Double or Nothing

Author: Lysa Whitmore

Parts: 6 - 10

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Part 6

 Angelus strolled toward the Bronze keeping to the shadows out of age-long habit. After the demon thrashing earlier in the week, things had slowed down for the Slayer and her little gang of misfits. Not that Angelus included himself in that number. He was just the
extra muscle they called in for those special cases. Strangely, the vampire found that he was bored and wished that there would be a hell raising, demon hatching or anything remotely interesting to deal with.

Surely there was something else worth paying attention to around this Hellmouth haven.
Fighting the Good Fight wasn’t exactly his deal. Angelus wasn’t certain what he wanted. A little action would be a welcome change from listening to the Soul ramble on about the fact that he had brought Cordelia to the mansion the other night. Angel just wouldn’t let the subject go. He’d noticed her lingering scent and had questioned Angelus about it after the Slayer had left the mansion. There was nothing to hide after all, so Angelus filled him in on some of the details.

“Cordelia was here?” Angel seemed surprised that she would come in to the mansion as she had never done so before now.

Angelus smirked at his double’s reaction. “Followed me right inside.”

“Why?”

“She wanted to check out your etchings, but I told her you were otherwise occupied.”

Narrowing his gaze, Angel had not been too thrilled that the vampire had suggested what he did. “Buffy is my business. You should keep your mouth shut and not make any snide comments to her friends.”

“I think Cordelia could figure it out for herself, Angel,” he had pointed out still leering. “I think the fact that the chandelier shook so hard it nearly came out of the ceiling clued her in to what was going on upstairs.”

Angel looked more pale than usual after that statement. “Oh, crap.”

“I thought it was funny,” chuckled Angelus with a smirk.

“You would.”

Then Angelus scoffed, “It’s not like the whole Scooby Gang doesn’t know about your extra curricular activities with their little blond Slayer.”

“Will you stop talking about it that way,” demanded Angel. “I love Buffy. Do I have to remind you that she is the reason that you have your own existence? I did this for her.”

“Right,” Angelus did not quite believe that. “Tell it to someone who hasn’t been in your head lately.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“If you don’t know, Soul Boy,” Angelus used Xander’s nickname for the other vampire, “I’m not telling. Because I have my own interests to think about.”

Angelus didn’t wait around to hear Angel’s reaction. He wasn’t certain there was one. If his twin didn’t get the fact that he was referring to Cordelia Chase then that was just fine with him. Gave him more opportunity to figure out how he was going to handle the little hellcat. If he did not have the constraints forced upon him by the Moirae, he would not have any trouble figuring out how he wanted to do this. Dozens of delightful scenarios popped into his head and that was just a taste. Unfortunately, the trio of higher beings had him on a short leash.

As he walked through the small parking zone, Angelus stopped next to the Corvette with ‘Queen C’ emblazoned on the license plate. Well that added a little promise to the night ahead. Cordelia, his tight-assed tease was at the club. So it wasn’t the kind of purposeful teasing that promised everything and delivered nothing, but it certainly had a way of making a guy take notice. Cordy’s natural come-hither body just set off sparks of arousal and the way she responded to him made resisting his instincts even harder.

Couldn’t get much harder, Angelus thought amused by his own thoughts.

Angelus didn’t really want to resist those instincts. He wanted to fulfill every base desire that came to mind including tasting her blood. Those damned Fates had warned him what would happen if he chose to call upon the darker depths of his demon nature. He would regain his soul. So Angel had some incentive to keep him in line and Angelus certainly didn’t want to be bogged down with Soul Boy’s problems. This garbage with the Slayer was unnatural.

Fucking the enemy. He supposed it had a certain ring to it, but to love the enemy? That was so not right, as Cordelia would say. The last time he dealt with the Slayer one-on-one was during his obsessive revenge scheme, when his plan to let Acathla suck the world into hell had gone up in flames. Spending untold decades in that time-warped dimension had been torture. Sharing memories of that time with Angel, Angelus felt fortunate that they were fading to an almost distant dreamlike state. There was only one thing that came out of the whole experience that Angelus would never verbally admit.

Buffy Summers might be his mortal enemy, but he had greater respect for her as a fighter than he ever had before their encounter. He had beaten her down, taken away everything that could possibly give her hope and yet the girl had fought back using herself as her only weapon. In the end, not only had the Slayer defeated him, but she thrust a sword through Angel and sent him to hell in order to save the world.

Maybe he’d been right about Angel’s balls, because the Slayer certainly seemed to have a set of her own figuratively speaking. From here on out, Angelus reckoned he’d let Angel handle the Slayer. As long as she did not directly interfere with him or what he wanted, things would stay neutral between them. Right now, his focus was on Cordelia Chase. Just the thought of being able to harass her tonight, to tease her and come onto her until he made her head spin perked up his spirits. That was before Angelus even got around to thoughts of touching her.

Entering the Bronze, Angelus walked to a shadowed spot and surveyed the crowd looking for Cordelia. He saw her groupies, the Cordettes, hanging out in their favorite spot, but no sign of the brunette. After a few minutes of watching the crowd, Angelus realized that he had not missed seeing her. He strode up to the Cordettes who immediately surrounded him with eager smiles and batting eyelashes.

“Hi!” Harmony gushed vapidly. “Wow, you’re here. I thought you’d call me.”

Ignoring her comment, Angelus immediately asked, “Where is Cordelia?”

Harmony pouted, but answered, “Around somewhere. Little girl’s room maybe.”

The vampire was about to turn away when the blonde grabbed onto his arm. “Don’t go, Angel baby. Dance with me.”

Glancing down with slight irritation, “Name’s Angelus, remember?”

“The evil twin name? So Buffy and Cordy were serious?” Apparently, Harmony was still clueless about the truth.

“That’s right,” Angelus was getting anxious as Cordelia had still not appeared. Her car was outside, so where the hell was she? He was about to pull away again, when Harmony stepped around him blocking his path. “Move it, Harmony.”

“But don’t you want to dance with me?” Harmony ran a fingertip across the edge of her low-cut dress. “We had fun the other night. It was amazing. I’d like to do it again.”

Angelus knew exactly what she was asking for, but he had other things planned for this night and none of them included repeat events with blonde bimbos. Frankly, Harmony was the type he would have drained dry just to shut her up. Even if it was possible, he didn’t have the time to do it justice. Reaching out, he picked up the cheerleader and set her down behind him.

“You were a one-time fuck, Harmony.” Angelus wiped the smile off her face with the cruel words. “You’re quite the little cock-sucker, I must admit, but you bore me.”

Turning, Angelus walked away pushing his way through the crowded dance floor on the short cut to the ladies bathroom. He received several angry looks from the couples that he bumped into, but did not even notice their glares. Harmony had taken up too much of his time and he had a bad feeling about not finding Cordelia. She wasn’t the type to hole up in a dark corner for a quick bang against the wall with some pimply teenager.

If he found her that way there would be hell to pay. First off, the little prick who dared to touch Cordelia would be lucky to survive his wrath. Then he would have to figure out a punishment worthy of Cordelia Chase’s crime against him. It didn’t matter if she thought she wanted nothing to do with him as a vampire. It was his decision that counted.

Angelus pushed the door of the ladies restroom open and walked inside heedless of the squeals that sounded in the air. After a quick search, he realized that Cordelia was not there. Leaning down to pull one cowering teenager from the floor, Angelus demanded information, “Where is Cordelia Chase?”

The girl looked puzzled for a second and then told him, “I-I think that she went out back with a couple of the guys from the band.”

Growling in response, Angelus frightened the girl who whimpered and fainted into a dead weight in his arms. He dropped her to the ground and headed for the back exit leading to the alley behind the club. Outside, Angelus immediately noticed Cordelia’s scent in the air and heard muffled sounds emanating from around the far corner.

There was a hand covering her mouth or else Cordelia would have been screaming. As it was, she continued to put up a struggle and this time managed to latch her teeth onto one of the fingers pressing against her mouth. Her assailant let out a sharp cry. “Ow!”

Yanking her arm away from his grasp, Cordelia tried to run only to find herself faced with the larger of the two boys. Letting out a shrill scream, Cordy used the distraction by angling a swift kick toward his groin. Though it hit him, she missed the target.

“Ugh!” The blonde grunted an angry whisper. “You bitch! You nearly kicked me in the balls.”

“That was the idea, brainiac,” Cordelia retorted as she continued to put up a struggle. The two jerks had found her coming out of the ladies room and told her that one of her friends was waiting for her in the alley. Figuring it had to be Buffy, one of the Scoobies or either one of the vampires, Cordelia had gone outside only to find the band boys following her.

Grabbing Cordelia by the shoulders, he thrust her to the ground and started ripping at her clothes. The other one was calling out encouragements and starting to unbutton his pants. “You deserve what you get, May Queen. We’re tired of putting up with insults while you cheerleaders lift your skirts for every guy on the football team. It’s time you put out a little for the band.”

“Get your hands off me, you asshole,” Cordelia tried to push the teenager off of her, but he was too big. Her bravado was quickly waning. As she heard the sound of tearing cloth and the rush of air over her skin, fear started to overwhelm her anger. There were tears gathering in her eyes as she begged, “Please don’t do this.”

“Dude, check out these tits,” he gaped down at her exposed chest.

The brunette was already staring, but hurried his accomplice by urging him to, “Rip off her panties, man. We don’t have all night.”

Cordelia tried to cover her chest. “I-I don’t do football players— or high school boys for that matter.”

There was a rush of cool night air as the blond boy pulled off her underwear. “Teasing bitch. I told you this one was worse than the others. She thinks no one is good enough for her. Now she’s gonna learn different.”

A gruff voice sounded from the shadows, “You’ll be eating those words in a minute, you little prick.”

“What? Who’re you?”

Without bothering to answer, the vampire reached down and lifted the boy lying on top of Cordelia to his feet. Glaring down into his eyes, Angelus told him, “It doesn’t matter who I am, just know that I am going to rip you limb from limb.”

“Angelus,” Cordelia gasped his name. Maybe they deserved it, but things hadn’t gotten so far that she wanted them dead. “Let them go.”

“Not a chance.”

Both boys let out fearful gulps, but one said, “There are two of us. We can take him.”

The vampire released a chuckle that resounded from the depths of his chest, dark and full of meaning. Reaching his free hand toward the larger kid’s throat, Angelus fully intended to snap his neck for what he had done. Seeing Cordelia on the ground with her torn dress and her panties lying next to her, Angelus had no intention of letting the asshole who had tried to rape her live another five minutes much less let him go.

The instant Angelus’ hand touched the human’s neck his own body was struck by intense debilitating pain. Reacting unexpectedly, Angelus screamed in agony. “Aaarrrgh!”

Cordelia screeched in shock at the sound as did the blond boy whose neck had been in serious jeopardy only a moment before. The other kid shouted to his friend, “Get him!”

Both teenagers jumped on the vampire knocking Angelus to the ground and punching him as many times as they could muster. The added sensation was more of an irritant than anything else. With his strength, Angelus pushed both of them away causing them to fly up a couple of feet and land hard on the ground. Residual shocks of pain hit again as the boys landed on the ground.

Realizing that the pain was part of the Fates’ deal, Angelus growled in frustration and anger. He was avenging Cordelia. Couldn’t the fucking bitches tell when it was okay to kill a human and when it wasn’t? Angelus stalked closer to where the teens lay on the ground. One of them was cradling a broken arm, which caused him to curl his mouth into a smile of satisfaction.

“Get your pathetic asses up off the ground,” he commanded.

Struggling to their feet, both teens complied. Cordelia continued to watch in shock at the whole incident from her position nearby.

“Look, mister,” pleaded the brunette with the broken arm, “we were just trying to get our share. She’s a cheerleader, you know. They always tease the band members, but put out for the football team.”

Angelus wondered how fast he would have to move before the pain caught up with him. “Why this cheerleader?”

“Duh! She’s hot, man.” Then he added, “That’s Cordelia Chase.”

“I know,” Angelus informed him coldly. “She’s mine. You two are extremely lucky that I came along when I did because if you had actually raped her nothing on Earth or in the dimensions above would save you. As it is I know your faces, boys. Count on seeing me again. Next time, I won’t be alone.”

The blond teen defiantly pointed out, “You can’t prove anything. You ain’t a cop.”

“You’re already guilty in my eyes,” Angelus warned. “That’s all it takes. It won’t be the police that come for you. I’ll be bringing someone who looks just like me.”

Angelus vamped out in front of them eliciting an immediate scream of terror from both teenagers who took off running down the alley. As the vampire watched them leave, he gripped his hands into tight fists. Apparently, the deal with the Fates not only kept him from killing humans, but it severely limited his ability to inflict damage or pain.

Still, his threat against the boys was not an empty one. Angelus fully intended to tell Angel about this incident. He felt certain that his twin would be just as pissed about this as himself. While Angel would not be willing to kill the bastards, dealing out some punishment would be quite another story.

Whirling around to face Cordelia, the vampire suddenly seemed to be looming over her. Angelus’ ochre eyes traveled from head to toe assessing her appearance and lingering on her exposed breasts. There was fury in his eyes. Cordelia’s own gaze traveled the length of his tense body trying to gauge what he would do next.

Crouching down, Angelus picked up the silk panties from the ground holding them out to her. She barked at him, snatching them out of his hand. “Don’t touch those.”

“Just trying to help.”

“Help?” Cordelia all but snapped at the vampire careless of the fact that he was still in game face. “Who the hell do you think you are, Angelus? The Dark Avenger, sweeping in to save the day?”

“I did save it,” he pointed out rather confused at her anger toward him. When he held out a hand to help her to her feet, she refused.

“Huh.”

Angelus pulled back, stunned at the rejection of his offer after he had saved her from the two young bastards who would have raped her. “Did they hurt you? Do something before I got here?”

Rising to her feet, Cordelia held an arm across her chest while her opposite hand crept down to smooth her skirt around her hips and thighs. “No.”

“Come here, Cordy,” Angelus held his hand out again. “Let’s get you home.”

“No!” Cordelia jerked away from his hand even though he hadn’t touched her. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Angelus. Don’t you get it, vampire? You’re no better than they are. In fact, you’re worse.”

Concentrating, Angelus shifted back to his human features hoping that she would settle down. Trying to remind himself that Cordelia was probably in shock and was reacting to what happened by taking things out on him, he calmly asked, “What do you mean?”

Letting out a shaky laugh, Cordy responded by reminding him, “You’ve tried the same thing with me before. That night in the cemetery when you whispered the things you planned to do to me. Just the other night, you told me you wanted all that and more.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Angelus defended himself, now getting angry that she was comparing him to those two little creeps. “Cordelia, I do want you, but as my lover not my victim. What happened a year ago is water under the bridge. We were different then.”

“Not so different.”

“I just saved you from would-be rapists,” he pointed out with a confident gleam in his eye. Where were his kudos for heroism? “I wouldn’t have done that a year ago.”

“Of course not. A year ago you were the would-be rapist,” Cordy retorted. “In fact, there is no would-be about it. Maybe I was lucky to escape you thanks to Buffy, but how many others weren’t?”

Angelus was seriously offended. “I rarely forced anyone. They usually begged me for it.”

Insufferable bastard, she thought. “What about those who didn’t? Bet you didn’t let them go.”

Got him there. Damn, even in shock Cordelia Chase was too quick delving through the bull to find the point she wanted to make. “So I admit it, but I am a vampire not some pimply-faced weasel who preys on his own kind.”

“That makes no difference to me. You’re still a killer, Angelus. The Fates may have you on a leash, but nothing is going to take away that history.” Cordelia’s fear seemed to have vanished. He no longer sensed it. Unless it was his own discontent with the direction of this argument, Angelus realized that Cordelia was not even afraid of him despite the fact that she named him a murderer.

Angelus thought about it and almost missed the sensation of her fear. However, he hated this reaction to him. She was taking this entire incident and turning it back on him as if he was the one at fault. Then it occurred to him that Cordelia didn’t treat Angel this way. He was a vampire. He had the same past.

“What about Angel? Are you going to shove this crap down his throat as well?”

Cordelia pursed her lips before commenting, “Angel isn’t you anymore, is he? You’re the one responsible for killing Ms Calendar, for torturing Giles, for threatening me. Maybe Angel has your memories, but they’re still yours.”

Got him again. Angelus admitted, “I did all those things. I enjoyed it, Cordelia. Is that what you want me to say? What do you expect? Do you want me on my knees begging forgiveness for doing things that are in my nature to do? Fuck that! I won’t apologize for the past. I can only move forward from here.”

“Pfft! You want redemption?” Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Like you could earn it. Not! You have no spark of goodness in you. No soul to guide you. The only reason you came to save me was because you want me for yourself.”

A low growl sounded as Angelus reached the limit of his patience. “Whatever the reason, Cordelia— I did save you.”

“Thanks,” the word practically dripped with sarcasm, “but don’t expect me to give you any more than that.”

There wasn’t a shred of real gratitude in her heartless little statement. Angelus was pissed at Cordelia’s reaction. His first thought was to throw her down on the ground and bury himself inside her just to live up— or rather down— to her expectations. For someone who could be so tantalizingly hot or subtly sweet, Cordy could turn into a sub-zero cold bitch at the drop of a hat. One other thing that frustrated him about this entire deal—Cordelia Chase would make one helluva vampire and he could do nothing about that.

Angelus was forced to react when he preferred to be proactive. If he had his way, Cordy would have been his long ago. Now he was all but tied up by the Moirae preventing him from doing what he wanted causing him to have to stand here and take what Cordy doled out. She stabbed him deeply with her figurative knife and kept on twisting until it opened up a wound that could only be healed by her touch.

Even after her ingratitude and insulting comparisons, Angelus wanted Cordelia now more than ever. That thought came as a shocking realization because he had never wanted any relationship with a human. Buffy Summers was Angel’s choice and Angelus had simply been obsessed with the idea of making her pay for the emotions that she produced within his souled self. Angelus wanted Cordelia in his bed and by his side, but the chances of that becoming reality looked rather remote. Why he cared or wanted to pursue such a possibility was a complete mystery to him.

Angelus could walk back into the Bronze, pick any girl he wanted and have her in his bed within the hour. If it even took that long. Hell, if it was Harmony, he’d just get what he wanted without leaving the club. Despite Cordelia’s statement to Angel about her sexual experience, Angelus he had enough sense to know that she was stretching the truth. What she said to her two assailants confirmed it. Despite her beauty, popularity and cheerleader status, Cordy was not an easy lay.

Maybe it was just the idea of the challenge itself that made him want this. That sounded reasonable, but the seduction of Cordelia Chase would be no easy task for anyone, much less a vampire. Especially one whom she saw as being a soulless killer without a shred of goodness. Once, there was a time Angelus would have worn that description proudly as some wore a badge of honor.

“I can prove to you that I’m more than just a killer,” Angelus vehemently promised. “The fact that I’m a vampire will never change, Cordy, but I can stick with this Fight the Good Fight deal.”

“You have too, dumbass! That’s the only way the Fates will let you have your own body to run around in,” Cordelia pointed out clutching at her torn bodice with one hand and gesturing with the other. “Besides, do you really think you can do it?”

“Yes.” Angelus felt certain that he could commit himself to anything. “You’ll see, baby. I’m gonna show you just how good an evil vampire can be. While I’m doing that, you are going to see a side of me you never imagined existed.”

Cordelia simply dared him, “Bring it on.”

Part 7

 Twirling the combination lock left and then right and left again, Cordelia opened it and started to place her purse into her locker. She paused upon spotting an envelope propped up against her schoolbooks. Her name was written on it in calligraphy-style ink. The strange thing was that the envelope was too big to fit through the small vented slits in the front of the locker so whoever put it there either found her combination or had a way to figure it out.

“What’s that?” Harmony asked interestedly gazing around Cordelia’s shoulder.

Snatching it out of the locker, Cordelia was uncertain she wanted to share this surprise with her blond friend. Not wanting to wait, she made the decision to open the envelope. There was a card inside, but not of the store-bought variety. This was a hand-drawn artsy creation that had both girls gaping at its beauty.

“Wow!” Gasping, Harmony commented, “Who’s it from, Cordy?”

The class bell rang out in the hall and Cordelia took the opportunity to shove the card in between the covers of one of her books. “We need to get to class. See you later.”

Cordelia knew that Harmony would bug her about it until she told her the truth, but she suddenly felt like she didn’t want to share the first glimpse inside. If it had been just any card, there were a number of guys she might guess at playing secret admirer. This was no simple card and she had to add two names to her list simply because she knew that the artistic ability was there. Considering recent events, this had to be Angelus’ work. Angel was too tied up in Buffy and had never been inclined to send her cards on the spur of the moment.

Sitting at her desk in class, Cordelia tried to ignore the fact that the card was there, but it was almost like the book kept flashing at her with a neon sign. Trying not to look obvious about it, she opened her textbook to the place she had stuck the card. She glanced from left to right ensuring that her classmates’ attention were otherwise occupied before taking a look inside the card.

On the left side of the card was a small portrait of herself. Geez, it was really good. He had her down to the tiniest detail and all from memory. Cordelia stared at it for some time before the teacher called out her name for the second time to get her attention. Slamming her book closed, Cordelia lifted her head and gave him an attentive smile.

Twenty minutes later, Cordelia found another opportunity to check out the other part of the card where smaller script was written out. It was a poem by Lord Byron:

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

Reading it, Cordelia was simultaneously pleased and irritated. Who wouldn’t love the card? The sentiment actually erased some of the negative feelings about herself that had crept in after last night. What aggravated her was the fact that Angelus had the nerve to pretend to be romantic. The vampire was not the flowers, poetry and candy type. C’mon! He was the bloody hearts, curses and corpses on your doorstep demon. This was all an effort to get her to forgive him for what he’d said to her a year ago. To make her eat her words.

Hah! Well, Cordelia Chase was no easy prey. It would take more than a unique, artistic and romantic handcrafted card to make her believe Angelus had turned over a new leaf. He had a long way to go in proving himself to her. A loooonnnng way! Thought she was a pushover did he? Thought she was serenely calm and eloquent did he? Pfft!

Still, it was a nice start, the thought popped into her head. Cordelia found herself smiling.

There was a Scooby meeting after class and Cordelia knew a confrontation would be due. She wondered if Angelus had gone through with his threat and informed Angel about the incident last night. If so, the confrontation was likely to include both vampires. Now that she thought about it, the two shmucks from the band were not in school today. They had one class with her, but Cordelia barely took notice of them on a routine basis. It was too early for the vampires to have tracked them down, so Angelus’ scare tactics had probably done the trick.

Early that evening, Angelus awaited Cordelia’s appearance at the Scooby Gang meeting. Angel also paced the floor anxious to ensure that she was okay. His twin had informed him of the rape attempt and it had taken the sunrise to prevent him from going to confirm her welfare with his own eyes. “If I see a single bruise, those little fucks are dead meat.”

“I was hoping you’d feel that way,” Angelus grinned. Since the Scoobies were not yet present and Giles was holed up in his office, they could talk freely. “Only we’ll have to hold off on the dead part. I promised Cordelia.”

