Title: F*** Buddies
Author: DamnSkippy
Posted: 07-19-2003
Email: damnskippytoo@gmail.com
Rating: NC-17, Language and Sex
Category: Humor and Smut, Baby!
Content: C/A
Summary: Cordelia wishes for a fuck buddy and, boy howdy, does she get more than she bargained for.
Spoilers: Through Fredless of S3
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by JossWhedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Anywhere, but please let me know, k?
Notes: For Angel his demon thoughts are surrounded by **asterisks**, while the soul’s thoughts are italicized. Everyone else’s thoughts are italicized.
Feedback: I find I need it. I tried to abstain, but I’m just a feedback whore. So, please tell me how pretty I am and how you want to bear my children, if only...
Thanks/Dedication:

---

Chapter 3


It was 4:38 a.m. and Angel had been up all night. Sure part of that time was spent relieving the left over pressure from the still mind-searing Cordy flash dance, but the rest was just spent in sheer agony. He’d gotten so desperate he had even trekked to the lobby to find an answer in one of Cordelia’s women magazines. The most he got out of that was a tip on a refreshing cucumber mask he figured he’d try later...after the sex fiasco tonight.

No, there was just no way he could top opening night. The depression was so strong now that he was seriously considering tying his shoe laces together and accidentally falling on the pointy end of a pencil.

“What the hell am I going to do?,” he asked no one in particular as he flopped into his chair. The same one her legs had been draped over recently. The same one that still held her arousal in every thread and that was wafting over his senses and making him dizzy.

**If you ask me that one more time I will sharpen the pencil with my fangs.**

“I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to myself, so just shut up.”

**I AM you, or have you begun to believe your own press? The answer is so simple.**

“Like you’d know.”

**Hello? Do you remember me? Angelus? If there’s something I’m better at than sucking blood, it’s whoring.**

Angel had to admit that was true. Angelus always had women flocking to him. Unfortunately, there was never much of a flock leaving him...at least alive.

“I’m not killing Cordy, and since that’s the only way you know how to keep a woman, I’ll just pass on your helpful tips.”

**Oh, my mistake. I thought the point was to attract her, NOT keep her. Did something happen to change that agenda?**

If you can feel an invisible smirk, Angel just got one from his demon. And it wasn’t unjustified. Sometime about – oh, 2:12 in the morning - Angel decided it might not be a bad thing to have Cordy in his bed for more than a week. It didn’t have to mean life-altering love. It could just be like she said - fuck buddies. So, in his mind, it was now more important to show her sex with him could be fun. Something she’d love to continue past the little competition. He’d even put up with losing the bet and having to go shopping for a year if it could continue.

Of course, losing the bet meant he’d have fallen in love with her, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that possibility yet.

“Don’t act like you don’t want her in this bed for just a week. I know what you want to do to her body, and that’ll take more than seven days.”

**Ooouucchhh. Right to the heart. Wait. No. I don’t have a heart. But you do, and you’re losing it fast. Now that hurts!**

“Sorry my joy fills you with such pain. Then again, not really. Can we get back to the problem? What am I going to do?”

Angel left the chair and now was spread-eagle on his back across his bed. His body needed sleep badly, but his minds wouldn’t let him rest.

Angelus couldn’t believe that one night staring into a woman’s pussy could completely turn this soul into a fuckin’ sex retard. Although he did savor the self-inflicted torture, he was tired himself so he decided to end the agony.

**Ask yourself this. What does a woman crave in a man?**

“Well, if you’re talking about Cordelia Chase, you’re talking about fistfuls of cash, preferably fifties and hundreds.” Angel suddenly sat up inspired. “Hey! Great idea. A bed covered in cash. That would so turn her on.”

**Shit, how did I get stuck with you? Was one Goofy just not enough for the world? Don’t you think that’s a bit crass? She might think you were buying her like some hooker?**

He fell back on the bed completely deflated. “You’re right. So what does a woman crave, oh great swami of love?”

**She wants a man who acts like a man.**

“That’s it? That’s the secret of life?”

**Hey, I said it was simple. Stop over analyzing and just act. Wasn’t the bet that she’d fall in love with you?**

“Yeah, so?”

**Court her you idiot. You do remember how to win a woman over, don’t you?**

Angel became pensive. The quiet lasted for some time because he had to peruse over 250 years of memories to answer that question. “Actually...no, I don’t. I’ve never really had to date. As Liam I plopped down a few bob or grabbed a willing wench in an alley. As you, I just pulled out the swirly, thrall eyes and took what I wanted. The closest to dating I’ve ever done was with Buffy, and that was pretty pathetic and awkward.”

**Don’t remind me. Although nice move with the ‘uh-oh I didn’t know that was a porn flick’ ploy.**

“That wasn’t a ploy. I really didn’t know. But, see? Even that didn’t get me any. I’m doomed.” Angel draped a melodramatic forearm over his eyes and sighed.

