Title: Until Morning
Author: Malana
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Cordelia/Josh Lyman
Disclaimer: I don't own any of
Angel or the West Wing
Challenge from Jinni: #2: Gimme
Just One Night - PWP
> Either a one night stand, one
night between friends, a final goodbye or a
last ditch effort to save
something worth saving. Two characters (or more) -
at least one crossover and one
non-crossover.
Authors Note: Okay, around season 4 of both Angel and The
West Wing, but Cordelia has been living in Washington for the past 2 years, so
pretty much with the AU.
Note 2: This is my first NC-17
fic. So I apologize if it's
generally just horrible. I'm also
writing this at the same time as I'm working on my Public Policy midterm. It isn't really PWP, but it's
definitely the most intense thing I've ever written. I actually feel kinda silly writing it. Also, this hasn't been beta'd or
anything, because if I don't send it out now, I won't send it out at all.
"You're really leaving?" Josh Lyman sat on the edge of the bed,
staring at his girlfriend was she packed.
Cordelia Chase sighed and stopped her work. She
looked up at the man who had been her lover for the past two years. "I have to go. This is what's right. It's better for both of us. Angel and Wesley will be glad to have
me back and you...you'll be happier to have me gone." Her tone wasn't accusatory. She was just stating a fact.
Josh shook his head, "I don't want you to
leave, Cor."
"I don't' really want to either. But I have to. I love you, I really do. But this isn't
working."
"But we're happy together!" Even as he said the words he knew they
were a lie.
"We were happy together. But we aren't
anymore. We haven't been for a
long time. You need someone who
can be a politicianŐs wife. And I
need someone who can be here for me." Cordelia turned from Josh, and began
taking clothes out of the dresser once again.
They had been happy. When they first met it had
been romance and fireworks.
Everything had been wonderful. It was the best relationship that either
of them had ever been in. But over
the last few months, things had changed.
As Cordelia grew more attached to Josh, it became harder to deal with him
always putting work first. She
wanted to settle down. She wanted to go back to L.A. She missed Angel and Wesley; she even missed fighting
demons. She missed having a purpose.
Josh wasn't happy either. He needed someone who understood his
devotion to his job. He needed someone who was engaged in the political world,
who could fight him, and help him.
He loved Cordelia, but it had become harder and harder to deal with
their differences.
-One month earlier-
Josh flinched as the vase crashed into the wall,
mere inches from his head. It was
3 o'clock in the morning. He had just stepped into his apartment. This wasn't exactly the greeting he had
been expecting.
"Jesus, Cordelia!"
"Where the hell were you, you
bastard?"
Josh looked at her, confused.
"Cor, what are you talking about?"
Cordelia glared at him. Tears of anger shone in her arms.
"Dinner, you asshole. With my
parent's remember? You promised. You fucking promised you'd be there.
You swore to me! And you didn't even fucking call."
"I'm sorry," Josh ran a hand through
his hair. "I'm so sorry.
There was a thing. I completely forgot."
It was the wrong thing to say.
"How could you forget? I've been talking about it for weeks.
You know what my relationship with my parents is like. This is the first time
I've seen them in ages. This is the first time in as long as I can remember
that they've taken an interest in my life. You said you'd be there. You knew I needed your support. You know I needed you. But again some fucking shit at work is
more important!"
Josh looked at her, anger replacing the guilt he
had felt. "Yes, it was more important. God, Cordelia! We had a bill passing almost fall apart on us
today. I'm sorry I forgot, but I
had other things on my mind. Things that were more important than holding your
hand through some dinner with your worthless parents!"
"Go to hell."
-end flashback-
"I want things to work." Josh's voice was so soft that Cordelia
barely heard him.
"What did you say?"
"I want things to work." Josh stood up. "I love you, Cordy.
I know we've had some problems but I love you. I love your intelligence, and your spirit, they way you
won't back down. I love the way you
laugh, the way you smile, the look you get in your eyes when you see something
you think in cute." He walked over and put a hand on her shoulder,
stroking her lightly. "You're beautiful, passionate, and I love you."
Cordelia responded to his touch, leaning into
him. "I love you too,"
she murmured.
She tilted her head up, and met his waiting
lips. He flicked his tongue lightly
across her mouth until she parted her lips slightly, allowing him access. They explored each other, familiarly,
but still passionately. Cordelia reached up and tangled a hand in his hair,
pulling him closer to her.
Josh reached down and started unbuttoning her
blouse. His movements were sure,
yet slow. He wanted to savor this.
He wanted to savor the feeling of her smooth skin under his hands. He
knew it might very well be the last time he'd feel it.
They broke the kiss to breathe, and Cordelia put
her hands on Josh's chest, pushing away from him slightly.
"We shouldn't be doing this. I'm leaving in
the morning."
Josh pulled her back towards him. "That's in the morning." He nuzzled her neck, kissing and
nibbling her flesh. "We still
have tonight," he breathed into her ear. He felt her body relax against his own and returned to unbuttoning
her shirt.
He slid it off of her, then undid her bar. She
slipped out of her skirt, and soon she stood before him naked. He held her at arms length, taking in
the beauty of her body. The fullness of her breasts, the way her hair fell
behind her shoulders. He wanted to
memorize the sight of her.
"Come on, Josh." Cordelia smiled slightly. "It's
your turn."
She stepped toward him, and pulled him into
another kiss while her hands moved down to undo his belt. He worked on his shirt and was quickly
as naked as his partner. They
embraced again, and quickly fell into bed.
Cordelia lay on her back, and Josh rolled on top
of her. They just watched each
other for a long moment. Josh reached down and brushed a few stray hairs out of
her eyes. Cordelia reached up and
ran her hands over Josh's chest. Soon they were kissing again.
Josh
looked into Cordelia's eyes, as if to make sure this is what she wanted. Seeing in them the same need that he
felt, Josh positioned himself, and slowly pushed inside of her. Cordelia let out a soft moan of
pleasure as he filled her.
Generally their sex was furious and hot, usually after they had been
fighting. This was different. Josh's movements were slow, and sure,
and loving. This was a good-bye.
Cordelia arched her back as Josh lowered his
head and caught one of her breasts in his mouth. She gasped as he rolled the nipple around gently with his
tongue. She raked her fingernails
across his back as he moved to the other breast, giving it the same treatment
as the first.
They continued their slow movements for a while.
Then the pleasure began to build. Josh quickened his strokes, and Cordelia
trust her hips up in time with his.
She reached up her hand and pulled him to her as a wave after wave of pleasure
washed over her. She met him in a
brutal needy kiss as he tightened inside of her.
The kiss broke and soon Josh was lying beside
Cordelia, holding her in his arms.
He ran a hand gently through her hair, as she kept one hand pressed against
his chest.
"I love you, Cordelia."
"I love you, too."
"What are we doing?"
"I don't know."
They lay in silence, neither wanting to move, to
break contact with the other. They
lay, staring at the ceiling and waiting to see what morning would bring.
