*********FALLEN ANGELS*********

Part 12              Games

*****

Angelus glanced down at Willow. She was sitting at her usual place on
the ottoman, by his side.  She looked despondent, her head was low and
her eyes steadily fixed on her hands in her lap.
 

"Sit up straight, Willow...if you persist in slouching I'll dress you in
a corset and gown," he threatened, shifting in his chair and taking a
drag on his cigarette watching as she straightened but kept her eyes
down.  As he spoke to Spike about nothing in particular he continued
to watch her.  Spike had mentioned that she had finally hit back in
this mornings session but pulled a muscle in doing so.  However
physical pain wouldn't account for this gloom.  Even after he'd beaten
Spike and reinforced the threat he held over her, she had still taken an
interest in the general conversation that went on about her, her eyes
constantly watching them.  But this emptiness was different.  He
watched as she slowly slouched down again.  Grabbing her arm he hauled
her up off the footrest and threw his cigarette into the empty
fireplace.  "That's it you were warned."
 

Spike's laughter accompanied them into her room with Angelus not letting
her go until he reached her bedroom.  He left her briefly to disappear
into the vast walk in closet, which was quickly being filled with all
sorts of clothes, before returning and throwing down a number of items
on the bed.
 

"Strip," he ordered, busily working through the pile and picking up a
delicate fine cotton and lace camisole and matching drawers.  Smiling
at her nude form he held open the drawers, bending down and waited for
her to step into them, which she did while clinging to his arms to
steady herself.  Next was the top that slipped on easily.  Moving
behind her he handed her some old fashioned stockings, the sort that
came to just above the knee, her drawers rested below her knees with
fine ribbon ties which would hold up the stockings.  In silence she
put them on and tied the ribbons.  As she straightened up Angelus'
hands snuck around her waist, wrapping the corset about her, so he could
lace it up.  "You know I miss corsets."
 

He smiled as his fingers worked at the laces, pulling them in loosely,
waiting for a question of why.  He received none.  He moved in
closer, his lips brushing across her shoulder.
 

"There's something incredibly feminine about them...pushing up the
breasts, accentuating the waist," he murmured, his cool fingers brushing
across the bare expanse of skin at the top of her back.  "Of course
there wasn't anything feminine about the tight lacers, do you know who
they were?"
 

Willow shook her head.  "No, I don't."
 

Angelus smiled, at least she was speaking.  "Women who used their
corsets to reshape their bodies.  Having them laced so tight that
there was permanent bruising around their waists...nothing more
grotesque than stagnant blood pooling beneath the skin..."
 

"I would have thought that was like an aphrodisiac to a vampire," Willow
spoke quietly.  Behind her Angelus chuckled.
 

"No, drinking blood from a bruise is like...drinking sour milk.  Grab
hold of the bedpost," he whispered against her ear.  She raised her
arms, her hands wrapping around the heavy post.  Angelus began to
tighten the corset, smiling at each little gasp of pain Willow made.
"Now as for menstrual blood, that's a different story.  It changes,
you know, the sweetness of it.  Virgins monthly blood is like
ambrosia, but once a woman has had a child, there's something vulgar
about the taste," he leant in close to her ear.  "I guess that's
something I won't have to worry about with you...is it?  I wonder what
you taste like when you bleed?  Your blood is so sweet I think it will
be delicious...guess we'll find out in a few days..."
 

Willow turned her head slightly.  It didn't surprise her that he knew
her cycle, he seemed to know everything about her.  She hissed as he
pulled the laces even tighter, making her breath shallow, biting her
tongue she dug her fingers into the post and held on.  After a few
moments he tied off the laces and left her with instructions to finish
dressing in the midnight blue silk and lace gown he had laid out for her
and to wear the sapphire drop earrings, ensuring that her hair was drawn
off her face but still worn down.  Ten minutes later she walked back
out to the lounge room and Spike laughed at her.
 

"Oh well this is a pretty picture," he smirked, taking her hand and
raising it to his lips as he bowed in a mocking courtly gesture.  "May
I say it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
 

His blue eyes laughed up at her and she tried to snatch her hand away,
but he held it firmly in his.  He straightened again and tilted his
head, holding her hand away from her body, his eyes critically taking in
the turn of the century style gown.
 