**You’ve already got the hard part in the bag. You know she’s going to sleep with you. All you’ve got to do is be manly and she’ll swoon at your feet. Manly and romantic.**

“Define manly. Not that I don’t know, I just want to know what you think manly means.”

**Uh-huh. Well, let me just pull my Webster’s unabridged out of my ass. Oh, yeah. Here it is. Manly. What you’re NOT. Swallow some bull nuts and get with the program. Manly! Strong, virile, decisive, dominating...**

“Hold it right there. Me? Dominate Cordy? I know I heal quickly, but I’d rather keep my bones in tact.”

**I’m not talking whips and chains...yet. Every woman likes a man to take control in bed sometimes. Makes them feel more feminine and when that happens, that damn busts wide open and you can seriously drown in all that wetness.**

“Okay, I get that. But, romance? I mean we are way past the candlelight dinner and dancing stage. And this is just about the fucking. We’re not dating.”

**I didn’t say date. I said court her. In this room. In this bed. Make her feel that she is the most special, most beautiful, most desired woman that ever existed. You succeed in that, and she will be putty in your hands.**

God, his demon was smooth. He was turned on just listening to him. And much more relaxed and relieved. Angelus made sense and that bothered him.

“Why are you trying to help me?”

**I’m trying to help me! I want to make sure you don’t fuck this up because that’s my cock, too. I want to feel some of that tight seer muscle sucking me dry.**

“So this has nothing to do with you thinking that maybe I’ll just lose control, have that perfect bliss moment, and let you out?”

**Of course not. But, I’m a lying demon, so you should probably take that answer with a grain of salt.**

Again, the demon was right. How could something so evil be right all the time? It was beginning to really piss him off, but for now he was just grateful he could close his eyes and sleep knowing he at least had a goal for tomorrow night. Woo the woman and win her heart. Simple. So simple.

Angel drifted to sleep with the images of Cordelia putty covering him. He'd worry about the little details of how he'd accomplish her actual melting tomorrow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

3:52 p.m.


Cordelia expected the day to be fraught with tension and armpit dampening awkwardness. But to her shock, Angel treated the day like any other so far. Granted he'd only been in the office for an hour or so, but the only thing she found unpleasant was the grin that said 'we have a nasty little secret and I like it'.

After that Wesley began rambling on about some boring demon characteristic and the atmosphere became routine again. Part of her was thankful and excited. She didn’t want any unease between them, and she was jazzed that this could actually work. The thought that she could have sex with a friend and not have any morning-after weirdness was exhilarating.

On the other hand, what the hell was he doing? Why wasn’t he trying to get close to her and sniff her? Why wasn’t he accidentally touching her? Why wasn’t he trying to manipulate her into a dark corner and cop a feel? Didn’t he have any manners?

Stupid manpire. He could at least say, “Thanks, Cordy, for the great time. You rock you little whore, you.” But, nooooooo...all I get is, “Morning. Is there coffee?” Like he can’t see the frickin’ coffee pot himself. Or was that ‘coffee’ comment supposed to mean something? Some double entendre sex thing I’m too naive to understand. Like, “Morning, is there more hot, wet caffeine-roasted goodness between those creamy, sweet thighs for me today you whore you?” Okay, maybe not the whore thing, but the rest is possible. He did sort of grin stupidly when he asked. No, that was his usual stupid grin.

Cordy sighed at the hopelessness that was Angel and got up to do some filing she’d been postponing. Just as she was putting the final report on the Benson case under “X” for “X-tra Slimy,” she felt him behind her. He wasn’t breathing, of course, but his mass just displaced the void behind her, and she was aware of being surrounded and protected. It was a creepy and comforting sensation.

She didn’t know what he was doing there, but the wait for him to make his presence known lasted for days. Her whole body tensed and for a second she thought she might be feeling the precursor of a vision, but then he spoke softly in her ear and she quivered.

“Tonight. My place. Eleven. No props. You’re all I need.”

Her breath got lodged in her throat and the chills his husky voice and words caused traveled over every inch of her skin and then settled in the acidy depths of her stomach. When she felt her womb vibrate and the wetness pooling, she panicked.

Oh, God. Can he sense how turned on I am? Please let him be gone.

She slowly turned, her eyes lowered in a prayer that they meet empty space and not the smug smirk of a...

Damn!

...completely aware of her arousal, highly pleased with himself...and yet...Is that desire?...equally excited, hot as hell, stud muffin, Angel.

Her lips curled up shyly.

**Wet and coy. Mmmmm. Screw the seduction. Let’s fuck her brains out right here. Maybe teach the pansy watcher a few moves.**

The demon’s crude thoughts ruined the moment for Angel. He was glad Cordy had turned back to her filing so she didn’t see the anger that washed over him. Seducing her was your idea. Why can’t you take your own advice?