Surprised, Angel questioned him, “Then what do you have in mind?”

“Complete humiliation.”

“For teenagers, they might prefer to be dead over that,” Angel agreed. “I hear the others coming, so we’ll talk about this later.”

Buffy entered the room accompanied by Willow and Oz. While the redheads called out greetings, the blond Slayer stopped short as she caught sight of the two vampires. She hated it when they were standing together like that. It never gave her a chance to figure out who was who. Then the vampire on the left asked her, “Where is Cordelia?”

“Still in the hallway, Angelus,” she answered figuring that he would have to be the one asking about the cheerleader.

A chuckle sounded from the vampire on the right and a simultaneous scowl from the one she was talking too. Oops! Looks like she had guessed wrong. Blushing, “Angel?”

“Yes, Buffy,” sighed Angel, “it’s me.”

“Sorry!” Buffy snuggled up against him. “Can’t you make him wear a cow bell?”

“Not likely,” Angelus replied as he headed out the library door in search of Cordelia.

He found her standing next to her open locker staring inside. Completely oblivious of his approach, Cordelia was focused on the card she had propped up against the books again. It was beautiful and it made her heart flutter a bit just thinking about the sentiment, but it was sent by Angelus.

She had done a lot of thinking today about both vampires and the explanation that Angel had given to her about the splitting of their being. Vampires were basically equal parts human and demon. The split meant that Angelus leaned more toward the demonic side of their nature while Angel the more human side. In theory, they continued to carry traits of both in addition to their physical aspects remaining the same.

Did that mean it was possible for Angelus to change as he claimed? Could he consciously choose to ignore pull of his demonic side in order to win her trust? This flirtation with the card was something else altogether. It had nothing to do with trust and everything to do with the vampire trying to seduce her. Cordelia wasn’t ignorant of the games men played. She was an expert at fending off their advances. But Angelus wasn’t a man nor was he in any way ignorant of what women wanted.

What she wanted.

A tingle zipped down her spine at the thought. Bad thought! That didn’t belong there. She wasn’t supposed to envision Angelus giving her anything she wanted. It was hard enough not thinking about her little shower fantasy. Now she had to contend with Angelus in the form of the Dark Avenger crashing into her life and sweeping her into his bed. Yum! The idea was such a temptation, but one that Cordelia was determined to ignore.

Hello— vampire!

Closing her locker, Cordelia turned to head in the direction of the library only to find the vampire occupying her thoughts leaning against the row of metal lockers. “Angelus!”

“Cordelia,” he greeted her softly. “I couldn’t wait with the others. I wanted to see you first.”

“They’ve seen me all day,” Cordy pointed out shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

Confessing, “I meant Angel.”

“Oh.” A little frown appeared on her face. Then she realized, “You told him.”

Angelus told her, “Yes. I know you won’t say anything to your little Scooby pals or the Cordettes so Angel is going to be my backup plan.”

“Backup plan for what?”

“Another set of eyes watching you,” Angelus claimed. “Just in case I’m not around the next time some bastard tries to touch you.”

“This is you being possessive manpire guy,” Cordelia stood with her hands on her hips. “Does your rule apply only to potential creeps or anyone I try to date?”

Angelus wasn’t certain she wanted to hear the truth. “There’s a difference?”

Walking around him, Cordelia headed for the library. She stopped and turned as he called out, “Cordy? Did you like the card?”

Cordelia waited until Angelus crossed the distance between them. Meeting his curiously bright gaze, she faked a surprised gasp, “That was from you? There wasn’t a signature.”

“You know who sent it,” Angelus’ expression drooped into a frown.

“For all I know, it was Angel,” Cordelia shrugged. “He’s kind of artsy. And you did say that those were his etchings at the mansion. Then there are one or two guys I know who have pretty decent drawing skills.”

“It was from me,” he confirmed while pointing at his broad chest.

Letting out a laugh, Cordelia was amused by the vampire’s sullen expression. It bothered him to think that she was potentially thinking about someone else when handling the card he had no doubt spent hours working on last night. Her laughter deepened his frown and it became apparent that the vampire thought she didn’t believe him.

“I did narrow it down to you and Angel,” she told him. “High school guys aren’t known for poetry, but I’m not so sure about vampires. Angel might be the type since he’s so dark and broody.”

Angelus roared, “I sent you the fucking card.”

“Well that was a really romantic statement,” Cordelia rolled her eyes at the vampire. “No wonder you had to resort to using Lord Byron. Couldn’t come up with any lines of your own?”

Moving forward until there was little room left between them, Angelus forced Cordelia to back away until she felt her shoulders press into the lockers behind her. His arms created a barrier on either side of her allowing no escape causing Angelus’ voice to come out in surround sound penetrating her with its sensual tones.

“Shall I tell you why I’ll be your lover?”

There was a hitch in her breath as Cordelia waited for the answer. The vampire seemed so certain that it was going to be a reality. While that naughty little voice in her head said things to tempt her, Cordelia kept reminding herself that this was all a game to him. That this was just him pretending to be sexy and romantic and good.

So he wasn’t pretending about the sexy part, Cordelia stared up into the heated depths of his dark chocolate gaze.

“Because I read it in your eyes,” Angelus told her. “Those bright hazel jewels give away more than you know. Your eyes are so expressive, Cordy, even when you’re trying not to give your thoughts away. Then there is the automated response as your pupils dilate with your arousal.”

“Fear,” Cordelia countered in a whispered voice. “Fight or flight.”

“There is no fear. I would sense it,” he told her smugly. Not to mention the fact that she was neither putting up a fight nor running like hell from him. Angelus noted that Cordelia awaiting the rest of his response wanting to hear more.

“I’ll be your lover because I see it on your mouth. The way your lips soften and swell in anticipation of my kiss.” Angelus hovered over her mouth while speaking those words causing precisely that reaction. Her lips tingled and parted slightly of their own accord while her tongue darted out to moisten them.

Angelus lifted his dark gaze from her lips back to Cordelia’s eyes which were fixed on his mouth, her expression one of growing hunger with his lips the only thing that could sate that need. Even to his own ears, his voice sounded heavy with growing desire as he spoke her name, calling her attention back to his eyes.

“Cordelia.”

A tiny startled moan sounded at the back of her throat questioning his interruption of the path her thoughts were taking.

“I can hear it in your voice,” Angelus told her. “It’s what you don’t say that tells me we’ll be lovers. That little moan. The way your breath catches in your throat. Imperceptible to a human, but I hear it.”

Vampire senses, thought Cordelia with irritation at her body’s little betrayals. She should not be listening to this, but the fact that she wasn’t moving away had nothing to do with Angelus blocking her path. Her whole body seemed to be focused on his voice. Still, she had to deny his words, “You’re imagining it.”

“Am I? Is it my imagination that your heartbeat quickens?” Angelus heard it even now as her heart thudded in her chest. Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub in an ever fastening thrill that sent blood coursing through her veins. If there was ever a turn-on for a vampire it was that combined with the knowledge that fear wasn’t the cause. “I know the sound, know the rate of your pulse, know its rhythms and could recognize them in the dark.”

“Vampire,” Cordy sounded out the accusation.

“It’s a fact that won’t change,” he reminded her needlessly. “It doesn’t stop your body from reacting to mine without a shred of the fear you pretend still exists. I see the flush of your sun-kissed skin. The way your breasts swell begging for the touch of my hands and the way your nipples harden. I see your body recognizing its desires. Wanting my hands and mouth giving you pleasure.”

Traitorous boobs. Begging for his touch? For his mouth? Cordelia couldn’t will away her automatic reaction to the sensual timber of Angelus’ voice nor the words that heightened her arousal. Supposing that it wouldn’t fit with her argument to crush her breasts against the hard muscles of his chest and just rub against him, Cordelia pressed her back into the lockers.

Angelus leaned in again, this time scenting her skin. “You smell so fragrant. Clean and perfumed and hot with need.”

Cordelia’s body jerked slightly at the description. She didn’t need him pointing that out. A deep ache centered in her loins and her panties were getting damp. Her eyes were so heavy-lidded it would be simple just to close them and imagine herself back home in bed. There it would be okay. All she would have to do was reach down and—

As her fingers spread out across her lower abdomen at the wanton thought, Angelus was quick to notice the subconscious move. With interest, he queried, “Do you want to touch yourself? Want me to touch you?”

She couldn’t answer those questions. Wouldn’t answer them. All Cordelia could do was let out a hot huff of air that seemed to be caught in her throat. All the while, Angelus was still braced against the lockers with his hands on either side of her.

“Yes,” Angelus answered for her. “You’re ripe with wanting, my Cordelia. Your body is stirring with need and craving my touch. It already recognizes that I’m your lover.”

Cordelia tried to stop her body from melting into a hot bubbly pool, but Angelus certainly had a way with words when it came to proving his point. “So you don’t need to depend on Lord Byron to come up with a good line,” she gave him that.

“The only poetry we need to discuss is the way we react to each other,” Angelus smiled sensually. “It works both ways, baby. Do I need to tell you how my body comes alive each time you’re near? The rush of desire that fills my chest with unnatural warmth and centers down in my loins?”

Shaking her head, Cordelia did not want to hear any more. It was too much. Her head was spinning with fantasy images and her body felt close to exploding. Whispering a plea, she begged him to stop, fearful of the fact that she was starting to believe what he said. “No.”

“No, you don’t believe me?” Angelus questioned almost patiently knowing he had done well to get this far without a major protest. It was just one more proof that Cordelia Chase wanted him otherwise she would have been screaming her head off and throwing more of her accusations in his face. “Want to feel the proof? I assure you that it’s not easy to miss. Do you have any idea how much I want your hands on me?”

Cordelia’s hands moved up to his chest even though her own body ached as she lifted her hand away from her abdomen. She couldn’t seem to form a coherent thought to tell him to back off. That’s what she needed— for him to back off. Yet her hands had a mind of their own as she pressed her palms flat over the muscles of his chest slowly moving them up and down. Angelus let out a sharp hiss as Cordelia grazed his small male nipples over the fabric of his shirt.

His reaction startled Cordelia and she dropped both hands to the taut muscles of his waist, her fingers curling so that her knuckles moved over the cloth of his shirt. Still braced with his palms flat on the lockers, Angelus encouraged her to move her hands, “Lower, baby. I want your touch.”

Her own heartbeat was thudding in her ears as Cordelia realized with a sudden shock that she was actually considering following his directive. Angelus was standing so close now that she could feel the hard proof of his arousal through his pants.

Then he was nuzzling up against her cheek as his mouth whispered into her ear asking for her permission, “Let me touch you, Cordelia.”

Angelus felt a burning sensation stinging his arm and an angry male voice yelling, “Get your hands off Cordy, vampire.”

Reeling back, Angelus vamped out in reaction to the sudden pain. There was a small hole burnt through the arm of his shirt leaving a scorched mark on his exposed skin. “Xander! Get that cross out of my face.”

“Omigod!” Cordelia was mortified that Xander had caught her like this with Angelus. He was her former boyfriend, but it still seemed strange for him to see her pressed up against Angelus practically groping the vampire. The evil vampire, she added.

“What do you think you’re doing, Angelus?” Xander looked pissed. “The Fates didn’t leave you a loophole for threatening Cordelia. Just because you can’t bite and kill humans anymore doesn’t mean you can go around trying out your old threats on your new friends.”

Angelus glanced at Cordelia to see how she was going to react. Finally, she admitted to Xander, “He wasn’t threatening me.”

“Then—,” Xander gasped as his imagination filled in the gaps. “No! This is Angelus.”

“I know that, dammit!” Cordelia pushed away from the lockers and started to pace back and forth between the two males. Then stopping in front of Xander, she gave him a weak smile, “Thanks for coming to my defense.”

“You’re welcome,” Xander blinked at the unexpected gratitude. “I-I think I’ll head into the meeting. We’re late.”

“Don’t say anything,” she pleaded softly. “Not even to Willow. ‘Kay?”

Xander frowned, but gave her a nod of consent.

Both Cordelia and Angelus watched him disappear down the hall and into the library. An uneasy silence had settle between them until finally Angelus asked, “Why does he get the thanks with a smile after ‘saving’ you and I didn’t?”

“Are we still reviewing the One Hundred and One Reasons Not to Trust an Evil Vampire notes I’ve made for my future memoirs?” Cordy asked snippily.

“No,” Angelus answered darkly. “We’re cutting through the bull and laying it on the line. I want you, Cordelia, under me, on top of me, beside me, surrounding me. Anyway and anywhere you can imagine it. Baby, you won’t regret it for a second because I promise to make your body sing.”

Cordelia almost felt like singing now.

“If it takes fighting the Good Fight alongside the Slayer then it looks like the Fates will get their way. Just stop pretending that you don’t want me as your lover.” Angelus was gazing down at her with a determined expression. “Just tell me what you want. Let me find a way to give it to you.”

“It’s not that easy, Angelus,” she responded with a shaky tone. “What do I want? If I said someone human what would you do? Pay another visit to the Fates?”

That wasn’t an option. This was a one-time deal as payback for an earlier deed. “I could check in with the Furies. Not certain that they could pull it off.”

“Pfft! As if you would,” Cordelia huffed loudly. “You like being a vampire. You like to play demon when the fighting gets good.”

“That’s right,” he agreed. “I do. I already told you this is the one thing that isn’t going to change. You know that and it hasn’t made a shred of difference in the way you want me.”

Cordelia crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive stance as she revealed, “I want someone real in my life. Not a stalking, obsessive maniac. If that’s how you’re going to play this game then you might as well quit now.”

“It’s not a game,” Angelus countered. He stressed again, “Tell me what you want.”

Cordelia walked up to him, “I want someone who knows how to please me. I want the damn poetry and flowers and candy.”

“Flowers and candy?” The vampire hadn’t thought of those.

“What do I want? Someone who’ll treat me as more than just daddy’s little rich girl with the pretty face. Someone who wants me for who I am and wants me because I’m the only one he needs. Wants me— just wants me.”

It took all of Angelus’ restraint to hold back. He was tired of talking about it. The urge to lift her up against the lockers and fuck her until she came screaming his name was getting hard to resist. Flowers and candy? What the hell was a demon to do? Angelus decided if that was what Cordelia wanted, he would ensure that she got it. She was obviously tired of high school boys and their socially inept manners. Not to mention the fact that most of them didn’t even know how to make a woman come.

Every day for the rest of the week Angelus surprised Cordelia with his ability to be kind to her. For a soulless demon, that was a shocker. He interspersed his poetic cards with the flowers and candy she had demanded of him, but it was the other little things he did that made the most impact. Holding the door or her chair were only two of the small efforts he made to pay attention to her. All without being too obvious or making a point in front of the rest of the gang.

“So what did you do?” she asked him one night. “Take lessons from Miss Manners?”

Angelus had been true to his word regarding his Good Fight efforts. Joining them every night, he fought fiercely alongside the Slayer, his vampire double Angel and the Scooby Gang. He came in with reconnaissance. He pressured one of the demon gangs into getting out of town. Hell, he was even out-heroing Angel with his tactics and sudden do-gooder activities. Cordelia wouldn’t have been surprised to see him escorting the Girl Scouts on their next door-to-door cookie sale event.

The only thing that side-tracked Angelus from his perfect record was the revenge scheme he had set up with Angel against the two teenagers who tried to rape her. Cordelia was at the Bronze on Friday night along with the rest of the Scooby Gang. The two vampires were supposed to meet them there to celebrate their latest victory, but neither vamp had shown. When the lights went out suddenly, the music died down and the crowd let out a collective scream. Historically, it was a sign of trouble rather than lighting problems. Noises from above and the sound of creaking metal alerted them to activity on the upper level.

“I’ll check it out,” Buffy told the gang and then headed for the stairs.

Before the Slayer could get further than a couple of steps, the lights came on again and a spotlight revealed that the metal dancing cage used during a few guest band appearances had been lowered into place. Cordelia let out a strangled gasp as she realized that her two assailants were standing in the cage stark naked. The skinny tall one and the blond pudgy one were both handcuffed to the bars of the cage in a way that even prevented them from covering themselves.

A roar of laughter followed the shocked gasps of the crowd as everyone stared upward. It took the fire department and a blowtorch to get the boys out of the cage. When the police asked them to identify the thugs who put them there, both refused. They looked like they had been scared within an inch of their measly little lives.

After the excitement died down, Angel appeared on the scene. Cordelia looked through the crowd trying to spot Angelus, but Angel informed her that he had asked the vampire to leave.

“Why?” Cordelia was visibly disappointed.

“Because of that,” Angel reached out and tugged at her lower lip. “You’re pouting.”

She touched her hand to her mouth. “I thought—”

“Shh!” Angel shushed her. He didn’t want the gang to know about Cordelia’s developing feelings for Angelus any more than she did although after tonight that might be a moot thought.

Buffy’s eyes were wide and questioning as she looked at him. With a sigh, Angel pulled her close answering her silent ‘which one are you’ query. He kissed her forehead and watched the smile come over her features. “You just missed the excitement, Angel. Two guys from the band were locked naked into the dance cage.”

“I caught the end of it,” Angel told her.

Patience was never Cordelia’s strength. By the time Oz and Willow hit the dance floor, she was practically squirming in her chair. She stared at Xander mentally willing him to ask Buffy to dance. That would leave her alone with Angel so he could say whatever it was he wanted to say to her about Angelus. Unfortunately, it only made the big lunkhead think that she wanted to dance with him.

“Do you want to dance, Cordy?” Xander asked her.

What was she supposed to say? “Forget it. I want to spend time with Buffy’s boyfriend.”

That wouldn’t go over well. Plastering a smile on her face, Cordelia told him, “Okay.”

Buffy noticed the way that Cordelia’s eyes shifted over to Angel as she got up from her chair. As soon as they were alone at the table, Buffy inquired, “How about you, Angel? Wanna dance?”

“You know I don’t dance.”

“Sure you do,” Buffy urged him to dance with her. “Just to slower music. We could make a request.”

“Not tonight.”

“What’s wrong with tonight?”

Angel practically snapped at her, “Everything.”

He couldn’t tell her that the cage incident was Angelus’ and his doing. That causing them the humiliation of being seen naked in their pitiful forms in front of the who’s who of the Sunnydale High clubbers had done nothing to quell his thirst for vengeance against them. The little bastards deserved a good maiming at the least. Cordelia wouldn’t stand for it and even Angelus was in his nicey-nice vampire mode.

“I need to kill something,” Angel grumbled.

Buffy got up out of her chair, “Then let’s go on patrol.”

“I can’t.”

Confused, Buffy asked him for a reason. “Why not?”

“Because I need to talk to Cordelia first,” he blurted

“To Cordelia?”

Now he’d done it. His foot was definitely lodged deep in his mouth this time. There was no getting out of some kind of explanation. What was he supposed to say to Buffy? Not the truth. It would betray a confidence and piss her off at the same time because he had not told her to begin with.

Angel had never outright lied to Buffy, but he wouldn’t feel right about revealing the attempted rape and his part in getting back at the culprits tonight. That was Cordelia’s business. It would be different if he thought Cordy wasn’t coping and needed to speak to another female, but she seemed to be handling the situation better than him. Of course, this was just the minor of the two topics he needed to clear up.

Discussing the other with Buffy would definitely result in ass-kickage. Only Angel was hoping that it wouldn’t be his own, which Buffy could definitely accomplish if she was really ticked off. He knew on some level that she was still angry about him making the deal with the Fates without her final consent. Brining Angelus back to Sunnydale into his own existence was not a choice the Slayer would have made and Angel fully realized that now in hindsight.

Despite the fact that Buffy remained wary of Angelus and Giles eagle-eye watchful in his observations, neither of them nor the rest of the Scooby Gang seemed to have picked up on his twin’s flirtation with Cordelia. He was amazed that they seemed to wear blinders and only saw what they wanted. They saw Angelus as sucking up to them or following the Slayer’s orders. They were unrealistically pleased with the fact that Angelus made a positive turn in his behavior.

What was Angel supposed to say to Buffy about Angelus? “He wants to fuck Cordelia and because he’s been a good little demon, I’m going to let him.”

The thought made him cringe visibly, which only drew another strange look from Buffy, but that was essentially what he would be doing. The fact that Angelus had come forward with his intentions toward Cordelia made the matter serious, formal and requiring him to issue a response. If Angel did not put a stop to this by rejecting Angelus’ declaration that he was going to make Cordelia his lover, it would be the same as giving his consent.

That was why he needed to talk to Cordelia tonight. To find out what she wanted. Was it just Angelus’ depraved idea or did she also want the vampire? He needed to know if he had to tell Angelus to lay off— even if that was what Angel really wanted to say no matter what Cordelia answered. Angel’s initial reaction was to tell Angelus to fuck off and keep his hands off, but his twin insisted that Cordelia was aware of what she was getting into. That she wanted Angelus just as much as he wanted her.

Angel couldn’t say why that pissed him off. It just did. Buffy was still waiting for some kind of response from him. He was going to have to answer soon, because the seconds were ticking away.

Damn, he almost forgot the question. Why did he need to talk to Cordelia? He told Buffy the only thing he could say, “I can’t tell you, Buffy. There is something that involves her and I need to make sure it’s okay. You’ll have to trust me.”

Why wouldn’t she trust him? Buffy wondered, “Is Cordy in trouble?”

“No questions,” Angel pleaded despite the genuine concern in her voice. “Understand I can’t have this conversation here in the Bronze. I have to leave and take Cordelia with me.”

Buffy thought it sounded serious. She could only think of two possibilities as to why he wouldn’t clue her in on the subject. The first was that Cordelia had tried to make another play for Angel and he was letting her down easy. Then there was Angelus. She figured it had to do with his evil twin. The evil twin who was not so evil lately. Just sweetly heroic in a highly suspicious way.

“I’ll get Xander to dance with me,” Buffy strategized. “You talk to Cordy.”

Standing, Angel pulled Buffy into his arms for a hug. “Thank you for understanding.”

He kissed the top of her head and then told her, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Xander was perfectly content to dance with Buffy if Vamp Boy didn’t want to brave the modern music. He returned Cordelia to the table and immediately followed Buffy back onto the dance floor.

“We’re leaving,” Angel informed Cordelia as he picked up her leather jacket from the chair.

“What about them?” She nodded toward Buffy and the Scoobies.

“I told Buffy I needed to talk to you.”

Cordelia looked panicky for a moment. “You didn’t tell her why, did you?” Even she did not know the reason, but she could guess and that was something she didn’t want Buffy nosing into.

“No.” Angel held open the supple brown leather jacket so Cordelia could slip into it.

As his hands came up to curl around her shoulders, Cordy looked back at him. “Are you taking lessons from Angelus, now? Helping girls with their jackets?”

She thought she heard a growl, but Cordelia couldn’t be certain. The noise of the crowd and the music was such that it made conversation difficult. Angel leaned down and told her, “Let’s go. I need to get out of here.”

Angel led her to the Plymouth which had Cordy asking, “What about my car?”