"May I have the honour of this dance, Miss?" he asked and without
waiting for an answer wrapped his arm about her waist and led her off in
a waltz.
 

"What do you really think Spike?" asked Angelus watching them together
with interest.  She was fighting against him, uncomfortable being so
close to him.  Angelus frowned slightly as he realised that she wasn't
uncomfortable with Spike, she was uncomfortable with herself.
 

"She is pretty...reminds me of all those nights we spent in the drawing
rooms of society," Spike spoke softly as he continued to waltz her about
the room, his eyes searching her face, a soft trace of a smile on his
lips.  "How many hours did we spend waltzing, listening to pretty
little girls sing and playing those damned games before we could sweet
talk our way into a dark corner to drain societies most precious
daughters?"
 

"Hours upon hours," Angelus affirmed and then grinned.  "I miss those
games...they were amusing in their own way."
 

"What sort of games?" asked Willow, curious as to what they meant.
Angelus laughed and pushed himself out of his chair, strolling over to
the couple, stopping their dance to pull Willow away.
 

"I suppose the best way to explain them..." Angelus purred, brushing the
side of her face with his fingers.  "Is to play them.  Spike, get a
blindfold."
 

Willow's eyes widened, her mind wandering back to the last time she had
been blindfolded and she blushed.  Angelus laughed as the colour
stained her cheeks and he took the blindfold from Spike, tying it about
her eyes.
 

"With this game you have to catch someone and kiss them," Angelus said,
turning her around in circles.  Willow frowned.
 

"How am I meant to catch you if I can't see you?" she asked, her hands
testing the air in front of her.
 

"Simple," Angelus whispered against her ear.  "You listen and you
feel."
 

With that he let her go and stepped back, winking at Spike.  Slowly
they began to circle her as she held out her hands blindly reaching out.
 

"This isn't fair, you don't even breathe," she protested, spinning
around and reaching out.  Angelus laughed again and she lunged at the
sound.  He smiled and side stepped her, walking around to stand behind
her, his fingers reaching out and lightly running down her back.
Willow spun and reached out for him and he snatched his hand away.
Spike leaned forward and tapped the back of her knee, making her turn
again and grasp at the empty air.
 

"You can move about, Willow," Angelus said, walking around so she
wouldn't be able to focus on his voice long enough to catch him.  "We
won't let you get hurt."
 

Hesitantly she took steps forward and listened closely.  Although they
didn't breathe, their clothes made sound as they moved, Angelus' soft
silk shirt rustled slightly while his pants creaked softly, Spike's
denim jeans made a rougher 'whooshing' sound as he walked about.  They
continued to torment her, reaching out and touching her.  Finally she
stood still and listened waiting for one of them to come in to touch
her, as soon as she heard them she reached out and grabbed making
contact with a cool hard body.  Despite herself she bounced up and
down, giggling madly at her success.
 

"I got you, I got you," she chanted, suddenly realising she sound very
much like a child.  She didn't care, she'd got one!
 

"You haven't got him until you kiss him, Willow," Angelus reminded from
behind her.  Slowly she let her hand move to Spike's face and rose up
to her toes to kiss him lightly on the cheek.  "Well done.  Spike,
your turn."
 

The blindfold was transferred to Spike and he was spun in a circle
before being released.  Angelus grabbed Willow's hand and walked her
around Spike, urging her to reach out and touch him, ducking in time to
miss being caught.  Soon she found herself giggling with Angelus and
Spike as the silly drawing room game continued.  Angelus was caught
and Willow watched as Spike kissed him, it was no chaste kiss like she
had bestowed on Spike, this was a kiss of passion and she felt like she
was intruding.  Silently she dropped Angelus' hand and stepped back
from the two men.
 

"My turn," declared Angelus taking the blindfold from Spike and walking
over to Willow, holding it out to her and kneeling down.  "Blindfold
me."
 

She did so and spun him about before taking a step back.  Spike walked
around the dark haired vampire and struck out at him, catching him on
the knee and silently urged Willow to do the same.  So they continued
for some five minutes, amongst giggles and near misses, when Angelus
lunged at Spike who grabbed Willow and held her in front of him so that
she was the one caught.  As his lips crashed down on hers he kept
pushing her backwards until she was pressed flush against Spike for the
duration of the long and ardent kiss.  Angelus broke the kiss and
pulled the blindfold away.
 