**It’s the fickle in me. One minute I’m calm and the next I’m chewing on your esophagus. Exciting, id’n’it ?**

More like schizophrenic, Sybil.

**‘You like me, you really, really like me’ *sniff*!**

Before Angel could respond to the retarded impersonation, his muscles poised to move. There was a shift in the atmosphere from the normal nothing to oppressive. The silent crackle and tingling presence of electricity. He recognized the phenomenon even before he heard the cry of pain building in her chest.

Screaming for Wesley, Angel raced to her side. He grabbed her shoulders just before the first spasm flung her like a bullet into his chest. She was so strong in the throes of a vision. As if all the demons and victims she witnessed became part of her at that moment and their power fused in her. He feared it was too much and one day it would rip her apart.

Angel managed to struggle into a seated position on the floor and wrap her epileptic body in his arms. It was pointless to try to stop her from seizing, but he couldn’t suppress the urge. He cradled her head to his chest where it pounded mercilessly against him. He hoped he was at least slightly softer than the marble floor. An image of her head smashing against the hard surface when she was alone and out of his reach frightened and sickened him.

Why didn’t I ever think about that before? God, how it must hurt when she’s alone.

“Angel?” Her voice drifted slowly through his dead synapses and he looked down to see her struggling to loosen his death grip on her body. Her squirming only made him want to hold her tighter.

“Angel, please. I can’t breathe.”

“Oh, sorry. Sorry.” He relaxed his hold but kept her in his lap. Helping her to sit, he manacled her wrist with one hand and rubbed her back with the other as she relayed the vision.

“Um, I think it’s another - oh, what are they called - Spandex demons?”

“You mean Spaundect,” Wesley corrected.

“Close enough. Big, as usual. Smelly, check. Ugly and dental-hygiene impaired and attacking some women at a bridal shower I think.” She concentrated and searched the vision again. “Yeah, bows stuck on an tacky paper plate bouquet. Bridal shower all right. Tonight sometime around 8:00 in Inglewood.”

Wesley took down the rest of the details as Angel concentrated on the circles he was drawing on her back and memorizing her profile. She was still in pain, but all he knew was how soft her arm felt and how whenever his fingers glided over the area just below her waist on top of her hip, she trembled. And now that the smell of her fear and pain was subsiding, his nostrils flared catching the remnants of the musky odor of her sexual need.

He felt his groin tighten and suddenly realized what was happening.

Angelus. Stop it!

**I’m not doing anything. This is all you, perv.**

He was right. Again! Angel shook his head and took a deep breath. Consciously forcing his hand to stop its comforting mission, he was relieved to see Cordy hadn’t noticed his glazed appearance or apparently his roaming hand.

When she finished describing the vision and winced in pain, he scooted her off his lap, stood and helped her up. She smiled, mumbled a thanks and headed for the bathroom and her painkillers.

“Are you all right, Angel?” Wesley studied the vampire’s face. The worried portion of his expression was familiar after one of her visions. But there was something else...in his eyes...on the surface of his skin...that was new and indefinable.

“Huh? Oh! Yeah, Wes. I’m fine. Just worried, ya know. The visions don’t get any easier for her.” He spoke to him while keeping his gaze fixed on the person behind that door.

“Yes, we’re all aware of that. Are you sure there’s not something else?”

Angel turned to see that look on Wesley’s face. That look of suspicion and curiosity and patented disbelief. He decided to fess up to at least part of his thoughts to pacify him.

“Just worry...and a little fear. It just hit me, ya know. What if the visions... What would we do without her, Wes?”

Wesley heard the slight hitch in his voice and saw the moisture begin to pool in his eyes and it stung him. Angel was falling in love with his seer and more than anything else...even Cordy’s possible death...that scared him. Without Cordelia herself and her visions, it would be sad and difficult for all of them. But add to that a mourning, vengeful demon, prone to bouts of insanity and the ability to pillage entire villages, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

“Angel, you can’t.”

“Can’t what, Wes?”

“You can’t fall in love with her.”

Angel’s eyes widened and then he turned them back to that closed door. “I’m not falling in love with her. I love her, sure. We all do. How could you not? But, I’m not…you know.”

**Nope. Don’t think he’s buyin’ it. Maybe you should’ve put that on the close-out sale table.**

Angel nervously cleared his throat and wet his lips.

“Angel, I’m not criticizing. Lord knows it wouldn’t be difficult to fall in love with her. I think we’ve all been in love with her at one point or another. But, you especially can’t allow it to happen.”

“Why, because of the curse? That’s not a problem any more, Wes. It hasn’t been for some time.”

**Zing! Bet he didn’t see that one coming. Love it when the wanker gets wanked.**

This statement jolted the ex-watcher, and he’d certainly get an explanation later. But, for now he had another point to make, which would have to wait since the door was opening and Cordy rejoined them.