“Either we’ll be back for it or I’ll take care of it myself later on.”

Puzzled, Cordelia shrugged at his response and sat down in the passenger seat. He closed the door for her and stood staring down at her for a moment. She asked him curiously, “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere we can talk about what the fuck you think you’re doing with Angelus.”

While Cordelia had guessed right on the subject matter, the way Angel talked suddenly made her feel like she didn’t want any part of the conversation. She grabbed the handle and gave the door a push. Angel was still there and thrust the door closed again.

“We’re going to have this conversation, Cordelia.”

“You’re scaring me.”

Angel’s mouth curled into a grim knowing smile. “It’s not me you need to be frightened of, Cordy.”

“Then get your ass in the car, Angel. Take me to wherever it is we’re going and let’s have this out once and for all,” Cordelia turned to face the windshield and sat unmoving in her seat.

Once the car was in motion, the silence between them thickened. Neither one was willing or able to talk. Cordelia figured that screaming at Angel like a banshee would not come across as very mature. She’d hold off until she heard what he had to say first. Then she would scream at him. The silence was a cloak of protection to Angel saving him from talking for these few minutes. He didn’t want to talk in the Plymouth, not about this. It would almost be like sullying his car with a distasteful subject.

Pulling up next to a wooded area with a small clearing, Angel turned off the ignition and walked around to let Cordelia out of the car. Before he opened the door, Cordy smoothed her wind-blown hair and asked, “Where are we?”

Glancing over his shoulder for an instant, Angel turned back to hold out a hand for her as she got out. Her high heels were more suited to the dance club than the pebbled side of the road or the turf they would be crossing. “It’s just the small park behind the mansion. I find it a quiet place to think. Usually no interruptions except for the occasional animal.”

Angel had brought her to the mansion. That confused her considering what she figured was coming. Why bring her here, even to the back yard of the mansion, if that was the last place Angel wanted her to be? Cordelia knew he was going to bellow at her about Angelus and the thought that he might want her with him at the mansion.

“Can we—,” Cordelia started only to twist her ankle as her heel caught in the heavy turf. “Ouch!”

“Take off your shoes,” Angel suggested. “There is only tons of thick grass from here to the house.”

Bending down, Cordelia yanked her shoes off her feet and held them in her left hand. She had not forgotten what she was going to say and this little delay only made her defensive. Now she was barefoot for the argument she knew was coming and the loss of three inches of height left her at a disadvantage.

“You know this is an argument waiting to happen. Can we stop dancing around the subject anymore, Angel?”

“That’s the only kind of dancing you don’t enjoy,” Angel smiled trying to put her at ease.

Cordelia smiled back. Her lips twisted wryly. “I’m not sure I like the bunny hop, either.”

Angel cringed at the thought. “Too bad. That sounds like something I could handle.”

Then Cordy pointed out, “Still dancing, Angel.”

“Oh.”

“So we’re here to talk about Angelus,” Cordy started off giving him the task of answering instead of questioning her. “What does that have to do with you and me and our starlit conversation?”

Cordelia had a way of making Angel feel tongue-tied. He managed to say, “I know about the two of you.”

“What’s to know?”

“That Angelus wants you in his bed and you’re not that far from diving into it.”

Cordelia’s brain froze at the idea. “Mmm.”

Was that a nod of agreement or a moan of anticipation, Angel wondered. Either way it sounded like Cordelia was confirming his suspicions. He knew Angelus’ desires for her as the vampire had laid out everything to him earlier in the day, but Angel was not certain about Cordelia’s feelings.

“Is that all you have to say— mmm?”

“Sorry, but you sidetracked me. I was just thinking about what you said,” she confessed.

Angel’s jaw stiffened, “About you in Angelus’ bed?”

“Mmm.”

“Stop doing that!”

Cordelia lifted a finger to her mouth and nibbled lightly at the tip. The action brought Angel’s attention there and he reacted with an unbidden moan as he watched her plump lips suck on the fingertip. Grabbing her wrist, Angel put her hand down to her side and took her shoulders in his hands forcing her concentration to focus back on him.

“Cordy, do you know what you’re doing?”

Sucking in a deep breath, Cordelia had to admit, “No. Not really. I’m sure it’s wrong, but I don’t want to stop it, Angel. He’s been trying so hard to be good. To prove that he can be like you— even without a soul.”

“He’s not me, Cordy,” Angel wasn’t certain if she was hinting at something or if his own imagination was kicking in. “Angelus is still more demon than human.”

“I-I know that, but Angelus is making an effort to prove himself to me. Do you think it’s all an act?”

Shaking his head, Angel confirmed, “No, it’s not an act. Angelus legitimately wants you badly enough to do just about anything to have you.”

Angel sensed the escalating rhythm of her heartbeat as he told her the news. There was a cat-that-got-the-cream look on her face. Pure satisfaction at the thought alone. Despite the proof of her expression, Angel had to ask, “What do you want, Cordelia?”

Hesitating, Cordelia met Angel’s dark chocolate gaze. The moonlight only intensified his look. There had been a time when she would have given a lot to hear Angel ask her that question and hearing it startled her into silence.

“Angel, I—,” the words were lost on her lips.

He pushed her for a response, not realizing that her thoughts had turned to a personal angle. “Tell me, Cordelia,” he demanded. “Is Angelus forcing you into this? Seducing you into giving him what he wants? I know how capable Angelus can be when it comes to seducing women.”

Because you have the same skills, Cordelia realized. She confessed, “I think we’re seducing each other. Angelus is—”

She was going to say something along the lines of the vampire being handsome, or hot, but since his double was the one demanding her answers that seemed like the wrong strategy.

“Angelus is what?”

“The one I want,” Cordelia told him with unblinking honesty. “Is that okay with you?”

“No,” Angel barked out the work causing her to jump. “You shouldn’t be anywhere near the bastard. The Fates may have him on a leash, Cordelia, but who knows if the pain will stop him from going for something he really wants.”

“Such as?”

“Using his fangs on you,” Angel told her knowingly. “Biting your smooth skin would be at the top of his long list.”

“Don’t accuse Angelus of trying his vamp tricks on me until he tries them. How do you know what he’d do?”

“Because—,” Angel’s voice drifted off into the thought that it was what he wanted to do, “—that’s what vampires do, Cordelia. Especially when they have no soul to curtail their instincts.”

“You said it yourself that the Fates’ powers keep him in line. So no biting. Good. I’ll be safe.”

Angel still had his doubts. “Angelus can’t kill you, but he does want you, Cordelia. He’ll wipe out any lasting shred of innocence in those beautiful eyes. Understand what you’re letting yourself in for. He’ll want you everyway there is to have you.”

The vampire’s voice was thick as he sounded out his concerns. Cordelia appeared exited rather than scared at the prospect. Joking, she told him, “Then maybe it will be our turn to make the chandelier swing.”

Groaning, Angel gave her a wry grin, “Buffy can be— enthusiastic.”

“Eew!” Cordelia complained. “No details.”

No problem since Angel wasn’t about to share them. Although some nights he thought he might need to discuss with someone Buffy’s overbearing need to be in control. Since the only one remotely qualified was Rupert Giles, Angel had not reached the point where he was letting it bother him. Not quite.

“Angelus asked me for consent,” he told Cordelia whose eyes widened in response.

“Consent for what?”

“To bed you. To make you his lover. To keep you in the mansion when he wanted.”

Cordelia stuttered a bit in response, her cheeks flushing hotly. “H-he asked you that?”

“Yes.”

“Why would he need to ask you?” Cordelia didn’t understand. “He didn’t ask permission when he came onto me at the Bronze and ended up with Harmony after I turned him down.”

Asking consent was for old-fashioned families and boyfriends asking fathers to take their daughters on dates or fiancés asking fathers for permission to marry. Since none of those situations applied, it came as a shock that Angelus would even bring up the subject to Angel, much less ask permission. Cordelia certainly didn’t think of Angel as a father-figure and she was sure he felt the same way.

“That was when he just wanted a quick fuck, Cordelia. This is about a relationship. About claiming you as his own.”

“Claiming me?” She ignored the crude comment in favor of getting details. “I still don’t understand how you’re involved in any of this.”

Then Angel dropped a bombshell. “Because you were mine first.”

“Nuh-ungh! No way! What fantasy were you acting out?” Cordelia gasped at his words.

“It’s just a vampire custom, Cordy.” Angel tried to calm her down. “Technically, it places the entire Scooby Gang under my protection. You’re all mine.”

“Even Xander?” Cordelia’s eyebrows curved upward.

“Sadly, yes.” Angel laughed. “Though there are many times when he uses those irritating nicknames that I disavow him.”

“So being yours,” Cordelia began, “it’s just a possessive vampire thing.”

Angel lifted his hand to curl a finger around a loose strand of her hair. Wanting to touch her even in this small way while he had the technical right to do so. “You’re mine, Cordy. My responsibility. I claimed you all as my friends and colleagues before Angelus came into his own existence. That is why he has to ask for permission.”

“So you’re agreeing, right?” Concern showed in her eyes. She obviously wanted him to give consent. Angel looked contemplative as though he might choose to say no. “What if you don’t agree and I seduce Angelus anyway?”

Releasing her hair, Angel gave her a smile. “Then you both get punished.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Angel didn’t answer.

“Right?”

“I’m giving my permission, Cordy,” Angel told her reluctantly. “Only if that’s what you really want.”

Cordelia beamed that megawatt smile in his direction and Angel felt certain he was going to burn up under its light. She was happy for the moment, so he was content to let this happen. For now. Angelus had just better stay in good-behavior mode. He was buried in his thoughts when he felt Cordelia fling her arms around his neck hugging him close.

She pressed a warm kiss against his cheek before saying, “I love you for giving Angelus a chance. You won’t regret it.”

Regret it? Angel found that he already did.

Part 8

 Angelus paced across the foyer continuously stealing glances at the front door. This was abominable, he thought. Waiting like this for a woman. A human woman. Cordelia Chase was indeed a luscious specimen, but was she worth the trial and humiliation of having to ask Angel permission to claim her?

Yes, dammit!

Over the past few weeks, Angelus fell into a pattern of behavior that was quite frankly out of the norm. He had stuck to the letter of the rules laid down by the Fates as well as Cordelia’s challenge. At first, it was all a well-acted plan. Even the Scoobies were eating out of his hand. Except for Xander, of course, who had seen more than he should and was suspicious of everything Angelus did around Cordelia.

The vampire had pulled out all the stops and used every bit of his imagination to come up with ways of pleasing Cordelia. Once he had convinced her that the hero tactics were part of his routine, he planned to move into seduction mode. Only something happened and he wasn’t quite certain when or how it occurred.

One day Cordelia stopped assessing his motives and Angelus forgot about his act. Smiles she sent his way came across genuinely. When he returned from Willy’s Bar with crucial information, he felt triumphant that it aided their cause. Cordy no longer shied away from his touch and Angelus stopped fooling himself that he would be satisfied just to breach the invisible wall she put up between them.

There was no doubt that he wanted Cordelia and had told her that fact from the first. What worried him was that this now went beyond lust. Angelus realized that he needed her. The emotion churning in his stomach that clenched the muscles of his shoulders and back until they were tight with tension — it was fear.

Watching the door and listening for footsteps, Angelus hated the feeling. He was once the Scourge of Europe and feared nothing. Darla would roll with laughter if she could see him now. Afraid that Angel would reject his claim on Cordelia. Afraid that she would not want to place herself in his care. It took trust, but had he earned that? Angelus was not so certain. He was not prepared to address the reason the fear existed in the first place.

Angelus suddenly stopped his restless pacing at the sound of the door handle turning. Crossing the threshold Cordelia was followed closely by Angel. The sight of her stunned him. Angelus had not really believed that his twin would bring her to him. The two vampires locked stares for a moment and Angelus realized that Angel was not going to give away one iota of information before he wanted too. Glancing over at Cordelia, her flushed face simply signaled that their discussion had taken place.

“Cordelia—,” Angelus found her name on his lips and stepped forward only to have his twin move in between them.

“Not so fast.”

Angelus frowned at the vampire separating him from Cordelia. It was a dangerous place to be and only the fact that this was the only way he could legitimately claim her stopped Angelus from showing his anger. Realizing that visible fury might threaten negotiations, he let his anger fade.

Now he just marveled, “You brought her.”

“Obviously.”

“Well?” He demanded one of them tell him something. Cordelia was now reacting to his impatience with a little smirk.

His double informed him, “We need to talk, Angelus.”

Behind the souled vampire, Cordelia piped up. “Should I step out? Maybe I should just go into the kitchen.”

Angel turned, placed his hand on the small of her back and led her forward. “No, Cordy. This concerns you too.”

Eyeing the fact that the other vampire was now touching Cordelia, Angelus only felt his tension increase. That had to be a bad sign if Angel was still playing possessive vamp as Cordy would call it. Curling his hands into fists, Angelus clenched them at his side. It wouldn’t do to suddenly knock Angel out on the floor. At least not until he answered him about his decision.

“When you came to me with this request,” Angel declared, “my first reaction was to kill you. Except that I can’t do that as the deal with the Fates binds us. Still, there are far too many reasons why I shouldn’t let this happen.”

Cordelia tilted her head to watch the vampire speak. His expression was blank so it was impossible to tell if Angel was changing his mind or not. She wanted to say he couldn’t take it back. Not now that she had made up her mind. Strangely, she felt the words caught in her throat.

“Your history is something we don’t need to discuss. We all know what you’ve done in the past,” Angel went on. “Cordelia feels that you have tried to make a change and that you are legitimately joining in rather than playing some kind of game. I do hope that is true.”

“True enough,” he confirmed. “What is your answer, Angel? Yes or no? I don’t need to hear about your angsty decision-making process.”

Angel laughed harshly. “You’ll hear more than that before I’m through tonight. Angelus, I realized one thing that turned my original decision in the other direction. Considering my own relationship with Buffy it would be hypocritical of me to stop this when you both want it.”

“Good point, Angel,” Cordelia agreed with a widening grin that told Angelus everything he needed to know about her wishes. “Glass houses and all.”

It still seemed like a strange prospect to Cordelia that Angel had anything to do with their business, but Angelus obviously felt that his twin’s permission was necessary. Cordelia was all too aware of the cool hand on her back that made her skin feel hot beneath the fabric of her dress. She wished that Angel would hurry up with his speech, lecture or whatever this was so she could go to Angelus. The idea that being near Angelus would quell her sudden nervousness instead of being in a comfort zone with Angel was rather turned around, but the realization kept her smiling.

“Angelus, I have just one demand in return for my agreement to your request,” his double announced.

What demand? Angelus wasn’t certain he would agree to any demands. Especially if they involved Cordelia.

“I don’t want Cordy hurt,” Angel told him with a dangerous gleam. “Not in any way.”

Quick to agree, Angelus replied, “I’m not planning to hurt Cordy.”

“Not intentionally,” snapped Angel.

“Not at all,” Cordelia put in and wondered if Angel was just talking physical or emotional pain as well. Angelus had dealt out both in the past, but that seemed to be over.

“You still have a lot to learn about vampires,” warned Angel as he continued to keep his hand on her. “Cordelia, promise me that you will come to me if things get out of hand. You can tell me anything.”

“Stop frightening me,” Cordy demanded hotly, balling her hands into fists and propping them on her hips. With an exasperated sigh, she fumed, “Angelus isn’t going to hurt me. I won’t need your help to handle him, because I’ll kick his ass myself if he ever tries his vamp tricks on me.”

Angelus chuckled at her response. Feisty, beautiful Cordelia. He willed Angel to go away so that he could follow through with his need to claim her tonight, but his twin appeared to be planted in place.

“Cordy, you have to know that there is no going back,” Angel told her. “Not after you are consciously and willingly accepting his claim. Angelus isn’t going to let you back out of this decision.”

“He’s right,” Angelus agreed. “That means you better be damned careful about who flirts with you, because I might take it too seriously. If you can’t handle the fact, Cordelia, then I suggest you turn tail and run.”

Why the hell did I tell her that? She might do it.

Glancing back and forth at the two vampires, Cordelia remembered that this was not an easy decision on her part, but it was one she had already made. “What’s with the vampire tag team? Angel, this isn’t Father Knows Best. Surely, I don’t have to point out the fact that I can get fatherly lectures at home. I don’t need them from you.”

Angel’s jaw tightened as his twin let out a snort of laughter.

“As for you,” Cordelia whipped her attention over to Angelus, “get over the vampire possessive act right now. I won’t put up with it. There is this little thing called trust that you’ll have to get acquainted with.”

Now it was Angel’s turn to be amused, but it brought down Cordelia’s wrath. “Butt out of my business, Angel. I get the fact that you had to have this— bleh!— property exchange, but I want a real relationship with Angelus, not a carbon copy of your post-slayage bedroom antics with Buffy.”

Gasping aloud as soon as the words left her mouth, Cordelia reeled in shock at what she had said. Even if it was how she felt about the vampire’s interactions with the Slayer, the way they chose to conduct their late night liaisons was not her business. “Angel! I’m—”

There was definitely a growl sounding from Angel’s throat drowning out her attempt at an apology. The space between them vanished as Cordelia found herself yanked up hard against his body causing the pressure points at her breasts and hips to ache in response. Angel’s free hand fisted in her hair holding her still. Cordelia stared up for an instant into the blazing heat of his dark gaze just before his mouth descended to cover her parted lips. Clinging to his arms, Cordelia moaned against the fierce passion of the kiss that pressed and held her to him for only seconds of time.

Moments away from starting a bloodbath, Angelus envisioned rending the vampire limb from limb for daring to touch what he wanted. Even she might be punished for the silky moan that poured from her throat as flashing images in his mind detailed suggestions. With barely contained fury Angelus reigned himself in, now glancing daggers at his double.

It was only the fact that until Angel officially turned Cordelia over to him, he had the right to do anything he damn well pleased. Vampire custom called for a token ritual to seal the deal. This had to be it. This had better be it.

Abruptly pulling back, Angel met her startled and confused gaze. Then his voice sounded and somehow she heard him through the staccato pounding of her heartbeat, “Goodbye, Cordelia.”

Feeling acutely aware of the loss of his touch, Cordelia could only watch as Angel moved away from her. A silent message passed between the vampires full of acknowledgment, fading anger and resolve. Cordelia realized that Angel no longer blocked her path toward Angelus. In fact, the other vampire was already approaching. There was a look of smug satisfaction on his face replacing the rage that was there only moments before.

“Your heart is still racing a mile a minute,” Angelus told her as he held out a hand.

Still touching her fingers to her swollen lips, Cordelia tentatively reached out the other for Angelus. “I-I didn’t expect Angel to do that.”

“Neither did I,” Angelus admitted sending his twin a narrowed glance.

Angel already had his hand on the door handle. The urge to go out and kill something had returned and he almost felt sorry for any vamps or demons that crossed his path tonight. Having his head filled with battle tactics and his hands stained with dust and blood would be a welcome diversion from what he knew was going to occupy his thoughts.

“I’m going out,” he informed the pair stepping into the night. “You’ll have the mansion to yourselves until sunrise.”
 

The front door slammed hard behind him causing Cordelia to jump in response. Angel had kissed her and told her goodbye. She felt the pinprick of tears threatening, but blinked them back without understanding what caused them. “What was that all about?”

“Angel doesn’t like to share his things much less give them away,” Angelus gave her a crooked smile.

“Tough noogies!” Cordelia dropped her hand away from his to tuck the loose waves of her dark chestnut hair behind her ears. Poking a finger into her breastbone, she protested, “Living, breathing human person here. Not a thing. Not a possession.”

Angelus wanted to roar out the fact than she belonged to him now. Controlling that urge, he suggested smoothly, “Don’t lovers belong to each other? I’ll be yours if you’ll be mine.”

That wasn’t quite how it worked in the vampire world, Angelus thought, but the hazel eyes that were so brightly annoyed flashed impishly at the idea. Then she was back on her tirade, “Angel can’t claim that rule. He’s turning into more of a Jekyll and Hyde than he was when you two were one person. What an ass! Kissing me in front of you.”

“You enjoyed it,” Angelus drolled edging a bit closer.

Cordelia shrugged, “Duh! He caught me by surprise. Angel has never even attempted to kiss me before, not with Miss Slays-a-Lot around. Now he does it? Guys aren’t supposed to lock lips with their brother’s girlfriend.”

“Brother?” Angelus latched onto the word as if it stunned him. It even overshadowed the fact that Cordelia referred to herself as his girlfriend. In his own mind, they were already far beyond that pale descriptor.

“What else would you call him, Angelus?” Cordy asked him seriously. “Besides your double, mirror image or the Good Twin?”

With a smirk Angelus warned her, “Don’t get me started. I could name names all night long. In fact, I could have fun with that.”

“Right now, so could I,” Cordelia felt her lower lip pooch out into a pout. “Why kiss me like that? Why now? It’s just that Angel has never treated me that way before.”

Though something inside him wanted to tell Cordelia that she could drop the subject any time, he decided to be honest. Cupping her cheek so that she looked up at him, Angelus commented, “You’d be surprised at what goes through Angel’s mind sometimes. As for why now— it’s the last time Angel will get to touch you without my permission.”

Cordelia tried to process what Angelus was telling her, but it seemed that Angel had been right about one thing tonight. Grmph! “I do have a lot to learn about vampires.”

“I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

“Not just about vampires, I hope,” Cordelia suggested shyly, but added on a saucy wink.

“Kiss me, Cordy,” Angelus quirked his eyebrows with the suggestion. “Let’s see where your lessons need to begin.”

They hadn’t kissed since that night at the warehouse and Cordelia did not count that as she was fighting against it at the time. Because of it, Angelus hadn’t gotten the full effect of her kisses either. Cordelia might not be overly experienced in some things, but kissing was definitely her specialty.

As Cordelia smoothed her hands up the muscled path of his arms and shoulders, she felt a rush of adrenalin in her veins. Just the anticipation alone was twisting her into knots and she couldn’t wait for more. Cradling Angelus’ head, she threaded her fingers through his hair and stood on tiptoes despite the fact that her shoes were back on her feet. Leaning a bit, he accommodated her, but waited for Cordelia to make the first move curious to see how she would handle it.

“Angelus,” his name being whispered against his mouth felt like a soft caress in itself just before Cordelia touched her lips to his.

Soft velvet kisses explored the shape of his mouth teasing lightly with brief strokes along his lips. Angelus held her loosely, his hands making slow movements along her spine as he enjoyed the tenderness and innocence of her delivery. A moan sounded in his throat as the tip of her tongue swept across the slant of his mouth coaxing his lips open just with the slightest hint of wanting.

Cordelia smiled against his mouth now capturing his bottom lip and darting her tongue along its soft inner flesh. Her arms moved to encircle his neck pulling herself closer into his embrace. His hard body felt incredible against hers and even better as his large hands pressed into her back and hips to tuck her tightly against him. Now kissing him hungrily, Cordelia touched her tongue to his eliciting a simultaneous reaction from them both.

