn’t a dream. Not only did her skin still tingle at the memory, her body ached wonderfully in places that it hadn’t ever before.
She forced herself to remain still, not wanting to wake Angel and have him claim that she was running away from him again. She really did want to think it was as simple as Angel made it, that he had moved on from Buffy and now wanted her. It was just that there was something niggling about the change in their relationship. Damn. She couldn’t think in his arms.
“Where are you going?” Angel leaned over her, stilling her planned escape.
In an instant, anger flared in every part of Cordelia’s body. Would he ever give her a moment to think without overwhelming her? She turned to him and the sudden anger faded. His gaze was completely innocent. “Bathroom.” She darted off the bed.
***************
Cordy stood at the sink, splashing water on her face. She needed to stop her doubts. Angel obviously didn’t have any and making him think he had to constantly defend himself without reason would be a sure-fire way of losing him. Cordelia froze as she realized that she was worried about losing him. Her groan was barely audible. She had fallen for Angel.
Oh, God. What was she going to do? She whined inwardly as she chewed on her thumbnail. She stared at her reflection as images of sitting with Angel, talking and teasing, and those of making love with him flashed in her mind. Enjoy herself? She questioned hesitantly as her hand rubbed at the fluttering in her tummy. Just because her life sucked didn’t mean it always had to, right?
Cordelia winced as another image flashed in her mind, the one in which she freaked like a madwoman. Angel had been trying to be gentle and a considerate lover and she accused him of trying to kill her. Her eyes widened in a horrible thought – what if it wasn’t remaining Buffy-doubts he sensed? What if he thought she was scared about him being vampire?
But wouldn’t the fact that she made love to him twice afterwards be enough to cure any of those types of doubts?
She turned to leave the bathroom. “Crap,” she gritted through her teeth as she saw her watch on the sink. “Crap, crap,” she grunted in a whispered mantra. Reassuring Angel would have to wait.
She yelped as she hopped into the shower before it had a chance to get hot.
“Cordy, what’s wrong?” Angel pushed into the bathroom.
Cordelia covered herself with her hands. “Why are you in here?” She realized the silliness of her actions, but her hands wouldn’t move.
“Why are *you* here?” Angel yanked the shower curtain back.
“Shower.” Cordelia turned to yank at the nozzle that claimed ‘H’.
“Why?” Angel remained positioned beside the bathtub.
“Why?” Cordelia repeated and then sputtered as water ran down her throat. “School.” She coughed and then pointed to her watch. “If I hurry I won’t be that late.”
“School?”
Cordelia moved out of the stream of water and narrowed her eyes at Angel, her hands now placed firmly on her hips. She almost didn’t believe it, he sounded like he had never heard of the word. “Uh, yeah, school.” Cordelia said slowly, wondering if Angel had really been awake when she left the bed.
“Right, school.” Angel nodded as he stepped into the bathtub and reached for Cordelia.
Cordelia slapped his hands away. “You here won’t make me get to school quicker.”
“Sure it will.” Angel pushed back her hands and reached around her waist, “Two is always quicker than one.” He plucked the bath scrunchy off the showerhead. He stared at its duck face and then looked at Cordy. “Cute.”
“Give me that.” Cordelia snatched the duck.
“Nope.” Angel took it back. “I like it.”
Her sharp retort turned into a sigh as Angel squeezed soapy water from the duck onto her chest. “Angel, I have to go to school.”
“Do you really?” he chuckled.
Her frown deepened. She had heard the wavering in her voice, but Angel wasn’t supposed to. “Angel.” She tried to make her voice sterner.
“I think you just wanted to jump ahead.”
“Huh?” Cordelia stood back, tilting her head under the spray of water.
“Wild monkey sex in the shower-- is chapter four. You seem to be anxious to skip most of chapter two and all of three,” Angel leaned in, bringing her back under the water as he kissed her.