Angel met her and stroked her upper arms. “How are you?”

Cordy twisted from his grasp and was immediately sorry she had. Force of habit. She looked into his pained eyes and softened her typical reply.

“I’m fine...really. Just the usual brain fryage. Sorry, but I need to lie down. Can I use your room?”

“Of course you can.”

They both watched as she plodded up the stairs, massaging her temple with one hand and her neck muscles with the other.

When she rounded the corner, out of earshot, Wesley took up where he left off.

“Angel.” The vampire stared at the empty space on the landing that Cordy once occupied. “Angel!” He started and turned toward Wes.

“The curse is only one concern. You have a mission and part of that mission is your own redemption. If you allow yourself to be consumed by a passion for anything other than that mission, you are doomed to fail. And, if that passion is for a seer who’s life may be shorter than we would all hope, then what will be left of you when she’s gone?”

**I’m so fuckin’ tired of all the goddamned mission talk. How about we chuck the mission and go to Disneyland?**

“And what is my mission, Wes? We both know that my redemption is not possible. I will never be able to atone for all that I’ve done. So it boils down to helping people one at a time, one day at a time. Did you ever think that Cordy may be one of those people?”

“We all help her in every way we can. In every way she’ll allow us. That’s not the point.”

**No, the point is you don’t want us to have any of it because you can’t. Green is just not your color Wes.**

Angel struggled to overpower the demon’s childish rants. “No! The point is we’re all fighting this battle alone. But why? Does it really make us stronger not to love? Pardon my Hallmark moment, but isn’t love what it’s all about. Love of humanity? Love of life? Isn’t that what you and she have been trying to pound into me for the last three years?”

“Yes, of course. But...”

“But, what? It’s fine for everyone else but me?”

Wesley cringed that Angel could think that. “Jesus, no. Of course not.”

“Then I don’t get it. This is a long war for an immortal like myself. It’s long and lonely. And the ache for something more...for love...makes me weaker not stronger. If I allow myself to fall in love with Cordy or anyone for that matter and she chooses to love me back, it could only make us stronger, the mission easier, and the life we had together much more bearable than any life we spent apart.”

**Okay, sick now. I’ll be back when it’s time to fuck.**

“And when that time is over? When she’s gone and you still have hundreds of years to look forward to without her? What then?” Wesley despised his role as the voice of reason. But, he couldn't stop himself from trying to help the ones he loved from unnecessary grief.

Angel tried to grasp the concept of life without Cordelia. There was an instant stabbing pain in his chest and a hot dagger piercing his skull.

“It would hurt like hell, and I know hell. I also survived it. But there would be memories that I don’t have now. And she would not die alone and unloved. Isn’t that worth the pain? Isn’t that what everybody risks when they love someone? Why should she and I be less deserving of that than all the other people we help every day?”

Wesley’s heart ached. There was nothing he could do to save him or her from this. He knew they were both right and both wrong. There was only choice, and the consequences to be suffered varied in only slight degrees depending on the path taken. Either he kept his heart closed and lived a lonely, long life; or he opened it to love knowing he’d lose it and have to endure the torture of that loss. Not much of a choice really. Sometimes life sucked.

“You’re not less deserving and neither is she. My fear is that losing her as a friend would kill you a little but not fatally. Losing her as the love of your life, could send you into a personal hell that none of us could ever hope to pull you from. You do tend to brood you know.”

Angel grinned and relaxed his stance. He’d become slightly aggressive during their talk and noticed he was invading Wesley’s personal space more than he should. He backed off and sat down at the counter.

“Either way, Wes, when she dies, part of me will die with her. It’s everything that happens before that day that will keep me from staking myself.”

“I’m not so much worried about you staking yourself as you taking half of LA with you.”

Angel chuckled at the thought. Angelus salivated. “Don’t worry, Wes. If that ever happens, the mission is lost. You can dust me, save the world and inherit all this. The Wyndham-Price Agency. Fess up. You know you want it.”

Wesley smirked at the chiding, love-sick fool in front of him. “If I wanted it that much, I’d stake you in your sleep and take it. I’m no sissy boy. Rogue demon hunter here, remember?”

“You’re a very scary man, Wes.”

“Damn straight. Don’t forget it.”

The male bonding moment stretched for as long as was comfortable and then Wesley remembered the earlier sticky topic.

“Now what’s this about your curse not being a problem any more?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

10:11 p.m.

Angel walked out of his steamy bathroom toward his bed, toweling himself dry as he did. The vision problem was taken care of, and he’d managed to come out of the battle with only a few scratches. Gunn and Wes were no worse off, so all in all, it was a good night.

All afternoon he’d thought about his talk with Wes. He truly didn’t think he was in love with Cordy. Desired her sexually. Yes. No question. He was officially a horn dog and now that she was willing, he couldn’t keep his mind off of her. The whole in love thing was still up for grabs.