They parted for an instant staring deeply into each other’s eyes. Angelus decided that the time for letting Cordelia play was at an end, though they could try that again later. Right now, he needed to taste her. Capturing her lips, his mouth prowled hers hungrily as she let out a throaty moan. Her nails curled against the back of his neck prompting him to give her more.

Angelus felt the warm slip of her tongue into his mouth massaging his and darting up to glide across the roof of his mouth just behind his teeth. His entire body jerked at the stimulation across the area where his fangs were housed while in his human visage. The fact that Cordelia acted instinctively only fueled his desire as the sensations combined with her aroused scent, her taste and the feel of her lush body beneath his hands. Angelus slipped his hands down to curve around her bottom giving the firm cheeks a soft squeeze before sliding over her hips and upward to tease the outer curves of her breasts.

Panting for air, Cordelia didn’t want to be separated from those deep, wet kisses. Feeling his hands against her, she needed to touch him as well, but kept getting distracted by the sensations he evoked. His mouth felt impossibly good against her lips and the way his hard frame angled in just the right places to accommodate her curves made it seem like they were made for each other.

For the past weeks Angelus had courted her with Old World charm, but it was only in the last few days that his touches turned teasing garnering a response that Cordelia could not deny. She’d expected his kisses long before now. Wanted them, but was determined not to give in after her vehement speech behind the Bronze. She had meant her words at the time and did not believe that Angelus could follow through with his promise to change. That underestimation of his determination resulted in surprise.

More than that.

Cordelia thought she was falling in love with the vampire. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be here. Vampire customs and traditions aside, there was no way Cordy would agree to be Angelus’ lover if her feelings weren’t tied in so tightly that she knew they would not quickly fade. He wanted her, that much was certain.

As Angel suggested, his actions proved that he would do just about anything to have her, but was it anything more than a desire to possess her? Was Angelus even capable of loving her in return? Angel loved Buffy, but was it his soul that allowed that emotion?

The random thoughts swirled in her head as Cordelia lost herself to anything but the feel of Angelus’ hands and mouth. Writhing against him, she let out a whimper of protest as his lips left hers to travel across her cheek. He sucked her earlobe into his mouth earring and all flicking his tongue across it. Then whispering, “Baby, we need to stop.”

What? No! The protesting thoughts projected as a moan.

Opening her eyes as she felt the cool air rush in between them, Cordelia gazed in heavy-lidded confusion at Angelus as he set them apart. “Why?”

Angelus’ well-kissed lips curled into a smirk, “Because you deserve more than a quick fuck on the hardwood floor.”

The image popping into her head of their clothes strew across the floor and his nude body covering hers only added to her arousal. Angelus obviously sensed it because his grin only widened. Even his brash crudeness thrilled her. Besides the shock factor of Angelus’ choice of words, it was just something else that separated him from his twin. Angel rarely spoke with such blatant crassness unless he was in one of his rare foul moods. Cordelia found that it didn’t bother her at all. In fact, just the sound of Angelus’ voice was such a heady turn-on that it didn’t matter what he said.

From a first real kiss to a fuck on the floor? Moving a little fast, Chase? They had already had a month of mental foreplay. Maybe it wasn’t fast enough. This was the first time she had ever not considered stopping. Didn’t want to stop, but then Angelus wasn’t saying no just creating anticipation.

Cordelia’s two experiences with intercourse had lacked creativity and were over faster than it took to anticipate an orgasm much less have one. Groping sessions in the closet with Xander were a lot more satisfying than what she had done with her other boyfriends.
The thought of Angelus touching her and entering her body was enough to excite her and Cordelia had no doubt he would do exactly as he’d promised. He was going to make her body sing and heaven help her because she wanted him to do it.

As Cordelia’s impish smile returned and the tip of her tongue appeared between her teeth, Angelus resisted the temptation to forget his plans and do exactly as he suggested they should not. As he contemplated his answer, Cordy raised one foot off of the floor running her hand down past her short skirt and along her leg in order to remove her shoe. She let it drop with a clickety-clack sound that signaled her last vestige of shy reserve. The other shoe followed.

Sending him a naturally sultry look, Cordelia inquired standing barefoot before him, “So what do you have in mind?”

Angelus had the notion that if he watched closely enough that he would see her radiating passion like a silent siren song. Exuding it from every gorgeous cell of her nubile body, Cordelia Chase had reeled him in faster than she could say Salty Goodness. Even if he was just playing the evil subconscious demon back then, Angelus had taken notice. Now he was finally going to start fulfilling every single one of his fantasies and bring Cordelia along for the ride.

Long before he touched her, Angelus recognized the promise of what they could have together— what they would have together— and it had a helluva lot more to it than just rollicking in bed. Though once they got there, Angelus wasn’t certain if he would let her out anytime soon. Because of that, the vampire was determined to maintain his plans for the rest of the evening.

“Let’s go to the kitchen.”

Cordelia’s mouth dropped open at the unexpected suggestion. She thought he would say bedroom. “You’re hungry now?”

“C’mon,” urged the vampire tugging on her hand.

“So we’re here,” Cordelia glanced around at the spotlessly clean kitchen. Joking at his earlier comment, “You prefer the tile instead of the hardwood floor?”

Angelus promised, “You’ll get to see what I prefer a little later. Right now we’re going to conduct the house tour. As I recall, you didn’t get past the kitchen and dining room the last time.”

A tour now?

Maybe she should be grateful that Angelus didn’t want to drag her immediately to the bedroom, but Cordelia had already made up her mind about being with him tonight. This delay was making her feel like anticipation wasn’t all it was worked up to be. “Okay, my vampire guide. I wanna see where the tour ends.”

It wasn’t a secret. Angelus wanted Cordelia to understand just in case she had any last minute reservations. “It ends in our bedroom.”

Our bedroom? A heady thrill sent shivers out across her system as Cordelia met his gaze, her eyes gleaming brightly with emotion. “I think I like this tour.”

Angelus’ eyes promised pleasure as he smiled in response. Then the vampire proceeded to open cabinets and drawers showing her that the kitchen was fully equipped. Opening up the refrigerator, he revealed a huge amount of food, soft drinks and juices stocked in a separate area from the packets of blood for his own and Angel’s consumption. Cordelia stared at everything with the growing realization that Angelus had prepared for her to come to the mansion. It hadn’t been like this when she had popped into satisfy her own curiosity the last time despite the fact that Angelus had said Angel kept sodas in the refrigerator for Buffy.

“Wow! I-I can’t believe that you bought all of that food.” Cordelia sounded out with an accompanying gasp. She’d have to eat practically every meal at the mansion just so none of it would spoil. Did he want her here that often? The fact that her parents frequently went out of town and were currently on a European business trip meant it was possible to be here that way, but Cordelia was uncertain that was what Angelus intended.

“I bought everything I remembered that you liked.” Maybe he shouldn’t have admitted that since finding out those favorites involved stalking her from shadowy corners.

“I see that,” Cordelia looked at knowingly. “You’re such a lurker, but there’s just one problem.”

Frowning, Angelus stared into the refrigerator to see if he had forgotten something vital. Finding nothing, he turned back to her with a worried stare. “What?”

“I can’t cook,” she confessed sheepishly.

Shutting the door of the refrigerator, Angelus pulled her over to rest her back against its cool surface. His mouth nibbled at the curved shell of her ear, “I can.”

“You can?” Cordelia muttered the question. Despite the distraction of his tongue darting along the sensitive skin right behind her earlobe, she queried curiously, “A vampire on a liquid diet can cook real food?”

“Long story,” Angelus lifted his head. Promising with a smile, “I won’t let you starve.”

“Good, because I think I’ll need lots of energy,” Cordy giggled at the thought of keeping up with his vampire stamina. Wondering if everything that she’d read was true, Cordelia felt another zing of anticipation. Teasing, “You know what they say about vampires.”

“Yes, I do,” Angelus responded deciding that he could no longer wait to give her just a taste of what was to come. “Before the night is over, I’ll have to ask you if you think it’s true.”

“Pfft! I’ll still have the energy to talk?” Cordelia rolled her eyes at him suggesting that it was probably a false rumor.

Angelus caressed Cordelia’s cheek with a whispered touch, his knuckles drifting gently across the curve of her face. Such a soft sensation from that powerful hand as it reached out in admiration of her beauty. Turning her face towards his touch, she momentarily closed her eyes at the simple pleasure it evoked.

“Don’t shut me out,” Angelus insisted that she keep them open. “Those hazel eyes are too expressive to be hidden. Let me see them, Cordy. Turn them on me.”

Her lashes flickered open to reveal her hungry gaze. So he wanted her eyes on him? No problem. Those midnight eyes and the way his mouth curled into a sensual smile made Cordelia heave a heady sigh as she realized how badly she wanted to touch him too. Then she saw her hands had already crept up to his chest rubbing along the hard contours of his muscled torso.

“You feel so good,” Cordelia breathed a throaty response to the sensation.

At the sound of longing in her voice, Angelus curled his fingers around her chin. His own body was charged with need at her touch and his eyes focused on the bowed contours of her lips. “I want your mouth on mine.”

No sooner had the vampire voiced his desire than his mouth crashed down onto hers with a rumbling moan. There was no waiting for a sign of consent, just the coaxing coolness of his lips against hers. The firm swipe of his mouth demanded entry and Cordelia quickly responded by parting her lips.

Angelus began to taste her warm sweetness with his tongue. At first, only with short tantalizing touches signaling her to mimic his motions. Then deeper, massaging her tongue with his. Swallowing her little moues of pleasure as he tucked his hard body into hers and pressed her up against the refrigerator door.

One hand curved around her hip holding Cordelia close to the proof of his stirring need. The other left her chin to travel across the curve of her breast, his palm testing her fullness and the pointed reaction of her puckering nipple.

Cordelia’s hips rocked gently across his in an almost unconscious effort to get closer to what her body craved. While part of his brain told Angelus to lift her up against the fridge door and give her what they both wanted, he also had a calculatingly patient side that countered the idea. Still, the vampire decided he wasn’t leaving this kitchen without giving Cordelia a little taste of what was to come— and come again.

As his hand left her breast, Cordy bit back a protest quelling it only because Angelus’ mouth had moved down to the pulse of her throat. Soft smooches and his flicking tongue stimulated the smooth flesh. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Cordelia realized she had a vampire at her throat, but felt no fear. The rousing sensations seemed to travel straight to her loins.

Then a swift move of Angelus’ hands lifted Cordelia’s short skirt around her waist. Now wanting to touch her more intimately, he moved just enough to allow room for his hands to explore. For the first minute as Angelus’ hands wandered from the plump curves of her breasts down to her supple thighs, Cordelia said nothing in favor of focusing on the way he was making her feel. Then his fingers teased the elastic edges of her panties though his eyes never left hers. Angelus let his knuckles brush across her covered mound eliciting a shudder and another throaty cry.

Angelus watched every reaction to his touch from her flickering expressions and flushed skin to the changing rate of her breathing. She was so fucking responsive without even trying hard. The thought that Cordelia was his now produced a thrill that he felt all the way down to his loins.

“Going somewhere?” Cordelia asked with a not quite steady voice as she watched the vampire begin a slow descent into a crouching position.

“Not far.”

Those large hands molded her curves as they traveled down across her hips to massage her firm thighs. Cordelia felt a momentary urge to press them closed against invasion, but the movements of his fingers coaxed her to relax to his touch. She leaned back into the refrigerator door staring downward through the dip of her cleavage to watch him.

When Cordelia was almost convinced that he was just teasing her, stimulating her thighs and calves, memorizing the shape of her legs, Angelus made a swift, but sure move. On an upward sweep, his fingertips pressed higher curling into the elastic band of her silk panties. Then in the countering downward move, he slipped them off, sliding them over her thighs. The guiding touch at her calf signaled Cordelia to lift her foot and she stepped out of the panties one leg after the other.

“Oh!” A startled cry came forth at the sensation of the cold door against her bare ass. She repeated the sound as a longer moan when Angelus pressed his pursed lips directly onto her neatly trimmed muff of dark curls.

“Tell me how you touch yourself, Cordy,” he lifted his gaze to her eyes. “I know that you do.”

Says who? Doesn’t everyone?

Angelus’ hand slipped inside her parting thighs cupping the heated flesh. Angelus didn’t wait for her response to his comments, but came back to a standing position trailing her silky panties along the way. Gripping the top of the refrigerator, he leaned in close to Cordelia’s side giving him access for the hand nestled against her intimate folds.

Momentarily speechless, Cordelia gaped silently at the vampire, too focused on the sensation of his still fingers to form coherent thought. Then Angelus slid them along her slick folds moving gently back and forth edging closer, but not quite touching the swollen bud of her clitoris.

“You’re so warm and wet,” Angelus remarked huskily. Cordelia’s hips bucked forward in response to his sliding fingers as they pressed into her opening. “So tight.”

“Angelus,” gasping out his name as he added another finger, Cordelia felt the heel of his hand pressing firmly against her clit.

“Like that?”

“Nnngh-huh!” Clutching at his shoulder, her head rested on her hand as she leaned back on him and the refrigerator door. “Oh, yesssss.”

Expertly, Angelus maneuvered his fingers and hand building her pleasure at his touch. The steady sound of his voice continued to titillate Cordelia as well. “You’ll be so snug and slick when I’m inside you. All of me…filling you…stretching you to the fullest you’ve ever been.”

A throaty laugh of delight sounded as Cordelia lifted her eyes to his, both pleasure and merriment entwined in their depths. “How would you know?”

“Trust me, I know these things.” Angelus nibbled at her earlobe as he continued to work her slick flesh below.

“Mmm!” Cordelia moved her hips in a rhythm with his fingers. “Aaahhh! Touch me there again. A little harder.”

Glad to hear her making requests, Angelus asked, “Where?”

“There.”

His lips twisted into a grin as he continued to touch her anywhere except the place she wanted his fingers. Demanding that she be more specific and preferably graphic. “Tell me where you want my touch.”

“My clit. Now. Do it, Angelus.” Her urgent command came out a little too forcefully as Angelus realized Cordelia was getting a little closer to orgasm than he planned to bring her at the moment. Pulling his fingers away, he lifted them to her mouth painting the sticky fluid across her lips. “I don’t think so.”

“What?” Cordy protested with a soft wail just before licking her lips.

Angelus held her lower jaw, turning her face and causing her to part her lips again. With a low rumble in his chest, the vampire added, “That’s mine.”

Cool lips and tongue took in the combined essence that was Cordelia. Just a brief taste with the kiss and then Angelus commented, “We haven’t finished our tour.”

Fuck the tour. Cordelia’s first complaint snapped in her head quickly followed by a demanding thought, Just fuck me.

Hearing her own voice, Cordelia reeled as she followed thought with the quick utterance that left Angelus smirking at her choice of words. A little crudity from her pretty mouth was a turn-on. “Soon, baby. We have other games to play first, but I promise you that you’ll be well-fucked by morning.”

Egomaniac.

Having already stick her foot in her mouth, Cordelia saw no reason why she shouldn’t ask, “Why wait until then? The tour can wait. Let’s do it now.”

Tugging her skirt down over her hips, Angelus silently led Cordelia out of the kitchen into the adjacent living room. A large sectional sofa and other furniture were arranged in front of a large empty fireplace. The entertainment center had a large stereo system. Cordelia let her gaze wander over the room hoping that this would be brief. Her bare thighs were still rubbing together as she felt her own moisture pooling at their apex.

“Nice room,” she commented blandly. “Let’s go.”

Angelus couldn’t believe he was actually holding her back. He wanted to do this right, not rush her into it. “You’re not here to be my sex kitten.”

“Meow?” She eyed him with a teasing smile.

Fuck it! Now he had to touch her again, dammit. All she had to do was glance his way and he wanted her. Tugging her down into his lap on the couch, Angelus proceeded to kiss her breathless. His fingers curled into the waves of her hair just short of pulling and held her face close to his. Cordelia’s lips swelled under the thundering passion of his kiss as he alternated hard moves and soft caresses. Voraciously, he lined her lips with his own and had no need to coax her mouth to open for it parted on another throaty trill.

Angelus swept his tongue inside, darting in and out imagining how soft and moist, how tight and hot she would be surrounding his cock as he fucked her. Cordelia’s knees were on either side of his thighs. He yanked her down hard onto his lap fitting his growing erection into the juncture of her crotch and released a growl at the barrier of his leather pants.

His hands swept down the curve of her back to grasp her hips guiding her to move against him. Cordelia’s fingers curled into his shirtfront holding tight. Her skirt had ridden up and she felt her slick folds sliding across the smooth leather riding along a long hard ridge. He felt good. So good. She wanted more. Wanted to touch him everywhere.

Staring at her hands through lust-filled eyes, Cordelia was hit by an overwhelming urge and she went with it. Both hands yanked the buttoned edges of his shirt ripping it open. Buttons popped randomly, one hitting Angelus in the face. With a start, Angelus lifted his mouth away to gaze down at his exposed chest.

“Oops!” Cordelia looked as surprised as he did, but the sight of his bare torso was an instant distraction.

Angelus thrilled at her aggressive move, which was followed by her attempt to press her hands on his cool flesh. Grabbing her wrists, he held them behind her. Taking them both in one hand and using the other to press her closer, he felt her breasts crush against his chest. Then he was kissing her again, devouring her mouth as Cordelia rocked against his loins. Whenever Angelus let her up for air, Cordelia sounded out her escalating pleasure. “Mmm! Nngh. Angelus.”

She was clinging to him and staring starry-eyed at his mouth when he finally broke away. A husky protest moaned from the back of her throat eliciting a knowing chuckle from the vampire. Releasing her wrists, he commented, “Baby, I know you’re a screamer just by listening to your needy little moans. I think you won’t have a voice left by sunrise.”

“You are such an egomaniac,” Cordy slapped his chest and then found herself rubbing her hand along the hard wall of his chest. “Never gonna happen. This never-ending tour of yours gives me too many chances to rest.”

Lifting them up off the couch, Angelus set her back on her feet. Continuing his tour of the mansion, he pointed out needlessly, “This is the living room.”

“Big problem,” revealed Cordelia now sorry that she had reminded him about the damn tour. “There is no television, no VCR and no DVD player in here. These are human necessities. Vital for survival.”

Truthfully, Angelus had not even thought about it. Angel was more of a reader and he was never one to occupy himself with televised amusements when he could create them for himself. “I can fix that.”

Laughing at his quick response, Cordelia told him that she did not expect him to buy things just to please her. A serious look came over the vampire’s face as he responded by saying, “From now on this is your home too, Cordelia.”

Listening to the way he phrased it, Cordelia was a little flabbergasted. “You want me to move in with you?”

Angelus frowned at the confusion in her voice. “I know your parents will still want and expect you to be at their house when they’re in town, but I hope that you’ll spend the rest of the time here with me.”

“I’m only seventeen,” she reminded him half-seriously.

Was she implying that he was a cradle-snatching demon? “Cordelia, you’re human and going to stay that way. I want every second of time you have to give me.”

Cordelia felt a little dizzy at the prospect of spending that much time with Angelus. Not that she didn’t want too. She had not expected him to feel the same way. Trying to lighten the suddenly heavy atmosphere, she joked, “Next thing you know I’ll be barefoot and pregnant.”

Laughing, Angelus glanced down at the floor where her bare toes were curled into the carpet. “One out of two isn’t bad.”

Then he was suddenly serious, asking her, “Can you do that, Cordy? Be here with me when you can?”

“Yes, I want that,” she answered truthfully.

The relief that came over him surprised the vampire. Cordelia evoked such emotions in him that he had never felt before. Not without the accompaniment of the soul. He hadn’t thought it possible. After Angelus had been freed the first time when Angel found his one moment of perfect happiness with Buffy Summers, he had gone on a tirade just to avenge himself against the feelings the blonde had awakened within his souled self.

Now Angelus wondered if the soul had shielded him from the full effect of those emotions because the feelings stirring within him seemed overwhelming in comparison.

The idea of it confused him and Angelus hated that, but not enough to give up Cordelia. If he had to put up with these damned emotions getting in the way then he’d do that as long as he could keep her near. Maybe he was just being possessive, but Angelus truly had no intention of ever letting her go. Still, it was good to know that Cordelia wanted to be here.

With Angelus’ gaze affixed on her so intently, Cordelia suddenly realized the importance of this grand tour of the mansion. He was showing her around her new home away from home. “So what’s next, Angelus?”

“We just take one day at a time, baby.”

“Yeah, but I meant with the tour.” Cordelia pointed out with a little grin.

“Oh.”

Score one for the home team. Letting out a laugh, Cordelia darted into the hall and went into the next room.

“This is Angel’s space,” Angelus followed behind her.

Bookshelves full of musty old tomes and newer books covered the walls while a huge mahogany desk dominated the rest of the room. Walking further into the study, Cordy could picture Angel sitting behind the desk with his feet up reading through some boring old book. Maybe just sitting here in the dark brooding.

“I’m guessing you don’t spend much time in here,” Cordelia commented. “You called it Angel’s space.”

“Action guy here,” explained the vamp. “I’d rather be outside killing something than brooding about it. Or researching for that matter. I really hate that.”

“Join the club,” Cordelia muttered. Then sending him a sideways glance as she walked her fingers across the flat surface of the desk, she added, “I meant about the research, not the killing part.”

Nodding, Angelus got that without saying.

Curious, Cordelia suddenly asked him, “Why does Angel need such a big desk? Not like he has a job or bills to pay.”

The desk actually came with the house. Angelus suggested, “Maybe it has other uses.”

Catching the gleam in his eyes, Cordy arched an eyebrow. “Like what for instance?”

Angelus stalked up to her from across the room, lifting her to sit on the desk. Holding onto her bare thighs, he pulled her forward and then separated them to move right on in. “Getting closer.”

“I like close,” she muttered against his mouth.

Winding her arms around Angelus’ neck, Cordelia felt herself fall into the gentle tug of his lips. This kiss came softer than the last, but roused her again to a near fever pitch as it teased and touched and tasted in little greedy bits. Her breasts ached for his touch and as if she had begged him, Angelus’ hands lifted up to wrap around her firm globes. Letting out a loud moan, Cordy felt rather than saw his mouth kiss its way down her neck toward her aching breasts. He kissed her through the barrier of her clothes, but as his mouth closed over one peak Cordelia let out a cry of pleasure.

She had a fist full of his short hair as she clutched him to her. The other arm propped her against the desk while her legs wrapped around his waist tugging him even closer.

Angelus moved a hand under her body-hugging shirt caressing the smooth skin of her abdomen before moving up to rub his thumb over her silk covered nipple. Then he pulled the shirt off over her head tossing it to the floor. His hands quickly returned to her breasts letting his fingers roam over the silk bra and watching her large nipples poke up against it.

He was about to suggest that they start upstairs when Cordelia’s hands moved down his bare chest to hover just above his leather belt.

“C-Can I touch you?”

Her question went strait to his groin. Hell yes she could touch him. Now, in fact. “Don’t ask permission, baby. Just do what you want and trust that I’ll let you know when you’re out of line.”