Cordy knew her knees melted, because that is the only reason she could think of that caused her to grasp at Angel’s shoulders. She broke the kiss on a chuckle. “You’re not going to let me go to school, are you?”
“Mmm,” he murmured, kissing her again and then stopping. “If you want.” He straightened and moved to leave the shower.
”Jerk.” Cordelia mumbled, pulling him back until he was up against her chest. “Chapter four, huh?” She circled her arms around his neck then made an exaggerated expression of thought. “If I say yes now, does that mean I’ll miss out on the rest of chapter two and all of three?
“No,” he chuckled. “It just means you’ll have detention with hands-on homework.”
“Oh, well, that might be okay.” Cordelia sighed and then moved to snatch the duck from Angel’s hand. “This is mine.”
“No.” Angel was quicker.
Cordelia laughed leaning completely into his chest, trusting that he would keep her from slipping. “Angel, exactly how many chapters are there?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Angel said, turning her until her back was pressed up against his chest.
“Angel,” she whined, wanting to feel his lips back on hers.
Angel chuckled as he ignored her plea and draped her hair over one shoulder. Her disappointment was soon forgotten as his lips started to suckle along her neck. The fist that that still held her hair pulled slightly urging her to give him more access.
“Can I tell you a secret, Cordelia?” Angel whispered as his tongue traced along the delicate curves of her ear.
“Mmm hmm,” Cordelia barely acknowledged, closing her eyes at the dual sensations of his lips on her skin and the warm spray of water on her body. She gasped as he bit her ear lope to get her attention.
“Do you want to hear it?”
Cordelia turned her head so she could see his face, wondering what secret his low tone held and why he had to choose that exact moment to tell her.
He stared at her for a moment causing her to tense at his silence, and then he smiled slowly.
She relaxed back in his embrace at the promise of his smile. “Well?” she asked in anticipation.
“This.” Her brow rose at the bath scrunchy he held. Cordelia frowned in question and waited for more of an explanation.
“Do you know what this does to me?” he spoke softly, as he leaned in.
“Lucky does something to you?”
Part 92
Angel he held up the bath scrunchy. “You named this thing?”
“Yeah,” she batted Lucky down. “What’s wrong with that?” She spread her stance and angled her fists to her hips.
Angel’s eyes traveled up and down her dripping wet body. He wanted to laugh but decided it would spoil the beauty before him. He did chuckle however, unable to completely ignore the appropriateness of the duck’s name. “Nothing,” he whispered, pulling her closer. “It’s a very good name,” he nuzzled into her neck. “In fact, it fits in with my secret.”
“Huh?”
Angel smiled down at her upturned expression. “In the morning, I hear you in the shower and I imagine you with this.” He paused, holding her gaze as the hand that held the duck caressed her breast. “I always thought my imagination was good,” his eyes drifted along the curves of her body, “but I was wrong. The reality is so much better.” He paused again, dropping his lips back on her neck.
“That’s your secret?” she murmured, dipping her head. “That you had shower fantasies?” Angel took advantage of the exposed skin. He kissed and nipped along the column of her neck. “Did you happen to give me a real kiss in those fantasies or did you just nibble?”
Angel leaned up at the whine in her voice. “I happen to like nibbling you. But yes, eventually, after I took Lucky and did this,” He whispered, caressing the soapy scrunchy down her body until the netty material settled over the crown of her heat. “I wanted to be Lucky.”
Cordelia turned in his arms. “Get rid of the duck and you can be really lucky.” She mumbled, reaching down to knock the bath scrunchy away.
Angel’s hands slid up to her shoulders. “Does that mean you aren’t going to school today?”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
Angel held her at arms length. “Without the duck?”
“Angel.”
He chuckled at her whine. “I think we should explore the rest of chapters two and three first.”
“Angel.”
He ignored the stamp of her foot and picked her up. “In bed.”
Part 93
Angel dropped Cordelia on the bed, pulling off the towel that he had wrapped around her. He leaned down to kiss her only to have her jerk her head away.
“Chapter two and three be damned. It’s my fantasy now.”