But, he’d meant every word he’d said to Wes, and he realized he felt less panicked. When this fuck buddy thing started, he feared falling in love with her. He was terrified of the pain that was inevitable with the loss of it. Buffy had taught him what agony truly was.

She had also shown him how good being in love could be. He could think back now and remember her lovingly and not be tortured by those memories. And, he discovered today that he was ready to be in love again. Everything in him longed to feel the peace of going to sleep in someone's arms knowing what awaited was the joy of waking up with her still there. One person in the world just for him.

Whether or not Cordelia was that woman, he didn’t know. But, he was ready to find out. He didn’t think he’d be able to discover the answer tonight, however.

She had gone home before they’d left for Inglewood, still woozy from vision hangover. Angel made Fred go with her, but now Fred was settled in her room with her physics journals after telling him that Cordy was safely in her apartment and okay. He didn’t push her to see if okay meant she was feeling fine or just that she was still alive but in pain.

He knew he was being insensitive, but he hoped they could still have their rendezvous. The fight had worked him into a frenzied energy that he wanted desperately to release. Plus he just wanted to see her. He was used to seeing her after a fight and having her fawn over him. It was her way of making him feel safe and calming the demon that was always close to the surface during a battle.

He’d wanted to make this night very special. The plan had involved lots of candles, soothing music, a hot bubble bath, a relaxing massage, and rose petals. An evening of pampering that would end with passionate but tender love making. Unfortunately, the vision interfered with his preparations, so the mood would have to be less moody. If there was even going to be a reason for a mood.

He slipped on a pair of black, drawstring training pants as he considered what to do.

**Stop torturing us both and call her. See how she feels.**

“I don’t want to make her feel pressured, or worse, have her think I’m only calling because I want to have sex.”

**Then don’t mention it, asshole. Do you really think it would have been a good plan to call and say, ‘How are you...I’m ready for my sex now...Get your ass over here’?**

“Sounds more like something you’d say.”

**Only when I’m taking, not courting. Just call her. She’ll suck up all that tender concern and she’ll let you know what she wants. We are talking about Cordelia here.**

Angel was beginning to think the only time he had rational thought was when Angelus thought for him. Frightening.

He picked up the phone and dialed her number without thinking. It rang only once and then her voice tickled his ear.

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s me.”

“Hi.”

She sounded tired and a little groggy.

“I just wanted to see how you were and let you know that it’s over. Everyone’s fine, so don’t worry about that.”

“I thought it must be. Over, that is. The pain’s fading. You’re sure you’re okay? No major punctures that need my expert healing hands?”

**Oh, yeah, baby. I can tell you where to put those hands.**

“Uh, yeah. I mean, no! Nothing bad. Just some scratches. They’re practically gone.”

“Oh. Okay”

Did she sound disappointed?

The silence was always tough. Angel hated phones for exactly this reason. What the hell was she thinking? He couldn’t see her and read her expression. He listened carefully. Maybe he could tell something from her breathing or heartbeat. But she didn’t give anything away. He decided it was pointless to stretch this torment out any longer.

“Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better. So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay. See you tomorrow. Goodnight.”

“Night, Cordy.”

The handset was practically in the cradle when his acute hearing picked up her voice saying, “Angel?”

He brought the phone back to his ear instantly.

“Cordy? Did you just say something?”

“Uh, yeah. I was thinking. And feel free to say no, because I’m sure you’re exhausted and all with the fighting and the demony badness. But, I thought maybe we could still...you know. I’ve never done ‘it’ after a vision, and I was kind of curious if maybe it could help relieve the tension.”

**Didn’t I tell you? Trust the demon. He knows.**

“Sure. Not a bad idea, really. I mean if you’re up to it. I’m kinda tense right now myself with all the fighting. So, yeah. That’d be fine with me. I’ll be there in a little while.”

“No, I’ll come over there. I haven’t talked to Dennis about all this yet, and I don’t want to deal with the tantrum I know he’ll throw.”

“Okay. I’ll be here. See you soon.”

“Okay, bye.”

As soon as he hung up, he searched the hotel for every candle he could find and placed them around the suite and in the bathroom. Then he started to fill the tub with hot, ache-relieving water and bubble bath that Cordy had left, along with some other personal items, in case she ever stayed overnight after a vision. The smell of lavender and roses lifted on the steam and drifted into the outer chambers.

He lit all the candles and turned out all the other fixtures suffusing the room with a golden glow as the sound of hot water ebbing forth filled the background. He selected several CDs for their romantic flavor and set them for random play.

He stood back to admire the setting and see if he’d forgotten anything.

**Got any wine?**

“Oh, shit. Good thinking.”