That sounded both delicious and scary at the same time, she decided. Biting her lip in wanton anticipation, Cordelia unbuckled Angelus’ belt. Pausing in contemplation of the moment, she waggled her index finger around his navel before reaching for the button on his pants.

The prominent bulge made it all too clear that Angelus had not exaggerated when saying he would stretch and fill her. While on his lap, Cordelia had felt the size of him and of course had Harmony’s description to go on. Apparently, Harm wasn’t handing her a fish story. Now Cordy no longer wanted naughty imaginings. She wanted to see and touch.

Undoing the zipper, the back of her hand accidentally slid over the front of his pants and caused his penis to jerk sharply. Sucking in a deep unnecessary breath of air in reaction to the sensation, Angelus kept his gaze locked on Cordelia awaiting her next move. Except that her next move was to pull her hands away and lean back on the desk suddenly not certain that this was a good idea.

“Touch me,” Angelus guided her hands back to his chest. A safer zone for his alternately playful and skittish siren. Her heart was fluttering in fearful excitement. “There is nothing you can’t do to me, baby.”

Cordelia knew that it was silly, but she was suddenly shy again. After crawling all over him, practically swallowing his tongue and tearing open his shirt, she was a little afraid of what was going to happen next. Angelus sensed the fear rising beneath the scent of her arousal. He didn’t want that. Once maybe, but not today.

“Touch me. Just reach down and do it,” his voice softened, but Cordelia seemed certain she wanted to wait. Angelus didn’t want her to be fearful of his body. He decided Cordy needed to see what she was going to be getting soon. “Then watch me do it.”

Pushing his leather pants down around his hips, Angelus exposed the semi-erect state of his penis to her wide-eyed gaze. “You’re— so big.”

Angelus fisted his cock, running his fingers up to the crowning tip and back again to the base. At least Cordelia was talking again. Never a good sign when she clammed up. “You might as well get used to this bad boy because soon you’re gonna get fucked by it.”

He was goading her out of her shy response, knowing that her natural defenses would not allow her to take it in silence. While her mouth fell agape, Angelus smirked at her all the while stroking his rapidly engorging member. Letting out a moan, Angelus watched her through hooded eyes.

“You selfish bastard!” Cordelia exploded. “Jerking off. Teasing me. Stopping what you were doing in the kitchen.”

“What was I doing again?”

Cordelia grumped as she realized where he was leading her. “Touching me.”

“I want your hands on me, Cordy.”

Then Angelus was kissing her again, distracting her from self-doubts she had no need for. The hands that were clutching at the edges of his open shirt transferred to his chest, her fingertips brushing across his nipples. As he let out a moan in response, Cordelia grew bolder moving the flat of one palm down his taut abdomen to close around the wide girth of Angelus’ erection.

Covering her hand, Angelus guided her in her first strokes and then released his fingers to concentrate on touching her. Cordelia leaned closer into his kiss marveling at the dual sensations of his potent kiss and the feel of the steel velvet of his erection in her hand.

“You’re so hard,” she whispered against his mouth. “Angelus?”

Groaning out, “Yes, baby?”

“When is this damn tour gonna end?” Cordelia removed her hand from his penis and leaned back on the desk letting her legs swing loose on either side of him.

“You’re stopping?” Angelus growled furiously.

Cordelia shrugged. “I really wanted to see those etchings.”

Reminded of his intentions to finish what he started, Angelus actually wished Cordelia would finish what she started. Almost painfully erect, the vampire tucked himself back into his leather pants and zipped them up. Now there was no longer an almost about it. He needed to get the pants off real soon or he was either going to bust a seam or injure himself.

Angelus held out a hand to her. Commanding, “Off the desk. Now.”

“We’re going somewhere?”

Not answering Angelus took her around the rest of the ground floor areas that were habitable, Cordy had to hold back her laughter at the increasing speed of the tour. He showed her the music room, though barely pointed out the direction of the old servant’s quarters and laundry room. Then they were on their way upstairs. Trying to keep up with him, Cordelia was happy that she was in great shape. Vamp speed on the stairs was a little much, so she slowed him down.

“Did I ever tell you that your butt looks great in leather?” Cordelia’s question had Angelus pausing on the second level instead of continuing on upstairs. It allowed her to catch up.

“Yes, actually I think you did.”

Thinking about it, Cordelia realized he was right. “Well it is definitely a fact.”

Grinning at her, Angelus realized he might as well give her the low-down on their current location since they had stopped here. “This floor belongs to Angel.”

“Can we look?” Cordelia asked, suddenly buzzing with curiosity on top of her other aroused senses.

Shaking his head, “No. You’ll have to get his okay.”

“Pfft! He won’t mind,” she told him and was already roaming down the hall. “Just a peek.”

Angelus didn’t tell her that the last thing he needed was to have Angel arrive home to find Cordelia’s scent all over his things. Not after the way he had responded to her. His twin’s “goodbye” indicated a lot, actually answering some of the questions Angelus had pondered over since his separation from his souled counterpart.

Despite Angel’s love for Buffy, there had always been an attraction to Cordelia. It was there in the background, not anything that Angel consciously pursued. Angelus preferred the cheerleader to the Slayer, naturally, so he had wondered whether this split would also divide those invisible ties of attraction. Apparently not, but now Angel was no longer in a position to do anything about it.

Angelus was too distracted by his thoughts to stop Cordelia as she located and walked straight into Angel’s bedroom. She only intended to peek inside, but the state of the room was not at all what she expected from Mr. Obsessive-Compulsive Vamp. Besides, where was all the stuff that Angelus mentioned them fighting over? This room was so bare it was Spartan. Except for the iron-wrought bed there was nothing else inside. Just a few random holes in the wall.

“Is Angel redecorating?” Cordy frowned.

“Uh— Buffy and Angel had a thing with the furniture.”

“So they did what? Threw it out the window?”

“Not exactly.” Angelus suddenly wondered why he was protecting the Slayer and his double against Cordelia’s honest and innocent curiosity. The subject was actually rather hilarious. At least to him. “Do you want to know?”

Considering it, Cordelia told him, “No. I get the feeling this is not something I need to hear right now. At least they left the bed.”

With a snort of laughter, Angelus commented, “I’m surprised it survived.”

“What? The fire here in the mansion?” Cordelia referred to the reason that the building had initially been abandoned.

Smirking, “No.”

A light dawned in her eyes, “Oh, you’re talking about the chandelier-shaking event. I guess it must be a good bed.”

Angelus looked at her standing next to it with her hand curled around one of the wrought iron posts. So tempting. They shouldn’t be in here, but at the moment Angelus could care less about pissing off his goody-two shoes double by taking her right here. The third floor was still a long way up and Cordelia was right here in front of him looking thoroughly kissed, aroused and ready. Her scent pulled him closer.

A surprised look came over her face as he approached with that stealthy swagger. “Lift up your skirt, Cordelia. I’m going to taste you.”

Trembling in anticipation, Cordelia realized excitedly that her house tour had ended. She moved her hands to do as he asked pulling the short skirt back up to wind about her waist. His hands took her by the upper arms as he moved her. Then Angelus tossed her down on the bed before stripping himself of his clothes. Cordelia watched every anxious move with that playful smile on her face until Angelus stood totally nude before her. She held out her arms to him, calling out his name in a voice that emanated from the depths of her emotions.

“Angelus, I want you so much.”

The vampire eased himself into her embrace as he lowered them to the mattress.

Part 9

 Dawn hinted at the horizon with its colorful hues brightening the starlit sky as Angel slipped into the mansion. The long night coming to a close, he returned to seek the cleansing heat of a shower and the cool sheets of his bed. His night of fighting demons and vampires was over. Not that his real battle was successful. Far from it. Distracted by thoughts of Angelus and Cordelia, he gave his opponents openings not normally left so defenseless. Consequently, he was bruised and sore.

As the night wore on, Angel realized that fighting random demons was no substitute for hashing it out with his own. Only he wasn’t certain if the realization meant that part of the demon left within him or what he wanted to be rid of in the embodiment of Angelus. Smashing his fist into Angelus’ face a few times might not change anything, but it would certainly take away the tension that had built up all night long.

Closing the door behind him, Angel noticed the high-heeled shoes Cordelia had been wearing lying haphazardly on the wooden floor of the foyer. Thinking back, he realized she had put them on again at the front entrance after her barefoot walk through the park. Obviously, she had removed them again for reasons that were all too easy to imagine.

Instant seduction on both sides, no doubt. Angelus’ skills in that arena were well-honed and Angel knew precisely how the vampire handled women. How he worked when the occasion called for it. Over the past 250 years Liam’s charm and the predatory urges of the demon created a vampire versed in the art of seduction. Cordelia was no pushover, not like most of the women that Angel or his soulless alter-ego had taken to their bed. She genuinely had feelings for Angelus and it startled Angel to realize his double claimed to possess feelings for her as well.

Not that Angel doubted anyone would fall for Cordelia. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want Cordy? Not that wanting meant they deserved her attention or her friendship. Angel valued the trust that had been building up between them and her efforts to make peace for him with the Scooby Gang. Lately, he had been acting like an overbearing jerk for some unknown reason and had been taking it out on her.

Maybe that was another explanation for his decision to agree to Angelus’ request. Guilt. Pure guilt at the way he had treated her in the library. Like he couldn’t keep his hands or other body parts to himself all because of built-up frustration between himself and Buffy. That kind of behavior was intolerable. If it had been anyone else treating Cordelia that way, Angel would have put the bastard in the hospital. Kinda hard to do that when you only had yourself to blame.

It was too easy to look for hidden agenda’s behind Angelus’ request. He was an arrogant, self-possessed creature and having feelings for a human seemed to defy his own nature. Coming to Angel with that confession had quite simply floored the souled vampire. Fury raged as he accused his double of playing games with the beautiful if sometimes tactless brunette. Just before their argument came to blows, Angelus said something to convince him to control his temper. Then he asked in that knowing way what Angel would have done if he had met Cordelia first.

“That’s not a fair question, Angelus,” he responded by dodging away from the answer that blared loudly in his head. “I did meet Buffy first. She is the reason I came here to Sunnydale. We’re in love and that’s all that matters.”

His twin smirked. “Remember who you’re talking to, Soul Boy. I’ve been locked in that head of yours for too many years. I know how you think.”

“What are you saying?” Angel had the urge to hear it even if he did know what the other vampire meant.

“If your little blond Slayer didn’t have you wrapped around her pinky finger the first time you saw Cordelia Chase, you would have taken everything she had to offer and more. By the time Cordy figured out you were a vampire, she wouldn’t have given a flying fuck about it.” Angelus sounded harsh and almost accusing.

“It wouldn’t have happened,” Angel denied firmly despite wondering at that possibility.

“We’re talking what-ifs,” Angelus countered. “You would have had Cordelia in your bed so fast it’s not funny. None of this pussy-footing around like you did with the Slayer. Do you know what would have happened next?”

Angel had the feeling his double was going to tell him whether he wanted to hear it or not. So he simply gave him his attention.

“Bliss,” Angelus answered. “Don’t even try to deny that one. Your soul would have been gone and Cordelia would be mine. Just as she should be mine now.”

“Never!” Raging at the idea, Angel stepped forward intent upon crashing his fist into his double’s smug face.

Watching Angelus pace to the left, Angel tracked his twin’s movements, choosing to hold back for the right opening. If he kept up with this ridiculous notion of claiming Cordelia, then Angel might have to forget all about the deal with the fates and just kill the bastard.

“Never? Are you saying that you wouldn’t find bliss in Cordelia’s arms?” Scoffing at the idea, Angelus mocked him with a sneer.

“I’m with Buffy,” Angel reminded with a menacing growl. “Your ‘what ifs’ don’t mean a damn thing. The only thing that counts is the fact that I’m not letting you have Cordelia. I won’t risk her life or her sanity by handing her over to you whether she thinks she wants you or not.”

Angelus clamped his mouth shut, his jaw locking in restraint as he bit back the response he wanted to make. No doubt a retort pointed directly at Angel’s relationship with Buffy Summers. Angel could see it in his eyes. The other vampire seemed to be struggling with something. Probably the same urge to kill him, except that would gain him nothing at all thanks to the binding spell of the Moirae.

Then Angelus turned his gaze on Angel nearly causing him to reel back in surprise at the depth of emotion pouring from their darkened depths. “Please do this for me, Angel. You already have the woman you say you want in the Slayer. Cordelia’s feelings run deep. It’s obvious that she wants me. I-I need her to get through this. I want her. Don’t deny me the right to claim her.”

Standing agape, Angel’s head was swimming with the words Angelus had spoken with such honest emotion. Almost begging him to give permission. How could he do it? Even if Cordelia was his only in friendship. Even if Angelus was probably on-target with his ‘What If’ scenario.

Guilt, that’s what it was.

What would happen if he told the vampire no? If he denied him his wish to claim Cordy? There would be a fast fall from grace, he presumed. The sudden positive turn in Angelus’ behavior and in his willingness to fight at the Slayer’s side had little to do with the Fate’s decision. Angel knew that there were loopholes in the design of their agreement, far too many loopholes. If Angelus wanted to take advantage over them, he would do it without a hint of regret or remorse. Cordelia was the one responsible for Angelus toeing the line and playing by the rules.

Cordelia Chase surprised him. For someone who had been so fearful of vampires and had shut him out of her heart the instant she learned he wasn’t human, Cordelia did a 180 on this one. Not only was she personally interested in involving herself with a vampire, but it was Angelus— the embodiment of his most demonic qualities. How had she done this to bring out such feelings in Angelus?

His double hinted they were there all along just hibernating. Then Angel had caved in to the idea of Cordelia and Angelus. Talked himself into it. Because of Buffy. Because of his guilt. Because in some demented way, it would be like seeing her with himself. Not that he thought about that one for more than a second or two.

Picking up Cordelia’s sandals, Angel arranged them next to each other at the bottom step and then headed directly up the staircase to the second level. The closer he got to the top of the landing, the more the vampire noticed that Cordelia’s scent permeated the air. He had noticed this downstairs to a minor extent, but it had seemed to be everywhere and Angel figured it was just his overactive imagination causing him to exaggerate what he was sensing.

As he walked down the hall toward his bedroom, Angel’s face became a dark mask of anger. Instead of Cordelia’s scent becoming lighter as he moved away from what should be the primary direction of the source, there was a heavy concentration focused directly behind his bedroom door. This wasn’t just her strawberry shampoo, cinnamon lips or her soft perfume. No, it was the scent of Cordelia’s full arousal, her essence mixing with— with his own.

What the hell? This was his bedroom, his territory. Angelus had the gall to bring Cordelia here to his bed. As if he didn’t have to deal with enough anger at his own stupidity for agreeing with Angelus plan, now he had to face this? Dammit, it went beyond teasing him about what he was missing. This was a blatant taunt, a stab at him for dragging his decision out.

Pissed off, Angel didn’t care if his bedroom door was locked or unlocked. He flexed his thigh and kicked open the door. He could have turned the handle to test it, but it was so much more satisfying to hear the wood splinter and the hinges squeal in protest. Barging in, Angel immediately saw that the bed was empty.

The comforter was balled into folds and the pillows askew. On the floor, Angel found clothes in piles. It looked like Angelus’ entire outfit. Cordelia’s skirt was on the floor as well as her lacy green bra. Grabbing them off the floor, Angel proceeded to fold them neatly into a small pile trying to vent more of his anger into this constructive project. Only now Angel had Cordelia’s scent on his hands. He lifted them to cup his face and let himself breathe her in.

Would Angelus really invade his space this way just to torture him? Maybe. Angel could also picture the self-admitted curiosity seeker Cordelia making her way to his room just to see inside. Little bitch had no right to come back here, he thought. She needed to learn to stay in her own space where her lover had his rooms. In that moment, the thought of turning her over his knee and spanking her bare ass made him hard. Cordelia obviously enjoyed what Angelus did to her here from the scent of things, just as he would enjoy his little payback.

After making her come however many times and ways, Angelus had taken apparently taken Cordelia upstairs. Angel found he could imagine it quite readily and could see Angelus carrying her in his arms upstairs to his own rooms afterward, both of them naked. No, Angel corrected himself, Angelus would sling her over his shoulder just to keep a hand free to fondle her ass on the way up.

With their neatly piled clothes in his arms, Angel darted out of the bedroom to tear up the stairs to the third floor. Maybe they both needed a lesson. Right after he whipped some sense into Angelus, he would give Cordelia the spanking she deserved.

Halfway up the stairs, reason set in. Growling, Angel paused on the steps as he realized this was no way to behave. Even if Cordelia did invade his space, he had no right to touch her much less paddle her deserving little ass. Angelus was another story, but there was no need to burst in on the two of them like a crazed lunatic just to get his point across. No, he would have words with Angelus later after he calmed down.

He traveled the steps back down to the second floor landing and gazed down the hallway toward his bedroom. No way he was going back in there right now. He’d just go to sleep on the couch in the living room or pick out a book from the study. First off, there would be a stop in the kitchen to get something to eat. These violent urges might simply be a sign of hunger after his long night of tracking down demons.

Cordelia came out of the bathroom toweling her freshly washed hair. Angelus had bought her favorite shampoo during his trip to the grocery store and she imagined him pulling the caps off twenty bottles and sniffing them to find the one with the right scent. That was so sweet. She could hardly believe the tenderness and gentility he showed last night or these sweet gestures. For a soulless vampire, Angelus was certainly proving that he could control the darker side of his nature.

Angelus did tell her that sex with him wasn’t always going to be so sweet and vanilla, though it hadn’t stayed that way for long. He’d wanted their first time together to be something she would treasure and he had certainly come through with flying colors. She had no idea how she was going to make it through cheering at today’s football game because Cordelia knew she would be thinking about him. Not to mention the fact that sleep had been minimal.

Nibbling at her lower lip, Cordelia slowly grinned as she stared at the vampire lying in the middle of the huge bed. She had been stunned at the first sight of it. “Is that a bed or a practice mat for a gymnastics team?”

That bed was a double king-size custom-made monster and they probably tumbled across every inch of it. Now Angelus lay sleeping in the center of it with a contented smile upon his handsome face. As she approached the bed, still drying her hair, Angelus opened his eyes. Cordelia dropped the towel on the floor and crawled up on the bed to place a soft smooch on his mouth.

“Hello again,” Cordelia sighed across his skin as she remembered the way she had awakened in his arms to find him watching her. They had simply started out kissing again, but then both wanted more. Cordelia had tucked her legs around his waist as he rolled over her to lie between her thighs. Angelus had brought her to ecstasy again, this time with a slow steady pace that had her pleading with him to make her come.

The too large robe made it difficult for Cordelia to maneuver herself across the bed, but Angelus let her come to him. “I think you better run off to your game before I decide to cancel your plans for the day. I want you beside me while I sleep.”

“Lazy bones.”

“It’s more convenient that way. What if I wake up and want you again?”

Cordelia laughed at the pitiful look on his face. “Poor vampire. I’ll be back later this afternoon. Just expect that you’ll be helping me unpack some of my stuff before you get to see me naked again.”

She was about to retreat when Angelus’ strong hands pulled her back to him. “Not so fast, baby. I need more of a goodbye kiss than that.”

Pulling her back into his arms, Angelus kissed her thoroughly. Cordelia was moaning against his lips as they rendered her helpless against the mounting desire that crept up on her every time he touched her. When he let her go, there was a reluctant sigh on her lips. “I need to grab something to eat before I leave for the game.”

“Want me to cook something?”

“No,” Cordelia grinned at the offer. “I’ll just have a bowl of cereal. You stay in bed. I want you to get your beauty sleep.”

“Think I need it?” His eyebrows quirked upward in response.

Cordelia’s gaze wandered down the bare column of his muscular chest and abdomen to return to his face. Laughingly, she said, “I wouldn’t want to wear you out.”

Tightening the belt of the oversized robe, Cordelia stepped out of the bedroom and firmly shut the door behind her. Food was definitely a priority, but so was finding her clothes. It wouldn’t do to trek through the park to where her Corvette was parked dressed only in a bathrobe. Assuming Angel had picked up the ‘Vette in the first place as he promised, she planned to head back to her parents’ house to change for the game.

Padding down the carpeted steps, Cordelia tonelessly hummed a happy little tune as she descended toward the first floor. Reaching the second floor landing, she turned to find Angel sitting on the second step from the bottom with his legs stretched out. Obviously lying in wait, Angel hadn’t even made an effort to remove his jacket after coming in. Cordelia was a little wary of seeing Angel this morning, not only because he knew what went on between her and Angelus, but because by now it was likely that he had been up to his bedroom.

With her heartbeat sounding in her ears, Cordelia turned back to head up the stairs. It would be easier to face Angel if Angelus was by her side. So what if that made her a coward? She hated it when Angel got mad at her, especially when he had good reason for doing so.

“Get down here, Cordy,” Angel ordered not even bothering to turn around to face her. He knew she was there.

Caught, Cordelia knew that she had no choice, but to face him alone. Taking in a deep breath of resolve, she took the stairs slowly until she stood next to him. Glancing down with a hopeful smile, she saw a fixed look of fury and knew that this was not going to be a fun conversation.

Noting the tidy pile of clothes on the step beside him, Cordelia jumped in with, “Those are my clothes.”

Angel’s gaze moved down from her eyes to see the way her nude body alternately filled out or was swallowed by the large robe. Her painted toenails peeked from beneath its long edge. Countering her comment with a short growl, he pointed out, “That’s my robe.”

Feeling her mouth drop open, Cordelia quickly told him, “It was in Angelus’ bathroom. How was I supposed to know it was yours? I’d take it off and give it to you, but I’m not wearing anything underneath. You have my things.”

Lifting up the entire pile of clothes, Angel bided his time. How was she supposed to know? The same way she should have known not to go into my bedroom.

Glancing through the clothing that was a combination of Angelus’ and her belongings, Cordelia noticed something missing. Indignantly, she glared at the vampire. “Hey! Where are my panties?”

Angel shrugged and gave her a look that suggested she should know the answer to that question. “I don’t have them.”

Clutching the clothes close to her chest, Cordelia continued to glare at him as if he would suddenly change his story.

The vampire lifted his empty hands, “Frisk me if you want. I don’t have them.”

“Fine,” Cordelia told him, “but I’m not frisking you.”

“I don’t have your panties.” Angel couldn’t believe that she thought he would want to keep the lacy little scrap of fabric. At least it was his guess that she wore something lacy. Adding somewhat furiously, “It’s not like I need them to have your scent around. I can get that in the kitchen or the living room or my study. Is there a room in the mansion that you didn’t initiate last night?”

Blushing and covering it with a joke, Cordelia pointed in the direction of the old servants quarters and utilities. “The laundry room. I didn’t get to see that.”

Noting that Cordelia didn’t bring up the subject of his bedroom, Angel decided to wait a little longer. To see if she would apologize for it. Still, there were other things on his mind and he wanted to reassure himself that all went as well for her as it had appeared to. “So you’re okay this morning.”