"What next...I know, hide and seek," he
smiled, moving backwards.
 

"Hide and seek?" questioned Willow, thinking she had surely heard him
incorrectly.  "You mean we hide and you seek us out?"
 

"Smart and pretty, could be a deadly combination," Spike said
sarcastically.  Angelus ignored him.
 

"That is it precisely, I'll give you both until I count to fifty," he
paused, his eyes darkening and roaming over the two individuals standing
in front of him.  "Then I'm coming after you."
 

He turned his back and started to count.  Spike grabbed Willow's hand,
urging her to the stairs.
 

"Come on, love," he urged, glancing back over at his sire.  Willow
giggled and followed him down the stairs and into the catacombs of the
lower level hallways.  Madly they ran through the maze of the mansion,
Spike never loosening his hold on her.
 

"Spike," Willow called breathlessly, making him slow down and glance
back at her.  "I can't keep up in this outfit, you go on."
 

"Nah, come on, we'll go out to the garden.  Harder to track a
heartbeat out there," he stated leading her down a hallway that had
French doors opening out into the lavish grounds of the mansion.
 

"You two better run," called out Angelus from somewhere in the
mansion.  Willow squealed in delight as Spike squeezed her hand and
led her through the moonlit garden.
 

"He's going to catch us," she stated looking back over her shoulder for
any sign of him.  Spike laughed.
 

"Of course he is, that's the whole point of the game," Spike said as
they walked down a path winding through the gardens.
 

"Yes but I thought it would take longer," said Angelus from behind them,
causing them both to spin around and look at him.
 

"Oh bloody hell.  Run, love," Spike shouted pushing Willow toward
another path.  With a shriek of fun she ran as fast as she could in
the long dress she was wearing.  Without looking back she continued to
run down the path only stopping when it ended in a small garden of
roses.  Catching her breath she walked into the garden, strolling
amongst the roses, marvelling at the many different varieties, the game
and Angelus temporarily forgotten.  She paused in front of a single
rose of pale pink, closing her eyes and breathing in its wonderfully
sweet scent.
 

"How fitting to find a rose like yourself surrounded by flowers that
pale in comparison," Angelus purred from the entrance of the garden.
Willow glanced up, frightened by the intensity of his eyes.
 

He moved forward, his eyes pinning her in place. His hand brushed her
hair from her face as he bent down, his lips capturing hers. She moved
forward slightly, her body flush against his. She felt his mouth move
from hers, his lips blazing a path down her face to her neck. She
whimpered softly as his blunt teeth nipped at her pale flesh. She stared
up at the moon, the cool night air wrapping around them. She was
startled to feel his hands move to the front of her dress. Surely he
wasn't intending to take her there, in the garden. Anyone could walk by
and see them. Self consciously, she moved away from him, her arms
wrapping around herself.
 

Angelus watched her face silently. He saw the fear in her green eyes and
knew exactly what she was afraid of. He brought his hand up to her face,
letting his fingers caress her smooth skin. "Do you know how beautiful
you look by moonlight? The way the soft light illuminates your
skin...the way your eyes shine so brightly...I could stand here and
simply watch you for hours."
 

Willow felt herself being drawn in by his words. She moved her face into
his touch, her arms falling to her side. She caught his eyes, the dark
orbs burning into hers. She so wanted to believe his words.
 

Angelus turned to look behind him, catching Spike's curious blue eyes as
the blonde vampire moved into the garden. He smiled slightly, turning
his attention back to Willow who was unaware of the blonde's presence.
"Strip for me, Willow."
 

"What?" Willow asked breathlessly. She saw the desire in his eyes and
knew he did mean to take her in the garden. She gulped, closing her
eyes.
 

Angelus caught her hands as they shakily moved to the front of her
dress. He rubbed small circles on her palms as he began to unfasten the
row of tiny buttons. He heard her breathing quicken as he slid the dress
from her delicate shoulders. He let the material fall to the ground, his
eyes taking in her form. He looked at her face and saw that her eyes
were still shut tightly. He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair
as annoyance flashed in his eyes. "Look at me." he demanded softly.
 