Angel turned on the kitchen light for a moment to select the perfect wine. He chose a Pinot Grigio that was creamy and had a hint of lavender that would complement the aroma permeating the space and help sooth tired muscles. He popped the cork and grabbed two wine glasses. Turning off the kitchen light, he set the wine and glasses on the table by his chair.

“Okay. What do you think?”

**Not bad. I think it’s enough. You really don’t want to go overboard into cheese.**

“Speaking of cheese, should I put some out for her?”

**Not unless you like your women constipated. I personally don’t find that very attractive.**

“Dammit!” He ran into the bathroom and shut off the tap. The tub was almost overflowing, so he had to reach in and let some of the excess out. He was just drying off his arm when he heard her footsteps on the stairs.

**Now, remember. You’re trying to make her fall in love with you. Be strong, take charge, but in a romantic way.**

I got it. Now just keep quiet so I can concentrate on her.

He wondered how long he could keep the demon out of his thoughts about loving again and possibly loving Cordy. Knowing himself pretty well, he doubted it would be long.

“Angel?” Cordy whispered as she slowly opened the door and peeked around the corner looking for any signs of him.

“Here I am,” he replied when she had trouble locating him in the shadows.

“Wow. Love the candles, but it’s kinda dark.” She tentatively felt her way in trying not to stub her toes on any furniture.

Angel was by her side instantly and guided her toward the chair. “Sorry, it looks pretty bright in here to me. Vamp-o-vision. Give it a second for your eyes to adjust. I just thought it would be more soothing, you know, with the vision pain.”

“Oh, it is. Thanks for doing that. And I can see better now.” The first thing her newly adjusted eyesight captured was Angel’s bare chest, soft black pants and bare feet. She felt way overdressed. She forced her eyes away from the nipples that were so close to her mouth that it ached not to bite them. Funny how I never got turned on by his nipples before.

Her gaze landed on the table. “Is that wine?”

“Yes, would you like some? It won’t make your headache worse, will it?”

“Well, give me some and we’ll find out. This whole night is one big experiment anyway. Might as well try it all.”

**You know it, baby. We’ll try it all.**

Angel handed her a filled glass and took one for himself. He watched her take a sip and then she seemed to get embarrassed. She moved around the room looking at little things as if she’d never been there before.

“Cordy. There’s no need to feel strange about being here. I mean last night...”

“Tell me about it. That was... Well, I’ve never... Was it too much? Did I put you off?”

Angel almost choked on his saliva. “What? Jesus, no. I mean you were there. Did I look like I was put off? Last night was,” he paused to pick just the right word, “amazing.”

“Really? Because you didn’t say anything today, and I thought maybe that was because you hated it and didn’t want to hurt my feelings.”

“Cordy.” He put down his glass and crossed to her, pulling her into his embrace. “I didn’t say anything because I thought you’d want things to be as normal as possible. Be honest. If I had said, ‘Last night was wonderful and you were so fucking hot that I stayed up all night just thinking about it,’ wouldn’t you have been uncomfortable all day?”

“Maybe, but in a good way.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “Did you really stay up all night?”

“Pretty much.” He smiled wickedly and she got the picture.

“Oh! I had a little trouble going to sleep myself.” She returned his smile so he’d know they were both on the same page.

**Had fun with the old joy buzzer, did she? Bet she rubbed it raw picturing us eating her alive.**

Hello. Trying to be romantic here.

Angel took her glass from her hand and maneuvered her toward the bathroom. “Trust me. We’re not going to have that problem tonight.”

She saw the candles around the bath, the flames reflecting in the millions of bubbles. Shimmering diamonds. She recognized the scent of her favorite brand and marveled that Angel would even know she had left it here. The comfort of the setting calmed her, and she could feel a knotted muscle unwind a little in her lower back.

“Angel, this is beautiful. But I don’t think we’ll both fit in there. You’re a big guy, ya know?”

“It’s not for us. It’s for you. I know you, Cordy. Right now your head is throbbing and every muscle in your body is wound so tight it’s a miracle you can even move. So I’m going to give you a bath, and then I’m going to massage every part of you. I just want you to relax for once. Don’t worry about me. If you feel like falling asleep go ahead. We don’t have to do anything tonight.”

“But, I want to. And you said you were all tense, too. Don’t you want to?”

“Yes, I want to. Very much. You don’t know...” Angel was about to blurt out more than he should about just how much he wanted her, but luckily stopped himself in time. “Cordy, I just want you to relax, sooth your head and not feel any pressure from me. Let’s just play it out and see what happens.”

He set her glass on the sink ledge and then pushed her shoulders to position her in the middle of the bathroom. When her hands went to the hem of her tank top to pull it over her head, he stopped her. “No, let me.” He turned her around to face him. “I’m in charge tonight, remember?”