“Better than okay!” Cordelia grinned at the memories of last night, her eyes sparkling in automatic response. “Just exhausted. I’d sleep in except that I have an away game today. Cheerleading responsibilities. People depend on me to show up.”

Angel sounded surprised as he asked, “Angelus is letting you go?”

“Letting me? Pfft! I just hope I don’t fall asleep during the game.”

She made it sound like it wasn’t a big deal. That it was entirely her decision to leave her vampire lover’s bed. “You’ll adjust to a new schedule. There will be lots of adjustments.”

“I know,” Cordelia sounded a bit awed. “Not all of them have to do with sleeping. I’m so sore this morning. I think I stretched a little too much last night.”

What did she say?

Angel’s jaw dropped open at the thought of Cordelia’s flexibility as a cheerleader. All of the exotic positions that she would be able to accomplish with a little practice. Maybe she meant the way Angelus stretched her from the inside; the idea suddenly accompanied a lusty image.

Then Cordelia added artlessly, “Must have slept in a weird position. I’m used to sleeping alone.”

Holding back a laugh, Angel realized that Cordelia was no different than she had been before this whole decision to separate himself from Angelus. Whenever she opened her mouth, blatant honestly poured forth. She couldn’t seem to stop it. “Cordelia, we will be seeing a lot of each other. I just want to make a few things perfectly clear.”

Frowning at the idea, “More rules?”

“Essentially, you’ll be living here with two vampires. Just be careful about—”

Cordelia startled at his words. Did he just guess that she had agreed to stay here with Angelus as much as possible? “How did you know that I’ll be living here? Maybe I want to stay with my parents. Maybe I just want to come and go from the mansion.”

“Come and go?” Angel put a heavy emphasis that suggested another meaning entirely. It left her face flushed as he tagged on, “Poor choice of words, sweetheart.”

Gasping, Cordelia hurried to correct his impression, “I meant—”

“I know. I’m just teasing, just giving you a taste of your own medicine,” Angel told her.

“I don’t tease you.” Cordelia let out a huff.

Angel smirked at her quick defensive response. “Yes, you do. Every time I see you.”

“Do not.” Her hazel eyes flashed with defiance.

“Do too.”

“Don’t.”

“Do. My point is this, Cordy,” Angel warned her dropping the light tone for a serious one. “Don’t do it in front of Angelus unless you want to be punished.”

“Pfft! Again with the punishment talk?”

“Seriously.”

Cordelia tossed the pile if clothing onto the steps and buried her hands in the pockets of the robe. The move made the robe gape over her cleavage and Angel tried his best to avoid looking, but wasn’t having much luck. “We went over this last night. Angelus is not going to hurt me.”

“I said punish,” Angel stressed the word. “That does not necessarily include pain. As I said…you have a lot to learn about vampires.”

“Yeah.” Cordelia had to agree with that last part. A far away look and a secret smile appeared on her face making Angel wonder what caused it. He soon found out as Cordy told him, “For instance, I never realized that vampires purred. It started right after I—”

Cutting her off sharply, Angel jumped to his feet. “Cordelia! I don’t need to hear what you did to make Angelus purr.”

She was standing on the second step, so that put them eye to eye. “I wasn’t going to give you the graphic details. Just saying that it happened after I—”

“Cordy! I don’t need to hear it,” he growled at her.

Cordelia poked a finger into his chest, “I already know vamps growled. I don’t need another demonstration of that.”

With a loud huff, Cordelia headed past him toward the kitchen. Angel automatically followed thinking that she was lucky if that was the only demonstration he’d give her.

Over her shoulder, Cordelia reminded him, “Besides, I thought I could tell you anything.”

Torn between being completely open with her and not needing the torture of details, Angel reiterated, “I meant if Angelus hurt you that you should come to me for help or if he frightened you in any way. Not to tell me how you pleased my evil twin to the point of purring.”

Pulling down a bowl from one of the cabinets, she asked him curiously, “Why does it happen?”

Seeing that she was not letting the subject go, Angel had no choice but to answer her. “It’s a sign of contentment, Cordy. For someone like me…erm!...Angelus, that is rare.”

Cordelia suddenly felt pleased with herself. “Purring— I like it. Just like a big cat with that deep sound rumbling and vibrating from his bare chest to mine.”

Warningly, Angel issued another sound of discontent, “Cordelia.”

“What? I’m not allowed to like it?” Seeing nothing wrong with what she had said Cordy opened the cabinet where Angelus had stored the cereal and grabbed the box of Cheerios.

“I want your honesty, sweetheart, but I don’t need to hear you describe what goes on in your bed.” Or mine, he added silently.

“Geez! I was just talking about a simple vampire habit. Surely you purr too, Angel. Is it that big of a deal?” Cordelia put the open box down on the counter a little too forcefully spilling Cheerios everywhere.

Cordelia ignored the mess and was staring at him awaiting an answer. Finally, Angel let out an irritated sigh and then snapped, “I told you— it’s rare.”

“You’re acting snippy and snarly this morning. It’s no wonder you don’t purr. Just ask Buffy to—”

“Dammit, Cordy! It’s none of your fucking business if Buffy makes me purr. You keep out of my bed and I’ll do the same for you.” Angel’s voice had gone beyond stern control and verged on yelling. Then he added harshly as he stalked around the kitchen island to stand next to her, “In your case, I do mean that literally considering that you climbed into mine last night.”

Defensively, Cordelia commented, “We we’re touring. And it was on top. Not in.”

“Makes no difference, sweetheart.” Angel sounded out the words that had Cordelia backing away at their tone. She reached for the refrigerator door handle trying to make it look like his anger meant nothing, that she was cool enough to continue organizing her breakfast by taking out the milk.

“Want some breakfast?” Cordelia asked him rather proud of the fact that her voice did not quiver.

Ignoring the question, Angel stood so close she couldn’t open the door. “Stay out of my rooms unless you get invited. I don’t want your scent in there.”

“I don’t smell!” Then she recalled that vampires had superior senses compared to humans and that included the sense of smell. After what Angelus had done to her in Angel’s bed last night it was no wonder he was a little mad.

“You have no idea what your scent is like to a vampire. It lingers in the air. Especially when you are aroused like you were last night. Except that it wasn’t just simple arousal, was it?”

“Maybe.” Cordelia gave a little shrug.

“Now you’re being coy?”

“You don’t want details, remember.”

“I already know these.” Angel lifted one arm to press a hand against the refrigerator door just next to her shoulder. “Do you have a clue what it’s like to have my double running around town? To have to live with him here in the mansion sharing my things? To have you standing there in my robe and despite your shower still smelling of me…except that it’s him?”

Gulping at the idea, Cordelia softly admitted, “No, I didn’t realize.”

“That’s why I don’t want your teasing. That’s why I can’t listen to the details,” Angel told her roughly. Then his voice deepened, “Not because I don’t want to share your laughter or answer your questions. It’s because I don’t want to forget that you’re no longer mine.”

Her lower lip trembled at the intensity in his eyes and his somber tone. “I was never yours, Angel. Not in the real sense.”

Letting out a dark laugh, Angel brought his other arm up to the top of the refrigerator and completely blocked Cordelia into the open prison of his arms. She immediately thought of the fact that Angelus had made the same move, their habits in some ways so similar to each other.

“Oh, it was real, sweetheart. You never knew it and I never acted on it. That doesn’t mean it never existed.” Angel gave her a hard stare, “Now it has to stay that way.”

If that was how he felt, why the heck had the vampire kissed her just before turning her over to Angelus? Accusingly, she demanded to know the truth. “You kissed me. Why?”

For a moment Angel thought about doing to do it again. Only seconds after telling her that he couldn’t and wouldn’t act on their former ties, trying to pretend that he would find it easy not to touch her despite having had a taste of those lips. Derisive thoughts echoed in his head, You like making it hard on yourself, don’t you?

Cordelia watched as Angel drew closer, his mouth hovering only inches from hers. She held her breath trying to think of something snarky to say to get him to move away. Then she felt a soft flutter against her cheek as Angel pulled her lost panties down from the top of the refrigerator.

“I think these are yours,” he deadpanned.

Snatching them out of his hand, Cordelia stuffed them immediately into the pocket of the robe. She collapsed back against the refrigerator door while watching Angel walk away, relieved that this confrontation was over. Then she realized Angel had never responded to the question about kissing her.

Disappointed that he hadn’t answered, Cordy also wondered, And what’s with this sweetheart business?

Forcing herself to move, Cordelia cleaned up the spilled Cheerios. The past twelve hours had been mind-boggling. Starting with the revenge against the two band members who had tried to rape her, followed by her talk with Angel and his startling kiss, to having sex with Angelus, this was already more than just a memorable day. Now all she needed was for the opposing football team to be under some kind of demonic spell and her day would be complete. What more could possibly happen?

Opening the front door of the mansion, Buffy Summers let herself inside. It was already past sunup and she might be too late to catch Angel before he went to sleep. His worried expression had plagued her last night. Something was up with Cordelia and even if he wouldn’t give her the details, Buffy wanted to make sure that things were all right with the cheerleader. She wouldn’t ask Cordelia directly, so that left wheedling information out of Angel. Besides, she missed him last night since he had left the Bronze so early, taking Cordy with him.

Buffy’s sensitive hearing caught the sound of someone in the kitchen and she headed in that direction. She only hoped that it was Angel and not Angelus. It was embarrassing to have to ask their identities every time she saw them, so Buffy had come up with a method of making general comments before getting on with the greetings.

The only one in the room was a brunette looking shower-fresh and bending down to grab the milk out of the refrigerator obviously making herself right at home. “Cordelia!”

“Eeeaahh!” Cordelia hadn’t heard the Slayer’s naturally stealthy approach and dropped the carton of milk to the floor spilling it. “Buffy! You scared the crap out of me. See what you made me do?”

Buffy didn’t budge from her position as Cordelia righted the milk carton and scrambled for the paper towels. She simply took in the sight of the wet hair and the fact that the cheerleader was wearing Angel’s robe and apparently nothing else.

“Having a problem with your clothes this morning?” Buffy asked as Cordelia wiped up the spilled milk.

Crouching on the floor, Cordy heard the sardonic tone to the Slayer’s voice. What was up with that? Calling out from behind the island, “Yes, actually. They were spread all over the house. Angel rounded them up for me.”

“How sweet of him.”

“He can be,” Cordy agreed, “but lately your boyfriend has been acting like an ass.”

Standing up, she met Buffy’s cold gaze with surprise. Geez! I was joking. Kinda.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Buffy commented, “I’m surprised to hear you say that— considering.”

Confused, Cordelia asked for more information, “Considering what?”

“The fact that you slept with Angel, you boyfriend stealing slut.”

“What? No!” Gasping, Cordelia couldn’t believe that Buffy was thinking Angel would cheat on her. Well, he had kissed her last night, she admitted to herself, but that was not anything Buffy needed to worry about.

“No, you didn’t try to steal him?” Buffy drolled, “Don’t tell me— you were borrowing him for the night.”

Just his bed.

“Wrong vamp, Buffy,” Cordelia held up her hands as the blond Slayer started to walk around the island with a menacing glare. “Angel just brought me here and left. He just now got home. I-I was with Angelus last night.”

Stopping in her tracks, Buffy was stunned at the confession. “Angelus? You slept with Angelus. Are you completely insane, Cordy?”

“There wasn’t much sleeping,” Cordelia commented with a Cheshire cat smile.

“Evil Angelus,” Buffy continued her rant of disbelief. “Send the world to hell Angelus.”

Cordelia reminded her, “He’s changed.”

The other teenager let out a snort of disbelief. “He hasn’t changed. The Fates have him on a leash.”

“Maybe they do, but Angelus has made a lot of progress despite their interference.”

Buffy wondered if Cordelia knew what she sounded like defending the monster that had murdered Ms. Calendar, tortured Giles, stalked the Scooby Gang, tried to drive Buffy insane and threatened to kill her. “I can’t believe that you slept with— eew!”

“What? Eew, what?”

“I just thought of something,” Buffy had a squiggy look on her face.

Tired of defending herself, Cordelia responded sharply, “Should I mark this day on the calendar for you? Our new national holiday: Buffy Had A Thought Day.”

Rolling her eyes, Buffy pointed out to her, “Don’t you see why this vampire double thing is so weird, Cordy? It’s just like you’ve seen my boyfriend naked. Maybe I will have to kill you.”

Both girls met each other’s gaze and held it for a few seconds before knowing smiles broke out across their faces. Cordelia leaned against the counter as she giggled, “Gotta admit it. Naked Angel/Angelus is pretty damn hot.”

“Totally!” Buffy agreed.

Curious, Cordelia asked as she felt a twinge at her inner thighs, “Were you sore for days afterward? The first time with Angel, I mean?”

“I was numb for days,” Buffy reminded her with visible sadness. “Angelus showed up, remember?”

“Right. Sorry.”

Buffy shrugged. That was water under the bridge now. She hoped. Answering Cordelia’s question, she told her, “No, I wasn’t sore. Slayer healing factor.”

“Hmm. Good thing I’m already flexible,” Cordelia moved around a bit drawing a dark look from Buffy whose mind drifted off to places it probably shouldn’t. Cordy quickly changed the subject, “Did you know that vampire’s purred?”

“Like cats?” Buffy questioned, “Why?’

Obviously not. That answers that question. “Just asking. Because it happened last night with Angelus right after I—”

“Wait!” Buffy held up a hand to stop her. “I don’t want details. No details. It’s already too easy to picture it because Angelus looks exactly like Angel.”

Cordelia looked disappointed. “I was just gonna offer a little advice.”

Straightening her spine, Buffy gave her an offended look. “I don’t need advice from you. Angel and I are fine. Just fine. Great. Terrific, in fact.”

At least they would be if Angel stopped trying to dominate her when they were in bed together, Buffy thought. She couldn’t understand why he was so opposed to letting her be on top every time. It was the only way she could really let go.

“Terrific,” echoed Cordy. “That’s what I thought.”

Chandelier-shaking terrific.

“Where is Angel?”

“I think he went back upstairs,” Cordelia told her. “To bed.”

Unless he was burning the bed covers. That might not make such a good impression on the Slayer. Not to mention the explanation that would follow.

Buffy said, “See you later.”

“I have a game today.”

Halfheartedly, Buffy pumped a fist in the air. “Go Razorbacks!”

Cordelia called out with an idea, “Next week it’s a night game. We should bring the Tweedles.”

Turning around again, Buffy asked her, “You’re not really going to call them that are you?”

“Not to their faces,” Cordelia grinned as she reached for the carton of milk that was now only half full.

Letting out a snort, Buffy walked up the stairs. Cordelia was dating Angelus. How weird was that!

She reached the second level and felt her Slayer senses pick up a strange vibe in the air. It usually never happened unless there was a vampire around, but she usually didn’t pick up Angel this way unless he was letting his demon loose during a fight. Then she saw the broken door and walked inside to find Angel spread out naked on his bed. Definitely not sleeping, the vampire was fisting his hard cock whacking off at a fast pace that left Buffy in a stupor.

Finally, she found her voice. “Need some help with that?”

Angel’s eyes flew open, startled to see Buffy standing there. He hadn’t sensed her quiet approach. Raising himself to his elbows, letting his erection fall stiffly back against his abdomen, Angel told her staring at her with topaz eyes, “I don’t think you should be here right now, Buffy.”

Guilt stabbed at him again. This time because his girlfriend had found him masturbating on his bed surrounded by Cordelia’s scent. Not that she knew the reason, but he certainly did.

Pouting, Buffy flashed her wide eyes at him. Sashaying up to the side of the bed, she stroked his muscled arm with a teasing finger. “But you’re so hard and I’m so wet now that I’ve watched you.”

Angel decided he would take her up on it, instructing her to take off her clothes. Once she was naked, he commented, “Just one thing, Buffy. Today, we’re playing this my way.”

Getting off the bed, Angel thrust her down on her stomach before reaching for her hips. Raising her ass in the air he entered her in one hard stroke. Buffy let out a startled cry, but was soon keening under the rhythmic motion of his thrusts.

In the dining room below, Cordelia brought another spoonful of Cheerios to her mouth. She glanced up at the tinkling sound above her and noticed that the chandelier was shaking against the ceiling. Suddenly, her appetite was gone. Buffy was right. It was a little too easy to picture what was going on upstairs now that she knew every inch of Angelus’ body and could imagine what Angel looked like.

Then a grin settled on her face. Cordelia wondered if the chandelier was shaking when Angelus had made love to her on that bed.

“Lift your skirt,” he’d said. “I want to taste you.”

That was enough to have her quivering all over. Cordelia did as instructed, lifting her skirt to give Angelus a tantalizing view. She slipped down onto the bed uncaring at that point that it belonged to Angel. She was too focused on the vampire directly in front of her, especially as he started to remove his clothes.

Her hands had already explored his chest, thanks to her overly eager rending of his shirt that sent buttons flying all over the living room. Now he was naked and glorious like some Greek statue only with larger…parts. She had touched him there as well, her hand moving along that steel shaft making Angelus growl out his pleasure at the sensation. He had teased her with his kisses and his knowing touch, so it was only fair that Cordelia play a little too.

As Angelus lowered her to the mattress, Cordelia discovered that his plan to taste her was more involved than she originally thought. He started with the tip of her nose moving on to press butterfly kisses across her face ending at her mouth. Cordelia’s hands were freely roaming across his strong back up and down along his spine clutching him closer.

Lifting up from his kiss, Angelus asked her, “Do you trust me, babe?”

“I-I think so,” there was just a twinge of hesitation in her voice as Angelus started to kiss his way down to her neck. “It would be a really, really good thing if you didn’t try to bite me during sex.”

Chuckling against her neck, Angelus commented, “I don’t think it would be very sexy to see me writhing in pain on the floor.”

Yeah, Cordelia remembered the rule. No biting. Relaxing, she left out a soft moan as Angelus nuzzled her neck. The soft skin of her throat was peppered with tiny kisses. He laved at her neck and sucked the flesh into her mouth doing everything except biting down with his teeth. “I’ll have a huge hickey in the morning.”

“Good,” Angelus let out a deep growl of satisfaction as he watched the blood pool into her skin over that spot. “I want to mark you. Let those fucking football players know that you’re mine.”

Cordelia could handle the football players. It was the other cheerleaders that would be questioning her about the hickey come morning. Harmony was a ditz, but she had eyes like you wouldn’t believe when it came to picking up the details.

Brushing aside the straps of her bra, Angelus moved his mouth across her shoulders and down to the swell of her breasts cupped inside the green silk. She wanted his hands on her and found herself demanding that he make it so. “Touch me, Angelus. Take off my bra.”

“That’s it, baby,” he encouraged her further. “You keep telling me what you want. I want to hear you asking for it. Want to hear your needy little cries in my ears.”

Expertly, Angelus unfastened and removed her bra leaving her breasts exposed to his hungry gaze. “I knew you’d be this beautiful. Sunkissed everywhere. I’ll have to punish you later for going topless. Don’t do that again unless you’re with me.”

“I think you’d be a big ball of dust,” Cordelia gasped as his large hands curved around the swell of her breasts squeezing softly and making her nipples point up as if begging for his mouth.

“I love the way you fill my hands,” he murmured just before lowering his mouth to one breast. Angelus was hard against her thigh as he laved at her nipple rolling his tongue across it and pinching the nipple on the other breast to give it equal attention. He wanted to wrap his cock in between those gorgeous tits and slide himself back and forth until he came all over her neck and chest.

Not tonight, Angelus resolved. There were so many things he wanted to do to Cordelia that he wouldn’t do tonight. Not their first time together. This had to be about making her comfortable with the idea of them as lovers. He didn’t want to frighten her away. This was a lot like the situation Angel had found himself in with Buffy on their first night, he realized with a start. Cordelia might not be an untried virgin, but she had never before done it with a vampire whose sexual tastes ran to extremes.

“Tonight, you and I are going to have sweet vanilla sex, my darling Cordelia.” Angelus told her as his thumbs brushed along her sensitive areolas. “Don’t get used to it, though. I’ll want more.”

“So will I,” she promised, the thrill of the idea showing in her eyes. “Just stop teasing me. Put your mouth on me.”

Angelus growled at her throaty demand, releasing her breasts in favor of claiming her mouth again. He fit his hips to her, opening her thighs so that his erect penis rocked along her moist slit brushing up against her swollen clitoris. The contact made Cordelia thrust against him, her hips jerking in response and a eliciting another groan of desire from her throat.

Then Angelus began another slow decent following the same path as before except down the other side of her neck. He teased her opposite breast this time, nipping at it with his smooth rounded teeth and sucking it into his mouth. Then he started flicking at her flesh with his tongue and that sensation nearly had Cordelia rising to a peak on its own.

“Mmm. That feels soooooo good,” Cordelia curled her fingers into his short brown hair. The dual sensations of his mouth on her breasts and the hard length of his penis pressed against her loins had her head rolling back against the comforter.

When he moved down to her waist, Cordy let out a whimper of protest as his hands left her breasts. Angelus placed his hand in the crook of her thighs stimulating her now that he had moved further down the bed. He rocked his hips into the mattress as he pressed two fingers deep into her cleft, using his thumb on her clit. As his tongue swirled around Cordelia’s navel, she bucked up off the bed and screamed.

A sensitive spot, Angelus realized with a smile. Then he twisted his fingers inside her to locate the patch of risen flesh that marked her g-spot rubbing against it. “Angelus! Oh God!” Tugging at his hair, Cordelia pushed him down. “Please, please!”

Her previous boyfriends had not been interested in touching her below the waist except to fuck her, much less put their mouths on her. Angelus wouldn’t be so selfish. She knew this was what he meant when he said he wanted to taste her. He obviously liked to taste everything else too.

After removing her skirt and dropping it to the floor, Angelus reached up to the top of the bed grabbing a pillow. Instructing her to, “Lift your bottom.”

The vampire shoved the pillow under her ass, raising her hips to a level more suited to pleasuring her. Cordelia’s entire body flushed in anticipation as she watched him from above. His eyes kept darting to hers as his hands roamed across the soft skin of her inner thighs. Then they dropped down to her trimmed muff of soft brown curls and the pouting lips of her pussy already wet with her fragrant secretions.

“You look delicious,” Angelus murmured before lowering his mouth to lick the most inner crease of her leg right where it joined that intimate flesh. Using the flexible tip of his tongue, he drew random designs across that spot and repeated it on the other side.

Cordelia moaned at the sensation. He was close, so close to her core and to her throbbing clitoris, but Angelus seemed intent on teasing her. Every time his tongue flickered closer to her pussy, it floated away leaving her craving his mouth on her.

Nuzzling his face in the soft curls, Angelus pressed a kiss upon the fleshy mound over her pubic bone and then bit into it gently with his curved teeth. A yelp of surprise came from Cordelia’s throat as she raised her head to meet his devilish gaze. A smile curled his lips as he returned to slide his lips across the soft petals of her sex. This time, Cordelia’s hands crept down to his head as she alternated moans with whispered pleas. She arched up against his face with her hips, needing him to taste her.