Willow's eyes flew open. She saw the annoyance in Angelus eyes and
wondered what she had done. He caught her face in his hand, leaning
forward until their noses almost touched. "You are beautiful Willow. Why
do you not see what I see?"
 

She couldn't answer. What was she suppose to say? She kept her eyes on
his as he removed the camisole and drawers. She felt goosebumps on her
skin as the cool breeze caressed her bare flesh. She watched as he
stepped away from her, his eyes raking possessively over her trembling
body. "Do you know what I see, Willow?"
 

She shook her head slightly and answered softly, "No. What do you see?"
She asked, curiosity burning in the green depths of her eyes.
 

He smiled, his eyes still unreadable. "Why ask me? You don't seem to
believe me. Spike, what do I see my boy?"
 

Willow's eyes widened as she glanced in the direction of his words. Her
body flushed as she realized that Spike had been standing there the
entire time. She started to cover her body but saw the warning flash in
Angelus' eyes. Instead, she looked at the ground, not wanting to hear
Spike's words.
 

"Truly magnificent" Spike said softly, wondering what game his sire was
playing with the girl now.
 

Angelus moved to sit in one of the patio chairs. He looked at them both,
annoyance again flashing in his eyes. He crossed his legs, waiting, his
eyes watching Willow as he gestured impatiently to Spike, "More. Tell
her what I see when I look at her."
 

Spike frowned, then turned to take a better look at his sire's consort.
He let his eyes blaze a path over her body before he answered lazily,
"Vibrant red hair that surrounds the face of an innocent angel...eyes
that burn with curiosity and knowledge...lips that beg to be kissed...a
neck so graceful it almost seems a shame to mar it with a bite but that
makes it impossible to resist staking your claim...pert breasts that fit
perfectly in your hands...nipples that harden just from a look.....a
flat stomach that leads down to red curls that glisten in need and want,
a sweet scent coming from between her thighs....long legs that fit
perfectly around your waist as you sink deep into her..."
 

Willow heard Spike's words, her eyes still locked with Angelus'. She
suddenly knew that this was what Angelus saw when he looked at her. She
felt pleasure come over her body as Angelus smirked at her, seeing her
understanding. He stood, moving to her. He again caught her face, bring
her eyes to stare into his. "Do you believe me now?"
 

She nodded, still slightly unsure. Spike's words had convinced her more
than anything Angelus could have told her. She felt his lips capture
hers as she was pulled into his hard body. She felt his hands moved
around her, cupping her ass and bringing her in closer to him. He pulled
back, his eyes staring into her soul. "Tell me, Willow."
 

She knew what he was asking. She took a hesitant breath, saying softly
but with some conviction, "I'm beautiful."
 

He nodded, seeing the slight truth in her eyes. She was slowly starting
to believe it. He glanced at Spike, who was still watching silently.
Angelus smiled at his childe, "Go now." he said quietly.
Spike nodded, moving from the gardens.
 

Willow had never felt more beautiful. His and Spike's words had given
her the confidence she had been lacking lately. She saw the desire in
his eyes as he swept her into his arms. Startled, she looked at him as
he began to walk to the house, her nude body cradled in his arms. He
laughed silkily at her expression, "I wasn't going to take you in the
gardens, Willow. I just wanted to see you nude by the moonlight." He
smirked at her dazed look, "I prefer the bed over the cold stones
outside. Besides, anyone could have walked by." He caught her lips,
wondering if his games had gotten her out of her melancholy mood of
earlier in the evening. He moved into her room, shutting the door behind
them. Laying her on the bed, he stripped and joined her.
 

Two hours later Willow watched as Angelus got out of her bed, his
fingers tracing a path from her neck down to her fingertips, just like
he had every night he was with her.  Unconsciously she sighed in
disappointment, knowing that he was walking away to go to Spike. He
stopped short of the door and turned back to her.
 

"You can come with me..." he stated softly, his brown eyes capturing her
green ones.  "if you want to."
 

Willow stared at him for a moment before rolling over and turning away
from his unrelenting gaze.
 

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