She smiled at his reference to the rule she’d made up in a moment of panic. Of course, this whole thing was a made up, throw some shit in a blender and see what happens, brilliantly stupid idea. This arrangement had all the markings of a natural disaster, but tonight wasn’t the night to think about it.

She was exhausted and longed for someone to take care of her. It was so stressful always being the one to make sure everybody else was all right. The one to tend the wounds. To make sure they all ate. To pay the bills. She truly felt she was the single mother of five brats none of whom would ever grow up. What she wouldn’t give for a strong man to carry part of the burden and take care of her for a little while.

And it seemed tonight her dream would come true. Everything was perfect. The aroma and steamy veil caressing her senses, the soft warm glow of the candles, Angel’s hands tenderly undressing her. She felt light and so grateful to have this wonderful friend who knew her so well and cared.

Angel was on his knee taking off her shoes and she had a sudden urge to knight him. They certainly had enough swords around the place. She giggled at the image in her mind.

“What? What’s so funny?” Angel finished with her shoes and rose.

“Nothing really. I just...well when you were on your knee it reminded me of someone being knighted, and then I thought knight in shining armor. That led to a picture of you in all that metal gear stomping around here making all kinds of noise and tumbling down the stairs like a big trash can. You are kind of a klutz. You are so lucky you’re not that old.”

He was glad she was talking while he undressed her. It made sliding her top off and exposing her chiffon and satin, blue-gray bra not so strange. It also helped cover up the extra second or two he stood motionless when her areolas and nipples became unexpectedly visible behind the gauzy material. And knowing Cordy’s fashion sense, he was pretty sure the material of her bra would be the same material below.

**Fuck yeah That’s what I’m talkin’ about. Hurry up!**

Courting, remember?

**Now you decide to listen to me? Pratt!**

He regained control of himself and hung her top on the doorknob. Then he unzipped her pants.

“I would not trip down the stairs. I’ve got moves. I may stub my toe on occasion when someone, who shall remain nameless, decides to move furniture without consulting me, but when it comes to fighting, I’m smooth.”

He slid her pants over her thighs and was faced, again, with her dark curls barely hidden behind the see-through fabric.

**Mmmmm...dinner at the Y. I’m making my reservation now.**

Sorry, we cannot confirm your reservation tonight, so please shut up.

Cordy placed her hands on his shoulders to keep her balance while she stepped out of her pant legs. Luckily the conversation continued and she didn’t notice Angel was mesmerized.

“Oh, sure, you’re all about the fighty coolness. Twisting and leaping and somersaulting. You know you would have made a great cheerleader, except for the part about not being very cheery. But you have to admit that when you’re not fighting you do tend to run into walls a lot.”

He was up again and facing her. She grinned remembering the last time he’d run straight into the counter trying to race off for a fight. What a cute dork.

He took her shoulders and said, “Turn around,” as his fingers nudged her to respond. She did as instructed and faced the tub. Angel unhooked the bra’s clasp easily and slipped the feathery article off her shoulders and down her arms from behind. His fingertips grazed her skin on the journey and her gasp and goose bumps caused a similar reaction between his thighs.

“I only run into things when I’m in a hurry and distracted. If you wouldn’t keep yelling things at me as I’m trying to leave, I’d have a lot less bruises before I even get to throw one punch.”

“So, you’re saying I distract you?”

“Yes, Cordelia, you distract me. You are the sole reason I’m clumsy.” He decided it would be best not to let her gorgeous buns distract him, so he slipped her panties off quickly and turned his head away so he wouldn’t have that staring problem again.

“Pfft. That is so not chivalrous. I’m going to have to rethink this whole knight concept.”

“That might be a good idea since you’re never going to see me dressed up as a tin can. Now get into the tub.” He held her hand and steadied her as she stepped one foot in.

“Not even if steamy Cordy sex is your reward? Ouch, that’s hot!” She jumped back and almost crumbled in his arms, but regained her balance.

“It’s supposed to be hot. Just ease yourself in slowly.”

She dipped her foot in again and allowed her body to adjust to the temperature. Angel held her arm as she timidly lowered herself beneath the water. When she was safely seated and completely covered by liquid and foam, he let go and heard her moan as her body instantly began to welcome the healing warmth and calming scent.

“Before you get too comfortable sit up, so I can wash your back” He was on his knees next to her. He scooped up some water and poured some of her bath wash into his palm and rubbed his hands producing a rich lather.

“You’re going to wash me?” Cordy skeptically arched an eyebrow.

“I told you I was going to give you a bath. That includes the actual bathing. Now lean forward and close your eyes.”

She hesitated but sat up and bared her back for him. His foamy hands covered her shoulders with cleansing circles. He dug his fingertips into her tight neck muscles and then worked the corded muscles across her shoulder blades.

“You know, I’m not really dirty...”