Opening his mouth, Angelus licked her tender flesh from bottom to top, letting his tongue dance across her clitoris. Using his fingers, he opened her outer labia darting his tongue along the folds. Pulling the soft skin into his mouth, he nibbled at it with his lips before opening her further and thrusting his tongue deep enough to gather her juices. Then he continued to fuck her with his facile organ until Cordelia flopped back on the bed in reaction, unable to maintain the position on her elbows.

“Unngh! Don’t stop,” she pleaded on a gasp. “You’re not stopping this time, are you?”

“Not a chance, baby.”

“Oh good,” Cordy responded with a roll of her hips. “That’s so good.”

Angelus wasn’t about to settle for just good. He swept his tongue back up to her clitoris curling it around the tight little hood where it was already a swollen nub. Letting his tongue brush up and down the erect clit, Angelus soon had Cordelia continuously keening encouragements.

Savoring the taste of her, Angelus roamed across her silken flesh lapping up her juices and gently flicking his tongue here and there. Always, he would return to her sensitive clitoris, continually surprising her each time he touched or licked at it. Giving it a quick little suck, he pulled it into his mouth and let it go eliciting a deep moan from Cordelia.

Glancing up at her, Angelus saw that her eyes were blazing with need. Her nipples were hard tips atop the firm mounds of her breasts. The way her heart raced and her breath came in short little pants, he knew she was close to coming. Angelus slipped his thumbs inside her wet core leaving his fingers free to stimulate her outer lips. With a growl of delight, he took her exposed clit into his mouth sucking more aggressively than before.

Cordelia grabbed his hair with her fists finding herself rocking her hips up to his mouth. Moving her crotch back and forth with the pace of his sliding thumbs. “Angelus, Angelus I think— Omigod! UUUUNNNNGGGGGHHHHHH!!!”

Screaming out her orgasm, Cordelia clung to him keeping his head pressed against her.
Angelus continued to press his tongue along the underside of her clit holding his lips over the top and gently moving his tongue in and out of her along with his thumbs. Cordelia continued to convulse with wave after wave of pleasure until finally, Angelus eased away from her sensitive clitoris and removed his thumbs from inside her.

Before rising to his knees on the bed, Angelus pressed another kiss across her soft mound, telling her, “I love the way you taste, Cordelia. Now tell me what you want from me, baby.”

Cordelia turned her heavy-lidded gaze upon him seeing the lust echoed in his eyes. His hard body sculpted with muscles and his rigid erection standing tall between them. What didn’t she want? “Hold me. I want you inside me.”

He came down over her resting his weight on his hands before lowering himself to his elbows. Hovering over her mouth, Angelus whispered to her, “Take me in your hand, Cordy. Put me inside you.”

Cordelia reached down with both hands, one taking hold of his tumescent penis and the other spreading her sensitive folds. She pumped his hard rod twice before placing the tip against her inner lips watching the expressions play out across Angelus’ handsome face as she touched him. A low growl sounded from his throat as he kissed her.

Then Cordelia cried into his mouth as the vampire thrust in one smooth movement, penetrating her tight, yet slippery core. Holding himself there, Angelus closed his eyes against the hot need raging inside him. He wanted to fuck her into the mattress, throw her legs over her head and see what cheerleader flexibility was all about. Only he wanted other things as well. Wanted her soft mouth moaning pleas against his lips, wanted the hard tips of her breasts against his chest and wanted to bring her to a slow, stirring orgasm she would feel the rest of the night.

“How does it feel to have me inside you?” Angelus asked her.

“Incredible,” Cordelia gasped, “even if you are an egomaniac.”

Chuckling despite the fact that he wanted to growl in pleasure at the sensation of her inner muscles squeezing him, Angelus managed to question her response. “Was it an egomaniac that made you come a minute ago?”

Surprising him with her answer, Cordelia curled her arms around his shoulders. “No, that was my magnificent vampire who promised I would be well-fucked by morning. Time is ticking away, Bad Boy.”

Now he was all seriousness again, but kept that sparkle in his midnight eyes. “That’s what I want to hear baby. Keep talking.”

Cordelia couldn’t stop herself once Angelus started thrusting slowly in and out. She was crying out his name, calling out pleas and telling him how good he felt inside her as he gave her a long slow screw. Her body was leaping in response to his movements and to his touch. Angelus kept one hand roving across her smooth skin, fondling her breasts, tickling her navel, tweaking her clit and squeezing her ass.

She wasn’t so adept at touching, but Cordelia made up for it in enthusiasm. Kissing him, she melted into him gasping and moaning into his mouth and swallowing his answering groans. Her nails curled into the flesh of his shoulders leaving half-moon marks behind as Cordelia held on against the building force of her arousal.

Now Cordelia had already come twice and Angelus was still inside thrusting inside her. It was getting unbearable; she was so close to another orgasm. Then Angelus pulled her up onto his lap, letting her sink to the hilt. His hands rubbed along her shoulder blades holding her steady as she throbbed around him. She let out a cry of protest as Angelus stopped the thrusting motions.

“Steady, baby.” Angelus calmed her, kissing her temple. Cordelia’s skin was flushed and hot as he curled his hands around her lush breasts. “Just let me play a little.”

Lowering his mouth, Angelus teased her nipples alternately tasting them with his tongue and sucking them into his mouth. Cordelia’s head lolled back causing her hair to whisper across her back and the top curve of her buttocks. Under his breath, Angelus growled out, “You’re so fucking gorgeous.”

Cordelia started to bounce up and down on his cock, but Angelus’ hands swiftly came down to hold her still. “I want to move,” she moaned against his ear.

The vampire lifted her completely off his erection, setting her back down on the bed. “Flip over.”

Eagerly, Cordelia complied with the directive knowing that there would only be more pleasure to come. Angelus thrust the pillow they had been using out of the way, tossing it back toward the headboard. Moving her silky hair to the side, he proceeded to kiss his way down her spine until he stopped at a tantalizing just above the curving cleft of her buttocks. Pressing his mouth to that spot, Angelus had a brilliant idea. If he couldn’t mark Cordelia permanently with his fangs and since she would no doubt argue against a daily hickey on her throat, Angelus would arrange for a permanent tattoo— right there.

Pleased with the idea, he lifted up her bottom keeping her head and shoulders down upon the bed entering Cordelia from behind. He thrust his hips forward experimentally, asking her how it felt.

“You’re in so deep,” she cooed against the mattress.

Angelus palmed the cheeks of her ass, holding Cordelia steady as he started to thrust in a steady rhythm. Her inner muscles clenched and released his swollen sex as her hips came back to meet each hard thrust. “Do you want more?”

“Yeesss!”

He gave it to her harder, now moving with controlled speed. “So hot, baby. So wild and wet.”

“Angelus!”

“So tight,” he muttered now feeling his balls slapping up against her muff. Each time brushing up against her already stimulated clitoris.

“Aaaahhhh! Angelus!” Cordelia burst into a thousand pieces as her orgasm crashed over her. “UUUUNNNNGGGGGHHHHHH!!!”

Angelus tucked himself closer to her back, holding on a little tighter and whispering more words of praise in her ear. “You’re so beautiful, Cordy. Want you with me, always. In my life, in my bed— in my heart.”

“Angelus!” Cordelia gasped his name again and was still coming hard. The confessions poured from her throat unhindered, “I want you so much. Love you. God, I love you.”

Releasing a howl of pleasure, Angelus thrust forward to the hilt feeling his ejaculate spurt deep inside her. As continued to ride out his orgasm, Angelus nuzzled his face against her neck muttering her name and almost chanting it with each remaining thrust, “Cordelia. Mine.”

Part 10

 Buffy rested her head on Angel’s bare chest as they lay quietly in bed, her finger making a random design across his muscular torso. She had come here to ask Angel about Cordy only to find the brunette wearing the vampire’s bathrobe and making herself quite at home in the kitchen. After the initial accusations were out of the way, Buffy found that the truth was just as horrifying.

“You knew about Angelus and Cordelia, didn’t you?” Buffy questioned Angel who had let silence permeate the room. She hinted, “I saw Cordy downstairs. She told me that she spent the night with him.”

Toying with a strand of her soft blond hair, Angel admitted, “Yes. That’s why I needed to talk to Cordelia last night. Angelus told me that he wanted to pursue a relationship with Cordelia and asked for my— advice on the matter.”

Lifting her head up, Buffy looked surprised. “Angelus asked you for advice? What did you tell him?”

Angel sounded annoyed as he told her, “I told him to forget it. He had no business lusting after anyone that was m— my friend.”

The fact that he had just fibbed twice to Buffy made Angel feel even worse about the whole thing. Maybe he should just tell the Slayer that Angelus had asked permission to have what was his and that was why Angel told him to fuck off. Except that wouldn’t change the outcome now he had given in to Angelus’ plea.

“If you told him to buzz off then why the need for the Cordy lecture?”

A gruff sound rumbled in Angel’s throat. “Would my telling either one of them to forget the idea really make a difference?”

Buffy lay her head back down on his chest and resumed the exploration of his torso with her finger. “Nope. Can’t say that either one of them are good at taking orders.”

“I just needed to make a few things clear to both of them,” Angel rationalized. That was factual enough.

“I can’t believe that you let it happen. You didn’t try to stop it. This is Angelus!” Now Buffy was suddenly sitting up in bed, twisting the sheet around with her. “I can’t believe that you took his side.”

“Did not!” Angel’s denial fell flat. Okay, so maybe he did end up taking Angelus’ side by handing over Cordelia. “I was concerned at what might happen if I tried to keep them apart.”

“What’s the difference? You brought Cordy here. You left her with Angelus. What did you think was gonna happen?”

There was a long silence and Buffy imagined that he almost sighed in response. “Some things are inevitable,” Angel told her.

“Cordy falling for Angelus was inevitable?” Buffy rolled the idea around on her tongue. “She did have a crush on you a long time ago before she knew you were a vampire. If this wasn’t Angelus we’re talking about, I’d be laughing so hard you’d have to restrain me. Just the thought of Cordelia being in love with a vampire is—”

Personally, Angel did not find the subject amusing. Interrupting, “This isn’t a laughing matter, Buffy. I know this seems like a big turn-around for Cordelia. It seems that way to me, too. Not for Angelus, though. He has always wanted Cordelia.”

The half-smile that had crept onto Buffy’s face dropped away. Angelus was part of Angel until recently, although she had always thought of them as separate beings. “You know that because you share Angelus’ memories, right? When your soul was restored, you remembered what happened in the cemetery between Cordy and Angelus.”

“I remember it all.” There was something about the way he said it that made her nervous.

Now plucking at a fold in the sheet, Buffy asked, “Angel? What were you thinking about when I came in?”

Angel knew Buffy meant the moment when she caught him easing his arousal after being so wound up by Cordelia’s intimate scent in his territory and on his possessions. That had a studied ring to it and sounded much better to the vampire than being caught red-handed jacking off because he was fantasizing about Cordelia Chase. After an awkward pause, he answered, “The things that have gone on in this bed.”

Relief spread across Buffy’s features accompanied by an unmistakable sigh.

Technically, Angel had spoken the truth, but he knew she would mistake his words and think he was talking about them. It made him hurt inside to lie to Buffy, but he didn’t want to upset her. Angel had himself convinced that these random possessive thoughts and feelings about Cordelia were all temporary. Just some vampire instinct that had surfaced. Once he got used to the idea, Angel felt certain things would get back to normal again.

~*~

“Afternoon, Bro,” Angelus greeted Angel as he entered the kitchen.

Stopping stiltedly in the doorway, Angel blinked twice before asking, “What did you call me?”

“Bro,” the clarification drew a look of irritation. “Would you prefer that I called you sis?”

Angel gritted his teeth and glared at the other vampire. Not at all amused, he deadpanned, “Funny, but it’s not getting you out of this room without a damn good explanation.”

As he folded the newspaper and set it down on the table, Angelus explained with a grin, “Cordelia suggested it so I would stop calling you my pain-in-the-ass twin.”

“I’m not talking about that. You know what I’m talking about.” Angel didn’t want to play games. He wanted to get this over with. “You. Cordelia. My bed. Ring a bell?”

“Well, I rang hers a few times,” Angelus smirked at him. Upon seeing the dark look on Angel’s face, he added, “We were touring and didn’t quite make it to the third floor. I can’t tell you enough how hot that girl—”

Holding up his hands to fend off the rest of the sentence, Angel growled, “I don’t want the details.”

“I wasn’t going to give you any,” Angelus gave him a look that suggested he was nuts for not wanting them. “I’m just saying that Cordy is hot.”

Tell me something I don’t already know. Angel didn’t need the added fuel for his already sidetracked mind. Looked like his brother— hah— just needed to get in the last word.

“Keep the descriptors to yourself as well. If Cordelia is so precious to you, don’t talk about her like she’s a commodity.” Angel narrowed his gaze upon his double. “In the future, stay out of my rooms. All of them.”

Silence fell between them as Angelus reigned in his urge to thrash Angel for daring to order him around. Then he wondered why the hell he was trying to hold back. Why not just forget about this stupid talk and throw down? Pushing back his chair, Angelus rose to his feet, turning to meet the souled vampire face to face.

“By rights, half of this place is mine,” Angelus moved closer. “What I do in it is none of your damn business.”

Locking eyes, Angel reminded him coldly, “When your property rights spread Cordelia’s scent all over my bed, I’d say you were making it my business.”

“Leave Cordy out of it.”

Angel moved automatically moved closer, his hands balling into fists at his side. “Think about it. Would you want Buffy and me borrowing your bed?”

With a shrug, Angelus honestly didn’t care. It wasn’t like he wanted the Slayer. Besides, he was used to Buffy’s scent around the mansion. “You’ve already wrecked the furniture in your room. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were working your way up to mine.”

His sarcastic tone led Angel to believe that it didn’t matter what he said to Angelus, the vamp was going to do whatever he pleased. “I’ve given you this chance with Cordelia, so don’t push me too far. You know I can keep her out of the mansion if I decide to do so and you’re tied here for as long as I am.”

Rage built behind the already dark glare as Angelus listened to the threat. The fact was that Angel wasn’t exaggerating. He had the power to do what he said, but if it happened, there would be hell to pay. “Cordy warned me you were pissed.”

“She told you about our little chat?” Not unexpected, Angel had never known Cordelia to keep quiet when prudence would have been a better option. Then again, prudence was not a word normally associated with the brunette.

Angelus poked a finger into Angel’s chest, which the souled vampire took standing like a wall of stone. His counterpart growled dangerously. “I don’t want Cordelia upset. If you have a problem, come straight to me.”

The jury was still out on that idea, but Angel decided that Cordelia Chase might still be a candidate for that spanking he had envisioned earlier. “Was using my bedroom your idea or Cordelia’s?”

Eyes glinting, Angelus reminded him, “I already told you that we were taking a tour of the mansion.”

Angel believed it. His own senses told him that they had visited nearly every room in the house. Remembering what Cordelia revealed, “Everywhere except the laundry room.”

Then Angelus added, “I didn’t take her to the basement training room. We were focused on getting upstairs at that point. Not sure why she’d be interested in your stuff, but Cordy was just curious. I couldn’t stop her.”

“Wouldn’t stop her,” Angel corrected him, his anger now diffusing with the realization that neither one of them had planned their bedroom antics just to drive him crazy.

Countering quickly, Angelus rolled his eyes in a rather Cordylike response. “Have you ever tried to change her mind once she gets something in her head?”

“Point taken. Next time keep her out of my space.” Angel bypassed Angleus to walk to the cabinet and pull down his favorite mug.

His soulless twin looked disappointed. “So we’re not going to fight?”

“I’ve already worked out my anger, Angelus. Just remember what I’ve told you.”

“Cordelia is going to be here a lot, so you might as well get used to it.”

“I know,” Angel understood that his double wouldn’t want to be apart from Cordelia any more than necessary. “If you want Cordelia here, keep her out of my bed and then there won’t be a reason to fight.”

Angelus was far from the anger-free zone of the mansion. He didn’t take readily to these threats Angel kept dishing up. If his double didn’t watch it, Angelus was gonna feed those threats right back to him. “Yeah, Bro. I’ll keep her out of your bed. Just remember that even when she was there…Cordelia was with me.”

His hold on the ceramic mug was so tight that Angel heard it crack. Just before the breaking point, he set it down on the counter. “Cordy is my friend, Angelus.”

“If you can keep it, Angel, you can have Cordelia’s friendship, but the rest is all mine.”

~*~

“I’m worried about Cordelia,” Buffy’s statement had the Scooby Gang gaping open-mouthed at their Slayer. Expressions of concern from her in regards to Cordelia Chase were rare occurrences.

After a quick glance at Oz, Xander and Giles who were all gathered around their research table in the library, Willow found her voice first, “Worried about what?”

It was Xander who reluctantly hopped in with, “Angelus, right?”

Buffy looked at him with surprise. “How’d you know?”

Xander remembered that he wasn’t supposed to be talking about it. “I’m a good guesser.”

His hesitation was enough to make Buffy a little suspicious, but she went on to confirm his theory. “Yeah. This is about Angelus and Cordelia. They’re together.”

Giles listened to the words with trepidation. Together? Angelus and Cordelia together? He turned a bit green at the thought, and then conveniently negated his first reaction. In his mind it could only mean one thing. At least that was the box he was going to put it in.

Asking hopefully, “Cordelia is giving Angelus a lift?”

“Not the way you mean, Giles,” a huff of disbelief sounded as Buffy shook her head. Her Watcher wasn’t normally that clueless. “Cordelia is sleeping with Angelus.”

“Oh God!” Xander blurted it out as tightness gripped his chest.

Mumbling under his breath, Xander lectured himself about not telling Giles what he had seen despite Cordelia’s wishes. He never thought things would get this far. This had obviously gone beyond simple attraction and flirtation as he had imagined. Xander figured Angelus wouldn’t stand a chance with Cordelia even if he was serious about pursuing her.

Angelus was a vampire and Cordy had always had a healthy fear of them…even Angel to a certain extent. It hadn’t occurred to Xander to be concerned about what Cordelia might do. Their own stint as boyfriend/girlfriend never reached the bedroom stage; Cordy had told him that she wanted to be certain of their feelings for each other before things got serious. They’d broken it off, badly, but Xander was fortunate to keep her friendship. If Cordelia was really doing it with Angelus, then it was a sign her feelings were already deeply involved.

As for Angelus, Xander doubted he was capable of feelings. At least none that didn’t involve certain deadly sins.

Willow couldn’t manage speech. Only a single utterance left her throat. “Eep!”

She looked over at Oz for support. The werewolf put his arm around her shoulder, but said nothing to indicate surprise or the lack of it. Typically stoic, Oz simply waited for more information to be presented.

When the library door swung open to admit Cordelia Chase still garbed in her cheerleader outfit from today’s game, it was obvious that she had overheard Buffy’s revelation to the group. Making eye contact with the Slayer, Cordy strolled in almost casually. Though she had not sworn the other girl to secrecy, an opportunity to tell her friends about Angelus and herself first would have been appreciated.

“Nice going, Buffy,” a sarcastic sound hinted at her feelings. “I see that keeping quiet is way outta your league.”

Giles cut in seeking confirmation of this disturbing news. “Is this true, Cordelia? Y-You are in a relationship with Angelus?”

The disbelief and horror in Rupert Giles’ voice just about set Cordelia off. In fact, all of them were staring at her like she’d grown a third eye in the middle of her forehead. From their perspective, dating Angelus was obviously just as bad.

Almost defiantly and with a hint of pride, Cordelia told him, “Yes, I am.”

Erupting into a tirade, Giles charged up to the cheerleader demanding to know if she had suddenly lost all common sense. “Are you bloody insane? This is Angelus we’re talking about. Evil Angelus.”

Cordelia’s gaze darted to Buffy who wore a smirk across her face. It was definitely an I-Told-You-So expression that only riled Cordelia into commenting, “Are you a Watcher or a parrot, Giles? Your Slayer said the same thing.”

Buffy crossed her arms and stood by her decision to tell the others, pointing out that she had not slurred Angelus’ name without cause. “For good reason.”

“Angelus is still dangerous, Cordy,” Willow’s pale face was a mask of concern. “He’s a killer.”

“He’s changed,” Cordelia felt there was an apparent difference in the vampire.

Giles agreed with Willow. With his hand on Cordelia’s shoulder, Giles’ clipped voice reminded, “He murdered Jenny in cold blood.”

“That was before,” Cordelia stressed. “Angelus is different now.”

“He’s a vampire. Angelus is too evil by nature to change so quickly.” Giles shook his head in disbelief. “A leopard doesn’t change his spots. More likely Angelus is playing this for all he can get out of it…including you.”

Sending Giles an annoyed look, Cordy pointed out, “Look, I don’t think you’re qualified to lecture anyone about changing spots…Ripper.”

Dropping his hand from her shoulder, Giles felt scalded by her comparison. There was a difference, he wanted to argue, but Cordelia had certainly made her point. Turning away, Giles whipped off his glasses to slowly circle the lenses with a clean handkerchief.

Xander let out a guilty moan. “I knew that I should have said something.”

Turning to her friend, Buffy gaped at him, “You knew?”

Quickly backpedaling, “Uh…not exactly knew. I suspected. Seeing Angelus and Cordelia practically plastered together against the lockers hinted things were going this way.”

“And you said nothing?” That irritated Buffy. How could Xander keep this quiet?

Xander held out his hands in a plea for understanding. “I thought Cordelia would come to her senses. Guess I should have remembered who I was talking about.”

Cordelia paced back and forth in front of them, trying to figure out how they could all be so blind. Where the heck had they been for the past month and a half? “Since Angelus has been here, none of you have any cause to doubt him. Maybe the Fates do have him tied to this Good Fight deal, but that’s all the more reason to trust him.”

A snort sounded from someone in the group causing Cordelia to eye Xander and Buffy with suspicion. “Hello, people! What’s with the instant amnesia? You’ve forgotten all of a sudden how many times he’s helped Buffy.”

Xander had to say, “Angelus gets off on a good brawl. If the only way he can get one is to fight with Buffy, then that’s what he’s doing.”

“How many times has he dragged your ass out of the frying pan, Xander Lavelle Harris?”

Several, thought Xander rather reluctantly. Hearing Cordelia use his full name that way suggested that if he wanted his ass to remain intact he better back off. There was a look of brilliant defiance in Cordelia’s hazel eyes and her flushed skin glowed with the color of her fury, but Xander had to admit that Cordelia had always looked beautiful when it came to defending the guy she loved.

He missed that.

Crap! Now he was going to have to agree with Cordy about Angelus. He didn’t want to agree. The vamp was still not someone he wanted anywhere near Cordelia Chase, former girlfriend or not. “The guy knows his way around a demon brawl. There isn’t much that he can’t do in a fight, but Angelus is still a vampire.”

“I have eyes, Xander,” she countered with a huff. “I’m not going into this blind. Yeah, I know that he was more than just your typical Bad Boy in the past, but that is exactly the way we need to look at it. In. The. Past.”