Angel’s growl vibrated in his chest as Cordelia kissed him. He rolled them over, allowing Cordelia the dominant position. He wasn’t disappointed as Cordelia’s thorough exploration of his mouth continued to her hands. Angel’s skin prickled with desire at her caresses. Watching her flushed enthusiasm, he concentrated on the sensations she was creating.
Angel reached up to pull her under him, but Cordy shooed his hands away with a flick of a wrist and a quick kiss. “I want to.” She spread her hands on his chest, moving her palms along the expanse of his skin.
Angel’s muscles tightened and twitched as Cordelia’s tongue moistened his nipple. He groaned at the flickering pleasure. He fought not to drag her under him.
He was ready to yell curses as she leaned up, her hips leaving the cradle of his and she rested her weight on her heels.
“Can dish it out but just can’t take it, huh?” Cordelia cocked her head as she brushed his stomach, smiling as the muscles under her fingers jumped.
“Cordy.” Angel’s warning was low in his throat.
“Scary growl.” Cordelia giggled. “Does it mean this?” Cordy’s hand circled around the hardness of Angel’s penis adjusting her body so that its tip brushed against her center. “Or does it mean this?” she lowered her hips.
Angel bit back his loud growl of frustration and tightened his grasp on her hips. “Cordy.”
“What?” she pushed down taking in all of him. “This?”
“Yes,” Angel growled as her tight heat encompassed him. His groan begged for her to move. Angel closed his eyes as Cordelia started to create the friction he needed.
Angel savored every inch of the meeting of their bodies. His ears rang with her guttural gasp when she found the perfect angle. She was everything he needed, soft and strong, innocent and wanton. It was the confirmation that he could never let her go.
He took over then, his repeated thrusts zeroed in on the angle that caused her gasps. He flipped, ensuring his control over Cordelia.
Angel’s eyes closed at the pain Cordelia’s nails caused on his back. He pushed past her sucked in breath and contracting muscles to bury further into her warmth. Her fingernails dug deeper as she called out his name.
Angel’s lips attacked her jugular, suckling at the flesh to bring the blood to the surface. His blunt teeth clasped on the skin as he forced back his instinct to change.
His thrusts became frenzied. He moved faster to calm the fire that met each of his movements and tightened his balls. Cordelia’s name pushed out from his chest into a shout as he collapsed over her body. Her soft caresses kept him still as he gulped in their mingled scents.
**********************************
Angel stared down at Cordelia. This time rather than concentrating on her beauty he smiled at the growling sounds coming from her stomach. He leaned down kissing her awake.
“Whahh?” she grumbled, waving him away.
“Oh, so you don’t want breakfast?” He leaned up to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Breakfast?” She peered around the room. “Is it still morning?”
Angel chuckled. “Lunch?”
“Maybe.” Cordelia shrugged, and then grimaced as she heard her stomach growl. “Okay, yeah. Hey,” she yelped in surprise as Darcy landed on her chest and meowed in her face. “Oh, baby, did we forget about you? Angel,” Cordelia shot a look at Angel.
“Don’t worry.” Angel pushed her back down on the bed. “Stay here, I’ll be back. Come on, Darcy, time for lunch.” He plucked the kitten off of Cordelia and headed out of the bedroom.
***************************
Cordelia wrapped her arms around the pillow as she curled on the bed to try to keep Angel’s retreating body in her line of sight. “Damn,” she whispered, as Angel disappeared. If he had been wearing only low-riding sweat pants when she first met him she would’ve bypassed flirting and jumped him. She giggled at the image of her flying over the Bronze’s high tables and bringing him to the ground.
She rolled on her back, still holding the pillow, and reveled in the tingling feelings that encompassed her. Her feeling of well-being dimmed as she remembered her worry that Angel might doubt her ability to accept him as a vampire. He’d be an idiot if he did after last night and this morning. Still she’d better make sure, she thought, as she got out of the bed.
TBC