“Cordy, be quiet. Just enjoy the sensation.” His hard palms pressed into her spine and then slid outward to her side, smoothing any knots in their way. Her body gradually became like a rag doll to his touch, swaying back and forth with the force of his motions. The water slapped against the sides of the porcelain and her head lolled lazily, seemingly floating on the crest of each wave.

Angel finished with one last lathered sweep of her back and then rinsed her with waterfalls of cupped water.

“Okay, lean back.”

Cordy was smiling and her eyes were still closed. “Mmmmm. That was wonderful.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” Angel rose and crossed to a cabinet in the corner.

“Angel, you never answered my question.” Cordy took a handful of bubbles, blew them off her hand and watched them float back to earth.

He pulled a washcloth from the linen closet. “What question?”

“The one about whether you’d dress up in a tin can for Cordy sex?”

He chuckled and was on his knees beside her again. “I don’t know. I haven’t had Cordy sex yet, so I don’t know if it would be worth it or not.” He dipped the washcloth in the hot, bubbly bath several times and squeezed out the excess.

“Trust me, mister. You’d be begging for the feel of tin on your ass.”

“You’re probably right. Now shut up and put this hot cloth over your face.”

She pushed his hands and rag away. “What? I’ve gotta breathe you know. Besides I want to talk.”

“Cordy, this is a hot towel. It will help your headache and you’ll be able to breathe fine. We’ll talk later. Remember. My rules.”

She rather pissily took it and reluctantly covered her face. Immediately the tension in her scalp and temples began to release. The fragrance permeated her nostrils and floated like green garden hoses through her brain to assuage the last of the vision firestorms.

Angel heard her sigh and satisfied that she would do as he said, he turned his attention to her limbs. He applied more bath wash to his palms and began sliding down her left arm from the shoulder to her fingertips. His massive hands encircled her completely and she sensed the strain being pulled out of her and being absorbed in his touch.

**Why are you wasting time with the excess body parts? Those knockers look mighty uptight to me. And that pussy. Talk about aching for some massaging fingers.**

I remember you having more self control than this. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think YOU were falling for her.

**Please. Demons don’t fall. We just want and take. It’s a simple life really.**

“Angel, the cloth’s cold. Can I have my arm back to soak it again?”

“I’ll do it. Actually I need to add more hot water to the tub. Move your legs so you don’t get scalded.” She drew her legs together and up and pushed them to the side to give him room to maneuver. He unplugged the drain and began to add new, hot water at the same time.

Cordy took the opportunity to talk since her face was currently uncovered. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what? Do you want some wine?” Angel got up and reached for her glass.

“Uh-huh. This. The bath, the candles...” she took the wine from him, “the wine, the massaging. Was this what you had planned or was this because of the vision?”

“This is what I had planned. Mostly. The vision and fighting kind of left me no time for some other details, but this is it.” He replaced the plug and swirled the new hot water around to mix with the old.

“So, you were planning to pamper me for no reason?” She took a sip but kept her eyes on his.

“Oh, there’s a reason. And it’s not just because you deserve it. I’m a little more selfish than that.” He turned off the tap, gave her a sideways glance and saw her eyes twinkle with glee.

“Glad to hear it. I like my fuck buddies to...ya know...actually like to fuck.”

**Holy, shit on a cross. Dammit we need to fuck her silly.**

Angel grinned in agreement with both her and his demon as he wrung out the freshly heated cloth. Just before he covered her with it, he brought his head close to hers, locked her gaze and said, “Then you’re going to like me a lot.”

She bit her lower lip and groaned just before the room went dark and the heat on her face matched the heat boiling at her core.

Angel touched her knees and shifted her into a more relaxed position now that the spigot was off. He sat on the ledge, his body turned as far as possible inward, facing her. Lifting her right leg, he swathed her foot with moist foam, digging his thumbs from her heel, into her arch and up between each toe. He flexed her ankle while he massaged her calf.

Then, hooking her Achilles over his shoulder, eight fingers and two thumbs surrounded her thigh and squeezed. Moving slowly downward, each clutch was painful ecstasy anticipating what lay beneath the bubbly surface. Angel heard Cordy gasp as his fingers inched closer to her apex and saw her chest expand with her abrupt intake of air. Her heartbeat increased in rate and pitch.

Just before he reached where her thigh and pelvis joined, he locked his fingers around her and slid his hands back to her feet, rubbing every muscle with his tight grip as he past. He massaged her foot one more time and then kissed her arch before placing her limb back under the warm water and repeating the procedure on her left one.

Once he’d finished working all her muscles contained in her far too many limbs, Angel once again kneeled beside her and removed the cloth from her face.

“How do you feel? Is your head still hurting?”

Cordy slowly opened her eyes and her lips curled in surprise. “No. My head feels great. And the rest of me is just a big mass of goo.”

“Is that good? Goo good?

“Oh, definitely goo good.  Good, hot, marshmallowy goo."