TITLE: Ladder of Thorns [Beast Within Part 20]
AUTHOR: Samantha McCullah
EMAIL: saintangelus@yahoo.com
DISTRIBUTION: If you have the rest of the series, go
ahead. Anyone else please ask!
SPOILERS: Beauty and the Beasts, then it veers off
into an alternate universe.
RATING: NC-17
CONTENT: Willow/Angel, PWP (well, okay, there's a tiny
bit of plot to spice things up :)
SUMMARY: It's PWP. You need a summary?
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Joss'.
NOTE: The rest of the series can be found at
http://www.crosswinds.net/~saintangelus/series/beast/

And leave no word of discomfort
And leave no observer to mourn
But climb on your tears and be silent
Like a rose on its ladder of thorns
-- Nick Cave, 'The Window'

The bed was empty. Angel knew that the minute he tore
himself out of day-induced unconsciousness. He growled
softly, his demon aching for the warmth of his mate;
he lifted his head, glancing around the room. He saw
the trail of clothing left over from the night before,
ad while his eyes searched the room, his ears searched
the house. The grin that passed over his features when
he caught the faint sound of water running in the
bathroom was utterly sexual.

< Willow's in the shower, > he thought, his grin growing
lewder, < This'll be fun. > With that thought he pulled
himself out of bed and padded into the living room,
not caring about his nakedness. He smiled slightly as
he reached the bathroom door, noticing that it was
cracked open just slightly.

Angel pushed the door open and entered the bathroom
without making the slightest sound. He leaned back
against the cool tile wall next to the door, admiring
Willow's lithe form visible through the frosted glass.
With a grin, he slammed the door shut, causing Willow
to jump slightly.

"Angel?" she asked, her voice holding the slightest
hint of uncertainty and fear. He didn't reply, the
lewd grin crossing his features again. He walked over
to the frosted glass door to the shower and pulled it
open quickly. After the steam cleared out of his face,
he smirked at Willow who glared at him with anger
flashing in her eyes. "Couldn't you have knocked?" He
shook his head, stepping into the shower and closing
the door behind him. The usual reaction to close
proximity to Angel began to filter into her mind, yet
she continued to berate him even as she was
unconsciously edging towards him. He held two fingers
up to her lips, silencing her half-hearted tirade.

"Mine," he growled, half-grinning. She rolled her
eyes.

"Not this again," she commented, shaking her head. He
snarled, reaching out and grabbing her by the back of
her head.

"Mine," he growled, lower this time as he pressed his
body against hers. She unconsciously rubbed her hips
against his erection, causing Angel to let out a deep
moan. His arms wrapped around her waist, lifted her
up, and set her down on the small alcove generally
used for washcloths and shampoo. He bent down on the
wet floor, his body glistening from the still running
water.

"What are you, oh!" Willow breathed as he placed a
gently kiss on the slight curve of her abdomen. His
tongue gently trailed down her skin until it reached
the line of her pubic hair. "Angel," she muttered as
he moved his mouth down to her slit that was now
glistening with the moistness of her arousal.

Angel ran his tongue down her slit, earning a shudder
from the redhead. He reached up at parted her moist
lips, baring her clit to the cool air. He placed a
soft kiss on the nub before lashing out with his
tongue. Willow's hips bucked at the contact as she
buried one of her hands in Angel's hair, urging him to
continue. He grinned against her, feeling his face
shift into that of his demon's. He took her clit
between his lips and, using a combination of teeth and
tongue, began to tease her.

Angel lifted his other hand and gently began to run
his finger over the area just below her clit. He ran
one fang down her clit, earning another hip jerk from
Willow, just as he entered her with his index finger.

"Angel," Willow growled softly, her muscles tensing
under the ministrations of his teeth, tongue, and
fingers. She wrapped her legs around his shoulders
urging him closer to her. She leaned back against the
cool tile as she felt her vaginal muscles clench
around his fingers as he entered her with his middle
finger. He swirled his tongue around her clit, pulling
at it lightly, just as her leg muscles tightened and
her hand pressed his face harder into her.

"Angel!" she screamed, her orgasm hitting her hard and
fast, leaving her muscles loose and her body relaxed.
She absently stroked his hair as he moved away from
her cunt. He stood up, grinning at her.

"Mine?" he purred. She cracked one eyes open and
raised an eyebrow. He laughed shortly, leaning forward
and claiming her lips. Her tongue danced out, licking
her juices off his mouth. His tongue reached out and
touched hers, urging hers into his mouth. Their
tongues battled as his hands pulled her hips forward,
positioning her core until it was level with his cock.

Willow's legs lashed out suddenly, wrapping around his
waist, and pulled him against her. He entered her
fully, and both of them groaned into the other's
mouth. He moved one hand down to her still sensitive
clit and rubbed it gently as he moved slowly in and
out of her. Willow's hips thrust up to meet his as
their tongues still dueled.

She finally pulled away, gasping for breath, and Angel
gently nuzzled her neck, tracing her bite scars with
his tongue. She shivered with pleasure, tightening her
muscles around him. Willow kissed the curve of his
neck, clutching him to her body as she came again.
After the waves of pleasure had dissipated enough for
her to think coherently, she licked his neck
tentatively.

She felt his body tense, and, knowing he was about to
come, she sucked in a tiny amount of flesh on his neck
and bit down sharply just as he began shooting his
load deep within her.

"Willow!" he shouted, clutching her body against him
until his orgasm finished. They stayed in silence,
still joined, until Angel grinned, "Mine?"

"No," Willow denied; he narrowed his eyes. "Mine," she
purred, kissing him lightly. He laughed out loud and
kissed her forehead. He looked at her, studying her
face. He suddenly took a deep breath.

"I'm leaving Sunnydale," he whispered.

"What?" she asked, not sure she heard him right.

"I'm leaving," he replied. "Buffy's not going to just
give up," he explained.

"So, you're just going to leave me?" she asked softly.
He touched her lips lightly with his fingers, outlining
them.

"No, I want you with me in L.A.," he replied.

"Angel, I can't," she replied, shaking her head,
"School and research a-and Hellmouth," she tried to
explain, but he shook his head, placing a hand over
her mouth, silencing her.

"You got accepted to UCLA. I saw the letter. You got
accepted to every school in L.A., and some outside but
close enough. You have a choice about school," Angel
stated.

"You've been reading my mail!" she exclaimed, pushing
his shoulder slightly.

"Yes," he nodded, not the slightest bit ashamed. "So
will you come with me?" he asked.

"Of course," she smiled. Angel kissed her lightly.

"I love you, Witch."

"I love you, too," she whispered. Just then a loud
pounding sounded on the door.

"Fang! Red!" Faith shouted. "Open up!"

"I'm gonna kill that girl," Angel snarled, pulling
away from Willow and opening the shower door. He
wrapped a towel around his waist and walked over to
the bathroom door. He pulled it open roughly to face
the brunette Slayer. "What?"

"You and Red are wanted at the library," she
explained, shrugging her shoulders. "Don't know why. G
called to inform me." Angel sighed, slamming the door
shut in her face, and turned back to Willow.

"Do you want to face them?" Angel asked.

"We don't have any other choice," Willow shrugged.

*FIN*

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