Xander doubted it. “If he didn’t have the leash the Fates placed on him, Angelus would be right back to his old tricks.”

“So not true!” Cordelia stopped her pacing directly in front of Xander and Buffy. “You don’t know that.”

Willow interjected, “His historical pattern suggests that he would. Angelus nearly killed you, Cordelia. He’d do the same again if he had the chance.”

“Woulda, coulda, shoulda.” Cordelia waggled her head along with her response. “What Angelus might have done once upon a time doesn’t matter. That has nothing to do with what we have right now. Despite everything he’s done to help, you all treat Angelus like a pair of Xander’s dirty socks and I’m tired of it. The only stinky thing around here is you guys nosing into my love life.”

Giles replaced his glasses on the bridge of his nose and turned back to Cordelia with a much softer tone. “Vampires don’t love, Cordelia. They are highly possessive creatures whose behaviors and emotions are tied to their bloodlust and their…sexual proclivities.”

“That’s bullshit, Giles!” Cordelia pounced on his words. “Would you say the same about Angel?”

Even Buffy had to protest her Watcher’s response. “Giles!”

“Angel may be an exception,” Giles reluctantly admitted. “He has a soul. Angelus does not.”

Placing her hands on her hips, Cordelia took that a step further. “I see. Love takes a soul, does it? What about all those soul-possessing humans out there who wouldn’t know love it if fell out of the sky and dropped on their heads?”

“That is not the point, Cordelia.” The glasses were back off and now Giles was pinching the bridge of his nose to stave off a rapidly growing headache.

“No, the point is that you people suck! You’re all willing and ready to let Angelus defend you in a fight, but take a chance on letting him be a real person and you run like scared rabbits.” Cordelia knew that she was overtired, that being up all night with Angelus and all day at the game had stretched her temper rather thin, but it seemed like they had their heads up their asses. “Being with Angelus is my business. Get used to it. Learn to live with it. Because Angelus is not going away and neither are my feelings for him.”

Buffy found herself amazed by Cordelia’s adamant defense. She completely understood the attraction to Angelus considering her own relationship with Angel, but that was part of the reason she was so wigged out by the whole idea.

“You can’t be in love with Angelus,” Buffy suggested that it was not only wrong, it was impossible.

“What?” Cordelia whipped around to face the Slayer. “Since when did you crawl into my head, Buffy Summers? Were you slimed by another mind-reading demon?”

“No.”

“Then don’t presume to know how I feel about Angelus,” Cordy’s eyes flared with anger.

Trying to point out the dangers that made her so concerned in the first place, Buffy gave her a sharp look, “I have experience being in love with a vampire. Angelus is a master of mental as well as physical torture. He may be leading you on. Trying to get back at me through my friends.”

“All roads lead back to Buffydale? Angelus’ feelings for me have zilch to do with you.” Cordelia couldn’t believe that the other teen was trying to make out that this had anything to do with her.

“Maybe,” Buffy admitted reluctantly. “I know vampires. I know Angelus.”

Cordelia decided that Buffy didn’t have a clue. “You might know vampires, but you obviously don’t know my vampire. Angelus can be romantic and sweet. He writes me poetry and gives me flowers and candy. He makes my toes curl just by talking to me.”

Angelus being poetically romantic and toe-curlingly sweet? Snort! Nah! Buffy couldn’t picture it. “Angel isn’t even like that— except maybe the toe-curling part.”

Giving Buffy a pointed look, Cordelia commented, “Then maybe you don’t know your own vampire as well as you think you do.”

Buffy’s eyes opened wide at the inference. “You know nothing about what Angel and I are like when we’re alone.”

“More than you realize,” Cordelia returned smoothly as she recalled them sneaking away together after successful battles. Not to mention the chandelier shaking back in the dining room of the mansion.

“Flowers and candy— who needs that!” Buffy paused long enough to make Cordelia realize that the other girl was jealous. “I have Angel. That’s romance enough for me.”

“Jealous? You wouldn’t know real romance and passion if it bit you on the ass,” Cordelia was on a roll and couldn’t seem to stop herself. “All you have with Angel is a way to let your tension out after a fight.”

All around, the Scoobies and Giles were standing agape, now more shocked than they were when Buffy first told them about Cordelia and Angelus. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

“Cordelia! That is quite enough.” Giles commented, “If this is Angelus’ influence, then it proves my point.”

“Just talking truth.”

Buffy stood cross-armed and silent after Cordelia threw those words in her face. It was true that her boyfriend was not your normal guy. Maybe there were no flowers or candy, but Buffy really didn’t care about that. It was just that lately her relationship with Angel was either about avoiding sex or having it.

Where was the romance? Buffy wondered about that for a few seconds. Then recalled the fact that Cordelia suggested she was jealous— of Angelus. Not! Somehow, she’d prove it to Cordy that she did too know about romance and passion. There was no way Queen C was going to sound off in front of their friends and get away with it.

Just outside the library doors, both Angelus and Angel decided it was time to make their presence known. They had arrived not long after Cordelia entered the library and started to defend Angelus from the accusations of her friends. At first, Angelus wanted to storm into the room and demand to know why the hell it was anyone’s business if Cordy was his, but Angel stopped him. Suggesting that they listen in, Angel wanted to hear a little more and felt it important that Angelus know where— to his mind— the more legitimate concerns of the Scooby Gang were settled.

Angelus was actually feeling proud of the fact that Cordelia would declare her feelings to her friends and defend him so vehemently. He didn’t really give a fuck what the others thought about him as long as Cordelia wasn’t going to remain upset by their lack of understanding. He silently cheered on his girlfriend as she responded to their every dig.

Reacting quite differently, Angel felt his fury well from deep within. Things were fine when Cordelia was just answering her friends’ concerns about her affair with Angelus. The cheerleader had gone too damn far when she brought up his relationship to Buffy. First she had nosed her way into his bedroom and was now negatively comparing him to Angelus.

Both vampires reached for the doors at the same time and pushed them open startling the group gathered within the library. Buffy’s head turned sensing dark waves of vampiric energy flowing from one of the vamps. Angelus, obviously. With a smirk, Buffy decided that she would show Cordelia that the passion she shared with Angel did not only come after a demon brawl.

She stalked up to the vampire who wasn’t causing her Slayer senses to tingle and thrust herself into his arms. His hands automatically came around her waist and Buffy wrapped her arms around his shoulders pulling his head down into an energetic and enthusiastic kiss. It lasted only seconds as Buffy felt herself hurled to the floor.

“What the fuck was that?” Angelus demanded as he towered over her with a look of pure disgust on his face. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, the vampire queried with a harsh tone, “Can’t you tell us apart, Slayer?”

“Omigod!” Buffy’s voice was barely a whisper as she turned her gaze from the vampire she had kissed— Angelus— over to the one who had to be Angel.

This was Cordelia’s fault, Angel decided. Her words had forced Buffy into acting out some silly show of proof. He glanced down at the pink cheeks of his lover and felt her embarrassment. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Angel was asking himself why it was Buffy couldn’t tell them apart when Cordelia found it so easy.

Before he could offer Buffy his hand to help her to her feet, the blonde scrambled to a standing position. There were tears glistening in her eyes as she met Angel’s gaze. “I-I need to be alone.”

When Buffy darted out the door, Angel strode forward to where Cordelia was standing still in a bit of a shock at the Slayer’s major faux pax. They were inches apart as Angel seared her with a look that left her trembling in its wake. Cordy realized that Angel was more furious now than about his bed. Realizing that the vampire must have overheard what she said to Buffy, she felt trapped by his captive stare. Feeling the sudden need to apologize, Cordelia opened her mouth to speak.

Only Angelus came up and twirled her into his arms, giving her a smile that made her heart leap by looking at it. “You are amazing, Cordelia Chase. There is something too damn sexy about a lady defending her dark knight.”

Forgetting all about the gasping audience, Cordelia met his mouth with her own in a kiss that left no doubt in anyone’s mind that they had passion. Angelus’ lips captured hers in a soft, but urgent caress that led to a more insistent pressure. Moaning against his mouth, Cordelia opened up to the cool dart of his tongue against her warmth. A countering heat flamed up inside her as Cordelia wound her fingers into his hair and gave back to the kiss just as much energy and need, their mouths meshing together and growing urgent.

“Oh dear.” Giles almost felt dizzy.

“I may have to call out the fire department,” muttered Xander unable to tear his eyes away from the scene.

“Wow!” Willow glanced over at Oz with a tiny smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

Clearing his throat, Giles finally caught Angelus’ attention. “We came here for a meeting, not to argue with each other and dilly-dally around.”

Sighing as their lips parted, Cordelia murmured to her vampire, “You can dilly with my dally anytime for a kiss like that.”

Angelus let out a laugh as he released her only to react with an instinctive growl as he saw Angel’s hand curl around Cordelia’s wrist with inhuman speed. Not caring that he had just crossed the no-touching line, Angel pulled Cordelia toward him so that she had to grab his other arm just to keep her balance. “Ouch! Watch the vamp-strength.”

Glaring angrily at his double, Angelus issued a warning, “You better be damned careful about what you’re doing.”

Giving the soulless vamp a look that would rival his inner darkness, Angel wasn’t going to respond to threats just now. Already angry, the sight of Angelus and Cordelia kissing had brought a swift flare of jealousy. The fact that he recognized it as such was enough to floor him. He would have to get used to the sight of those two kissing. If that was all he was going to be subjected to at the mansion, Angel figured he’d be lucky.

“You’re coming with me,” Angel informed Cordelia determinedly, glaring down at her with dark pools that held her rapt attention and caused her to quake in sudden fear. This was not a request, she realized breathlessly. Then he lifted that gaze back to Angelus and told him simply, “You too.”

“Damn straight!” Angelus was about two seconds away from forcing his twin to release Cordelia when Angel started moving to the door taking her with him.

Xander started to follow along, but stopped abruptly at the sound of the growl emanating from Angel’s throat. Without turning around, Angel ordered, “The rest of you stay here.”

“Good idea. It’s comfy here in the library,” Xander rubbed a hand along the surface of one chair. “And look— research! Just what I wanted to do tonight.”

“I don’t suppose anyone brought jelly donuts,” Giles muttered as he took a seat at the table. He had no choice but to resign himself to this situation.

Oz opened the box and offered him the donuts.

Following Buffy’s scent, Angel tracked her to the school lounge. They found the Slayer with her knees curled up to her chest and streaks of drying tears on her cheeks. Seeing her that way made Angel react more forcefully than intended. Swinging Cordelia into a wide arc, Angel flung her onto the couch next to Buffy so that she literally bounced against the cushions. Her yelp of surprise elicited another sound of discontent from Angelus.

Angel glared down at the two young women. “What the hell just happened back there?”

Rubbing her sore wrist, Cordelia fired back, “You went psycho and grabbed me.”

“Before that,” Angel gritted his teeth exasperatedly, “with you and Buffy.”

Cordelia glanced toward Buffy who had her head turned in the other direction refusing to look at her. The action sparked irritation causing Cordelia to forget about the fact that she shouldn’t have to explain herself. “Buffy told everyone about Angelus and me.”

“That’s a bad thing?” Angelus frowned a bit wondering if she had planned to keep their relationship a secret.

“No! I wanted to do it when you were with me. The right way,” Cordelia clarified. “Not blurt it out like she did.”

Angelus nodded. His grin returned as he told her, “I heard what you told them, baby.”

The intimate look they shared made Angel’s stomach clench into knots. Ticked off at himself and Cordelia, he declared, “So did I.”

Cordelia decided that she wasn’t going to feel guilty. She had attempted to apologize, but why should she feel sorry because she told Buffy the truth? “I meant what I said, Angel.”

Piping up, the Slayer turned her steely gaze upon the brunette. “Angel and I are none of your business, Cordy. What you said was harsh. You don’t know what goes on between us.”

“I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” Cordelia tried to get off the couch only to sink back into the cushions as Angel stepped up to block her move.

Their knees brushed together as the vampire demanded information. “Meaning what?”

Cordy smirked defiantly as she held up her hand to him. “Sorry, but I don’t do details.”

Growling low, Angel spoke her name as a warning, “Cordelia.”

“Just following orders.” Completely unintimidated by his vampiric growl, Cordelia told him, “No details of anyone’s sex life. Not my business, remember?”

Buffy snapped, “You should have thought of that before.”

“So should you.” Cordelia returned just as quickly.

Angelus had to agree. “Slayer, you should keep your nose out of my affairs.”

“Don’t threaten Buffy,” Angel gave his double a dark stare.

“You’re one to talk,” Angelus countered furiously. “Keep your hands off Cordelia. I will be seriously pissed if you’ve marked her flesh with a bruise.”

Agreeing, Cordelia rubbed her wrist again, “So will I.”

“Did I hurt you?” Angel’s angry mask instantly fell away leaving only a concerned look.

“Yes, dumbass! That is what ‘ouch’ normally implies.”

Reaching out for her hand, Angel circled his thumb over the soft skin on her inner wrist. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

Buffy, who had been watching the apologetic move, suddenly reeled at the way Angel spoke to Cordelia. Sweetheart! What the heck was that? Angel never even called her sweetheart and she was his girlfriend. Here she was embarrassed, tear-stained and Cordy-battered and all Angel could do was fondle the cheerleader’s bruised wrist.

The Slayer suddenly wondered if Cordelia wasn’t right— maybe she didn’t know Angel as well as she thought she did.

“S’okay,” Cordelia shrugged as she felt the shiver run from her wrist all the way down her spine.

Angel released Cordelia’s wrist telling himself that he needed to fight these impulses that compelled him to touch her. Especially now that he had no right to do so. Seeing Buffy’s confused and hurt expression, he moved over to tuck a finger under her chin. “You okay? I know you wanted to be alone, but the four of us have a few things to hash out.”

“M’okay,” she gave him a convincing look.

“Good,” Angel stepped away in order to bring all three of them into his view. “The fact is that we’re going to be existing together in a close sphere. The insults and injuries need to stop here. What happened tonight needs to be put behind us.”

Angelus wanted to protest that he wasn’t done with what happened tonight, not after the other vamp had his hands on Cordelia. Seeing reason behind Angel’s words, he chose to keep silent. Facing Buffy, he told her, “I know you’re worried about my past. That I’ll do something to hurt Cordelia.”

“You won’t!” Cordy interjected.

The vampire flashed a grin before turning back to the Slayer who regarded him with the intense eyes of a hunter. “The Moirae fixed it so I can’t kill humans. Even if I wanted to turn Cordelia, I couldn’t do it.”

Buffy suggested, “You could get someone else to do it.”

“Never!” Angelus denied with a roar causing both Buffy and Cordelia to jerk in surprise.

Angel calmly explained, “That would place Cordy under the power of the one who turned her. Buffy, I can guarantee that Angelus would never do that.”

“Damn straight!”

“Well that’s a relief,” Cordelia joked with mock concern. “I would hate to have to answer to Spike.”

Even Buffy found herself giggling at the idea. “Maybe he would have asked Drusilla.”

“Leave them out of this,” Angelus narrowed his gaze at the Slayer. “Suffice it to say that I have no intentions of hurting Cordelia in any way.”

“Doesn’t mean I won’t be watching,” Buffy warned the vampire.

Glowering, Angelus laughed darkly, “Watch all you like, Slayer. You might learn a thing or two.”

“No watching! Eew!” Cordy rolled her eyes. “I hope we won’t be seeing that much of each other.”

Buffy grumbled, “You already know what Angel looks like, so what does it matter?”

“Buffy!” Cordelia flushed red not daring to look in the direction of the souled vampire. “Remember that thing I told you about keeping quiet?”

Clamping her mouth shut, Buffy realized that Cordy was probably right about that one. Then she locked gazes with the brunette and once again they were giggling together over the idea of their vampire twins.

“What’s so funny?” Angel asked them.

Angelus frowned at the sound of their laughter. It sounded almost conspiratorial.

“Nothing!” Buffy and Cordelia chimed simultaneously.

“Highly doubtful,” Angel shared a knowing look with his double, “but I’m not going to question it further. I’m glad you two are in agreement over something— whatever it is.”

As Cordelia’s laughter finally faded, she asked Angel, “Can I get up now?”

The vampire realized he was still blocking her in. Holding out a hand, he helped Cordelia to her feet and then released her in the direction of Angelus who quickly moved to put an arm around her shoulder. Taking a look at her wrist, Angelus kissed her pulse point and held her wrist against his cheek for an instant.

Buffy uncurled herself from the couch and rose to her feet to stand next to Angel. She had to admit to herself that the way Angelus held Cordelia was certainly tender. Almost loving in his own possessive vampire way. The idea of those two simply gave her the wiggins and her entire body seemed to stir in unrest, protesting the fact that Angelus had Cordelia in his arms.

Then Angel’s voice yanked her out of her private musings. “Between the four of us, we need to come to an understanding. All of the suspicion and griping needs to stop here. I have to trust that Angelus will keep Cordy safe as he’s promised.”

“I will,” vowed Angelus with firm resolve. How many times did he have to say it before they believed him?

Angel continued, “And that Cordy will come to me should he ever break that promise.”

“Won’t,” the vamp stressed.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Angel, I already told you not to worry about that.”

“Will you?”

“Pfft! Okay, I will.” The souled vampire who regarded her with a serious gleam in those dark eyes. His gaze didn’t stray until she repeated her promise with a more serious tone. “I’ll come to you.”

Buffy turned to Angel, “So they promise to behave. Can we go back to the library now?”

“Not yet.”

“Why not?” Buffy heard the tone in his voice that suggested he was going to extract some kind of pledge from her as well.

Angel lifted a hand to her face and his voice gentled as he said, “I know that you were concerned for Cordelia when you told your friends about Angelus. You cared enough to share your fears with them.”

Shifting in Angelus’ arms, Cordelia felt a little guilty for her harsh response earlier. Angel’s words made her realize that Buffy wasn’t just being a tattletale busybody. She had actually been trying to be her friend and letting the others know she had reason to be worried. That still didn’t give her the right to let everyone cut down Angelus after he had been laying it on the line for them.

Somehow, Buffy sensed that Angel wasn’t finished. She darted a glance toward Cordelia, but quickly turned her gaze back to Angel who proceeded to tell her, “From this moment, Buffy, no more sharing family secrets until the rest of us give the go ahead. That goes for all of us. This is going to be difficult enough without having to deal with the fallout of causing each other pain and anguish.”

Family secrets? Surely that was a strange way to put it. Buffy glanced at Cordelia and Angelus to gauge their reactions. Neither one seemed overly surprised by the phrase.

Buffy couldn’t ignore the strange twinge that had her balking at the idea. “Sorry I jumped the gun, Cordy. Next time you start an affair with a potentially deadly vampire, I’ll talk it over with him before I tell my Watcher.”

“You’d stake Angelus if you could,” Cordelia’s eyes flared hotly.

“You bet I would!” The Slayer snapped back instantly without even thinking about it.

Angelus tucked Cordelia behind him and stood before the Slayer. “You wanna have a go at me, Buffy? Anytime, anywhere.”

“No!” Cordelia tugged at his shirtsleeve.

“They’ll be no fighting,” Angel stepped up to them. “You both know why. Maybe you two don’t like each other, but dammit, you’ll learn a little toleration.”

“Toleration?” Buffy would rather tolerate a slime demon living in her bathroom than put up with Angelus. “I have no choice, do I? He’s part of the Soul Binding deal with the Fates, which I remind you was not my choice either.”

“Buffy—,” Angel thought they had dropped that argument weeks ago.

“Angelus not only has your support about Cordelia, but you’re setting all this up to include me in your version of some happy little vampire family!”

Cordy muttered, “Family Feud is more like it.”

Continuing her rant, Buffy commented, “The next thing I know you’ll be calling Angelus your brother and we’ll be double dating.”

A burst of laughter erupted from Cordelia’s throat. Buffy ranting was just too amusing to ignore. “Hey! I like that idea. We should talk.”

“No way!” Buffy returned with a look of horror.

“What do you think, Bro?” Angelus asked his double, amusement etching his features.

Wryly, Angel answered, “I think I have a burning desire to do demon research.”

Without another word, Buffy zipped out of the school lounge and headed in the direction of the library leaving the others to follow.

~*~

“Angelus!” A throaty cry sounded from Cordelia as the vampire nibbled at a sensitive spot along her neck.

Alone downstairs, Angelus had pulled her across his lap on one of the kitchen chairs so that she straddled him. Her long sun-kissed legs were bare and exposed as her silk robe flowed behind her. “Mmm. Move your hips a little, baby. You feel so good on me.”

Cordelia moaned at the sensation of his body beneath her. All she could do was comply with his request, her body moving rhythmically against him despite the barrier between them. She held onto his shoulders as Angelus kissed his way down to the hollow of her throat.

“Oh, yessss,” she hissed in delight as Angelus’ large hands curved around from her back to cup her silk-covered breasts.

“Ahem!” The sound of a clearing throat from the doorway caused Cordelia to leap off of Angelus’ lap. With her loose hair flying in all directions, Cordelia frantically straightened her robe. She turned her attention to Angel who looked like he was trying not to laugh at her efforts.

“Good morning, Angel,” she plastered a big smile on her face. “Is it already afternoon? Hello, whatever time it is.”

“Early afternoon,” Angel clarified as he strolled into the kitchen. He was wearing sweats and a white tank that showed off his strong arms.

Conversationally, she asked, “You’ve been working out?”

The vampire nodded. “Down in the basement training room.”

“You have a training room?” Cordy was surprised. “It wasn’t on the tour.”

Angelus grabbed for the front page of the Sunday paper and opened it up. “Basement was in the wrong direction, baby.”

“I guess it was,” Cordelia’s mouth curled into a smile as she thought of the details of their house tour. Then she remembered what she was planning to do before Angelus distracted her with kisses and caresses. “Sit down, Angel. I hope you’re hungry.”

Pausing as he pulled out the kitchen chair directly across from Angelus, he asked warily, “Why do you ask?”

“Cordy is experimenting today,” warned Angelus.

“With her own food?”

“No,” Cordelia clarified cheerfully. “With yours.”

Angel looked scared. “It’s pig’s blood, Cordy, not a base for soup. You shouldn’t mess with it.”

“I want to. It’s gross. I mean— eew!— how can you drink this stuff?” Cordelia made a face that left Angel laughing. “Angelus was saying how it didn’t taste like the real thing, so I thought I’d try to spice it up a bit.”

Cordelia pulled down two mugs, grabbed a bag of blood from the fridge and proceeded to spin the spice rack around until her eye caught on something that looked good. “Yum!”

Angelus dropped the newspaper on the table and leaned forward conspiratorially. “If we both run at the same time maybe there’s a chance to escape.”

“The sun is still shining.” Angel gestured toward the covered kitchen windows. “Cordelia would track us down, trust me.”

“I can hear you!” Cordelia pressed the buttons on the microwave and then turned around to face the vampires. Crossing her arms on the kitchen island, she leaned toward them as they gazed back at her with their identical faces. It brought a wide smile to her face as she thought, I could get used to seeing double everyday.

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